“You know how I feel about you, do you not, Lizzy?” Will asked as he looked deep into her shining eyes.
“Although we are not allowed to say the words yet, I believe that we are in complete accord on this subject,” Elizabeth replied as she held his gaze.
Neither spoke for some minutes, just basking in the comfort of their knowledge until they were reminded of the cold as the wind whipped up and over the crest of Oakham Mount, causing Elizabeth’s tresses to be pulled out from under the collar of her coat.“May I escort you back to Longbourn?” Will asked, to which Elizabeth nodded her agreement.
At the base of the hill, with Aggie bounding ahead of them, the couple walked back to Longbourn, trailed by Biggs and Johns, the latter leading Zeus. Words were not required for the looks they gave one another spoke volumes.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
A few days before the Twelfth Night Ball, Will requested the supper and final sets from Elizabeth, which she granted without delay. The only thing that she could repine was that he was only allowed to request two dances.
Much time had been spent on the last-minute details of her coming out ball, which was fast approaching. Elizabeth’s mother and Mother Bennet had at last reviewed every detail and finally pronounced the ball planned to their satisfaction.
On the first day of January 1799, Will had the supreme pleasure of consigning the calendar for 1798 to the fire in his chambers. With the first of January already crossed out, there was not much more than a fortnight before he would be dancing with Elizabeth at her ball. His wait was practically over.
He had berated himself for forgetting himself that morning on Oakham Mount even though Elizabeth had acquitted him of any fault in the matter. If Biggs had not cleared his throat, he knew that he would have kissed her, and then the question was, once he did, would he have been able to stop at one? There was no question of him going too far before they were married, as he knew they would be one day. He had discussed his almost kiss with his mother and asked if he needed to tell Andrew.
His mother had opined that as nothing actually happened, he should leave well enough alone. If he had kissed her, then, of course, he would have to tell his cousin. She told him flagellating himself for an action not taken would do nothing, as she was sure he would remember that moment even though there was no understanding between them and would not allow himself to be tempted to give in to his base urges with Elizabeth again.
The day before the Twelfth Night Ball, Elizabeth and Will sat in Longbourn’s library reading quietly. Mrs Annesley was sitting across from them, concentrating on her knitting.“Lizzy,” Will called her name softly to gain her attention.“I cannot wait for the time to pass before I am allowed to declare myself for you.” He said as he leaned in toward her to make sure that her companion could not hear his words.
“I too wish it will pass swiftly, Will,” Elizabeth responded shyly.“Talking about which, had Andrew given you his choice for when I am allowed to receive any declaration?”
“Yes, he had. He wants you to have the season. He will allow declarations to be made one week before we leave London to avoid the oppressive summer heat,” he informed her.“Before your season starts, I also want to own up to there being a time when I was jealous of the attention that Wes was paying you. As much as I would have hated it if he were the one you found your happiness with, I would have withdrawn from the field. Your happiness is the most important thing to me, Lizzy.”
“Wes returned to the attention of a family friend once he saw that I did not reciprocate any tender regard, and I believe it was because he noticed that my eyes always sought you out whenever we were in the same room. And,” she added,“I did notice the looks that you gave Wes when he paid me attention.” She stifled a giggle with her hand as she remembered some of those very deep scowls from that time.
“It pleases me that I was able to provide you such entertainment,” he quipped.“I could not help but stare at you, Lizzy. I hope that you know that you are the handsomest lady of my acquaintance, inside and out.”
“You are the most handsome man that I know, Will; also one of the best men that I know,” Elizabeth blushed as she made the admission.“Do you know that at first, I thought you were looking at me with disapproval or to find fault before I understood the truth?”
“My mother warned me that my intense looks might have been interpreted thusly. It is good that we understand one another now. Misunderstandings and baseless assumptions could have led to superfluous heartache for both of us.”
“There is much I would like to say and ask, but I am afraid that we have already come awfully close to the line Andrew drew between us. Soon, Will, soon we will be free to tell one another what is in our hearts,” Elizabeth promised softly.
Although the words had not been said or the declarations made, both felt the love that radiated from the other. There were no remaining doubts about if they would be together for the rest of their lives—it was just a question of when. At least Will would have the pleasure of the two dances at the upcoming ball.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Kitty Bennet had pouted when she was informed that she would not be allowed to attend the Twelfth Night Ball. At thirteen, she felt very grown-up, but her mother sat her down and explained that she would not be allowed to attend balls and dances in Meryton until she was sixteen and that it would be a further two years before she would be out in London society.
After her mother’s patient explanation, Kitty’s attitude had changed for the better, and she had both Mariah Lucas and Cara Long with her for company as they too were not allowed to attend the ball. The three would help look after the family's younger children while James, Tom, Alex, and John Lucas would overnight at Lucas Lodge. At least they had the children, and they had a rousing game of hide and seek planned for them, which they had all loved to play with Jane. Now that Jane was gone, it was time to turn the tide and for them to follow her example so that the same memories they cherished would be passed forward.
As William Bennet readied himself for the ball, he could not believe how fortune had shone on him earlier that day. Had it only been a few short hours ago when the trajectory of his life had shifted on its axis?
William had been invited to meet with Uncle George in his and his Aunt Anne’s sitting room.“Please sit,” Uncle George indicated an armchair.
“How may I be of assistance, Uncle George?” William asked as he took his seat.
“You graduate from the School of Divinity at Cambridge in April, do you not William?” George Darcy had asked, and William allowed that it was so.“I have spoken to your father, who informed me how proud he is of your achievements during your studies and that you have been at or near the top of your class consistently. When do you plan to take orders? I know some wait after they complete their studies as they take a grand tour.”
“It is my intention to take orders immediately after graduation. Father offered me a grand tour, but I decided that I would like to start doing God’s work as soon as I am able.” He offered his decision, which he felt was right for him.
“That is what I thought your answer would be. I know that you have spoken to Mr Pierce about a curacy under him here. Have you made a commitment to him yet?” Mr Darcy asked easily.
“We have spoken about it, but an offer was not made nor accepted. To what do these questions tend, Uncle George?” William asked, curious about the line of questioning which he could not determine a point to.
“The current rector, MrIgnatius Perkins, has notified me that after almost forty years of holding the three livings in my gift, Pemberley, Lambton, and Kympton, that he desires to retire by the end of this year. If you are interested, I would like to offer you a curacy to learn under Mr Perkins so that you will be able to take over the three livings when he retires.” George was amused at how round William’s eyes had grown during his explanation and could not quite bite back his smile.
