“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice as always soft and strong.
Elizabeth smiled at the question. She was ready for whatever was next. “Let’s go,” she answered him, as the plane took off.
Epilogue
“For MTV News, I’m Mark Cole.
“It was destined to be the wedding of the season, the widely publicized nuptials of Slurry lead singer Charles Bingley to Long Borne Suffering’s Jane Bennet, but it turned into so much more. In this MTV Valentine’s Day special we are going to talk to the members of Slurry and Long Borne Suffering about what happened on that day, January 24, 2011. But first, let’s watch the video.”
The tape first shows Charles, Richard, and Darcy waiting at the front of a tastefully decorated church. They are all wearing dark suits. Flowers are everywhere. The music starts and the congregation stands. All eyes are on Jane as she enters the church on the arm of Mr. Bennet. She is wearing a sleeveless white gown with a pink ombré and carrying a bouquet of white tulips. At the front of the church, she takes Charles’s arm, and they move slightly to the left as the congregation murmurs and turns.
Charlotte now enters the church with her father. The crowd is growing louder but Charlotte smiles happily at Richard. She is wearing a slim, white sheath with sheer bell sleeves that reveal her tattoos. She is carrying a modern-looking arrangement of purple and white orchids. She takes her place next to Richard and they move slightly to the right.
The congregation has grown silent as the music plays on and Darcy is waiting alone at the front of the church. Then the doors open once more and Elizabeth emerges with her father, who clearly slipped around to the front of the church again. She wears a classically styled wedding gown in ivory with a full skirt and fitted bodice and carries red roses. She smiles archly at the gasps as she takes her place next to Darcy. The three couples stand together for a long moment and then turn, and the ceremony starts.
Mark Cole: “With me in our Times Square studio, just back from their Hawaiian honeymoon, are Charles and Jane Bingley, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, and Richard and Charlotte Fitzwilliam.”
The camera pans to each couple, who are looking relaxed, tanned, and happy.
“Let me start by congratulating you all, and I have to ask, why a surprise triple wedding?”
The couples laugh.
Darcy: “Well, Charles and Jane were the first ones to set a date, and because of Jane’s condition, we felt that would be best.”
Quiet laughter as Jane pats a very pregnant tummy.
Richard (interrupting): “Don’t believe him. Will was actually dying to get married all through the tour. We kept expecting Will and Lizzy to announce that they had snuck off to a justice of the peace’s office at breakfast one morning.”
More laughter.
Mark: “Will, is this true?”
Darcy (looking slightly embarrassed, with Elizabeth teasingly looking on): “Yes.” More laughter. “I’m the kind of person who, once I make up my mind, I want to do something right away.” He looks at Elizabeth. “Lizzy had other ideas.”
Elizabeth: “Oh great! Now millions of women are looking at the TV and calling me an idiot. Thank you very much.”
Darcy kisses Elizabeth.
Mark (trying to get them back on topic): “So, when did you decide to have a surprise wedding?”
Charlotte: “We finished touring in December, before the holidays, and we immediately got to work on Jane’s wedding.”
Mark: “No break?”
Charlotte: “No break. Richard and I saw how much work the wedding was and what a nightmare it was turning into, and at one point we just looked at each other and said, ‘We’re never gonna do this again.’”
Richard: “So the idea came to us that since Jane and Charles were already doing all the work and since everyone we would want at our wedding would already be at theirs, why not just save ourselves the headache and piggyback onto it?”
Charles (smiling): “Yeah, let us do all the dirty work.”
Mark (looking at Darcy and Elizabeth): “And you basically had the same thoughts?”
Elizabeth (nodding): “That was it. It was a funny coincidence of timing, because we all came up with the same idea on the same day. I was talking to Jane about the idea while Char and Richard were talking to Charles.”
Darcy: “We decided to keep it a secret because we knew otherwise the news coverage would get out of control.”
Mark: “Now, about the timing, is it true that you all met each other on the same night, and you all proposed on the same day?”
Charles: “Within twelve hours of each other, I think.”
Mark: “When was that?”
Charles: “That was six months ago, back in August. We were playing at the Garden, here in the city.”
Mark (continuing with Jane): “Is it true that you proposed to Charles, Jane?”
Jane (smiling beautifully): “Yes, it is. But in my defense, I have to say it was before I was pregnant.”
Charles smiles warmly at her.
Charles: “Not that it would have mattered.”
Mark: “You’ve just completed a heavy four months of touring. During that time, not only were you performing, but you were also starting your own label, Pemberley Records. What can you tell us about that?”
Sighs and laughter from everyone.
Richard: “I’ll tell you, it was a great experience that I hope we’ll never have to repeat.” Everyone nods. “There’s nothing in the world like touring and performing every night, but it takes a lot out of you. We had the additional complications of Jane’s condition and our fairly new relationships, so there was something different every day.” He smiles. “I will say that we never could have made it without each other’s support and the support of an absolutely amazing team of people we have working with us.”
Mark: “Richard, your marriage surprised a lot of people. Many people said you would never settle down.”
Richard: “My mother being one of them.” Laughter. “I was actually in a pretty bad place during the first half of the tour. I was doing some really self-destructive things and it was during the break in July that I realized I had to stop and turn myself around or I would lose everything.” His fingers lace with Charlotte’s. “I was lucky in that I found someone who wasn’t willing to give up on me and that I have this great group of friends who have helped and stood by me every day.”
Charlotte says nothing but squeezes his hand.
Mark (referring to notes): “You all honeymooned together?”
Jane: “Yes, at Richard’s condo in Honolulu.”
Mark: “It’s unusual for people, even members of a group, to be so close.”
Charlotte: “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’ve seen department stores smaller than that condo. We didn’t see Will and Lizzy for five days straight.” Laughter.
Darcy (looking cool while Elizabeth blushes): “We’re very close.”
Richard: “We are all related now, through marriage. We made a chart when we were touring.”
Charlotte: “There’s a lot of down time on the road.”
Richard: “A lot of down time. But we made a chart and we figured that Charles and Char were the most distantly related but that we’re all one big family.”
Elizabeth (to Richard): “How did that go again?”
Richard (pointing): “Charles to Char is my cousin’s wife’s brother-in-law.”