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The January morning glistened in the sunshine. The previous day had begun with rain before the temperature had dropped and changed the precipitation to snow. On her wedding day, Elizabeth woke with the sun. She sat on the window seat in her bedroom to watch it rise. As the sun soared higher in the sky, the snow changed from orange to peach to pink before it became a blinding white world. The trees sparkled like diamonds, their bare branches coated in ice. A downy white fluff blanketed the landscape as far as the eye could see.
Soon, Elizabeth detected footsteps traipsing along the hallway. They were heavy and slow as they passed her door the first time. However, on the return trip, they sounded quick and light. Realizing that they must be filling the tub, Elizabeth gathered her things and quietly exited the room. As her hair was much thicker than Jane’s and her elder sister was not a morning person, Elizabeth would be the first to bathe and wash her hair in preparation for her wedding.
Elizabeth sank into the hot, lavender-scented water of the half-filled hipbath. Fortunately, a fire blazed in the large fireplace in the bathing room. Sally, the maid she shared with her sisters, made quick work of washing Elizabeth’s hair before leaving her to soak for a few minutes. When she returned with two more buckets, Sally set them on the hearth to stay warm before handing Elizabeth a bar of scented soap. Elizabeth quickly washed. Then Sally poured one of the buckets over her head to rinse her hair. Elizabeth stood as the other bucket was used to rinse her body. Sally handed her a towel from the rack before the fire, and Elizabeth wrapped it tightly around her. Sally then gave her a second towel, which Elizabeth wrapped around her long locks. She twisted it on top of her head before slipping down the hall to her room.
There, Elizabeth sat before the fire that the maid had built up while she bathed. After unwrapping her hair, Elizabeth reached for her comb and began to pull it through her tangled tresses. When detangled, she pushed her hair behind her shoulders and turned her back to the fire to allow it to dry.
Jane awoke to the sight of Elizabeth’s head bent over a letter. She wore a brilliant smile, but Jane also spotted tears on her cheek.
“Are you well, Lizzy?” came Jane’s sleepy voice.
Brushing at the tears on her face, Elizabeth looked up at Jane, her smile still in place. “I am well, Jane, but I cannot believe my good fortune in finding a man like William. He is everything I ever dreamed of and more.”
“I feel equally blessed,” replied a dreamy-eyed Jane.
“I believe your water is ready and I suggest that you hurry or Lydia may try to sneak in ahead of you.” The sisters laughed, knowing that Lizzy’s words were entirely true. Lydia, being the youngest, often had the last use of the tub that the sisters shared. In many households, the entire family used the same water. Mrs. Bennet did not subscribe to that belief, so everyone had fresh water for bathing, but it was only a few inches, as it would have taken most of the day to warm enough water to fill the tub for seven family members.
Lizzy, Jane, hurry. It is time to leave for the church,” Mrs. Bennet called up the stairs. Mrs. Gardiner and Mrs. Hill had kindly kept Mrs. Bennet busy throughout the morning, allowing the girls a quiet, peaceful time during which to prepare for the biggest day of their lives.
“The girls are ready, Mrs. Bennet. You should go on to the church. We will be only a few minutes behind you.”
Seeing Jane as she reached the bottom of the stairs, Mrs. Bennet said, “Oh,” adding with a sniff, “My mother’s pearl combs look so beautiful in your hair.” The Bennet matriarch had presented them to Jane the evening before.
As Sally put the finishing touches on Elizabeth’s hair, a knock came at the door. “Come in, Papa.”
Jane had already descended the stairs on her father’s arm, so Lizzy knew it was Mr. Bennet coming back to accompany her. Mr. Bennet stepped into the room but stopped in his tracks at the sight of his favorite daughter. “Lizzy, my dear girl. You look wonderful.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
Catching her eyes in the mirror of her dressing table, her father said, “As you know, we named you after my dear mother.” Elizabeth nodded. “She gave me something to give you on your wedding day.” Mr. Bennet handed her a small box.
Lifting the lid, Elizabeth gasped, “Papa, these are beautiful.” Inside, on a bed of velvet, sat a pair of large pearls surrounded by diamonds with a matching pendant. Sally took the box and Mr. Bennet removed the necklace, which he placed around Elizabeth’s neck. Sally set the box on the dressing table and lifted the earbobs, then put them in Elizabeth’s ears. The maid placed her bonnet on her head and Mr. Bennet held out his hand to assist Elizabeth in rising. They joined Jane in the hall and the three of them descended the stairs, stepped into the waiting carriage, and took the short ride to the Meryton church.
With a last wave to her family, Elizabeth Darcy settled into the seat across from her husband as the carriage pulled away from Longbourn, taking Elizabeth to her new London home. Staring at her, Elizabeth’s husband of about five hours, Fitzwilliam Darcy, wasted no time before moving to settle himself beside his new bride. He removed her hat and gloves, tossing them onto the rear-facing seat. When her wedding bonnet was out of the way, Darcy cupped his beautiful wife’s face in his hands before gently caressing her lips with his. The kiss began tenderly, but grew in intensity, each trying to show the other their love and desire. When they finally drew apart, they were both gasping for breath, their hearts racing. Elizabeth snuggled into her husband’s embrace, her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat slow.
“For all her excitability, your mother does set an excellent table. The wedding breakfast was a lovely affair.”
“Did you tell Mama that?” asked his wife with a cheeky grin.
“I thought I might just send her a note.” Darcy would not meet his wife’s eye, but her tinkling laugh caused his chest to begin shaking. Soon his deep rumble could also be heard. Their conversation continued, ranging from topic to topic. They spoke of everything and nothing, talking of their hopes and dreams.
When the carriage pulled up in front of Darcy House, Elizabeth was surprised to see the servants lined up to greet her. As she stepped down from the carriage, Darcy swept her in his arms and carried her up the front steps to the cheers of the servants. This auspicious beginning was just the start of the Darcys’ happily ever after.
