Chapter 37

During the weeks following her ball, Elizabeth attended a flurry of society events which included numerous additional balls—where she danced at least two sets with William and sometimes three—musicals, soirées, and dinners. Regardless of the changes around her, the constants were William and her family.

After the aborted attempted compromise by the now former baron—His Majesty had stripped his title before the dastard left England’s shores—William made sure he was at any event Elizabeth attended and was never far from her person except when she danced with another, and then he watched intently prepared to rush to her side if needs be. Her brothers and male cousins were also always close by, just as ready to protect Elizabeth as William was.

Although Saul and Philip had returned to Cambridge the Monday after Elizabeth’s ball in November, the rest of the Bennets had remained in London. It gave Elizabeth a sense of peace that William, both sets of her parents, and the rest of her family were so protective of her—even if it was stifling at times.

The whole of the extended family, and some close friends, would be hosted at Woburn Abbey for Christmastide. There would be a Twelfth Night ball, but unlike many in the Ton, the ball would have no debauchery or bad behaviour tolerated.

It was the first Monday in December and much to her delight, there were no visitors that morning. Elizabeth was in one of the drawing rooms with her mothers, grandmother, some aunts, various sisters, and Giana. The men were occupied between the library and billiards room.

William had been playing billiards partnered with Richard against Andrew and Jamey, with Sed watching them. At the end of the game in which he, uncharacteristically, played poorly due to his mind being occupied with thoughts of the woman he loved, he excused himself from those in the room and made his way to the library. William stopped at the door when he noticed Elizabeth’s fathers were not alone. His father, his uncle, and Holder were all seated close together and discussing something or other.

Rather than be deterred from his purpose of going to the library, William approached the group of patriarchs. Bennet was the first to look up at William and gave him a wide grin. “I think I have won the wager, gentlemen,” Bennet crowed, “Did I not tell you William would be requesting permission to address Lizzy this week?”

“Hold on Bennet, the boy has not stated his purpose,” Bedford stated hopefully. His prediction had been William would propose once they had decamped London for Woburn Abbey. “What is it, William?”

His ears coloured as he heard the subject of the men’s speculation. Embarrassment would not turn him away from his purpose though. “May I speak to Bedford and Bennet, please,” he requested.

“There is nothing you have to say which cannot be said before all who are here.” Bedford was hopeful having William speak with all the men present would delay the inevitable. Like the others seated with him, he did not enjoy losing.

Taking a deep breath, William reminded himself he needed to speak regardless of who was there. Advancing one more step towards he and Elizabeth never having to part was well worth any possible humiliation. “As I intend to propose to Elizabeth, I desire both Bedford’s and Bennet’s permission to have a private interview with her.” William looked at a point on the far wall so he did not have to see the looks on his father’s and the other men’s faces.

Bennet looked at Bedford in triumph. The amount of the wager was a shilling, inconsequential to both men. He had won and that was all that counted.

“I do not object to you addressing Lizzy,” Bennet responded first, looking rather pleased with himself.

Bedford was aware of how missish and ridiculous it would be to refuse his permission just so he would not lose to Bennet in something other than chess. “You may address Lizzy,” Bedford agreed. “You have ten minutes in my study and both Biggs and Johns will be just outside the door, which will remain partially open.”

Darcy was as happy for his son as William looked on receiving the go ahead to address Lizzy. He and Anne had discussed the subject several times and neither of them could think of a better match for their son than Elizabeth, or for that matter, anyone who suited her more than William did. They were cognisant of the fact William was besotted with Lizzy and every sign they saw told them she was as much in love with him as he was with her. They could not have asked for more in a match for William.

He was too happy to remember how he arrived at the drawing room where the ladies were to be found. For all William remembered how he arrived at the room’s door, he could have been floating on the wings of angels. On entering the room, twelve pairs of eyes looked at him expectantly. Like he had not had privacy in the library, William accepted he would not be alone in order to ask Elizabeth for the private interview. It would have to be done in front of the other ladies.

“Elizabeth, would you consent to speak to me in private in your father’s study, please?” William requested evenly.

She had been hoping for some time now that William would propose, and she could not imagine another purpose for him wanting to speak to her in Father’s study. As such, Elizabeth’s reply was quick and unequivocal. “Yes, William, I will happily hear what you have to say.”

Anne was sitting between Elaine and Rose on a settee. She took a hand of each and squeezed, driven by the delight she felt that William was about to fulfil his dearest wish.

When Elizabeth stood, she kissed both of her mothers, her mother-in-law to be, and Grandmama Beth on their cheeks before she followed William.

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

By the time they reached the study, John Biggs and Brian Johns were standing either side of the door leading into that room. With a ghost of a smile on his lips, Biggs looked at the grandfather clock on the opposite wall to remind the gentleman he had a time limit.

William led Elizabeth to one of the wingback chairs and then pushed the door until about an inch of daylight remained. He returned to where his beloved sat and dropped down onto one knee. He looked into her eyes shining with love for him and took each of her hands in his own. Before he spoke, he gently rotated each of her hands to expose her pulse and bestowed a lingering kiss on the underside of each wrist. He did not miss the way Elizabeth froze, but the emotion he saw shining back at him was pleasure and not that she was upset with him taking such a liberty.

The only other time he had kissed her was the day she had agreed to the courtship. Elizabeth was hoping that on this occasion she would finally taste his lips on her own.

“When I requested our courtship, I thought I knew the depth of my love for you, but I was wrong. My love for you is far deeper now than then. Deeper than anything I have ever imagined, my dearest, loveliest, beloved Elizabeth. I love you with every part of my being, mind, body, and soul. My love for you consumes me, and it will never be any other way.

“When I came to you with the very important question of a courtship, I told you that you entranced me from almost the first moment that I saw you, and my heart was in danger of becoming irrevocably yours. Elizabeth, these months spent courting have proven me correct. To my unending joy you have completely captured my heart. You are the most intelligent, graceful, generous, and charitable woman I have ever known.

“Your character is above reproach. There are few who could have faced the upending of their lives with the poise you have. When others would have bent and broken under the weight of the new expectations they faced, or lamented the unfairness they perceived, you have become stronger.

“It is not the only reason I fell in love with you, but you are the most beautiful woman of my acquaintance. When I look into your magnificent emerald-green eyes, I feel like I can drown in them. Your lavender fragrance intoxicates me, and your very presence overpowers me with a longing to be forever by your side.

“You see before you a man who is without hope unless you consent to become his wife. You are the only one who can complete me. Elizabeth, I love you with every part of me, with every beat of my heart. With every breath that I take, my love and respect for you grows. Death would be preferable to a lifetime spent without you. You are my love and my life. My beloved Elizabeth, will you marry me?”

By the time William had completed his speech, Elizabeth had lost the power to speak. Tears of happiness were streaming down her cheeks.

Tears were not what William had expected or hoped for! He was mortified he had upset her with his proposal. Had he misunderstood her looks and misread that she returned his feelings? The anguish showed on his face.

Elizabeth realised William was misinterpreting her tears. She needed to respond to him. “William, the tears you see are from happiness, not sadness. I love and respect you just as much as you do me. Your words touched me to the core of my being as you expressed the depth of love and feeling you have for me. You, Fitzwilliam Alexander Darcy are the only man I would ever agree to marry. So yes William, thousands of times over, yes. I will absolutely marry you.”

As soon as William understood the reason for her tears, that he had not misinterpreted her feelings, and that she had accepted him, he was quickly back on his feet as his face was split by the biggest smile he was able to manage. He had never relinquished his hold on Elizabeth’s hands, so he drew her up gently until she was standing opposite him. She tilted her head up expectantly, her fine eyes half closed. He slowly lowered his head until their lips touched.

Closing her eyes all of the way, Elizabeth felt the gentle pressure of his lips on hers; she released his hands and grasped the lapels of his jacket. Soon after she felt his hands move to her shoulders, then around her back pressing her body closer to his. The first kiss had been no more than a touching of their lips, and William drew his head back to make sure his fiancée was sanguine with his actions.

With Elizabeth’s acquiescence given by standing on her tiptoes to get closer to his lips, he again captured her tempting lips in a tender, but much deeper, kiss, surprising them both with his boldness. William again pulled back to look at her reaction to his rashness. Her eyes were closed, and she wore a soft smile on her slightly parted lips. She looked even more beautiful than normal, and he could not help kissing her again.

This time he deepened the kiss, nudging her lips apart as their tongues learned the dance of love together. It was euphoric. Never had he felt thus. Warmth spread throughout his body, and he had to force himself to end the kisses before he got carried away, and he lost his gentlemanly control, which was hanging by a very thin and tenuous thread as his heart pounded in his ears. He took a half step back and leaned his forehead against hers as they caught their breaths.

Her heart was racing in a mixture of excitement and fear. Excited about what this could mean and fear of what he may think of her for allowing him to take such liberties with her. Elizabeth felt a little wanton for permitting herself to be kissed in such a way by William, but she could not bring herself to repine. She could not get enough of his lips, but unfortunately William lifted his forehead from her and took a step back.

At her questioning look, William cocked his head, first to the clock on the mantle and then to the almost closed door, reminding Elizabeth of who was just outside in the hallway. She nodded her understanding regardless of how much she wished they were not constrained by time or propriety.

“William, wait here, I will summon Father and Papa so you may speak to them. You do have something to discuss with them, do you not?” Elizabeth arched a challenging eyebrow at her fiancé.

All William could do was nod.

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

As much as either of Elizabeth’s fathers may have desired to have some sport with William, they both gave their approval and blessing without delay. William, with a silly grin of pleasure on his face, followed Bedford and Bennet into the drawing room where the men who had been in the library and billiards room and the younger girls, coming from the music room, had joined the ladies.

Elizabeth had said not a word. However, based on the dreamy, faraway look on her countenance, there was no doubt in the minds of the matriarchs in the drawing room that she was an engaged woman. As such, none of them had pressed her for information.

Bedford indicated for Elizabeth to join him, Bennet, and William. “It is our pleasure and honour to inform you that William proposed to, and was accepted by, our Lizzy. Bennet and I have blessed the engagement.” Anything else the Duke was about to say was lost in the cacophony of wishes for happiness expressed by those in the room.

Once things had calmed down, and glasses of champagne had been drunk, the newly engaged couple chose Monday the sixth day of March, the day after Elizabeth and the twins would all turn nineteen, as the date of the wedding. The marriage would be from Woburn Abbey.

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

Two days later when the announcement of the engagement appeared in the papers, the last few men who had wishful thoughts of attracting Lady Elizabeth away from Fitzwilliam Darcy gave up their futile chases.

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

Woburn Abbey, Sixth of March 1809

Elizabeth sat before the mirror in her bedchamber as her maid put the finishing touches to her coiffure while Jane—her matron of honour—looked on indulgently. The previous night Jane had shared that she had missed two months’ worth of courses and suspected she was with child.

As her maid worked on the elegant style and placed the emerald and diamond tipped pins in her hair, Elizabeth’s mind drifted back over the three months of her engagement with William. A betrothal which would end when the rector named them husband and wife in less than an hour and a half. She could not help but smile when she thought about her wonderful fiancé.

Their love had deepened, if that was even possible, in the last three months. There had hardly been a day which passed which they did not spend at least part of that day in each other’s company. Until William had to return to Rivington to plan the spring planting with his steward in early February, they spent at least a portion of each day in each other’s company. William had even invited her and her family to visit him there for the final two days for which he needed to be present.

In London, with the assistance of the large group of females in the family, Elizabeth had shopped for her trousseau. Like Jane, her shopping had begun at Uncle Edward’s warehouse where, like her older sister, she had discovered a unique fabric she loved for her wedding gown. It was a pure white silk with silver and gold threads running vertically which produced a look which made it hard to tell what the gown’s actual colour was.

She and William, with many chaperones, had taken a day or two to inspect Woburn House. Neither would make changes just to make changes, but the house had not been used in over fifty years, so a complete redecorating and replacement of all the furniture was undertaken. Like the homes of their parents and extended family, the finished result was understated elegance. No gaudy ostentation was employed.

As would be natural, Elizabeth had become much closer with her soon to be parents-in-law. She counted her blessings that where many were lucky if they had a living parent, she had three sets, all of whom she loved dearly. Giana had always been like a younger sister to Elizabeth so the only change was they would become sisters indeed.

“Lizzy…Lizzy,” Jane touched her sister’s arm. Elizabeth blinked as she was snapped out of her reveries. “Where did you go little sister?”

“Please pardon my inattentiveness, Janey. I was lost in thought,” Elizabeth owned.

“It is time. All that remains is for the veil to be brought over your head and placed before your face. When it trails behind you, it looks like a natural part of your gown,” Jane stated as she made sure everything was as it should be.

Elizabeth stood. “Let us join Father, Papa, and those family still here in the entrance hall. I am impatient to join William at the altar.”

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

William had felt like a caged animal at the menagerie, and nothing Richard—who was standing up with him—said calmed him. That was until he saw the one vestibule door open and May Gardiner, who would be nine in August, began her walk up the aisle distributing rose petals from Rosings Park, as she made her way to the head of the aisle.

His excitement grew when Jane entered the nave. As he would expect, Jane’s eyes locked onto Richard’s as soon as she beheld him standing next to William. The rector gave the signal for everyone to rise as soon as the inner door was closed. Both inner vestibule doors opened and with her father on her right and her papa on her left, Elizabeth entered the nave and began her walk up the aisle. William’s heartbeat sped up and his breath was taken away even before the saucy look she shot him.

For her part Elizabeth, after acknowledging the Hills and some Longbourn servants at the back of the church, was mesmerised by her handsome, most loved fiancé. Even still, as she passed them sitting on the end of a pew, she took a moment to acknowledge the Hursts and William Bennet as she made her way towards her destiny. She did not feel her slippered feet on the carpet of the aisle as with Father on one arm and Papa on the other, she approached the point where William was now waiting for her. By then,Elizabeth was too focused on William to notice the adoring looks she was receiving from her mother, mama, grandmother, sisters, and brothers.

After Father kissed her one cheek, and Papa kissed the other, the latter lowered her veil and then together her fathers placed her hand on William’s forearm. While the former two took their places next to their wives, William led Elizabeth up the six marble steps until they halted in front of Woburn Abbey’s vicar.

Everything was a haze for the bride and groom, but they did manage to repeat their vows at the appropriate times. When she signed the register with the family name Bennet Rhys-Davies for the final time, Elizabeth realised with her marriage, her name had changed for the third time in the last six months or so. As most couples tend to do, the newly married Lady Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy spent a few minutes worshiping each other’s lips in the registry before joining the waiting family members in the nave of the church.

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

The wedding breakfast was held in the Abbey’s huge ballroom. After about two hours, Elizabeth, with Jane’s aid, went to change into her travel attire.

She was very much looking forward to their three-to-four-month wedding trip. They would spend their wedding night at Woburn House and then embark on the Rose, her parent’s personal ship, which would be waiting for them on the Thames, and sail with the tide in the morning on the morrow for the Mediterranean Sea where they would visit Morocco and Egypt. Thankfully the Alawi’s who ruled the former were not allied with the Corsican tyrant. The planned journey to the Cape of Good Hope was deferred to a later date thanks to the honeymoon taking precedence.

Once she was dressed, she met William at the base of the grand stairs and he led her outside where their coach stood ready and their family and closest friends waited for them.

As they would not see their family for between three and four months, the farewells were long, and there were not a few tears shed. The most difficult goodbye for Elizabeth was with Grandmama Beth. Although she was still spry, Elizabeth knew with her grandmother’s age being what it was, a quarter year away was a very long time. Understanding Elizabeth’s concerns, Beth assured her she would be one of the first to welcome her home when she returned from her honeymoon.

Eventually all the hugs, kisses, and back slapping were complete. The newly married Darcy’s entered their coach and once the door was closed and Biggs and Johns took up their stations on the rear bench, William struck the ceiling, and the coachman urged his horses forward.

Saul, Philip, and Sed were standing together watching the conveyance as it was driven away along the long drive leading to the gates of the Abbey. Saul looked at Philip, “My brother, and” he looked from Sed to the retreating equipage, “your sister.”

“That is indeed correct, little brother,” Sed averred as he gave Saul a good clap on his back.