Page 33 of Aunt Felicity

O n arriving back at Longbourn, Bennet added his permission and blessing to that of his brother-in-law’s for the courtship between Elizabeth and William. Anna squealed with delight as she threw herself first into Elizabeth’s and then William’s arms to wish them both happy, proving the truth of what Bethie had said in Town about her cousin’s desire to have more sisters.

During the time they had been in London, Felicity made some inquiries and found a school that focused on art and had a place for Kitty. Thus, on the return to Longbourn, when her aunt shared the news, Kitty was well pleased. She would begin with the term which commenced after Twelfth Night.

As his happy second-to-youngest daughter left the drawing room with Anna and Bethie, Bennet entered. “I have received a letter from the headmistress of Lydia’s school,” he informed those in the drawing room.

“Oh, how I long to hear from my dear girl,” Fanny lamented. “She has not written a letter to me yet. It was very cruel to send her all the way to Durham.”

“Would you have preferred that she ruin herself, her sisters, and the Bennet name instead?” Felicity asked pointedly. “Surely you have not forgotten that based on her forward and flirtatious behaviour the men in the militia thought her a lightskirt who would surrender her virtue easily.”

Fanny looked away. She remembered the day all too clearly when she had been told what the officers thought of Lydia and what she would be willing to do. She had not wanted to believe that of her darling baby, but Mr Bennet had spoken to some of the officers in person, and he had confirmed what she had been told. She had pushed that day out of her mind, but it seemed her sister-in-law had not. Rather than reply, Fanny sniffed and looked away.

“If I may, I will tell you what the woman wrote,” Bennet cleared his throat. “Lydia has attempted to escape twice. The first time they allowed her to walk five miles and collected her when she gave up. She had evidently discounted what she had been told—the nearest civilisation was fifteen miles distant. The second time she promised one of the men who guard the school to allow him to do anything he chose to with her if he helped her and got her to the nearest town.

“As he should have, the man reported this incident to the headmistress immediately. Lydia is under very serious restrictions now. Her punishments include working as a scullery maid when she is not in class and the wearing of dresses made of sackcloth.”

“My poor baby…” Fanny began, but stopped when she saw the looks of censure from everyone seated in the room. She replayed her husband’s words in her mind, and that was when she truly heard what Lydia had been willing to give the man in exchange for assistance with her escape. Suddenly it hit Fanny that Lydia was exactly where she needed to be. Furthermore, she had done her daughter no favours in the way she had told her what she needed to do to catch a man as soon as may be. She stood as some tears rolled down her cheeks. “I will retire to my chamber to rest.” Fanny spoke to no one in particular and fled the drawing room.

Seeing that her brother was considering following his wife, Felicity shook her head. “Let her rest. I will go see her in a while if she has not returned downstairs soon. We have things to plan for Jane’s wedding,” she suggested. She was not happy Thomas had not called his wife to the study and broken the news to her gently and in private. He still had a tendency to publicly make sport of her. Some things would take longer than others to change.

Bennet took his sister’s advice and returned to his study without seeking out Fanny to see what other reactions he could evoke. At least he was able to admit to himself that hoping to discompose his wife was badly done.

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

Due to the fact that Bingley cancelled the ball he had hoped to give before Caroline’s insanity had been exposed, with his older sister’s help, a ball was planned for two days before the wedding to his angel.

William, who normally disdained such activities, was looking forward to it. He had secured three dances with Elizabeth. She had granted him the first, supper, and final sets. He felt that she was ready to hear his proposals, but with all of their earlier misunderstandings, the last thing he wanted to do was to rush her before she was willing to hear them.

Weather permitting, William would ride Zeus onto Longbourn’s lands and find his beloved Elizabeth on one of her walks. There had been intermittent rain for the past week, so he had not had the opportunity to meet her on one of her rambles. This day, the one of the ball, the weather was cooperating. It was dry and as warm as a late December day could be. He rode out, but as he expected, he had not seen Elizabeth. He was sure she was preparing for the ball.

After his ride, once he had washed and changed, William made his way down to the breakfast parlour. Most of the residents of Netherfield Park were present when he entered. His father and Richard were being hosted at Bingley’s leased estate to to relieve the pressure at Longbourn with the preparations for the wedding. Andrew and Marie had decided that their youngest, having attained six months of age, could travel with them and they had arrived with both their children at the beginning of the week.

Also present were the Gardinersand their four children, out of respect for Mrs Bennet’s nerves. It proved to be a good choice. Bethie and Anna remained at Longbourn with Aunt Felicity and Uncle Reggie.

As William was making a plate, Bingley and the Hursts arrived in the breakfast parlour, rounding out the party of those residing at Netherfield Park. Like himself, both Richard and Bingley had reserved the three important sets with their respective fiancées. William envied them both, but he hoped it would not be too much longer before he and Elizabeth would join them in that state. All three men would have liked to dance additional sets with his chosen lady, but Aunt Felicity had pointed out that it was not done.

Thinking of Richard reminded him that he and his betrothed had selected the fifteenth day of January 1812 to marry. Richard had told them that Sir William had not been able to bestow his blessing fast enough when he had called at Lucas Lodge the day they had returned from London. Something else that made William smile was the way Williams, Richard’s valet who used to be his batman, fussed over his master like a mother hen. William’s valet Carstens had trained the former corporal to the point that he was able to do a creditable job in his new role.

With his plate filled, William took a seat between his father and Richard. He did not hear the conversation swirling around his head because he was deep in thought about his Elizabeth. He was absolutely sure of his feelings, but was she ready for an engagement? He could not arrive at a conclusion and hoped clarity would come soon.

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

Anna and Kitty were vastly pleased they were allowed to attend the ball as long as they only danced with family, or in the Lucases case, soon-to-be family. Anyone else who wanted to dance with them had to receive permission from their respective fathers.

With seven ladies travelling to Netherfield Park from Longbourn, it was a blessing that they that they could divide the men betweenthe Bennet carriage and the large Matlock coach. Jane and Elizabeth rode in the former with their parents, while the other three young ladies rode with Aunt Felicity and Uncle Reggie in the latter conveyance.

As they were approaching the point where the coachmen would halt, Elizabeth who was sitting on that side of the carriage saw Richard guiding Charlotte up the stone steps towards the front doors, from which light was pouring, as it was from every window facing the drive.

She did not have time to be envious of Richard’s gallantry because the door was opened. Papa alighted and assisted Mama out. Their father did the honours for Jane as her Charles was in the receiving line welcoming one and all. To her delight, William stepped forward and reached into the interior for her. Elizabeth felt a thrill throughout the whole of her body when she laid her gloved hand on his.

William led Elizabeth up the stairs and into the entrance hall, where Mr Nichols and a cadre of his footmen were ready to relieve the arriving guests of their outerwear. Elizabeth was wearing a light purple ball gown, which made her shining emerald-green eyes stand out even more. Her raven tresses were swept up and piled on her head with some of her curls hanging down on the sides and the back of her neck.

For a few moments, William could not breathe; Elizabeth was breath-taking. He suspected she was wearing one of the new gowns Aunt Felicity had insisted on purchasing for her in London, as she had done for Jane and Mary. He remembered how she had protested that it was far too much, and their aunt had waved her concerns away, telling her she had many years of presents to make up for missing events in her nieces’ lives. She looked at him with an arched eyebrow as he stared at her beauty.

“Am I handsome enough to tempt you tonight, William?” Elizabeth asked saucily.

He swallowed hard as he fought to recover the power of speech. “You are by far the handsomest woman here, Elizabeth. I feel the privilege of courting you, and us dancing the three principal sets, most keenly,” William managed once he could trust himself to speak coherently again.

Elizabeth smiled widely at the man she had realised she loved and was in love with as he offered her his arm to lead her to the receiving line. Knowing that he had reserved dances with her three sisters, his own sister, Bethie, Charlotte, and Louisa Hurst already, removed any chance of her teasing him about stalking around the edges of the ballroom between their dances.

Once through the receiving line, Elizabeth joined her sisters and made their way up to the nursery to greet their Gardiner cousins. The previous day, when the four were at Longbourn, Lilly and May had extracted a promise from their older cousins to come show them their gowns before the ball.

After fulfilling their promise to their cousins, the four Bennet sisters descended the stairs where William was waiting for Elizabeth. Bingley would have preferred to be with his fiancée, but he was still performing his duties as the host. Mary was flabbergasted when none other than the Marquess of Birchington was waiting for her.

“I know Darcy and Bingley from Cambridge. In London, Bingers invited me, and I decided to keep it a secret. Miss Mary, may I open the ball with you?” Lord Sed requested. Mary was speechless, so she simply nodded. “And if it is not too much trouble, may I put my name down for the supper or final set, whichever is open?”

“My Lord, are you sure you want to dance two sets with me here among the people who know me best? You know what people will say, do you not?” Mary verified when she found her voice.

“They will say I am a very lucky man, and that is nothing, which is not true. If they are both open, I prefer the supper set so that we may sit and talk during the meal,” Lord Sed assured her.

“In that case, the supper set is yours,” Mary granted as she blushed with pleasure.

As soon as his duties were complete, Bingley was at Jane’s side. Mrs Hurst called the first dance of the ball, and as the musicians played a few bars, the line formed.

“Felicity, who is that man dancing with Mary?” Fanny asked as she watched the handsome, finely dressed young man lead her middle daughter to the line.

“I will tell you, but first you must vow not to make any loud exclamations or comments,” Felicity responded. When Fanny promised, Felicity said, “That is Lord Sed Rhys-Davies, the Marquess of Birchington and only son and heir of the Duke of Bedford.”

To honour her promise Fanny had to clap her hands over her mouth. When she calmed herself, she turned to Felicity. “Oh my! My Mary! I will be driven to distraction.” What she did not say to her sister-in-law was that Jane, with her beauty, should have captured the Marquess, not just the son of a tradesman. For once in her life, Fanny did not express that sentiment aloud.

“As long as you do so silently,” Felicity reminded her. “He will not be impressed by any interference on your part. Just let things happen as they will.” After Fanny gave a tight nod of understanding, Felicity looked at the dancers and was very gratified to see Richard dancing with his Charlotte. Next, William and Lizzy came into her field of vision. There was no missing the way Lizzy was looking at William. The girl was in love with him. The only question was how long it would take him to see that and propose to her niece.

They had been dancing for about five minutes, just enjoying each other’s company without speaking. The next time they came back together, Elizabeth arched her eyebrow. “Come William, we must have some conversation; very little will do. It would not do for those observing us to think we have nothing to say to one another,” Elizabeth stated before the dance separated them.

“Do you talk as a rule when you dance?” William jested when they came back together. “I am yours to command, Elizabeth. Tell me what you want me to say, and it will be said.”

“It is not what I want you to say , but what I desire more than anything for you to ask me,” Elizabeth replied. She had not meant to be so forward; it had just come out. It was too late to take it back now. All she could do was hope that William understood what question she was referring to.

He knew exactly what she meant, because he took her hand, and in the middle of the dance, led Elizabeth towards the library.

Bennet saw them leave the dance floor and was about to follow when he felt a hand on his arm. “Thomas, give them a few minutes. I suspect William will need to speak to you as soon as he and Lizzy come to an understanding,” Felicity said next to her brother’s ear. She nodded to Biggs, who was standing near one door, and inclined her head towards her niece and nephew. The big man nodded and followed them.

He was not pleased he was about to lose a second, and with what he saw between Mary and the Marquess, possibly a third daughter. Bennet admitted that it was a selfish feeling, so he would not stand in the way of his daughters’ happiness.

Thanks to the library’s windows facing the drive, there were candles alight within when William led Elizabeth into the room. Just after they entered, one of Aunt Felicity’s huge footmen stuck his head in and growled, “No more than ten minutes.” Before he withdrew and pulled the door partially closed.

The couple looked at one another and had to stifle their amusement. Neither were surprised their aunt had seen to the proprieties. They were standing in the centre of the library. William looked deeply into the eyes he loved so much. “You are too generous to trifle with me, so rather than assume, I must ask, were you telling me you are ready to hear a proposal of marriage from me?”

Her answer was a wide smile and vigorously nodding head. Taking one of her hands into each of his, William sank down onto one knee. “Elizabeth Rose Bennet, rather than a long flowery speech, allow me to tell you how ardently I love, respect, and admire you. Will you make me the happiest of men and agree to accept my hand in marriage?”

“As you, William Alexander Darcy, are the only man in the world I would agree to marry, and I love you with my whole heart, yes, yes, William, I will marry you. Like you respect me, I do you as well,” Elizabeth replied with tears of joy in her eyes.

When William looked at his fiancée, he saw permission to kiss her. More than that, she desired his lips on hers, so he did the only thing he could and obeyed his beloved’s wishes. As he lowered his head, she angled hers towards him and she closed her eyes in anticipation. Their lips met for that first time, and shockwaves were sent through the bodies of both. They pulled back at the intense feeling, but before he could think, Elizabeth snaked her arms around his neck and pulled his head back to hers.

The kisses were deep and insistent. When Elizabeth felt his tongue run across her lips, she opened her mouth instinctively, and soon hers was duelling with his. The proposal had not used much of the allotted time, but they lost track of it in their burning, and very mutual, passion. When they heard the enormous man clear his throat and knock on the door, they jumped back from one another all the while craving to be in one another’s arms again.

“I think I need to speak to your father,” William said as Biggs opened the door. When the big man saw they were separated, he left the door open and took up his station again in the hallway. “Before I do, if Richard and Charlotte agree, would you be willing to have a double wedding?”

“If my cousin and his fiancée agree, then yes, I am more than willing. I would prefer not to wait too long before you are my husband. Besides, it is almost four weeks, so our parents should not object,” Elizabeth agreed. “I will send my papa to you.”

After a quick peck on his cheek, Elizabeth left the library in search of her father. Not too many minutes later, Bennet entered. He did not delay in giving his permission and blessing. He also agreed they would be allowed to marry in four weeks if the other couple were sanguine with that.

With Bingley’s permission, and in fact encouragement, Bennet stood at supper and announced the engagement of his second daughter to William Darcy. Congratulations and wishes for felicity flowed freely.

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

Even though she privately thought with her beauty and connections, Jane should have been marrying a marquess, or at the very least some sort of lord, Fanny Bennet was happy as she sat and witnessed her eldest and Charles Bingley say their vows one to the other.

To accommodate the crowd who attended, the wedding breakfast was held at Netherfield Park. Fanny accepted congratulations for a daughter well married from the ladies of the neighbourhood, including Lady Lucas. Yes, her daughter was marrying the son of an earl, a second son, but at the same ceremony, her second daughter would marry the heir to the largest estate in Derbyshire, and the untold wealth of the Darcys. In addition, it seemed Mary had caught a man who would be a duke one day, so Sarah Lucas had nothing on Fanny Bennet.

Felicity had no doubt her niece would have a felicitous marriage, especially as the young man who Richard used to call a puppy was all grown up and had become his own man.

She smiled as she thought of the upcoming double wedding. As had been predicted, Richard and Charlotte had no objection to William and Lizzy marrying in the same ceremony as them. Felicity lifted her eyes to the heavens. ‘ I miss you, Anne, my friend and sister. I am sure you are as happy as Robert is with William’s choice. You must be delighted to see what a wonderful young lady your daughter is ,’ Felicity told her best friend silently.

In less than four weeks she would have the pleasure of watching Richard unite with the lady he loved.