Have a good life with your new wife, William. Always be open and honest and, especially if it is Lizzy, make sure you never make unilateral or arbitrary decisions without consulting with her. I pray you have what your father and I had, a true and equal partnership.
It is tiring me to write so I will end here, William.
With all my love and best wishes for your marriage,
Mother.
William read the precious letter a second time before handing it to his wife. “What a wonderful letter to receive on our wedding day, and what perspicacity Aunt Anne had! I would have loved to her as my mother-in-law as much as I loved her as an aunt,” Elizabeth stated as she returned the letter to her husband.
Knowing that, in her final days, his mother told them to carry on, love each other, and live life to the fullest was a precious gift. After a few minutes, William stood and led his wife into his—their—bedchamber. They had decided to share a bed, so the second bedchamber of their suite would become another dressing room for Elizabeth.
Wordlessly, they set about undressing one another. Both had imagined the other in an undressed state, but the reality was far better than their imagination. “Make me your wife in every way,” Elizabeth managed in a breathy voice, heavy with passion.
William picked her up, carried her to their bed, and proceeded to obey her command diligently.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The newlyweds joined their family in the drawing room an hour before dinner. “Did you have a good rest, Lizzy and William?” Lydia asked guilelessly.
“We did, Lyddie, thank you,” Elizabeth replied, unsuccessfully attempting to stop her blush.
“Before we left Buckingham House, Prince Frederick pointed out an omission in the properties listed as part of the Derbyshire dukedom. Derbyshire House is across the square, two doors down from Matlock House. The crown had it leased out and the lease has expired. I will move into that house after it has been inspected to see if changes are needed, Robert Darcy said,” turning to Fanny. “Fanny, you will help me if new décor is needed, will you not?”
“Do you really need to ask me that, Robert? Of course, I will help, as will Elaine and Edith,” Fanny averred.
“Once I have moved in, then you two will have the use of Darcy House, and you can move into the master suite. Evidently, there is a second house, Derby House on Portman Square; you could move into that one if you prefer,” Darcy told his son and new daughter.
They looked at one another and Elizabeth nodded. “We thank you Father, but I think we prefer to remain at Darcy House,” William informed his father.
“Will I be able to reside with William and Lizzy part of the time when we are in London, father?” Georgiana asked.
“That goes without saying, Gigi,” her father informed her. “Unless Lizzy and William object.”
“Which we never will, not foranyof our siblings,” Elizabeth stated for them both.
After a light dinner, those who would attend the ball at ten o’clock went to rest until it was time to dress. Mary and the younger girls understood that no one who was not out would be allowed to attend. Mary would miss dancing with Wes, but she knew there would be many future opportunities.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
There were considerably people attended the ball than the wedding breakfast that morning. Elizabeth and William were part of the receiving line, along with Elizabeth’s birthfather, adoptive parents, and William’s father.
The Prince filled a dual role, as the representative of the King and Queen and one of the bride’s fathers. It seemed that the stream of humanity was never ending. It took about an hour and a half, but eventually the line dwindled to a trickle and then ended.
As it would have been at her coming out ball, Elizabeth opened the ball with the King, the Prince of Wales, her birthfather, and then her adoptive father for the first dance of the first set. William opened with the Queen, followed by Princesses Amelia, Augusta Sophia, and Elizabeth.
When the newlyweds were able to dance together for the second dance of the first set, Elizabeth thought it amusing William had completed the first half of the set with her aunt, Princess Elizabeth and then danced the second half with another Princess Elizabeth. William corrected his wife gently, pointing out when she was with the royals she was to be addressed as Princess Beth.
The King, Queen, and the Prince of Wales withdrew after supper, at one o’clock in the morning. Although they would have preferred to be alone at Darcy House, Elizabeth and William did not leave their wedding ball early.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next morning, everyone met for breakfast at eleven. The younger group who had not attended the ball had hot chocolate, toast, and pastries to break their fasts at the time they would have normally had the morning meal.
By midday, the coach arrived in front of the house. The extended family, including the Prince, were all present to see the newlyweds off on their way to Seaview Cottage.
After the two departed, the younger set drifted off towards the music room, except for Tommy. He returned to the Gardiners’ house to be with Eddy when the Gardiners and Phillipses departed for Gracechurch Street. Lady Sarah and Catherine de Bourgh were with the new Lord Jersey at Jersey House. That left the elder set who had been through so much alone in the drawing room.
The gathering consisted of Lord Thomas and Lady Francine Bennet, Lord Paul and Lady Edith Carrington, Lord Reggie and Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, Prince Frederick, and his Grace, Lord Robert Darcy.
