Page 225 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Mary took the note, pleased. “That is very good news, Papa.”

Before she could say more, Lady Lucas was announced. She joined them in the drawing room, and after the usual greetings, her attention settled on Mr. Bennet.

“I understand the wedding breakfast at Netherfield is to be very small.”

“Yes. We thought it appropriate while we are still mourning Mrs. Bennet.”

“Your neighbors would like to see Jane and Elizabeth married and wish them happy. We all understand that they have lost their mother, but Frances would have been the first to insist upon a celebration. After all those years of fearing her daughters would be thrown into the hedgerows, she would hardly want them married without one.”

Mr. Bennet’s eyes filled with moisture at the familiar refrain.

“Of course you are right. Frances loved a celebration. I shall leave it to my daughters. If they wish their friends and neighbors to attend, I will not object.”

Lady Lucas nodded. “I am glad, Thomas. Your family has had enough sorrow. Let your friends help you celebrate.”

She turned to Jane and Elizabeth. “You girls do not object to having your neighbors in attendance, do you?”

Jane answered for them both. “Not at all, Lady Lucas. Thank you. It would mean a great deal to us to celebrate with everyone who has been so kind to our family.”

Chapter 57: The Wedding

The double wedding was fixed for Thursday, September twenty-sixth.

Three weeks before the ceremony, Mr. Bennet took Jane, Elizabeth, and Lydia to a modiste in Watford.

Mr. Bennet sat near the window with his gloves across one knee while his daughters considered the fabrics and patterns spread before them.

Lydia carried a length of ice-blue silk to Jane and held it against her.

“Jane, what do you think of this one?”

Jane studied herself in the mirror before looking toward her father.

Mr. Bennet considered the color. “That becomes you very well, Jane. It sets off your sapphire eyes. They are the exact color of your mother’s.”

She turned to the clerk. “I will take this one.”

While the modiste set the blue silk aside, Elizabeth lifted a length of jonquil silk and held it against her gown.

Mr. Bennet studied her for several moments. “I prefer that to the cream, Lizzy.”

Lydia came to stand beside Elizabeth. “So do I, Lizzy. The cream was pretty, but this suits your coloring much better.”

Elizabeth looked at her reflection once more. “Then the jonquil it shall be.”

The three sisters pored over the patterns, then carried their choices to their father. Mr. Bennet gave each pattern his full attention as Jane and Elizabeth explained their choices.

“I am no judge of such things, but I am certain you will both look beautiful on your wedding day.”

Elizabeth smiled at Lydia. “Thank you for helping me, Liddie. You have such a good eye for color and style. I believe this will be the prettiest dress I have ever worn.”

* * *

Two days later, Caroline came to Longbourn to settle the arrangements for the wedding breakfast. Darcy arrived on horseback some minutes before Charles's carriage brought Caroline to the house.

Elizabeth met Darcy in the entrance hall.

He took her hand and bent over it. “Good morning, Elizabeth.”