Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (36 page)

The Colonel was impeccably dressed in full regimentals for the final time, as he would be resigning from the army after returning from his honeymoon. His face gleamed, as did his highly polished tall black boots and the brass buttons and medals on his red coat. A sword, encased in an ornate scabbard, dangled on his right side, just in case he had to fight off any barbarians. As he waited for Jane, Richard's feelings were those of triumph at having won such a beautiful, kind-hearted, passionate woman and excitement at the thought of beginning a whole new life with her at Rosings Park.

Raven-haired Fleming had chosen a grey tailcoat with black velvet collar, black trousers, grey linen waistcoat, and a white cotton shirt with a matching linen neckcloth. Mesmerizing blue eyes watched for his bride's entrance as his emotions vacillated between nervousness and thrill. Ellis remembered that on the day he met Georgiana he had desperately wanted to make a good first impression. He unconsciously grinned as he thought,
Who knew that green slime, clinging clothing, and a malodorous stench would appeal to the lovely, refined Miss Darcy?

Anne de Bourgh entered on Charles Bingley's arm, and the two witnesses walked down the aisle to Bach's
Sheep May Safely Graze
. They parted at the altar with a parting look of unadulterated love, with the lady keeping to the left and the gentleman to the right.

Canon in D
by Johann Pachelbel resounded in the little chapel as Miss Anna Darcy entered with Dust Bunny, Pug-Nacious, and Remus. Georgiana had insisted at least some of their pets be involved in the rites; and the Reverend Mr. Godfrey could hardly refuse, although he did request the canines not be permitted to run amok during the ceremony. The dogs had been bathed, brushed, and bedecked; and Anna, who kept a tight rein on the three braided ribbon leashes, made sure the dogs were under restraint.

Some members of the small congregation were surprised pets had been allowed to participate in the solemn Solemnization of Matrimony, but only one person was truly shocked and appalled. Mrs. Caroline Wickham sat, with her husband, on the right-hand side of the chapel; and her expression indicated she had a mouthful of something she desperately wished to expectorate. The unfortunate truth about Mrs. Wickham was the bad taste in her mouth was nothing compared to her bad taste in clothing; and her outlandish orange organza outfit was quite out of place amongst the tasteful soft-hued dresses of the other young ladies in attendance that afternoon.

The silky white Maltese wore a satin ribbon tied in a pretty bow around its neck; and the pale blue collar not only matched the gown worn by Dust Bunny's owner, but it also held Georgiana's golden wedding band. Likewise, Pug-Nacious sported a ribbon of silver similar to Miss Jane Bennet's dress; and the little dog's bow held her ring. Fitzwilliam Darcy had flatly refused to have his Foxhound, Remus, suffer the indignity of a satin ribbon bow. Therefore, Anna had crafted a little drawstring bag from a piece of ivory fabric; and the pouch on the pooch's leather collar contained Elizabeth's wedding band.

Hugh Wickham happily performed Purcell's
Trumpet Tune
as soon as he received Mrs. Reynolds' tacit signal the first bride was ready to make her entrance. Georgiana stood in the doorway a moment until George Darcy proudly took her arm and began to slowly walk his lovely middle child down the aisle. Miss Darcy was a vision in palest blue silk trimmed in delicate ivory lace, and she carried a pretty bouquet of pink peonies.

The Misses Jane and Elizabeth Bennet had jointly agreed upon Clarke's
Trumpet Voluntary
for their processional, and both ladies carried beautiful bouquets of Damask roses wrapped in their mother's lace. Thomas Bennet greeted his two eldest daughters with a smile, but tears quickly welled in the gentleman's eyes due to their beauty and the knowledge he was about to lose those dear offspring to the young bucks who stood at the front of the chapel. With Lizzy in embroidered ivory satin on his left and Jane in shimmering silver silk on his right, he proudly led his beloved children toward the altar and their futures.

The three brides were stunning in their silk and satin creations, and each wore a small lace-veiled cap that matched the colour of her dress. For the most part, the small congregation smiled lovingly upon the beautiful young women. However, Lady Catherine de Bourgh's smile was, more accurately, a laudanum-induced grin. Mrs. Caroline Wickham's smile was obviously forced, while her husband wore a blatantly lecherous smirk. Viscount Wentletrap actually scowled, for his wife had rather rudely nudged him awake from a most delightful dream. The wide eyes of Robert and Lydia Bennet twinkled at the sight of their fairytale-princess sisters on their marrying day, and the trio of grooms absolutely beamed as they watched their lovely fiancees finally enter the chapel and sedately walk toward them.

As the last strains of music faded into silence, the Reverend Mr. Godfrey began, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join this Man and this Woman, this Man and this Woman, and this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony." The young clergyman was extremely nervous about performing the unusual triple ceremony for the illustrious Darcy and Fitzwilliam families and was worried he would make a clerical error by mixing up the brides and grooms. He wiped his brow with a handkerchief and prayed he would not confuse any of their names and marry the wrong man and woman.

"Richard Cosmo Fitzwilliam, wilt thou have this Woman to thy wedded Wife to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"

The Colonel smiled lovingly at Jane and resisted an overwhelming urge to caress her lovely face. "Yes. Yes, I will."

"Jane Augusta Bennet, wilt thou have this Man to be thy wedded Husband ... "

And so it went, with the same being repeated for Ellis Leander Fleming and Georgiana Claire Darcy and also for Fitzwilliam George Darcy and Elizabeth Frances Bennet. The Minister then said, "Who giveth these Women to be married to these Men?"

George Darcy kissed Georgiana's hand and then sat with Lady Anne in the front pew. Likewise, Thomas Bennet kissed both his daughters on their soft cheeks and took his place on the other side of the chapel beside his wife.

Miss Anne de Bourgh gathered the brides' three bouquets to hold and took the opportunity to also momentarily hold the loving gaze of the handsome Charles Bingley.

Colonel Fitzwilliam and Jane Bennet were the first to plight their troth to one another; and then the Minister had the next couple join their right hands.

His hands might have been trembling, but his voice was steady and strong as the next groom fervently said, "I, Ellis Fleming, take thee, Georgiana Darcy, to my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth."

After Georgiana, and then Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth all had their turns, the couples then loosed their hands; and Bingley, with Miss Anna's assistance, untied Jane Bennet's ring from the pug's silver bow and passed it to the Colonel. The rites continued until it was the last couple's turn.

Bingley retrieved the wedding band from Remus' drawstring bag and put it into Darcy's waiting palm. The groom passed it to the minister, who blessed it; and then the Reverend delivered Elizabeth Bennet's gold ring back to the groom. After the band had been bandied about, Darcy then tenderly slid it upon the fourth finger of his bride's hand. As he held the ring in place, there was no stony, unreadable expression on Fitzwilliam Darcy's face. Everyone in the chapel could plainly see the look of pure adoration as he gazed into Lizzy's eyes and lovingly said, "With this Ring I thee wed, with my Body I thee worship, and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

The couples then knelt, and gasps were heard from the congregation. Before they had a chance to turn around to investigate, Elizabeth and Darcy were shocked when a long muzzle suddenly pushed its way between them. The Foxhound's sweet expression made everyone laugh as Remus proudly sat beside his master and stared adoringly at Darcy. A crimson-faced Miss Anna apologized profusely and quickly took charge of her brother's dog again. The Reverend Mr. Godfrey rolled his eyes heavenward, wiped his brow, and said to the congregation, "Apparently the canine was just following his own dogma. Let us pray."

After the prayer, the minister joined the right hands of each couple and said, "Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder. Forasmuch as Richard Fitzwilliam and Jane Bennet, ... ah, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, ... and ah, Ellis Fleming and Georgiana Darcy ... "
Please God, allow me to have married the correct couples only to one another!
" ... have consented together in holy Wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

The beautiful service continued; and finally the witnesses, Mr. Bingley and Miss de Bourgh, happily added their signatures to those of the relieved minister and the ecstatic newlyweds into the marriage register while Hugh Wickham performed Bach's
Arioso
.

When chapel bells began to chime, servants from the great house, Pemberley's tenants, and its workers gathered outside the little church for a quick glimpse of the three happy couples and to offer their best wishes before scurrying back to their duties; and neighbours and friends from surrounding estates and from Lambton began to arrive for the celebration.

As the brides and grooms exited the church, a covey of six white homing doves was released by the gamekeeper, while strains of Bach's
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
followed the human flock outside. Ancient and revered symbols of peace, purity and innocence, new beginnings and hope for the future, white doves remain loyal to their mates for life and are devoted partners and parents and also represent unending love, fidelity, and fertility.

Lady Anne Darcy had thought it would be a clever idea for birdseed to be tossed at the newlyweds. The kind-hearted woman was, after all, a nurturing soul who was concerned about her fine-feathered friends as the weather turned colder. However, the flock of doves, the very embodiment of peace and harmony, decided to stage a coo. As the seeds were flung upward at the newlyweds, the gesture attracted a flurry of avian activity over the congregation of finely attired guests; and Mrs. Caroline Wickham was the fortunate recipient of the intestinal contents from several of the released covey. It was, perhaps, not universally acknowledged that good luck would follow such a fowl deed; but some people did have faith in such a belief. The tangerine-togged woman shuddered as a white dove circled, dove, and then perched on her shoulder. As jubilant Colonel Fitzwilliam passed by, he said, "My dear Mrs. Wickham, do not kiss birds; for you might get an untweetable canarial disease."

While Dust Bunny and Pug-Nacious yipped, yapped, and ran circles around the congregation's feet, the young hawk that had been perched atop a nearby tree was not after birdseed but rather the fascinating little morsel on the ridiculous bonnet worn by Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The bird of pray was disappointed to find an ornamental canary on the bonnet was most certainly not worth two in the bush. The raptor also discovered Lady Catherine de Bird had a rather fowl mouth for someone who had just been in a House of God ... her language being more suited to a warship than a place of worship.

C
hapter VI

Marital Elations and Relations

It was an afternoon of no common delight to them all. The satisfaction of the newlyweds gave a glow of such sweet animation to their faces as made the brides look more beautiful than ever and the grooms the handsomest young men that ever were seen.

The gentlemen in attendance pronounced Fitzwilliam Darcy to be a fine figure of a man and admired his wife's fine figure. The ladies declared that Elizabeth Darcy had a very agreeable countenance and counted her husband amongst the most agreeable of men, and the newlywed couple was looked at with great admiration for the whole afternoon. As the joyous Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy mingled with the crowd outside the chapel, the groom worried his proud, loving heart might actually rupture with rapture. His eyes scarcely strayed from his wife; and the ladies, as well as the lady herself, sighed at the adoring, lustful looks he bestowed upon his bride.

As they strolled toward the house, hand in hand, Fitzwilliam smiled down at her and said, "Words utterly fail to express how ardently I love you; for love you I do, Elizabeth Darcy, with all my heart and soul, and always will."

Her eyes shone back at him as she teased. "Hmm, I have heard
almost
those exact sentiments before, have I not? Perhaps you are employing another man's words. Regardless, I assure you I return equal measure of what you feel. In fact, my cup runneth over with love for you,
my husband
."

"I have heard almost those exact sentiments before, have I not, madam? Still and all, they sound even sweeter today than on the night of the ball, for I esteem my new title of husband very much,
my wife
."

Elizabeth squeezed his arm and gathered her thoughts. "Fitzwilliam, I am exceedingly elated, enthralled, ebullient, enamoured, euphoric, ecstatic, effervescent, excessively exhilarated, enthusiastic, enchanted, eager, exultant, and earnestly excited." She gave her husband the saucy grin and arched eyebrow combination.

Darcy's own eyebrows shot up. "Egregiously and embarrassingly effusive also! Your elaborate, embellished and exaggerated elocution and euphonic enunciation are eloquent, my exquisite Elizabeth. You exude exuberance; and I entirely, emphatically, and energetically empathize and shall endeavour to emulate your exceptional encomium until enervation exhausts and enfeebles my effectiveness." Darcy smirked as the sassy smile was wiped from his wife's face.

She gazed at him in astonishment. "Egad! You, my esteemed esquire, are the very epitome and embodiment of enriched and enhanced erudite encyclopaedic enlightenment. Equality in education is not encouraged; and while you are emboldened, equipped, and empowered, my English is embryonic and effete. It encumbers me in this entertaining exercise and entirely enables you to effectively emerge from this extemporization in exclusive eminence."
But surely you are done now, husband.

Fitzwilliam Darcy was nonplussed but allowed it to neither show nor discourage him. "Elizabeth, you enliven, enrapture, and enkindle me and also upset my equilibrium and equanimity. Enough, I expostulate and entreat you! This extraordinary exhibition is evoking an extreme exigency, and I may explode. Let us eschew this epic, exasperating, esoteric embroilment and employ our estimable efforts elsewhere to essentially escape and engage in an enjoyable embrace and exchange explicit expressions of endearment ere our evening is encompassed by everyone else extravagantly expounding on, exulting, exalting, and extolling our enviable espousal." His wife was then on the receiving end of an infuriatingly challenging look.

"Elude and elope ... excellent!" exclaimed Elizabeth. They exited the elite estate without explanation, etiquette, or excuse and executed an expeditious excursion to expel and eliminate extraneous elementary emotions. Ensconced under an enshrouding elm engraved with "EB & FD," they were encased, enveloped, entwined, and encircled in each other's arms; and exactly eleven exemplary, engrossing minutes elapsed ere they eventually and elegantly made an entrance as each envisioned an enticing, erotic, and early encore.

The exquisite Mrs. Jane Fitzwilliam was practically giddy with excitement and happiness as she walked arm-in-arm with her gorgeous, red-coated husband across the very lawn where she had first secretly admired his handsome face and masculine physique. Jane felt an overwhelming passion and caring for that exceptionally special man, and tears of happiness suddenly welled in her blue eyes and threatened to spill upon her rosy cheeks.

After the solemnization of his marriage, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam could not but feel proud Jane had accepted his hand before learning of his inheritance. It was obvious she truly cared for the man inside the uniform, regardless of his excellent connections or wealth; and he was thankful his devotion was reciprocal. Her beauty, faith in him, and delicate gloved hand on his arm provoked feelings of protectiveness, overpowering tenderness, and mounting desire.

After receiving congratulations from the congregation, the three couples had been besieged by well-wishers waiting for them on the lawn outside the chapel. The Colonel had dutifully, respectfully, and enthusiastically kissed and shook hands, bowed, smiled, and thanked everyone; and all the while he strategically planned a tactical manoeuvre to capture a few clandestine moments with his bride, a vision in slinky, silvery silk.

When they finally escaped from the throng, he steered Jane away from Pemberley's front entrance toward a side entry leading to the library. Once inside, he cupped her precious face in his strong hands and just stood there gazing in rapt wonder.
My God, this gorgeous gentlewoman is actually now and forever my wife!
"Jane, sweetheart, I very much long to kiss your inviting lips; yet I am afraid if I begin, we will not be celebrating our marriage in public but rather in an especially private manner."

"Richard! As persuasive as you are, we cannot simply disappear from our own wedding celebration. Surely you are not serious?" She gently pushed him away, uncertain whether he was teasing or in earnest.

"I am seriously considering heaving you over my shoulder and carrying you upstairs this very moment, my enchanting wife."

"You will do no such thing!"

"Oho, what is this now? Another facet of my demure yet passionate, quiet but brazen Jane? Married hardly ... " The Colonel checked his fob watch. " ... thirty minutes, and already I am met head-on with her shrewish side." Richard could scarcely maintain a straight face yet crossed his arms over his impressive chest and stood his ground.

Mrs. Fitzwilliam tapped her dainty foot and tried to glower at her husband, but her lips twitched and betrayed her amusement.

"Jane, do you have any perception of how beautiful you are with your colour high and eyes flashing in that provocative manner? However, you are right, dear."
See, Mr. Bennet? Already I have made use of your invaluable advice.
"Come, my love, we must now share in the celebration of our nuptials, dance, partake of some fine food and wine ... " He waggled his eyebrows. " ... and fortify ourselves for tonight."

The Colonel clasped her hand and started to walk in the direction of the door. Jane stopped him by throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him passionately. When they surfaced for air, she said, "Richard, you are my rock; yet every now and then I wish you were a little boulder. I did not mean to imply we must return
immediately
. I cannot imagine we have been missed already, and I do
not
require any fortification."

He gradually backed her into the corner. "Speaking of fortification, mine weakened when I met you. As a soldier, I identified with Shakespeare's character, Benedick, in
Much Ado About Nothing
. I believe his line was 'When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married.' You, my bewitching woman, easily invaded the walls of this poor soldier's soul. I had no weapons to use against the capture of my heart; for you laid siege, and it was seized without a fight. Resistance was futile, and I surrendered. But tonight, my lovely Jane ... " Richard interrupted himself to thoroughly kiss her before he continued. "Tonight you will finally surrender to me."

Jane breathlessly whispered against his ear, "Tonight, my handsome barbarian, will not be about surrender or submission. I am your wife and you are my husband. Society may not look upon us as equals, yet in our private chambers I expect a harmonious union."

They did not, at that point, return to the celebration of their nuptials in the ballroom as intended. The Colonel and Jane thought they were well secluded and concealed in a corner of the library, so, the snogging newlyweds were startled and mortified to hear an excited voice nearby. "Papa, look! We found them! And Janie and KerFitz are kithing! It does not hurt, though. Mither Darthy told me so."

Dazed and confused, Colonel Fitzwilliam disengaged himself from his wife's swollen lips and slowly turned around to face her stern father and grinning little brother. Robert walked up to Richard, tugged on his red sleeve, and said, "KerrFitz, do you have any ponies?"

Mr. Bennet cleared his throat and said, "And I wonder if you have any
sense
! I understand your enthusiasm, young man; however, this is neither the time nor the place. I recommend you return to the festivities currently taking place in
your
honour and refrain from overtly embracing my daughter in public."

"With all due respect, sir, Jane is now my wife. I apologize for any perceived indiscretion; even so, Pemberley's library is definitely
not
a public venue. Nonetheless, we were just about to attend our celebration. Shall we, my dear?" He offered an arm to his blushing bride; but before leaving the room, he said, "Mr. Bennet, I very much respect your daughter, my wife. Today I vowed before God, you, and the rest of the congregation to love, comfort, and cherish Jane. She is mine, and I am hers, to have and to hold from this day forward; and that is all we were doing here, holding and cherishing one another."

"Yes, well, very good. Carry on then ... " He watched them depart and muttered to empty air, " ... just not where I shall have to witness it!" Mr. Bennet frowned down at his wide-eyed son and said, "Now, about this business of kissing and ponies, poppet ... "

Before Jane and Richard entered the ballroom, the gentleman glanced at his wife's neck and shamefacedly suggested she might want to retrieve a fichu from her room to put on before joining the others.

"Oh, Richard! Not again! Whatever am I going to do with you?" Knowing full well what she was going to do with him later, Colonel Stud-muffin rakishly waggled his eyebrows.

Jane turned to go upstairs; but Richard suddenly caught her arm, frowned, and said, "My lovely wife, did you, by any chance, call me a handsome ...
barbarian
a few moments ago?"

Ellis Fleming's chest puffed with pride as he and Georgiana strolled around the room chatting with their guests.
This beautiful woman, so kind, so elegant, yet feisty, is finally mine; and I am the most fortunate man alive.
He smiled down at her with an expression of deepest respect and affection and felt another thrill of desire as she returned his ardent regard.

The former Miss Darcy hardly remembered the ceremony, or which guests had spoken with her, or how she had responded to them. Georgiana was lost in a blur of bliss and exhilaration. Whenever her handsome, raven-haired husband looked at her, she blushed at the feelings he provoked. Georgiana knew their marriage would be one of mutual love, tenderness, respect, and passion.