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Once the Duke of Bedford was comfortably seated, the family took their seats and at five minutes before the ten o’clock hour as the vicar, the grooms, and their attendants took their places.

Everyone except for the patient rose as the royals took their seats, and once they had received their bows and curtsies, they sat then the rest of the family sat as well.

The Regent sat next to his cousin. As much as he did not want to, he had accepted that Cousin Sed would not recover baring divine intervention.

He had sent his royal physicians who had confirmed his cousin’s diagnosis and been honest about the fact that it would not be long before he succumbed.

To the Regent’s left was the Queen, followed by Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth.

Lady Anne was seated with her sister Catherine and her brother’s family.

Georgiana chose to sit near the Gardiners, Phillips, Bingleys, and Hursts, with Mary, Kitty, Wes, and Loretta.

Lady Pricilla De Melville was next to her sister Sarah, with her husband Lord Cyril next to her.

On the hour, the string quartet started to play softly and May Gardiner, after executing a very proper curtsy to the royals, walked down the aisle dropping white and red rose petals as she advanced.

She was followed by Lady Amberleigh, Isabelle Ashby, who was standing up for her sister-in-law walked down the aisle.

Once she reached the platform, she stood next to James Bennet.

Lady Marie Fitzwilliam came next and stood next to her brother-in-law Richard.

The string quartet ceased playing, paused, then struck up a lively tune.

The Earl of Ashbury proudly escorted his daughter toward her intended.

She had a cream satin gown with an empire waist, and a gossamer overlay.

Her veil was adorned with pearls, and her hair was in an updo, held in place by pearl tipped pins.

No one missed that she was glowing with happiness as her father lifted her veil, kissed her, and after replacing the veil, handed her to her groom who came to meet them.

After the Earl sat next to his wife in the front row across from Lady Sarah, it was Lady Elizabeth’s turn to make the walk to her destiny.

Darcy felt like he could not breathe when he saw her.

She wore a similarly simple dress to Lady Amy, except it was white satin.

Her sleeves were set slightly off her shoulders, and the cut in front displayed some of her ample breasts, but not too much as to be called indecent.

Both the overlay and her veil had tiny diamonds sewn on which reflected the light like a crystal chandelier.

She wore the emerald ear bobs and necklace that her groom had gifted her to go along with the emerald betrothal ring he had presented to her at Pemberley.

Her hair was in a twist with some of her raven curls cascading down the sides.

How he loved those curls and could not wait until he could run his fingers through her hair, as he had dreamt about doing for months now.

Her pins were emerald tipped and matched her jewellery perfectly.

The new Duke could see her eyes shining with love and anticipation through the sheer veil, the very eyes that had been the first thing about her which had captivated him.

Lord Thomas Bennet was the epitome of a proud father.

His oldest son and middle daughter were, as far as he could see, marrying their perfect matches.

As happy a day as it was, his heart was heavy when he noticed his brother’s pallor as he neared him.

It did not take a doctor to see that the prayed-for miracle would not be forthcoming.

After he kissed his Lizzy and placed her hand on William’s arm, he returned to sit next to his beloved Sarah.

The parson looked to the Regent for permission to commence and received a slight nod of His Highness’s head, so he opened the book of Common Prayer and 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 this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.

“First, it was ordained for…”

Not surprisingly, when the reverend asked if there were any objections there was silence except for Lady Catherine de Bourgh clearing her throat which produced many smiles from those that knew of her former aspirations for her nephew, and the irony of her warning all that if they interfered with his wedding another, they would incur her wrath.

Next the vicar asked, “Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man?” He looked at Lady Elizabeth and her groom in turn. The Duke of Hertfordshire said, “I do.” The question was repeated for Lady Amy, and the Marquess and the Earl of Ashbury stood and said, “I do.”

The two couples recited their vows, and the best men each handed his groom the wedding ring, first the Duke of Derbyshire and then the Marquess of Birchington recited: “ 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. Amen.”

The clergyman recited a prayer and then he concluded with: “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

“F orasmuch as Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth and Thomas and Amelia 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.

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

It was done, Lady Elizabeth Bennet was Elizabeth Darcy, Her Grace, the Duchess of Derbyshire, and Lady Amelia Ashby was Amelia Bennet, Marchioness of Birchington.

The curate led the newlyweds to the corner where the registry book had been placed on a table, and with the best men and matrons of honour as witnesses, the four newlyweds signed, and the last ritual was complete.

As had been agreed, the two couples first went to see Uncle Sed and receive his well wishes.

None of the four missed that his gasping and wheezing had become more pronounced, but no one mentioned it.

The brides kissed his cheek, and the grooms shook his hand.

The four then received their royal cousins’ congratulations.

As before, all other than Lord Sed stood, and the royals stood and headed toward the wedding breakfast.

Six footmen lifted the armchair with his grace in it to place him at the wedding breakfast as he was determined to see the celebration through.

The two couples were surrounded by their immediate family, and Lizzy’s three younger sisters took pleasure in addressing her as ‘your grace’ at every opportunity.

Lady Sarah and Lord Tom split up, Lady Sarah hugging her middle daughter while her husband shook his son’s hand and kissed his new daughter on the cheek.

After her mother, the new duchess was embraced by her mother-in-law who had tears of joy in her eyes.

“How my George would have loved you, Lizzy,” she said close to her newest daughter’s ear.

“On this happiest of days, I miss him, but I am comforted in the abject joy that I see in my son’s eyes.

You are the only one that suits him, daughter, and he is the only one that fits with you.

God really does move in mysterious ways. ”

As Lady Anne moved on to hug and kiss her son, she was followed by Lady Catherine, who gave her newest niece a big wet kiss on her cheek.

The great lady had grown to love Lady Elizabeth Bennet, and like so many others, could plainly see that she was the only one for her nephew.

It was another half hour before all of the well wishes, hugs, and kisses were given.

Once all of the family was seated, the butler made the formal announcement.

“Your Royal Majesty, Your Royal Highness, and your Highness, your Graces, my lords and ladies. Lord Fitzwilliam and Lady Elizabeth Darcy, their graces the Duke and Duchess of Derbyshire, and Lord Thomas and Lady Amelia Bennet, the Marquess and Marchioness of Birchington.”

After the formal introduction, Reverend Moseby-Finch gave a benediction and said grace.

The Queen and the regent took a small bite of food, and the celebratory meal commenced.

The newlywed couples went from table to table to talk to the various family members, and when the newlywed Darcys arrived at their uncle’s chair, they were both taken aback by the way that he looked as he had worsened significantly.

They, like the Duke of Hertfordshire, had taken a small measure of hope that morning when they saw their Uncle looking better than he had in recent memory, but they could not deny what they saw before them now. Uncle Sed was not in a good way.

The Duke of Bedford was clearly having a very hard time drawing breath, and no matter how he tried to hide, it was obvious that he was in a lot of pain.

“Uncle Sed, I am as stubborn as you are, so do not try and protest. You need to allow the footmen to return you to your bed so the doctor can examine you,” Elizabeth pleaded with her uncle.

He was too weak to protest so he simply nodded.

“My Sed will be better once he has rested, he simply over-exerted himself today,” Lady Rose informed her family.

A footman pushed the bath chair, so it was parallel to the arms chair while two others lifted their master and gently placed him in the bath chair.

He was wheeled out, the concerned looks of his family following his progress including the Regent.

Before Lady Rose followed her husband, the Regent beckoned her over and asked her to send a messenger to Buckingham House, regardless of the time, if Cousin Sed worsened any further, and she, of course, promised that she would.

Lady Rose turned and addressed the family before she followed her husband to his chambers.

“You all know that my Sed would be very upset if his being tired causes the celebration of our niece’s and nephew’s wedding to be cut short.

Please, carry on, and I will return with news as soon as I speak with Mr. Penrod.

” The Duchess of Bedford left the ball room, and the celebration resumed, albeit much subdued.

A quarter hour later, Lady Rose Bennet returned and informed the family that the doctor concurred with her that the Duke needed to rest, and he was in bed and sleeping as she spoke.

No one had their heart in the celebration any longer and the newlyweds and their parents discussed cancelling the abbreviated wedding ball scheduled for that night.

When Lady Rose heard what they were considering she told them, in no uncertain terms, that neither her husband nor herself wanted the ball cancelled.

If fact, she informed them, that before he fell asleep, her Sed had instructed her to attend to represent both of them.

Not long after the conversation the newlyweds made their rounds to thank their families for attending, then headed to the open carriage waiting in front of the house.

The Duke and Duchess of Derbyshire entered their landau pulled by a matched white set of four while the Marquess and Marchioness only had to walk to the house next-door.

Fitzwilliam Darcy revelled in the closeness as his duchess snuggled up against him.

As soon as the carriage turned out of Russell Square, he placed a not too chaste kiss on his beloved’s lips.

The driver was well trained and kept his eyes forward on the way ahead, while Biggs and Johns found very interesting things to look at not in the equipage as they stood in their positions at the rear.

After the relatively short trip, the Duke and his Duchess arrived at their townhouse.