The family was in Town for the little season. There were two among them who were happier than the rest that it had arrived. Will Darcy had less than three months to cross off his calendar; soon, he would be able to discard the one for 1798. The other who was as excited as he was and for similar reasons, although she was counting the days in her head, was Lady Elizabeth Rose Bennet Fitzwilliam.
When she was not in Will’s company, he was the one that she was thinking of. She knew without any doubt that when he asked, whether it be courtship or a betrothal, her answer would be yes. She was sure that as soon as he was allowed to do so, he would ask one of the two questions, and despite hoping it was the latter option, she could not deny that so long as she knew he was hers, she would accept the former gratefully. And it would seem presumptuous but for their conversation within days after the last of the perpetrators of the attempted attack on the family had been dealt with.
Earlier that May at Pemberley
It was less than a sennight after the men had returned from the trial of Catherine de Bourgh. None had attended the hanging, but they had not left London before it occurred. Once the five men returned to Pemberley, it was within days that the Bennets and Rhys-Davies departed for their respective estates.
The night before the Ashbys’departure, the four siblings and Ian had sat together in a parlour discussing the events of the past months. Anne’s brothers and sister wanted to make sure that she was well. All of them were grateful Ian had been there to support her as needed. Even though there had been no love for the condemned woman, she had been Anne’s biological mother.
Anne had assured them, and in no uncertain terms, that the only thing that she felt sorrow about was the woman’s victims. The judge had issued the order to seize all of the woman’s assets. She and Ian were looking forward to meeting the murdered maid’s family and presenting them with the recovered fortune and property deeds for the house the woman had unwittingly purchased for them.
As planned, the Ashbys departed the following day, and Richard went with them as he had to return to his unit. That left only the Darcys and Fitzwilliams at Pemberley. A few days later, Andrew, Marie, Will, Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Alex went for a long ride in Pemberley’s fields with Aggie running alongside some of the time and others lying down and resting while watching her mistress and the usual complement of escorts.
At one point, maybe even intentionally, Will and Elizabeth were riding some twenty yards behind the other four. Will took the chance to ask a question that had been eating at him since the day he and the others had gone to finally end the threat to their family.“Lizzy, before we left, you said something that could be meant in more than one way,” he opened somewhat nervously, knowing that he was intentionally skirting the limits of conversation that Andrew would permit, but some clarification was crucial; the conjectures were driving him mad at every turn of thought.
“Whatever can you mean, Will?” she responded playfully,“We had many conversations before you left, did we not?”
“You know I mean the one we had during the ride we took the day before the confrontation,” he returned.
“I do,” Elizabeth blushed, agreeing that she knewexactlywhat he was referring to.
“I do not want to run afoul of Andrew but am I correct in believing that you too were referring to the future as well as the present, the same as I was?” he asked, praying that her answer would be in the affirmative.
“You did not misunderstand my meaning, and I am glad to say, it seems neither did I yours,” she offered, her smile growing in time with his. Neither had said the words that were with each breath harder to hold in, but they finally knew that it was mutual in both regard and intent. Knowing it was now but a matter of time, both were able to face the coming months more easily, as they knew they would walk whatever path it was they would find together.
Back to November/December 1808
Since May, the family had known that something had transpired between the two, which caused the looks between them to become far more tender and contented than they had been before. The lack of anxiety, the lack of furtive glances, were more what gave them away than anything else. Will smiled to himself as he recalled the conversation he had had with Andrew before the Fitzwilliams had departed for Snowhaven.
Andrew had requested that Will join him in the sitting room of the suite he and Marie shared. Will had been asked to sit, but even before Andrew spoke, the look of concern l told Will what, or more correctly, who his cousin wanted to discuss.
“Have you declared yourself to my sister?” Andrew asked pointedly.
“That would be problematic as Anne is already married,” Will replied, trying to inject some humour into the tense meeting.
“Do not be purposefully obtuse,” Andrew shot back,“You know I mean Elizabeth!”
“Peace, Andrew, I was attempting humour, but I obviously have fewer skills than even I thought.” Will held up a hand to ward off a retort, that statement gaining a slight smirk, and both settled into their seats.
“It is not the time to try though you will need it when facing Father Bennet. Now please, answer my question.” Andrew nodded for him to speak.
“No, I have made no declaration. Do you think me devoid of all honour that I would do so knowing that it is against your expressed wishes until after Lizzy is out?” He had not lied; he had made nodeclaration.
“So, you have no understanding with my sister?” Andrew pressed.
“If you are asking if we have a secret courtship or betrothal, then no, we do not. If she has me, I will be seeking such an understanding as soon as you allow me to pay my addresses to her.” Will looked directly at his cousin so Andrew could read just how serious he was.
“I want her to have at least three months of a season, the same that I know father wanted for her, before you or anyone else declares for her,” Andrew replied with resignation.“What will you ask her for?”
“Do you truly believe that we who have known one another for almost seventeen years would require a courtship to become well known to one another?” Will challenged.
Andrew was silent for a minute, and Will watched his cousin become reconciled to the fact that his baby sister would soon leave his home.“If Lizzy accepts you, I will grant whatever she does; but if it is a betrothal, it too will not be shorter than three months!”
They had shaken hands and parted.
Will could not but remember the conversation with pleasure. He knew what question he was going to ask but was determined to offer the option of courtship if Lizzy desired more time. After he had left Andrew’s sitting room, Will had shared it with his parents.
Neither looked surprised, and both stated that they would love to have Lizzy as a daughter-in-law. The two younger Darcys were not canvassed, but there was no doubt that Georgiana had been hoping for years that Elizabeth would one day be her sister.
