Chapter Five: The Wedding

The day of the wedding had arrived; and all of the Bennet girls were thankful for it. Mary longed to be joined with her beloved Mr. Collins, and the rest only wanted to see as little of their new brother-in-law as possible. It had also been settled, much to the dissatisfaction of half the household, that they would all visit Rosings in March, since Mr. Collins informed them that Lady Catherine was especially insistent upon it.

Elizabeth waited impatiently in the small chapel for the bride to approach; she and all her sisters were bridesmaids, though the only one who had really become one willingly was Jane. Elizabeth held a small bouquet in her hand limply, glancing through the rows of pews till she found where Charlotte sat, and smiled at her. She then shifted her gaze towards the front, where Mrs. Bennet was chatting excitedly with Lady Lucas, though it seemed that the former was much more animated than the latter. There were few who were truly jealous of the Bennets; Mr. Collins was not terribly wealthy, and what with the departure of the Netherfield party, it seemed that their misfortune outweighed the advantages of an eligible marriage.

The music began, making Elizabeth aware once more of her surroundings, and Mary began to march ceremoniously down the aisle. With her hair in ribbons and curls, and her dress surprisingly elegant and flattering, she was probably the least plain that she had ever looked; Jane had chosen the dress, and it truly complimented her eldest sister's good taste. When they had ordered the clothing, Mary had initially chosen a horrid ugly dress, which Lydia abused nonstop till she was persuaded to decide on another one.

"I can't wait till this is all over," murmured Kitty to Lydia.

"Did you see that Captain Denny came? He's sitting in the back! Look!" replied Lydia, though not quite so discreetly.

"Shush!" hissed Elizabeth, and the youngest Miss Bennets quickly straightened their posture, and gazed absently towards the direction of the bride and bridegroom.

The remainder of the ceremony was nothing extraordinary, and almost all of the guests at the wedding were excessively glad to proceed to the small reception which was to be held afterwards.

"Well," said Charlotte, "you look very pretty, Eliza."

"I thank you. Mama recommended these; she was poring over the choices for hours. But I must say that I still worry for the conjugal felicity of my sister," responded Elizabeth.

"I would not worry so. It is a very eligible match, you know; and marriage is not so much about love as you would like to think."

"Perhaps, Charlotte, I am too romantic; but I believe that it is more about love than you suppose."

They were then interrupted by none other than Mr. and Mrs. Collins; and, after the two friends gave their congratulations to the young couple, Mr. Collins said,

"Yes, I have been made the happiest of men! There is in every thing a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. My dear Mary and I seem to have been designed for each other."

"So are you leaving for Kent directly?" asked Charlotte with indifference in her tone which Elizabeth believed to be rather forced. Surely she was not so very depending on Mr. Collins proposing to her? It seemed incredible that her friend could have formed any sort of attachment on such an absurd man.

"Yes, yes! Hopefully we shall meet again Miss Lucas, which I dare say we undoubtedly will; and of course, Cousin Elizabeth, I will see you when you come to Kent in the spring."

"Aye; I will miss all my sisters dearly, certainly—they do make for very interesting subjects to study—and my pianoforte. My dear, you will purchase one, will you not, for we have no instrument of our own," added Mary.

"Directly, love! But till then, I am sure that Lady Catherine will allow you to use hers; she is all affability and condescension, you know."

And, with such discussion, they thus left Charlotte and Elizabeth to themselves. Both walked towards the dining parlor, to refill their punch glasses, when Elizabeth could not help but overhear a conversation between her mother and Mrs. Long.

"I am so happy for my dear Mary!—But, it is such a grievous affair that Mr. Bingley and his friend have quit Netherfield. My two eldest, you know, were very distressed by the news; neither could leave their bedchambers for a week, I dare say. They have been used abominably ill."

Elizabeth was, at first, amused by the thought of her and Jane so distraught by the departure of a few gentlemen that they would be made physically ill; but she then became alarmed, once she realized what her mother was implying.

"Both of them?" asked Mrs. Long, intrigued and eager to gain new intelligence.

"Oh! Yes! My dear Jane and Lizzy were quite in love, you know."

"So, they were both in love with Mr. Bingley?"

"Both in love with Mr. Bingley! Of course not, Mrs. Long, how could you even suggest such a thing? My Lizzy and I, you know, are on the most intimate terms, and she did not hesitate to tell me that she was mad in love with—"

"Mama! Come, look and tell me your opinion of—of—the flower arrangements," interjected Elizabeth, looking absolutely exasperated. This did not fail to catch the attention of Charlotte, who was staring at the scene in wonder; but Elizabeth was only anxious to silence her mother.

"You already know my opinion of them, Lizzy, for I was the one who arranged them, do not you remember only this morning? Oh, but I must forgive you, for you are surely absent-minded and lovesick. Why, I was just telling Mrs. Long of this terrible business of Jane's and yours! I must say that I am quite grieved as well," replied Mrs. Bennet, looking overly solicitous and speaking in a tone gentler than usual.

"I told you that in confidence, Mama," replied Elizabeth bitterly, biting her lower lip.

"I am sorry if I have upset you, my dear. But of course, I was only telling Mrs. Long because she would be especially sympathetic, you know, since one of her nieces was recently disappointed by another young man."

"Miss Bennet, do not fear what I may think, for I believe I already know. Mr. Bingley disappointed your sister, and that Mr. Darcy has also abandoned you! But you know, we always new him to be so very proud and disagreeable; I am really not surprised by it," said Mrs. Long with an untrustworthy grin.

Elizabeth, overcome with humiliation, quickly excused herself and quitted the room, mortified by the rumors being spread. She wished; she hoped it might all be forgotten soon; for the gentlemen had left, and certainly the gossip would die down when the wake of their departure had passed. But she could not help but be vexed by it all; why had she told her mother that she was in love with Mr. Darcy? Surely she could have predicted that it would be industriously circulated by her—she much rather would have had to disappoint Mr. Collins.

"Eliza?" called a voice, unmistakably Charlotte's, as she had followed her friend. Elizabeth, feeling unequal to encounter her, found a conveniently placed bookshelf and hid behind it, hoping that Charlotte would leave her to her solitude.