Chapter 3
The house was buzzing the next morning. Lizzy was bustling around making sure everything was ready. Guests were beginning to arrive and the wedding was to begin in two hours. Mary and Jane kept the boys occupied while Kitty helped Georgiana get ready.
"I've called for lunch." Kitty said entering the room.
"Oh Kitty, I couldn't eat anything now, I'm so nervous."
"You must eat something, I don't want you to faint up there, and besides perhaps it will make you feel better. Come now, just a little something."
"Alright, I'll try, a little something."
The maid entered with their try of food and they sat to eat. Once Georgiana took a bite, she realized how hungry she was. She ate a good deal of her lunch while her and Kitty talked about the most insignificant things, which seemed to calm her.
"You were right Kitty, I do feel much better."
"I figured hunger was part of the problem. Now, lets get you into your dress so we can do your hair."
"Thank you Kitty, you are to good to me, oh, wait! The flowers for my hair, they aren't here. Would you mind going to ask Lizzy where they are?"
"No of course not. You get into your dress and I'll find the flowers, don't worry about anything!" Kitty assured Georgiana as she handed her the dress.
Kitty left the room and quickly searched for her older sister. She finally happened upon Lizzy in the parlor where she was serving tea to some newly arrived guests.
"Excuse me, Elizabeth, might I speak to you privately for a moment."
"Why yes of course kitty, excuse me for just one moment." she said to her guests.
"What is it Kitty?" Elizabeth asked as they reached the hallway.
"Georgiana can't find the flowers for her hair, she thought maybe you knew where they were?"
"Oh my goodness! I completely forgot! They are in my room, do you think you can get the them?"
"Certainly."
"Be sure to knock, William may be in there." Lizzy whispered.
"Of course Lizzy, thank you."
"How is Georgiana doing?" Lizzy asked quickly before returning to her guests
"Oh, she's a bit nervous, but she is doing very well."
"Alright, well go and get those flowers and tell Georgiana that I am very sorry for not having them in her room."
"Yes Lizzy."
Kitty walked quickly to the master bedroom and Lizzy re-joined her guests. Kitty found no one in the room when she knocked. She walked into the room, grabbed the flowers and headed back to Georgiana. On her way she met Mr. Burton who had just arrived.
"Good day Mr. Burton." Kitty curtsied.
"Good dy Miss Bennet, how are you?" he bowed.
"Very well thank you. Have you seen Miss Darcy?"
"Yes, I am actually heading to her room right now."
"How is she?" he asked looking nervous for her. "I know how she gets nervous, is she alright?"
"Yes, quite. But I must go help her get ready, or she might become very nervous." Kitty curtsied to excuse herself and left as Mr. Burton bowed.
She headed down the hallway quickly hoping to find that Georgiana was still calm.
"Thank goodness! I was beginning to worry, we are running out of time."
"Well here are the flowers so we can begin. I just saw Mr. Burton, he's just arrived."
"Michael's here." Georgiana sunk into her chair and got quite pale.
"Georgiana are you alright?"
"I'm beginning to think lunch was a horrid idea."
"You will be fine, now lets get started on your hair, the dress is beautiful by the way." Kitty smiled.
"Thanks, oh Kitty, what would I do without you."
While Kitty helped Georgiana get ready, Mary was assisting Jane with the boys. They were all hoping that the boys would be tired enough to take a nap during the ceremony, which would leave them wide awake for the ball that was to follow. Right now, they were playing quietly on the floor which afforded Mary and Jane time to talk over tea.
"With all the excitement last night, I didn't get to ask how you are doing." Jane asked as she took a careful sip of her tea.
"I'm doing well, I am quite excited for the summer. I do enjoy the time away from Longbourne."
"Yes, I know how bored you and Kitty get being there all year. I can't even imagine, the house used to be so full of life and noise."
"Everything changed when you all got married, some things for the better, others for the worst. I don't mind the silence, but it kills Kitty sometimes. At the same time, being away from Lydia has helped her a great deal."
"Lydia did have a great effect on Kitty." Jane sighed, remembering her youngest sister. "But she has grown up so much since Lydia's marriage, she has turned into quite a lovely young woman."
"I am excited to read some books at your home."
"Mary, come now you are twenty three, do you ever hope of marrying? You can't spend your whole life reading books about life without having your own."
"Jane, I just don't enjoy talking about the things that most people enjoy. I like philosophy and theology and history. I have never met someone who enjoys such things. I simply can not stand talking about the superfluous, and would not be able to tolerate being married to a man who enjoyed such things."
"But Mary, you don't give any type of gentleman a chance. Perhaps there is such a man who does enjoy philosophy and theology as you do. But you are so closed minded when it comes to gentlemen that you would never know if such a man existed. Perhaps you should try to be more open until you discover that you do not have anything in common. You will never meet anyone who fits your description if you do not first allow people to be introduced."
"I just don't need to be romantic, I don't yearn for it like Kitty does."
"But you admit that you find the silence disconcerting just as Kitty does, and once Mama and Papa are gone and Kitty is married, you will find yourself enduring a lot more silence. And perhaps someday you will meet a man who makes you yearn for romance?" Jane smiled.
"Well that isn't likely. I am as you said twenty three. Who knows how many more men I will even meet before I turn into an old spinster." Mary laughed.
"Oh Mary, you always have been a bit pessimistic."
"I just can not think so well of things as you do. It is easier for me to allow myself not to be disappointed. Even when Mr. Bingley went to London you could not think badly of it."
"I suppose our dispositions are just different. Look at the time, we must be getting the boys down for their naps, we must leave time to get ready for the wedding."
They gathered the boys and got them ready for their naps quickly. Samuel and Edward went to sleep quickly and without a fight, but Charles proved more difficult. He believed he was old enough to stay awake for the ceremony and the party.
"Come now Charles, you need your rest or you will miss all the fun later this evening." Jane coaxed.
"But, I want to stay awake." he pleaded in his small voice.
"You'll be allowed to stay up for the whole ball if you rest now."
"Jane, I've been reading a book I think Charles might enjoy, why don't you go get ready while I read to him for a bit." Mary offered.
"Don't you have to get ready as well?"
"No, I put my best dress on this morning. You go, I'll get him to sleep."
"Thank you Mary. Sleep well darling." Jane kissed Charles' forehead and left the room.
Mary opened the newest book she picked from Pemberley's library, Gullivers Travels. The story was about the fantastical travels of Gulliver and the things he went through. Mary thought Charles might enjoy the story, but the language would help put him to sleep.
Charles fell asleep in less then twenty minutes and Mary made her way to her seat in the wedding hall. A lot of people were already there and only a few seats remained empty. Jane and Bingley came in a few minutes after and sat with her.
Kitty took her place as a bridesmaid at the alter and everyone turned to see Georgiana entering the elaborate hall. She smiled brightly as her brother walked her toward Mr. Burton. The ceremony was beautiful and Georgiana stayed perfectly calm. The hall erupted with applause as they both said their vows and Mr. Burton kissed the bride. Afterward the entire party moved to the ball room for a night of dinner and dancing to celebrate the union.
