Page 30

There was snow on the ground, but the skies were clear this Sunday morning in Hertfordshire.

In the chapel near Longbourn, the Bennet family was in attendance, with Mr Bingley seated beside Jane in the family pew.

There were several absences on this day because the snow made travel difficult.

But before the beginning of the service on this Sunday, the parson, read the banns of marriage for an important wedding in February.

From the pulpit, Smyth declared, "First this morning, it is my duty to publish the banns of marriage between Mr Charles Bingley of the parish of Stoke-on-Trent in Derbyshire and Miss Jane Bennet of this parish. If any of you know cause or just impediment why these persons should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you must declare it.”

Watching the congregation, Mr Smyth heard no objections and decided that Mrs Bennet’s smile brightened the chapel.

Mr Bennet seemed pleased also. Miss Bennet and Mr Bingley were seated close, and he imagined they held hands.

The other Bennet sisters were a mixture of emotions–the two youngest, still children in many ways, whispered between themselves; Miss Mary seemed content and waited for his sermon, and Miss Elizabeth appeared to be lost in thought.

‘First of three times,’ Elizabeth remembered. ‘We shall begin Jane’s wedding dress tomorrow. Mamma purchased enough lace for three wedding dresses, and Father indulged her for once. Charles agreed to host the wedding breakfast at Netherfield, and Mrs Hobbes will lay out a feast, I am certain.’

‘But with the winter weather, Mr Darcy is not likely to come,’ she decided.

Turning her head toward one of the windows where the cold sunlight fell upon the chapel floor, Elizabeth let her heart be overwhelmed for a few moments with memories of the man’s hand, their conversations, and the feelings he had created inside her heart and soul.

Mr Smyth’s sermon that day was inspired by calling the first of the banns for Miss Bennet and Mr Bingley. He declared, “Today, the scripture lesson comes from Proverbs 31, Verse 10 to 12.”

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Charles Bingley smiled hearing the Bible verses that reinforced his decision to marry Jane Bennet.

He smiled at the lovely woman on his left and knew his wife would be beautiful and virtuous, a helpmate and companion for the rest of his life.

He was suddenly struck by the memory of his conversation with Fitzwilliam Darcy in autumn when he attempted to convince his friend that Miss Elizabeth was worth his consideration.

‘I shall write to Darcy and remind him of that conversation and quote the scripture,’ Bingley decided. ‘It might take a month for my letter to reach him in Derbyshire this winter because no one moves about in January.’

On the other side of Mr Bingley, Elizabeth Bennet found herself considering the parson’s message.

Her thoughts were different, ‘Mr Bingley will make a good husband so long as his sister does not plan to live with them. Has Charlotte Collins found a good husband in the man she married a month ago? And Mr Darcy–I wonder what type of husband he would make?’

~~~

The Earl and Countess of Matlock arrived at the chapel after as the service had begun.

While the congregation sang a hymn, the couple walked up the centre aisle and entered the family’s box just to the right of the altar.

Their daughter and second son came behind them without a word of recognition to anyone in the chapel.

Following the Matlock family came their relatives, Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy.

The brother and sister were followed closely by Mrs Annesley, the young woman’s lady’s companion, and they entered a small box behind the Matlock family.

The countess and her daughter had delayed the family’s departure from Matlock House by almost a quarter of an hour, and with the snow on the ground, the trip to the chapel was slower.

The parson was a personable man who deferred to Earl Matlock’s opinion on most matters.

He had joined the Earl and his family for supper earlier in the week, and the man was slow to express his opinions but did not simper in the same manner as the Collins fellow must around Lady Catherine.

The parson’s wife was a quiet lady, and Georgiana reported a pleasant conversation with the lady after supper and before the gentlemen joined the ladies.

While Fitzwilliam considered the parsons he patronized in Lambton and Kympton, his attention wandered while this parson spoke of general matters.

His attention was captured when the parson read from the thirty-first chapter of Proverbs, “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her so that he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.”

The words echoed in his mind for many minutes. ‘Her worth is far above rubies.’

The sermon continued without Fitzwilliam paying much attention to the parson’s words while he remembered the conversation with Charles Bingley about the value of a good woman–not in any dowry but in her love and good works in their life together.

~~~

Christmas Day, Fitzwilliam Darcy sat in the library of Earl Matlock’s manor house in Derbyshire.

His uncle had a suitable selection of books, but the young man’s mind continually wandered away from the text on the page and returned to his memories of Elizabeth Bennet.

The young woman’s eyes remained at the forefront of his mind while awake, and when he slept, her figure appeared in his dreams, standing across from him on the dance floor.

He had opened the Bible and read the whole of the thirty-first proverb.

Lost in his thoughts, seated near the fireplace, Darcy did not hear his young sister enter the library and approach.

In the middle of his daydream of dancing with Elizabeth Bennet at the Netherfield ball, Georgiana’s voice interrupted and asked, “Brother, are you sad? What has happened to make you so?”

Startled that his sister appeared so suddenly, Darcy almost dropped the book in his lap, but then he replied, “I am…my autumn visit uncovered some disappointments.”

“Does Mr Bingley like the estate? Are there problems with the tenants?”

“Charles will make an excellent landowner in the future. Once he understands the rhythm of the seasons, he will enjoy life in the countryside.”

“I am glad to hear it, but what made you sad?”

Not willing to admit his thoughts were dominated by images and memories of a young woman, Darcy said, “There was a man from my past–our past–who appeared unexpectedly.”

“Who was the man?”

“His name is George Wickham.”

Echoing her brother’s words, Georgiana’s brow furrowed as she tried to remember the face of this person before asking, “Who is George Wickham?”

“He was our father’s godson, but I have no desire to remain in contact with the fellow.”

The young woman thought for a moment and then continued, “I have only a vague memory of this man. The maids said that he was beautiful.”

Smiling now, Darcy asked, “Beautiful? A beautiful man? You were seven years; what did you know about handsome men at seven?”

As more memories appeared in her mind, Georgiana corrected her brother, “I was eight years when our father died, and I knew George was handsome because the chambermaids, Nanny, and even Mrs Reynolds said he was beautiful.”

There was a pause in her conversations as she looked around carefully to ensure they were alone in the library.

Then Georgiana continued, “Fitzwilliam, I remember when our father died, the lady and her little boy who lived near father’s rooms disappeared.

I asked Nanny, but she only fussed at me for talking about them.

It was a chambermaid who told me that the woman was our father’s mistress, and the boy was our natural brother. ”

Observing her brother’s face, Georgiana continued, “Cousin Violet explained to me what a mistress and natural brothers are. She is unhappy with her husband and told me that our uncle has a mistress and three natural children.”

Darcy frowned and considered deflecting this conversation, but his sister was fifteen years and would be introduced to society in a few years, where strangers were certain to share hurtful gossip with the young woman.

Reluctantly, he explained to his sister, “Many rich men often keep mistresses in their lives, and children are a consequence of such liaisons. Our father and the servants kept the news from me that the lady lived in Pemberley and London when I was away at school. Your nanny followed her employer’s dictates to keep you away from the woman and her son. ”

His sister replied, “I have never discussed this with anyone–not Mrs Young or my new companion, Mrs Annesley.”

Pleased to hear his sister’s statement, “That is very wise of you, Georgie.”

“But I wanted to ask you what happened to the lady and the boy. Did they end up in the hedgerows like the maids say happens to poor tenant farmers?”

“No. Our father left an income from an estate in Cornwall to support the woman. Her son has tutors, and he will go to university when he is old enough.”

Now Georgiana looked away and asked, “Fitzwilliam, who is my father?”

Surprised and confused, Darcy replied, “Georgie, what do you mean? Our father was George Darcy, who died seven years ago.”

Standing and taking his sister into his arms, Fitzwilliam hugged her tightly and said, “You are my sister. Who has told you otherwise?”

“Last year, the maids at Pemberley said I was a cuckoo that our mother brought into her nest. I asked Mrs Reynolds, and she refused to speak of such things.”

“As she should,” Darcy said and hugged his sister again. He said, “Never doubt that you are Miss Georgiana Darcy, my most beloved sister. Do not allow anyone to speak like that to you again. I shall speak to Mrs Reynolds, and those maids will not serve you again.”

“Mrs Reynolds moved the maids away from my rooms that same day,” his sister replied. Then she asked, “Should I speak with Mrs Annesley about how to respond to such statements?”

Maintaining his hold around his sister’s shoulders, Fitzwilliam said, “We shall speak to her together when we return home. Your companion can guide you, and if you have questions, you must speak with me.”

~~~