Page 18 of Chivalry & Chauvinism (The Victorian Vagaries #2)
Mary’s wedding day was everything she never dreamed might be possible. Her gown was an incredible shade of cream silk, with a lace overdress of the same colour, with seed pearls sewn all over it. Paired with her dark hair and eyes, her lovely pearls and garnets, to which Elizabeth added a set of pearl and garnet drop earrings as a wedding present, and the spray of scarlet roses and baby’s breath she carried, it was a stunning effect. She would wear no veil, bonnet, or tiara, but Sarah had outdone herself with seed pearls and baby’s breath threaded through her hair.
Her mother and all her sisters were with her in her apartment, having all spent the night at Netherfield, while many of the gentlemen had elected to stay the night before the wedding either at Lilac Cottage or at Longbourn with Bennet and Bingley, allowing the ladies a night to themselves to pamper the bride, while they gave the groom a bit of a stag party.
The carriages took the ladies to the church. Elizabeth waited for the last one before leaving Mary alone with their father. Mary would have preferred to be given away by Darcy, but since she had decided to marry from Hertfordshire, she felt she could not do so without causing gossip in her parent’s neighbourhood. She declared to Elizabeth that it was one small thing, and silly to fuss over when she was so fortunate in every other way.
Mary was so stunning in her wedding gown that Elizabeth and Mrs Bennet wept at the sight of her. In fact everyone in the room cried, except for Jane. Lady Matlock gifted Mary a stunning pearl bracelet her mother in law had given her on her wedding day, and had spent most of the morning in happy tears. Anne had a gift for Mary as well. She had kept all of the de Bourgh jewels and planned to do so for her lifetime, at the end of which they would be returned to the estate at Rosings Park. But she wished Richard’s wife to have at least one set of jewels to wear, so she gifted Mary a stunning sapphire parure and several smaller pieces that Mary was exceedingly touched by.
Her father and Elizabeth waited as Mary came down the stairs. Thomas Bennet was seemingly unaffected by Mary’s appearance, but he did at least tell her she looked well, and she thanked him. They went to the carriages, and once Elizabeth had climbed into her carriage and gone, Thomas Bennet handed his third eldest daughter into the last carriage.
*****
The minister’s new wife began playing as Mary and her father stepped into the doorway. Mary looked at the woman, playing the same instrument Mary had played in turns with the other ladies of Meryton at similar events and church services growing up in this very church. The vicar was an older man who, having no children, had recently married a local widow to comfort him in his advancing years. Mary always expected to be in that woman’s place someday; married to some humble parson and giving herself in service to a humble parish. It would have been a good life.
But Mary had chosen very differently from what she thought her path would be. She was marrying the second son of an earl, and would be a society hostess living at Darcy House when in town. She trembled for a brief moment to think how her life had changed. Just at the moment her father thought she might lose courage and change her mind, Mary looked up and met Richard’s gaze. Immediately she felt calmer and braver than she had ever felt in her life. She stepped forward on her father’s arm, smiling, her eyes already streaming the happiest of tears. Indeed the only dry eyes in the room were Jane’s and Mr Bennet’s. Every lady wept copiously at Mary’s joyful glowing radiance, and every gentleman cleared their throat and blinked hard as Mary Bennet somehow managed to prevent herself from letting go of her father’s arm and sprinting up the aisle to her betrothed.
Richard controlled himself manfully as Mary joined him at the altar and placed her hand in his. Neither of them remembered the ceremony or their vows at all. The day passed in a blur of neighbours, lords and ladies, and family. Everyone toasted the couple, and then toasted Mrs Bennet for the most sumptuous wedding breakfast they had ever seen. Even the delightfully French duchess had loudly congratulated her mother on the most charming and delightful country wedding breakfast she had ever attended. Fanny Bennet nearly swooned at such notice. Elizabeth and Mary had given her a completely free licence and an unlimited budget in planning the breakfast. Mrs Bennet had not disappointed.
*****
Before the hour grew too late, Richard swept Mary into the white carriage Elizabeth hired for the occasion. The couple left for Darcy House in London where they would stay for one week before leaving for the Darcy cottage in the Lake District for one month. As the carriage left Meryton, Mary relaxed in her husband’s arms, though not for long, for she was quickly tempted into an amorous interlude. Richard had waited patiently, but his control was hanging by a thread.
After nearly a half hour of his devoted attentions, Richard came up for air, Mary gasping and nearly overwhelmed. “I apologise, darling. It requires nearly all of my control not to take you right now in the carriage.”
“I am certain I should object to that idea, but apparently my sister is correct. I find that I cannot complain at all,” Mary giggled.
“I neither know nor wish to know what ideas Elizabeth has planted in you, but I will be sure to send her a fine bouquet at the earliest opportunity. You deserve better than a quick tumble in a carriage on your wedding day. I can wait until we reach town. Distract me now, dear, and when we arrive at Darcy House, I promise the waiting shall be over,” Richard chuckled.
“I have a surprise that was shared with me by my sister, with permission to share with you as soon as we got away, although I fear the news might return your attention to your previous ardour,” said Mary. “My sister has shared that she and Darcy shall welcome a new member of their family sometime after the new year.”
“That dog! Darcy never said a word,” Richard marvelled. “If everyone at Pemberley did not already regard Elizabeth as a heroine already, they will now. Pemberley hasn’t been such a happy place since Darcy and I were small boys, before his mother lost so many children. An heir is just what Pemberley needs. We shall have to catch up with them, and quickly, my love. I cannot be outdone by my cousin for long. For every babe he produces, we must produce three!”
“I believe they will make an announcement before they return to Pemberley. Certainly no earlier than tomorrow. Elizabeth was quite adamant about not stealing our special day with her news. I felt that it could only increase the joy of our family and friends, and of course I had no objection to their making an announcement at the wedding or the ball, but my sister would not hear of it,” smiled Mary. “I can only hope that my brother does not have the same competitive streak that afflicts you. I fear that producing a dozen children may be beyond my abilities.”
“I hate to disillusion you, darling, but Darcy and I have been competing in all things since we were boys,” rumbled Richard, capturing Mary’s mouth once again as the carriage rolled toward London. The basket of food and cider rode unnoticed in the corner all the way to Darcy House as Mary and Richard gave one another their full attention. By the next morning they both agreed that they had made a sincere effort to catch up with Darcy and Elizabeth. Mary believed that if she were not a mother before the end of a twelve month, it certainly would not be for lack of her husband’s devotion.
The End