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E lizabeth sat before the glass while Madame Benoit and her assistant fluttered around her, threading the glass-headed pins and tiny flowers through her hair. She looked beyond her reflection at Georgiana, who sat beside her bed where her gown was laid out ready.

“Thank you for being here, Georgiana.” She was also happy that Jane was with them for this time before the marriage, and her calm serenity was helping the younger girl.

“Yes, I’m really happy that I can entrust my sister to you for the ceremony,” Jane smiled across at their soon-to-be sister. “Mr. Bingley wanted me to sit beside him in the church.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Georgiana sounded reassured. “I was sure you’d have wanted to stand up with Elizabeth, as you have always been so close.”

Elizabeth laughed. “No. Both William and I wanted you close by on the occasion that makes us a family.”

Georgiana sniffled, and Jane produced her handkerchief. “Lizzy! Calm down on the emotion. There will be enough of that at the church.”

“True.” Elizabeth surrendered the responsibility of Georgiana to Jane and turned her attention to thoughts of William. How would he be feeling this morning?

She remembered the occasion the previous week when he told her that his only task at the wedding was to make sure she had the perfect day, so his duty was to make sure he looked as good as possible and the perfect catch for her.

Her breath caught. He always looked impossibly handsome to her eyes, and his gaze had the power to rob her of all sensible thought. How could he look any better?

Her thoughts were so taken up with him, she was surprised when Madame Benoit stepped back.

“It is time to dress, Lady Elizabeth.”

“Thank you, Madame. You have made the most beautiful gown I could ever imagine.”

As they buttoned the row of tiny pearl buttons down the back, she could see, mirrored in her sisters’ gazes, that she looked well in the gown.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Aunt Cecilia entered.

“Elizabeth, you look wonderful, my dear.” There was a catch in her voice. “I was hoping you would permit me to take your mother’s place this morning and assist you with your jewellery?”

“Of course, Aunt. I’m hoping Father will not be too pained by my likeness to Mother.”

She’d already laid out the emeralds that William had given her on the occasion of their formal betrothal, and Aunt Cecilia lifted the delicate necklace first and fastened it.

Elizabeth looked into the mirror. The fine chain dropped to her décolletage, and culminated in the emerald, surrounded by smaller diamonds in the silver setting.

The matching drop earrings, once clipped in place, sparkled as she moved, and she tipped her head on one side as she looked at her reflection. Then she looked at Jane through the glass.

“Tolerable, do you think?”

Jane looked scandalised. “Don’t say it, Lizzy! You know you look perfectly beautiful.”

Her aunt was looking between them. “Tolerable? Is there something I have not heard?” The half-smile on her face almost inclined Elizabeth to tell her what had happened, but caution prevailed.

“It is nothing, Aunt. A private jest between us.” She sent a grateful look toward Jane.

Aunt Cecilia looked at the clock. “It is as well you’re ready, Elizabeth. Your father has been waiting impatiently to see you. I think he hopes for a moment to have a private word with you before you leave in the carriage.”

“Of course. I’m glad the church is so close to the castle, but there will be barely a moment to talk on the journey.” Elizabeth turned to the seamstress.

“Thank you for assisting me this morning. I think the congregation will appreciate your skills.”

“It has been an honour, Lady Elizabeth. May I wish you joy on this happy occasion?”

As she descended the stairs, Elizabeth saw her father waiting in the hall.

She approached him, angling her cheek for his kiss. His voice was thick with emotion. “You are as beautiful as your mother on her wedding day, Elizabeth.”

“I hope she would be proud of me, Father.” Elizabeth judged her moment. “And I am sure she must be pleased with the way you have cared for me all my life and protected me.”

“You’re very kind, Elizabeth. But I think she would have laughed at my over-protective actions.”

“I wish, for your sake, that she had lived.” Elizabeth thought a moment. “And I would have wished to have been with you more of my childhood, but if I had not been at Longbourn, I might never have met William, and I cannot imagine a finer man as a husband.”

“Well, I suppose that last to be true, my dear. And he certainly proved his determination to protect you and make you happy despite my opposition. But I think you would have known him; your mother and his were the closest of friends.”

“True.” Elizabeth tucked her hand into his arm. “I think it might be time to go, Father. I hope we shall still see much of you after our tour.”

He patted her hand. “You’re very generous, my dear.”

They turned, and Elizabeth kissed Jane and Aunt Cecilia as they went with Georgiana out to the chaise, which would carry them the few hundred yards to the old Priory church.

Then she was alone with her father. “Are you well, Father?”

“I am, although the emotions are warring within me.” He huffed a rueful laugh. “I wish you to be married and safe from greedy men who wish to steal you away for your fortune, but I am sorry to lose your company, and will worry much for your safety.”

She reached up and kissed his cheek. “You know William will look after me, and Aunt Gardiner suggested you make Peak House a regular place to visit after our tour. We will then not be far from you.”

“She is very kind. I owe them a great deal.” Father sighed heavily. “But today is a happy and auspicious occasion. I will not be sad.”

Elizabeth entered the great church on her father’s arm. She barely noticed the pews filled with guests as her eyes were on the tall figure waiting for her by the steps to the altar.

William had turned toward her, his gaze on her alone. She couldn’t see him clearly; her gaze had misted at the sight of him, and she was impatient to be there. But she had to wait as she paced slowly beside Father, and Georgiana had tucked herself behind them.

As she drew closer, she saw areas of sunlight, splintered into many colours through the great stained glass windows, scattered in coloured pools of light across the floor where they would stand together.

She lifted her gaze to his, and the warm appreciation in them weakened her legs. She forced herself to stand firmly.

Tolerable . She could think that and be amused. She met his eyes, and he leaned closer.

“You are the most beautiful sight any man could see, Elizabeth.”

The bishop cleared his throat and glanced at Father, who nodded. Elizabeth turned and gave her bouquet to Georgiana.

“Dearly beloved …” the sonorous words rose around them, she and William together.

Then the bishop paused. “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”

Father stepped forward and took Elizabeth’s right hand, and the bishop took it and passed it to William’s right hand. As his hand enclosed hers, she felt the heat of his touch as a flame up her arm.

William leaned closer. “Thank you, Your Grace. I will never betray your trust.” His murmur was quiet, and the bishop waited a moment before leading William in his vows to her.

His gaze was on her, passionate love blazing in them as he promised to have and to hold her, to love and cherish her their whole lives together.

Elizabeth almost wanted this moment to last forever. She didn’t take her gaze from his face, which softened as if he knew what she was thinking.

She kept her gaze on him, even as the bishop loosed their hands and made her enclose William’s right hand in hers, before he led her in her vows to him.

The bishop stepped back and turned to William’s cousin, who placed the ring on the open prayer book. As William placed the ring on her finger, he needed no leading by the bishop.

“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

After the prayers, they rose to their feet again, and the bishop joined their hands together and wrapped his stole around them in a symbolic knot. “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.”

William’s whisper was as heartfelt as it was quiet. “Never. I will never let you go, dearest Elizabeth.”