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“How much would secure an earlier time?”

“Well, it just so happens a place has opened up in a fortnight. But there is a couple who worship here every Sunday who would be willing to donate as much as £100 for the privilege of an earlier ceremony,” said the rector, knowing full well that the Special Licence Mr Thorne had replaced in his pocket had cost him a similar sum.

“Would £300 be sufficient to favour an outsider? I do attend church every Sunday, but mostly in Bristol.”

“Indeed,” said the rector, smiling sunnily. “I believe that sum would bring all our outstanding repairs up to date.”

“Very well,” said Thorne, and he opened his pocketbook to pull out the three crisp notes that lay there.

The rector raised his eyebrows, not expecting immediate payment. “I would not wish to leave you short, my son.”

“That’s all right,” said Thorne cheerfully. “I can replace it soon enough.”

Thorne returned to his carriage feeling rather pleased with himself. But as the vehicle wended its way to the East India Docks, his mood turned to one of chagrin. After insisting to Mr Gardiner not two mornings ago that he would be willing to wait whatever time necessary for Jane’s heart to be engaged, he had not hesitated to get her up the aisle in the shortest time possible when the opportunity had arisen. He supposed if Jane was really against it, they could still be wedded in July. He staunchly decided to offer deferring the wedding to the later date when he met Mr Gardiner in the evening and kiss his £300 goodbye.

Thorne spent the rest of the day immersed in business. He took his dinner early with two directors of the East India Company at Boodle’s, where discussion of their joint venture continued. But when his companions broached their second bottle of champagne at eight, Thorne begged their pardon, saying he had promised his fiancée a visit before her family retired. This caused his associates some amusement since they had imagined him a confirmed bachelor. Thorne bore their jests good-heartedly—nothing could have perturbed him in his current felicity—and took himself off to Cheapside.

Tired by their journey, the Gardiners had dined early with their children before packing them off to bed. When Mr Gardiner greeted Thorne at the door, he offered him tea in the parlour or port in his study. Thorne judged it best to talk privately. As he sipped his port in the study, he apprised Mr Gardiner of the long waiting lists at both the churches that had been recommended and how he had, perhaps imprudently, taken advantage of the cancellation when the opportunity had presented itself.

“Always manage to be on the spot, don’t you, Ben?” Mr Gardiner grinned. “I’m sure my wife would agree that we should go ahead with the earlier date. But just to be sure, let me call her in here now.”

Mrs Gardiner assured Mr Thorne that the earlier date would be preferable and informed him that she would start the arrangements first thing in the morning. He declined a further offer of tea, saying he did not wish to keep them from their beds. Upon Mrs Gardiner’s inquiring if he intended to return to Bristol on the morrow, Thorne replied that he would be staying one day longer to finish his discussions with John Company. She promptly invited him to dinner on the following evening. Mrs Gardiner also offered to summon Jane, who had gone off to read bedtime stories to the unsettled children, excited by their parents’ return. Mindful that it was late, Thorne told Mrs Gardiner not to disturb Jane but sent his love instead. Bidding them goodnight, he took himself off.

When Jane returned to the parlour stifling a yawn to bid her relatives goodnight, the Gardiners were waiting upon her to take tea. Mr Gardiner apprised her of events:

“Well, Jane! Mr Thorne has had a stroke of luck! Both St Mary’s and St Olave’s were booked for two months solid when he enquired yesterday, but when he returned to St Olave’s with the Licence this morning, he was informed that a spot had opened up in a fortnight.”

“A fortnight!” repeated Jane faintly, looking at her aunt’s reaction.

“It will be rather a rush,” soothed Mrs Gardiner, “but I really think it’s for the best. It will be difficult for him to court you properly at such a distance.”

“Come now, Jane,” said Mr Gardiner. “Sit down with your aunt and take tea. I’m sure you have a lot to discuss. I have a letter to write before going to bed,” he said, picking up his teacup and quickly disappearing.

As soon as the door of the parlour closed, Mrs Gardiner stood up to squeeze Jane’s shoulder. “Oh, Jane! I have found just the thing!” she said pulling one of the newer fashion journals from a basket and laying it open at a bookmarked page to show a stunning ivory gown with a figured bodice. “Isn’t it lovely?”

Jane frowned. “Aunt, we have only just got home. You must have chosen this dress before we even departed London! No wonder you gave the older issues to Mary... You were going through them before we even left for Bristol, weren’t you?”

“Well, of course, Jane! I’ve been hoping this wedding would come to fruition for months. I missed out on dressing Lizzy for her wedding because of the short notice. I should have started as soon as they became betrothed! And to think she wore an old gown and that dreadful cameo! Please indulge me! I do not want to miss out again! There is an excellent dressmaker in the Leadenhall market who I’ve been longing to try. No doubt we will have to pay a pretty penny for such short notice, but I expect the figure will be much less than those Bond Street modistes expected for the gowns your sister purchased for you.

Jane sighed. “Of course, Aunt! How ungrateful of me! Indeed, if Lizzy can be ready in a day, then I am sure I can manage two weeks,” she smiled, taking the journal from her aunt’s hand. “It does indeed look a beautiful gown.”

“Wonderful!” said her aunt, pulling out her sewing box. “And here are the samples I asked your uncle to bring from the warehouse. Do you go up and get the veil so we can match it!”

Despite being dreadfully tired, Jane surrendered to force majeure.

Her aunt had samples of two different chiffons for the skirt and three different silks for the figured bodice. Once the ivory veil was fetched, the choice seemed fairly obvious to Jane, but Mrs Gardiner urged caution:

“The candlelight can be deceiving. We should make the final decision in light of day, for you will be marrying in the morning.”

Mrs Gardiner proposed they make their way to Leadenhall Market first thing the next day. Jane reminded her that she had previously arranged to go to Grosvenor Square—the Darcy carriage would be arriving at nine. Mrs Gardiner conceded it was too late to politely change Jane’s plans, but she extracted a promise that her niece would return by lunchtime so they might visit the dressmaker in the afternoon.

On divulging her news to Elizabeth the next morning at Darcy House, Jane was rather taken aback by her sister’s exuberant reaction.

Lizzy jumped up and down and swung her sister around before doing a little victory dance that looked somewhat like a reel. “Oh, Jane! I know he is just the man for you!”

“But Lizzy, how can you know anything of the sort? Have you not only met him once?”

Lizzy then explained her complicity in ridding Mr Thorne of his muttonchop whiskers and renovating his wardrobe.