Page 80 of Her Favourite Daughter

“Bethie, you know we will assist you in any way we are able,” Lady Amelia stated.

She cogitated about how she wanted to broach the subject and decided that she needed to be direct. “I told you how the day after my entry into society, William Darcy wanted to declare himself, but I told him I needed more time, did I not?” Bethany asked.

“You did,” Fanny replied while Amelia nodded her head in agreement.

“It was the correct thing at the time,” Bethany stated. “However, I was wrong to tell him to wait until I reach my majority. I have learnt all about my duties, and I realise that had I not stopped William then, we would be married by now, and he would be able to share the load I carry in taking care of all those dependent upon me and the dukedom.”

“What is it you are asking us?” Lady Amelia enquired.

“How can I tell William that I am ready for him to declare himself, and as I love him most ardently, there is no need for a courtship?” Bethany queried.

“As you two have been courting in everything but name for two years, I agree, a courtship would be superfluous,” Fanny said with a smile. “Only you two would make it more complicated than it is.”

“We have not been…” Bethany stopped herself as she thought back over the last two years. “I suppose we have been courting.”

“Bethie, dear, are you aware that with your rank being so much higher than William’s, you could grab the bull by the horns and make your desires clear to him? It is one of the advantages of being a duchess. Who is going to tell you that it is not proper?” Lady Amelia related with a wide smile on her face.

“I could propose to William?” Bethie asked excitedly.

“You could,” Lady Amelia replied succinctly. “I know from Anne that William is trying to give you the time and distance he thinks you need, so if you take the initiative, I do not believe William will repine it. As you are a duchess and he is a viscount, if who proposed to whom became known, no one would be able to criticise you. Besides, I believe you will find you have an ally in Queen Charlotte.”

Bethany was aware how sad the Queen had been when she had admitted the need for the regency. Her Majesty loved King George III deeply. She mourned the man he used to be before the insanity took over his person.

Since her come out, Bethany, Mother, and Mamma had been invited to join Her Majesty for tea several times. They had been witness to the strain the Queen tried to disguise as her beloved husband slipped further and further into the madness which gripped him.

“Mamma, will you please invite the Darcys to join us for dinner today or tomorrow if today is too soon?” Bethany requested.

It was not long before Fanny had scribed invitations and sent a footman on his way to Darcy and Conyers Houses. When the reply came, Fanny was pleased to tell Bethie that both had replied in the affirmative for dinner that day, the first Friday of March.

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

Conyers could not have been more pleased to receive the invitation to Bennet House. He had walked to Darcy House and discovered that Mother and Father were available that same evening.

The Darcys had just arrived and been welcomed to Bennet House. Giana was soon with Kitty and Mary, their heads together. If anyone saw the surreptitious looks Giana gave James, followed by a pretty blush, no one mentioned it. James was oblivious. Said Bennet heir was seated with Conyers and Sir William Collins while the patriarchs were speaking across the room. The ladies of the older generation were grouped together, which left Bethany and Caroline next to one another.

Bethany had been debating internally about whether or not to ask William if they could speak. Just then, she reminded herself that she did not allow anything or anyone to intimidate her. “Please excuse me, Caroline, I have something I need to do,” she said as she stood.

Even while he spoke to Bennet and Collins, Conyers always knew where Bethie was in a room. He saw her stand and glide over to where he was speaking to her brother and cousin. He knew not what she was about, so he waited.

“William…” Two men looked at her. “Darcy,” Bethany qualified. “Would you join me? I will speak to you.” She used the commanding voice she employed when she was discharging her ducal duties. When William did not stand right away, she arched one eyebrow in question.

It was not that he did not want to stand and follow Bethie anywhere she wanted; it was simply that Conyers had been momentarily frozen by her request. As soon as she arched one eyebrow above her mesmerising emerald-green eyes, Conyers was snapped out of the stupor. He stood. “I am yours and will follow you anywhere you lead.”

Thankfully Bethany had spoken to Papa and gained his permission when she had told him what she intended to do. Hence, when she passed him, he nodded to her and returned to the conversation he was having with Uncle Robert and Cousin Clem.

As had been agreed upon, John and Brian were standing outside of the study. Bethany led William into the room and pushed the door as far closed as she was allowed to, leaving it open about three inches.

“The day after my coming-out ball you wanted to declare yourself for me, but I stopped you and told you I needed time,” Bethany began. “I was both right and wrong that day. I did need time, just not three years like I had thought I did. In fact, I have been ready for about six months now, but after insisting I needed three years, I did not know how to tell you about my change of heart.”

On entering the study, Conyers’s look had been an inquisitive one, but now, the more Bethie spoke, the wider his smile became. “Bethie, you are too generous to trifle with me. Are you saying what I think, hope, you are saying?” Conyers enquired.

“William, I will clarify things for you. In vain I have struggled without you. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed any longer. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I love, respect, and admire you. My feelings have deepened since the day I asked you to wait for me. I was almost in love with you then. I reached that state shortly after that day, even if I was not ready to admit it to myself. It is quite simple; I absolutely cannot live without you at my side any longer. My fervent desire is that you will be my partner in all things. I know it is the province of men to propose marriage; however, I am reliably informed that a duchess may propose to a man of lesser rank than herself. Forget about my rank; I am here with you, a woman standing before a man, asking him to love her and be her husband. William Alexander Robert Darcy, Viscount Conyers, will you marry me?”

Conyers had dreamt of being married to Bethie the previous night, as he did every night. He had woken up thinking about her perfection. She had been in his thoughts any time he was not occupied, and then, the invitation had arrived. From the time he and his parents had accepted, he had thought of nothing else but seeing her again, basking in her company. Now he stood on the precipice of all his dreams for his future marital felicity being realised.

He knew it was late in the process, but he came and stood before her and sank to one knee. Then he took her hands within his own. “Bethie, Lady Bethany Anne Elaine Osborne, also known as Elizabeth Rose Bennet, I care not which of us proposes to the other, as long as we end up in church, say our vows, and marry one another. There is only one reply I am able to give you, and that is a resounding and emphatic yes. I would have described my love for you with the words you used to speak of yours for me. To that, I will add that my love for you is deeper than the deepest ocean. It is more than love; there is endless respect as well. Since you began to take over management of your estates and other properties, I have seen how generous of spirit and charitable you are to your dependents.

“Unlike how I used to be, you never look down your nose at anyone, be they servant, tradesman, or noble. From the first time we met, without trying, you began to make me a better man. I could never marry any other than you.”