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T he engagement ball had been as enjoyable as Elizabeth had thought it would be.

She had danced three sets with her beloved Archy, the final set being the scandalous waltz.

When some of the more traditional people present had remarked that it was not done to dance such a dance, it had not moved him.

For the most part, it had been younger couples, but the Russells, Darcys, Fitzwilliam parents, Barringtons, and Portnoys had all joined the set as well.

Seeing two dukes and at least one earl partaking had stymied any further vocal opposition.

Time had flown by in the days since the ball, which had been on Friday past. Now here she was, the night before her wedding, and Aunt Maddie had just left Elizabeth’s bedchamber after giving her ‘the talk’ to prepare her for her wedding night.

Aunt Maddie had stilled any residual anxiety Elizabeth had felt.

From books she had read and the times she had been on working estates like Rambler’s Run, Purvis Lodge, and Longbourn, Elizabeth had an idea of the mechanics of the act, but she had quickly discovered there was so much more to know—things that no book she had read taught her.

She had heard of a book written in Sanskrit—a language she could read—the Kama Sutra —which was rather explicit on the subject of relations between a man and woman, but she had never seen the text.

Mayhap it was one of the books Archy kept in the vault.

Once she was married, it was a subject she could canvas with him.

Archy had promised her that he would wait to consummate the marriage for as long as Elizabeth needed until she was comfortable.

Even before Aunt Maddie’s talk, which had only increased her anticipation of the marriage bed, Elizabeth had decided that she had no desire to wait to become Archy’s wife in all ways.

She had not told him yet, but she would as soon as their coach departed for Hertfordshire House.

She smiled when she thought of the upcoming wedding night, after which she would no longer be a maiden, and of the honeymoon.

In passing she had mentioned how she longed to see the sea.

Archy had spoken about how he was going to buy a house that overlooked the sea, and Aunt Anne had heard him.

She and Uncle Robert had offered the use of Seaview House, a property on a bluff of the South Downs near Brighton, that, according to the Darcys, had magnificent views of the English Channel.

They would be in London for two days and depart for Seaview House on the third day after the wedding.

When Elizabeth thought of the advantages of her upcoming marriage, none of them had to do with rank or wealth. She was marrying the best of men, one who loved and respected her as much as she did him. She was the most important person in the world to him, and he was that to her.

There was a soft knock on the door from the shared sitting room. It could only be Mary. “Come in, Mary,” Elizabeth sang.

Mary opened the door slowly, looking around carefully to make sure she was not disturbing her aunt. Once she was sure Lizzy was alone, she stepped into the bedchamber and pushed the door closed. “You are not too tired to speak, are you?” Mary verified.

“For my closest sister and best friend in the world, I will never be too tired or otherwise engaged.” Elizabeth patted the bed next to where she was seated on the counterpane.

“Well, I suppose if I am in a private meeting with my husband…” She blushed, as did Mary, even though the latter was not quite sure about what embarrassed them.

“I was thinking about where to live once you and Archy come back from your wedding trip,” Mary revealed.

“Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward saved us and have been so good to us. Even though they stated they would be sanguine with my choosing to live with you, I am not sure they are just saying what they think I wish to hear. What think you?”

“Mary, we could never pay them back, even if we had five lifetimes, for what they did and still do for us, just like Aunt Hattie and Uncle Frank have done for Cathy and Lydia. That being said, they would never say something they do not mean. Do not forget that they have three children of their own…” Elizabeth saw Mary was about to protest the way she had said the last. “I do not mean that now they have children; we are expendable. Never in a millennium would I think that, never mind say it. As you well know, we were never treated with less love and kindness after Lilly, and then Eddy, and finally May was born. All I was attempting to say is that they will not be left with an empty house.”

Understanding what Lizzy had meant, Mary relaxed. “In that case, I will live with you. I cannot imagine not seeing you most days,” she decided.

Elizabeth hugged Mary to her. “I did not want to influence your decision, but I am more than pleased by the choice. After the morrow, Archy and I will be gone for six weeks. The time will pass in the snap of your fingers, and then I will see you at Falconwood.”

“I will miss you, Lizzy. I know this will sound selfish, but it will be the longest we have been parted in our lives.”

“It is not selfish, Mary. Those are the vagaries of life, always changing.”

“After tomorrow, do not expect me to call you ‘Her Grace;’ you will still be Lizzy to me.” Mary had an impish smile on her face. “It is hard to believe I will be the sister of a duke and duchess on the morrow. Even better, we are gaining a rather large family.”

“Through Marjorie Portnoy we will be distantly related to the Darcys, which means that awful William as well. Yes, I forgave him, but it does not follow that I have forgotten his actions.” Elizabeth paused. “In fairness, he is paying a heavy price for his improper pride.”

“Almost as high as Jane Millar. Speaking of our half-sister, the reports from Ireland are very positive.” Mary cogitated. “Let us pray they are permanent changes.

“That is why Archy wants Jane to be in service for a reasonable amount of time. He wants every last vestige of the late Mrs Bennet’s influence washed away.

But yes, things look hopeful now. That reminds me, Archy mentioned that he will receive the first report from Glen Morgan Heights when William Darcy arrives.

Only time will tell if it helps or makes things worse with regards to him. ”

“You two could become friends if he truly amends his character,” Mary predicted.

Elizabeth did not reply.

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

Although de Bourgh House on Berkeley Square had not been used for well over a decade, while she made her plans which would lead to her being a duchess, Lady Catherine had sent a note to the housekeeper and butler instructing them to open the house.

Now, the evening before the abomination of the wedding was to take place, the one she would stop in the morning, the de Bourgh chaise and four was being pulled to a halt outside of de Bourgh House.

Lady Catherine looked out of the window, and rather than the housekeeper and butler waiting to welcome their mistress, there was no one to be seen, and the house looked like no one had maintained it in the longest time.

“Go see where everyone is,” Lady Catherine ordered one of the footmen who had ridden on the back bench.

The man returned and reported that the house inside had been stripped bare; other than filth, no one was present. When ordered to go and make sure and take the other footman with him, he did so, and both men returned and repeated the same thing the first one had reported.

Lady Catherine could not fathom what had occurred. It slipped her mind that she had not paid wages or provided money for the upkeep of the house in almost a decade.

The next stop was Matlock House; she was sure Reggie would be home to attend the travesty of a wedding. She was turned away, as no one was home. No matter how many times she asked if the butler knew who she was, he would not be moved.

The same scene played out at Darcy House. It was most vexing indeed that neither butler at her family’s houses would grant her demands to know where her family members were.

She had no choice; she would have to spend some of her coin to take rooms at Grenier’s Hotel in Jermyn Street. It was one night; on the morrow, she would be a duchess, and her soon-to-be husband would repay her for the funds she would have to expend.

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

Lady Catherine de Bourgh was already in a bad mood thanks to her ruined house on Berkeley Square and being turned away from both her brother’s and sister’s houses.

The fact that de Bourgh house would be her daughter’s property when she turned five and twenty was unimportant to the matron.

Hence, as she sat in her coach outside of St Paul’s at the time weddings were normally solemnised, and she did not see anyone she knew was connected to the Duke of Hertfordshire arrive, she lost the little restraint she had been exercising.

She alighted from her coach, and with the metal tip of her walking stick striking the cobblestones, she marched towards the main entrance of the church. She was determined to discover why she had not seen those she had expected to see.

Lady Catherine pushed one of the inner vestibule doors open with enough force that it slammed against the stop on the wall, which echoed throughout the large nave.

There was a wedding being conducted. The clergyman ceased speaking, and he and the rest of those present all turned to stare at the woman who dared to interrupt the wedding ceremony.

The carpet covering the aisle she stalked up did not dull the sounds of her walking stick striking the stones beneath.

Lady Catherine stopped when she judged she was close enough to the altar.

“Why are the Duke of Hertfordshire and the chit who tricked him into marrying him not here?” she demanded stridently.