Page 28 of The Next Mrs Bennet

R ichard approached his cousin after Mary had shared her news with him. “Becca, you know I never suggested or hinted that Mary should approach you and Bennet to change the date you would permit me to declare myself for her, do you not?” Richard verified.

“Even before Mary assured us of that fact, we knew your honour was too important to you for you to do such a thing. You may rest easy, Rich, that possibility never crossed either my or Thomas’s minds,” Becca assured him.

His cousin’s assurance allowed Richard to fully relax and anticipate what was to come. “In that case, may I address Mary in private?” he requested.

Becca and Bennet were prepared for this very question. “You have ten minutes in the family library. Johns is still stationed there, and as you know, the door will not be closed all the way,” Bennet allowed.

The desire to propose to Mary almost caused Richard to run across the drawing room to her; however, he managed to bring himself under good regulation. “Mary! I have your parents’ permission to conduct a private interview with you. That is, of course, if you agree.”

“Let me think about it.” Mary placed one of her fingers on her chin in a display of contemplating the request. “Of course. Yes, I want to hear what you have to say.”

Her normally dry sense of humour was one of the many things Richard loved about Mary. The two made their way to the family library, which was one floor above. Richard and Mary nodded to the huge footman-guard in the hall and entered the room. Per Bennet’s instructions, Richard left the door open an inch or two.

“Mary, it is no secret we love one another. However, if you require a courtship first, then I will wait for as long as it takes…” Richard ceased speaking when Mary placed one of her delicate fingers on his lips.

“No, Richard, a courtship would be a waste of time. I love you, and I know you love me. We respect one another, so if the other alternative is a proposal, that would be my choice.” She looked into his blue eyes with an intensity which told him she was in earnest.

Richard heard his heartbeat in his ears, much like he did when he rode into battle, except the reason this time was far better than riding towards a kill or be killed choice. How he loved her! Taking each of her hands in one of his own, Richard sank down onto one knee. “Mary Rose Bennet, I am not a man of long and flowery speeches. I have known for a year or two that you are the only woman for me; I love and respect you more than words can describe. Mary, my darling Mary, will you make me the happiest of men and agree to marry me?”

“A succinct proposal deserves an in-kind reply. Richard Redginald Fitzwilliam, there is no other man alive I would ever agree to marry, so yes, yes as many times as you need to hear it. Yes! I will most certainly marry you. I love you, Richard,” Mary responded.

It was the work of only a few seconds for Richard to stand fully upright again. “Mary, I have a ring at Matlock House for you. I would have had it with me had I an inkling today would be the best day in my life…so far. The stone is a ruby from our mine in India, and I am sure it will look perfect on your finger as I had it added to a ring. Andy brought it back with him along with the sapphire he gave Jane.”

“As much as I appreciate it, you know that is not important to me so long as I have you. On that subject, is it not time our lips met?”

No second invitation was needed. Richard placed one of his hands on either side of Mary’s face and slowly lowered his head until their lips touched. It was something they had both desired for so long that it almost felt like an explosion to each of them when their lips came together. Richard had intended a brush of the lips to make sure Mary was well, but she was having none of that. She snaked her arms around his neck and pulled him to her, not allowing him to pull his head back. Her action made sure that their bodies were pressed one against the other, which only increased the pleasure for each of them.

The kisses deepened until they heard the deep bass clearing of a throat just outside of the door. Mr Bennet had conveyed his clear instructions regarding time to Johns. As much as neither wanted to, they pulled back and created a gap between them.

Their timing was perfect because the door was pushed open.

“I think I need to go speak to your parents,” Richard managed once he regulated his breathing.

“Before you do, I promised them we would not marry before March of next year. You are not upset about that, are you? At least we are engaged, and no one will attempt to call on me after my ball.”

“I understand. I will be willing to wait as long as needs be to marry you, so a few months is nothing. Will you accompany me to see Becca and Bennet?”

“Most certainly,” Mary agreed.

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

The newly engaged couple met the Bennet parents in the study. For Becca and Bennet, one look at their daughter and Richard answered any questions they had regarding the outcome of the interview. Even had their lips not been swollen, the besotted looks each was giving the other would have told them all they needed to know.

“Before you ask for our permission and blessings, Thomas and I would like to clarify some things,” Becca began. “Mary told us you are to resign from the Royal Dragoons and sell out; is that accurate?”

“Yes, that is a fact,” Richard replied. “If you are worried about my ability to care for Mary financially, I do have money saved. In addition, as I am a colonel, the average rate for the sale of my commission is around six thousand pounds. Between that and what I have invested with Gardiner, I will have close to thirty thousand pounds. With Gardiner’s average rate of return, we should have between two and three thousand pounds per annum to live on.”

“When do you intend to resign and sell your commission?” Bennet queried.

“On the morrow, first thing I will begin the process. By the time we need to go into Kent, everything should almost be completed,” Richard replied. “There is no shortage of men who want, and can afford, a colonel’s commission.”

“You have not asked about Mary’s dowry. Did Andy not inform you what Jane’s was?” Becca enquired.

“I was always interested in Mary and not her dowry. When the marriage contract is drawn up, whatever it is will remain under Mary’s control,” Richard insisted.

“I am not sure what she will do with all of that money,” Bennet jested. “It is above five and forty thousand pounds.” He was greatly amused at the shocked look on Fitzwilliam’s face.

“That is more than double the amount I expected it to be.” Richard shook his head.

“Thomas and I always knew you were not interested in Mary for her fortune. Had that not already been true, your behaviour this day would have proved that to us. We will leave it up to Mary regarding the disposition of her fortune.” Becca turned to her third daughter. “What say you, Mary?”

“Half will be reserved for our future daughters, and the rest will be used at Richard’s discretion,” Mary decided.

Knowing how stubborn she could be if she chose, Richard did not argue with Mary. It was another of her attributes he loved. She was a strong woman who would not wilt and give up her opinions if a man disagreed with her.

“In that case, you have our permission and blessing,” Bennet stated as Becca nodded her agreement. “I think we have news to share with the rest of the family.”

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

Alerted by a note from their sister, Lady Elaine and Matlock were in the drawing room when the four who had been in the study returned. By the lovestruck look on her son’s countenance, Lady Elaine was sure of the result of the interview even before her nephew made the announcement.

“If there are any here who have not divined the truth, Richard has asked for Mary’s hand in marriage. It will not be a surprise to anyone here that she accepted him, and Becca and I have consented and bestowed our blessings,” Bennet declared.

While Mary and Richard were surrounded by their family members, all vying for their turn to bestow congratulations on the engaged couple, Lady Elaine opened her reticule and extracted a burgundy velvet pouch from within. As soon as she caught Richard’s eye, she held up the pouch for him to see.

Once the younger relatives had had their say, Richard led Mary over to her three grandparents. Each bestowed her or his wishes for happiness. The engaged couple then presented themselves to Richard’s parents. While Matlock hugged his daughter-to-be, Lady Elaine slipped the pouch into her son’s hand. Then she hugged him, expressing her approbation freely.

“I am so happy, Aunt Elaine,” Mary gushed when she stood in front of her future mother-in-law.

“As are we all,” Lady Elaine responded. “But Mary, I would ask that you call me Mother from now on, and Uncle Reggie, Father. Although I thought the time would be after Twelfth Night, I am not at all surprised that Richard proposed to you or that you accepted him.”

“As to the timing…” Mary told of her conversation with her parents and the results of said meeting.

“You knew what you wanted and did not want to wait any longer.” Lady Elaine smiled. “I, least of all, would fault you for that. Richard told us about his decision to resign from the army and sell out. Although he did not know of your intention to speak to my niece and nephew, I have you to thank for his decision to do so. You know not what a weight it lifts from my shoulders that my son will not go into battle again.”

Mother and future daughter hugged again, a much longer duration than before. “Before we left the study with Mama and Papa, we selected the sixth day of March next year for our wedding,” Mary revealed when they pulled back from one another.

Mary and Richard exchanged places; he had been receiving congratulations from his sire. After a long hug from his mother, Richard looked across at Liam. “When did you and Father arrive?” he asked.

“Only a few minutes before my nephew announced the engagement,” Lady Elaine replied.

“Then you and Father are not aware,” Richard realised.

“Of what, Son?” Matlock enquired.

“Lizzy and Liam are courting officially. I think he asked her while we were riding in Hyde Park,” Richard related.

“Lizzy, Liam, do you two have something to tell us?” Lady Elaine queried. “It seems we are celebrating two couples’ good fortune today. Lizzy dear, why did you say nothing when I greeted you after I arrived?”

Richard took the time while the attention was on Lizzy and Liam to pull Mary aside and slip the ring onto her finger. It fit her perfectly. The loving look she bestowed on him was all the thanks he needed.

“Liam and I decided that we would tell you if no one else did, once we had all toasted Mary and Richard adequately,” Elizabeth explained.

“At long last!” Matlock exclaimed as he clapped his nephew on the back. “Not long after you two met in Hertfordshire, it was obvious you were formed for one another. I am certain that Anne and Darcy are smiling down on you from heaven. They would have heartily approved of Lizzy as a future wife for you.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” Darcy agreed, his voice thick with emotion as it got when speaking of his late parents. He walked back to where Elizabeth was seated.

Becca watched her second and third daughters from across the room where she was seated next to their two grandmothers. “How can one family be so very blessed as we have been?” she wondered aloud.

“Good things come to good people,” Beth mused. “I am only sorry my Henry did not live to see what a wonderful wife and family Thomas has.”

“I will have a second nephew as a grandson. When Liam and Lizzy become engaged, which in my mind is inevitable, he will make the third who will be both to me,” Lady Anna stated. “And Becca, dear, Beth has the right of it. Genuine goodness is rewarded.” She looked at her eldest daughter. “When you and Thomas relented and permitted Mary and Rich to become engaged now, did you tell them no wedding before March?”

“No, Mama, that was Mary’s decision, and Rich agreed with her,” Becca returned. “Thomas will have the announcements delivered to the various papers so they will appear on the morrow or the next day at the latest. Mary wanted to be sure no one doubted that she is not available before the night of her ball.”

“Is Mary more sanguine with practising for her presentation than Lizzy was?” Lady Anna questioned. “I remember being concerned Lizzy would make a comment about the hooped monstrosity , as she put it, to Her Majesty on the day of her presentation. Thankfully Lizzy curbed her desire to do so.”

Beth and Becca smiled as they remembered how bitterly Lizzy had complained but then had acquitted herself with aplomb.

“Mary does not love the dress, an opinion which she has in common with almost every debutante, but she is far less vocal about her opinions than Lizzy was. But then again, Mary has always been more circumspect,” Becca mused.

“Your brother, sister, and their families must know of the joy from this day, and not just by a note. To that end, I shall be inviting Marie and Will, as well as Connie and Harry, to a celebratory family dinner tonight,” Lady Anna decided. She looked around the room. “Thankfully most of their children are already present.”

Darcy was not envious of Richard as he watched his cousin and his fiancée speaking to Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie. Even though he would have loved to have been engaged to Elizabeth already, given that he had only met the woman he loved mere weeks ago, and Richard had known Mary all of her life, it was as it should be that he was in a courtship and his cousin was engaged. Besides, had Elizabeth not said that she would soon be ready to hear a proposal from him? As pleased as Darcy was with being in an official courtship with Elizabeth, the prospect of an engagement in the not too far distant future thrilled him.

What his uncle had said about his late parents’ approbation of his match with Elizabeth had greatly warmed his heart. If only they had been alive to meet her and to see what a good young woman Giana was becoming.

How much of his happiness did he not owe to Richard? It was Richard who took him to task and made him re-evaluate his character. Had he been full of improper pride when he met Elizabeth in Meryton, he might have been blind to her resemblance to his aunt, or dismissive of her based on inaccurate assumptions. Worse, he would have uttered those vile words he was about to say. The way Richard shook his world that day had led directly to his current happiness. In the end, even in the potential darkness of Ramsgate, there had been light.

Now they just had to get past bearding the dragon in her lair, and then he would spend the next few months in Elizabeth’s company.

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

When the announcement of the engagement of Miss Mary Bennet to the Honourable Colonel Fitzwilliam appeared in the Times of London in the Friday morning edition, there were many unhappy men who had planned to secure her notice, and sets at her ball, as a prelude to calling on her afterwards.

The rumours had her dowry from the mid-twenty thousand pounds to above thirty. Several of the men who had hoped to attract Miss Mary Bennet’s attention needed such a cash infusion into their estates to make up for unwise investments which had gone bad or losses at the tables. Anyone who was desperate enough to effect a compromise thought of other matrimonial targets as soon as the huge guards came to mind.

Debutantes and their mothers were not worried by the news. The Colonel was the son of the Earl and Countess of Matlock, but he had no wealth or property of his own. What did bother them was an entry in the society pages which told of a courtship between Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. Although not titled, his wealth and estates made him a prime matrimonial target. If only the Bennets were not so well connected; but they were.

By Monday morning, the same day that the three Fitzwilliams and a Darcy were departing London for Rosings Park, the London papers with the engagement announcement in the social section, which also mentioned the courtship, reached Scarborough.

Bingley had been busy selling off all of his holdings so he would be able to leave England for the New World. Just like the Duke had predicted, word of the actions he and Caroline had attempted had reached this far north. He had been going back and forth about whether or not to have Caroline join him and had not reached a final decision yet.

He had been out making the final arrangements to sell his stake in his late father’s business when he entered the house to discover his sister unleashing a full-blown tantrum. When he walked into the drawing room of the house he had leased on a short-term basis, the papers from Town were shredded and strewn all around the room.

Once his sister calmed down enough that she was able to speak somewhat coherently, he learnt about Miss Mary’s engagement and Miss Elizabeth, Miss Bennet’s now, courtship with his former friend. Of course, Caroline blamed them for the ruin she had brought on her own head.

It was the last straw for Bingley. His younger sister had not the capacity to change. His decision was made.

The next day he visited a solicitor in the town to make arrangements for the remains of her dowry to be released to her. If he were to make a fresh start in the Americas, it would be without the millstone, which was his younger sister, around his neck.