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“It is not only your father from whom I want to protect you, but many others who over the years have tried anything they could to be my wife. It will also allow me to protect your sisters, whom I intend to dower. Your birth father could have reneged on his granting of guardianship to your uncles, but he will not be able to do that with me. Besides I intend to offer…” He explained what he would entice Mr Bennet with.

“Knowing him the little I do, I believe that will work,” Elizabeth opined.

“You have never asked about my wealth, but it is vast. I do not say this as a boast, just a statement of fact. I am the second wealthiest non-royal in the realm. My cousin, John Russell, the current Duke of Bedford, is the only duke wealthier than I am. As such, I will add an addendum to my will to make sure you will always have your independence if I am called home years before you, as I suspect I will be.”

“Archy, you know your wealth, even your rank, are not what has attracted me to you. I had an idea you were wealthy, but as I said, I am interested in the man, not your title or wealth.”

“And that, Lizzy, is one of the many things I love about you. A woman who saw me for myself is what I was always seeking.” Hertfordshire paused as he watched a blush of pleasure suffuse her face.

“Until Miss Millar attempted to harm you today, I had tamped down my concerns for your safety, but her actions, and those of the woman who gave you life, brought into stark relief the concerns I tried to minimise.

“You know what marriage entails from a physical perspective from some of the books you have read, do you not?”

Elizabeth blushed scarlet, but allowed it was so.

“I will wait to consummate the marriage for as long as you need, if you agree to be my wife, that is. Only once you tell me you are ready to have me come to you will we move forward with that part of our relationship.”

She nodded her understanding.

“Lizzy, please know that unless I loved you as dearly as I do, I would not offer you my hand as a way to protect you. I am not as gallant as that,” he jested.

“In all seriousness, I hope you know how much I respect, esteem, and love you. I know not what you feel for me at this moment; after all we have only been courting for less than a fortnight, but if you feel that I am someone you can see a future with, there is a question I would like to ask you.”

“I know you are around eight and twenty years older than me, and as such, as much as I do not want to think of it, you will leave me at some point. However, as I cannot imagine my life without you in it, I would rather love you for however much time He grants us than not at all. Until I began to fall in love with you, I knew not what romantic love was, but I know I am deeply in love with you. As you once said, age is only a number, so ask your question, Archy.”

He stood and then sank down onto one knee before her.

Elizabeth was still seated on the settee.

Hertfordshire took one of her delicate hands into each of his own.

“Elizabeth Rose Bennet, you are my match in every way. If I need to, I will repeat that I love you with all that I am.” Elizabeth shook her head as she glowed with anticipation.

“In that case, Lizzy, will you be my wife, my helpmeet, my partner, my duchess? Please say you will marry me.”

“There is only one answer I can give you, Archibald Winston Chamberlain. It is a resounding yes. All I can do is pray that our Father allows us many years—decades—together.”

The Duke stood slowly, as one would expect from a man in his early fifth decade.

He tugged on her hands, and Lizzy stood willingly.

He looked at her and saw permission for him to close the distance between their lips.

As much as he wanted to allow his passion free rein, he gave her three or four chaste kisses and then stepped back.

When he saw the look of disappointment on her countenance, his resolve almost weakened.

“We need to go speak to your aunt and uncle,” the Duke said as he forced himself to stick to his determination that he needed to take this part of their relationship slowly.

Elizabeth bit her tongue. She was about to complain that he had not kissed her more. She schooled her features. “Yes, I dare say we must,” she responded pertly.

Her reaction almost broke Hertfordshire’s resolve.

Instead, he took her hand and led her out of the parlour.

Seeing Biggs in the hallway, he was well pleased they had done no more than a few chaste kisses.

The moment the Duke had assigned the two huge men to guard, Miss Lizzy, as they called her, their loyalty had transferred to her.

“Well?” Mary asked as soon as they entered.

The Gardiners had told the three remaining in the drawing room what the subject of the discussion in the parlour was.

Forgetting her pique at not being kissed enough, Elizabeth’s face became wreathed in smiles. “I am engaged,” she announced even before her fiancé had a chance to speak to her aunt and uncle. She placed her hand over her mouth as she realised what she had done.

“Do not be disconcerted, Lizzy,” Gardiner assured his eldest niece. “All I will ask is, did you make this decision of your own free will?”

“I most certainly did,” Elizabeth assured her uncle.

“You know, it is not from me you need to garner permission, although on behalf of Maddie and myself you have it and our full-throated blessing,” Gardiner granted.

“You look truly happy, Eliza,” Charlotte said as she pulled her friend into a hug.

“Archy and I are made for one another…” Elizabeth went quiet. “If we have a son, Anthony will not be a duke, and you will not be duchess. Are you sanguine with that?” She looked from one to the other.

“Very much so,” Anthony stated. He related that would be true with a daughter too, as well as what he had told his parents about the subject and the wedding present his uncle intended.

“If Mrs Bennet was not being transported, she would have died of envy when you became the mistress of Netherfield Park,” Madeline predicted.

“As it is, she will not be aware of that, as she will be on her way to the other side of the world long before you two marry.” She paused.

“Have you two decided on a date yet?” she asked the newly engaged couple.

“Archy and I will do so after we speak to Mr Bennet,” Elizabeth responded.

“Lizzy, I cannot believe I will be sister to a duchess. You will be a duchess!” Mary exclaimed after she gave her older sister a long hug. “I know you will be very happy, but I will miss you greatly.” Mary said the last with a tinge of sadness.

“There is much to be discussed and decided upon, but first, you two need to get Bennet to agree to your engagement and permit you to marry,” Gardiner reminded them.

“Archy has an excellent plan…” Elizabeth repeated, word for word, thanks to her memory, what Archy had told her. When she was finished, she looked at the Duke who had nothing to add.

“That will work, I am sure of it,” Gardiner opined.

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

Fanny could not understand why Jane had not come to report her success to her yet. Surely everything had gone according to plan. She was sure her plan had been infallible, and that Jane would execute it perfectly. She could not be so beautiful for no reason.

As the hours ticked by, Fanny became more nervous. She was not worried about her daughter, but she was concerned that if Jane was caught, she would tell who had planned what had happened.

She had saved up two quarters’ allowance. If Jane did not report back to her by the morning, she would use her funds to get away for a while—just in case.