After Jane and Andrew enjoyed a small repast and some lemonade, they continued to mingle with the guests for another hour. Jane gave Elizabeth a nod, and the two made their way to Jane’s former bedchamber.
“Jane, I have never seen you glow with happiness as you do now. Thank you for giving us such an honourable and fine brother,” Elizabeth hugged her sister after she had changed into her travel attire.
“Oh Lizzy, why cannot everyone be so happy as I am?” Jane gushed.
“When each of us find a man—or in Tommy’s case, a lady—so well matched to us, I am sure we will know the same joy you are experiencing today, Janie,” Elizabeth opined.
“You mean like a certain tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed man of our acquaintance,” Jane teased.
“Much can happen before I come out in more than a year. You know I hope it will be William, but we none of us know the future,” Elizabeth stated evenly.
“It is time, Lizzy,” Jane informed her sister as her maid took her wedding gown and remaining valise down to be loaded into the coach. After one last wistful look around the suite of her childhood, Jane and Elizabeth joined Andrew and the rest of the family under the portico in front of the manor house.
There were many hugs and kisses for Jane, and not a few backslaps for Andrew interspersed with a bear-hug or eight. Once all the farewells were received, the newlyweds boarded the comfortable Hilldale chaise and six.
Andrew knocked his cane on the ceiling, and the driver gave a flick of the reins, which put the team in motion. The family remained waving until the carriage reached a turn in the drive and it disappeared from view.
Later that evening when Elizabeth informed her parents and birthfather she had disclosed the truth to Charlotte, none were surprised to learn she had suspected part of the truth on her own, given the lady’s intelligence.
Chapter 27
Once the celebration of Jane and Andrew’s wedding was over and the guests departed, only the four Rhys-Davies remained at Netherfield Park with the extended family. “Not seeing Jane here with her sisters and brother will take some getting used to,” Fanny reflected as she watched her family.
“That it will,” Bennet agreed. He had no doubt Jane was with the man she was supposed to be with, but that did not stop him from feeling a small part of his heart was missing.
“Elizabeth, you remember you met the Duke, Duchess, and Marquis before we departed for the church, do you not?” Fanny reminded her daughter.
“Yes, Mama, I do,” Elizabeth replied.
“Lady Rose is a cousin to your grandmother,” Fanny did not miss that Elizabeth bristled, assuming the wrong grandmother, so she added quickly, “Yourpaternalgrandmother, Queen Charlotte.”
Elizabeth relaxed visibly. “It is good to make the acquaintance of more cousins, your Graces,” Elizabeth allowed.
“The pleasure is ours, Your Royal Highness,” Lady Rose returned. Elizabeth had tried not to think too much about her rank, but it was at that moment she assimilated the fact that in society at large she was ranked higher than a duke and duchess.
After hearing of the musical prowess of the family, Lady Rose requested the young ladies exhibit for her. The Rhys-Davies and Wes, listening to their performances, realised their abilities, if anything, had been understated. The singing, especially Elizabeth’s, was sublime.
“Your mother will enjoy her granddaughter’s accomplishments greatly, Cousin,” Lady Rose remarked to the Prince.
“I cannot but agree, Cousin Rose,” the Prince said. “All I can hope is that my parents are not too angry with me for hiding their granddaughter’s existence from them for so long.”
“I agree with your opinion. His Majesty will have parliament remove Elizabeth from the line of succession; therefore, it is my opinion that the King and Queen will not be too put out,” Bedford surmised with a small smile for the princess.
“Will you bring your daughter with you when you travel to Buckingham House on the morrow?” Lady Rose asked.
“No. If my parents want to meet her—as I assume they will—I will send an express to Bennet and he and the whole family will travel to London,” the Prince averred. “Once her existence becomes public knowledge, the royal guard around her will no longer have to be disguised as footmen and outriders.”
“I have a suggestion,” Darcy stated. “Why do we not all travel to London? The Bennets can stay with us at Darcy House or across the square at Matlock House, or Holder House is available for their use. This way their Majesties will not have to wait the length of a day to meet their granddaughter if they request it.”
“Unless there is an objection,” Bennet replied thankfully, “we will take you up on your invitation, Darcy.”
“What about your aversion to Town, Papa?” Elizabeth challenged; her eyebrow perfectly arched to convey her expectation.
“I will survive, Lizzy. I know Darcy House’s library is not Pemberley’s, but if I know my friend here, it is impressively stocked and will provide me adequate reading material,” Bennet told his daughter.
“As we are to travel, I have much to arrange,” Fanny stood and was followed out by Ladies Elaine and Edith.
“We are for Town, but as soon as you know the schedule of events with the royals, let us know as we would enjoy having you all for dinner at Bedford House on Russell Square,” Lady Rose invited.
