Page 142

“If you never think of your relations with your husbands as a chore, they will never be so.

No matter what anyone else may say, both the husband and wife deriving pleasure from the marriage bed is a good thing and does not make the wife a wanton, nor is it a sin to love your husband as only his bride can.

I believe that each of you will take much pleasure in your marriage, both what happens out of and within the marriage bed.

Never be afraid to be spontaneous, and regardless of what society professes, night-time is not the only acceptable time for relations with your beloved husband.

Whenever you have privacy and you both desire the same thing, it is never wrong.

“In the future when you are with child there is no reason to stop having relations with your husband, until and unless you feel it is too uncomfortable for you as you near your confinement. Remember that it is a partnership, and like any good and equal partnership the shared experience of love, passion, and pleasure will be very fulfilling. Do you have any questions for me, Jane? Marie?”

Once both brides had stopped blushing, they looked at each other and then chorused, “No, thank you Mama.”

Jane added, “Truly. You have helped us look forward to our wedding night with pleasure and not fear.” Both girls stood and kissed Lady Sarah on her cheeks and she hugged each one with all of her might.

After their mother left the chambers, the sisters discussed what their mama had imparted long into the night.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Friday morning, the seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord 1812, was a cold and clear day but for some wisps of snow-white clouds.

The ceremony at Longbourn’s church was to commence at half after the hour of nine.

Longbourn’s rector, Mr. Christopher Pierce, had met with both couples the previous afternoon to make sure that everyone was familiar with the order of service and to answer any questions that the couples may have had.

Not only did they like their rector, but he also had the very good sense to marry their Charlotte, thus elevating Mr. Pierce in the estimation of the family. Unless there was a royal decree, all five Bennet girls intended to marry from Longbourn with Mr. Pierce officiating.

Ladies Jane and Marie had dressed in very similar gowns for the whole of their lives up to this day, so they saw no reason to deviate on this most important of days.

Both had silk gowns created by Madame Chambourg, the difference was that Jane’s was white while Marie’s was cream.

Both had short-puffed sleeves with a clear organza overlay.

The veils, also organza, matched the colour of the bride’s dress with pearls sewn in for lustrous affect.

Elizabeth was to stand up for Jane, while Franny Phillips would do the honours for Marie.

Peter and May Gardiner had been appointed ring bearer and flower girl respectively.

By quarter after the hour, the congregation was all seated knowing that with the two royals present that anyone late would not be allowed in by the cadre of royal guards around the perimeter of the church.

The grooms were waiting, Andrew on the left and Richard to the right of the altar.

Ashby was to the right of and a step behind his friend while Colonel Forster in full dress uniform was there for the former colonel.

The Duchess of Hertfordshire, escorted by Lord Tom, took her seat in the front pew, and they were followed in by Lord James with Lady Mary on one arm and Lady Kitty on the other.

The brides stood in the vestibule with their attendants, and the dukes of Hertfordshire and Bedford.

In keeping with his status as a second father, Uncle Sed was to walk Marie down the aisle while Jane would be on her father’s arm.

Lord Thomas Bennet was normally not an emotional man, but on this morning as he and his brother were about to give his first-born daughters away to men who deserved them and would protect them with their lives if need be, he could not but be overcome.

He looked at his two beautiful daughters and owned that they had grown into strong women who would from this day forward be under the protection of Andrew and Richard Fitzwilliam and no longer his.

The door opened with Peter and May proceeding Lizzy as the young girl dropped rose petals.

Lizzy was followed by her father with Jane on his arm.

Next came Franny Phillips followed by Lord Sed Bennet with Marie on his arm.

As each entered the church, he or she made a bow or curtsey to the Prince and Princess.

Lady Elizabeth smiled at Caroline Bingley and Charlotte Pierce who were seated next to each other as she slowly walked up the aisle.

Both her older sisters had teased her with a reminder to walk at a sedate pace rather than the pace she set when she took her rambles about the countryside.

Lady Elizabeth stood on the right near Richard.

As the Duke of Hertfordshire and Lady Jane arrived at the head of the aisle, Richard approached them.

After the Duke kissed his daughter’s cheek and lowered the veil, Lord Thomas Bennet handed the treasure that was his oldest daughter to Richard Fitzwilliam.

The same process was repeated as the Duke of Bedford handed his niece to Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam.

Once both dukes had taken their seats, the parson began the wedding service.

“ Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together…

It was not long before both brides and grooms had recited their vows and Mr. Pierce closed the ceremony:

“ Forasmuch as Lord Andrew and Lady Marie and Richard and Lady Jane have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring and by joining of hands; I pronounce that each couple be man and wife together, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

“ God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully look upon you with his favour, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may all so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen .”

The four followed Mr. Pierce into the vestry to sign the register with the two dukes and maids of honour as their witnesses.

The new Fitzwilliam sisters signed the name Bennet one last time and it was official.

“I finally come before you, Janey, I am after all a viscountess now!” Marie teased her elder sister.

“Your Highnesses, your Graces, my Lords and Ladies, Lord Andrew and Lady Marie Fitzwilliam, the Viscount and Viscountess of Hilldale, and The Honourable Mr. Richard and Lady Jane Fitzwilliam,” Hill intoned as he introduced the newlyweds upon their entrance to the ballroom where the pre-wedding ball had been held, now the location of the festive wedding breakfast to celebrate their wedding.

The young couples were congratulated by one and all.

Lady Anne Darcy was standing next to Lady Elizabeth Bennet; she looked over at the younger lady who had become like another niece to her and smiled as she leaned close so no one could hear her words, “We are related in fact now, Lizzy, and you realise that you and William are cousins now, do you not?”

“Yes, Aunt Anne, well I know that!” Lady Elizabeth let out an unladylike huff.

“You are not the first to point that out to me in the last few days, and I dare say my brother Richard will take every opportunity to tease me about your son and the Bennets now being connected through the marriages to my sisters.”

“You are not upset at the connection, are you Lizzy?” Lady Anne asked worried that the young lady had changed her mind about William.

“Not at all, Aunt Anne. In fact, it pleases me greatly.” Her smile reached her eyes, so Lady Anne knew it was genuine.

“I have gained more than your son as my cousin this day, I now get to claim Aunt Catherine, her Anne, and your Georgie as relations in fact rather than just in my heart. I do not repine the connection to any of my new relatives.” Lizzy promised softly.

Lady Anne was happy for her son, although she had no way of knowing if Elizabeth and William would ever be more than cousins.

She did know one thing, neither she nor anyone else would push them in one direction or another.

If they were to become any more than cousins, that would be up to them, and them alone.

Both dukes and the Earl of Matlock made speeches welcoming all of the new family members.

Both Lord Thomas and his older brother sent a not too subtle warning, disguised as humour, to the Fitzwilliam brothers of what would happen to them if they ever hurt either Jane or Marie.

The two Marquesses and some other male relatives added their own more direct messages to the two grooms. No one believed it was necessary; the adoration that flowed between each couple was very easy to see, even to an unromantic eye.

By one in the afternoon the newlyweds had said their farewells.

Lord and Lady Hilldale headed to Town where they would overnight before heading toward Brighton and Seaview Cottage while Richard and Lady Jane Fitzwilliam headed north, starting their almost four-day trip that would bring them to Lakeview House in the Lake District.

Richard Fitzwilliam had reserved the biggest suite at a very respectable coaching inn three hours north of Meryton.

After the rest of the family had returned to the ballroom to continue the celebration, the Duke and Duchess of Hertfordshire stayed outside in the same spot where they had wished the daughters and new sons Godspeed for their travels.

“Will it ever get easier to see our children leave Longbourn, Thomas?” Lady Sarah asked forlornly.

“I would wager not, my love,” Lord Thomas said as he hugged his beloved wife close to him. “My hope is that although we will let them go when the time comes, we will always love them as we do now, so it will never be easy to say goodbye to any of them.”

“We did gain two very honourable sons, Thomas. Either one of them will do anything in his power to make our girls happy,” she sighed, “Jane and Marie will be missed, but we will see them often enough. In fact, they will be at the Netherfield ball and then they will be in London with us for the season.”

Thomas Bennet, Duke of Hertfordshire, who after all these years still loved his wife to distraction, hugged her close and kissed her soundly before they turned to re-enter the house. As they walked inside the Duchess was heard to say: “Oh my, Thomas, you make me feel like a newlywed again.”