“Alex will be happy to have so many brothers now, especially as some of them are around his age,” Will opined.
“Georgie and I will leave you now,” Richard said as he took his new younger sister’s arm.
“Why are Will and Lizzy not joining us?” Georgiana asked in her innocence. She received no answer as Richard closed the door behind him after propelling Georgiana back into the church.
The newlyweds shared a small laugh at their sister’s expense, and then Will drew his wife into arms.“Mrs Darcy,” he said reverently.
“Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth returned softly.
Their lips met hungrily, and had they not been aware of the family members waiting for them on the other side of the door, they may have allowed themselves to go far beyond just one. Will’s one hand roamed over her back which elicited a little sigh from his wife while his other held her close to him, and in response, her arms found themselves around her husband’s neck.
After about five minutes, they broke apart and put themselves to rights. Once they were ready, Will opened the door leading to the church and led his bride inside. Will was met by his parents and siblings, while Elizabeth fell into her mother’s arms with her brothers, sister, and sister-in-law awaiting their turns. The Rhys-Davies and Bennets were just behind the Fitzwilliams.
After Alex wished his brother and new sister joy, he looked around at the family, waiting for their turns to wish the ecstatic couple joy as well.“All of the Bennets and Fitzwilliams are now my brothers and sisters?” he asked hopefully, and his mother nodded.“Does that make my uncles and aunts additional parents as well?” asked the twelve-year-old boy.
“No, my son,” Lady Anne replied,“you still only have your father and me as parents; the rest will remain your uncles and aunts.” She laughed when Alex still looked a little sceptical.“Find me at the wedding breakfast, Alex, and I will explain it to you.”
“You are a Darcy now, Lizzy,” Andrew drawled as he hugged his sister.
“I am, but I will also be a Fitzwilliam for all time, Andrew,” Elizabeth promised as she returned his hug and kissed his cheek.
“You are next,” Elizabeth whispered in Richard’s ear as she hugged him.
The Bennets replaced Anne after she had hugged her younger sister. First, Elizabeth went to where her older sister was sitting; Jane’s smile was radiant as she looked at her sister so full of excitement before her.
“God was very good to us when he guided us to meet one another. You are a bride of incomparable beauty, Lizzy,” Jane told her as she hugged her sister as close as she could, given her girth,“I am so happy that this active babe waited so that I could attend your wedding. You will excuse me if Perry takes me directly home and not to the wedding breakfast, will you not?”
“Of course I understand, Janey; I hope that all will be well,” Elizabeth replied, her concern evident as she searched her sister’s features.
“The pains have just begun, there are many hours yet, but it is time to leave,” Jane said as she winced a little.
After a brief discussion among the family, it was decided that Tammy would leave with her daughter, Perry, and Lady Rose. Everyone followed them out and wished them an easy trip and hoped that Jane would gain her home before the babe was ready to make its appearance. Perry had one of his grooms ride ahead to notify the midwife and doctor that their services were needed by the Duchess of Bedford forthwith.
After they departed, the remaining family members entered their carriages for the short ride to Snowhaven and the tables that were groaning under the weight of the delectable food awaiting one and all at the celebratory meal.
Chapter 15
The newlywed couple left the church a few minutes after the rest of the carriages to give the family time to get to the ballroom ahead of them. They were in an open chaise pulled by a matched set of white horses decorated with many white ribbons; the picture it made was completed by the sight of Biggs and Johns riding on the back. The two would eventually go with their mistress to her new estate; but first, they would be two of the footmen who accompanied the couple on their wedding trip. The only change for the two huge men would be the colour of the livery.
The road was lined in places with Snowhaven’s tenants, who had come out to wave to Lady Elizabeth and Mr Darcy on their ride back to the manor house. When they arrived under the portico, they were met by a footman and Mr Smythe, who looked indulgently on the bride he had known for the last seventeen years of her life.
Will and Elizabeth followed the butler to the ballroom's doors, and Mr Smythe nodded to the two footmen who were posted to open the doors wide. He then marched a few feet into the room and struck the floor with his staff three times.“Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Darcy,” Smythe announced with pride.
The glowing couple walked into the ballroom to rousing cheers as the butler exited and the doors were closed, and it was but seconds before well-wishers inundated them. As was their duty, the next hour was spent walking around the room accepting well wishes and saying a few words to each who offered them.
At some point, Loretta and Richard took pity on the newlyweds and led them to where the family and close friends were congregated. Loretta sat down with them and was soon joined by Georgiana, Kitty, and Amy. Richard returned with two plates and some glasses of lemonade.
“Eat and drink!” he commanded. As soon as he said it, both Elizabeth and Will realised that they had not eaten anything yet, only a little to drink in their excitement. They were grateful for the selection of pastries and little meat pies that Richard had chosen for them. Both ate hungrily.
“Slow down, Lizzy,” Loretta advised,“or you will be wearing more cake than you are eating.”
“I am going to miss you and Will so much,” Georgiana owned.“It will not be until Retta and Richard’s wedding that I will see you again.”
“We will be there a few days before the wedding, Gigi, so it will not bethatlong,” Elizabeth teased her newest sister, and Georgiana affected a fake pout.
Feeling refreshed after eating, the bride and groom struck out once more into the crowd to make sure that no one would leave feeling slighted or overlooked.
Toasts were offered first by Andrew and then by Bennet. After the toast and before Elizabeth went up to change, her birth father had a word with her.“Being at your wedding is one of many things that I did not dare to dream would ever happen for me. And walking you down the aisle, even sharing the duty with Andrew, was a pleasure that is hard to describe in mere words,” Bennet told his daughter.
