Page 37 of Brighton Rescue (Pride and Prejudice Variation #23)
Elizabeth Bennet sat quietly on the window seat in her bedroom, gazing at the crescent of the morning sun peeking over the horizon. She had slept well but awakened early, and now with the household still slumbering, she contemplated the enormous changes the upcoming day would bring.
She turned to look around her room, which looked strangely empty.
Her clothing and trinkets had already been packed; most were on their way to Pemberley, while one trunk was waiting to be placed on the carriage which would take them north to Derbyshire.
She would never live at Longbourn again, and while she was overjoyed at the prospect of marrying the man she loved, it was a little sad.
Longbourn was the only home she had ever known.
The door creaked a little and she looked up to see Jane, clad in her dressing gown, framed in the doorway.
“Come in, Jane. I see you woke early as well.”
“I did, very early. I have been awake these three hours.”
“Oh, my dear, do come and sit next to me,” Elizabeth suggested, patting the seat next to her. Jane obeyed promptly, and for the last time the two girls sat side by side, arms wrapped around one another, as unmarried ladies .
“Are you nervous about tonight?” Elizabeth asked hesitantly.
Jane leaned a little closer and admitted, “A little. Mama was not amazingly helpful regarding the wedding night, was she?”
Elizabeth chuckled. “She was dreadful, but at least Aunt Gardiner was able to pull us aside and calm our fears to some extent. I expect it will be a strange experience, no doubt, but...”
“A blessed one,” Jane finished. “I quite agree. I am both anxious and anticipatory.”
“Of course, we have to make it through the wedding and the breakfast as well. I hope that Mother will not collapse from nerves; she is, without a doubt, ecstatic to have two daughters well married, but all this has been rather a strain on her famous nerves. I fear she might fall into genuine hysterics!”
“Do not worry about that, Lizzy. I had similar concerns and spoke to Kitty and Lydia; they agreed to distract Mother as needed today.”
“And you believe they can?”
Jane’s lips curved upwards as she said, “Lydia has long been able to maneuver our mother into doing whatever she wanted. Now that our youngest sister has turned over a new leaf, she is willing to use that ability to assist her family. I have no doubt that she can keep Mama calm and happy today.”
/
The sun shone in the skies, interspersed with great puffy clouds, which floated like great balls of cotton overhead.
The carriage pulled up in front of the church and the door opened. A moment later, Mr. Bennet stepped out and carefully helped out his eldest daughter, followed by his dear Elizabeth.
The church at Meryton had never been so full. Everyone knew the Bennets. Most liked them, and eventhose who did not nevertheless wished to observe two of their own married to exceedingly eligible bachelors.
The Lucases were in attendance, as were the Collinses, who had fled Kent for a time in the wake of Lady Catherine’s wrath.
The Earl and Countess of Matlock, presented with a fait accompli, had graced the people of the town with their presence; the earl, in particular, had been somewhat dismayed that his nephew was marrying a woman of no fortune or standing, but Richard Fitzwilliam could be very persuasive when he chose.
He stood next to his parents, dressed splendidly in his military uniform, and many of the young ladies eyed him with appreciation.
Georgiana Darcy sat in the second pew with Mrs. Annesley, her companion, at her side.
Georgiana was vibrating with excitement; she had often longed for a sister, and in their few times together, she had found in Elizabeth a kind and fascinating woman.
She was overjoyed, moreover, that she would be living with the Darcys from this time forward, or at least until she too found love.
At the tender age of sixteen she was in no great hurry to wed, but she knew she wanted a marriage like her brother’s, one based on mutual adoration and respect instead of merely money and connections.
Lady Amelia Hartford sat in front of Miss Darcy, her face wreathed with smiles, her eyes filled with tears of joy. She had prayed often that her Gabriel would find a loving wife, and she had no doubt that Jane Bennet, serene and patient and kind, was the perfect match for her son.
The organ, a surprisingly good one for a village church, suddenly burst forth with music under the talented fingers of the local music master.
Fitzwilliam Darcy and Gabriel Hartford stood at the front of the church a step below Mr. Allen, the rector, and turned as the back door of the sanctuary opened.
Mr. Bennet stepped within with Jane on his right and Elizabeth on his left.
Jane, dressed in yellow with a golden gauze overskirt, was truly resplendent in the light pouring through the stained glass windows, but Darcy had eyes only for Elizabeth.
She was clad in green, pearl combs in her hair, her fine eyes sparkling with excitement and joy.
He found himself suddenly short of breath.
He had done it; he had won the woman he loved with all his heart.
And now Mr. Bennet was at the front of the church, carefully transferring Jane’s hand to Mr. Hartford’s arm, and Elizabeth to Darcy’s, before the master of Longbourn took his place next to his wife and other daughters.
Darcy gazed down at Elizabeth, and she looked up at him with a glowing smile on her lips, and the two couples turned to face Mr. Allen.
The rector looked down approvingly at them and began, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God…”
/
The Golden Stag Inn
10 miles north of Meryton
10 hours late r
Dinner had been cleared from their private parlor, and Elizabeth, with a sly smile at her new husband, rose to her feet. “I will leave you to your port, my darling. Please join me in my bedchamber at your convenience.”
He watched her, his heart beating rapidly, and felt a great desire to chase after her immediately but no, she would need the assistance of her maid to change … to change into her dressing gown, to remove the pins from her glorious hair.
He poured himself a glass of port, took a careful sip, and stared at his watch. He would give her thirty minutes, and then they would come together as husband and wife for the first time.
It would be a long thirty minutes.