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“Short, sweet, and to the point,” Lord Thomas said with pride in the former military men that he employed. “When this is over, I will give the three men a month off with double pay, and a bonus of two thousand each. What they have done for us goes far beyond the call of duty.”

“Hear hear,” Lord Reggie seconded. “They deserve that and more, Bennet.”

“As it is my wife that they are protecting, I will make it up to five thousand each,” William stated emphatically.

Seeing that his father-in-law was about to object, he sent he arched his brow in challenge that stayed what Bennet was about to say.

“Lizzy is more valuable to me than all the wealth in the world, so what I am adding to their reward is but a drop in the ocean.”

“They deserve it, Father Bennet, William,” Richard stated. “If our army and navy were made up entirely of men such as these three and the others that have joined them, we would have put Boney away in a year!” he joked; well only half joked.

“It is time, son,” Lord Thomas brought them back to reality.

“Richard, please have the butler instruct the driver to make our vehicles ready, and Andrew when you go see your wife, please ask that Lizzy join me here,” William requested.

A few minutes later his wife joined him in the study.

He had no doubt from her face that she knew why he had asked her to join him.

“The express that arrived was from our men, was it not, William?” she stated, already knowing the answer and he nodded.

“As much as I prepared myself to be ready for your departure, it makes me sad to have to say goodbye to you and be parted for some days although I understand the need.” A sob escaped before she could rein it in, and she buried her head in his muscular chest.

“It is not goodbye, Lizzy,” he said as he kissed the top of her head and drank in her lavender scent.

“It is farewell, and it will be less than a sennight, my love.

As she was about to protest, he added, “I know, it is longer than we would like to be apart, but as you just acknowledged, it is necessary, and we will finally remove the vermin who decided that harming you was their path to riches.” She could hear the righteous anger build in his chest as he spoke.

“I know all of that, William,” she said as she hugged him tighter. “Knowing will not stop me worrying and missing you terribly.”

“Do not forget, my love, there will be three grooms on standby at all times to carry a letter to me, and the same is true from me to you.” he assured her.

“I have horses waiting half-way between the estates so that our riders may ride hard the whole way. When we send each other letters it will be but two hours from sending to receipt. It is not what we prefer, my love,” he said as he bestowed kisses on her cheeks and forehead, “but it will allow us to remain in communication. I promise to write to you at least once every day.”

“As will I, William,” she said with a wan smile. There was one thing to look forward to; she was due to have her courses while her husband was parted from her, and if, as she hoped, none came, she would have some very good news to share with him once they were reunited.

“Are you ready to join the others at the coaches to see the brave men off, Lizzy?” he asked and then kissed her deeply causing waves of pleasure to wash over her, and she nodded, not yet able to speak coherently then led her out toward the entrance.

They walked arm-in-arm to join the rest of the family in the front of the house where two large carriages were waiting. “Jane, you will not overexert yourself, will you, my love?” Richard asked beseechingly.

“As I have answered each time that you have expressed the same worry, Richard, you have my word that I will not. Your son...” Jane smiled sweetly as she looked at her husband.

“Our daughter ,” he interjected.

“Our babe lets me know with a dance on my insides if I do not rest enough, so even if I wanted to, I would feel the effects and they are not very pleasant.” She promised. Richard kissed his wife on the cheek then stepped up into the front conveyance.

“I will very much miss you, Marie,” Andrew said as he bestowed kisses on the insides of each of his wife’s wrists followed by each cheek then joined Richard in the coach.

Both Lords Thomas and Reggie said their goodbyes to their wives and joined the Fitzwilliam brothers.

William hugged his Grace again then kissed both cheeks and the top of her head as he drunk in her scent which he could never get enough of.

“I will see you soon, my love. I promise you that this will end, and we can enjoy the rest of our lives together.” He joined his brothers-in-law on the rear facing bench then knocked on the roof with his cane.

The two carriages lurched as the drivers urged their teams forward.

The outriders were waiting for them just beyond the portico and took up their stations when the conveyances passed it by.

Elizabeth would have stood in front of the house staring at the spot where the coaches disappeared, if James had not gently taken her arm and suggested that she join the remaining party for some tea.

Her heart was heading toward their home, but she acknowledged to herself that walking around being maudlin would not help herself or anyone else.

William would be strong for her, and she would do the same for him.

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

For their first coming out ball, Kitty and Mary would dance with their father, and one of their brothers for their first two sets.

Kitty, informed Lord Mark Creighton, Viscount Chatsworth, that all of her sets were unspoken for, except the first, so he quickly requested the first available set.

He then decided that it would be too forward to request three sets, so he requested the supper set and the final set, both of which she granted without hesitation.

Viscount Chatsworth was surprised; the beguiling Lady Catherine Burnet was the first young lady that he had felt an attraction to.

He thought back to what had first brought her to his notice, it was when they were introduced, he had treated her with the same indifference that he used as a defence mechanism against the huntresses of the Ton.

Instead of caring and trying to earn his good opinion, she had not been subtle in pointing out that his behaviour was unacceptable.

He had not met her older sister, the Duchess of Derbyshire, but he had heard that the lady he admired was similar in wit and intelligence to the duchess.

His friend Wes had informed him that he had explained the truth to Kitty, or Catherine as he preferred to call her, about him being hunted for his fortune, when his cousin had asked.

Wes’ explanation had helped because the open hostility ceased, and they started talking to one another, really talking, and he discovered that she was a highly educated, intelligent, caring, and charitable young woman who also happened to be extremely accomplished.

The more he learnt about her, the more he liked her.

They now spent a good amount of time in each other’s company under the watchful eye of her companion.

When he had asked why footmen were always with her and her sister when out of the house even at Broadhurst, she had explained what had been attempted with her older sister and that the Duke of Hertfordshire would not relax the vigilance until all who wanted to harm his family were neutralised.

He knew that there had been an incident in Hyde Park where a gentleman had been shot, but until Catherine shared the full story with him, he had had no idea of what had actually happened.

This was one of the rare cases in which the reality was worse than the stories.

He fully understood why the Duke put the protocols in place for the protection of his family, and respected him for being proactive.

They had been walking with Wes and Mary in the gardens and both couples had paused to sit on the benches under the oak trees which provided shade against the afternoon sun.

“You intrigue me, Catherine,” Mark said as he looked into the distance. “You and your sister are so unlike the ladies that I am used to finding in Town, of the Ton in general.”

“When you meet my older sisters and brothers, you will see that we are all alike,” she shared. “We judge the character of the person, not the titles or wealth. You know that two of my uncles are in trade, do you not?”

“I do, and it is not something that bothers me in the least,” he answered sincerely. “I too like to see people for who they are, not what they are.” Without knowing it, he had just moved up in the lady’s estimation.

‘I hope , ’ Catherine thought to herself, ‘that he asks to call on me when Papa allows for it. I cannot think of anyone else that I would agree to allow call on me. What my feelings are I am not sure yet, but I do know that they are very warm towards Mark . ’

Catherine would have been very pleased to know that her partner on the bench was mentally calculating how many more months it would be until he could request a courtship with this fascinating woman.

Luckily for both couples, Retta had found an excuse not to join them because she would feel out of place.

She did not desire to feel like the odd woman out.

Lady Priscilla and Lord Cyril were also very much aware that romance was brewing under their roof.

They had spoken to both Wes and Mark and reiterated the restrictions that their brother-in-law had about the timing of declarations for his younger daughters.

They knew that Wes was also aware of his Uncle Thomas’s rules, but they felt that speaking to both young men was fairer than singling out Mark.

Neither young man had any illusions as to where the line was, and for now there would not be anything more than friendship.

As their feelings and interest in one another grew, both Mark & Wes would have to wait for the end of the upcoming season to move beyond friendship publicly.

A little way off from Catherine and Mark, Wes and Mary were sitting in companionable silence.

He understood the rules and would do nothing to contravene them, but he wished that he was allowed to declare himself now.

He knew that it was impossible, but he was also sure that Mary felt as he did.

He felt that he was honour bound to write to Uncle Thomas and confess his feelings for Mary, and to offer his assurances that he understood he would have to wait.

He would never put Mary in an uncomfortable position or break any rules of propriety.

If he could have read Mary’s, his heart would have taken wing.

Lady Mary Bennet was irrevocably in love with her cousin sitting next to her on the bench.

Just like he would not, neither would she push or break any of her father’s rules.

It was under a year until the end of the season in July of the following year, but Mary had a plan.

If she still felt the same about Wes by April, which she believed she would, she would enlist her mother and older sisters to help convince her father that further waiting would accomplish nothing.

Mary had always been the more introverted sister, but her family would have been surprised at the thoughts that were forming in her mind.

She was as sure that he returned her affections and wishes as she could be without any declaration from Wes. She was by no means experienced in love, but she had quietly observed the looks that past between her parents and others in the family.

“Wes,” Mary said softly getting his full attention. “What are your intentions toward me?” she asked blushing at her own forwardness, but her practical nature needed its own understanding.

“I…er…well,” Wes was momentarily tongue tied as she asked the last question that he was expecting at that stage.

He was able to order his thoughts in short order.

“My intentions are completely honourable, if once I am allowed to declare myself you accept me, I will request a courtship and it is my fervent desire that if you grant me that, we will one day be betrothed and then married. Although I am not allowed to ask for anything formal now, I love you Mary and you are the only one I want to walk life’s path with, whether they be easy or hard. ”

Still blushing, Mary felt indescribable joy. “I too love you, Wes,” she said while she glowed with happiness, “It is not if I accept you, but when , all you have to do is ask the question! My father’s wishes will be obeyed, but like you, I cannot imagine a future marriage that is not with you.”

Wes informed her that he had written to Uncle Thomas of his intentions, and Mary could not but be happier that he had taken that step. No matter how much they would have wanted to seal their understanding with a kiss, they both knew that this was neither the time nor the place.