Battle of the Dragons Chapter 31, a pride and prejudice fanfic

For all the readers who thought Bennet doesn't like travelling. Here is a quote – He delighted in going to Pemberley, especially when he was least expected. He just hates going to town.

Btw This was the last chapter. I will now start editing. When I write and post the epilogue, I will leave that on this site even when I remove the rest of the story for publication.

Thanks for reading. 😊

Now live - to find sort by publication date.

.~O~

Wedding Dragons

Many people would be amazed by how much can be achieved in a short space of time, because they consider the resources of the average person. Yet, when a Duchess and a Countess join forces to make things happen, things happen.

Jane's wedding dress plus a few others had already been commissioned and would be ready in plenty of time. Elizabeth was grateful that the modiste already had her measurements as she would need not only a wedding dress but also a wardrobe suitable for the colder climate in Derbyshire.

Despite Jane and Elizabeth as well as their fiancés wish for a small wedding, family and close friends had to be invited which increased the number of guests beyond what the couples had hoped.

Sunday after their engagement, was the first day when Jane and Elizabeth were not rushed off their feet by their enthusiastic relations. During his visit to Isabella's house, Darcy, who was the least sociable of them, half seriously suggested, 'Do you suppose we could elope?'

Elizabeth gave him a sympathetic smile and squeezed his hand which she was holding. 'I wish we could. But Aunt Isabella would hunt us down before we were halfway to the border.'

By the time Mrs Bennet arrived in London, all the preparations were well under way. She arrived in London on Monday to help with the planning after having had a few days to spread the news of the wedding amongst her friends. Her consternation was great when Jane informed her, 'I am sorry, mama, but we already know exactly what we want.'

'We are planning to go to Rosings with Aunt Isabella to oversee the essential redecorating of Rosings on Wednesday. Lady Matlock will remain in town to procure any supplies we need with the help of Uncle Gardiner,' Elizabeth explained, to take some of the potential ire off Jane.

'But your wedding clothes, your trousseau…' exclaimed Mrs Bennet.

Jane and Elizabeth took turns refuting Mrs Bennet.

'Thanks to Aunt Isabella we already have more dresses than we ever thought we would need.'

'We do not need a trousseau. That is only necessary when a couple set up what is essentially a new household. Rosings will be set up and decorated according to Jane's taste.' Elizabeth grinned. 'Come to think of it, since Richard will be moving to her home, maybe he should bring some things to help him settle in.'

Jane blushed at the idea but could not help a small chuckle. 'This is certainly not what I expected my future to hold. I confess that I like it.'

'As for Mr Darcy's home. I have seen Darcy House, and it is everything elegant but also comfortable. From what I hear of Pemberley, according to Mr Darcy, the only thing it is missing is a mistress.'

Isabella had listened with amusements to Mrs Bennet's excitement. When she seemed unconvinced at her daughters' explanations, she added her own. 'The circles into which your daughters are marrying work rather differently. It is the husband's duty to prepare a home for his wife, where everything has already been provided. Only if she should find anything lacking, would a new wife need to make changes. And in that case, the husband pays for everything.'

Jane, seeing the crestfallen look on her mother's face offered, 'But we would be happy to have your company and advice on the redecoration of Rosings, if you would care to join us.'

Mrs Bennet declared herself delighted.

~O~

In the weeks since the family had left Rosings Park, great changes had already occurred in the manor.

Mr Gardiner had sent carts to collect the overly ornate furniture and Jane had selected some new pieces to be delivered. She had also found some beautiful old pieces in the attic during her earlier exploration at Rosings.

In the short-term Jane had opted to have many of the walls whitewashed until she could find wallpaper which suited her taste. With the new and rediscovered old furniture, plus the new curtains she had commissioned, much of Rosings now had a light and airy feeling.

Since she could not do much about the decorations for the wedding, which the other ladies chose, Mrs Bennet threw herself into planning the menu for the wedding breakfast. She had a wonderful time discussing menus, suppliers and supplies with the housekeeper and the cook, after investigating the capacities of the kitchen.

~O~

Before joining the ladies at Hunsford, Darcy paid another quick visit to Meryton, where he presented Mr Phillips with the marriage articles Mr Thompson had prepared for him and Elizabeth.

As the solicitor read through the document, Phillips raised his brows. 'You are exceedingly generous towards Lizzy.'

'I had Mr Thompson use a copy of my mother's settlement as a guide. Elizabeth is just as deserving of all that I can give her.'

'That is all very well, but I am certain my sister was planning to dower each of her daughters with a greater amount than is specified here.'

'I discussed it with Elizabeth, and she agreed that as I have no need of such a large amount, the difference will be split between her younger sisters.'

Since Phillips could not find any problems with the settlement, he penned a note for Darcy to take to Elizabeth to say that she could sign it without any concerns.

~O~

On the first day of June the influx of visitors to Rosings and Ravenswood began. To ensure there could not be even a whisper of impropriety, Darcy and Richard had guested with Isabella at Ravenswood, even though they had spent the majority of their time at Rosings.

To continue that strategy all the single men were staying at Ravenswood while Rosings was to host all the married couples and single ladies, including Georgiana Darcy who arrived with the Matlocks, while. Mrs Bennet was thrilled that Kitty and Lydia were given leave from school to attend the wedding of their sisters. Even though it had only been five months, the behaviour of the youngest Bennets had improved to the point that they did not scare Georgiana witless with their exuberance.

Isabella on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed the company of Richard's and Darcy's friends. She was even more amused when Patrick jokingly chided, 'Mother, remember your age. You really should stop breaking the hearts of all those young bucks.'

Sir William and Lady Lucas came to attend the wedding, even though the couple would lodge with their daughter at the parsonage.

Mr and Mrs Phillips travelled with Bennet. Along the way, Phillips regaled Bennet with descriptions of Rosings. Despite the warning, Bennet was dumbstruck at the sheer size of the house which his wife had inherited.

They were greeted by Mrs Bennet. 'Welcome, welcome. It is good to see you. You must forgive that Jane is not here to greet you. She is showing the Earl and Countess of Kilmington to their suite. Lizzy is performing that Office for the Earl and Countess of Matlock and Miss Darcy. We are rather at sixes and sevens at the moment. If I were not too busy, I should go distracted.'

Mrs Bennet installed Mr and Mrs Phillips in a large room in the family wing and her husband in the second bedroom of her own suite.

Bennets only reaction was to shake his head in wonder.

~O~

Late in the evening on the day of Mr Bennet's arrival at Rosings, after all the guests had gone to their rooms after a good dinner, Elizabeth discovered her father in the library.

He looked up from the book he was reading. 'I wondered how long it would be before you sought me out,' he said with a resigned smile.

'You were expecting me?'

'You were always the most curious of my daughters. I expect that you want answers. Find closure for your old life before you begin your new one.' He took a sip of his port and gestured for Elizabeth to take a seat near him. 'Thanks to your aunt's influence, you have learnt more of the world and had your eyes opened to my shortcomings.'

'I confess that seeing how diligent William is, I could not help but compare him with you.'

'And I did not fare well in that comparison.' Bennet grimaced. 'In the beginning I was young and stupid in the way that young men are. I married your mother, not realising that we were incompatible. In my disappointment I made sport of her. I must say though, that any cruelty on my part was from thoughtlessness rather than from a deliberate wish to inflict pain. I saw my amusement and did not consider the consequences.'

Bennet paused but when Elizabeth did not say anything, he continued, 'One consequence was that your mother became ever more shrill, which caused me to retreat to my library. As you have discovered, I am indolent. Since I wanted peace, I let her have her way. I never considered that she was not suited to dealing with the situation sensibly. As long as there were no disasters, all was right for me.'

Bennet paused and took another sip to give himself time to gather his thoughts. He gave a shrug before he continued. 'I let things slide for too long. By the time I realised there was a real problem, it was too big. I did not know how to fix it. I could not even think where to begin. Because of that, it was easier just to ignore the problem and hope that if I waited long enough, it would go away.'

Suddenly there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. 'And I was right. I waited long enough, and the problem did indeed go away.'

Elizabeth gave him a look of mingled exasperation and disgust. 'We are extremely fortunate that Aunt Isabella arrived when she did.'

Bennet nodded. 'Indeed. I must thank the lady. She saved me much inconvenience.'

'Of course. It would have been an inconvenience to exert yourself on behalf of your family.'

'I never claimed to be a good husband or father. I never even pretended to be a particularly good man. I am sorry that you are disappointed, but it was inevitable. I am who I am.'

'What about mama?'

'I am fortunate that your mother does not expect me to be perfect. We have become accustomed to each other. As long as I do not tease her, we shall muddle along.'

Elizabeth listened to her father's explanation and was grateful that she was marrying Darcy, who was nothing like her father.

~O~

The last day before the wedding was only distinguished by Mrs Bennet Joining her daughters in Jane's sitting room to provide them with instructions about their marital duties.

As she started her explanation full of embarrassment, Jane and Elizabeth exchanged glances.

'Mama, there is no need to explain things to us. Aunt Isabella explained the facts about relations between men and women to us several months ago.'

'How could she pollute the minds of maidens with such things.'

'She explained that unless we had all the information, we would not know from what we should protect ourselves.'

Mrs Bennet was horrified. 'You must love those young men very much. Even knowing about those horrific marital duties, you are still willing to marry them? Especially since you are financially secure?'

Rather than argue and embarrass each other, Jane and Elizabeth assured their mother that all would be well.

~O~

Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs Bennet saw her two most deserving daughters married.

Mr Collins was thrilled to perform the ceremony for the mistress of Rosings and the new master. Despite his excitement, his attentions to all were polite but neither obsequious nor pompous.

The two couples were standing up for each other, keeping the numbers in the immediate wedding party to a minimum.

The grooms stood before the altar anxiously awaiting their brides. Both Darcy and Fitzwilliam looked similarly enchanted when Bennet escorted his daughters up the aisle. As he handed each of them over to their new owners, he gave both young men a hard stare and enjoined them, 'You had better ensure you make them happy.'

Startled at the comment each groom replied, 'Yes, sir,' and Richard just barely stopped himself from saluting.

The ceremony went off without a hitch and soon Collins declared each couple as husband and wife, adding, 'You may now kiss your bride.'

This was an order the grooms obeyed enthusiastically to the embarrassment of some.

Once the couples had signed the register, there was only one more formality. Collins was delighted to introduce Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam as well as Mr and Mrs Darcy.

~O~