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"Still the same storm," Darcy said when she glanced at the window. "Thunder does not entitle it to a second entry."
"Let it rain! We're getting married anyway!"
* * *
"Three days?!" That evening at Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet received the news with an expression which suggested Elizabeth had proposed to marry in three minutes.
"Three days," Elizabeth confirmed. "Papa consented to our engagement, Darcy obtained a special license, and the clergyman has agreed to come here. We have contrived to arrange everything except convincing you. Lady Catherine offered Rosings, but I wish to be married at home. Darcy sent her an express this afternoon. I expect she will send flowers enough for both houses."
Her mother looked at her for a moment, without speaking.
"At home?"
"If you will help us."
Mrs. Bennet took up the invitation list, which was so short that she appeared to suspect a missing page. "Then I shall see what can be done. Jane, where is the good linen?"
Elizabeth went with her to find it. Choosing a small wedding need not mean excluding her mother from the pleasure of making it beautiful.
When they returned, Mrs. Bennet carried linen enough for a regiment. Mr. Bennet moved a chair out of her way and kissed Elizabeth's cheek.
"You had my consent already, Lizzy. Have my blessing too. I believe your mother is providing everything else."
Mrs. Bennet had already begun to explain why three days were insufficient for the breakfast she proposed, while laying out the cloth on which she intended to serve it.
Jane appeared with a writing board.
"I've made a list for each day," she said. "If we begin with the linen, I think we can be ready by Thursday morning."
"Jane, no—"
"Only if you wish." Jane waited for Elizabeth's nod before unfolding the plan. "I've used different colors for the things which cannot wait. There is time to sleep." She examined the page. "Rather less time to do nothing."
"Jane, you've ruled columns."
"The flowers would not fit in the margin. Charles helped. He thought we ought to leave some time for whatever the narrative might do to us."
"Where is Bingley?"
"Arranging what may be done indoors if it rains." Jane checked the page. "He thought we might allow for three storms. I thought two would be plenty, but he wished to be useful."
"We're still discussing one rainstorm," Elizabeth muttered.
"Then I shall put umbrellas by the door," Jane said. "That seems the useful conclusion."
Mrs. Bennet looked between her daughters, completely bewildered. "Why is everyone talking about rain?"
"We have had a good deal of it, Mamma."
"Nothing is making sense!"
"Then we've returned to a familiar condition," Mr. Bennet said, and moved the linen off the chair before his wife sat on it.
CHAPTER 25
Two days before the wedding, Elizabeth entered the drawing room carrying a length of ribbon and found her courtship spread across the carpet.
Darcy and Bingley were kneeling at opposite ends of a long sheet. Jane stood over them with a ruler. A footman had been obliged to set the tea tray on a small table beside the door, because the principal table was occupied by a diagram of Elizabeth's supposed emotional development.
