Page 63 of Elizabeth in Scotland (Elizabeth and Darcy Abroad #2)
Three Years Later
It was a lovely day at Pemberley — no uncommon occurrence. Elizabeth knocked on the door of Georgiana’s room. Her sister-in-law bid her enter, and she smiled as she opened the door and came in.
“Oh, Georgiana!” Elizabeth breathed. “You look absolutely radiant!” Closing the door behind her, Elizabeth came to stand behind the vanity, where Georgiana was having her hair arranged by the maid.
She wore a light blue silk gown with lace trim under the bodice and silver embroidery all about the skirts.
She looked like an angel. “Mr Bingley will be pleased.”
“I do hope so,” Georgiana said, smiling through the reflection of the glass. “I cannot account for why I am so nervous.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I was nervous on my wedding day as well. Do not worry. It is completely natural to feel a little giddy.”
“Yes, but you had quite a bit more to distress you that day,” Georgiana said. “I do not think I will ever get over how your sister shredded your lovely dress.” She sighed, then looked up at Elizabeth again through the mirror. “But only happy thoughts today, hmm? How are things going downstairs?”
“Everything is going according to plan. You need not worry about the wedding breakfast, for Mrs Reynolds has matters well in hand. The carriage is ready to take us to the church. I believe my husband and Mr Bingley have already left for Lambton.”
“Oh dear. I do hate to keep them waiting.”
“Do not worry about that,” Elizabeth said. “It is all exactly as we arranged. Now, do you need anything else from me?”
“No, just sit with me until it is time to leave,” Georgiana said, a slight quake in her voice. “Oh, Lizzy, I did not know I could love someone as much as this. It frightens me a little.”
“I know how you feel,” Elizabeth replied. “But there is nothing to be frightened about. Mr Bingley loves you, and you love him. You have had several years to make certain of your feelings for each other. That is more than many couples can boast on their wedding day.”
“That is true, I suppose. At least I need not doubt the strength of our mutual regard.” Georgiana’s voice trailed off.
No doubt she was thinking of George Wickham, and how different her life might have been if she had gone through with the intended elopement.
He had only wanted to get his hands on her dowry.
Charles Bingley was the utter opposite. Over the last year of their courtship, Mr Bingley had shown that his love and devotion were genuine.
Now, on the day of their wedding, Elizabeth rejoiced in the culmination of all the waiting, all the longing that the two of them had experienced.
Georgiana had only grown in loveliness and poise over the last three years.
She was indeed a bride worth waiting for.
“Where is Richard?” Georgiana frowned. “I would have liked to see him before we went down.”
“My son is with the nanny. He’s been taken to the nursery so we could talk before the ceremony.
Richard will be down soon, do not worry.
” Elizabeth and Darcy’s two-year-old son was a bundle of energy and the sweetest boy one could have wished for.
However, he would have made himself a nuisance, she was afraid, pulling things off the vanity and the like.
Since he had found his ‘sea legs’ and begun walking, they had no end of difficulty in keeping him out of mischief.
“I am glad you came to talk with me. I find I am not so nervous having someone to distract me.” Georgiana wrung her hands. She turned slightly. “Are there very many people downstairs?”
Elizabeth nodded. “There are. And they are all having a wonderful time.” Georgiana and Mr Bingley had invited quite a few more guests than Elizabeth and Darcy had had at their wedding. Of course, they had not been forced to hold their wedding weeks sooner than intended.
“Do not worry about how many people are downstairs. This day is about you and Mr Bingley. I cannot tell you how wonderfully happy your brother and I have been in our marriage, and I am confident that the same awaits you and Mr Bingley.”
“I am glad we have found a house close by. I could not bear to live too far away from Pemberley,” Georgiana said. “It will be so nice to come back and forth with the children someday.” Her cheeks coloured at the thought of having children of her own.
“Are you sure you don’t mind not having a London Season?
You could have come out with Lydia and Kitty this winter, when we host them at the townhouse.
” Elizabeth suspected she knew the answer.
Though Mr Bingley and Georgiana had not begun courting until she turned eighteen, they had spent a great deal of time together ever since Elizabeth and Darcy had married, as Bingley spent more time at Pemberley than ever.
Georgiana had no interest in meeting any other man.
“There is no need, for I found the love of my life without having to go through the fuss of a Season. But I am glad that Lydia and Kitty will come out under your tutelage and care. Lydia especially has calmed down quite a bit since the Wickham incident.”
Elizabeth agreed wholeheartedly. It was a strange coincidence that the man who had nearly ruined Georgiana’s life would arrive in Meryton, but it was, perhaps, a blessing in disguise.
One of Lydia’s letters to Elizabeth had shown her to be dangerously infatuated with a young militiaman named George Wickham.
Knowing him for what he was, they had informed Mr Bennet of the danger that threatened his youngest daughter, and he had taken action in time to save Lydia from anything worse than disappointed hopes and a great deal of scolding.
Elizabeth had learned to be grateful for Jane’s display on the day of her wedding, for it had opened her father’s eyes to the dangers of not providing guidance and correction to his daughters when it was needed.
Since then, her father had been much more involved in the younger girls’ upbringing.
Had Mr Bennet not learned the cost of inaction, who could say what folly Lydia might have committed?
“Yes, Lydia still needs a little time to mature, I daresay.” Elizabeth sat down again and watched the maid put the finishing touches on her hair.
“Nineteen is a little young to be married, perhaps, but you are only a year younger than I was when I wed your brother. I have no doubt of your happiness with Mr Bingley. He is such a kind and patient man. I have never seen a couple more suited to each other, nor a groom so in love with his bride.”
“I disagree. I saw one three years ago — my brother.” Georgiana’s eyes twinkled in the mirror’s reflection.
“I will never forget the look on Fitz’s face when you walked down the aisle.
You were absolutely radiant!” She sighed at the memory.
The maid stepped back and announced that she was finished.
Georgiana leaned forward and smiled at herself in the mirror.
She looked so exquisite, Elizabeth doubted Mr Bingley would be able to draw a breath when he saw her.
Georgiana stood and went to the full-length mirror, spinning in her shimmering gown. “Will I do?” she asked.
“You will more than do,” Elizabeth assured her. She took Georgiana’s hands and felt that they were clammy. “Take a deep breath. All will be well, and you are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.”
Georgiana let go of her hands and took one last look in the mirror. “Thank you. Well, we still have a few minutes. I suppose the carriage is not ready yet.”
“Kitty said she would come up and let us know when it is time for us to leave. I believe we will have some time before then.”
Nervously, Georgiana sat back down at the vanity, facing away from the mirror. Elizabeth sat at the end of her bed.
“Oh, Lizzy, you must think of something to distract me from my nerves,” Georgiana begged. “Have you heard any news from your family as of late?”
“Well, as my parents and youngest sisters are here for your wedding, there is little I can tell you of them that you do not already know. However, I did receive another letter from Mary.”
“And how are Mr and Mrs Campbell these days?” Georgiana asked.
“They are wonderful. She says she is settling into her new role as a mother nicely, and Ewan is everything kind and solicitous.” Elizabeth’s benevolent schemes for her sister’s happiness had come to pass, for Ewan Campbell had fallen in love with Mary almost as soon as they had met.
Not many months passed before she and Mr Campbell were married at Strathalt House.
Now, they were the keepers of the house, and someday, the estate would pass to them.
“I cannot wait for them to visit so we can meet their daughter!” Georgiana exclaimed. “It will be wonderful to have all the children here next summer.”
They had planned to have as much of the family as possible visit Pemberley the following summer.
Mary and Ewan had agreed to make the trip down, since baby Charlotte would be over a year by then and better able to make the journey.
Georgiana and Bingley had said they would come to join the family party, as well as Elizabeth’s parents and the younger girls.
“And what of Jane?” Georgiana asked gently. She knew the subject of Jane was a sore spot even still, for there had yet to be a reconciliation.
Elizabeth sighed. “I did not want to say anything to darken your wedding day, but my mother has informed me of some sad news. Mr Collins passed away a few weeks ago from influenza.”
Georgiana gasped. “No! How awful!”
“I know. It seems that my sister has gone to London. She refused to go home to Longbourn, and so has become the paid companion of your soon-to-be sister-in-law, Mrs Caroline Wuthrow.” The former Miss Bingley had married an older man, of good fortune but poor intelligence.
London gossip held him to be as dull as dishwater.