“In that case, Loretta, I have to tell you that I have developed tender feelings for you. I no longer see you as just a friend of Lizzy’s, but as someone who I believe will one day be the ideal helpmate for me. I have been many years in the army and little in society, so I request the honour of a formal courtship,” Richard asked with feeling.
“It would be my absolute pleasure to grant you a courtship, Richard. Just like you have for me, I have developed tender feelings for you; for me, it has been of some duration. It may not be love yet, but I believe the courtship will assist us in clarifying those feelings,” she responded with pleasure.
“I thank you for accepting my courtship, Loretta; you have made me a happy man today. If and or when the courtship progresses so the next question can be asked, I will be the happiest of men. I need to speak with your father.” Richard lifted each of her hands, turned them over, and bestowed a kiss on each wrist.
“Let me request his presence,” Loretta stood with an enhanced glow of happiness about her. Her father walked in almost as soon as she exited, letting Richard know his decision only to kiss her hands had been the prudent one, as the Earl had obviously been close by.
“Loretta, Lady Loretta, has done me the great honour of accepting my offer for a courtship, my Lord. I now request your consent, and hopefully your blessing,” Richard stood up tall, his happiness too complete to fully hide his smile, even out of respect for her father.
“’Loretta’is fine, Richard; it has been many years since there has been any formality between our families. You have my consent and unequivocal blessing. I am only sorry that my friend Reggie is not with us to see this day,” Lord Cyril stood and shook Richard’s hand again as his voice strained with emotion.
“Thank you, my Lord. I will always treat your daughter as she deserves to be treated; her happiness will always be my most important duty,” Richard replied emphatically.
Lord Jersey led Richard into the drawing room, where he and Loretta received the best wishes from her mother and brother.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As they all suspected, the gossip rags that morning were full of information from, as they termed it,‘the ball of the season.’Besides the debutante’s gown and jewels, the main topic of discussion was that not only did FD of P from Derbyshire smile in public, but he danced three times with the gorgeous Lady EF.
The writer of the on-dit opined that there should be no doubts, after seeing the mooncalf looks that each gave the other, that both were firmly off the marriage mart.
When the Earl of Granville read the piece, he was most displeased. He needed one with a dowry of the size that Lady Elizabeth’s was reputed to have to save the ancestral home that he had all but lost at the tables. An infusion of cash was necessary to keep the debt collectors away.
Lord Harry Smythe was desperate, and men in his position very seldom thought clearly.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Matlock House had been inundated with gentlemen callers the morning after the ball, with some who obviously were wilfully blind, ignoring the fact that the lady had demonstrated a noticeably clear preference for but one man at her ball. The callers included the dandy that Elizabeth had aptly dubbed Lord so-and-so. He and all the others were given a clear and coherent message that even the most obtuse among them could grasp when they were informed that the lady was not at home to callers.
As the last two departed, they did not miss Fitzwilliam Darcy being welcomed warmly into the house. The word was soon disseminated that one would be wasting his time if he called at Matlock House with the intent to call on Lady Elizabeth. Thankfully for the said lady, the message was understood by most of the dandies and fortune hunters alike. Of those who had thoughts of trying to compromise the lady, they were quickly abandoned as they knew that if they even attempted such an ill-advised action, they would have to deal with Richard Fitzwilliam. Even the bravest among them was not willing to takethatchance. There were; however, a few determined fortune hunters among the Ton who would chance anything to get their hands on her rumoured to be large dowry.
Andrew, who had come to a decision since his head hit his pillow a few hours earlier, asked for his cousin to be shown into his study. After Will sat, Andrew took a breath and then spoke.“I know that I had previously said that you would not be allowed to declare yourself until June, but the feeding frenzy this morning has made me reconsider my position.” Seeing his cousin’s visage light up, he held up his hand.“I am well aware that neither of you needs a courtship to decide if you are meant for one another, but that is all I will allow for now. It will be a clear message to the fortune hunters that they would be wasting their time and trying to compromise her will gain them nothing.”
“When will I be allowed to propose to Lizzy?” Will asked.
“Once she turns eighteen, you may propose. Before you ask, I require a minimum of a three-month betrothal. I will not countenance any talk of a rushed wedding,” Andrew stated firmly. Will knew the conditions were not open to negotiation, so he accepted them without argument; for now, he could claim his Lizzy, would be able to hold her hand in public, would be able to dance thrice with her at any ball, would be able to keep her close enough to touch, even if propriety dictated that he could not actually do so.
“I will ask Lizzy to join you, Will,” Andrew stated as he stood.“Just remember to always make her happy,” her brother warned as he went to seek out his sister.
“Will? Why did Andrew allow us to have a private interview with the study door partially closed?” Elizabeth walked toward the settee, an arched brow the only indication that she was not confused. She had overdone her irritation at the callers intentionally, and her mother had had a hard time keeping a straight face through some of it; Marie did not even try.
“It is because I am allowed to ask you a question.” Will saw Elizabeth’s face light up just as his had when Andrew had given permission.“Notthatquestion,” Will explained what he had been told and the time restrictions.“Lady Elizabeth Rose Bennet Fitzwilliam, will you make me the happiest of men and enter a formal courtship with me until the fifth day of March this year?”
“Yes, oh yes, I will absolutely grant you a formal courtship,” Elizabeth replied breathlessly, feeling as if she could float on the wings of happiness. She stood, in need of some action, and despite wanting to fling herself into his arms, did not, but just barely was able to hold herself in check. Darcy chuckled as he stood with her, unwilling to allow so much space between then when he no longer was required to.
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I love you, Lizzy, and I cannot wait until you become my wife and we are never parted again,” Darcy murmured as he looked down into her eyes, his hand holding hers as tightly as she held his.
“I love you too, Will, more than I ever imagined it was possible to love the man that I want to marry.” She promised softly.
Darcy was transfixed by her, unconsciously leaning down toward her until she licked her lips in invitation. He glanced up into her eyes to verify she knew his intention and would grant him this gift. Unlike the time on Oakham Mount where they stopped themselves, his lips brushed against hers. It was a chaste kiss, but her feathered exhale was the promise of so much more. Will ached to kiss her again, but he did not want to give Andrew cause to repine his decision.
Just as they stepped away from one another, there was a knock on the door, and Andrew entered before he received an answer.“Is there something you need to ask me, Will?” he asked, knowing full well that his sister accepted the courtship.
“Lizzy has done me the honour of accepting a courtship. We request…” Andrew cut him off before he completed his request.
“Considering that I was the one that gave permission for you to ask, you know you both have my consent, but I want you to know you have my blessing. For some reason, your family arrived while you were talking to this Sprite,” Andrew shared.“A little bird must have told them that there would be news to share, but before we go talk to them, there is one more from whom you must get consent, Will.” Bennet stepped into the study.
It was a short interview for Bennet had long known the outcome of their story as assuredly as he had for any book he had read, and Elizabeth’s birth father added his consent and blessing. He and Andrew revealed that they had spoken an hour earlier when Andrew called on Bennet House and shared his thoughts with Bennet and Tammy. They had agreed that the plan was an excellent way to protect Elizabeth from unwanted attention.
