Page 68 of The Next Mrs Bennet

A s the clock in the hall struck eleven, Hertfordshire House’s butler answered the front door, and like the Duchess had told him to expect, the younger Mr. Darcy was the one waiting to enter the house.

“I believe Her Grace is expecting me,” William stated as the butler took his hat and gloves.

“She is Mr. Darcy, however before announcing you to the mistress, her guardians would like to meet with you in the study,” the butler informed the guest.

On her return from the park, Elizabeth had informed her Uncle Frank of what had transpired and the fact she had agreed to a private interview with William Darcy. Philips sent a note to Gardiner, who had arrived a half hour before William’s visit.

William had been somewhat nervous at having to see her guardians prior to his interview. Afterwards, he had fully expected to approach them. When he entered the study and took note of the fact both men looked like they always did and he could detect no anger in them, William relaxed.

“We would not be doing our duty as Lizzy’s guardians if we did not speak with you prior to your seeing her,” Gardiner began. “Let me preface this by telling you we are not here to question your honour and nor do we believe, even for the smallest measure of time, your interest in Lizzy is sparked by her vast, and for a lady, unprecedented wealth.”

At Gardiner’s words, with Philips nodding his agreement, any tension William felt was banished.

“The reason we wanted to speak to you is to tell you we will not approve an engagement today…” Philips took over.

All of his tension returned. Did the two men before him think he was not good enough for their niece? Thankfully William said nothing.

“…what we want is for you to request only a courtship,” Philips completed.

“We think ultimately you and Lizzy will be the ideal pairing, but you know her history and the way she was forced to marry that…sorry excuse for a man!” It was a statement not a question. Gardiner was aware William knew all regarding Lizzy’s relationship and reason for marrying the man who had been below contempt. “From what our niece has related to us, you and she met only a few days prior to Easter, is that accurate?”

“It is,” William acknowledged.

“That is the reason for our request. We would like you to court her for three months, to really get to know one another. We do not want her to feel she must marry now only to eradicate the stain of that man; we want her to choose to marry for positive reasons.” Gardiner paused. “We are not saying that if you two marry now it will not be for the right motivations, but after what she has experienced over the past almost year, we do not want to take any chances with her future happiness.”

“At the end of that time, if you offer a proposal of marriage, and she accepts, we will bestow our permission and blessing unreservedly,” Philips added.

William cogitated on the uncles’ words for some minutes. The more he did so, the more he began to see flaws in their plan.

“On one condition will I agree to your restrictions,” William responded. “Have you spoken to Lady Elizabeth and explained why you feel the way you do?”

“We decided to have the conversation with you first,” Gardiner admitted.

“Then are you not doing the very thing you are trying to guard against? Taking away her choices?” William pushed.

Both uncles looked sheepish. There was no denying the logic of William’s words. “You want us all to speak to Elizabeth first, do you not?” Gardiner realised.

“You have the right of it. If Lady Elizabeth agrees then I am happy to comply,” William informed the two men. “However, if she convinces you she knows her own mind and her choice is not the one you prefer, do both of you give your word of honour you will respect her choice?”

“I agree,” Gardiner stated.

“As do I,” Philips added.

“In wanting to make sure she is able to make her own choices, we almost deprived her of one,” Gardiner said stoically.

“Unlike her former parents, never mind the terrible, criminal man she was married to, you both only had her best interests at heart,” William stated.

Gardiner and Philips found their opinions of the Darcy heir—which had been very good before—improving. It seemed he understood their niece very well already.

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

When Elizabeth entered the study, she had been gloriously happy to see William. Her happiness diminished when she saw her uncles were also with him, and then when her uncles began to speak, she had wanted to lash out at them, all three of them.

Elizabeth’s building emotion had been fury that three men had sat around making decisions for her. The more her uncles spoke, the quicker she came to realise William had done the opposite while Uncles Edward and Frank had only wanted to protect her right to choose, even if they had put the cart before the horse.

When William had first met her at Castlemere and been rude, he had witnessed the look of fiery anger in her eyes. He had been convinced she would lump him in with her uncles as—he assumed—her righteous anger built at decisions being made without her input.

He had seen the moment she had allowed herself to hear the words and understand it was not what was occurring, and certainly not what he had endorsed.

“You have my thanks for involving me in this discussion about my future,” Elizabeth responded evenly. “Although I understand your reasoning uncles, you have to trust that after having my free will subjugated, never will I allow that to happen again. Whatever I agree to or not with regard to my future will be done because it is my choice. You both know my financial position.” Both uncles allowed it was so. “As such, you know better than anyone the main factor which drives so many ladies in our society to marry—security—is not one of my needs.”

The truth of her wealth was unknown to William, but he was aware she had inherited much. He fully intended to suggest—if she accepted him as her husband—the settlement would leave what she brought into the marriage under her control.

“We do know that Lizzy,” Philips agreed.

“Then you must trust that whatever decision I make about my future will be my free choice,” Elizabeth told her uncles. “There is nothing anyone can do to right the wrongs of the late Mr. Bennet, and being over protective does not balance out his lack of protection.”

Gardiner looked at Philips who shrugged his shoulders and then nodded. “You are a very wise lady, Lizzy,” Gardiner owned. “We will trust that whatever decision you make will be made because it is what you choose and not because you feel pressured.”

“If someone tried to compromise me for my fortune, assuming he survived the encounter with John, Brian, and Albert, I would still not marry him, so I can categorically tell you whatever I accept or deny will not be forced,” Elizabeth assured her uncles.

She understood her uncles were motivated by the unwarranted guilt they felt at not having been able to save her before it had been too late. Even had they known ahead of time, she would have done the same thing she had done to protect Jane and all her sisters. Although she had ultimately been blackmailed, it had in the end been a choice.

“Then I suppose Gardiner and I will leave you to it.” Philips turned to William. “You two will have ten minutes, the door will not be closed all the way, and bear in mind Biggs and Johns are positioned in the hallway.”

A shudder travelled down William’s spine. Elizabeth’s guards were not men of whom he would ever run afoul. He had no doubt they would do anything to protect her.

“Alone at last,” Elizabeth smiled at her suitor.

“Lady Elizabeth…” William stopped at her raised hand.

“Elizabeth please, and I will call you William,” she commanded with t he teasing affectation of imperiousness.

“Yes, Your Grace ,” William gave a low bow in jest. Elizabeth rolled her eyes at his silliness. “As I was about to say, I would like to suggest we do, in fact, begin with a courtship. Perhaps not three months as they wanted, rather a month or less,” William recommended. “Before you tell me why I am wrong, allow me to state my reasons.” Elizabeth nodded. “We have, in fact, known one another for a few weeks. I am sure I am falling, if not already, in love with you. I suggest this for ourselves and for no one else’s opinion. I think spending more time to get to know one another will not be harmful. What think you?”

“Never have I been in love before, but I am almost certain I am in love with you. Your suggestion for a month or less for a courtship does make sense.” Elizabeth smiled teasingly. “Fitzwilliam Darcy, will you court me officially?”

She thought William had taken offence at her forwardness, so she decided to explain herself to him.

“When he proposed, it was an order. I did not want to overstep, I know the asking of the question is in the province of men, but I just wanted to feel like it was truly my free decision this time.”

“Elizabeth, if I gave the impression I was anything but charmed at your asking me, I must beg your pardon,” William responded with a huge dimple-revealing grin. “I would like nothing more than to court you, Elizabeth Gardiner. Do you have a middle name?”

“It is Rose.”

“Yes, Elizabeth Rose Gardiner, yes, as many times as you need to hear it. Yes.”

William approached Elizabeth and took each of her dainty hands in one of his. All the while looking into her mesmerising emerald-green eyes, while his own sought permission, which he found there, he gently turned her hands over to expose the underside of her wrists. He placed a lingering kiss first on one and then the other. His lips on the pulse of each wrist sent her heart racing off at a roaring pace. Elizabeth swore she could hear it beating in her ears and it sounded like galloping horses. She knew this was not the time, but how she wished for him to kiss her lips. At least that would be one first they would share. She realised there would be many other firsts.

Once they were married, in her mind it would occur, she would never close her eyes when he came to her and she would never have to prepare herself. If she knew nothing else, she knew William would always make sure they both experienced pleasure.

She was brought back to the present as she heard William’s voice pierce the fog of her dream of future felicity with him.

“Should I invite your uncles to join us?” William grinned. It was the second time he had asked her the same thing.

“Yes, I suppose so,” Elizabeth managed.

Permission and blessings for the courtship were bestowed without delay and when informed they would court for a month or less, neither Gardiner nor Philips said a word in opposition.

“Elizabeth, do you object to us making the short drive to Darcy House so we may inform my parents and Anna of our news?” William requested. “I used the curricle to come to your house so it is ready in front of the house. It is just little more than a quarter of a mile.”

“My three small guards will follow on horses,” Elizabeth stated.

So it was a few minutes later, with William driving, that Elizabeth found herself seated on the high bench next to him. Biggs rode alongside while Johns and Smith were positioned a little behind the small carriage.

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

“Lizzy! I will have you as a sister. Oh! Even better, I will gain five sisters,” Georgiana gushed.

For once Miss Younge did nothing to correct her charge knowing how excited the girl of twelve was.

“We have not agreed to marry yet, Anna,” William corrected with an indulgent smile.

“But you will,” Lady Anne stated with surety as she pulled the young lady who she knew would be her daughter before too long into her arms.

Like it always did when she was in Lady Anne’s arms, Elizabeth felt the kind of motherly love she had never experienced before meeting her. Neither Elizabeth nor William refuted the claim.

“Would you object if I call you Mama like Anna does,” Elizabeth turned to William’s father, “and you Papa?”

“Nothing would please me more my dear girl. I always wanted more sons and daughters, it seems that dream is about to come true,” Lady Anne responded as some tears of joy rolled down her cheeks.

With suspiciously moist eyes and a voice gruff with emotion, Darcy also happily agreed to Elizabeth’s request.

“Lizzy dear, will you not need to notify Her Majesty of your intention to marry again?” Lady Anne enquired.

“I suppose I will.” Elizabeth looked at William with love in her eyes. “You will have to accompany me as you did on our last visit, Her Majesty will need to interrogate you to see if you are good enough for me,” she teased.

Lady Anne sent a note across the square and soon the Fitzwilliams joined those celebrating the good news. There was no missing Andrew’s disappointment that Jane was not present, but that did not inhibit his wishing the newly acknowledged couple happy.

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

Lady Catherine was desperate to marry Anne to one of her two cousins who were heirs. In just over two months Anne would reach her majority and then Rosings Park and everything else Sir Lewis had owned would be her daughter’s. She was at her wit’s end as to what to do to force the issue.

Not normally one to read the society pages, she had just seen information one of her targets was courting some unknown woman while Fitzwilliam had been seen in the company of some widow. She missed the part about the widow’s rank.

Lady Catherine decided the only thing for it was to hie to London and make sure she would be gratified. That no one had ever given into her whims before did not discourage her in her plans.

In the morning, she would set off for Town with Anne and her parson in tow. She would not take no for an answer!