Chapter 17 - The Wedding
The night before Jane's wedding, her mother came to her as Jane and Lizzy sat in their room talking while they brushed out their hair.
"Go and help Mary for a little while, Lizzy - Jane and I shall have a pre-wedding mother-daughter chat."
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, but left the room without complaint.
Mrs Bennet smiled after her as she left, sighed and said "I wonder how long until it is her turn?"
"There do not seem to be any prospects, I must admit" replied Jane.
Mrs Bennet sat in the chair Lizzy had vacated and reached over and took Jane's hands in her own. "Well, at least I have almost gotten one of you married." She patted Jane's hand and her voice broke a little, "Almost. Although now that we are so close to the event, I am not sure I am ready for it!" She gave a little sob. "You will be leaving me!"
"Mother," Jane held her mother's hands tightly, "I will only be at Netherfield."
Mrs Bennet took a deep breath and nodded. "True. I must remember that. My first baby won't be far away." She took another breath, nodded and then continued "But, I am here to do my duty of preparing you for your wedding night!"
Jane blushed and looked down.
"Well," her mother began, "I am sure you have seen… animals on the farm, so you won't be completely shocked. But that is just the mechanics. For people it is… the same, but different. There are emotions that come into play. Your young man loves you, that is obvious, so I am sure you will be fine. I must tell you that the first time hurts and there may be a little blood, but you have to just get that out of the way. After that, you will be fine. You must trust in your husband to care for you. My advice is to talk to him, and encourage him to talk to you. Tell him what you like. And if in doubt, ask him to slow down."
Mrs Bennet had mostly been looking at the floor while talking, embarrassed at the conversation, but now she looked up at her daughter. "I suppose that doesn't make much sense right now. But remember: tell him what you like, and if doesn't seem… pleasant, ask him to slow down. And just accept the first time hurts. Will you remember?"
Jane nodded, although the confusion on her face made it clear that, as expected, the words hadn't meant a great deal to her. Her mother smiled, squeezed Jane's hand and said "You will be fine - he loves you." She stood from the chair "I will tell Lizzy she can come back now". As Mrs Bennet left the room, Jane heard her mutter "When did she become grownup enough to marry?" and smiled as her mother left the room.
A few moments later Lizzy came back into the room, closed the door and, leaning on it, said "Well, what did she tell you?" Jane laughed and said "You will have to wait until it is your turn" with a smile.
"Ha!" She replied, "how would I care for your twelve children if I married?" They both laughed.
The two girls readied themselves for bed and hopped into the sheets the maid had warmed for them. One more night, thought Jane. Her eyes closing as she gazed at the beautiful gown which hung from the wardrobe door.
~~ HoL ~~
Jane awoke with a start the next morning to a pat on her hand and the sound of her name well before the sun rose - Sarah the upstairs maid had come to wake them all. The sun would not reach the house until almost 8am at this time of year so they needed to be up and getting ready before it rose to make the 10am wedding.
"I'm getting married today!" she thought. Jane took herself up from bed and peeked out the window - it looked like it would be a beautiful day. She smiled and hugged herself. Soon she would be married to the one she loved!
Jane donned a simple day gown for the brief period of breakfast. She was helped to dress by the lady's maid shared by all the ladies at Longbourn. She went downstairs, finding her mother was already there, eating. Mrs Bennet waved her into the room, "Eat something!" she said, "And quickly! We must be ready in time!"
Jane took a small amount from the sideboard. "I'm not really very hungry," she said, "too nervous, I think". She looked at her mother as she took her plate to the table.
Mrs Bennet nodded. "I remember my wedding day, I was the same. As long as you have something" she said.
Jane sat down and tried to do more than just move the food around on her plate, when she found she had somehow eaten it all. By then her father and sisters had come in and were eating themselves. Her mother announced that it was time for the younger sisters to go up and dress before the bride.
"I said 'bride'!" cried Mrs Bennet, "Oh, I shall go distracted!" She smiled at Jane, "but, Jane dear, you may sit here for a moment and enjoy a cup of tea with your father while I organise myself and your sisters. Rest. Its going to be a big day! When we are done, I will call for you and you will have all the attention".
Jane sat and chatted quietly with her father over a fresh pot of tea. At one point she looked up and said "they are being very noisy up there". Her father laughed and said "that is the normal commotion of ladies dressing". Jane raised her eyebrows "I had no idea!" she said.
When at last the call came that it was her turn, she went up to her room, for the last time, she realised! Her mother and Lizzy were waiting for her, dressed beautifully. Her sisters also came in. Lydia and Kitty had been allowed to dress in a more grown up fashion for the day, although they had been told firmly they were not to consider themselves out! They all took a moment to just gaze at the beauty that was Jane's dress, hanging on the wardrobe.
Then, together, they dressed Jane and made her even more beautiful if that were possible. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she almost cried. "I can't believe the day has finally come!" She said to them, "I hope I can see you all one day as happy as I am today" and did her best not to cry. Elizabeth passed her the bouquet of flowers and picked up the matching one meant for herself.
At a quarter to ten, they went downstairs to find their father waiting at the foot of the stairs. He looked up as she came down and reached out to her to help her off the bottom step. Then he held both her hands and said "My little girl!" There was a tear in his eye. Mrs Bennet came forward and put a flower in his buttonhole. He kissed her on the forehead and they smiled at one another. Mr Bennet then offered Jane his arm and she took it. "Time to go!" he said. They left to walk to Longbourn church where the service was to be held, father and daughter together, her mother and the remaining 4 sisters following behind. Jane looked around as they walked. It was indeed a beautiful morning. She looked up at the sky, and held her bouquet of flowers up high, overwhelmed by how happy she felt.
~~ HoL ~~
Darcy had arrived three days before the wedding to standup with Charles as his best man. Charles had barely seen Jane in that time as final preparations for the wedding kept her so busy that she barely had time to say "hello" as she went past him. This left him time to spend with his best friend, and Darcy had used the time to slip in some instruction on estate management for the change in season from autumn to winter.
At the church, Charles had arrived and was standing near the chancel, Darcy standing with him. The guests were starting to come in. He knew everyone there. Some of his family had been able to come. Caroline, Louisa and Hurst were on the groom's side of the church. He was glad Louisa had felt up to the trip to the church. Two of his aunts and three cousins had done him the honour of coming all the way from Scarborough. On the bride's side, he could see most of the local families he knew. The Lucases, the Longs, the Gouldings, the Robinsons, the Oatleys and all the other names he had learned in the few short months he had been in Hertfordshire. Some had opted to sit on the groom's side, but he felt that was mostly because the bride's side was becoming full very quickly. Longbourn church was quite small.
He stood making small talk with the vicar while they waited for the bride's party. After a time, Darcy commented, "Ah, they are here" and the bride's mother and most of her sisters came in and took their place in the front row. Bingley looked to the back of the church and caught a glimpse, she was here!
As Bingley watched, Elizabeth entered the church and as the strains of the Wedding March began she started her slow walk down the aisle. She wore a beautiful cream dress and she nodded to various people as she slowly processed down the aisle.
Bingley happened to glance at Darcy as she walked, and was surprised at how affected the man seemed while watching Elizabeth. He interpreted it as condemnation. "I know you don't approve of my marrying Miss Bennet" he muttered, "but please try to be civil, she is my choice and the family are not that bad".
"The mother is one the most appalling match makers I have ever met!" Darcy's tone of reply was equally low.
"Oh, really? Tell me Darce, exactly which daughter was it that she threw at you?" Bingley whispered.
Darcy glanced at him and started to answer ,"She - ", then he stopped and frowned, seeming uncertain what to say. Bingley was thrilled to see he had actually caught Darcy by surprise for once. "She didn't, did she?" Bingley scoffed at his friend and turned back to the church.
Elizabeth had taken her place at the front and Jane had started down. The smile of delight on Bingley's face was only matched by the one he knew was hiding under Jane's veil. Jane wore an elegant gown of cream that matched Elizabeth's but was designed in such a way that Elizabeth's dress seemed like it was the introduction to Jane's dress. Bingley was silent for a moment while he simply observed the beauty of the woman walking on Mr Bennet's arm, and then remembered Darcy. "I think they noticed you weren't interested and were insulted by it, so left you alone" Bingley got in a last whispered word to Darcy before anyone got close enough to hear them. He didn't see the look Darcy gave him. Mr Bennet brought Jane forward and placed her hand in Bingley's. Then all of Bingley's attention belonged to Jane.
The vicar began the service, the classic old words of "Dearly beloved" rolled out.
When he reached "speak now or forever hold your peace" in asking for objections, there was a commotion in the church.
The seven years since Mrs Piper, the governess, had arrived at Longbourn had seen a huge change in Lydia. While still very young and spirited, she was now generally a sensible, well educated young lady. Everyone who knew her thought well of her and was confident she would be a credit to her family when she was grown. But as she was still young, she had a streak of mischief and impertinence that she had yet to mature out of.
"I object!" cried Lydia.
The vicar knew her well, being one of his local congregants and only looked over his reading glasses at her and asked "and what is your objection, Miss Lydia?"
"He's not good enough for my sister!"
There was a roll of laughter through the church, but her mother pulled on her hand, "Lydia! Sit down!" she hissed. "Do not embarrass us with your impertinence on such an important day!"
"Indeed, Miss Lydia, we will be having words after this, but I think for now we will get back to the service" agreed the vicar.
Lydia sat down with a small smile. Her mother might be annoyed with her, but the rest of the attendees had laughed at her joke, so she was counting it as a success. Although upon reflection she wondered just what her governess would have to say!
Jane shook her head at her little sister with a half smile and turned back to her groom and the ceremony continued, until they heard the final words of "Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder", then nothing remained but the signing of the registry.
As Jane and Bingley walked out of the church, hand in hand, everyone stopped them to give them their best wishes. Neither of them could stop smiling, and their expressions were reflected in the expressions of the surrounding well wishers - it was clear to all that it was a love match, had there been any doubt. Most of the attendees at the ceremony would be at Longbourn for the wedding breakfast, so it was a large party that walked back - only the extremely elderly who weren't able to make the quarter mile walk took to carriages for the short trip.
~~ HoL ~~
The wedding breakfast was a chance for Bingley and Jane to share their happiness with all their neighbours. The two newlyweds separated at the head table, going around the room in opposite directions. They greeted each of their guests, thanking them for coming, making small talk and accepting their congratulations. When the couple met at the far side of the room, there were many cries of "kiss her!" Jane looked abashed, Bingley grinned and looked askance around the room. Even Mr Bennet nodded that he would not be offended, so Bingley gently took Jane by the waist and kissed her thoroughly. The room broke out in cheers. After they separated, the looks they had been exchanging over their shoulders in the first half of the trip became even more frequent in the second half.
When they came back together at the head table, they sat down and had a small amount to eat, but so many people were coming up to them to talk to them that they weren't able to have very much.
Then suddenly it was time to leave. Bingley took Jane's hand and together they walked to the door. Outside, the entire party gathered to see them off - flower petals were thrown on them, and, holding hands, they ran laughing to the carriage that would take them away. They waved to the crowd as they drove away, and Jane saw her mother still waving when they turned the corner, her father standing beside her smiling.
From Longbourn they were going to Netherfield to change for the trip, neither of them wanting to travel in wedding clothes. The last of Jane's belongings had been delivered that morning, so there was nothing left at Longbourn for her to change into. When the carriage arrived at Netherfield, Charles jumped down then turned and reached out his hand to help Jane down. "Mrs Bingley" he said with a small bow, "welcome home." The smile Jane shot him could have set the sun on fire. He took her hand and drew her across the drive to a tree which could not be seen from the front door or any of the windows. The carriage driver firmly turned his back so he couldn't see them. There Bingley took Jane in his arms and kissed her far more thoroughly than he had in front of witnesses earlier. They were both gasping by the time they stopped. He looked her in the eye and said, "I have been waiting to do that!" "Oh Charles", breathed Jane, happily.
The butler bowed them in as they went inside and the housekeeper greeted them. Jane confirmed with her that everything had arrived and been taken up to the Mistress suite. Then they went upstairs. She went into her rooms where Milly was waiting for you. "Did it go off well, Miss, Oh! - It will be Ma'am now!" Milly had a big smile on her face. Jane smiled back, "It was wonderful. Everything I dreamed of." Jane sighed happily and looked out the window at the grounds of Netherfield. It still didn't seem quite real and she wondered if she should pinch herself. "Well, lets get you dressed so you can leave for London, Mum." Milly was back to business. "I've made sure the right bags went down to the carriage, so you will have everything you wanted for the trip."
When the lass had left, Jane spun around, in sheer joy of how happy she felt to be in her new rooms in her new home with her new husband, then there was a soft tap on the door and Bingley stuck his head in. "I saw Milly come out. Are you ready?" he asked. She smiled at him and replied "I am ready, Charles".
Together they went downstairs to the carriage which was to take them on their honeymoon. As the carriage pulled away, they gazed into each other's eyes.
A/N OMG they are finally married! I can't believe we got there! I'm not planning a graphic wedding night, in case you were wondering.
If you are wondering why I said they walked to the wedding, its because the text says that after the original assembly "They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived". A village was very likely to have its own church. So Mr Bennet probably had a living to give there. (Given Longbourn's income, I expect it was a small one, like Colonel Brandon's which "did not make more than 200£ per annum" per Sense and Sensibility Chapter 39 and that would only partially have been from Brandon - tithes etc would have made up the bulk of it). I also note that Jane and Lizzy went to morning services the Sunday before they left Netherfield, but they obviously didn't see their family there or they would have just gone home with them, and had servants convey their luggage. Thus, there was probably a church at Longbourn which the family attended - and of course a young lady would wish to get married in her own church, where possible.
I've really wanted to get more of the other sisters into this novel, but its really Jane's story, so I am not getting much from them. Not sure if the Liddy scene works or not :(