By the time she began to greet friends, Elizabeth had restored her equanimity. She looked to her one side and saw William’s self-satisfied grin at having discomposed her to the extent he had. ‘Teasing man,’ she thought. She knew with howshe loved to tease others; it would have been rather hypocritical of her had she taken exception to William’s jesting with her.
Hurst led his wife and mother to where Fanny Bennet, Lady Lucas, Mrs Phillips, and a few of their friends were greeting one another. After greeting the matrons and leaving his mother with them, he and Louisa went to join Bingley, who was speaking with Bennet and Mary. As they reached the other three, Hurst did not miss the knowing look Bennet gave him. He saw Bennet cock his head towards an area which was not occupied. There was nothing to do but follow Bennet.
“I know not what you did or how, but on behalf of myself, my family, and all future Bennets, I want to express my gratitude for the ending of the entail,” Bennet said so only Hurst could hear.
“Of what are you speaking?” Hurst queried, trying to look as unaffected as possible.
“Come, Hurst, you must know I am not a simpleton. You and I have a conversation about the entail, and then four days later, I receive a new deed from the Court of Chancery,” Bennet explained. “There is a definite correlation between our conversation, your sudden need to reach London, and the deed arriving the day after your return. I know not what you did, but I will be forever grateful. The truth is I need not know, but if I were to guess, based on the speed this happened, there was royal intervention, and from a very well-placed member of the family. Whether you acknowledge your role or not, I thank you.”
Hearing Bennet’s words, Hurst realised he had made an error, although not a material one. He should have waited to go to London until he needed to be there for another reason. That being said, there was nothing he could do to change the past. “I should have known you were too intelligent to fail to see theconnections. It is not something I may explain to you, but it was my distinct pleasure to help you. All I can request is that you keep this to yourself.”
“I will not mention this to another. It does not sound adequate, but again, thank you, Hurst,” Bennet stated.
Thankfully, other than Louisa, no one had noticed the intense conversation between himself and Bennet. When Bennet walked away, Hurst watched as his wife joined him.
“Thomas discovered what you had done, did he not?” Louisa guessed.
“You have the right of it…” Hurst related a synopsis of his conversation with Bennet and that the older man had vowed not to mention Hurst’s involvement. “I forgot that Lizzy is not the only highly intelligent member of the family.”
Thanks to the calling of the opening set, any further talk was at an end for the moment. Hurst led Louisa out to join the forming line, just one couple away from Bennet and Fanny, Darcy and Lizzy, and Bingley and Mary. As he watched his wife gracefully execute the opening steps of the Boulanger, Hurst reminded himself how perfect Louisa was as a wife and mother, and now a countess.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
No matter how much she searched her perfect memory, either the previous night after the dance or this morning as soon as she woke, Elizabeth could not come close to remembering an assembly she had enjoyed more. Being able to dance two sets with William—who was so light on his feet and a very accomplished dancer—had been perfect. When she had sat out the two sets as all young ladies in the area did thanks to theshortage of men, he sat with her and they spoke. Other than those two sets, he did not miss another one, making sure to dance with ladies who Elizabeth pointed out as being habitual wallflowers. William giving them consequence by dancing with them led to requests from some local men who had not done so before. Her suitor was the most gentlemanly man, aside from Papa, Elizabeth knew.
During one of their conversations, William had told her that he used to be the prideful man she met when they played chess that first time six years past. Knowing, and coming close to loving, the man he was today, Elizabeth had a hard time imagining him as an insufferable, arrogant man who thought himself above his company. The man who was courting her was not one who had a selfish disdain for the feelings of others. He was, in fact, quite the opposite. She was well pleased the man he used to be had been banished. She remembered well his arrogance the first time she met him, but from the next meeting on, he had been as he was now. She wondered what had affected the change in him. Perhaps she would ask him one day when they were married.
Elizabeth startled herself. That was a rather big assumption. However, the more she considered the facts, the more sure she became that it was when, and not if, they married.
It struck her that William was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and intelligence, although not on a par with her own, were not impediments. His temperament complemented her own as well as any two people. By her ease and liveliness, his mind might be softened—not that it needed much in that area. Along with his good manners even further improved, and from his knowledge and experience in the world, she would receive benefit as well.
Now all she needed was to be sure that she was in love with William. He had intimated more than once that he was already in that state with her. If she indicated such to him, Elizabeth was sure that would lead to a proposal of marriage.
Although she could not have known it, William had very similar thoughts about her at the same moment that morning.
The first thing Darcy had thought of when he woke on Saturday morning was Elizabeth. It was nothing new, but he had dreamed of her. He had seen them, already married, racing over fields at Pemberley on their horses in the early morning. He could swear he had heard her tinkling laugh in his dream, as clearly as he would have had she been standing before him.
Darcy was usually a very patient and deliberate man, but not in this. He was fully aware that he must allow Elizabeth as much time as she needed and trying to rush her would be counterproductive. However, that did not stop him from wishing she would attain love for him the way he loved her so he could propose to her.
Although he was aware it was irrational, Darcy was envious of Gigi being hosted at Longbourn. Of course, he did not begrudge his sister time with the Bennets, but how he wished he was the last one Elizabeth would see before Morpheus claimed her and the first one she would see in the morning when she opened her magnificent eyes. Darcy knew that would happen once they were married, but how he wished they already were.
He rang for Carstens and his valet assisted Darcy to dress for a ride. Thanks to his ever-efficient valet sending word to the stables, when Darcy strode out of the front doors, his greatcoat billowing behind him, to his delight, Zeus was saddled and being held by a groom in the drive at the base of the stairs.
Ignoring the stirrups, Darcy vaulted onto his horse’s back. His aim was to enjoy a punishing ride which would drive any improper thoughts of Elizabeth from his mind, if only for a short while.
By the time Darcy reached the paddock attached to the stables, he already had Zeus at a fast canter. A groom had the gate open and would have run to the far gate to open it as well, except Darcy shook his head. He dug his heels into his stallion’s flanks and slapped the reins on his neck. The big black horse reacted instantaneously. Within seconds, he was at a full gallop. As they neared the closed gate, he made sure Zeus could see it clearly. When the horse judged it was time, he jumped. Darcy leaned forward and released the reins by sliding his hands down his stallion’s neck allowing him to stretch his neck and back.
As he had many times before, Zeus cleared the fence with ease and was soon galloping across an open field. As if without his direction, Darcy’s mount sailed over the fence which marked the border between Netherfield Park and the greatly expanded Longbourn.
On the way home the night before, Hurst informed them that due to the end of the entail, Bennet had officially annexed the additional land he had purchased from the former master of Netherfield Park. With this land part of Bennet’s estate, it was now, by far, the largest one in the neighbourhood.
About a mile from Oakham Mount, Darcy slowed Zeus to a slow canter to allow him to cool down some. By the time he arrived at the base of the hill, he had his horse at a walk.
As soon as he saw Phoebe being attended by a Longbourn groom, Darcy lifted his eyes to the heavens in thanks that his prayer was answered.
As in the past, when he struck up the path, the footman followed. He smiled as he remembered that first time he had discovered Elizabeth on the summit. It was almost the same date in October of that year. This day was colder, the vapour visible each time he breathed out when his warm breath came into contact with the cold air. When he was younger, he likened it to smoke he had seen his father, uncle Reggie, and some of the other men blow out when smoking cigars. As he aged and learnt his lessons, Darcy had come to realise it was not smoke.
As he crested the summit, he held his breath. There she was: the beauty who Darcy hoped to marry. She was sitting on the same rock she always sat on, facing east to watch the sunrise and from what he was able to discern, she was eating something.
