“Good gracious! Lord bless me! Only think! Dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it? And is it really true? Oh, my sweetest Lizzy! How rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have!”
“Mamma, we really need to leave now. We must get to church.” I still wanted to have the church wedding. And I was in my best dress. Not a wedding gown, but it had to do. The ceremony would be short. We needed to head out to London as fast as we could.
I never thought my wedding day would be stressful and sad, filled with concern for my sister. I was marrying the man I loved―that was my comfort. Though there would be no wedding night for us. To my surprise, despite my fear of it, I was devastatingly disappointed. I wanted him. I only now realized how much.
“Jane’s is nothing to it—nothing at all. I am so pleased—so happy. Such a charming man! so handsome! So tall! Oh, my dear Lizzy! Pray apologize for my having disliked him so much before. I hope he will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Everything that is charming!”
“Yes, Mamma. We need to go.”
“Ten thousand a year! Oh, Lord! What will become of me? I shall go distracted. I can think of nothing else. Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! ’Tis as good as a lord! And a special license—you shall be married by a special license.”
I stopped at her words. Was that . . . what Lydia was doing? Was this why they were off to London―to the Doctors Commons to obtain it―instead of Scotland? Was Wickham eligible for one?
“But, my dearest love, tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of, that I may have it to-morrow.”
“We will not be here,” I replied and then again realized how much I’d miss her. I put my arms around her. “I will write you. As often as I can.”
“Ha! You know married women have never much time for writing.”
“I will make the time.”
We walked together to the church and took our places. Darcy beamed at me as I walked to him, Jane now beside me, in tears―excited, but also because she knew we would soon part, and why.
More Darcy’s Spell here