Jane had been nervous in the extreme about her curtsey before the Queen, especially as if things proceeded as she hoped they would with Perry, she would be her Majesty’s cousin. Her curtsey had been flawless and rather than a dismissive wave the Queen spoke to Jane.
“We understand that you are close to our cousin…Rose.” Jane let out the breath she was holding hoping that the Queen would not reveal her relationship to Perry before he had a chance to say a word himself.
“Yes, your Royal Majesty, I have made the Dowager Duchess’s acquaintance,” she answered still in her deep curtsey.
“Please pass our regards to our cousins.” Jane could swear that she saw a playful glint in the Queen’s eye. She was dismissed by a wave and backed out of the chamber without issue. She was officially out! Other debutantes were already jealous that they had to compete for attention with the beauty who was rumoured to be very wealthy, but she was the only one that the Queen conversed with! The jealousy would be nothing to that which would be expressed after word of the Duke of Bedford dancing three dances with her was spread in the gossip rags and by word of mouth after the upcoming ball.
Jane felt like a fairy princess at her coming out ball. She felt like a queen each time that Perry danced with her. When they were not dancing, his eyes were always following her. There was no doubt that night that the most eligible bachelor in the realm was no longer available. Besides Jane, he only danced with his sister and Anne de Bourgh, who had finally had her coming out a week earlier; at her ball she had danced three sets with Ian Ashby.
The night seemed to pass in a blur for Jane, except for when she was being held in Perry’s arms for movements of the dances, then time slowed down for her. After he led her to her seat subsequent to the supper set, he filled her plate for her and then as he sat, he leaned close to her ear:
“May I call on you on the morrow in the morning?” As he asked, she felt a tingling up and down her spine. She could not speak and just nodded vigorously.“Shall we say at ten?” Again, she nodded.
After dinner Jane danced a set with Charles Bingley.“I can see that I had no chance against a Duke,” he stated with a tinge of bitterness.
“You should know me better than that…” they were separated as the danced down the line. “…to think that title or position would ever be a deciding, or any, factor for me.” Again, they had to separate.“Had he been a tradesman, I would marry him if he asked me. We fit and I love him, that isallthat I care about!” Just then they had to dance back up the line.
“Please accept my apologies Miss Bennet,” Bingley was ashamed of himself; he knew that was not who Jane Bennet was!“I allowed bitterness to creep in; there was no justification for what I said.
“You are forgiven, Mr Bingley,” Jane allowed. The rest of the set passed in silence. The next set was with Franklin Lucas.
“Franklin, if you think that the Duke’s rank or fortune has anything to do with my feelings, then be a gentleman and withdraw from this dance because that would mean you think very little of me!” Jane challenged the Lucas heir. Franklin hesitated as he thanked his lucky stars he had not made the comment he wanted to. He seethed with anger that the toff had taken his Jane, but now was not the time or place.
“I could never think thusly of you Jane,” he prevaricated as he led her to the dance floor. His dance passed in relative silence as well.
Before she knew it, it was the final set and Perry was there to collect her again. The hum of comments about the preference that the eligible duke had shown the obvious diamond of the season was undeniable already and the hum rose to a crescendo of dashed dreams of many ladies wanting to become the next Duchess of Bedford and their parents who wanted it for themselves as much as their daughters.
After the final set, Jane was returned to her parents by Perry, who requested an audience with Bennet in the morning. His request was granted with resignation that he was about to lose his oldest daughter to another man.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Perry arrived at ten on the dot and was shown into Mr Gardiner’s study where Bennet awaited him.“You asked to see me,” Bennet opened.
“I did Mr Bennet; I would like your permission to request Jane, Miss Bennet’s, hand in marriage,” he got right to the point.
“You want a betrothal! What about a courtship first?” Bennet tried to gain some more time with his Jane.
“Mr Bennet, we both know that I have been courting Jane unofficially for well over a year. What do you think that a courtship will achieve except more time at home for Jane?” he asked pointedly.
“I hate to admit that you are correct, your Grace. The sad part is that I know full well that Jane is more than ready to accept you. Just please make her happy,” he capitulated.
“As you are to be my father-in-law, I think that the time is nigh that you call me Perry. Jane’s well-being and happiness will be my absolute priority until I draw my last breath. I love her more than I thought possible, I think that I have from the day that we bumped into one another outside of this very house,” Perry shared.
“In that case, Perry, you have my consent and blessing to ask her and the same if, no when, she accepts you. Welcome to the family, son. I suppose you may call me Father Bennet, or Bennet, whichever you prefer.” Bennet stood and shook his daughter’s suitor’s hand.“There is one stipulation, young man. I will not allow a wedding date before Jane is eighteen on…” He did not finish as Perry did that for him.
“On the fifteenth of January. I believe that I can wait two and a half months,” Perry grinned.”
“Wait here, I will send Jane in; you have ten minutes, and you know the door will be cracked.” Perry nodded as Bennet went to collect Jane. A few minutes later Jane walked into her uncle’s study.
“My father said that you would like to talk to me, Lord Perry,” Jane said shyly.
“He is correct.” Perry sunk to one knee while he held the hands of the woman that he loved.“Jane Bennet, since the day that we bumped into one another I have known that you are the only woman for me. You are everything that I have ever wanted in a wife, and I love you most ardently and will do so for the rest of my life. Jane Florence Bennet will you do me the honour and make me the happiest of men? Will you marry me?” Perry was worried because Jane was silent.“If you need a courtship first then…” Jane placed her finger on his lips.
“Silly man, I was just savouring your words. I too love you Perry, more than I am able to articulate coherently. I love you so much that it aches, and I hate being parted from you; so yes, Perry, I will marry you.”
Perry stood and gently lifted Jane’s chin with his finger. He looked at her for permission and saw no trepidation, only welcome. His head lowered to her as she stood on her tiptoes to meet him in the middle as their lips met for the very first time with a chaste kiss. He pulled back to make sure she was comfortable and saw only welcome. The next kiss was anything but chaste as they tasted one another for the first time.
Before they could allow their lips and tongues to duel too much, there was a knock on the door and they jumped apart. Bennet entered and looked at his daughter’s swollen lips and then at Perry with a warning look.“I assume that you have accepted Perry, Jane,” Bennet stated. All she could do was nod her head most emphatically as she was not ready to talk yet.“Did he tell you about the earliest date that I set for your wedding?” Jane shook her head worried that her father would make them wait for six months or a heaven forbid, a year!
