Where The Heart Belongs

by Tilly Davis

  ‘Elizabeth, Jane?’ Mrs. Bennet called, ‘dear Charlotte is arrived and awaits you in the parlour.’

  ‘Send her upstairs, Mother,’ Elizabeth called from the bedroom where she and Jane had spent their last night together at Longbourn.

  It was still early in the morning, the wedding to take place at two o’clock that afternoon but Charlotte Lucas had made the walk from Meryton early, eager to assist her friend in her preparations.

  ‘Come in,’ both sisters called as Charlotte knocked on the bedroom door.

  ‘You already look beautiful,’ she said, embracing Elizabeth, ‘and what a happy day for a wedding, your mother is already in the throes of preparation downstairs.’

  ‘She has spared no expense, or rather she had spared no expense with father’s money,’ Jane replied.

  ‘How is your father?’ Charlotte asked, for Mr. Bennet had been regularly visited by the local physician these past weeks, his breathing becoming more erratic with every passing day. Nevertheless, he was determined to see Elizabeth married, and today he had forced himself to rise early, taking time to prepare himself for the great day ahead.

  ‘He ails a little,’ Elizabeth said, ‘yet his manner is unchanged, and his mind still as sharp as ever.’

  ‘It is a happy day for him,’ Charlotte said, ‘and for all of us too, to see you married.’

  ‘Well, my first attempt did not go according to plan,’ Elizabeth laughed, ‘today all will be well.’

  ‘Unless another should catch your eye,’ Charlotte said, rather naughtily.

  ‘None would do so, only Mr. Darcy, I have made my choice well, I believe,’ Elizabeth said, ‘come now and assist me with my dress, it will need you both to help me into it I fear.’

  And with that the conversation turned to Elizabeth’s choice of clothing, it really being far too hot for the dress which had been purchased anew for her.

  At Netherfield, a similar scene was being played out, though Mr. Darcy had no need of assistance to dress.

  ‘What time is it, Charles?’ he asked from behind his dressing screen.

  ‘Around twelve o’clock,’ came the reply, to which Mr. Darcy made a comment upon the need to hurry himself along.

  It would take half an hour to drive in the carriage to the church at Meryton where he and Elizabeth were to be married. He had determined to arrive an hour before the marriage to ensure that all was in good order in the church and so hastily completing his dress, he emerged from behind the screen, the very picture of an English gentleman.

  ‘You’re looking particularly well turned out,’ Mr. Bingley said.

  ‘As do you, sir,’ Mr. Darcy replied, ‘will you ride with me or will you go to Longbourn?’

  ‘To Longbourn? Not today, my place is at your side,’ Mr. Bingley replied, as the two walked through the house to the grand hallway.

  It was there that Mr. Darcy’s sister Georgiana was awaiting them, she having arrived from Pemberley two days before.

  ‘We are escorting a most lovely young lady,’ Mr. Bingley said, bowing to Georgiana, who laughed.

  ‘Come now or we shall be late for the wedding,’ she said and led the way out to the carriage.

  ‘You must promise me though, Charles, that you will not leave yourself in the state of bachelorhood for long,’ Mr. Darcy said, ‘do not lose your connection to Jane, for you would struggle to find a better match than a Bennet sister, I myself should know.’

  ‘I do indeed recognise that,’ Mr. Bingley said, laughing as he escorted his friend to the carriage, ‘but now it is time for us to see you married, so let us now depart.’

  The three climbed into the carriage which set off at a good pace. They took a slightly longer route from Netherfield to Meryton, Mr. Darcy, though not a superstitious man, had no wish to accidentally observe Elizabeth until the moment she entered the church.

  At five minutes past one o’clock the carriage drew up outside the church in Meryton where several of the townsfolk had already gathered to act as well-wishers.

  ‘A good day to you, sirs, ma’am,’ one of the women said as they passed, ‘it is a fine family into which you marry.’

  ‘Very fine indeed, thank you,’ Mr. Darcy replied.

  Mr. Granville Hicks, the rector, was waiting inside the church.

  ‘Very good to see you once again Mr. Darcy, I trust the arrangements for today remain the same as they were when we met last week?’

  ‘They do indeed, sir,’ he replied, ‘I am very early but it is better to be so, and may I introduce my sister, Georgina.’

  ‘A pleasure indeed, and Mr. Bingley, a pleasure to see you too once again. Are the arrangements for your purchase of Netherfield still proceeding smoothly?’

  ‘They are,’ Mr. Bingley replied, ‘it is most convivial to now be permanently resident in your parish.’

  ‘We are honoured by your presence, it is not often that a wedding draws such a crowd.’

  By now the church was beginning to fill with well-wishers. Mrs. Bennet’s sister and her family had arrived to take their pews and shortly Sir William and Lady Lucas entered the church, welcomed by the rector.

  By a quarter to two o’clock the church was almost full, and the organist had taken his place at the instrument and begun to play. The scene was set for the wedding, and as Mr. Darcy took his place at the front seated next to Charles and Georgiana, he found himself with a feeling of nervousness such as he had never experienced before.

  ‘Come now, Elizabeth, we must leave, it is half past one o’clock, the carriage is waiting,’ Mrs. Bennet said, as she and her daughters, along with Mr. Bennet and Mr. Wickham prepared to depart.

  The carriage had been waiting for almost half an hour, Elizabeth and her sisters taking far longer than expected about their preparations. At length, the family assembled in the hallway and Mr. Bennet pronounced all of his daughters as appearing remarkably beautiful.

  As they filed out to the carriage, he called Elizabeth back, Mrs. Bennet reminding them of the time.

  ‘Elizabeth,’ he said, ‘I am so fortunate to be here still to witness your marriage, what a truly happy day this is.’

  ‘Father, you will witness all our marriages, except of course for Lydia’s,’ Elizabeth replied, embracing her father.

  ‘I am not well, that much is certain, but the sight of you today has truly lifted my soul and for that I am truly glad,’ he replied, ‘escorting you today will be an honour and that is certain.’

  Elizabeth squeezed his hand and he took her arm as she escorted him out into the sunshine, the rest of the family now finding themselves somewhat cramped inside the carriage. With some difficulty Elizabeth and her father climbed inside and together they set off for Meryton, a far happier scene than the one found some months ago at Hunsford.

  It did not take long before the church at Meryton was in view, the little crowd outside now eagerly awaiting the arrival of the bride. As they pulled up outside a round of applause ensued, whilst inside the sound alerted Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth’s presence.

  ‘She will look ever so beautiful, of that I am sure,’ Georgiana declared as the organist increased the volume of his instrument and Mr. Granville Hicks appeared from the vestry to begin the ceremony.

  ‘Now, sir,’ he said, addressing Mr. Darcy, ‘please do stand here just to the right of the communion table, Elizabeth will stand here, you may look round as she approaches or remain facing forward. Do not worry though, I shall guide you through everything, there is nothing to fear.’

  Though Mr. Darcy was by now immensely fearful, he dared not look round lest he should display his nerves to the congregation. Mr. Hicks now made his way to the back of the church as Mrs. Bennet and her daughters, apart from Kitty and Mary, along with Mr. Wickham entered the church.

  ‘Good afternoon, Mrs. Bennet,’ the rector said, ‘I trust all is well with the bride?’

  ‘It is indeed,’ Mrs. Bennet said, ‘there will not be unforeseen circumstances today.’

  ‘No indeed,
won’t you take your pew?’

  The family now made its way to the front of the church where Mr. Darcy remained resolutely facing forward, Jane glancing over towards Mr. Bingley who blushed and smiled at her in return.

  Outside Elizabeth linked arms with her father, who gave her a reassuring look.

  ‘Enjoy your day, my dear,’ he said.

  Behind, Kitty and Mary, who had finally come round to the idea that being a bridesmaid was a pleasant experience, stood with their posies of flowers awaiting Mr. Hicks’ signal.

  ‘Are we all ready?’ the rector said, emerging from the church, ‘the groom it would seem is prepared, now we simply wait for the clock to strike two and the organist shall begin, and then you simply walk sedately down the aisle with your father and I shall guide you through everything to come.’

  ‘Thank you, Granville,’ Mr. Bennet said, the two gentlemen having known one another for many years.

  ‘It is a great honour to finally marry a Bennet girl after so many years of seeing them grow,’ he replied.

  And then the clock struck two o’clock.

  ‘This is it, Elizabeth,’ Mr. Bennet said, drawing himself up as he prepared to lead his daughter into the church. Mr. Hicks now went on ahead, and swiftly down the aisle to allow Elizabeth to take centre stage.

  They entered the church, and the organ struck up its entrance. Elizabeth breathed in deeply as all eyes in the church turned to see her, causing her to blush and look down.

  ‘Courage, Elizabeth,’ her father whispered.

  There was her aunt and cousins, the Lucases too with Charlotte beaming at her dearest friend, the servants were there along with numerous friends and acquaintances from the village and at the front her family, her mother beaming ecstatically, her sisters clasping their hands together in delight at the sight of their sister. It was such a happy gathering, in stark contrast to the mood at Hunsford in the spring. Elizabeth could not have felt happier as her father led her down the aisle.

  There in front of the communion table stood Mr. Darcy, his back still resolutely turned from her, too nervous to look round.

  ‘She approaches,’ Mr. Hicks whispered, as the organ continued its march.

  It seemed like an age, but was only about a minute before Elizabeth’s sedate but joyful march was over and she came to rest next to Mr. Darcy, who now turned and smiled to her, a smile she warmly returned.

  At long last the moment had come and they both stood before Mr. Hicks in nervous anticipation.

  ‘Dearly beloved,’ he began, ‘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 …’

  The marriage preface continued as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy stood facing Mr. Hicks whilst behind them the congregation listened intently.

  As the words flowed over her, Elizabeth had a sense of the awesome act which she was about to undertake and the significance of the words she would make, a promise which would last a lifetime.

  Fortunately, no one raised objection when Mr. Hicks read out the sentences of just impediment, not that any were expected to, though occasionally of course a joke was hatched at a couple’s expense.

  Thus Mr. Hicks arrived at the first moment of consent.

  ‘Fitzwilliam George Augustus Darcy, 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, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?’

  ‘I will,’ Mr. Darcy replied.

  ‘Elizabeth Anne Bennet, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?’

  ‘I will,’ Elizabeth replied.

  ‘Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?’ Mr. Hicks asked, and with that Mr. Bennet gave his daughter’s right hand to the rector who then placed it into Mr. Darcy’s right hand, the two now turning to face one another, their eyes meeting fully for the first time. Elizabeth smiled up at Mr. Darcy as he smiled down upon her, and thus the wedding continued.

  Throughout the proceedings, the Bennet sisters had sat enraptured at the sight of their sister, even Lydia, whose own wedding had been something of a more haphazard affair, admitted later how enamoured of Elizabeth she had been.

  Across the church Mr. Bingley watched as his friend gave his troth to Elizabeth, allowing himself to wonder what such a scene might look like if it were he and Jane making the exchanges.

  ‘I, Fitzwilliam George Augustus Darcy, take thee, Elizabeth Anne Bennet, to my wedded wife …’

  And after he had concluded Elizabeth spoke too.

  ‘I, Elizabeth Anne Bennet, take thee, Fitzwilliam George Augustus Darcy, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer,’ at this point Lydia and Kitty giggled, ‘in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinances; and thereto I give thee my troth.’

  With these vows given and the rings exchanged, Mr. Hicks offered the final prayers before declaring the immortal words.

  ‘I pronounce that they be man and wife together.’

  At this a great cheer went up from the congregation, Mrs. Bennet kissing her husband on the cheek as she embraced him, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy now sharing a kiss.

  When the applause had subsided, for Mr. Hicks did not approve of too much raucousness in church, that, he was fond of saying, was for the Catholics, the rector offered the final blessings and exhortations as to the state of marriage before the final dismissal. There being no holy communion, owing to it being a Saturday and the opportunity to avail themselves of the sacrament tomorrow readily available, the newly married couple turned, and as the organ struck up its march, they made their way from the church.

  Many of the congregation had rushed outside before the couple, ready to throw the dried petals and lavender which had been collected in the weeks preceding the wedding. Thus, the couple found themselves amidst a fragrant shower as outside once again they kissed, joined now by the Bennets and Mr. Bingley.

  ‘Two of my daughters now married, Mr. Bennet, two, and one more almost certain to be, my work is nearly done.’

  ‘Don’t you mean ‘our work?’ Mr. Bennet asked.

  ‘Oh, allow a mother her pride and joy, please, won’t you,’ Mrs. Bennet cried, now embracing her daughter and doing the same to a rather bemused Mr. Darcy, whose hand had just been vigorously shaken by all and sundry in congratulations.

  ‘A joyful day, a truly joyful day,’ Mr. Hicks said as he emerged from the church over which the bells momentarily rang out their celebratory peal, once again causing the crowd to cheer and applaud the happy couple.

  It had been decided that the new Mr. and Mrs. Darcy should be taken in an open trap to Longbourn where the refreshments would be served to those who had been invited and no doubt to many who had not been, Mr. Bennet always desirous of being an agreeable host.

  The trap was waiting at the church gate and Mr. Darcy helped his wife into it, as he hoisted himself up next to her.

  Just before they set off, Elizabeth found Jane standing next to her leaning up.

  ‘I thought you were the most beautiful bride I have ever seen,’ she said.

  And Elizabeth leant down and embraced her sister warmly.

  ‘And you shall be very soon,’ she replied, ‘Mr. Bingley cannot take his eyes from you.’

  Jane blushed, and bid her sister farewell, for the rest of the party would travel momentarily behind the happy couple.

  As they left the church Elizabeth once more looked up at Darcy and he returned the gaze.

&nb
sp; ‘I love you ever so much, Elizabeth, more than I have words to say,’ he said.

  ‘And I you,’ she replied.

  The wedding nuptials continued for much of the day with a fine feast laid out at Longbourn by Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. The Bennet sisters were kept well occupied entertaining the considerable number from the village who turned up uninvited. But no one much minded, today was a day of celebration and after all that had occurred, a celebration was just what was needed.

  ‘Will you move to Pemberley very soon?’ Charlotte asked Elizabeth later in the afternoon, ‘it is further than Hunsford.’

  ‘We go to Netherfield tonight but I will remain here for some days, and then we shall travel to Pemberley but our intention is to spend time between both places. Do not fear, Charlotte, I shall not be tied to a parsonage and its occupant, you will see me often, and you shall come to Pemberley too.’

  ‘I should love to,’ Charlotte replied.

  ‘God bless you, Elizabeth,’ Sir William Lucas said to her, as Charlotte made to procure a glass of punch.

  ‘Thank you, Sir William, may I ask you a question in private?’ Elizabeth said.

  ‘Why yes, of course,’ he replied, ‘is there something wrong?’

  ‘Nothing wrong, no, I just had to ask you whether Fitzwilliam really assisted my sister Lydia on the fateful day when you did us such a service in saving her honour from Mr. Wickham?’

  Sir William paused.

  ‘No doubt Lydia’s tongue let slip?’ he said, smiling a little.

  ‘It did, yes,’ Elizabeth said.

  ‘Well, then if truth be told, it was all Mr. Darcy’s doing, if I had gone there myself I imagine I would have been laughed away or had the contents of a chamber pot poured over me. Mr. Darcy accompanied me and it was he who persuaded Wickham to do the honourable thing and marry your sister, he even gave him a stipend to live on, jolly decent. But he asked me to promise not to reveal anything to you or to your father.’