Mr. and Miss Darcy came back to the Gardiners house at Lizzy's request. Mr. Darcy insisted that they celebrate with dinner at his home. Charles proposed tomorrow night stating he ought to go to Mr. Bennet now and would be back by tomorrow night. Mrs. Gardiner hearing the news could only laugh.
"No, that's not necessary dear," she said, "we have a letter from Mr. Bennet stating that Mr. Gardiner can handle all the particulars and legalities for any development on the Mr. Bingley front." The group moved on quickly to talk about other things. But Jane's mind was stuck in this revelation.
He doesn't love you enough to do a fathers duty. He would have come if it were Lizzy. Jane felt her face freeze as she listened to Lizzy, and Miss Darcy joyfully plan a dinner. Mrs. Gardiners eyes missed nothing and she gave Jane a sad smile. Mr. Darcy also looked at Jane with pity before they both turned to the joyous conversation.
The second their backs were turned Jane felt Charles hand caress the small of her back. She turned to look at him with a serene smile, but that seemed to make him feel worse. He planted a quick kiss on her hair, before anyone could see.
"Do you want me to go anyway? Demand he do his fatherly duty?" he whispered. She grimaced and shook her head.
"I'd rather not put him out of his comfort, and I'm loath to send you away for a man who couldn't be put out of his comfort," she said softly. He nodded and pulled her a little closer. She thought a little longer, oblivious to the chatter around her. Then she looked at Charles.
"Let's get married here, as soon as we can," she said. Charles looked more than pleased with this request, though it brought the rest of the conversation to a halt.
"Are you sure Jane?" Mrs. Gardiner asked, "what about your home church, with all your family and friends?"
"I don't mind having a small wedding here. All the people who love us are right here anyways."
"I'd hate for you to be too hasty, and do something you might regret," she continued.
"I don't think I will," Jane said thoughtfully, "I can already hear Mama's nerves going all aflutter." This made Lizzy laugh and an understanding look blossomed on Mrs. Gardiners face.
"I see, well, Mr. Bingley. Let me write a note to my husband and you can deliver it to him. I imagine you'd like to meet with him again?" Charles nodded and within ten minutes was out the door again.
Jane saw jealousy pass like a shadow over Mr. Darcy's face.
OOXXOOXoXXx
Dinner at the Darcys was all that was charming. Mr. and Miss Darcy were obvious in their enthusiasm and desire to please, though both were shy and quiet about it. Their cousin, and Charles' friend Colonel Fitzwilliam joined them as well.
Conversation at dinner was bright and cheerful, with Charles holding her hand often under the table. Nobody mentioned anything about it. It was easy to see what life with Charles would be like. He wouldn't disparage or belittle, just encourage and maybe tease. Jane also longed for Lizzy to marry Mr. Darcy, so that these dinners could be commonplace. Funnily, Miss Darcy eyed Lizzy with the same plan.
At the separation of the sexes Jane excused herself to find a washroom. While searching she found herself outside of Mr. Darcy's study with the door slightly ajar. She knew she ought not to eavesdrop, but she couldn't help herself. Inside Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed.
"I didn't know you had it in you Bingley! You seemed fickle, always jumping from one party to the next. One angel to the next." Inside she heard Mr. Darcy try to hush Colonel Fitzwilliam and Jane felt a bubble of anxiety grow within her. "If that's true, what keeps him from jumping away from you? Not much! You ought to expect him to leave." Charles only hushed Mr. Darcy in return, before responding to Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"That might have been true. Since childhood I've been taught that social connections are essentially more business connections. Every party is a business meeting. And to all my past companions, I find women have a lovely perspective on life. The ones I gravitate towards are always a laugh, like Miss Elizabeth. Strong, witty performance. I'm sure you've noticed Colonel, she's excellent to talk to."
The Colonel grunted in agreement, but outside Jane bit her lip. She was determined to hear him to the end. Though she agreed with him, and admired those same things in Lizzy, it was hard to hear him praise her so. As if she might have to compete with Lizzy. "You would be soundly beaten." Charles continued
"But then there's Miss Bennet. She is guileless. There was no performance, nothing at all, just a polite script." Jane nearly left, but her feet wouldn't move. Charles continued his explanation. "It was beyond intriguing, a challenge to lift the mask, but when I did, it was all worth it. She is a gem man, an absolute gem. Jovial, wise, observant, loyal... affectionate. She's still reserved, but every layer deeper the more noble she is. Miss Elizabeth is fine, sunshine, but Miss Bennet is like those kaleidoscopes.
OOXXOOXoXXx
The next three weeks were hectic and filled with shopping. Charles had paid for anything Jane required, through Mr. Gardiner. He insisted as he didn't want to put anyone out. Serendipitously, it also kept Mr. Bennet from having to come to London with more funds. Keeping the whole Bennet clan at home and away from his Jane. Though he never admitted this to anyone, Jane knew and was glad.
After their wedding Lizzy was to go visit Charlotte in Kent for Easter. Mr. Darcy was also due to go to Kent at that time, which filled Charles, Jane and Miss Darcy with hopeful excitement. Part of Jane wished she could have a double wedding with Lizzy, especially since the grooms were such close friends. But another part of her wished to be married now, and Mr. Darcy was taking too long for her.
Charles was a frequent visitor at the Gardiner residence, usually bringing Mr. Darcy along with him. At one point Mr. Gardiner asked the men if they would like to rent a room in the house seeing as they were just going to return early the next day. Charles laughed and Mr. Darcy blushed.
But finally, the day was here. Monday morning, the day after the last Banns were read, the first thing to do was go to the church. Jane paced the back of the church, waiting for her uncle to settle his children in the seats. Lizzy buzzed with excitement, her happy chatter filling the hall. Though Jane couldn't quite comprehend her sister's words, they did provide a balm to her soul.
There was only one thing wrong today: Caroline .
The Hurst had managed to step just inside Charles' good graces to receive a wedding invitation. She also thought Charles wanted some part of his family there.
Caroline was not there.
Jane had wanted to talk to her before the wedding, but Charles had refused her. He said that he occasionally saw her when he would visit Louisa, and she still clung to her opinion. He wasn't sure she would keep her peace at the wedding, and so barred her. Jane could see that it cut him deeply. But he had done it for her, for Jane. And she loved him more for it.
Mr. Gardiner interrupted her musings then. Lizzy danced up to them and kissed Jane's cheek. Mr. Gardiner gestured her through the door, and Lizzy obediently left.
"You are beautiful Jane," Mr Gardiner said with an endearing, reminiscing smile. "And you know I approve of Mr. Bingley now, but if you have doubts or regrets we can change course anytime you wish, today, or anytime later. You are my first priority. How do you feel?"
Jane, though touched at this speech, and feeling more secure in her future due to her Uncle's indication that he would help her even after marriage, replied her desire to be married today.
And so they were. Charles made the appropriate expressions, they both made the appropriate responses, and she even wrote her now appropriate new name.
The wedding breakfast was held at Mr. Darcy's home, which Mrs. Gardiner acted as hostess. This was a relief to everyone. Mrs. Gardiner didn't have to worry about the workload on her staff, Mr. Darcy's staff viewed it as good practice for when their employer got married, and Jane and Charles wanted to leave early. They were going to Greece the next day.
Jane hardly noticed her family's absence, until Lizzy made a joke on how she could hear Mama rejoicing from here. See? You didn't care about saving them as much as you cared about escaping them. And now that you have gotten away, you hardly remember them. She shook her head, to try and disprove it. Surely she had thought of them kindly. She came up with very little, but she came up with many memories of feeling relief mama was not there, or disappointment towards her father. There were very many instances when she wished the Gardiners were her real parents. The dark thoughts were correct. Now that she'd gotten away from them, she hardly thought about them.
A hand was laid on the small of her waist, and she looked to see Charles, with a sad smile at her. He led her to a secluded corner and kissed her hand.
"What made that look?" he asked.
"I'm just thinking of my family."
"I can understand that disappointment," he said quietly.
"But," Jane said, mentally shaking off the sadness, "I'd much rather not be sad today." Charles gave her a slow, sincere smile.
"No, it's much too wonderful a day to be sad," he said.
Soon after Charles began to take their leave, which Jane was glad of. Everyone began to shower them with attention with new vigor. Lizzy and Jane held each other the longest. Jane would miss Lizzy terribly, but was also terribly excited to start her new life. Lizzy made her old life bearable, and Jane would forever love her for it.
Charles finally helped Jane into their carriage and they set off for home. Jane was surprised how easy it was to supplant Longbourne as home. Now, home was wherever Charles was.