Chapter 17
�Charles, are you sure you really know what you�re doing?� Jane asked politely.
�Yes, Jane, of course I know exactly what I�m doing � just give me a minute.�
Fumbling with the foil wrapper, he tried to get it open with his fingers, which wasn�t easy since he was nervous and his hands were shaking.
�Would you like me to hold it? Maybe that will help.�
�N-no, no, I�m fine, I�ve done this lots of times before.� He felt exposed and uncomfortable � this was neither the time nor place for mistakes. �Just lie back and relax, I�ll be ready in a second.�
I hope he isn�t pointing that thing toward me. Jane nervously peered over at him once again. He did appear to be having a difficult time of it. She tried to appear calm as she rested her back against the bow of the boat and let her fingers skim along the surface of the water. Patiently, she waited for her true love to open the champagne bottle. Seated in a small rowboat in the middle of the Bingley�s pond, she suspected something momentous was going to take place this afternoon. Why else the champagne? She didn�t want to spoil it by making him think she had reservations � although, it would be silly for him to be worried about a thing like that. She adored him, as he did her. She quickly glanced over at him again, forcing herself not to cringe anxiously as she eyed him with the bottle.
Charles had insisted on taking Jane on what he thought would be an idyllic afternoon. Alone together, they would go to his favorite spot. He�d envisioned the two of them � a romantic picnic luncheon, sipping champagne in the sunshine � sailing upon the water. As luck would have it, this November afternoon turned out to be unusually warm. His favorite spot turned out to be what he considered �theirs�. It was where he and Jane had first said �I love you� to one another exactly a year ago. Nearby the grassy banks that overlooked the pond, he intended to pop the big question. He had planned it all out. Unfortunately, the only boat on hand was an old rowboat he had dusted off and dragged out of the shed � the Leaky Bathtub. It would have to do.
After much cajoling, he finally convinced her to join him in the floating relic. He then manned the oars and rowed into the middle of the pond, practicing in his head what he was about to ask her. Inside a picnic hamper, he had prepared an assortment of their favorite foods: French bread with her favorite cheese, grapes, his favorite cookies � chocolate chip, and the pi�ce de resistance � Twinkies. The champagne chilled in a bucket. Once they reached the section of the pond Charles was aiming for, he lifted the oars out of the water to allow the boat to serenely drift while he attempted to uncork the champagne.
After a struggle, the cork finally flew with a loud pop, splashing nearby with a small plunk. Charles gave Jane a reassuring smile and she grinned admiringly in return. Allowing some champagne to fizz out of the bottle, Charles suavely proceeded to pour the chilled champagne.
It was very nearly a perfect moment... until, with a sudden lurch, the boat ran aground.
Charles assured Jane he could fix the problem in a jiff. He placed the champagne bottle in the bucket and handed the glasses to Jane as he stood up in the boat, ready to push off the mass of wet leaves and sticks that impeded their idyllic sojourn. With a grimace and one big press of his oar, he informed her of his intentions. �I just need to� push us off� this clump of leaves and then we�ll be all set �� But instead, the boat teetered to one side precariously, throwing Charles off balance. In one quick moment, Charles flopped unceremoniously into the murky depths below. The shallow pond may have prevented him from completely submerging, but it didn�t prevent the discomfort to his derri�re � not to mention, his now very badly bruised ego!
Jane couldn�t help herself. She burst out laughing at Charles sitting in the shallow water, up to his chest in pond scum, looking very dejected and sorry for himself. She quickly covered her mouth and tried to quash her laughter.
�I�m so sorry, Charles! I know I shouldn�t laugh, but�but�� She burst into another peal of giggles when she thought about how funny he had looked falling in.
Charles did not see the humor in the situation. He continued to pout, feeling very put out that his perfect scenario was now ruined. Jane, noticing his discomfort, and the fact he was not laughing along with her, immediately stopped and tried to make amends.
�Let me help you, darling.� She got up from her seat and reached out for him. He stood up, thoroughly wet from the neck down, water dripping down his clothes. He was dangerously close to losing his temper, but the look on Jane�s face made him stop. It held such tender adoration and good humor that all the anger and humiliation he felt flew from his body instantly. A little clumsily, he climbed back into the boat. Now sitting, he hunched forward resting his chin in his hand, a glum expression on his normally genial features.
�This is not how I imagined this, Jane. Trust me.�
She gave him a lopsided smile, and empathized with the frustration he must be going through.
�I wouldn�t say that,� she responded cheerily.
He looked up at her, skeptically. �No? Why is that?�
She looked him over thoroughly. �I kind of like it.�
�Like what?�
�The look,� she said simply.
Charles was confused, and he didn�t like the way this cryptic conversation was going. He sighed in exasperation. �Jane, I�m sorry, but I don�t know what you�re talking about. Frankly, I�m not in a very good mood right now.�
Sitting across from him, she couldn�t resist reaching out and running her hand through his blond hair, now attractively dampened from his unexpected dip in the pond.
�I like you wet.�
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. He wasn�t quite sure what to make of her remark.
�You like me wet?�
She nodded and a big smile lit up her face. Suddenly, Charles remembered something Darcy had told him one balmy August evening a few months back. Realization dawned on him. One corner of his mouth curved as he began to smile again.
�Charles, whether you are wet or dry or whatever might befall you � I love you. No matter what, I will always love you.� Her eyes did not belie her words. �It doesn�t matter to me if things aren�t perfect,� she explained, shrugging her shoulders. �You�ve got me!�
His mood lightened upon hearing this, but he still felt dejected that his perfect moment was ruined.
�But, Jane, this afternoon, I wanted to ask�I wanted to �� She put her fingers to his lips shushing him.
Without taking her eyes off his, she calmly requested, �Ask me.�
He looked surprised and doubtful at first, but her unwavering look told him to do as she instructed. He smiled at her, feeling in his pocket for the now soaking velvet box, which he prayed had kept its contents safe during its unexpected dunk.
Solemnly and with deliberation, Charles leaned in as he asked her the most important question of his life.
�Will you marry me, Jane?�
A tingle went though her as soon as she heard his question. With a crooked smile and glistening eyes, she nodded and threw her arms around him. She was so overcome by the moment that all she could do was whisper a �yes� in his ear as she held onto him for dear life.
Charles felt the most profound sense of relief as he hugged her back. They stayed in each other�s arms, hugging for a moment more until he leaned back and looked her in the face.
�Does this mean we�re engaged?� He didn�t want there to be any misunderstandings.
�Yes, you wonderful man!� she cried, laughing and wiping the tears of joy from her eyes.
�Good, then that means I can give you this.� He held out the dark blue velvet box to her, opening it so the contents would be in full view. Inside, upon a bed of white satin, sat a beautiful engagement ring. A large sapphire, surrounded by smaller diamonds in a platinum setting. Jane gasped as he took the ring out of the box and gently slipped it on the appropriate finger.
Jane gulped. �Charles, it�s beautiful!� Tears began to flow.
He reached out, holding her again, kissing her tears away. �Don�t cry, Janie. You should be happy!� He chuckled over how she cried whenever she was emotional, whether happy or sad.
�I am!� Jane choked out, wiping mascara stains from her tear drenched eyes. �Just let me have my cry, okay?� she laughed, realizing how absurd it must sound.
�All right. As long as I know you�re the future Mrs. Charles Bingley, I�ll let you do whatever you want.� With that, she started crying all over again, and gave him a watery kiss.
�Mrs. Charles Bingley,� she repeated dreamily and snuggled into his arms, in spite of the dampness of his clothes.
�I hope you like the sound of it, because you�re going to be stuck with it for a long, long time.�
Good day sunshine
Good day sunshine
Good day sunshine
I need to laugh, and when the sun is out
I've got something I can laugh about
I feel good, in a special way
I'm in love and it's a sunny day
Good day sunshine
Good day sunshine
Good day sunshine
Then we lie beneath a shady tree
I love her and she's loving me
She feels good, she know she's looking fine
I'm so proud to know that she is mine
Good day sunshine
Good day sunshine
Good day sunshine*
Jane sighed as the two of them continued to hold each other. Neither had ever felt as content as they did at that moment. It was indeed - perfect.
Almost a year later, Jane Bennet looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was dressed in her voluminous white wedding gown. Nine months ago, Charles had asked her to marry him and she had answered yes. No hesitations, no regrets. In a few moments she would be walking down the aisle, soon to be Mrs. Jane Bennet Bingley. She adjusted her pearl necklace and matching earrings with confidence. Putting the final touches on her coiffure, she had time to reflect on the past several months.
She hadn�t expected it to turn out as it had. The months leading up to today�s wedding had been full of anticipation. Successfully graduating from Longbourn, the parties, plans and good wishes � Jane had to admit it had been overwhelming at times. Through it all, she remembered she would be marrying her Charles, who, she was certain, was the most wonderful man in the world.
Looking beyond her reflection in the mirror, she saw her maid of honor: her best friend, her confidante � Lizzy. Lizzy paced back and forth; dressed, ready and waiting � impatient for the wedding to begin. It had been quite a year for Lizzy as well. Tumultuous didn�t even come close to describing it. More like explosive at some times. Had it not been for that fateful night last February, Lizzy�s father would never have come around, allowing his second eldest daughter to marry earlier than he had originally decreed.
That night, coming downstairs in his robe for a midnight snack, he came upon Lizzy and Will alone together. No one but those three knew exactly what happened that night, but after that evening, Mr. Bennet appeared to see the light, and sensibly realized it made much more sense for Lizzy and Will to have a double wedding with Jane and Charles. Never mind his wife�s constant prattle and Lizzy�s forever begging him to change his mind, it was that night that decided him. He relented, but he still insisted Lizzy graduate from college. Will and Lizzy agreed and Lizzy planned to continue her studies as a married woman.
Jane shook her head remembering Will and Lizzy. What a year! She and Charles, like most couples, had moments of doubt that never lasted � but Will and Lizzy! They were so full of passion, love and anger, she and Charles wondered on more than one occasion whether or not they were actually going to go through with the wedding at all! Not always seeing eye to eye in everything, they had broken off the engagement altogether after one particularly nasty argument. But, they persevered, and their love held true. Jane sighed, happy for her sister; even with their clashes, she didn�t doubt they were meant for each other.
Lizzy�s thoughts were not unlike Jane�s; however, where Jane was calm, cool and collected, Lizzy was eager � to get the wedding over with. It seemed as if from the first moment she and Will had met, everyone and everything had been conspiring to keep them apart � she just wanted to be married already! Once the minister pronounced them man and wife, no one could interfere with their lives anymore. No more Caroline, no more Wickham � no more fathers!
The year since their engagement had been announced hadn�t been easy for them. It had been one long, huge roller coaster ride of emotions. As wonderful as it was to be engaged to Will, the engagement also brought on a vast amount of frustration and tension. First, her father declaring they had to wait to be married, then one disagreement after another, culminating in the big one that broke them up for an agonizing four days. Unconsciously, Lizzy wrung her hands in remembrance. How did we get that way? What happened to us? She sighed recalling how they had made up. At least they had come to their senses and talked it out. If nothing else, it strengthened their relationship, cementing their commitment. They say love is blind, and so it is in many ways, but Lizzy was going into marriage with eyes open and head clear. She wanted this man, and nothing was going to stop her.
Mrs. Bennet interrupted Lizzy�s thoughts. She was determined to make sure both Lizzy and Jane were well-prepared for the big moment, issuing last minute instructions . �Now remember girls, when you�re walking down the aisle with your father � smile, girls, smile!�
�Yes, Mother.� The two repeated obediently, trying hard not to giggle at their mother, whom they knew meant well, but was a bit over the top when it came to weddings. Giving both her daughters a last minute hug and an airy kiss to avoid smudging any make-up, Mrs. Bennet departed in a swoosh of chiffon and lace, anxious to take her seat up front as the mother of the brides.
Mr. Bennet joined his daughters, decked out in formal style. He looked at his daughters, giving each a tender smile, a sign of his fond regard, before holding out an arm for each of them to take.
On cue, the wedding march began from beyond the doorway.
�Ready, girls?� he asked them, a fleeting look of hope as he looked at his second eldest. She�s so young. I pray she�ll be happy in her new life.
Lizzy and Jane nodded, nervous and excited, as they each took a proffered arm.
�All right then, let�s go.�
Wearing his game face, Mr. Bennet proudly guided his two eldest daughters through the French doors that led to their wedding. High above the sea, upon the cliffs of Pemberley, his daughters were about to begin new lives.
Following the ceremony, the reception started off with a bang. Under a huge white tent that included a dance floor and tables set ornately for the multitude of guests, music boomed from the sixteen piece orchestra. The party began in earnest. The brides and grooms were welcomed with much fanfare and applause as they were introduced for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. William Darcy.
Among the many guests was, of course, the Bingley family, including Caroline, sporting a new look. She�d never have been welcome at the Darcy wedding; there was no choice but to have her because of Charles. Her �career� in New York City, where she now lived, made her presence at Netherfield scarce, and it had been many months since anyone had last seen her. No one was exactly sure what she was actually doing to support herself since her father had made his famous ultimatum.
Holding up the Darcy side of the family were Georgie, a bridesmaid fresh out of braces, a pretty sweet sixteen. Richard was enjoying himself, having no difficulty whatsoever in flirting with the bevy of girls who flocked to him. No great wonder, as he looked devastatingly handsome in his smart Marine dress uniform.
Will�s Aunt Catherine never forgave him for his decision to marry Elizabeth; she made it clear she would have nothing more to do with him. That was fine with Will, for there was no question he preferred his lovely bride over his disagreeable aunt. She was not missed at the wedding, though with some regret, Will wished his cousin Anne had been able to attend. He never meant any offense or harm to his cousin, whom he now pitied. It seemed she would be forever tied to his aunt; with no say whatsoever in how she would lead her own life.
Mrs. Bennet was in her element. Basking in the glow of marrying off two daughters at once to highly eligible men, she spared no expense in sending them off in style. She flittered from one group to another, ensuring that all enjoyed themselves and were getting enough to eat and drink at her party. For to Mrs. Bennet, this was her big party, the moment she�d dreamed of ever since her eldest daughter was born.
While rushing from one table to another, she came across Caroline Bingley standing alone, dressed all in black from head to toe. Her hair was cut short, pixie style, and her eyes looked positively sunken from the black eye shadow and mascara covering them.
�Oh, Miss Bingley! Is that you? You are Charles�s sister, aren�t you? I barely recognized you! Are you enjoying yourself?� Mrs. Bennet never paused for an answer. She had never actually met Charles�s sister, but Jane had pointed out her picture in one of her yearbooks from Longbourn.
Caroline made a half-hearted effort at being polite to Mrs. Bennet.
�Yes�what a�a� a lovely party, Mrs. Bennet. You�ve really outdone yourself.� Caroline tried to think of something nice to say. �But of course, at such a gorgeous estate as Pemberley, how could it not be lovely?�
�Yes, I agree. We were so fortunate to have Mr. Bennet agree to allow Lizzy and Jane to be married at the same time. Because of this, my son-in-law, William, graciously offered his home.�
�Yes,� Caroline replied, with a thinly veiled sound of disgust at Mrs. Bennet�s obvious use of the term son-in-law.
�So, Miss Bingley, what are you doing these days? I understand you live in the city now?� Mrs. Bennet asked politely, keeping her eyes on the rest of the crowd.
�Yes.� Caroline was eager to use this opportunity to talk about herself. �I live in Chelsea. It�s very exciting and I spend most of my time at The Factory.1 You have heard of the well-known artist, Andy Warhol, haven�t you? He is a great friend of mine. In fact, we�re very close.�
Mrs. Bennet wasn�t familiar with any factories in New York, and could hardly believe that Caroline was admitting to being a �factory girl.�
She replied vaguely, �Yes, how nice for you. If you�ll excuse me, I see something that needs my attention right away!�
Caroline was only too glad to see her go as she eagerly accepted another glass of champagne from a passing waiter.
Meanwhile, at another end of the party tent, Lt. Richard Fitzwilliam was entertaining a group of young ladies, including the three remaining single Bennet daughters, who vied for his attention. He was shamelessly flirting and telling them of his exploits in Viet Nam, amidst �oohs and ahs� and �wasn�t that dangerous?�
Lt. Fitzwilliam had been lucky so far, but some were not so fortunate, as Private George Wickham could attest, had he been there to ask. Shortly after his disastrous meeting with Darcy after his attempted kidnapping of Lydia, Richard had been very helpful in assuring Mr. Wickham would not be a bother anymore. Wickham had a choice: go to jail or Viet Nam. Wickham chose Viet Nam and found himself in the infantry, as luck would have it. Even though George Wickham was a survivor, it was a rude awakening for him � and a far cry from selling records at Korvettes.
After meeting the dashing Lt. Fitzwilliam, Lydia � miraculously recovered from her bout of Beatlemania � had taken a sudden interest in men in uniform, particularly men in Marine uniforms, and informed Richard that it was his duty to dance with her. She explained that as a bridesmaid, she was an important part of the wedding. He accepted his duty graciously and didn�t have the heart to tell her that her sisters, Kitty and Mary, had used the same line on him.
Before long it was time for the happy couples to leave. Jane and Charles, amidst rose petals and good wishes left for New York, where they would spend the night in a suite at the Plaza Hotel, before their Bermuda honeymoon. Will and Lizzy planned to remain at Pemberley for their first night together before leaving for Paris. Both brides threw their bouquets into the crowd of squealing single young ladies. Charlotte Lucas, long since broken up with her old boyfriend, Bill Collins, caught Lizzy�s bouquet of roses and Kitty caught Jane�s. All in all, it was a very productive day for Mrs. Bennet. Two Bennet girls married and the younger ones all placed in the path of other rich men. She let out a great sigh of relief amidst tears and farewells to her two now happily married daughters.
*The Beatles, �Good Day Sunshine� - performed by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. � 1966 Northern Songs. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.