Chapter 34

Happy was Fanny Bennet on the morning she witnessed her eldest daughter walk up the aisle on the arm of her father,binding her life to a deserving man who loved, respected, and treated her in the fashion she deserved.

Jane was resplendent in her off-white silk wedding gown which sparkled and shimmered as if it had jewels affixed to it, although there were none attached to the dress or the transparent gossamer overlay. Just as predicted, the dress reflected the colours of the rainbow as Jane walked slowly towards the man she loved above all others. She had eschewed a wedding bonnet for a veil which was fabricated from gossamer in front and some of the silk fabric of her dress hanging down her back.

Elizabeth and Mary were the maids of honour and on Richard’s side stood Andrew and William. The latter had watched Elizabeth intently from the instant she entered the church from the vestibule until she had stopped and stood opposite him. William was filled with anticipation. He planned to wait until the newlyweds took their leave and then he would request a private interview from Elizabeth.

As Jane walked on her father’s arm, she nodded greetings to her longtime friends and neighbours. She especially nodded to her cousin, William Bennet, who was invited to join the family to witness her wedding. Having taken his cousin’s suggestions to heart, he was a very different man from the one they had first met. He was seated next to the Hursts who both smiled at Jane .

Longbourn Village Church was filled to the extent that some of those who had come to witness the marriage of Miss Jane Bennet to Mr. Richard Fitzwilliam had to stand along the walls at the sides and back of the nave.

Bennet stopped at the head of the aisle, lifted Jane’s veil and kissed her on both cheeks before he placed her hand on Richard’s arm. The latter had walked down the three marble steps as soon as Jane and Bennet were close to the end of the aisle. While the groom led his bride to stand before the vicar, Bennet joined his wife who was standing in the front pew on the left of the aisle. The Fitzwilliams and their family filled the first four pews on the right hand side of the nave.

Mr. Pierce, who had recently told Bennet he intended to retire by May of 1809, signalled the congregation—at least those in the pews—to be seated. He smiled at the lady who he had christened over one and twenty years past and then opened his copy of The Book of Common Prayer to the relevant page. “Dearly beloved…”

It was no surprise that when Mr. Pierce asked if anyone had an objection to the union, everyone held their peace. The vows were recited emphatically by both bride and groom and all too soon for those witnessing the wedding, but not soon enough for Jane and Richard, it was all over, bar the signing of the register.

Andrew and Mary led the way into the registry where they signed the book on its stand, open to the relevant page. Elizabeth and William signed next and then the newly married couple had the pleasure of doing so. Jane paused for a moment before she signed her family name as Bennet for the last time. She was a Fitzwilliam now, better still she was Mrs. Richard Fitzwilliam.

The four witnesses made their way out of the registry, with William pulling the door closed as he was the final one of the four to exit. He was sure Richard was kissing his wife with great ardency at that moment, something he hoped he would be allowed to bestow on Elizabeth’s ruby red lips sooner rather than later. Only a few hours more and he would finally declare his love for Elizabeth.

It seemed like a lot longer, but the new Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam emerged from the registry about five minutes later. Lydia, always more brash than her sisters was about to ask Jane regarding her swollen lips when she saw the quelling look of warning shot at her by Elizabeth who had divined the youngest Bennet’s purpose. It had the intended effect. Lydia said nothing beyond wishing her sister and new brother happy.

As Lydia passed Elizabeth, she shot her tongue out when no one else could see. “You like to spoil my fun!” Lydia hissed so only Elizabeth could hear.

Elizabeth took no umbrage at her youngest sister’s words. She knew as a girl of not yet thirteen, Lyddie had a lot of maturing to do and did not always understand when it was, and was not, appropriate to tease.

The extended family, who had all waited while the rest of the congregation had left the church, took their turn in conveying congratulations to the newlyweds. Last were Saul and Philip who after kissing their sister on a cheek each, stood either side of their new brother-in-law.

“If you ever do not treat Janey as you should, you will answer to us,” Philip stated. The twins felt very protective of all four of their sisters and felt they needed to say something even while they knew the man they had thought was a cousin before the truth of their births had been made known, would never knowingly do anything to harm Jane.

One of the things they enjoyed greatly since their lives had been turned on their heads was the gaining of five more sisters. Like Belle and Emily, Lizzy was counted a sister now as well.

Last to wish Jane and her new grandson joy was Beth Bennet. She hugged both and looked at Jane and Richard. “You two will be very happy together, of that I am certain,” she stated as she dabbed her eyes. “Such a grandson you have gifted me, Janey.”

Jane and then Richard hugged their grandmother. The newly married couple were the last to begin the walk to Longbourn’s manor house.

Even though the house did not have a ballroom, when it had been renovated some ten years or more in the past, the walls on the principal floor had been designed so they could be folded and slid to the side so as to make one huge room. This was where the wedding breakfast would be held.

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

As excited as he was to make his request of Elizabeth to address her in private, the closer that fateful time drew near, the more nervous William became. What if he was misreading the signals she had given him? What if… ‘Stop this right now!’ he admonished himself silently. ‘I am not imagining that she has been most welcoming of me. Unless I ask the question, I will never know the answer. I am no coward! I shall followElizabeth’s example and bid my courage to rise whenI am faced with difficulty.’

William stiffened his spine and banished his doubts from his head. He spied Elizabeth in a group speaking with Jane and Richard so he made his way across the room to where they were standing.

“I thought you had taken up station in the corner like you did at that first assembly,” Elizabeth challenged with an arched eyebrow.

“All I needed was to clear some intrusive thoughts from my head, which has been achieved now,” William informed Elizabeth. She waited for him to say more. However, he was not forthcoming so she returned her attention to her sister and Richard.

Jane was telling of how keen she was to arrive at Seaview Cottage near Brighton, which Uncle Robert and Aunt Anne had made available for them to use during their wedding trip. “We will be at Fitzwilliam House tonight.” Jane blushed as she thought about them being there alone as husband and wife especially with the memory of Mama’s talk so fresh in her mind. “I am looking forward to visiting the beach at the cove, and mayhap swimming as long as the heat holds.”

“We all love spending time there as a family,” William related. “I am certain you will enjoy your stay there immensely.”

‘If,’ Richard thought, ‘we spend very much time outside of our bedchamber, that is.’ He knew he had to be gentle and not rush his wife, but Richard was in great anticipation of his wedding night. In a few hours he would see all of his magnificent wife, and better yet, he would make her his wife in all ways.

They had been at Longbourn and the wedding breakfast for close to two hours so Richard looked at his wife questioningly. Jane nodded. “Lizzy, will you find Mary and then come join me in my old chamber and assist me to change and get ready to depart?” Jane requested.

Elizabeth made her way to where she saw Mary and after a brief word, the two joined Jane and made for her former chamber.

“You two will be here when I marry Charlotte in October, will you not?” Jamey asked Saul and Philip. “I know you will only have returned to Cambridge for less than a month by then, but I cannot imagine our wedding without you.”

“Saul and I discussed it. We will arrive the morning before the wedding,” Philip assured his adoptive brother. “It is less than thirty miles so it will not be a long journey. That way we only miss two days, and if we do not have lessons on either or both days we may miss nothing. We will return on the Saturday.”

While the others were talking, Richard was not really paying them any mind. His thoughts were of his wife who was in her old bedchamber busy changing. In about a half hour, Jane, dressed in an outfit for travelling, returned with Lizzy and Mary trailing her. As soon as she saw her husband, Jane’s whole countenance lit up and she made her way to his side.

They were accompanied to the drive by the members of the extended family who were present, as well as Charlotte who would be a cousin in less than a month. There were some tearful farewells made between Jane and her sisters, her mama, and her mother.

At the same time, Richard was taking his leave of his brother and cousins. Before he hugged his mother and mother-in-law, he received some sage advice from his father and father-in-law. Once he had kissed the cheeks of the two mothers, he handed Jane into the former de Bourgh chaise and four. Any trace of the de Bourgh coat of arms had long been removed and replaced with the one belonging to the Fitzwilliams.

As soon as the door was closed, Richard struck the ceiling with his cane and the coachman urged his team of four forward. Those in the drive waved until the coach was no longer visible.

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

Deciding it was prudent to speak to her fathers before asking for permission from Elizabeth to address her privately, William asked the Duke and Bennet to join him a little way from the family members who were filing back into the house. “I seek your permission to address Elizabeth privately.”

“For what purpose?” Bedford demanded, even though he was almost certain he knew what William’s purpose was.

“I do not think she is ready to receive a proposal of marriage, although that is my ultimate goal, so I intend to request a formal courtship,” William averred.

Bennet was impressed the young man had included him in this. Since the discovery of Lizzy”s true parentage, he had no more authority over her, but he appreciated the gesture nonetheless. He was sure the Darcy heir would seek his blessing as well if Lizzy granted his request with the express aim of pleasing her.

“If her father has no objections, I do not,” Bennet pronounced.

“As long as you do not pressure her into something she is not yet ready for, I say go to it with my blessing,” Bedford stated as he clapped William on the shoulder. He had always liked William, even when he had been a little high in the instep and Bedford could not imagine a man better suited to his youngest daughter.

“Thank you Bedford and Bennet,” William replied happily.

With a spring in his step, William made his way back to the expanded room with determination. He saw Elizabeth speaking with Belle and Emily. He neared them and waited until there was a lull in their conversation.

“You look like a man who needs to say something,” Belle stated as she looked at William.

“If I may beg your indulgence, may I steal your younger sister away for a few minutes?” William requested.

“That depends on Lizzy, does it not,” Emily smiled.

Elizabeth turned and looked at William one eyebrow arched. “Will you agree to allow me to have a private interview with you?” William asked.

“Hmmm, let me think on this,” Elizabeth teased as she drummed on her chin with a few fingers trying to look like she was deep in thought all the while trying to maintain her equanimity. Was it that William had divined her desire that he declare himself for her? Or was it something else? Whatever it was, there was only one answer she could give him. “Yes, William I will hear what you have to say.”

Bedford and Bennet had arrived unnoticed during the back and forth between the two. “William, you have no more than five minutes and you may use the parlour opposite the main drawing room. The door will remain open, and Biggs will be stationed just outside of the door. In fact, you will find him in position now.”

Seeing Elizabeth’s questioning look, William explained how he had asked her fathers for their permission to address her, dependant on her wanting him to do so. He was pleased to see his estimation of her pleasure that he had asked both Bedford and Bennet had been accurate. William offered Elizabeth his arm and led her out of the room.

Rose and Fanny joined their husbands along with Sed and Andrew returning to their wives. Rose looked at her beloved with an arched eyebrow. He explained what had been requested of him and Bennet. Rose and Fanny were pleased to hear of what was occurring at that moment.

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

William led Elizabeth to a settee along the wall at the point farthest from the open door, where she remained standing. He then paced back and forth a few times. Elizabeth was well aware William liked to think things through before he said something of import. When he did not do that, sometimes he would say something which could be offensive, like he had almost done at the assembly. As such, she sat with her hands in her lap until he had ordered his thoughts

He stopped before her. “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire, love, and respect you,” William stated. “My attraction to you began that night at the assembly and has been growing stronger and stronger since then. I am aware you may not feel the same as I do at this moment, and may never. All I ask for is the chance for you to see if I could be the man you would like to spend the rest of your life with. With that in mind, I am requesting to court you Lady Elizabeth Rose Bennet Rhys-Davies.”

Elizabeth did not respond right away which made William nervous. It was now her turn to process his words.

Not used to silence from Elizabeth, William was worried that she did not welcome his addresses. “If your feelings are not such that you welcome my declaration, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes will remain unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.” He turned back towards the door resigning himself to his dreams being shattered. He froze when he felt her hand on his arm. He slowly turned and looked into her emerald-green eyes and saw them shining with pleasure, not disgust at his words.

“William, I was taken aback by the ardency of your declaration. That was all. I was, in fact, hoping you would pay me your addresses in some form,” Elizabeth stated. The more she spoke the more William relaxed and the happier he felt. “The truth is I have tender feelings for you, and have done for some weeks now, but as yet I am not in love with you as a woman should love the man with whom she will share the rest of her life. I can see myself being in that state at some point, sooner rather than later. Like those in our family, I will not marry without love and respect. I knew you already respect me, and just now you told me that you love me. You have had my respect for some time. It is impossible for me not to respect a man who treats me like an intellectual equal, who does not get missish when he is regularly beaten in a game of chess, a supposed men’s domain, by a woman.

“In my eyes you are one of the best men I know. All of this is a long way of telling you yes. Yes, William, I would love to be courted by you.”

William took each of her hands in his own, well pleased she was no longer wearing the gloves she had worn when she had stood up for Jane in the church. He turned each of her hands over and bestowed a lingering kiss on the pulse of each wrist.

Each time William’s lips touched her bared skin, Elizabeth felt a frisson of pleasure shoot from her wrist and permeate throughout all of her body. She suspected had he not been holding her hands she may not have been able to maintain her balance. As she watched his lips when he raised his head again, she could not help but wonder what it would feel like to be kissed on her lips by him.

As much as he would have wanted to capture her lips, William had enough—barely enough—self-control to refrain from doing so. “We need to speak a little,” William inclined his head towards the settee behind Elizabeth.

She was gratified they were to sit because she was not sure she was yet able to stand on her own at that moment. Elizabeth sat and then after relinquishing her hands, which she immediately felt bereft of his warm touch, William seated himself at the other end of the settee.

“If you agree, I suggest we aim to court until around the end of the year. At that point unless you tell me it is not what you desire, I will propose to you. If you accept me, then we could marry after your next birthday.”

Elizabeth cared not how he knew, but she was more than gratified William was taking her desire to marry after she turned nineteen into account. Based on his words, she was sure he would have been happy to propose much sooner, but he was pushing his own desires to the side in order to make sure hers were accommodated. This was not a man who had a selfish disdain for the feelings of others.

“As long as Father and Papa give their blessing to the courtship, I am happy with the end of the year for us to take the next step, if, as you said, that is what we both desire.”

With the easy agreement, they stood. Thankfully Elizabeth had regained control of her legs, so she was able to stand and walk unassisted.

Both Bedford and Bennet granted their permission and blessing without delay. As word spread throughout the family, there was cause to celebrate all over again. After Mama, Mother, Aunts Elaine, Cilla, Anne, Hattie, and Maddie had hugged her, Grandmama Beth stood before Elizabeth.

“You will do very well together Lizzy,” Beth told her granddaughter after she kissed Lizzy’s cheek. “Your tempers are by no means alike, but you balance one another perfectly. You are each of you such strong people that once you decide who is right, everything will be resolved with alacrity; not a single servant will ever attempt to cheat you; and although very generous, you will never come close to exceeding your income.” Beth paused as she looked at her adopted granddaughter with much love. “I knew how it would be, you could not be such a special girl for no reason.”

With tears of love in her eyes for her grandmother, Elizabeth kissed both of her cheeks and pulled her into a gentle hug.