So Long, Sentiment

by Amber Allen-King

  "Suppose she has a confederate?" he asked, unsure whether he was playing the Colonel's game or indulging his own paranoia. The Colonel winked at Mr. Bingley.

  "It was not my idea to invite Fowler to the ceremony." Mr. Darcy's reaction was priceless. He did no more than freeze in his tracks and stare at a blank wall, but the three men found it hysterical. Mr. Darcy turned with a smile on his face, as if he, too, had enjoyed the joke. He made his way to the table and poured out a glass of water as steadily as his hands would allow.

  "I understand he has taken quite an interest in your sister," John said. It took all Mr. Darcy's years of practice in self-discipline to spare his morning coat a spontaneous shower. He prayed that Colonel Fitzwilliam had not noticed. He had, but for the first time that day, the Colonel took pity on him. After a second, Mr. Darcy realized that his cousin had addressed Mr. Bingley.

  "...He has not spoken to me, and I really do not know how Caroline would feel about it," Mr. Bingley was saying. Just then, the door opened and Mr. Bennet slipped into the room. Mr. Darcy's eyes bulged, and Mr. Bennet did not scruple to hide his amusement.

  "All right, it is all right, Mr. Darcy," He chuckled. "Your Lizzy has not flown away. All is well with both ladies," he said, with a nod to the Colonel. "Lizzy asked me to bring this to you. She said it might make you feel better." He handed Mr. Darcy a small package, and quietly left the room.

  "Reading his emotions from--how far is the house from here, Richard? A quarter mile, would you say? And you think Darcy will escape 'training'? He had better concede defeat now and spare himself the humiliation of having to bear your disappointment at a later date," chided John.

  "How long does this 'training' take?" asked Bingley. John and the Colonel exchanged a knowing glance, and tried to hide their smiles as Mr. Darcy unwrapped the object, which was swaddled in a lady's handkerchief. He smiled as he lifted the silver vial, carefully opened it and held it to his nose. John and Colonel Fitzwilliam exchanged a second glance and shrugged their shoulders. But Mr. Bingley, who had been patiently awaiting a response from the brothers, immediately recognized the tiny gift.

  "That was--," he exclaimed, pointing at the vial. "I..." Mr. Darcy smiled at him, and Mr. Bingley dropped his arm. Mr. Darcy closed the vial and placed it in his pocket.

  "I will explain another time, Bingley. Right now we have a wedding to attend," he said as the boys' choir could be heard lifting its voice in song. John rose and clapped his brother on the shoulder and Mr. Bingley led the gentlemen into the chapel to assume their positions.

  • • •

  "Will you sit down? You are driving me to distraction!" The blizzard of white silk and lace swirled once more as the frenzied bride came to a stop. "What is the matter?"

  "Oh, I do not know. All of a sudden, I feel so--wait a minute! Why are you not nervous?" Elizabeth smiled serenely and shook her head.

  "I am afraid that is your doing, Livy. I admit that I did awaken to some anxiety, but after our talk this morning I felt much better. You succeeded in putting all my fears to rest."

  "How on earth did I manage to do that?" Olivia asked as she took a seat as close to Elizabeth as her voluminous gown allowed. "Perhaps I would do well to listen to my own counsel." Again Elizabeth smiled.

  "I doubt it would do you any good at all. You see you convinced me that Fitzwilliam and I were meant for each other. I can face anything, confident in his love." Olivia rolled her eyes and rose to resume pacing. "Livy! Olivia Crenshaw!" pleaded Elizabeth. Olivia stopped again, and sighed deeply.

  "You are absolutely right, Lizzy...knowing that you and Mr. Darcy are soul mates does nothing for my anxiety."

  "But why should you be anxious? You love Colonel Fitzwilliam and he clearly adores you. You have wanted nothing more than to be his wife these last ten years and now it is about to happen. Everything you have ever dreamed of..."

  "Please, Lizzy. Do stop trying to be helpful. You are making matters much worse," cried Olivia as Mrs. Gardiner, Mrs. Bennet and Jane entered the room.

  "Oh, Lizzy! You should see the beautiful decorations in the ballroom downstairs. Everything so elegant! Everything so tasteful! And the silver--I have never seen such an extensive service, although I am sure it is nothing to yours at Pemberley. It is very likely that the Fitzwilliams' silver is very old and Mr. Darcy's will be more modern, you see. But it was such a lovely service...I was near blinded by all the gleaming finery. And the church, I am sure, is just as lovely, although I do not like chrysanthemums. Lady Rebecca has put chrysanthemums everywhere. She should have used roses as I did at Jane's wedding...."

  "It is October, Fanny," sighed Mrs. Gardiner, who had spent the morning in Mrs. Bennet's company inspecting the arrangements. Since the mother of the bride had been effectively prevented from interfering in the wedding plans by the considerable distance between Derbyshire and Longbourn, she had worried Elizabeth to pieces over the bridal clothes. Since their arrival at Matlock, Elizabeth had had only a few moments of respite, as her mother spent all of her time commenting on the insufficiency of the arrangements and making declarations about Elizabeth's future happiness to all who would listen. Elizabeth bore it all with equanimity, however, for this morning she would leave her mother's home for good and begin a life as Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley.

  "You know, Lizzy, I think that we should all pay a visit to Pemberley before we return to Hertfordshire," Mrs. Bennet said for the fifth time in as many days. "It will be a while before we are able to come back to Derbyshire, and I would so like to see my daughter properly settled in her new home." Elizabeth forced a smile as Olivia bent and repeated in her ear, "I can face anything, confident in his love." Elizabeth looked at Olivia beseechingly, but "those eyes" only worked on Olivia when a certain gentleman used them.

  "Fanny, the dear girl is going to be on her honeymoon!" argued Mrs. Gardiner. "She will have enough to do in getting settled without having her family underfoot." She looked exhausted from the ordeal of touring the house and grounds with Mrs. Bennet.

  "A girl needs her mother most at such a time! I was there for Jane the very day after her marriage to Mr. Bingley and everything has gone smoothly for you has it not, Jane?" Elizabeth smiled at Jane's horrified expression, which was concealed from Mrs. Bennet by the fact that Jane was behind her mother. Just a few days earlier, Elizabeth and Olivia had been subjected to an hour of Mrs. Bennet's marital advice, and it had taken several hours' discussion with Jane and Mrs. Gardiner to undo the damage.

  'Yes, Mama,' said Jane, "But perhaps Mr. Darcy would not wish to have company just yet."

  "Pish tosh! We are not 'company,' we are family. It would just be Mr. Bennet and myself, your three sisters and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and their four children. And I am certain that Mr. Bingley will want to stay as well. That would add him and you, and Miss Bingley..." Elizabeth's serenity began to crumble.

  "No, Mama! Mr. Darcy and I are to be traveling very soon, I believe. He has hinted about a trip to the Continent," Elizabeth dissembled. Mr. Darcy had spoken to her about traveling, but "someday soon" hardly reflected an immediate commitment. Mr. Bennet stepped into the reception room where the party was assembled. Elizabeth smiled her relief as her father came to stand before her.

  "I have delivered your parcel as ordered, madam," he said with a formal bow.

  "And how was Mr. Darcy?"

  "Very much in need of it, whatever it was," Mr. Bennet chuckled. "He was as nervous as a schoolboy awaiting an audience with the headmaster." Elizabeth smiled, and tears welled up in her father's eyes. He placed a hand on her cheek and she nestled against it.

  "He will recover when he sees you. On second thought," he smiled impishly, "He will very likely forget his name when he sees you. You are a vision, Elizabeth." Elizabeth fought back tears as she kissed her father on the cheek.

  "Thank you, Papa."

  "You do look lovely, Lizzy," echoed Mrs. Gardiner. "You both look beautiful." She turned to Olivia and took her hands in her own. "I only
wish Bethany could be here to see you today. I know she would be very proud of the woman you have become."

  "I would not be the woman I am today if it were not for your loving guidance and wisdom," Olivia said as she hugged Mrs. Gardiner fiercely. "I have come to love you as dearly as my own mother. I could not have asked for better godparents than you and Mr. Gardiner," she said between sniffles and tears.

  "What is this? Tears on the happiest day of your life?" chided Mr. Crenshaw, who had come to escort his daughter to the chapel. Olivia rushed into her father's arms and began to cry anew. Mrs. Gardiner shook her head and took the girl in hand. She fussed with Olivia's rumpled veil and reddened eyes before they joined Mr. Crenshaw in his carriage. The Bennets rode in a separate carriage.

  "I do wish you had worn a white gown, Lizzy. Olivia Crenshaw chose a white gown and is very likely to outshine you at the altar. And her gown is so much fuller than yours. You should have gotten a longer train..." Elizabeth rested her head on her father's shoulder and paid her mother no heed. Her father kissed her forehead and squeezed the hand he held on her lap.

  "...Jane's gown was white. It is all the rage, you know, to wear white on your wedding day. I shall be embarrassed if someone suggests that your gown is an unsuitable color for you..." Jane rolled her eyes and smiled at her sister.

  "I think you look lovely, Lizzy. That is the most beautiful pale shade of peach I have ever seen and the embroidery is exquisite. Anyone who thinks that color is unsuitable is an idiot."

  "Mrs. Bingley!" exclaimed Mr. Bennet. "I am shocked at your language. An idiot indeed! Anyone who can find a single fault with my Lizzy on this day is nothing short of insane." With that he leaned forward and took Jane's hand and kissed it. Mrs. Bennet rolled her eyes and fell silent, pouting at the autumn scenery all the way to Matlock chapel.

  • • •

  When the carriages pulled up to the church, the ladies alit and were swarmed by their bridesmaids: Mary, Catherine, Lydia and Georgiana all wore gowns of autumnal hues. Georgiana handed Elizabeth a bouquet of orchids picked that morning from Mr. Darcy's conservatory. Olivia received her bouquet from Mary that featured an exotic array of flowers emitting an intoxicating scent. Nestled in the bouquet was a note. Olivia drew it out and returned the bouquet to Mary as she unfolded and read the slip of parchment. She smiled then, and tucked the note into the bodice of her gown. She took up her bouquet again, and smiled confidently at Elizabeth.

  "I am ready now," she said.

  "What did the note say?" Elizabeth asked as the procession began. Olivia stopped and pulled out the note. Elizabeth laughed aloud at its contents.

  "I suppose that is the Colonel's way of assuring you that you are meant for each other," she giggled.

  "May I ask what is so funny," Mr. Bennet asked as the brides and their fathers entered the vestibule and paused. Olivia showed him the note, which read:

  If you have been waiting all this time to marry me, what are you still doing out there?

  "The aisle is not wide enough to admit the four of us," Olivia observed as Edward Crenshaw came to escort Mrs. Gardiner to her place of honor in the front pew. Mr. Douglass did a similar service for Mrs. Bennet, who beamed proudly as she walked down the aisle.

  "You go first, Livy. I have been following your lead since the spring, and it only seems fitting that I should follow you down the aisle," suggested Elizabeth.

  "But you should go first, Lizzy. You are the elder of us." Elizabeth's eyes opened wide.

  "By all of eight days!"

  "Why do we not go first, Thomas," Mr. Crenshaw suggested, "And the girls can follow us once they have sorted things out." He offered his arm to Mr. Bennet, but at precisely that minute, the doors opened and Olivia grabbed her father's arm. Immediately, Mr. Crenshaw ceased his teasing and led his daughter down the aisle.

  Olivia felt her feet moving, and vaguely sensed the choir at her back, but she could see nothing but a dizzying array of colors. She felt faint and queasy. Mr. Crenshaw squeezed her hand. She looked at him blankly. He smiled and told her to take a deep breath. She did, and for a moment, the world came into focus. She looked ahead and saw the Colonel waiting for her. He was resplendent in his dress uniform, and his impish smile made her laugh aloud. Everything became blurry again as her eyes filled with tears and Olivia had to will herself not to run into his arms. When she reached Colonel Fitzwilliam, he leaned over and whispered in her ear, just as Elizabeth entered the chapel on her father's arm.

  Mr. Darcy had been oblivious to his surroundings since he had entered the chapel, so when he heard the sound of laughter, he started. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Olivia seemed to be sharing some private joke. He stared at Olivia for a moment, and then became vaguely aware of his own bride's imminent arrival. He turned, therefore, and looked dazedly up the aisle. What he saw took his breath away.

  Elizabeth was positively radiant as she walked, clear-eyed and confident, down the aisle to the smiles and comments of the guests. The candlelight gave a glow to her cheeks, her dress, and her eyes, which were fixed first upon her father and then on Fitzwilliam Darcy. He returned her smile as she reached him. As Mr. Darcy extended his hand towards her he abruptly confronted an impediment, as Mrs. Bennet lunged from her seat to embrace her daughter.

  "Oh, Lizzy! You look so beautiful, so elegant. Let me kiss you!" A surprised Elizabeth submitted to the kiss, and Mrs. Bennet kissed her bemused son-in-law for good measure before Mr. Bennet succeeded in returning her to her place on the pew. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy turned to the altar to recite their vows.

  Olivia would later say that she heard nothing, felt nothing, and in fact had little memory of the service. She simply knelt when the Colonel did, rose when he rose, and repeated the words of the clergyman as she was bidden to do. She did regain her senses, however, when she felt the Colonel squeeze her hand. Olivia blinked and looked into his eyes. They seemed to be filled with merriment and mischief, although the rest of his face seemed very solemn. She felt her hand being squeezed again, and she looked down and saw the band of gold and opals that he had placed on her finger. Olivia blushed furiously, realizing that she had missed the words she had for so long hoped to hear from his lips. She silently berated herself as she heard Mr. Darcy plight his troth with Elizabeth. She glanced at the couple as Elizabeth received her ring, and then looked into Colonel Fitzwilliam's eyes once more. They definitely appeared to be laughing at her, and Olivia knew for certain that future generations of Fitzwilliams would laugh at the old saw about how Olivia Fitzwilliam "missed" her own wedding. She suddenly felt herself being kissed--a chaste, sweet kiss from her new husband--and Olivia blushed again.

  Elizabeth, on the other hand, would always remember every detail of her wedding, from the color of the clergyman's eyes to the angelic voices of the boys in the choir loft, to the pattern woven into Mr. Darcy's waistcoat. Mr. Darcy had stood stiffly at attention at first, practically glaring at the officiant. Elizabeth nudged him gently and smiled reassuringly when he looked into her eyes. She felt the tension drain from his body then, and he grinned through the remainder of the ceremony. He spoke his vows clearly and without hesitation, and kissed her as enthusiastically as Mrs. Bennet had done. When the ceremony was over, Elizabeth turned to Olivia and the ladies exchanged a warm hug before they allowed their new husbands to lead them from the church. Mr. Darcy led Elizabeth to his carriage, blithely ignoring the chatter of Mrs. Bennet as he went. He felt uncharacteristically giddy as he smiled at his new bride.

  "Elizabeth," he whispered, as tears came to his eyes. He reached out and lightly brushed his hand against her cheek. "Do you realize that I looked upon you for the first time a year ago today? That experience changed my life forever. If I knew then what I know now..." Elizabeth would not let him finish. She placed a finger over his lips to silence him.

  "Mr. Darcy," she smiled archly.

  "Yes, Mrs. Darcy?" her husband replied.

  "It was a lovely wedding, was it not?"

  "Yes it was...
" Mr. Darcy took the subtle hint, and their painful past was never spoken of again, except as a cautionary tale to their five sons as they approached marriageable age.

  As for Colonel and Mrs. Fitzwilliam--or rather General and Mrs. Fitzwilliam--the long-suffering Olivia had to endure years of teasing about how she had not paid attention in church and had unwittingly promised to do any number of extraordinary things. The couple had only one child, a daughter named Elizabeth Jane, who grew up to marry Nicholas Darcy, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy's second son. Young Elizabeth paid very careful attention at her wedding, having heard for years of the dire consequences that might ensue if she did not.

  The Fitzwilliams and Darcys remained the closest of friends. When the General retired, some five years after his marriage to Olivia, he and his wife devoted their energies to improving and expanding their tiny estate, which eventually became quite prosperous. And what about the Little Colonel? He settled down, too, taking up residence with his owners. The chocolate labador--who was never called by the name Olivia gave him (Hubert Fitzpuppy)--went on to become the sire of some thirty excellent hunters and unusually large lap dogs, and the Fitzwilliams gained renown as the finest breeders in the country.

  FINIS