Author's note: I really, really appreciate the kind words. And I appreciate everyone who points out when I mes sthings up, like accidentally saying Colonel Wickham instead of Major. Or forgetting that I had Dr. Carson married at the very beginning. That's what I get for taking too long to write this story. Well, Dr. Carson is now single so I can match him up with Charlotte Lucas lol. :)
Anyway, this chapter may seem a tad slow for some of you, but I wanted it to be as historically accurate as possible for what a funeral was like during that time period. It was actually really interesting doing the research for it.
Chapter 32
The day of Jane's funeral was a dismal one. One would think that April would be ushering in the warmth of summer - as it had for Kitty's wedding day - but instead, a freezing rain pelted down from dark clouds that roared in anger.
It was as if God decided to match the weather to Elizabeth's feelings.
The three days of sitting watch over Jane's body in vigil had been exhausting, yet healing. Almost all of the residents in Meryton and its surrounding environs came to pay their condolences and share their fondest memories of the beautiful young woman who had died too young.
Throughout the entire affair, Darcy and Georgiana proved their friendship time and again by providing comfort, calling for tea, and offering support. A few people who had not yet met Georgiana were taken aback by her appearance, but in devotion to her future sister, Georgiana bottled up her feelings until she could release them in the privacy of her chambers.
When the time came for the funeral, Elizabeth, Louisa, and Georgiana watched from the front parlor windows as the gentlemen boarded the carriage that would take them to the church. Jane's body was to be transported in a hearse, which was unusual for Meryton, but Bingley had insisted that the specially-designed carriage be used.
Invitations to join the funeral procession had been extended to the Longbourn, of course, as well as Lucas Lodge, the Phillips residence, and other close friends. Their carriages and horses joined in behind, and Elizabeth raised a hand, pressing it to the cold glass. She wished she could join in saying farewell to her sister; then the image entered her mind of Jane's body closed in a casket, lowered into the ground, and being covered with dirt, and she shuddered.
"Come, let's warm you by the fire," Louisa said in a gentle voice, interrupting Elizabeth's musings.
Elizabeth allowed herself to be pulled away from the view of her sister's dead body being carried away, and numbly sat down and accepted the tea Georgiana offered.
It would be a long day of waiting. And then Darcy would leave.
Darcy exited the carriage and nodded his gratitude at the footman who held an umbrella over their heads. As they walked towards the chapel, they could hear Dr. Fields's rich baritone singing the familiar refrain to meet body at the entrance of the church-yard.
"I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord:
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
I know that my Redeemer liveth,
and that he shalt stand at the latter day upon the earth.
And though after my skin worms destroy this body,
yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself,
and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.
We brought nothing into this world,
and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the Name of the Lord."
Once all of the mourners had taken their places in the pews, Dr. Fields made his way to the pulpit. He opened his Bible and began to read aloud Psalm 39, which he then followed with Psalm 90. Darcy was surprised, as most clergy tended to read only one or the other, but Dr. Fields spoke each word with sincere conviction.
After he had finished the psalms, the priest then turned to chapter fifteen of first epistle of Paul to the Corinthians and began reading at verse twenty until the end.
Darcy listened as the familiar words poured over him, reviving memories of funerals from his past: his father, his mother, his uncle Lewis de Bourgh, Pemberley tenants, and so many others. He closed his eyes and saw their faces, reliving different memories one by one as the holy words were spoken.
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
As the lesson concluded, the men were all bidden to rise and make their way outside. The sleet still pelted down, a dismal reflection of their somber mood. They reached the burial site, and as coffin was closed and lowered down into the ground, Dr. Fields once again began to sing:
"Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.
In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succor, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?
Yet, O Lord God most holy, 0 Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Savior, thou most worthy judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee."
Dr. Fields then nodded to the gravediggers, who began to shovel dirt into the hole. As the earth was cast upon the coffin, he said:
"Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself."
Mr. Bennet gave a loud sniff, which was echoed by Bingley. Darcy reached out and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
Dr. Fields gave them all a sympathetic look, then sang, "I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: even so saith the Spirit: for they rest from their labors."
"Rest, dear Jane," Bingley whispered. "Rest in peace."
"Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us," continued Dr. Fields, before he offered up a prayer. "Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen."
"Amen."
"Amen."
"Amen."
The response was murmured by each of the men in attendance. The prayer was continued:
"Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity: We give thee hearty thanks, for that it hath pleased thee to deliver this our sister out of the miseries of this sinful world; beseeching thee, that it may please thee, of thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom; that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Once again, the amen was echoed by each man in attendance. Darcy felt Bingley's shoulders sag slightly, and he whispered, "Hang in there. It's almost finished."
And so it was. Dr. Fields offered the last prayer on behalf of the congregation:
"O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally; who also hath taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for them that sleep in him: We meekly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him, as our hope is this our sister doth; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight; and receive that blessing, which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world: Grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen."
As the gentlemen replaced their hats on their heads, Dr. Fields uttered the final line of the service as a blessing upon all those who were present that day: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen."
"Amen," Darcy said fervently, and he was echoed by the rest of the men in attendance.
The majority of the mourners began to make their way towards their conveyances, but Bingley and Mr. Bennet remained staring down at the grave still being filled, with Darcy, Hurst, and Mr. Phillips at their sides. Dr. Fields walked over towards them and, with compassion, said, "This is the most difficult part, I think. It's as if you don't leave, she's not really gone."
"Exactly," Bingley whispered, and Mr. Bennet nodded.
"But that's just a lie," Dr. Fields said. "There is no comfort to be found here. The longer you remain, the harder it will be to leave. It makes it worse, not better. As the angel said to the apostles and to Mary, He is not here. Jane isn't here. She is with God. And as He is everywhere, so is she. She is with you wherever you go."
Darcy's heart clenched; he wished his father could have better understood these concepts. Perhaps then he wouldn't have succumbed to the paralyzing fear of losing his wife. He remembered the hours his father spent at Anne Darcy's grave, refusing to accept that she was gone, and how Pemberley had suffered for it.
Bingley took a deep breath, then nodded. "Jane was full of joy," he said hoarsely. "She would have wanted me to go and feel that same joy for myself again."
"Indeed she would have, son," Mr. Bennet said. Bingley looked at him, startled, and Mr. Bennet added, "Even though my daughter is gone, you are still my son. I hope you know that you will always find family with us at Longbourn. Even should you move on, remarry, have children: you will always be a son to me."
The sincerity and love in those words were the tipping point that caused Bingley to lose his composure. Darcy's own eyes became suspiciously wet as he watched his friend choke back his tears. In between stifled sobs, Bingley said, "I am… no longer… an orphan… then."
Darcy watched through blurred eyes as the customarily sarcastic older man stepped forward and wrapped the weeping younger man in his arms. "No, my boy. You - and your sister, if she wishes - are welcome to be counted among my children."
"And I will receive you, and will be a a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters," said Dr. Fields.
"Romans?" Darcy inquired in a whisper, but Dr. Fields shook his head and murmured back, "The second epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, chapter six."
As the six men stood together, bound with ties stronger than blood, the freezing rain finally began to ease. And with it, Darcy began to form an idea.
Elizabeth paced the room of the parlor, wondering when the remainder of the Netherfield residents would come down for dinner. The funeral had long been over, and it was to be the last meal before the Darcys would leave Netherfield and return to Pemberly. As heartbroken as she was about Jane, Elizabeth's true sorrow lie in having to be parted from her betrothed.
The door opened, and in walked Darcy and Georgiana. "At last someone has come to keep me company," Elizabeth said with a small smile. "I had begun to think I would be eating by myself this evening! But where is Mrs. Annesley?"
"She had a touch of the headache," Darcy replied. "And I believe Bingley has chosen to take a tray in his rooms tonight."
Elizabeth nodded in understanding. "I cannot even begin to understand how lonely he must be feeling right now. I think had this occurred before Jane was married, I would feel the solitude more keenly. However, as she was already spending more time with Bingley than myself, it only makes sense that he had become more accustomed to her presence than I was by the end of it."
A knock came to the door, and Mrs. Nicholls entered. "Begging your pardon, Miss Bennet, but Mrs. Hurst asked if you could act as hostess tonight. She and Mr. Hurst have requested a dinner tray be sent to the nursery for them this evening."
"Well, it looks like it's just the three of us, then!" Elizabeth said with an overly-bright grin directed at the Darcys before turning her attention back to the housekeeper. "Is everything ready to be served?"
"Yes, miss. I believe the butler was just on his way in to announce dinner was served."
"We'll save him the trouble and just go on in, then," Elizabeth said.
"Allow me." Darcy extended one arm to Elizabeth, then the other to Georgiana. "I am quite fortunate to escort two lovely ladies in to dinner tonight. I'm not certain I'll be able to eat my food, as I'll be too distracted by the beauty before me."
Georgiana giggled, and Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "My, what a charmer we have here, Georgiana!"
As Darcy helped each lady into her seat, Elizabeth gave the younger girl a teasing grin. "How shall we punish your brother for such an fawning speech, do you think?"
"Vunish im?"
"Why yes! We can't let him get away with all this flattery! So we must find a way to plague and punish him by teasing and laughing at him."
Georgiana, for the growth that she gained over the last several weeks, looked quite uncomfortable with the idea of teasing a man she looked at as more of a father than a brother. Darcy came to her rescue and said, "Tease such calmness of temper and presence of mind such as mine? Please do not expose yourself by trying to laugh without a subject."
He watched with pride as Elizabeth burst into laughter at his unexpected rejoinder. "You are not to be laughed at, Mr. Darcy? That is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintance!"
"Well, I daresay that even the wisest and best of men,—nay, the wisest and best of their actions,—may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke."
"Certainly there are such people," Elizabeth replied, growing serious, "but I do hope that I am not one of them. I would hope to never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies, do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose," she added with a twinkle coming back into her eye, "are precisely what you are without."
He grinned. "That is not possible for anyone, but it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule."
"Such as vanity and pride," she retorted, but upon seeing Georgiana's alarm at her tone, she gave her friend a small wink to let her know that the conversation was a lively, enjoyable debate rather than an actual argument.
"Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride—where there is a real superiority of mind—pride will be always under good regulation."
Once again, Elizabeth succumbed to laughter. "Are you saying, Mr. Darcy, that you have no defects whatsoever?"
"As you well know, Miss Bennet, I have faults enough - but they are not, I hope, o f understanding. Now, my temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding, and would perhaps be called resentful. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My good opinion once lost is lost forever."
"Then I shall have to be sure to not ever lose your good opinion," Elizabeth said. "For implacable resentment is quite a shade in character, and I cannot laugh at at it."
Growing serious, Darcy said, "There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."
Not wishing to end the evening on so somber a note, Elizabeth smiled and said, "Then it appears as though your defect is a propensity to hate everybody!"
"And yours is to willfully misunderstand them," he retorted, his lips twitching up at the ends.
"I am vewy confoosed," Georgiana complained, looking between the two of them.
Darcy's and Elizabeth's eyes met, and Elizabeth began to giggle. "I'm sorry, my friend," she said, "but your brother and I have had so many misunderstandings in the time that we've known one another!"
The couple then spent the next half hour regaling Georgiana with the many stories of their first interactions at Netherfield. The poor young woman was equally parts amused and horrified at her brother's behavior as well as at Elizabeth's misinterpretations of what had been said.
As they finished the last dish of the meal, Georgiana sighed. "I nevew vant to mawwy."
Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged a tender look, then Darcy said, "You needn't have to if you don't want to. But you may end up changing your mind if you meet the right person one day."
The look of fear on Georgiana's face only reinforced to Darcy that he had made the correct decision earlier at the funeral. He looked over at Elizabeth and said, "I spoked with Bingley and Georgiana earlier, but I haven't had a chance to discuss an idea I've had with you yet."
"Yes?" Elizabeth's eyes looked slightly wary.
"When I leave for Pemberley tomorrow, I'd like to have Georgiana remain here at Netherfield with you instead of coming with me."
She looked back and forth between the two Darcy siblings for a moment before asking, "But… why?"
He hesitated, glanced at Georgiana, then finally said, "Pemberley does not hold very warm memories for my sister. I had originally planned on having her stay in the house in London, but it would have been lonely for her there, especially after the society here in Meryton. I know you will be in mourning, but it would give Georgiana time to get to know you better before we marry."
Elizabeth sensed that there was more that he wasn't saying, but she didn't wish to pry in front of his sister. Instead, she turned a broad grin towards the anxious-looking young girl and said, "I would be delighted to have you keep me company for the next few months! Now, I plan on having you scrub the floors once a week, clean the chamber pots each day, light the fires every morning…"
Georgiana giggled, then rose from her seat to fling her arms around Elizabeth's neck. "Thank oo, Izzy!"
"Now, I believe it's best you go up and inform Mrs. Annesley of the final decision," Darcy said.
Once she was gone, Elizabeth turned to him and asked, "Now, what did you not wish to say in front of her?"
He sighed. "My hope is that with you at Pemberley, she will finally be able to see the place as her home, and not the house of the father that didn't want her. She is so quiet and timid there, and your natural joie de vivre should, I hope, bring out the light in her as well."
Mindful of the servants around them, she reached out a hand and covered his on the table, even though what she really wanted to do was kiss him. "You are a wonderful, considerate brother. I think it is an excellent idea, and I am more than happy to do so."
He covered her hand with his other one, sandwiching her small fingers between his large hands, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "We are so blessed to have you come into our lives."
"Just promise you'll come back to me in three months," she whispered. "I won't say goodbye tonight, as I plan on waking tomorrow before you go so I can send you off. But just promise me."
"I promise," he whispered.