Chapter 33

I n addition to being able to assist Anne and Charlotte as needed, Elizabeth got much closer to her fiancé, Giana, and Maria. Each morning, they would walk through the groves which was delightful with the trees all coming back to life after their winter slumbers. When they walked, they would be chaperoned by Maria and Giana, who had become very close to one another—much closer than cousins by marriage.

It was the morning of the final day at Rosings Park, and Elizabeth had many memories of her time there. First, there was the huge surprise when not only her parents, Catherine, and Lydia had arrived the day before her birthday, but they had been joined by Uncle James, his sons, the Bingleys, Uncle Frank, Aunt Maddie, Uncle Edward, and their children. She had been greatly touched that her family had travelled to be with her on her very special day. Louisa and Mr Hurst had sent their apologies as the former was having terrible sickness in the morning while carrying their first child.

Elizabeth had been impressed that everyone who had travelled to Rosings Park with her had been able to keep the surprise from her. Her birthday had been extremely enjoyable, and those from Meryton and London had departed the Saturday morning after spending the day after the birthday in Kent as well.

When it came time to tackle the parsonage, Mama, Aunt Maddie, all of Elizabeth’s sisters, Giana, and Maria had joined Charlotte and herself when they had gone to the parsonage to pack up all which belonged to Charlotte.

While the parsonage was being emptied of Charlotte’s property, William was working with Anne and her steward to make sure that his cousin learnt as much as she could about managing her inheritance before he departed. Rosings Park was a big responsibility now that she was able to take possession of that which was hers. Anne would not be left alone when they all departed the estate as Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie were to arrive a few days before the others planned to depart for London.

What needed to be done at the parsonage had gone so much faster than had Charlotte and Elizabeth worked alone. Rather than a few days it would hve taken them without help, with the ladies directing things in the house and the footmen Anne had sent from Rosings Parkmoving trunks and furniture as directed, the cart was loaded and on its way to Lucas Lodge in the same day.

During the time Charlotte and Elizabeth had gone through everything in the study, it was discovered that the late Mr Collins had a legacy of five thousand pounds in the bank. Thanks to the settlement, those funds now belonged to her. Charlotte intended to have the money moved to be managed by Mr Gardiner as it would give her more than five hundred pounds per annum—far more than leaving it in the four percents—so she would never be a burden on her parents. Even better, if she so chose, she could rent a small home in Meryton and live respectably just like the Widow Hamilton did.

There had been no missing how relieved Charlotte was that she would never have to enter that house again. Elizabeth had invited Charlotte to walk with her in Rosings Park’s overly ordered gardens. Elizabeth had asked her friend why being in the parsonage had affected her the way it had. She had stressed that if her friend did not desire to speak on that subject, she would understand.

When they had sat on a bench under an old oak tree in the park, Charlotte had admitted to Eliza what a huge mistake she had made in marrying Mr Collins. She had shared her fears of what she believed would inevitably have occurred to her, and her relief at reading the note telling her that she was a widow.

Elizabeth had held Charlotte while her friend released the tension by crying, she had shed not a few tears herself as she held her friend tightly.

When Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie—they would be Aunt and Uncle to the Bennets indeed when Elizabeth and William married—arrived it had been a very warm welcome. Their deep mourning would be complete by the time their nephew married Elizabeth so they would attend the ceremony, but not the wedding breakfast. When Elizabeth had insisted they would restrict it to family only, the Earl and Countess had demurred. They would not be the cause of another muted celebratory meal as had been for their son and daughter-in-law’s wedding.

Just as the rest of their family members had, the Matlocks visited Lady Catherine in her sickbed. Nothing had changed since she had been afflicted, either in her regaining any movement or in her attitude improving. Since she had been moved from the mistress’s chambers and into a regular family chamber, Lady Catherine’s eyes had blazed with hate and anger.

Just like all of the others who visited, her brother and sister-in-law never came a second time. The rest of their energy was put into helping their niece.

Those travelling to London departed as planned. They would remain there for a week. Jane, Bingley, and Fanny would meet them in London before they would all shop for Elizabeth’s trousseau. Fanny, Elizabeth, Maria, and Giana would be hosted with the Bingleys on Curzon Street. While for the short time he remained a bachelor, Darcy would be alone at Darcy House. At least he would have Bingley with him during the days while the ladies shopped.

Even though Elizabeth had been hosted at Darcy House previously, one of the days in London there was a tour of the house, which as it was a tour for the future mistress, included the mistress’s apartments. It was the only suite Elizabeth requested to be redone.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

On Thursday, the second day of April, Bennet, James, and Henry all met in the law office of Frank Phillips. The document needed to break the entail was signed by all three Bennets and duly witnessed.

“Within a sennight, the new deed will be issued by the Court of Chancery,” Phillips stated as soon as the last signature had been affixed. “With the heir presumptive and his own heir both signing, there will be no need to publish a notice in the papers and allow time for possible heirs to object. This is especially true as I will include the proof of Collins’s death and documentation that he was the only other living male relative who could have attempted to appeal, even though he would not have had any grounds to do so.”

“It will be as it should be, Brother,” James said as he placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder, “Longbourn will never devolve to one not of our bloodline. The same will be true of Netherfield Park as well.”

“When will the barrister present the new entail to be registered?” Bennet queried.

“As soon as the new deed naming you the owner is issued, he will file the entails on both Longbourn and Netherfield Park. Is there anything else?” Phillips looked from one Bennet brother to the other. They looked at one another and both shook their heads. “Then we are concluded. For all intents and purposes, the entail is no more, and the court’s approval is a mere formality.”

After the three Bennet men shook Phillips’s hand, they exited the offices. Henry mounted his gelding to ride to Longbourn where his sister and brother were visiting their family.

The Bennet brothers had also ridden their horses, but they rode back at a slower pace than Henry who had, as soon as he turned onto the road to Longbourn, given his horse its head. Once they cleared the town, and there was no possibility of being overheard, Bennet slowed his horse to a trot and James matched him. “James, you of course have no need to answer this, but how is it in all the years since your Mattie was taken from you that you have not sought another wife?”

“I will not dissemble and tell you I did not think about it. On her deathbed Mattie made me swear I would at least think about finding a new wife once I had mourned her.” James smiled winsomely. “Mattie knew I would have never vowed to marry again for sure. She knew me better than I know myself.”

“It is thanks to her persistence and foreknowledge we are together again,” Bennet mused. “I would have liked to have met her.”

“If only…no, I swore I would not look back, only forward.”

“To that, if you meet a woman who you feel is compatible with you, you will not reject the idea out of hand?”

“No, Thomas, I would not. I am not actively looking for a wife, but if things are right, and there is mutual affection, I would pursue the lady. That was another thing my Mattie corrected me about.”

“What was that?”

“Before I lost her, I told her I would never be able to love again. She informed me that the heart has an unlimited capacity to love, and that loving another would never erase the love she and I had shared.”

“Wise woman, my late sister-in-law. It seems that you were true partners, like Fanny and I have become since I decided to take charge of my life.”

The brothers rode the rest of the way in companionable silence.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The Monday before the wedding, Mary and Richard, Lord and Lady Matlock, and Anne de Bourgh arrived in Meryton. Mary and Richard were being hosted at Longbourn while the countess, the earl, and Anne would be guests at Netherfield Park.

Being as inquisitive as she was, Elizabeth had attempted to gain knowledge regarding her wedding night from her two married sisters. They had simply told her to wait for the night before the wedding when she would have the talk . Both looked maddingly smug when the subject was ever broached.

The night before her wedding, unlike Jane and Mary before her, Elizabeth was to be spoken to by her mother alone. Aunt Maddie would answer anything further if she had any additional questions after her mother’s talk.

Fanny knocked on her second daughter’s chamber’s door. When Elizabeth bade her to, she entered and pushed the door closed behind her. She sat on the chair next to the bed where Elizabeth was seated, one hand playing with a curl which had escaped her plait. Fanny knew it was something Lizzy only did when nervous.

“This is your last night that we will have sole claim on you as a daughter living under our roof,” Fanny began. “Tomorrow your William will have the honour, and I dare say pleasure of protecting you, though you must know that all of us will protect and love you all of your days. He really understands you, Lizzy, and your father and I are equally happy and relieved that your marriage will be a true partnership, which is the only kind of marriage in which we knew you would find your own happiness.

“Tomorrow night will be your wedding night, and I need to talk to you about what to expect in the marriage bed.” Fanny offered softly.

With a blush rising in her cheeks, Elizabeth nodded for her mother to proceed.

“The intimacies of the marriage bed are not something to be feared, especially not with someone who loves you the way that your William clearly does. Firstly, I assume having been raised on a working estate you are aware of the mechanics of the act?”

Elizabeth was blushing scarlet, but nodded.

“Good. When there is love like the two of you share, the marriage bed will be a wonderful, even pleasurable experience for both of you. Anyone that advises their daughter to ‘ lie back and tolerate ’ the relations between man and woman has no idea of what they speak or of what they are missing.

“Do not be afraid to tell William what you like and do not like, and let him know that you want to know the same from him. Just like you want your marriage to be a true partnership, the same is true of the marriage bed. My wish for you is that you will discover that it is as pleasurable to give as to receive, and never be ashamed of the relations that you will have in private with your husband, regardless of the time of the day. A good relationship in the marriage bed enhances your marriage as a whole and gives a depth of joy that cannot be harmed by anyone.

“I will not lie to you; there will be some pain and possibly some little blood the first time, but it is only the first time that this should happen. The pain will be but a moment and marks your becoming a woman in every sense of the word. William cares about you so if you need to stop for a moment at that point, I am sure that he will understand. He is a man who will never force you to do that which is unacceptable to you. That is why telling each other what you enjoy, and do not enjoy, is so very important.

“If you never think of your relations with your husband as a chore, they will never be so. No matter what anyone else may say, both the husband and wife deriving pleasure from the marriage bed is a good thing and does not make you a wanton, nor is it a sin to love your husband as only a wife can. Both you and William are passionate people, so I believe that you will both take much pleasure in your marriage, both out of and in the marriage bed. Never be afraid to be spontaneous, regardless of what society professes. Night-time is not the only acceptable time for relations with your beloved husband. Whenever the two of you have privacy and you both desire the same thing, it is never wrong.

“I am jumping ahead, but when you are with child, there is no reason to stop having relations with your husband until you feel it is too hard for you as you near your lying in. Remember, it will be a partnership, and like any good and equal partnership, the shared experience of love, passion, and pleasure will be very fulfilling. Do you have any questions for me, Lizzy? If you feel the need, I can summon your aunt Maddie who is ready to answer any additional queries, or perhaps ones you are not comfortable asking me.” Fanny gently squeezed her daughter’s hand.

After Elizabeth had calmed from the thought of the pleasure and experiences that she would begin to share with her husband after the wedding when they reached Darcy House on the morrow, She shook her head. “No, Mama, I have no questions. I always love to talk to Aunt Maddie, but your talk was very thorough, so I have no need for more information at this time. Thank you, Mama, you have helped me look forward to the marriage bed with pleasure and not trepidation.” Elizabeth squeezed her mother’s hand in return.

“Before I leave so you may get some sleep, I like your solution of having both Jane and Mary stand up with you, just like William will have Richard and Charles with him.”

“I could not choose between them; I am as close to Mary now as I am to Jane. This way neither William nor I had to attempt to make a choice like King Solomon was expected to do with the baby. I love you Mama.” Elizabeth kissed her mother’s cheek.

“As I love you, my Lizzy.” Fanny kissed her daughter’s forehead before slipping out of her bedchamber.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Darcy had hardly slept the night before his wedding, and he was dressed and ready to go to the church two hours before the time he was to arrive.

“Darce, calm down, the time will soon be here for you to see Lizzy walking towards you and the rest of your life together,” Bingley assured his soon to be brother-in-law.

“I too was as nervous as can be until I saw my Mary walking towards me, but as soon as I saw her, I knew all was well with the world,” Hilldale stated.

“Who would have thought after the abhorrent way I behaved…” Darcy began. Both of his soon to be brothers-in-law punched him on an arm. Not hard enough to leave a mark. “What was that for?”

“A reminder to stop living in the past. Lizzy and her whole family forgave you. She would not have accepted your proposal if she still held any of it against you. William, I know you are nervous thinking of all the things which would cause Lizzy not to come to the church. I too had some irrational fears. I am sure, perhaps to a lesser extent, Bingley, here did as well.” Bingley nodded his head. “She loves you, and has told Mary on more than one occasion that you are the only man she would ever marry. God love her for her bad choice,” Hilldale jested. Darcy put on a look of mock outrage.

“My angel, who thanks to your wedding and her spending the night at Longbourn, I spent the first night apart from since we married, has told me that Lizzy told her the same thing. I agree with the Viscount here, you have nothing about which to worry,” Bingley added. “Now, I do not know about you two, but I am hungry.”

With what he had been told, Darcy calmed down considerably. “I can eat,” he agreed.

“I can always eat,” Hilldale asserted. Neither man contradicted him on that.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Happy was the day that Fanny and Thomas Bennet saw their second born marry the love of her life. Lizzy was their third daughter to marry and of one thing they were both certain, she would never repine marrying Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Elizabeth had looked resplendent in her ivory coloured silk wedding gown. The colour of her gown had made her raven-coloured tresses stand out in stark relief. The delicate Belgium lace veil had been raised, and cascaded down her back as she and her husband exited the registry, after taking rather a lengthy time to sign the register. If their lips were anything to go by, then there had been much more than signing going on in that room.

With the number of guests who were to attend the celebratory meal, it was being held in the ballroom at Netherfield Park. Bennet watched as his Lizzy, no, she was William’s Lizzy now, received warm congratulations from Elaine and Matlock. The latter couple would be at James’s estate, but due to their half mourning they would not be at the wedding breakfast.

Bennet looked off to the one side where Catherine and Lydia were standing next to their three Bennet cousins and their new sister, Giana, all waiting to hug the bride and groom. He did not miss the looks which Henry and Giana gave one another when they thought they were unobserved. The two companions, who were sisters, were standing together, their arms linked and watching their charges proudly.

He would be forever grateful that Maddie had sent Mrs Doubtfire to them. She had been just the right person to turn Lydia from her self-destructive path. Neither she nor Catherine resembled the brash flirtatious girls they had been. Lydia was aware that she may not be able to make a match when she admitted she was no longer a maiden, but she was sanguine with that. She had said she would be a spinster aunt to her myriad expected nieces and nephews and teach them to play the harp very ill.

Charlotte Collins was in the church, but she too would not attend the wedding breakfast, as she had not completed her mourning for her late husband. She and James were speaking with Gardiner, Maddie, and Phillips.

Eventually everyone had wished the newlyweds joy, and it was only Bennet and Fanny with them in the nave of the church. Fanny hugged and kissed her daughter and newest son. Then it was Bennet’s turn. He fought to keep the moisture from his eyes, and lost the battle as he pulled Lizzy into a warm hug. He kissed her on the forehead.

Next Bennet shook Darcy’s hand. “I need not say anything because I know you will always be good to my girl,” Bennet said, his voice gruff with emotion.

“Of that you can always be sure,” Darcy declared.

Bennet took his Fanny’s hand and led her out to the Bennet carriage which lurched forward as soon as they were seated and Bennet had struck the ceiling with his cane.

“Our lives and those of our daughters would have been vastly different had you not decided to leave your study and take charge, my beloved Thomas,” Fanny said as she sighed and leaned her head on her husband’s shoulder. Her heart was bursting with love for the man next to her.

“Rather than bemoan my not having done so, many years earlier, I will simply agree with you, my love.” Bennet gently turned his wife’s face towards himself and captured her lips. After a few kisses, he looked his wife in the eye. “You know, Fanny, God has been very good to us, has He not?”

“I dare say He has,” Fanny replied and returned her head to her husband’s shoulder.