“With your goodness, you deserve it all and more,” Jane said softly in Elizabeth’s ear.
Next, she was hugged by Mother Bennet, Kitty, Perry, and Tom. That left Father Bennet, who enfolded her in a hug.“You will be a very happy woman, Lizzy,” he told her,“I pity anyone who tries to take advantage of either of you; it is a mistake they will make but one time.”
“Thank you, Father Bennet. On the day I marry, will you share the duties of walking me down the aisle with Andrew?” she requested.
“It will be my greatest honour to do so if Andrew agrees,” Bennet responded.
“He will agree,” Elizabeth stated with certainty as she arched her eyebrow.
Another toast was given and humbly accepted by the betrothed couple, and a second toast was given for Elizabeth’s birthday.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On entering the music room at Darcy House, and before a word could be uttered, Georgiana flew into Elizabeth’s arms.“Happy birthday, Sister,” she gushed.
“Happy birthday to you too, my soon-to-be sister,” Elizabeth responded as she hugged her cousin, friend, and soon-to-be sister Gigi.“We will celebrate our birthdays later this evening.”
“Who cares about a birthday when you are betrothed to Will!” Georgiana exclaimed.
“We are very happy to welcome you as a daughter,” George gave his niece a hug.
“Lizzy will be my cousin and my sister?” Alex asked.
“Yes, son,” Anne replied and then kissed her new daughter’s cheeks.“I could not have asked for a better daughter-in-law, Lizzy. Do you have a date for the wedding?”
When the date was shared, both George and Anne Darcy nodded, Anne’s eyes misty at the memory of the day she had been notified of Elizabeth being found.“When will Andrew have the announcement placed in the papers?” George asked.
“He will send it to them this morning, so it should be in tomorrow’s editions,” Will informed his father.
“Will it be acceptable if I call you Mother Anne and Father George from now on? Will is going to call Mama Mother Elaine.” Both of her parents-in-law-to-be agreed.
“I would be fine with your using them from today forward, Lizzy. We have long known you would be our daughter one day, though those who can marry very young never learn who they are intended to be until much later in life. Glad you two are finally getting around to it, though.” George grinned when Lizzy and Will stared at him in surprise, because to them, it had felt like an eternity; it had never occurred to them that it had been done this way to give them the best chance at success.
“So are we.” Lizzy smiled at him, the immense shift of her thoughts taking only a second and the wisdom of those who loved them catching her anew.
After more talk of the upcoming union, Will walked Elizabeth back to Matlock House to rest so that she would be refreshed for the celebratory birthday and betrothal dinner, which would be held at the Fitzwilliams’house that evening. Along with the Darcys, Bennets, and Rhys-Davies, the Gardiners, Phillips, Ashbys, and de Melvilles were invited to share their celebration.
As can be expected, the dinner was a much-enjoyed celebration, and Georgiana was proven correct—they were acknowledged and wishes given, but little attention was paid to the birthdays when there was a betrothal to celebrate.
The next morning the Ton awoke to their papers that proclaimed another extremely eligible bachelor was no longer available to their daughters. There was much remonstrating in private, but none would dare say a word against the match in public.
Chapter 11
May 1809
Richard had no more doubt. He was in love with Lady Loretta de Melville and was fairly sure his feelings were returned. The family was to decamp to the north in a fortnight, and he did not want to have Loretta’s family leave London for their estate, Broadhurst in Essex, before he had asked her the most important of questions.
He was aware they would be in Derbyshire in June for Lizzy and Will’s wedding, but he could not wait that long before offering her his hand in marriage. It was a cool spring day when Richard dismounted his horse and handed the reins to the waiting groom in front of Jersey House. He was admitted by the butler and requested to see Lord Cyril.
“Sit, Richard,” Lord Cyril indicated to a chair in front of his desk after the butler closed the door.
“Good morning, your Lordship; I am here to request a private interview with your daughter,” Richard asked, not one for small talk when there was a task to accomplish as crucial as the one before him this day.
“I assume it is to request Loretta’s hand in marriage.” Lord Cyril asked for Richard was not the only one who was candid.
“It is, my Lord.” Richard agreed with a quick nod.
“I will not insult your intelligence to ask about your situation again, Richard. I know you are more than able to afford a wife, so you have my permission to see Loretta in private. Ten minutes; the door will be open partway and remember there are large footmen in the hall. Wait here. I will ask Loretta to join you.” The Earl rose and left to find his daughter.
