Page 32

SURPRISE!

The two brides were radiant as they stood in the parlour preparing to leave for the church.

“I am still confused about how my father is here,” Miss Bingley said. “Surely it has to be a mistake.”

Mr Bingley shook his head. “It is no mistake, Caroline. I was involved in an enterprise that threatened the lives of myself and three other gentlemen. To successfully complete our enterprise, we had to fake our deaths and assume new identities. We cannot ever resume our true identities, but I can walk my daughter down the aisle on her special day.”

Mrs Hurst glared at him. “You did not arrive for my wedding four years ago. Why is Caroline so favoured?”

“It was a fluke that we could return at all, Louisa! Although I see your relationship with your sister has not improved at all,” Mr Bingley observed. “Your mother and I had hoped that when you grew up, you would put that childish jealousy aside.”

“Childish jealousy?” Mrs Hurst snapped. “I was the eldest sister, expected to help mama out once I was old enough. She was the spoilt youngest, who got the best of everything. I watched all of my sisters, except her, marry before I did. I’m glad that after today my husband and I can live our own lives. I think Richard will open our house in Town for the season.”

Miss Bingley sighed. “Papa, it may cause too many problems if you walk me down the aisle. Go and be a guest. We will catch up later on.”

Mr Bingley shook his head. “No. I have been away from my girls for too long. I insist on walking you down the aisle.”

Just then a young boy ran into the parlour in front of a maid. “Please forgive me, I could not control the boy.”

Elizabeth crouched down and looked the frightened boy in the eyes. “What do you need, Johnny? Is your ma or pa sick again?”

Johnny shook his head. “No ma’am. I just ran from the church. I got told you was to bring your own carriage to the church behind the wedding carriages. Mr Darcy will need it to come home.”

“Johnny, tell me everything about Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth hastily begged.

“I can’t rightly tell you much, ma’am. He got to the church and staggered into one of the pews. Looked right sick, he did. Said he’d recover, mind. I think he’s right,” Johnny Miller told her. “I was at the church because me ma’s bin decorating the church for the wedding. Me pa is at work though. Pa always says only day off he gets is a Sunday. Everyone wants and needs their bread.”

Elizabeth stood up. “Thank you, Johnny. Run back to St Mary’s and tell Mr Darcy I’m bringing the carriage.” Catherine had already pulled the bell and one of the maids appeared. “Make sure Johnny gets back to the church. His mother will be worried sick about his disappearance. Also, make sure my carriage is ready to follow behind the bridal carriages. Apologise to our footman and stable boys for the inconvenience and late notice. My husband and I will see them right for this.”

“Fitz will be well, Lizzy. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about,” Mrs Bennet assured her worried daughter.

Elizabeth chewed her lip. “I am not sure. He has hardly been out of bed for very long. Despite how lucky he was that was still a horrible injury that papa inflicted on him.”

“You are right, Lizzy. Your husband is strong and I am sure he will recover,” Lady Matlock assured her. “Now it is time that these lovely young ladies were making their way to the church. They are brides today.”

The ladies gathered their outerwear together and left the house. Breaking into three parties as they divided themselves between the three carriages. Elizabeth was surprised that her carriage stood behind the Fitzwilliam and Bingley carriage. “How did you get our carriage ready so quickly?” Elizabeth asked their driver.

“Mr Darcy is loved by all, ma’am,” the driver responded. “We knew it more than probable he would need his carriage. So we had it in readiness for you to give the order.”

Elizabeth thanked him for his care of the master and carefully climbed inside. She was surprised to be joined by her aunt, Lady Catherine. “You are not joining one of the other carriages?” Elizabeth asked.

Lady Catherine smiled at her niece. “Elizabeth, the carriages carrying the brides will be full of chattering geese. Your mother loves her daughters and is a lovely woman, but she carries on so. As for the Bingley carriage, my sister has taken Caroline under her wing. Am I unwelcome to spend time with my favourite niece? Besides I can see you are worried about Fitz. I think you could do with the company. There is no need to talk to me if you would rather be silent. I do not think that you should be alone right now.”

“Thank you, aunt. I did not mean to sound like you were unwelcome. Indeed your company is very welcome. You are right, I am worried about my husband. I am worried that he may have reopened one of his wounds. I am sure that they are not properly healed just yet,” Elizabeth complained. “He is not yet fully well, and I do not want to think that something might go wrong. I am not ready to be a widow.”

Lady Catherine watched as the strong young woman burst into tears. “Elizabeth, it is your condition making you worry so. Your husband is on the mend. You are not going to be a widow for many years yet. I understand your fears and your worries. Tell me does the idea of giving birth scare you?”

Elizabeth nodded. “I have seen my friends, strong healthy women like me, die from childbed fever. I would happily give my life if I knew that I was leaving my husband with a son, but what if… what if Fitz dies and then I die in childbirth? Who will raise our son or daughter?”

Lady Catherine sat beside the distraught Elizabeth. “You are strong, you are fit, and you are healthy. There is no reason for you to not birth many children for your husband. Should the worst happen then our side of the family will step in and help, as I’m sure would your mother and sisters. Your fears are natural, but do not let them eat into you. You have shouldered so much responsibility, you and your husband. After the wedding why don’t you and Fitz retire to your room early? You could even take a tray in your room tomorrow morning. Take time to be with your husband, just the two of you. Your mother is around to care for your sisters, I’m sure that the other two couples are going to disappear from our society too. Talk your fears out with your husband. I am sure that he has a plan to make sure that you and the children are covered in all eventualities.”

Elizabeth nodded. She swallowed and she considered Lady Catherine’s advice. “I have had so little time with him,” she eventually whispered.

“You have both gone from crisis to crisis these past few months. Handling them with poise and dignity that many of my generation could never hope to achieve. You have secured your sisters’ futures, but at what cost to yourselves?” Lady Catherine asked. “I know the pain and suffering that such selflessness causes. I have been divided from my husband for many years. Do not allow anything to come between you and Fitz other than death itself. Together, you will weather this storm and together you can move forward.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Did you truly want Fitz to marry Anne?”

Lady Catherine looked at Elizabeth amazed. “I took that too far! Yes, at one time I had hoped that he would marry Anne. My daughter is not in the strongest of health and I had hoped that his responsibility and care for those around him would be enough for them to have a comfortable life together. However, when I saw you walk into Rosings on his arm I realised that my selfish hopes would have denied him the love, support, and companionship that everyone ought to have in marriage. I envied you, in that you had your new husband by your side. It made me miss my Lewis more than I could ever admit. I had not the slightest hope that my husband would reenter my life.”

“I’m sorry you were divided for such a long time,” Elizabeth told her.

Lady Catherine took a shaky breath. “It was the price we paid to keep Anne and all those other girls safe.”