Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Sense and Sensibility! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates on the second and fourth Saturday of each month!
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Elinor was thrilled to learn of her sister's engagement after she returned from her extended honeymoon in the countryside of France with her new husband.
She rushed to Marianne's side along with Mrs. Dashwood and Margaret.
During the next few weeks, the Dashwood women gathered at the Brandon estate while the property's servants prepared to host a celebration worthy of their kind, well-respected employer.
The news of Colonel Brandon and Marianne's engagement was welcomed by all, except for Mr. Willoughby, who had practically faded into obscurity.
Every day, letters of congratulations arrived at the Brandon estate along with acceptance notes as guest after guest expressed their intent to attend the wedding.
Food was purchased and prepared.
A talented seamstress came from London to sew Marianne's bridal gown.
The extensive preparations were irksome irritations to Colonel Brandon.
He was not a pompous man and he saw little point in showy events.
He would have gladly walked with Marianne to the church on the hill the day he had proposed to her and taken her for his own then and there.
Colonel Brandon's wedding was not particularly important to him, his real interest lay in his marriage that would come afterwards.
Christopher didn't want a party, he wanted to start his life with Marianne.
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One evening before dinner, Mrs. Dashwood chatted with Margaret in the next room while Elinor held a piece of fabric in place for the seamstress, who continued her task of crafting Mrs. Brandon's bridal dress.
Marianne stood in front of a long mirror, dressed in her wedding gown, which neared its final stages of construction.
"Is it as blissful as they say, Elinor?" She asked with a hopeful smile as she looked at her reflection in the glass.
"Even more so, if you've found a man who knows what he's doing." Elinor replied with a smirk.
"Elinor!" Marianne laughed.
"I'm only telling you the truth, dear sister." Elinor chuckled, "Colonel Brandon seems to be knowledgeable enough. I'm sure he'll take great care of you in each aspect of your life together….I wouldn't fret about it too much."
"I'm not fretting, Elinor, I'm anticipating."
Marianne replied with a winsome smile as she watched the seamstress silently continue her diligent work.
Another soft panel of pure, ivory silk slipped into place as a result of her masterful handling of needle and thread while Marianne sighed.
"...Elinor?" She asked.
"Yes?" Elinor replied.
"Are you with child yet?" Marianne blinked.
"Not to my knowledge, no." Elinor replied with a sad smile, "But my age surpasses that of most new mothers. I'm sure you'll have no trouble giving the Colonel a family, Marianne, you're younger than I am."
"You'll have no trouble doing the same for Edward." Marianne replied with a thoughtful, confident nod, "The timing is off for now, that's all. Mother married Father in the bloom of her youth, yet you were not born for another three years, remember?"
"Do not trouble yourself over me, Marianne." Elinor smiled, "You need to think of your wedding, not my struggles."
"We are sisters, you and I." Marianne replied as she gazed down at Elinor, "Your struggles are my struggles and your thoughts are my thoughts. There aren't enough weddings in the world to change that."
Elinor couldn't help but smile at Marianne as the two women looked at each other.
It pleased her to know that Marianne and Colonel Brandon had ended up in each other's arms.
In Elinor's eyes, they were a perfectly suited match.
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The entire countryside thrummed with excitement once the much anticipated day finally arrived.
Children laughed as they ran through the streets while droves of people poured into the stone church at the top of the hill to witness the union of Colonel Brandon and Marianne Dashwood.
It had been quite a while since Christopher had donned his formal military uniform.
As he stood at the front of the church and waited for his bride to appear, hundreds of eyes stared at him.
He silently wondered to himself if he would prefer facing the battlefield again instead of the marriage altar alone?
At long last, the doors to the church opened and the bride entered.
Marianne's gorgeous, silk dress perfectly complimented her startling beauty.
Christopher found it hard to breathe as he watched his beloved walk down the aisle with her complexion radiant and her blue eyes sparkling like polished sapphires underneath the heavy netting of her veil.
The wedding guests whispered to each other about the mask of reverence Christopher's face had become as his beautiful love completed her entrance's walk and stood in front of him.
They grasped each other's hands and faced one another while someone in the pews whispered a little too loud, "He really loves her! Look!"
Eyebrows raised and amused chuckles rang out as everyone enjoyed the tenderness of the moment before the priest began, "Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Colonel Christopher Brandon and Marriane Dashwood. If there are any reasons as to why these two should not be wed, speak now, or forever hold your peace."
A nervous tension settled uneasily throughout the church.
For a brief moment, a wave of nausea swept over Marianne.
She knew the notion was silly, but a part of her feared Willoughby would rise out of the pews to hurl insults at her and her suitor.
Her concern quickly vanished as Christopher silently urged her not to worry while he clutched her delicate hands in his strong grasp.
He was a kind man but he would not tolerate outward insolence.
If Willoughby had shown the audacity to interrupt his nuptials, then Christopher would have challenged him to a duel then and there.
He had no doubt that after his years of military training and service, he could have cut his enemy down in a moment.
After the eerie silence passed, the ceremony continued.
The words spoken were meaningful, but while the priest read aloud from the Bible in his hands, Marianne and Christopher kept losing themselves in each other's eyes as they both tried to comprehend and savor the magnitudinous reality of the moment.
The priest eventually glanced at Christopher and asked, "Do you, Colonel Christopher Brandon, take Marianne Dashwood, as your lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part? Will you love her and honor her all the days of your life?"
Marianne stared into Christopher's eyes as he gazed at her with the loving reverence of a man held in euphoric captivity.
Everyone waited on the edge of their seats for him to speak as he opened his mouth and promised with a seriousness steeped in elegant meaning, "I, Colonel Christopher Brandon, take you, Marianne Dashwood, as my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. I vow to love you and honor you all the days of my life."
The wedding attendees stayed silent as they admired the profound solemness of Colonel Brandon's words.
Mrs. Dashwood wept.
Margaret and Elinor both smiled, happy about their sister's union as the officiant turned to Marianne and asked, " "Do you, Mariannne Dashwood, take Colonel Christopher Brandon, as your lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part? Will you love him and honor him all the days of your life?"
Marianne laughed through her happy tears as she forced them back, looked at her groom, and promised honestly, "I, Mariannne Dashwood, take you, Colonel Christopher Brandon, as my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."
Marianne watched her lover's breath hitch as he gazed down at her as if she were the most precious thing he had ever beheld.
"Then by the power of the church vested in me," The priest nodded, "I now pronounce you man and wife. Colonel, you may kiss your bride."
The silence was deafening in the church as everyone watched Christopher carefully lift Marianne's veil and drape it behind her head, over the crown of braids into which her vibrant hair had been fashioned.
For a moment, he became so struck by his new bride's splendor that he forgot about the rest of the world.
Once Christopher remembered himself, he slipped his hands onto Marianne's waist as she gripped his shoulders while they both leaned towards one another.
Their lips met in a passionate kiss as the priest called out to the congregation, "I present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Colonel Christopher Brandon!"
Applause rang out in the church as Marriane and Christopher clung to each other through the noise.
After they had parted, with happy smiles on their faces, they waved to the event's attendees before everyone hurriedly filed out of the church and eagerly formed two lines outside to send the couple off.
"Are you ready, my love?" Christopher asked as he offered Marianne his arm while the priest gathered his documents behind them.
"I'm ready for anything as long as I have you, Christopher." Marianne smiled as she graciously accepted his gentlemanly gesture and slipped her delicate under his forearm.
Together, Mr. and Mrs. Brandon walked as husband and wife for the first time.
As soon as they stepped outside, they were met with happy cheers amidst showers of rice and lavender petals as they began the long journey of weaving through the wedding guests to board the waiting carriage.
People clapped out of genuine joy for the young couple.
Marianne shrieked with delight at the good fortune tokens that were thrown their way, but Christopher carried himself straight and proud.
After years of turmoil and loneliness, Colonel Brandon had received his happy reward at last for a lifetime of honor and service.
Marianne had discovered what it meant to love and be loved through the lessons that her new husband had already taught her.
After Christopher stepped into the carriage and chivalrously helped his bride board the vehicle, she felt her heart swell with the urge to learn more.
What was it like to lie in a marriage bed next to the one she burned for?
What was it like to carry his children in her womb and see fatherly pride in his eyes?
What was it like to taste the sweet wine of true, earthly happiness?
After Christopher tossed a bag of coins into the air, he sat down and pulled on the reins.
The horses neighed as they started off at a trot, but Marianne felt herself fidget with anticipation as the carriage drove away.
Mrs. Brandon could hardly wait to continue her education under the Colonel's thorough instruction.