Page 62 of A Life Diverted

“He did, and very sincerely. He has given up his mother’s dream of becoming a landed gentleman and is quite content managing the business his father began.

If he had been like this before, we would still be friends.

” Darcy was impressed, but not surprised that Ellie did not wilt like a flower without water at the news of Miss Caroline Bingley’s demise.

He was aware that his fiancée was a strong woman.

They arrived at the glade, which was a hundred or so yards in from the path through the groves.

The pond had not frozen over yet, but the insects, frogs, and other life normally teaming was nowhere to be seen or heard.

The waterlilies had lost their leaves and flowers and the parts which would weather the winter could be seen below the surface of the pond.

The three benches his late Uncle Lewis had placed around the area stood starkly against the bare trees.

“I can imagine how pretty it is here in the spring and summer with all of the creatures, birds singing from overhead, and the trees fully verdant, the flowers, everything would, I think, make this a magical place,” Elizabeth opined.

“You are not wrong. We will make sure to come visit Melody and Richard in the spring as it was common for us to spend Easter here with him before he married.”

James watched Lizzy and Darcy from across the pond.

He used to think no man would be good enough for his sisters, but he had to admit that both Jane and Lizzy had made good choices.

He had heard about the library at his future brother’s estate and was greatly looking forward to exploring it.

He was not worried about the younger members of their walking party thanks to the four ever vigilant guards who had accompanied them.

Soon, the increasing cold convinced the walkers to begin to make their way back to the manor house.

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

For Lady Catherine, this visit was the first one where she had not felt a great sense of melancholy.

Since first Lewis’s, and then the tragedy of Anne’s passing, it had been very hard for her to be at Rosings Park.

All of the joy and happiness touched her heart as well, and she was, at long last, years after she lost her daughter, able to feel pleasure in the house once again.

The combined felicity of those already married, including the most recent, Melody and Richard, and the three engaged couples came together to banish any maudlin thoughts she would have otherwise felt.

It was impossible not to feel it with so much palpable happiness in the house.

Like Ellie’s life had been diverted, Lady Catherine owned she had done that same thing with her own life, at least with respect to Rosings Park. The time for that was over.

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

As time was wont to do, it marched inexorably on. Christmas came and went—greatly enjoyed by all—and then it was New Year’s Eve. All of the children, save May Gardiner who was only eight, were allowed to remain up and greet 1812.

As the triple wedding was on the tenth of the first month of the new year, all those in residence at Rosings Park travelled into Hertfordshire on the second day of January.

As she rode in a coach with William, Giana, Miss Weasley, and Mrs Annesley, Elizabeth could not wait for the next eight days to pass.

When the convoy separated in Meryton, the Bennets, Gardiners, and Lucases all turned off towards Longbourn with Lucas Lodge before it.

The remainder of the travellers, after allowing the Phillipses to alight at their home, made the turn at the other end of the main street towards Netherfield Park.

As much as she would have wanted it to be otherwise, after Elizabeth and Miss Weasley alighted from the Darcy conveyance, said vehicle departed for Longbourn.

It was not like the brides would not see their respective grooms each day.

Fanny would come to Netherfield Park daily to confirm everything was as it should be.

She was never alone; William and Jane would always be with her.

Barney was not left out because Lady Lucas, with Charlotte in tow, was also a frequent caller at the estate where the wedding breakfast would be held.

Each evening there were family dinners held, rotating between Longbourn, Lucas Lodge, and Netherfield Park.

As long as the weather allowed, a group would ride or walk out each morning. When on horseback, those residing at the various estates would meet near Oakham Mount and then ride together until ending up at one of the three estates to break their fasts.

Before Elizabeth knew it, it was the night prior to her wedding.

As she sat watching her maid run the brush through her wavy tresses, the enormity of this, the final night she would be a maiden, hit Elizabeth.

She knew she would have the talk soon, but she had omitted to ask if it would be Mama, Mother, or both of them who would deliver the information she needed to know before marrying William and becoming his wife in all ways.

No sooner was the maid complete than there was a knock on the door and Mother entered, she was alone.

“Ellie, dear, your mama and I discussed who would speak to you. She suggested that it should be me,” Cilla explained.

“It was not only that she will be speaking to Jane, but Fanny said that because I had missed so many milestones in your life that this was one I should do alone. You do not object, do you?”

“No, Mother, I do not. I am as pleased it is you alone, just as I would have been if it had been both of my mothers together,” Elizabeth assured her mother.

“Like your father and me, as well as your mama and papa, you, Ellie are making a love match…” Cilla explained all in a manner meant to build her daughter’s confidence, not make her too afraid to enjoy the marriage bed.

“…never be afraid to tell William what you do, and do not, enjoy and allow him to do the same. You two will find fulfilment in each other, and I have no doubt that the love between you and William will grow and never wane, just as it has been between your father and me.”

Elizabeth had a good idea of the mechanics of the marriage act from having grown up on a working farm.

In addition, she had discovered some information by peeking at some of the forbidden books in Papa’s study.

Mother’s information was so much more and made the anticipation grow for being alone with William on the morrow.

“Now Ellie, do you have any questions?” Cilla asked.

“No, thank you, Mother. You have been rather detailed in your information; and you have answered my queries before I needed to make them,” Elizabeth responded.

She could not stop herself from blushing during the talk, but Mother had assured her that she too had blushed furiously on the eve of her wedding when her late mother had spoken to her.

“One thing I will leave you with is this. In the morning, you will receive a tray. You need to eat and drink. Trust me; I tell you this from personal experience. Now have a good night’s rest, you do not want to walk up the aisle to William with black rings under your eyes do you?” Cilla jested.

“Will you and Giana join me after my bath in the morning?” Elizabeth verified.

Much to Giana’s delight, Elizabeth had requested she be her maid of honour. Mary was Jane’s, and Charlotte’s was Maria. For the men, William had Richard standing up with him, Andrew for David, and Uncle Stephen was doing the honours for Barney.

“She will,” Cilla confirmed. She stepped forward and kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Now, get as much sleep as you are able.”

Ellie nodded and Cilla withdrew, pulling the door closed behind her.

She could not but marvel at the fact that she was about to watch the daughter she had doubted she would ever see again in the mortal world marry in less than twelve hours.

Her belief that Ellie had been alive notwithstanding, Cilla owned she had resigned herself to never seeing Ellie again. God had had other plans.

Rather than feel resentment over all of the things she had missed, Cilla gave thanks for the providence He had bestowed on them when He allowed Ellie to come back to them.

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

Just as Cilla and Fanny had spoken to Ellie and Jane separately, Wendell and Bennet would walk each daughter up the aisle on his own.

Rather than social position, the three fathers, in consultation with their wives, decided to walk the brides into the church by the brides’ descending age.

Hence, when the double inner vestibule doors opened, Sir William entered the nave of the church with Charlotte on his arm.

She was wearing a very flattering Madame Chambourg creation.

Her veil was constructed of delicate Belgium lace. They were followed by Maria.

As soon as Barney saw his betrothed enter the nave, he grinned from ear to ear, and Uncle Stephen had to restrain him from running down the aisle to claim his bride.

The instant Sir William placed Charlotte’s hand on Barney’s arm, Bennet and Jane began the walk with Mary a few steps behind them.

Like his younger brother had when he saw his bride, David’s eyes locked onto Jane’s, and from that instant, he saw nothing else.

Thanks to the sapphire chips sewn into the overlay of Jane’s sky-blue wedding gown, when they were hit by the weak January sun, they cast a kaleidoscope of light all over the sanctuary.

Her veil, like her younger sister’s, was made from the same Belgium lace as Charlotte’s.

Even though Darcy thought the wait to see his Ellie had been interminable, she entered the nave on Wendell’s arm.

As much as he only wanted to see Ellie, he could not but smile when he saw Giana walking upright and proudly behind Wendell and Ellie.

Ellie’s wedding gown was made of a shimmering ivory fabric, and unlike her older sister, the translucent overlay did not have gems sewn into it.

Richard knew better than to try and restrain William when the latter moved into position to receive his bride before she arrived there.

Darcy watched as Wendell lifted the veil and bestowed a kiss on each of Ellie’s cheeks. Then his wait was over, his uncle by marriage placed Ellie’s delicate right hand on his arm. With Giana following, Darcy led Ellie up to stand next to Jane and David who were the centre couple.

Mr Kimble began the part of the liturgy which was common to all three couples. “Dearly beloved…”

The members of the three couples managed to recite their vows as required, but more than that, none of them would remember.

Mr Kimble then pronounced Charlotte and Barney man and wife.

He was followed by Mr Pierce who did so for the other two couples.

There was much cheering in the sanctuary.

As there were multiple brides, grooms, and witnesses, the register had been placed on a stand in the back corner of the altar.

It did not take long for each to sign it.

When it was Elizabeth’s turn to sign the register she signed Elizabeth Bennet-Wendell.

From that moment on, and forevermore, she was to be Elizabeth Darcy.

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

After two hours at the wedding breakfast, the three newly married ladies and their maids of honour went up to various chambers at Netherfield Park’s manor house to change. Elizabeth went to the one she had been using at the house.

Before they separated to join their new husbands in their carriage, the three ladies hugged. “Best friends and sisters,” Elizabeth stated.

Jane and Charlotte nodded.

There were many hugs, and not a few kisses with the family members who had come to see the newlyweds off. There were a few tears shed by the three mothers farewelling their daughters.

Soon enough, though not too soon for those departing, they all climbed into their respective coaches, and they were off.

Elizabeth lifted her emerald-green eyes to meet her husband’s deep blue ones. “Whatever else occurs, my life will never again be diverted by some criminal or any other for that matter,” she stated. “We will live together, safe under His protection and guidance.”

“Amen to that, Ellie. Amen to that,” Darcy responded and then proceeded to soundly kiss his bride.