The early November morning on which Mrs. Bennet was to see her two most deserving daughters married at Longbourn Church started with the usual chaos that weddings brought. The family, including Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, had to be at the Church for half past ten. The younger girls had been firmly instructed to be quick in their dressing, so as to leave the maids free for Jane and Elizabeth, and so they were sat in the drawing room with a delighted but fretting Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennet checking his speech through again and again, reading it out and discussing it with Mary and Mr. Gardiner. Catherine and Aunt Gardiner were in charge of the flowers and had just finished the two bouquets of hothouse flowers when the Drawing room door opened slowly.
Mr. Bennet was in the middle reciting his speech for the twentieth time when he was interrupted by his wife crying,
'Oh my dears! You look even more charming than I imagined. Look how well your sisters look girls.'
Everyone turned to look at Elizabeth and Jane, dressed in all their finery and were delighted.
'My, there's a sight!' Mr. Gardiner exclaimed.
Mr. Bennet looked at his daughters and positively beamed.
'There's my little Lizzy, all dressed up. Jane too, you both look very fine ladies.' He said, bestowing a kiss of each of them.
'All this admiration is quite too much.' Jane said blushing.
'Nonsense my dear. You deserve it, you both do.' Mrs. Gardiner said, shaking her head.
'Jane does look most angelic.' Elizabeth said laughing.
Everyone smiled and then Mr. Bennet, looking at his watch, said, 'Well, I think it is time we should all set off.'
He took Jane's arm, Mr. Gardiner took Lizzy and they led the party to the carriages.
Mr. Bennet, Jane, Elizabeth and Mr. Gardiner were to travel in the Bennets' carriage and the others followed on in the Gardiners' carriage. Everyone wrapped up warmly, with blankets for the ladies and the carriages started off on the half a mile to the Church.
Everyone having descended, Mr. Bennet, Jane, Elizabeth and Mr. Gardiner waited in the Vestry with the vicar until twenty past ten when the vicar entered and then they walked round to the door that led them to the aisle. The organ struck up and Mr. Bennet and Jane and followed by Elizabeth and Mr. Gardiner, marched slowly up the aisle. The crowd, including some of the local women who always came to look at weddings, stood and watched with joy and delight as the two brides progressed up the aisle. The two rather nervous and pale looking grooms turned. They both stared, Mr. Bingley quickly recovering at the sight of Jane and began to smile. Mr. Darcy still looked grave until Mr. Bingley had taken his place and Jane was by his side. He then saw Elizabeth, he stared and receiving a smile from her, his whole face brightened. They took their places beside Mr. Bingley and Jane and the service began.
An hour later the couples, vicar and witnesses went to sign the register and the crowd went out to await them. Mr. Bingley and Jane followed by Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were met with cheers and applause and flower petals. Half of Meryton seemed to have turned out as well as some the Netherfield staff and the inhabitants of Longbourn. There were many wishes of good luck and happiness, handshakes and kisses bestowed and then the couples headed to awaiting carriages that would take them back to Longbourn, where there was to be a large company for the wedding breakfast. The carriages set off a pace on their way and everyone was left to make their home or to the Bennets all discussing the wedding.
'Are you warm enough, Elizabeth?' Mr. Darcy said gently, still with her arm in his and holding her gloved hand tightly.
'Perfectly, thank you... Fitzwilliam.' She smiling, uneasy at saying his first name though.
He smiled, 'My dear, Elizabeth.' He said quietly and kissed her for the first time, on the lips.
The carriages soon arrived at Longbourn and the couples went into the house to wait for the guests who arrived soon after them. They greeted them all and then the whole party then sat down to the wedding breakfast. Mr. Bennet read his speech with great success, Sir. William made his own contribution and complimented Mr. Darcy once again of stealing away one of the country's brightest jewels.
After the wedding breakfast Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were to set off for Derbyshire and with many good-byes and some tears, they soon on their way. Jane and Bingley were to leave soon after.
As Mr. Darcy's carriage rolled along Elizabeth, comfortably sat next to her husband said, 'Well, that was our wedding day. I wonder what will have happened by next year, our first anniversary.'
'Many things, most of them good I hope.' Mr. Darcy said, 'It might be the wedding day of one of my sisters, my mother would be pleased!' Elizabeth said laughing..
'Perhaps I will have learned to laugh at myself. You might have taught me Eliza.' Mr. Darcy said shaking his head and smiling.
'Perhaps, but I am hoping it shall not take me that long!'
Elizabeth laughed and leaned against his shoulder, thinking about the delights of Pemberley.