Chapter 27

A s the Regent had stated they would be, the three investitures were held a few days after the arrival at Buckingham House, and two days after the Fitzwilliams, Darcy, Anne de Bourgh, and Charlotte Lucas arrived in Town.

The hall at St James Palace reserved for such events was completely full thanks to the hunger to see the new Duchess of Hertfordshire. It was not only the Regent and Queen present, but every royal prince and princess who was not travelling, was in attendance. Mrs Fitzherbert and her daughters, although not seated in the row of Royals which flanked the Queen and her eldest son, were seated off to the side which indicated the favour in which the royals held them.

Knowing the Hertfordshire dukedom was only second in wealth to the Bedford one, many parents, nobles, and otherwise, began to scheme as to how they would be able to put their sons forward as the duchess’s prospective husband. Fortune hunters among the courtiers were already counting their gains when they forced the woman to marry them.

All of that speculation lasted until the Regent spoke after all three investitures. “Let it be known that as Lady Elizabeth Bennet, the Duchess of Hertfordshire, is considered a member of our family, any slight, attempt to harm her or her family, or to entrap her into an unwanted marriage will be seen as an act of treason against my family. She or he, who attempts anything against Her Grace will be treated like any other who commits treason. If someone attempts a compromise, I will support the duchess in not forcing her to marry such a man.” He looked around at the capacity crowd assembled in the investiture hall with a very serious mien. “The same holds true for Mr Thomas Bennet, his other four daughters, and Sir Edward and Lady Gardiner and their family.”

There was a hush in the hall while many who had been scheming ceased their plotting. If they lost their heads, none of their plans would mean anything to them. Even the most foolhardy fortune hunter knew when the odds were stacked against him, and redirected his plans at easier targets.

At a reception held at Buckingham House after the ceremony, Elizabeth was introduced to the few princes and princesses who were not present at the family dinner. In addition she was introduced to some of the leading members of the Ton . One family she met were her neighbours on Russell Square, the Rhys-Davies, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, their daughter, Lady Marie, and their son, the Marquess of Birchington, who had recently graduated from Cambridge and was not yet one and twenty.

Her Majesty introduced her Liebchen to all of the patronesses of Almack’s, their husbands, and families. Through it all, Mr Darcy was never far from her, ready to offer an arm for her to lean on as needed.

Anyone who still held out hopes of Lady Elizabeth being interested in themselves, or in the case of parents, in their sons, could not ignore the palpable connection which flowed between the duchess and Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. He was never far from her and when she was not resting her hand on his arm for comfort, her eyes would find his, and his never left hers. If they ever got too far one from the other, one or both of them would correct that and close the distance between them.

The Duke of Bedford, the Earl of Jersey, and their wives were speaking to the Regent and Mrs Fitzherbert when Lady Bedford, who like her friend Lady Matlock was very close to Maria Fitzherbert, opined that any man who thought he would be able to divert Lady Elizabeth’s attentions to himself, would be wasting his time.

“I believe she is very much taken,” Lady Jersey observed.

“I cannot but agree, Sarah. While both Lizzy and William were guests at the Pavilion we were privileged to see them as they became closer each day. Both George and I could not approve more,” Mrs Fitzherbert agreed.

“Tis a pity the Darcys have always refused a title,” Lord Jersey noted.

“He will not refuse me,” the Regent stated knowingly. “Lizzy would never agree to my making his acceptance a condition of her marrying him, but as you all know, I can be rather persuasive when I try to be.”

No one argued the point with the Regent.

“If what I said does not deter anyone who thinks they can harm Lizzy, they will need to get past my sergeant-majors,” the Regent inclined his head to where Biggs and Johns were standing next to some royal guards.

Bedford shook his head. “You must really like her if you relinquished those two to her. Nothing I enticed you with convinced you to allow me to offer them employment.”

“They and their men went willingly. They were feet away from Emma, convinced the miscreant on the horse was about to snatch her up before they reached her, when they watched Lizzy ignore her personal safety and push Emma out of the criminal’s path.” The Regent paused as a cold chill traversed his spine. “Had she not done so, I do not want to think of what my poor sweet girl would have endured.

“That slip of a woman endangered her own life to protect one she knew not from Adam?” Lord Jersey shook his head.

“That she did, and if that were not enough, she attempted, rather forcefully mind you, to talk me out of awarding her anything, never mind the Hertfordshire dukedom. She is an exceptional lady. I was not exaggerating when I spoke of the way I, my mother, and my family see her.”

“We understood from Her Majesty that Lady Elizabeth was not at all cowed on meeting her,” Lady Rose, Duchess of Bedford, related. “It seems her bravery was not a one time or transient thing.”

“If what she did was not enough, she speaks German like one who has lived there, which could only endear her to Mother even more,” the Regent revealed.

While her son was speaking to some of his friends, Queen Charlotte summoned Lady Elizabeth and Mr Darcy to her side. They arrived with Elizabeth on his arm and gave a deep curtsy and bow respectively.

“Sit, we will speak with you,” the Queen instructed. Once they had complied, the Queen looked from Elizabeth to Darcy, and then back to Elizabeth. “It is as plain as the nose on our face that you two are fated to be together. So what, may we ask, are you waiting for? Mr Darcy, do you not think it is time you make your courtship official? No one who was at the reception will have missed that the interest between you two flows both ways.” She paused and then smiled. “You must forgive an old lady who approaches her eighth decade. When one is as old as we are, we say what is on our mind.”

Both Elizabeth and Darcy blushed; her whole face, her cheeks glowing, and his ears reddened significantly. “As you well know, Your Majesty, as a woman it is not my place to force Mr Darcy to speak. It is up to him to do so.” Elizabeth allowed the implication she would not object to Mr Darcy doing so to remain unchallenged.

“I had intended to wait until we reached Falconwood, but Lady Elizabeth, may I speak with you in private?” Darcy requested. It would be easy to say he was obeying the Queen, but the truth was Darcy had no objection to speaking sooner.

“It is about time,” the Queen stated mischievously. “If Mr Bennet approves, you may use the antechamber through that door.” Her Majesty pointed her fan.

Darcy gained Bennet’s permission to address his daughter and then returned to lead the woman he loved towards the antechamber. He was not surprised to see the two sergeant-majors follow them and take up station either side of the door when they entered. Darcy was careful to leave the door cracked by an inch or two.

He led Elizabeth to a settee covered in gold and white fabric, which was ornate, as were all the furnishings in the royal palace. As soon as she was seated, Darcy sat himself at the other end facing her.

“Lady Elizabeth…Elizabeth, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I love and admire you. Even when I allowed my pride to overrule my good sense, I knew you were the only one for me, regardless of how much higher I was in society. Then when I was informed of your much deserved elevation, I worried I was the one who was not high enough for you. It was the concern of moments because I realised just as you would not have accepted me for reasons other than true love when our positions were reversed, you would not reject me for any reason but that you do not love me.”

“I do, I do love you, William. If I am honest with myself, it has been coming on since you sent me your apology letter. All the time we spent together at the Pavilion showed me that you are the only man I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.”

“You have no idea how my heart is singing due to knowing my love for you is requited. As much as I would like to propose to you this very instant, we must begin with a courtship. If we are engaged without a courtship, and then we marry at the same ceremony as my cousins and your sisters, there will be speculation about the reason for the hurried nuptials. Everyone will be waiting for the announcement that you are with child.” It was the hardest thing in the world for Darcy to not ask the question he most wanted in the whole world to ask .

“But I care not what society thinks, we know the truth,” Elizabeth insisted.

“I care too much for you to subject you to the hint of scandal. Even your close ties to the royals would not stop the talk. As much as I would like to drop to one knee right now, if you agree to have me, of course, it must be a courtship for at least three weeks, and then an engagement of a month thereafter,” Darcy proposed.

“Go down on one knee,” was her reply.

Darcy cocked his head and looked at his beloved quizzically.

“Make your proposal. I will give you my reply, but as far as the Ton is concerned we will be in a courtship, but no longer than three weeks. Then we will announce our engagement, and we will marry before Christmas day.” Elizabeth arched her eyebrow, daring him to gainsay her. She hoped he would have no desire to do so.

Darcy loved her compromise plan. He stood, and came before her, dropping onto one knee. He took one of her hands, and then the other, into each of his own. “Not only do I love you, but I could not respect you more if I tried. Like you said with regards to myself, there is not another woman I could imagine marrying. You are the love of my life and my soulmate. Lady Elizabeth Rose Bennet, will you agree to join your life with this simple gentleman farmer, will you marry me?”

“Yes, Fitzwilliam Alexander Darcy, I will most certainly marry you. Since I acknowledged to myself that I was in love with you, my love has only grown deeper and stronger,” Elizabeth accepted. She thought of something. “Are you aware that our first son will inherit the dukedom when he reaches his majority?”

“I had heard that,” Darcy declared. “There is a simple solution.” Elizabeth raised both eyebrows in question. “We will have to create many sons and daughters. I so much want to see daughters who will look just like their beautiful mother, be as intelligent as her, and no less impertinent.”

With that decided, Darcy stood and gently pulled a deeply blushing Elizabeth to stand as well. The talk of their future children, and what was needed to create them, had caused her change in colour. Knowing that there was very little time before one or both enormous men opened the door, he lowered his head as hers was tilted up in anticipation.

The kisses were better than either had imagined and sent hearts racing and breath ragged on both sides. They pulled apart when they heard a rather insistent knocking on the door.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

It was both members of the couple who asked to speak to Bennet. They were directed to the same antechamber where the proposal had just been made and accepted. They had decided they would not hide the truth from Bennet and would allow him to decide what they told their respective families. Hence they told him the true state of their relationship, and what they had decided would be made known publicly.

“Of course I approve, even though you need it not, as Lizzy has attained her majority. As much as I understand how you will chafe at having to wait to announce your engagement, it is a wise decision. Lizzy, your fiancé was correct. As much as you care not for what society thinks, it is much better this way, especially given the insatiable interest in you at this moment. I shall announce the courtship now while all of the guests are present, that way it will be known in society with alacrity. When we are alone, those closest to us will be informed of the facts. I would not like to hide the truth from our families or the royals. We can be assured of their discretion,” Bennet mused. Then he grinned. “So you had a royal sanction to propose did you?” he ribbed .

“Her Majesty did not order us…in so many words,” Elizabeth smiled. “I cannot repine the results of her prompting William to speak. Although,” she looked at her fiancé lovingly, “he did tell the Queen he intended to speak once we reached Falconwood.”

“ He is right here and can speak for himself,” Darcy jested. “In all seriousness, had I allowed myself, I would have declared myself shortly after Andrew and Richard requested the courtships. Knowing of your former opinions of me, I wanted to make sure we had a deep friendship before doing so. I must remember to thank Her Majesty for saving me days before becoming the happiest of men.”

“Yes, yes, I know you two are the happiest couple there ever was. I can do without the gushing, thank you,” Bennet grinned. “Let us rejoin the rest and make the announcement. I am sure the Queen is waiting to hear the results of her gentle nudge .”

The three exited the antechamber and found many of the eyes in the room on them, it seemed some sort of announcement had been anticipated. Bennet cleared his throat and then announced the courtship.

As if by magic, while congratulations flowed, footmen bearing trays with glasses of champagne materialised, and very soon everyone had a glass in hand. The Regent called attention to himself. “Allow me to be the first to congratulate Her Grace and Mr Darcy. Any of us who have had the pleasure of seeing them together over the last few months, when they were hosted at the Pavilion, were sure it was only a matter of time before an announcement like this was made. May the newly courting couple have nothing but felicity in their futures.”

The voices of those present swelled in agreement with the Regent that the couple was as well suited as any seen before .

Anna, Mary Anne, Emma, and the two youngest Bennet sisters were about to surround Elizabeth to express their approbation when the Queen approached the couple. “You have made this old lady very happy,” she stated.

“Your majesty is not in her dotage,” Elizabeth responded with an arched eyebrow. “For my part, I thank you for expressing your opinion on a certain matter.”

The Queen allowed a laugh to escape before she covered her mouth with her fan. “You, Lord Pemberley, will have your hands full with this young lady once you two marry.”

Darcy looked at the Queen with great surprise. “Your Majesty, I have no title,” he insisted.

“George will speak to you later,” the Queen waved his concerns away.

As soon as the Queen moved on, the five younger girls surrounded the courting couple. “I knew almost from the first time you came close to bowling me off my feet that you and William would be perfect together,” Georgiana enthused. She turned to her brother. “Thank you, William, I could not think of a better sister than Lizzy.”

“Do not forget you will be gaining four additional sisters when Lizzy and your brother marry,” Lydia pointed out. “What did the Queen mean by Lord Pemberley ?”

“Fath…his Highness has said when Lizzy marries, her husband would be titled, and if he was not so before, then one would be bestowed upon him,” Mary Anne reported.

“I care not what title I have as long as I can be called Elizabeth’s husband,” Darcy stated while beaming a dimple revealing smile at his fiancée. In the past, offers of titles to Darcys before him, including to his father, had been made in private, which were easier to refuse. After the Queen’s rather public slip of revealing his title, that was no longer a possibility. He would endure far more than sitting in the House of Lords—if he was elevated to the peerage—for the honour of having Elizabeth as his wife.

About an hour later, all of the guests not named Bennet, Fitzwilliam, Gardiner, or Darcy had departed. Once all servants and guards had exited the large drawing room where the celebration had been held, Bennet announced the true state of the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy.

The joy of everyone was palpable. Maria Fitzherbert followed the Queen in hugging Elizabeth. “I knew how it would be,” Maria said quietly next to Elizabeth’s ear. “You two could not have been so well matched for no reason. Remember, Lizzy, you will always be a member of our family. You will never know the extent of the service you did for us that day when you saved Emma.”

Jane replaced Mrs Fitzherbert. “I am so happy for you, Lizzy. I could not conjure another man who matches you as well as Mr Darcy,” she said as she hugged her younger sister.

“We are to be brother and sister, so please call me William,” Darcy requested. He looked at the other three Bennet sisters awaiting their turns to hug their sister, “I invite all of my future sisters to use my familiar name.” He turned to his grinning Fitzwilliam cousins waiting to offer their wishes of happiness. “I suppose that means I have to be sanguine with having you two as brothers.”

The brothers clapped Darcy on the back. “Lizzy, you have gifted this dour man a sense of humour,” Lord Henderson ribbed.

“He always had it, he hid it behind his mask,” Elizabeth replied pertly.

It was close to an hour before all in attendance had exhausted their expressions of approval for the pending wedding. When asked when they would marry, the newly engaged couple replied that they were yet to make that decision and would consult a calendar.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~ ~

Fanny Gardiner was doing some shopping in Hatfield when she passed the local inn, the Roaring Lion, when she saw a couple step out of the door. She knew those eyes.

“Mr Wickham?” she asked. Thankfully for the man concerned, they were not close to any who could overhear her.

“You are mistaken, madam, the name is Williamson,” Wickham claimed all the while fighting to school his features. “Do I know you Mrs…?”

“I was Mrs Bennet, but thanks to that disobliging daughter, the one who stole my Jane’s title, I am Miss Gardiner now. That wilful girl was always too high in the instep for her own good,” Fanny spat out bitterly.

Wickham did not miss the venom aimed at the duchess. The former Mrs Bennet could be an ally in their endeavours. “Miss Gardiner, may I introduce my friend, Miss Younge. Karen, Miss Fanny Gardiner.” He lowered his voice. “Is there a location where we may speak without any big ears listening or prying eyes on us?”

“My home is close by. Will you and your friend not join me?” Fanny invited. After nods from Wickham and Miss Younge, the three walked towards the small house.