Chapter 28

The coach ride on Saturday morning took a little less than six hours when the rest stops were factored into the journey. The departure from Longbourn had been just after five that morning so they passed the royal guard members on duty at the gates of Windsor Castle almost precisely at eleven o’clock. In order to allow them entry, the officer in charge of the gate house had a list of the families who were expected to present themselves before the Sovereigns.

From the gate house, the convoy wended through lush parkland and forests for more than two miles until the castle came into view. As it was a Saturday, those in the conveyances would not be departing until Monday morning at the earliest. Their Majesties would not countenance travel on the sabbath unless it was for a reason of life or death.

Aside from a cadre of footmen in royal livery, the arriving group were met by the major domo as well as the King’s equerry, Lord Charles Ponsonby-Jones. The Earl of Pinkerton greeted all of those who arrived he was familiar with and requested the Duke of Bedford introduce those unknown to him.

He then explained that the major domo would show them all to their chambers to wash and change. A meal would be delivered to a dining parlour adjacent to the suites they were in and then at two they would be shown into a drawing room for their audience with Their Majesties. As soon as the equerry took his leave the major domo led the large group up some stairs to a guest wing where one of the housekeepers indicated which chambers to use.

The three youngest Bennets had remained at Longbourn in the company of Giana, Mrs. Frost, Mrs. Annesley, and various footmen guards, led by John Biggs and Brian Johns, but Jane had accompanied Elizabeth. One reason was Elizabeth had needed her steadying company and the other was as she was being courted by Richard Fitzwilliam, the Duke’s nephew, there was a good chance the Queen would want to meet her.

The meal had been plentiful, but many of those partaking had not much of an appetite. At twenty minutes before two, a royal page appeared and requested the guests to follow him. The walk to the main drawing room took almost a quarter of an hour. When they arrived at a set of gilded doors, the page nodded, and a footman opened each side. Waiting inside of the antechamber was Lord Pinkerton.

For those who had never had an audience with the King and Queen before, he explained the protocol for entering the drawing room where Their Majesties would be seated. Entry would be made by rank.

When the ornate double doors leading into the drawing room opened, the Duke and Duchess entered first, followed by the Marquess and Marchioness, Elizabeth, then the Earls and their Countesses. Richard Fitzwilliam was next; he was followed by the three Darcys and finally the four Bennets.

After deep bows and curtsies had been made to the King and Queen seated on their gilded thrones, the King beckoned Elizabeth to approach. Thankfully she had been prepared for the possibility, so without hesitation Elizabeth approached the Monarchs and made a deep curtsy before them. Just as she had been taught, she remained in her curtsy until the King or Queen spoke.

“Rise Lady Elizabeth,” the Queen intoned. Elizabeth did so and did not flinch as she was closely examined by the two royals seated before her. “There is no mistaking it George, she is the image of our Cousin Rose. No one who sees them together can doubt that Lady Elizabeth is our cousins’ daughter.”

“We agree, my Charlotte,” the King responded.

“Even without the confession you wrote to us of, she is definitely your daughter,” the Queen told Lady Rose. Then she looked at Saul and Philip, both who she had previously met as a Rhys-Davies and Carrington respectively. “One would have to be blind not to see those two boys are the fruit of Mr. Bennet’s loins.” The Queen looked to Mr. Bennet. “Our cousins informed us the boys bear a birthmark unique to the Bennet line, is that so?”

“It is, Your Majesty,” Bennet averred as he bowed deeply to the Queen.

“Bedford, is it certain those guilty of causing this atrocity are no longer alive?” the King enquired.

“It is true Your Majesty. The men are no longer in the mortal world,” Bedford confirmed.

“They are lucky. We would have had them arrested for the crime of treason for acting against a member of our family,” the King returned emphatically. “What do you plan to do now? We assume you will announce something to society at large.”

“By your leave, Your Majesties,” Bedford responded to his cousin.

“George we should publish a royal decree,” the Queen suggested, “that will ensure that none in society will dare question the veracity of the true family connections.”

“We defer to you Charlotte. If you think it a good idea, we will throw our full support behind it,” the King agreed. He looked past those before him to where his equerry stood. “Ponsonby-Jones, make it so.”

Pinkerton bowed to his liege in assurance it would be done as commanded.

“Lord Pinkerton, speak to our cousins and those with them to make sure the decree is worded in a way which meets their approval,” the Queen commanded. Pinkerton bowed again this time to the Queen. “You will dine with us and some of our children at dinner and you will all join us in the chapel on the morrow when our vicar will conduct the service.”

After a few words with the other persons they knew, including giving their approval for the courtship of Miss Bennet to the Honourable Mr. Fitzwilliam, the King and Queen stood and all of those before them bowed and curtsied, and held their stances, until the Sovereigns exited the drawing room via a door behind their thrones.

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

The dinner on Saturday night had been enjoyable, notwithstanding the protocols in place when dining with the King and Queen. The Crown Prince and a handful of princes and princesses were on hand.

Sunday services were interesting, especially when those who did not know who the Queens vicar was were surprised that it was none other than Charles Manners-Sutton, The Most Reverend Willowmere, by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. After services, there had been another meal with the royals and their vicar. For the rest of the day, the guests were left to their own devices and had been able to choose activities they favoured.

The five mothers and Beth Bennet kept one another company in a sitting room in the wing where they were being housed. They passed the time telling stories of the three swapped individuals over the years as they grew to be who they were today.

Bennet and the other older generation men found a huge library with some chess boards setup in them. When word reached the King that the Thomas Bennet who was at his castle was the same one who had been unbeaten in chess at Cambridge, he came to the library and challenged Bennet to a game. The King jested with Bennet that if he did not play to his full potential he would find himself resident in the Tower of London. The message was clear, His Majesty wanted to play without any artificial advantages.

When word spread of the match, the princes, from the Prince of Wales on down came to watch, as did any other lords who served the King. It was a hard-fought match which Bennet eventually won. Rather than be upset he lost, the King was well pleased Bennet had not given him quarter.

The younger generation made their way to the extensive royal stables. There were more than enough horses for the nine to ride. Emily, Sed, Jamey, Saul, and Philip rode in one direction while Richard, William, Jane, and Elizabeth rode towards a forested area. Each group had a royal groom escorting them.

William and Elizabeth allowed Richard and Jane to ride ahead of them so the courting couple would be able to speak without being overheard. William manoeuvred his horse so he was close enough to speak to Elizabeth.

“Have your mother and father spoken of their immediate plans?” William enquired.

“From what I understand, once the decree is published, we will depart for Woburn Abbey to familiarize myself with my parents’ primary estate,” Elizabeth related. “Thereafter we will journey to Hilldale so I may meet my older sister and brother-in-law. I was most pleased to discover the Abbey is less than three hours in a carriage to Longbourn.”

“What of the season?” William asked hopefully.

“Mother wants me to have a ball to introduce me to the Ton. She said I need not be presented again until I marry as today would be considered an official presentation to the Queen. I am most fortunate as I will not have to wear one of those grotesque gowns I heard Mother and the three aunts speak of.”

“Other than the introductory ball, which your father will have the pleasure of your first set, may I ask for the first at any ball we attend in common?” William requested. He had begun to fall in love with Elizabeth even before her true parentage was revealed, in fact it had been the night of the assembly when his attraction to her had commenced.

Elizabeth pinked at William’s request. “Before I grant your request, I have a question for you,” she averred. He nodded for her to ask her question. “I need you to settle a difference of opinion between my mama and me.”

“How could I help in that?” William asked confusedly. He had no idea what he would be able to tell her regarding something between her and Mrs. Bennet who was the one she called Mama.

“I have noticed how intently you watch me when we are in company together and not speaking with one another,” Elizabeth explained. Now it was the tips of William’s ears which darkened in colour. “It was my opinion you look at me to find weaknesses to exploit when we play chess. Mama seems to think it is another reason all together.”

He had been so sure he had been circumspect in his study of the woman who fascinated him. Had he not made sure to only watch her when no one observed him? Evidently, he had failed in that endeavour. William looked up and noted that Elizabeth was watching him closely, waiting for his reply. Could he be honest, or did he need to dissemble. No, he had to be honest, like his father, he abhorred any form of disguise.

“The reason is not what you thought,” William averred honestly.

“Then what is it?” Elizabeth pushed.

“Elizabeth can you truly not imagine why a man would want to watch a particular woman?” William responded.

Her first inclination was to tease and say he looked at her to catalogue her faults, but she knew that was not true. She had a good idea why a man would look at a woman the way William did her. The clearer his reason became, the deeper the colour she blushed.

William understood she had divined his reasoning without either one of them having to verbalise it. “At the ball your birthparents give for you, may I request the supper and final sets as well?”

“You know people will talk and assume you have an interest in me as more than your cousins’ cousin.”

“In that, they would not be wrong.” Seeing Elizabeth was about to speak, he continued before she could. “Please know I have no intention of making any sort of declaration now. It would make me a rather insensitive cad if I did with everything going on. Besides anything else, I am certain your parents will not want to part with you so soon after meeting you. I would guess it would be at least a year before I, or any other, if I am not your choice, would be allowed to make a public declaration. At least I am aware if it is me, I will need permission and blessing from Bedford and Bennet.”

Elizabeth enjoyed William’s company, but until Mama opined he looked at her the way he did was due to his having tender feelings for her, she had not thought they were more than friends, oblique cousins, and chess opponents. Yes, he was devastatingly handsome, intelligent, and treated her with respect. But beyond that, did she have tender feelings for him? She admitted to herself that although those feelings were absent at this moment, he was a man with whom she could see herself falling in love.

It was gratifying to hear him acknowledge that he may not be her eventual choice as the partner of her future. She, Jane, and Mary had all vowed they would only enter the married state with a man they were deeply in love with and respected, and who returned the same feelings in full measure. Elizabeth was sure that in Richard, Jane would soon enough have that if she did not already. She also suspected that if George Wickham ever declared himself for Mary in the future, they would have that kind of relationship as well.

Elizabeth believed that William could be the man who in disposition and talents would ultimately most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would balance her character perfectly. Hence, it was a possible future union which would be to the advantage of both. Her ease in society and liveliness would soften his uneasiness with unknown persons and in social situations. She had an insatiable thirst for learning while his knowledge of the world and love of books could be a perfect fit for her. As she had these thoughts, she reminded herself that William had the right of it, her birthparents would not want to see her leave them too soon. That did not mean they could not use the time together to get to know one another better and come to see if they did in fact suit as she suspected they would.

She looked through her long lashes and saw William was patiently awaiting her reply. “Yes, William, you may have those dances at that ball and the first set at others we attend in common.”

He beamed a smile at her which made her thankful she was sitting on a horse as it would have made her weak at the knees, especially when his smile revealed his dimples.

“For the other dances at events in London, may I too ask for either the supper or the final sets? As much as I would like to reserve three or more, I do not want to create the amount of talk it would if we danced three sets at each ball without the advantage of an engagement.”

William reached over and gained her attention as he stopped his horse. Elizabeth looked ahead and saw Jane and Richard had stopped as well and their heads were very close together. There was no missing the instant Jane nodded emphatically and threw her arms around Richard’s neck.

The two behind them cleared their throats as it was obvious Jane and Richard were lost in their own world, one where the two of them and the royal groom following did not exist. There was no missing how Jane blushed a deep shade of scarlet as they pulled away from one another suddenly remembering they were not alone. Richard leaned over and whispered something to Jane which caused a nod. He wheeled his horse and rode at speed towards the castle while a still blushing Jane joined Elizabeth and William. She simply stated, “Richard has gone to speak to Papa.”

“I am so pleased for you Janey, who if not you deserves to be so happy,” Elizabeth gushed.

“And I add my wishes for your future felicity, and look forward to the day I will be able to call you a cousin,” William added. “You and Richard will do very well together, of that there is no doubt.”

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

There was no delay in Bennet providing his consent and blessing for Jane and Richard to become engaged. At dinner that night, a note was delivered from the King and Queen adding their wishes for happiness. It surprised no one that the Monarchs were very much aware of what occurred in and around their home.

On Monday morning the convoy of coaches departed not long after first light, but not before a copy of the latest Times of London, which had the royal decree in it, was handed to Bedford by a royal page.

William was riding with his parents in the Darcy travelling coach. Both Anne and Robert Darcy could see William was thinking about something and he would share his thoughts when he had ordered them. They chatted between themselves as they sat on the forward-facing bench leaving William to his thoughts.

“I am in love with Elizabeth and had I not woken up to my faults, I would not have had a chance of winning her, even before she discovered she is the daughter of a duke,” William informed his parents.

“Does she reciprocate your feelings?” Anne asked her son.

“Not yet, but we need time to get to know one another,” William owned. “And there will be a certain length of time I am sure before the Rhys-Davies will be willing to part with her.” William paused as a grin overset his features. “Yesterday while we rode, around the time Richard proposed to Jane, I requested…” he explained what he had asked and what her response had been.

“I would say Lizzy is not indifferent to you, Son,” Darcy opined. “If she was, she would not have granted your requests.”

“That is what I hoped for,” William averred. “She is only eighteen; we have time.”

His parents both agreed with him.