Page 79 of Her Favourite Daughter

None assembled on the landing pointed out that the baron had not used the correct name; rather, reverting back to what he had called her for more than sixteen years.

Mr Ronson struck the floor below three times with his staff. Conversation ceased and all eyes concentrated on the stairs. “Lady Bethany Anne Elaine Osborne, the suo jure Duchess of Leeds,” the butler intoned as Her Grace and Lord Meryton reached the fourth step from the bottom.

William Darcy, Viscount Conyers, felt his mouth go dry when he beheld the magnificence of the woman he had recently admitted to himself owned his heart. She always looked beautiful, but this night she exceeded his imagination. He had to fight his speeding heart hammering in his chest while he watched her glide down the stairs on Meryton’s arm. He was very pleased he had the pleasure of dancing two sets with her; if only he had been allowed to claim the first as well. He was well aware why that could not be.

As soon as Bethany and her father reached the ballroom floor, a door on one side of the massive room opened, and as everyone bowed and curtsied, the Prince of Wales and Princess Elizabeth entered. Prince George inclined his head, and everyone stood up straight again.

Soon enough, Mother called the first set and Bethany was led to the head of the line by his Highness. Papa opened the ball with Princess Elizabeth. After the Prince’s five minutes, Papa replaced him while the two royals took their leave.

Bethany found herself greatly anticipating the supper and final sets.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Conyers called at Leeds House relatively early given that the previous night’s ball had ended a little before four in the morning. He was hoping that Bethie was like him and rose about the same time each day, regardless of the time Morpheus claimed her.

He was not disappointed. She was seated in the library sipping a cup of hot chocolate. “Good morning, Bethie,” Conyers greeted warmly.

“And to you, William,” Bethany returned.

“When you have completed drinking your beverage, would you agree to take a turn in St James Park with me?” Conyers requested.

“You know me too well to think I would ever refuse to take some exercise,” Bethany responded. She drained her cup and stood. She accepted William’s arm as they made their way to the front doors where John and Brian were waiting for her.

The stroll to the park was less than five minutes from the house. They walked, speaking of rather banal subjects until Conyers suggested they sit on a bench. Once they were seated, he was soon up and pacing back and forth. Then he sat again. “Bethie, I want to ask you…” Conyers stopped speaking when she placed a restraining hand on his closest forearm to her.

“William, if it is one of the two questions I will be ready to hear in the future, I urge you to wait. I am still learning my duties and, given the changes that will happen when I reach my majority, my preference is to enter a courtship or engagement after that age,” Bethany explained. She saw the look of disappointment on William’s face. “You must know that when I am ready to contemplate that next step, my wish is that it will be you who will want to ask me to take it with you. This is not because of you, William. It is for me.”

When Conyers heard her words, he felt much lighter. If he needed to wait three years for her, then so be it. His love for her would only strengthen and not wane with the passage of time.

When Bethany saw the dimple-revealing smile, which only enhanced his already very handsome features, she understood that William accepted that she needed some time before she was ready to move forward. With everything that required her attention she was sure her decision to wait was the correct one. Bethany had many duties, and as such, there were times where her own desires would need to be deferred.

This was such a time. She already had very tender feelings for William, and she was sure that it would be easy to love him.

With the big men trailing them, they walked back towards Leeds House.

Chapter 30

March 1811

A month after the Prince of Wales became the Regent, Bethany would reach the ripe old age of twenty. This year, she knew what birthday gift she wanted to give herself, but she needed to speak to Mamma and Mother first.

In the past two years since she came out, she had been very busy running her estates and homes. As much time as she dedicated to the management of the dukedom’s interests, William Darcy was never far from her thoughts. There were many times when she was convinced she had erred in asking him to wait to declare himself; but there were other times when she was immersed in making decisions which affected the lives of many dependent upon her, and she knew that her wanting more time was a wise choice. She ignored the stubborn voice in her head which insisted that had she moved forward with him, he would have been at her side to share the burdens she carried.

During the years since she entered society, the family had continued to grow. Jane had birthed the heir to the Matlock Earldom on the seventeenth day of May 1809, two days before James Bennet’s birthday. James’s only complaint was that Jane should have waited two more days and delivered young Thomas Reginald on the day of his birth.

Some seven months past, Anne Smythe had delivered a healthy boy, the new Viscount Peterborough, heir to the Granville Earldom. Then within the last three months, both Charlotte and Caroline had delivered healthy sons. For the former, this was her second son, while the latter had been blessed with her first son. It was the fourth grandchild for the Earl and Countess of Matlock and second for Ophelia and Clem Collins.

In April upcoming, it would be Mary’s turn to make her curtsy and come out into society. So far, much to Mary’s pleasure, there was no suitor on the horizon. She would share the day and the ball with Lady Petunia Smythe. Anne and Harry Smythe, along with their younger sister, were visiting friends in Kent and would arrive in London on the morning of Bethany’s birthday. After Mary came out, it would only be Kitty—who would be sixteen in August—who was left in, something she did not repine.

On the Darcy side, Giana would celebrate her fifteenth birthday the day before Bethany turned twenty. In the last months since James had completed his studies at Cambridge in May of the previous year, whenever Giana looked at him, she blushed. Bethany thought it very amusing that her brother had not an inkling that Giana was infatuated with him. Bethany could not blame Giana for her good taste in men. James was tall—only an inch shorter than William Darcy—and was rather handsome. Along with that, he was a very good and honourable man. It still felt strange for Bethany to think of her mischievous brother as a man. But that was what he was. In May, he would reach his majority.

The extended family and close friends had arrived in London in mid-February past. This included the Lucases, who were being hosted with Charlotte and Richard at Fitzwilliam House in Berkeley Square. Rather than at Leeds House, Bethany and Mother were with the Bennets and Collinses at Bennet House in Portman Square. Since his elevation to baron, Meryton had not wanted to change the name of the house to Meryton House, and his Fanny had agreed with him. The house was far smaller than Leeds House but still more than large enough to accommodate all of them and have space for more guests.

Having Jane, Andrew, and little Tom practically next door was a great inducement to be at Bennet House for Bethany. Where Charlotte, Richard, and their sons lived was less than a mile distant; Grosvenor Square, where the Fitzwilliam and Darcy parents, as well as Conyers House, were located, was barely a quarter mile from the Bennets’ dwelling. Although Bethany would not admit it aloud, the fact that the distance from Leeds House in St James Square to William Darcy’s house in Grosvenor Square was four times greater had factored into her decision to be hosted by Mamma and Papa.

Knowing that her feelings would no longer be repressed, Bethany requested that her two mothers meet her in Mamma and Papa’s private sitting room.

“Thank you for indulging my need to speak to both of you,” Bethany said nervously once she joined Mamma and Mother in the sitting room.