Chapter 27

That night, Lydia stayed with Theodora for the last time, and sent her trunks ahead of her to Pemberley House the following morning. Dorian escorted her home, but not before he had taken her on an outing alone, and rendered a lovely proposal that Lydia would cherish always. They were set upon by Lydia's mother the moment they entered Pemberley house, Mrs Bertelli kissing Dorian on both cheeks and blessing him for finally persuading Lydia to the altar. Mrs Bennet's young son was sent from the nursery where he was visiting Elizabeth's children, that lady must show her precious boy off to every acquaintance, but somehow, young Michael was unspoiled, and his sisters greatly enjoyed his visits.

Dorian made all the appropriate compliments to Lydia's mother, who patted his cheek, and marvelled at his height and good looks, remarking that she had predicted such a future the very night Lydia and Dorian had met. "I knew how it would be!" she cried, and her daughters all laughed and humoured her, for Mrs Bertelli's good cheer was infectious.

Dorian had repaired to the study then with Darcy to go over the marriage settlements. Like her sisters, Lydia would receive fifty thousand pounds. Twenty thousand had been held back for her husband, he could use those funds as he chose to improve his estate, and may leave it to any legitimate relative of himself or Lydia, but the twenty thousand which was Lydia's and provided her personal income had been made available to her by her sister when she was two and-twenty. Those funds would remain in trust, she would collect the interest during her lifetime, and then leave it to whomever she chose in her will. The remaining ten thousand, Lydia had already been investing for years, and it would remain in investments to create dowries for her daughters and advancement for her younger sons.

There was another twenty thousand, representing what Lydia had earned by investing her ten thousand over the last several years, as well as what she had earned for many years consulting for hotels and houses, and the generous sum she had already received as the editor and her percentage from Mode. That sum would remain in trust for her, and she had the right to withdraw it at her discretion simply by contacting Montague. Dorian had known Elizabeth would likely settle a generous sum for her sister, but he had been expecting a sum closer to twenty thousand perhaps. He was even more surprised at the privileges he was giving to his wife in their contract, but he understood that Lydia and Elizabeth could not be treated like everyday wives of their time.

The Bertellis stayed on in London, for Fanny declared that Elizabeth had all the fun preparing for Mary's wedding and trousseau, and she would not be left out on this occasion. Lydia was good natured about it, and dutifully accompanied her mother about London for weeks shopping. Elizabeth insisted upon paying all of the bills, as usual, insisting that it was her last opportunity to spoil her youngest sister. As the editor of Mode, it was Lydia's responsibility to give her patronage to many modistes and designers, so Madame Clarisse received her share of commissions for gowns, as did many other designers.

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Lydia finalised the fourth volume of Mode for publication, then worked ahead on the fifth and sixth editions, so that she might travel to Hertfordshire to prepare for her wedding. Cora and Freddie would be hard at work under Theodora's supervision, to begin the preparations for the following volumes. Two new deputy assistants were also being trained to work on things under Theodora's supervision while Lydia, Cora, and Freddie were in Paris in February.

Someone like Lydia, the editor of an important fashion magazine, ought to have an important society wedding at St George's, and a breakfast for hundreds at one of the great hotels in London. But Lydia's heart was in the country, and if she could not manage the time to travel to Pemberley, then she would marry from her home, near Dorian's estate, and where they would presumably spend time with their family as it grew. She made certain to plan an editorial on tips and tricks to planning an elegant country wedding.

The family retired from the city to Netherfield in December, and all of the Bennet sisters were in residence, even the Bingleys. By late December, every house in Meryton was filled to bursting with guests, nearly everyone in the village offering to host this acquaintance, or that one, of people whom they had met at Elizabeth's events over the years. There was a ball at Netherfield on Christmas Eve, to which Lydia wore Freddie's emerald green gown again.

Theodora stressed that every event must be an opportunity for Lydia to showcase something new, but Lydia was planning an editorial on reusing old gowns and encouraging making over dresses to be more en vogue. She insisted that the ball was the perfect opportunity, and Freddie used new embellishments to produce a new creation entirely. Theodora was impressed indeed by the results, and said this was a shining example of why she had chosen Lydia, whose instincts were always superb, to run Mode.

Lydia's wedding gown was an entirely different matter, and she spared no expense. It was pure white silk, with a narrow corsage, and a full skirt on a crinoline cage`, with an emerald green cape of the finest cashmere, covered with tiny seed pearls. Lydia wore her sister's emeralds, and the effect was stunning. Tiaras were currently out of fashion on brides, the most common choice being a wreath of orange blossoms like the one favoured by her majesty. Lydia created her wreath out of pine greenery and baby's breath, with a lovely white veil. The wedding was on New Year's Day; the groom wore formal attire instead of his regimentals, and Mr Carter stood up with him, while Diane stood up with her aunt.

The church and churchyard were filled, and there were dozens and dozens of villagers and tenants from Longbourn, Netherfield, and even Lucas Lodge spilling out into the lane, everyone in Meryton cheering to see Longbourn's youngest daughter in her finery, and the spectacle of the fine white carriage and palomino horses that was enjoyed each time a Bennet sister married in the village. Meryton was prodigiously proud to be the home of the famous Miss Bennet, and even prouder that she had married one of their own. No matter how long he had been away, Dorian was still considered to belong to Meryton by its residents.

The breakfast was a work of art, Mr Farinacci having left his assistant in charge of the hotel kitchens in Sanditon to work with Lydia's mother on the food, which was incomparable. Lydia and Dorian had been subject to Mrs Bennet's whims for weeks, and had spent many days visiting the families of the area to announce their engagement to their neighbours personally. They were understandably exhausted, and looking forward to closeting themselves at Haye Park for a week alone before returning to London, Lydia's job, and Dorian to his studies.

Lydia intended to work very hard indeed until it was time to leave the magazine for four weeks for Paris. They would travel there as a group, and Lydia would spend one week viewing the fashion show, and touring several other fashionable designers and modistes for the magazine. Then, Cora and Freddie would return to England, and leave Lydia and Dorian to enjoy Paris for three weeks alone, at Theodora's expense, as a wedding present, before returning to London on their own.

No one expected Ada Goulding to return to Meryton for her nephew's wedding, but return she did, and took up residence in the dower house. By agreement, she would live at Haye Park, where she would look after the house, and be present for the tenants if necessary, during the years that Dorian and Lydia would live in London. Dorian and his aunt had begun a correspondence, and gained a much better understanding of one another, after Ada had received the following letter enclosed with a wedding invitation from her nephew shortly after his engagement was announced.

Dear Aunt,

I have reviewed the journals, and committed them to the fire. None but I and my future wife have read them, not even Ella, and no one ever will. My grandfather loved my uncle as his own son, and I loved him as my uncle, and I care for your children as my cousins. That is the only fact that is relevant to me. I only wish to say that you shall always belong at Haye Park, and are very welcome to return at any time, should you wish to.

D. Goulding.

Considering their short period alone at Haye Park before they had to return to London, and the long nature of their many years wait for one another, the guests at the breakfast at Netherfield were unsurprised and unoffended when the couple spent the beginning of the event taking their leave from as many as they could in the neighbourhood, then after a few bites during the breakfast for civility, disappeared from the gathering and escaped to Haye Park.