The third marriage, as was to be expected, caused far more comment than the other two. Ford’s shop saw a daily gathering of scandalised ladies amongst whom the voices of Mrs Elton and the happy couple’s dear friend, Mrs Goddard, were the loudest. But what cannot be altered must be accepted and soon there was a general prediction that a marriage made for reasons of comfort rather than any romantic attachment may be as likely to succeed when the participants are approaching the end of their lives than if they still have many years in front of them.
‘To be sure, they will not have time to get tired of each other,’ was Mrs Elton’s generous comment, after she and Mr Elton had enjoyed a fine dinner at Hartfield, over which wedding arrangements had been discussed.
Emma’s remaining anxiety was Miss Bates’ desire to give Isabella pleasure by having all her children (or those that could walk) as attendants at the ceremony. Believing Isabella’s disappointment would be much less than Miss Bates’ if this did not take place, and determined to avoid a scene that could only be ridiculous, Emma encouraged Mr Woodhouse to arrange a wedding so quickly that Henry and John could not be retrieved from school and only Isabella and her husband might attend.
The marriage took place; Miss Bates said ‘I do’ three times and threw her bouquet in the direction of Mrs Goddard – a triumphant frivolity Emma had not been able to curb. Now there was nothing to stop Emma and Mr Knightley from beginning their new life at Donwell Abbey.
***
It was early summer; long months of nature’s most beneficent weather lay ahead. Each new day found Emma more content, more grateful for her contentment.
The morning after Elizabeth Martin and the Reverend Dugobair Tidmarsh’s marriage – following which an elegant reception had been held in Harriet Martin’s even further extended dining-room – Emma looked at her husband across their own breakfast table. ‘I have seldom seen such a joyful conjunction of two good people, about which I can only foretell happiness; yet – oh, Knightley! – for myself, I would rather climb a mountain in a hair shirt than progress again through the first year or two of marriage!’
Mr Knightley smiled and then looked grave. ‘I would agree with your sentiment, exactly, my dear, were it not for one part of your declaration that I resolutely refute.’
‘Oh!’ – she held her toast outside her mouth, surprised at his tone.
‘Who is this “Knightley” you address? He sounds to me like an old man due, indeed overdue, for retirement! Besides, I remember a promise—’
‘Knightley? – A promise? I take your meaning—’ her face too became grave, ‘oh, George, dearest George!’
‘Now I am in complete accordance with you.’
‘Yet I could wish yours were a less royal name for I do not wish to be your courtier!’
‘I wish you to be nothing less than who you are.’
‘And who is that, may I inquire?’ But the eyes were too bright, the face too inviting for Knightley to find the time to explain. With a shocking disregard for the servants, the toast rack and his cup of coffee, which went flying across the table, he dashed round and swept Emma into his arms with all the passion of the youngest and most ardent of lovers.
About the Author
Rachel Billington has published thirteen novels, including A Woman’s Age, Loving Attitudes, Bodily Harm and, most recently, Magic and Fate. She has also published two children’s novels and three religious books for younger children, as well as The Great Umbilical, a work of nonfiction about mothers and daughters. Her plays have been performed on radio and television and her varied work as a reviewer and journalist included a regular weekly column, published as “The Family Year.”
She is married with four children.
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