Page 81 of Her Favourite Daughter

While Conyers was kneeling, Bethany bent and gave him a quick, chaste kiss on his lips. His reaction was to jump up and pull Bethie into the circle of his arms as he lowered his head so his lips could meet hers.

He captured her lips with his own and proceeded to shower her with deep kisses, all of which were very different from the quick, chaste kiss she had initiated. Each one was slow and deep, soft, and stirringly thorough; Bethany felt it all over her body, all the way to the pit of her stomach and lower still, and she responded with a natural sensuality which made Conyers thirst for more. He had known all along that she was a beautiful woman and suspected she had hidden depths of passion. It was most gratifying to discover his estimation had been accurate.

His heart rate had sped up to the extent that it felt like the speed of Zeus’s hooves striking the ground at full gallop. The reality of her kisses was so much better than they had been when he could only imagine kissing Bethie.

Bethany felt lightheaded and dizzy from the searing kisses William bestowed. Her breath was ragged, and there were frissons of pleasure shooting every which way in her body. His surprisingly soft lips had sent her mind reeling. He had lifted his head to look and make sure she was sanguine with what he was doing, which she most certainly was.

She smiled as she blushed; William was staring intently at her. Their gazing into one another’s eyes held, until Bethany tilted her head to indicate she wanted more kisses. He obliged her forthwith, and their lips were once again upon each other’s. There was a certain fervour to their movements, an urgent need to be closer. She wrapped her arms about his shoulders, lifting one hand and running it through his unruly curls.

At some point, either John or Brian cleared his throat, which broke the passionate stupor in which they had been lost. They reluctantly stepped back from one another. While William put himself to rights, Bethany pulled the door open all the way so that the guards outside would relax.

“I do not know about you, but I would not like a very lengthy engagement,” Conyers stated once his heart rate had slowed somewhat.

“In that we agree,” Bethany returned breathlessly. “There is a calendar on Papa’s desk; we can look at it and decide on a date between us. Before you ask, my Bennet and Osborne parents were aware I intended to propose, so none of them will be surprised.”

They chose Friday the nineteenth day of April, the day before Mary turned nineteen. She was to be presented the following Thursday, and the joint ball for her and Petunia would be held that night. Mary had delayed her entry into society so that she and Petunia would be able to be together and share a ball. They would remain at Conyers House until the day of the presentation—Bethany was to present Mary along with her mamma—and they would attend the ball. Their wedding trip would begin the next day. Now, all they needed to do was reveal their plans to their parents and other family members who were present.

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

In the drawing room, when Lady Anne had questioned what Bethie was about in asking William to join her in the study, Amelia and Fanny had quietly told her what the purpose was. Ophelia, being resident at Bennet House, was aware, but she felt it was not her place to say anything to Anne Darcy.

As she was the only one of the group of families without any grandchild, Lady Anne had expressed her joy, rather loudly.

Hence, by the time the newly engaged couple arrived back in the drawing room, their news was met with great joy, but no surprise. Seeing that she had not asked Mamma or Mother to keep her intention secret, Bethie could not complain. Word was sent to Hilldale, Matlock, and Fitzwilliam Houses to invite the occupants to an impromptu celebratory dinner. A note was sent to the Gardiners in Gracechurch Street with the same message.

Bennet House saw a large and boisterous celebration that evening. Jane, Charlotte, and Caroline all expressed how pleased they were that Bethie was also to join them in the married state.

The first thing the next day, Mother sent a note to Her Majesty, as she did not want the Crown to be uninformed when the notice appeared in the papers two days hence. That way the royals would have more than enough time to react to the news.

The same afternoon that the note was sent to the queen, one was received from Buckingham House inviting the suo jure Duchess of Leeds, the Dowager Duchess of Leeds, Lord and Lady Holderness, Lord and Lady Meryton, and Lord Conyers to take tea with Her Majesty the next day, the day before the notice would be carried in the papers.

Both Queen Charlotte and the Prince Regent bestowed their blessing for the match. The one demand that Her Majesty had was that the wedding would be held at her chapel—Westminster Abbey—with the ceremony conducted by her vicar—the Archbishop of Canterbury—so that she and a group of her children would be able to attend.

As one did not gainsay Her Majesty, especially not in her own house, it was so agreed.

Chapter 31

Like wildfire, word spread through the Ton that Lady Bethany Osborne, the suo jure Duchess of Leeds, was engaged to Lord Fitzwilliam Darcy, Viscount Conyers.

There were many parents of eligible sons and daughters who would have preferred their child be the one to marry the fabulously wealthy duchess or the very wealthy viscount. It was well known that there were many connections between the families, not the least of which was that the engaged couple were distant cousins.

With the unequivocal support of the Prince Regent and Her Majesty the Queen, none in society were willing to feel the wrath of the Crown if they erred and spoke out against the match or the families involved.

As such, any who felt that way and had the opportunity to see the engaged couple or any of their family members, bit the inside of the cheeks and paid every arrear of civility, accompanied by sincere-sounding wishes of congratulations. Further, much as they might be jealous that it was not their son or daughter as the one betrothed to one or the other, they would do nothing to harm their chances of being invited to the wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey and the wedding breakfast, which would be held at the massive mansion which was Leeds House. Many wanted to see and be seen at the wedding. There was also much interest in seeing the inside of Leeds House, a privilege very few outside of a circle of family and close friends had ever enjoyed.

Hence, whenever members of the family and close friends were seen shopping to complete Lady Bethany’s trousseau, they would be fawned over by those hoping to be invited to the most anticipated wedding since Princess Charlotte married Frederick I, King of Württemberg in May of 1797 at the Chapel Royal at St James’s palace. Thanks to the young Duchess of Leeds marrying Viscount Conyers at Westminster Abbey, there was far more room than at the Chapel Royal, so many were hopeful.

It was well known that none but those bearing invitations would be allowed into the Abbey to witness the nuptials. Those who attempted to ingratiate themselves did not realise that their behaviour made it certain they would not receive an invitation to the ceremony or the celebratory meal following it.

Any who thought to try and force their way in would have to contend with Biggs, Johns, and their men. If that were not enough, there would be a contingent of the Royal Guards at the church and house afterward. The reason was simple. The Queen, Prince Regent, and a half dozen princes and princesses would attend the wedding rites as well as the subsequent wedding breakfast. Her Majesty felt so warmly about the young duchess, she would not miss showing her approbation in the most public way.

While in London, Bethany had joined William to tour Conyers House with Mother, Mamma, and Mother Anne—which is what she called her soon-to-be mother-in-law now.

She was familiar with the layout of the house from all the times she had visited Darcy House. The reason was simple; the two houses were almost identical. Thanks to Mother Anne assisting William in redecorating after he reached his majority, Bethany found very little she felt needed to be changed. Other than the colour scheme in the mistress’s chamber, she did not ask for anything else to be redone.

The staff and servants who served at the house were charmed when it became apparent that their soon-to-be mistress only needed to be told a name once, and she did not forget it. Using their correct names like the master did, showed them a level of respect greatly appreciated. It only made them more determined to serve their employers that much better.

There was no time before the wedding to go to Conyers Run in central Nottinghamshire. However, seeing the estate before the wedding was not as important for two reasons. They would stop there for two days on the way to the Fitzwilliams’ house at Lake Windermere for their wedding trip. Also, their primary residence in the country would be Hornby Castle.