As the four entered the drawing room where the three families waited, Richard and the de Melvilles were announced. Elizabeth did not miss the look of happiness on her brother’s face.“Itch? Is there something that you need to tell us?” she asked suspiciously.
“Yes,” responded Richard in confusion. He did not miss the trays with champagne flutes ready on the sideboard, nor the expectant looks on everyone’s faces.“Wait, how did you know I would have news like this?”
“This was not for your news,” Andrew said as he looked pointedly at his sister and Will, who were standing next to one another with bemused expressions.
“Lizzy and Will? I thought not before June?” Richard frowned.
“I will explain after we toast them, and it seems you as well,” Andrew stated.“I was about to announce that Lizzy and Will have entered into a formal courtship. What is your news, brother?”
“That was to be my and Lord Jersey’s announcement as well,” Richard informed the gathering, although no one doubted that was the case as he had unconsciously reached out and twined his hands with Loretta, who beamed as she looked up at him. His clear preference and hope for closeness were a tell no one could fake; she had often seen her father reach for her mother thusly.
“In that case, we have a double celebration.” Andrew proposed a toast to Lizzy and Will, which Lord Cyril followed with one for Loretta and Richard. For those not privy to his reasoning, Andrew explained why he had changed his mind on the timing. He revealed that he would have granted a request to shorten his deadline to his sister’s birthday if he had been asked, which caused Elizabeth to give Will a smug‘I told you so’look.
Given the logic behind the expedited courtship, an announcement was sent to theTimesby Andrew, accompanied by one from Lord Cyril with the information on his daughter’s courtship. It was unprecedented to announce a courtship in the papers, but given the reasons for the courtships, it was decided that it was a prudent step.
Both couples accepted the congratulations and hugs with humour and amusement. It was long understood what would happen for Elizabeth and Will, but Richard and Loretta were the welcome surprise to ensure that this was truly a newsworthy day. Elizabeth was pleased that her friend Retta would one day become her sister.
As Elaine watched, her heart tightened with a tinge of sadness that her beloved Reggie was not there to share in the joy with the rest of his family. This would have been the happiest of days for him. For Lizzy and Will to come to the point, yes, but for his second son to have such a wonderful future ahead would have eased the last of his worries.
“Does that mean we will have two brothers named William?” Tom Bennet asked.
“That is why I am Will, and your brother is William, Tom,” Will grinned.
“You see, silly, and besides, Will is much taller than William,” Kitty told her twin brother.
“He is notthatmuch taller!” Tom did not enjoy being corrected by his sister.
It was decided that an impromptu celebratory dinner would be held at Matlock House. The previously planned dinners from Darcy House and Bennet House would be brought over to make sure there was sufficient repast for all.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next morning as he broke his fast, the Earl of Granville was reading theTimes of London. He was busy scheming as to how he would affect a compromise, if needed, to gain Lady Elizabeth’s dowry of, he believed, greater than one hundred thousand pounds. Like many of his ilk, he over-calculated his ability to charm and was confident that he could direct her away from Darcy—after all, Darcy had no title. He was feeling smug until he reached the society pages and read the two announcements. He went into a rage which sent dishes flying from the table and crashing to the ground in a mess of food and broken china.
“This will not deter me!” he yelled at the wall.“I will have to compromise the chit, and the sooner, the better.” He was sure they would be at some of the same balls, so he stalked to his study to see what invitations he had received. When he saw none, he yelled for his butler. When no one came, he remembered that he had let the man go as he could no longer afford the salary. He then summoned his housekeeper, one of the handful of servants that he retained.
“Yes, my Lord,” the woman curtsied to the master.
“Where are all of my invitations?” he demanded.
“There are none, my Lord,” came the answer, and he angrily waved her away.
He did not want to think about it, but it was not the first season that the invitations had dried up. His gaming and cavorting had become the fodder of many a scandal. His behaviour on its own would not have caused his being distanced by the Ton, but he had been involved in too many scandals, and word that he was not able to meet his financial obligations had not helped. He threw the snifter of brandy in his hand into the fire, causing a momentary flash of flames as the alcohol was consumed. He would have to pay attention to her habits and see if he could catch her out and about one day.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After the announcements had been published, both couples received a note of royal congratulations and an invitation for Lady Elizabeth and her suitor to Buckingham House. There were many other congratulatory notes received, even though some who had hoped to have the lady or her suitor as a daughter or son did so begrudgingly, but would not do anything to run afoul of such a powerful family.
The fortune-hunting daughters and parents mourned the loss of the Honourable Mr Richard Fitzwilliam as well once word of his true worth was discovered. For their male counterparts, the loss of Lady Loretta and her five and thirty thousand was not a happy occasion.
Elizabeth immersed herself in the season, enjoying the balls and soirées that she attended. The fact that Will was always with her made her enjoy that much more. Now that they were formally courting, Andrew had lifted his two-dance restriction, so the two routinely danced the first, supper, and final sets at each ball that they attended.
Richard and Loretta were revelling in their courtship, and they would dance the same three sets as Will and Lizzy at any ball they attended together. The more time they spent in one another’s company, the more they both understood none was better suited to either of them. They talked about anything and everything and quickly discovered they had many interests in common, not the least of which was horses. Loretta did not just love to ride; she would join her father’s hunt as well.
It looked like Wes was fated to be Richard’s brother, just not how they would have preferred it to happen. As yet, he did not have a lady that excited his interest; but he did have to admit he had never held the depth of feeling Will Darcy had for Elizabeth, and in seeing their evident love, he finally accepted that what he felt was no more than an infatuation.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As it usually was, the visit to Buckingham House was a roaring success. The Queen seemed to never tire of hearing Lady Elizabeth Fitzwilliam play and sing. The royal stamp of approval was bestowed on the couple from her majesty. Once they married, the Darcys would become distant cousins to the royals, so the Queen’s approval was positive, especially as it would become widely known in society that the possible match was looked on with a friendly eye by the royal family.
