Chapter 34

Drawing Room

Twenty Minutes Later

"Phoenix beat Argo by just a hair!" Bingley declared, grinning at this fiancée.

"Only because you had a head start at the beginning of the race," Darcy said cheerfully, and Elizabeth, watching him, could not help but draw in a breath of admiration. Mr. Darcy was always handsome, but now, with his cheeks still flushed from the race, and with his hair slightly tousled, he was more Adonis than man. Really, Mr. Darcy was greatly blessed – wealthy, well-connected, intelligent, and so very handsome.

A moment later, to her surprise, his gaze shifted to her face, and she felt herself blush.

"Do you ride, Miss Elizabeth?" he inquired with his deep voice, and she confessed, "I do not. Our family has but a few riding horses, and none of them are appropriate for beginners."

"But does not dear Jane ride?" Caroline asked, casting a limpid look on the eldest Miss Bennet.

"Jane does, yes," Elizabeth agreed, "along with Lydia. Jane was old enough to learn when we had a pony in the stables, but he died by the time I was six. Lydia is a natural horsewoman, as well as being entirely fearless. She learned with great ease. I did try once to ride, some years ago, and fell off and sprained my ankle. That was enough to discourage me. Indeed, I am quite afraid of riding now."

"Oh, but Miss Eliza," Miss Bingley said with spurious sympathy, "I do believe that almost everyone falls off at least once. The key is to get back on!"

"My mother is rather nervous about horses," Jane said. "I am not certain if you are aware, Caroline, but my father was very badly injured when he fell from a horse when Lydia was but a babe."

"Oh!" Caroline said, turning scarlet with embarrassment.

Elizabeth, watching her, actually felt a little sympathetic and said, "You could not know that, of course, and I know that my father's experience was unusual. But yes, I am anxious at the very thought of riding a horse, though I find horses very beautiful and enjoyed watching the race."

Darcy, who knew that Miss Bingley had been told of Mr. Bennet's fall, was not as inclined to be sorry for the woman. It was not kind in the least for Miss Bingley to bring up such unpleasant memories. He was also of the view that Miss Elizabeth would likely do well on a gentle, well-trained mare and thought it a great pity that such an active, energetic woman did not have the appropriate opportunities.

"Jane, my dear," Bingley said, "perhaps we could purchase a very gentle mare for your three middle sisters to learn on. Would you like that?"

Jane blushed and said, "I would like that very much, but it would be up to my sisters, of course, as to whether they wish to learn. Lizzy, what do you think?"

"I think I am nervous, but I am willing. I feel my courage rising even now." Elizabeth said with a laugh.

"Then it is settled," Bingley said jubilantly. "When we have time, I will pay a trip to Tattersall's and find the perfect horse for a beginner!"

The conversation proceeded to generalities at this point, and Darcy, exhilarated both by the race and the close proximity of Miss Elizabeth, was more talkative than usual, and realized he was disappointed when the Bennet ladies rose after half an hour to return home.

After their departure, he drifted off to the library to write some business letters, but he found himself thinking once more of Miss Elizabeth. This time, he concluded that he was impressed with her honest confession regarding her fears. He was inclined to believe that the second Miss Bennet, while charming and well mannered, was also unremittingly truthful and not disposed to hide her failures or limitations. It was refreshing and encouraging.

/

Church in Meryton

Wednesday, 4 th December, 1811

9 a.m.

Elizabeth glanced about the foyer of the church. There were no flowers to be had, but greenery had been brought in, and ribbons festooned around to make the place more festive. Much of it was Mrs. Bennet's handiwork, but she was no longer in the room to enjoy it. She and Lydia and Mrs. Montgomery had already gone into the sanctuary to sit down.

Kitty remained in the vestibule, acting as bridesmaid to Mary, as Elizabeth was bridesmaid to Jane. Mr. Bennet leaned against the table set up against the wall, his usual cane abandoned for the morning. He was smiling through the pinch of pain across his face, pleased to have two daughters marrying at last, despite the discomfort the ceremony itself would cause him. Mrs. Bennet had tactfully suggested that the girls' Uncle Phillips walk Mary down the aisle, but this had put her husband's hackles up.

"Bad enough that I am disfigured," he had huffed. "I will not have it known throughout Meryton that I am so lame that I cannot walk even fifty feet without assistance!"

Elizabeth rather thought that everyone in Meryton and its environs were well aware of Mr. Bennet's infirmity and the fact that it was worsening. But it would do no good to say so, so she raised no objections to his stated plan to walk both his daughters down the aisle.

They were lovely enough, she expected, that no one would pay particular notice to Mr. Bennet's disability anyway. Jane was glorious, in a delicate pale yellow that set off her hair, lace of a deeper sunshine yellow decorating her hem and neckline and sleeves. Mary was attired in a soft fir green that made her eyes sparkle, demure tan lace accenting her dress and flattering her hair, which had been artfully labored over earlier by Kitty and Sally, the maid.

"I think it is time," Mr. Bennet grunted, and two servants leaped forward to open the doors wide.

Elizabeth waited for her father and sisters to walk down the broad aisle and then fell into line beside Kitty, who was dressed in a blue gown which matched the color of her eyes. Elizabeth's own dress was one of her favorites, also blue, but a deeper shade than Kitty's.

The organist began to play as the Bennets made their slow way down the aisle. Elizabeth, watching her father and sisters, could tell that he was putting more and more weight on his daughters as he proceeded toward the front of the sanctuary. Fortunately, he was not a heavy man, and both Jane and Mary were quite strong, but there was no doubt that Mr. Bennet was suffering.

The church was not full, but the first few pews were, at least, well populated. Elizabeth suppressed a smile as she passed Caroline Bingley and the Hursts. Both ladies had been rigidly courteous since the announcement of the engagement between Jane and their brother, but Elizabeth was confident they were not exactly happy either. Miss Darcy was seated next to Caroline Bingley, with Mrs. Annesley on her other side, and the young girl was looking both pleased and appropriately solemn.

The Lucases were here in force. As close friends to the Bennets, they were the only members of the congregation without direct ties to the brides and grooms. Many more friends would visit Longbourn for the wedding breakfast.

Mr. Bingley was standing to the right of Mr. Allen, the rector, and Mr. Collins was on the left. Mr. Bennet managed to hand Jane to her fiancé, and Mary to hers, but then wobbled sufficiently that Elizabeth found herself stepping forward hastily to provide a strong arm for her father, who took it gratefully. Head held high, Elizabeth guided her sire over to the pew where her mother was waiting, and then gently lowered him to a seating position before taking her place a few feet away from Jane and Bingley, and next to Mr. Darcy, who was acting as best man for his friend.

"Dearly beloved," Mr. Allen began, "we are gathered together in the sight of God, to join this man and this woman, and this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony…"

Elizabeth could not see her sisters' faces as the ceremony progressed, but she knew them very well, and she could see in their postures that they were well satisfied.

She was still amazed that Mary was pleased to be wed to Mr. Collins, who had been staying at Longbourn the last three days since his return from Kent, and who continued to behave in a foolish manner.

However, Mary was her own woman, and Mr. Collins had, at least, always been courteous and respectful toward the woman whom he had chosen as his bride. Mary would certainly be more content in Hunsford than at Longbourn.

As for Jane, who had managed to maintain a serene and cheerful demeanor at Longbourn for many years, Elizabeth had never seen her sister as joyful as she had been these last weeks. The eldest Miss Bennet, so dependable, so calm, had also been suffering at Longbourn under her father's rule, and would find life far more enjoyable with her new husband.

"Almighty God ," Mr. Allen said reverently, "who at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify and join them together in marriage; pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives' end.Amen."

In spite of the solemnity of the service, Elizabeth could not keep her mind from wandering a trifle. Her mother and father had, many years previously, stood in this very church and pledged their unity to one another. Looking at them now, side by side in the pew, with Mrs. Bennet smiling and Mr. Bennet grimacing from pain, Elizabeth could only mourn the loss of hope and wholeness in her own parents' marriage.

She would pray for better for both of her sisters ... and for herself.