Early one morning at Matlock, just before they were to return to Pemberley, Darcy and Elizabeth met to walk in the Matlock gardens. Elizabeth said, "These gardens are quite nice, almost as nice as Pemberley's. Are we decided to return in the morning?"

"Yes, I believe that we have done about as much as we need to here. I want to get back to make sure the final harvests have gone well."

"Fitzwilliam, before we go, I want to express my deepest gratitude on everything you have done for us. You have done so much, and with such great results."

"Elizabeth, it is not your gratitude I want. You know I did it all for you. While I had dreamt of saying this under the rose arbour at Pemberley, I cannot wait. At Netherfield you told me you could not even accept a courtship with me until your family's problem was solved. That situation is now well in hand. You know that I have loved you for almost a whole year. My love for you has only grown deeper and more steadfast. I made a huge mistake in my offer to you in Kent, so I do not want to do that again. May I speak now, or should I wait?"

"Fitzwilliam, I know that the mistake made there was mine. You cannot know how much I have regretted what I did and said then. My feelings are quite the opposite of what they were then. I will gladly hear what you have to say." She smiled up at him and he took her into his arms.

"Elizabeth, I love you so much. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife? I cannot imagine my life without you."

"Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes. I love you, Fitzwilliam and want nothing more than to be your wife." She pulled his head down and kissed him lightly. Rather than pulling away, he pulled her tighter and the kiss became quite passionate. Finally, he pulled away but kept holding her tightly against him. Suddenly she realized where they were and that they could be seen from the house. "Fitzwilliam, we cannot do this here. We can be seen from the house."

"Quite frankly, I do not care. I love you so much I never want to let go of you." However, he did move away from her but put her arm in his. I had better go speak to your father before he comes out here with a gun." He led her into the house and to the breakfast room, where they found everyone watching them with huge smiles, except for Mr. Bennet, who was frowning. They realized that the windows looked out to where they had just been.

Mr. Bennet was the first to speak, "Darcy, I believe you need to speak to me privately? Either that or pistols in the morning." Everyone laughed at their discomfort and blushes, but Darcy responded very politely.

"Mr. Bennet, may I have a word with you? I believe you might know what I have to say." They left, with Mr. Bennet's arm around Darcy to comfort him.

Georgiana was the first to run to Lizzy and hug her. "You know we were all watching? We all knew exactly what was being said and your answer was quite obvious. I am so happy to have you as my sister. Now Lydia will be my sister, too. Two weddings!"

The Countess was next to approach Elizabeth. "My dear, I am very happy for you. I am not surprised at this outcome as it was obvious that you two had eyes only for each other. However, I will have to speak to my nephew about acting just a bit more circumspect in public places. I will expect an invitation to your wedding, no matter where or when it is. I want to see Darcy happy at long last. I believe that you two will make a wonderful couple."

The others also said their congratulations to Elizabeth, even though nothing official had been said. The gentlemen soon returned smiling, so everyone knew that Mr. Bennet had given his consent and blessing to the union. Mr. Bennet could not resist more teasing. "Lydia, from what they so publicly displayed just outside our window, you and I will have to watch these two closely so they do not sneak off somewhere to be alone. I think that another early wedding will be in the offing. Lizzy, your mother will want several months, but will have to get everything planned much sooner than that." He went to Lizzy and kissed her forehead, "My dear, I could not have given you away to anyone more worthy of you. Darcy, I know you will treat her well. I can only wish you two a very happy life together."

They all left for Pemberley early the next morning as planned. The next several weeks were busy finalizing Lydia's wedding plans. They were to marry in the Lambton church with Thompson officiating, and then go to Pemberley for their wedding breakfast. Darcy made sure that all of the important people in Lambton were invited to attend both the ceremony and the wedding breakfast. By now, everyone in Lambton seemed to know of the connection of the Bennets and the Gardiners, so many were interested in the wedding. In any case, the local population did not often receive an invitation to visit the great house, so many were expected. Of course, the Pemberley staff was easily capable of handling this event.

The wedding went off as planned, with a great number of people in attendance, both in the church and at the wedding breakfast. The newlyweds planned to spend their first nights in Lambton, and then make the big move to Derby. The next day, Lizzy and Georgie went to Abbott's house in Lambton to help Lydia make some final arrangements for the move. The first time Lydia found an opportunity to speak quietly to Lizzy, she said, "Oh, Lizzy, I am so happy. I thought that being with Wickham was good, but it was nothing compared to my dear Abbott. He is so gentle and loving that I cannot believe what I felt. I can only hope that your married life is as good as mine. My only worry is having two babies to look after at the same time. It is a good thing we have great nurses. My dear Abbott has promised to keep them for as long as I need them."

"Lydia, father and I will be going to Longbourn very soon, so you will be on your own. For how long will the Darcy House staff member be with you?"

"My dear Abbott and Mr. Darcy agreed that she will come to Derby for at least a couple of weeks until our new house is running smoothly. We will look for a new housekeeper when we get there. She has been a great help teaching me what to do. I just wish Mama had taken time to teach me more of what I need to know to run a household."

"Now you are making me nervous as Pemberley is such a huge place. Mrs. Reynolds has already been spending time with me. She is a big help as she has been there so long. We should get back there so I can continue to learn. Just let me know how I can help you with anything else." With that, Lizzy and Georgie left.

Lizzy had sent letters to Jane and her mother telling her of Lydia's wedding to a very worthy man, which news Mrs. Bennet soon shared with everyone in Meryton who would listen. This news made a significant improvement in the Bennets' standing there and they began to receive invitations to several events. Lizzy's next letter told of her engagement to Mr. Darcy, which sent her mother into a frenzy because of his wealth and fine estate. As Jane had also received an offer from Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet's head was full of wedding plans. How was she to plan two weddings? No dates had been set, so she wondered how she would cope with so much to do.

Darcy had told Elizabeth that he did not care when or where they married, as long as it was as soon as possible. He said that she should decide with Jane what they would do, and agreed that a double wedding would be fine with him, as long it was soon. They agreed that she would go home with her father to finalize plans, and then he would follow a few days before the wedding date. As Georgiana pleaded that she did not want to be separated from Elizabeth, he also agreed that she could go with them to stay at Longbourn 'with her new sisters.'

He saw the three of them off with suitable maids and footmen in his largest carriage. Their plan was to marry in Meryton, then spend the first week very quietly at Darcy House in London, then return to Pemberley with Georgiana. When they arrived at Longbourn, Lizzy and Jane soon decided on a double wedding to alleviate their mother's anxieties. Georgiana was welcomed by Jane, Mary, and Kitty, and she was soon whispering with Kitty and Mary about all of the happenings at Pemberley and Matlock. Lizzy saw that Georgie would be very comfortable with her sisters. She and Jane also insisted on a short period of time until their weddings, in spite of their mother's protests that she would need months to plan such an important double event. They insisted and their father supported them as he wanted 'all this fuss' over with. He arranged to have the banns read the very next Sunday.

The next few weeks were very busy, with Jane and Elizabeth getting their clothes ready, invitations sent out, and arrangements for the church and breakfast to be finalized. The Matlocks accepted their invitation to the wedding and Bingley agreed that he would host them at Netherfield. Bingley's sisters arrived and were soon, but reluctantly, involved in all of the planning. However, the fact that they would host an earl and a countess sent them fluttering in their preparations.

As the Gardiners, with all of their children, were to stay at Longbourn, this meant that the ladies had to double up. Jane and Elizabeth had no problem with this, and Kitty asked Georgie to stay with her. This was a novel experience for Georgie as she had never before shared a room with anyone. As might be expected, she and Kitty spent a lot of time talking in bed before they finally went to sleep. Jane and Lizzy had the same problem, but their talk was quite different. Lizzy shared what Lydia had said after her wedding night, so they both wondered exactly what they might expect on theirs.

Abbott and Lydia had also agreed to come from Derby with Amelia. As Longbourn was full and Elizabeth did not want to make them suffer with Bingley's sisters, she asked her Aunt Philips to host them as her aunt had always liked Lydia and Mr. Philips was also an attorney. They readily agreed and looked forward to meeting Lydia's new husband. Mrs. Philips looked forward to having a baby in the house as they had never managed to have any children of their own. Sure enough, one sight of Amelia and she asked to hold her and was very reluctant to give her back to her nurse. Philips and Abbott were soon talking about the law and cases they had worked on. Aunt Philips was pleased to see that Lydia appeared to be very happy with her new husband and the baby.

One person who refused to attend, or even acknowledge the wedding, was Darcy's aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Her parson, Collins had received an invitation, mainly because his wife, the former Charlotte Lucas, was Lizzy's closest friend. They came early, largely to escape the wrathful words of Lady Catherine, but Charlotte was soon closeted with Lizzy talking of what had happened to each of them since they had seen each other last Easter.

Lizzy wanted to learn more of a wife's duties to her husband, but was afraid to ask Charlotte as she thought so little of her husband. She did manage to find time alone with her Aunt Gardiner, and spoke of her concerns. As her aunt had seen how much Lizzy appeared to love her betrothed, she reassured her of her unnecessary fears and told her the clinical details of physical love, but said she should trust her husband above all else. Lizzy was glad she spoke to her aunt before her mother came to talk to her and Jane about the same topic. After her mother left, she wondered how their opinions could be so different on the very same issue. She had to reassure Jane with what both Lydia and their aunt had said about the joys that were attainable. While she was embarrassed to describe what her aunt had told her about the physical act, she managed by whispering the details in Jane's ear.

The Matlocks arrived at Netherfield, accompanied by their son Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. They were welcomed effusively by Miss Bingley as she preened to accommodate such illustrious guests. The fact that she misunderstood the Colonel's politeness for compliments added to her fawning over them. After they had settled themselves, they went to Longbourn to meet Elizabeth and her family. Elizabeth was very happy to see him again as they had not met since Easter at Kent. Georgiana was pleased to see them, and Mrs. Bennet was beside herself in welcoming a real earl and countess in her home. Richard made an effort to compliment her, but soon turned his attention to the two youngest Bennet ladies. They both, but especially Kitty, was impressed by the attentions of a real colonel of the regular army who wore a very fine red coat.

Finally, the morning of their double wedding arrived, and Jane and Lizzy were helped to dress by their three sisters, Georgie, their mother, and Aunt. They spent a lot of time on their hair, but finally they were all ready to go to the church. The church was packed, as their disgrace was obviously forgotten, or was at least forgiven by such illustrious husbands and guests. Jane and Lizzy entered the church on the arms of their father, but their eyes were only on the sight of their betrotheds standing proudly at the front. These two were nearly eclipsed by the sight of Richard, who was standing with them in his fanciest full-dress uniform of a Colonel, sword and all. Nearly every unmarried woman, as well as some married ones, had eyes only for him.

The service went by in a blur for the four of them, as they paid attention only to their beloveds. In fact, they had to be prompted to recite their vows at the proper times. They were surprised when it was over and they exited the church on the arms of their new spouses. It seemed that the whole town was outside the church to greet and congratulate them. Most of those gathered there went to Longbourn for the wedding breakfast. The newlyweds barely managed to eat or drink anything as so many people wanted a word with them.

Finally, they managed to get away, the Darcys to London and the Bingleys to a secret location, where they all planned to take time to get to know their new spouses. Darcy and Elizabeth arrived at Darcy House just at dusk. After they had met the staff, refreshed themselves, and ate a light but excellent meal, they went up arm in arm.

What can we say about the first night's experiences of both Jane and Elizabeth? Neither was disappointed, but Elizabeth had the more satisfying encounter that exceeded, by far, her expectations of its raptures and repetitions. She vowed to avail herself of such a loving husband's attentions as often as possible. She believed he would not decline her wishes, ever. As for Jane, she expected much more from their first encounter, but Bingley's boyish enthusiasm made his attention to her far too brief, but he was willing, even eager, to repeat his efforts, much to her eventual satisfaction.

Thus we can leave our main characters with the firm expectation that they would live lives that were mainly very satisfying, indeed.

THE END

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope you enjoyed this, my fourth story that I have published on this site. I am in the process of writing a fifth story and will publish it here in the not too distant future, called "A Month in London." As always, reviews are greatly appreciated.

7