Page 40 of Longbourn’s Son (Pride and Prejudice Variation #22)
“Oh, the leaves are budding!” Lydia exclaimed as she clambered up her favorite oak tree behind Longbourn.
“They are,” Luke said, climbing cautiously behind her. He had put on weight in the last six months and knew that he could not climb quite as high as he used to; given that he had been quite spindly a year ago, he was pleased with the additional poundage on his tall frame.
“I can still see Oakham Mount,” Lydia commented when she had settled in her favorite perch, “but it will not be long before the leaves block our view.”
“Do you see Mr. Darcy’s carriage?” Kitty called up from her position far below.
Over the years, Luke’s twin had managed to find the courage to climb trees, though she still preferred to stay within fifteen feet of the ground.
This was in stark contrast to Lydia, who preferred to be as close to the heavens as possible.
Luke looked around carefully from his own roost and then called down, “Not yet. Lizzy said they would not arrive until at least noon, and we are still a few minutes short.”
Silence fell for a few minutes as the three siblings enjoyed the peace of a spring morning, and then Lydia said, “I can hardly believe that Jane and Lizzy are going to be married. I am going to miss them both very much.”
Kitty could hear, from the trembling in her sister’s voice, that the youngest Miss Bennet was seriously affected.
She hesitated for a few seconds and then, clutching fiercely to her courage, began climbing higher so that she could better succor her little sister.
Luke was, she knew, too heavy to ascend any higher than his current position.
Lydia was crying by the time Kitty had reached a spot near enough to hand over her handkerchief. Lydia took the linen and wiped her eyes and then looked down at her sister, who was now clinging carefully to a branch a few feet below her.
“I am sorry, Kitty. I did not mean to cry. It is just…”
“I know,” Kitty answered, patting her sister’s leg gently. “We will miss them dreadfully. But we still have each other, and Mary, and Father, and now Louisa.”
“And Christopher,” Lydia added, a smile breaking through her tears. “I adore him so much! Oh, I am very happy for our sisters; they both have fallen in love with good men, though I find this change to be difficult.”
“I see the carriage!” Luke exclaimed from below them. As hoped, this turned Lydia’s thoughts toward the upcoming reunion with Jane and Elizabeth.
/
Darcy handed Elizabeth out of the carriage and smiled down on her from his greater height. “I will see you tomorrow morning,” he said rather inadequately.
She favored him with a cheeky grin and said, “Yes, and after that, we will no longer have to be parted in such a tedious manner every evening.”
This provoked a gasp from Jane, who then blushed adorably, and Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed, and the ladies moved closer to their gentlemen, and…
The sounds of subdued laughter pulled both couples out of their respective kisses. Elizabeth spun around and looked up into the oak tree, where her three siblings were perched high above, staring down at them with amusement.
“I do believe we are under enemy surveillance,” Richard said jovially, taking a few steps toward the oak. “Mr. Bennet, Miss Kitty, Miss Lydia, it is wonderful to see you again.”
This provoked another storm of embarrassed giggles from the two youngest Misses Bennet, and Elizabeth rose to her toes and planted another quick kiss on Darcy’s lips. “You and Richard had best go on to Netherfield, my dear. Tomorrow morning will come soon enough.”
Darcy, who had been shaken to be observed kissing his beloved, regained his equanimity sufficiently to give Elizabeth another peck on the lips before grasping his cousin’s arm. “Come, Richard, we must be off.”
“Until tomorrow, my love,” the colonel said to Jane, and obediently reentered the carriage.
Jane and Elizabeth, beaming ecstatically, watched as the carriage jolted into motion.
They waved until it was out of sight, and then turned to regard their three youngest siblings, who had carefully descended the tree and were now approaching.
“Really, you children!” Elizabeth exclaimed with mock severity as she rushed forward to embrace them one by one. “I had forgotten how difficult it is to find privacy at Longbourn!”
“You can hardly expect to be private out in the open,” Lydia said merrily. “Now do come inside; I am sure Father is eager to see you.”
“Wait!” Luke exclaimed. “Before you do, I must show you something!”
“Indeed he must!” Kitty agreed, grabbing Elizabeth’s hand and towing her toward the stables. Jane found her own hand clasped in Lydia’s, and she shot a puzzled look at her youngest sister.
“Is it in the stable, Lyddy?”
“Yes, but I will tell you nothing else until you see it,” her youngest sibling said mysteriously.
There were cries of enthusiasm from Coachman Jack and his minions as Jane and Elizabeth entered the stable; all the servants at Longbourn were overjoyed that the two eldest Misses Bennet were engaged to fine men.
In the midst of the greetings, Luke opened the door to the first loose box and stepped in with a halter.
Within a few seconds, he guided his new prize out into the corridor, which caused all conversation to cease.
“Oh, Luke!” Elizabeth finally gasped out. “Oh, he, or she, is lovely!”
“She is,” Luke agreed, his glowing eyes fixed on the bay filly. “She is nine months old and a thoroughbred. Father gave her to me three days ago. I have named her Amber.”
The horse nickered softly and gently nibbled on Luke’s ear, and Elizabeth chuckled and said, “Oh, she has white stockings, which are charming. My dear brother, I am so happy for you!”
“Louisa convinced Father to give Luke a thoroughbred colt,” Lydia murmured in Jane’s ear. “I heard her say that he has shown such maturity of late that he can be trusted.”
Jane wrapped an arm around her young sister. “That was very kind of her, as Luke has been aching to own such a horse for many years. Do you like Louisa, my dear?”
“I do, very much,” Lydia assured her, looking directly into Jane’s blue eyes. “I will miss you and Lizzy, but Louisa and Christopher are wonderful additions to our family. Do not worry about us, please. We will be well.”
/
“Welcome, Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam!” Bingley exclaimed as the two gentlemen stepped into the familiar entrance hall of Netherfield.
“Bingley, thank you for permitting us to descend upon you in force,” Darcy said gratefully.
“It is my pleasure, of course! You are the first to arrive, but I assume Miss Darcy and Mrs. Annesley will be along shortly?”
“Yes, along with our mutual cousin, Miss Anne de Bourgh,” the colonel said.
“I have heard of her, of course, but have never had the privilege of meeting her,” Bingley commented, leading his guests into the drawing room.
“She has been trapped at Rosings for many years,” Darcy explained, taking a seat, “but her mother, Lady Catherine, brought her to London in an attempt to force me to marry Anne by special license. Once it became clear that I was marrying Elizabeth, Anne asked for refuge with us. She has no desire to return to Rosings, to be subjected to her mother’s fury over being thwarted.
She will stay with Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley for the next months. ”
“That is wonderful,” Bingley said, handing over glasses of brandy. “Now, a toast to you both. Congratulations on your engagements to two of the finest women in all of England!”
The two cousins lifted their own glasses and drank, and then three minutes passed in silence as Darcy and Fitzwilliam stared blankly into the air with matching beatific smiles, eventually provoking a laugh from the master of Netherfield.
“What are you laughing about?” Darcy demanded, starting in surprise.
“I am delighted to observe my stately friend dreaming of the beautiful eyes of Miss Elizabeth Bennet, that is all.”
Darcy chuckled. “You have the right of it, of course, and Richard is no doubt fixated on Jane...”
“I am, of course,” Richard declared, taking a sip of brandy. “There is no greater joy than falling in love with a wonderful woman, Bingley.”
“I am well aware,” Bingley answered, suddenly solemn, which caused Darcy to lean forward with excitement.
“Miss Lucas?” he asked.
“Yes. Charlotte accepted my offer of marriage two days ago,” Bingley said happily. “We are calling the banns because Lady Lucas wishes to revel in her daughter’s engagement. We plan to marry within the month.”
Darcy was on his feet now and he rushed forward to shake Bingley’s hand. “Many, many congratulations! Miss Lucas is a wonderful woman, and I am certain you will be very happy.”
“I am certain as well,” Bingley agreed heartily. “I know my feelings this time are different because as you know, my Charlotte is not a blonde beauty like so many of my infatuations of the past. She is a generous, intelligent, diligent, attentive woman, and I have no doubt she loves me.”
/
“Oh, Charlotte, congratulations!” Elizabeth exclaimed, embracing her friend vigorously. “Mr. Bingley is an excellent young man. I am ecstatic for you!”
Charlotte Lucas was usually a calm, staid woman, but she could not keep herself from crying.
“It is like a dream come true, Lizzy. Every morning I wake up and wonder if I just imagined it. Charles is such a kind, genial gentleman. I truly cannot believe that he chose me, when he could have had his pick of true beauties!”
Jane and Elizabeth exchanged quick glances at this and Charlotte said, “Charles told me that he offered for you only a few months ago, Jane. I hope you do not mind that he is now marrying me.”
“Of course I do not,” Jane exclaimed. “My dear Charlotte, he was captivated with my face, not with me . Furthermore, I liked him but my feelings for Richard show me that I did not love Mr. Bingley. I believe you are far better suited for one another, and I could not be happier for you.”
“To be entirely truthful, I cannot imagine refusing such an advantageous offer,” Charlotte declared, carefully wiping her eyes with her handkerchief, “but I am very thankful you did.”
“Do you love him, Charlotte?” Elizabeth asked, suddenly concerned.
“I do, very much, though I would have accepted him even if I did not love him. I know that dismays you, dear Lizzy, but I am not romantic like you. Nonetheless, these feelings in my heart – yes, I do love Charles Bingley, with his sweet disposition and his generosity. We will be happy.”
/
“Are you well, Thomas?” Louisa asked softly.
Mr. Bennet turned over and placed an arm around his beautiful bride; while the master and new mistress of Longbourn had separate bedchambers, they had spent every night since their wedding in Mr. Bennet’s large bed.
He sighed and murmured, “I know I should be overjoyed that Jane and Elizabeth have found wonderful gentlemen to marry; indeed, I am delighted. Fitzwilliam is perfect for Jane, and Darcy for Elizabeth. But both will move north, and I will miss them.”
Louisa pulled closer to her husband and kissed him on the forehead. “Of course you will. Losing a loved one, even to marriage, is difficult, especially when they move far away.”
He smiled gratefully into the face of his wife and, not for the first time, thanked God for the gift of a truly compatible bride. Louisa was not prone to vapors or nerves like the first Mrs. Bennet, and she had the gift of saying exactly the right thing at the right time.
“But I have gained both a wonderful wife and a son,” he continued, “so I should not repine.”
Louisa snuggled a little closer and murmured, “Perhaps when Christopher is a little older, we can visit Darcy and Elizabeth. I have been to Pemberley, you know, and it has one of the largest libraries in all of England.”
“Does it indeed? That is quite an inducement for me to leave my comfortable home! My dear Louisa, let us plan on it!”
/
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God…”
Darcy’s heart thundered in his chest as he looked down upon the face of his angel.
No, not his angel; Elizabeth was full blooded woman, strong, stubborn, and at the moment, exquisitely beautiful in an off white gown with a dark yellow overdress.
The glorious hues of the overdress matched the golden flecks in Elizabeth’s eyes, and her dark hair, piled high and held with silver gilt combs, was majestic in the morning light.
Standing a few feet away were Richard and Jane, who were sharing the ceremony. Darcy knew, abstractly, that Jane was a vision of beauty, but he had eyes only for Elizabeth.
“...and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate...”
How could he be so fortunate to have found Elizabeth, a woman of passion and fire, who loved him even as he loved her?
“Matrimony was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name.”
He thoroughly enjoyed the prospect of procreating a child with his lovely bride!
“Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
His excitement made it hard to speak, but he managed the requisite words. “I will.”
“Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
Elizabeth gazed into his eyes and said confidently, “I will.”
The sacred words of the ceremony rolled on, and Darcy spoke the requisite words at the appropriate time, even as a substantial portion of his mind dwelt on the radiant countenance of his bride.
“By the authority vested in me, I declare you man and wife.”
Darcy gulped, struggling to retain some semblance of calm, but Elizabeth, her eyes dancing, rose to her tiptoes and kissed him firmly on the lips.
He beamed at her now, his fingers entwined with hers. It was done. They were wed.
They would be happy together.