“Dear William,” she responded taking his hand in both of hers. “It will be my privilege to help you take care of Anna, and I promise you I shall do everything within my power to be the mother she needs.”
Touched by her sincerity, William gently ran his fingers along the side of her face before tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “Elizabeth, you will make an exceptional mother, and I ampleased you are willing to take on that role in my daughter’s life,” he said, kissing her hand in gratitude.
“I appreciate your confidence and trust she will like me.”
“You need not worry on that account. Anna already loves you and is waiting for me to bring you to her.”
“She is waiting? My goodness, William, what did you tell her about me?”
He smiled shyly. “I hope you do not mind, but when she was most ill, she begged me to tell her a story about a princess. With you on my mind, I told her the story of a lovely Princess who lived in a faraway land and was one of five sisters.”
“Five?”
“Yes. Her name was Princess Elizabeth and her father’s kingdom had fallen on hard times.”
“Princess, indeed!” she chuckled.
“Anna was very pleased with the name I chose, since her given name is Anna Elizabeth. Elizabeth was my grandmother’s name on the Darcy side.”
“How curious, since I was named Elizabeth Rose after my grandmother, also on my father’s side. Hmmm…. I think I shall rather enjoy having our names in common. Perhaps when you call me, we shall both answer,” she playfully teased, causing him to laugh out loud.
“Somehow, I think I shall find it rather endearing. Here, let me show you her picture. I had a local artist in Kent take her likeness so that I might have it with me while I was in Town for the season.”
Elizabeth took the small miniature which William carried in his breast pocket and lovingly smiled as she slowly ran her fingers around the edge of the simple frame. “I can see she is very precious. Her sweet face and golden hair make her look quite angelic. And she has your blue eyes.” After gazing at the picture for a few more moments, Elizabeth handed it back toWilliam saying, “I should like to show her likeness to my family, if you do not mind.”
“Of course not.”
“Your daughter is a beautiful child, and I look forward to meeting her.”
“My sister, Georgiana, looked very much like Anna at the same age. Remarkably, the two of them share a similar sweet disposition, although Anna is not painfully shy like my sister is,” he commented before speaking more seriously. “Elizabeth, I do not intend to speak meanly of the dead, but I must tell you that Anne and I did not have a love match.”
“You did not?”
“No, we did not. If you recall from our conversation at the Royal Gardens, shortly after I finished university, my father died. At the time, I was overwhelmed with grief and responsibilities. Lady Catherine, my mother’s sister, had always claimed a betrothal was arranged for me and Anne by herself and my mother when we were infants. Shortly before my mother died, she told me there was never any such arrangement. My mother encouraged me to follow my own heart in choosing whom I would marry.
Things being what they were with my father’s passing, Lady Catherine knew I was vulnerable. When she insisted that Anne and I marry six months after his death, she was backed by my uncle the earl and his wife. Ours was a marriage of convenience and nothing more. Anne did not love me, nor did I love her.” He sighed. “When I spoke with Anne about her mother’s demands, she begged me to marry her, saying that she was oppressed living with Lady Catherine and would do her best by me. I agreed, thinking we might make a go of it, but our relationship never blossomed into what I had hoped for.
“Oh, William, I am so sorry. You are deserving of much more.”
“Do you truly think so, Elizabeth?”
“I do,” she said, reaching for his hand.”
Revelling again at her small gesture, he said, “Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, ‘tis a pity that our time together has been so short. Nevertheless, I have fallen in love with you and pray that in time you will be able to return my regard.”
At that moment tears welled in Elizabeth’s eyes and she began to cry in earnest. Turning her back to him, she covered her face with her hands, unable to control her emotions.
“Elizabeth, I am so sorry. I did not mean to upset you,” he said in alarm. He touched her arm, hoping to give her a bit of comfort. “Forgive me. It was wrong of me to press you on the point.” Unable to stand her distress, he impulsively pulled her into his embrace and gently stroked her back while kissing the top of her head.
“Please, Elizabeth, do not cry. I am sorry you were denied a proper courtship where we could have learned more of each other. I truly wanted you to have a choice as to whether or not you wished to marry me. We shall make our way as best we can, and I promise you I shall not bring up my desires again.”
“William,” she whispered, trying to calm her breathing. She raised her head and allowed him to brush back her tears with his fingers. “It is not that.”
“Then what is it, my love? Whatever has caused you to be so distressed?”
She swallowed and took a deep breath. “Eliza told me what she overheard you telling Lady Eleanor out in the courtyard. All this time I thought−I thought you had decided against me and were only doing the honourable thing by offering to marry me. How can you say that you love me if what you said to Lady Eleanor was true?”
“Elizabeth, I am in earnest when I say I love you.”
