Chapter 16 #3
“I could never think thusly of you Jane,” he prevaricated as he led her to the dance floor. His dance passed in relative silence as well.
Before she knew it, it was the final set and Perry was there to collect her again.
The hum of comments about the preference that the eligible duke had shown the obvious diamond of the season was undeniable already and the hum rose to a crescendo of dashed dreams of many ladies wanting to become the next Duchess of Bedford and their parents who wanted it for themselves as much as their daughters.
After the final set, Jane was returned to her parents by Perry, who requested an audience with Bennet in the morning. His request was granted with resignation that he was about to lose his oldest daughter to another man.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Perry arrived at ten on the dot and was shown into Mr Gardiner’s study where Bennet awaited him. “You asked to see me,” Bennet opened.
“I did Mr Bennet; I would like your permission to request Jane, Miss Bennet’s, hand in marriage,” he got right to the point.
“You want a betrothal! What about a courtship first?” Bennet tried to gain some more time with his Jane.
“Mr Bennet, we both know that I have been courting Jane unofficially for well over a year. What do you think that a courtship will achieve except more time at home for Jane?” he asked pointedly.
“I hate to admit that you are correct, your Grace. The sad part is that I know full well that Jane is more than ready to accept you. Just please make her happy,” he capitulated.
“As you are to be my father-in-law, I think that the time is nigh that you call me Perry. Jane’s well-being and happiness will be my absolute priority until I draw my last breath.
I love her more than I thought possible, I think that I have from the day that we bumped into one another outside of this very house,” Perry shared.
“In that case, Perry, you have my consent and blessing to ask her and the same if, no when, she accepts you. Welcome to the family, son. I suppose you may call me Father Bennet, or Bennet, whichever you prefer.” Bennet stood and shook his daughter’s suitor’s hand.
“There is one stipulation, young man. I will not allow a wedding date before Jane is eighteen on…” He did not finish as Perry did that for him.
“On the fifteenth of January. I believe that I can wait two and a half months,” Perry grinned.”
“Wait here, I will send Jane in; you have ten minutes, and you know the door will be cracked.” Perry nodded as Bennet went to collect Jane. A few minutes later Jane walked into her uncle’s study.
“My father said that you would like to talk to me, Lord Perry,” Jane said shyly.
“He is correct.” Perry sunk to one knee while he held the hands of the woman that he loved.
“Jane Bennet, since the day that we bumped into one another I have known that you are the only woman for me. You are everything that I have ever wanted in a wife, and I love you most ardently and will do so for the rest of my life. Jane Florence Bennet will you do me the honour and make me the happiest of men? Will you marry me?” Perry was worried because Jane was silent.
“If you need a courtship first then…” Jane placed her finger on his lips.
“Silly man, I was just savouring your words. I too love you Perry, more than I am able to articulate coherently. I love you so much that it aches, and I hate being parted from you; so yes, Perry, I will marry you.”
Perry stood and gently lifted Jane’s chin with his finger.
He looked at her for permission and saw no trepidation, only welcome.
His head lowered to her as she stood on her tiptoes to meet him in the middle as their lips met for the very first time with a chaste kiss.
He pulled back to make sure she was comfortable and saw only welcome.
The next kiss was anything but chaste as they tasted one another for the first time.
Before they could allow their lips and tongues to duel too much, there was a knock on the door and they jumped apart.
Bennet entered and looked at his daughter’s swollen lips and then at Perry with a warning look.
“I assume that you have accepted Perry, Jane,” Bennet stated.
All she could do was nod her head most emphatically as she was not ready to talk yet.
“Did he tell you about the earliest date that I set for your wedding?” Jane shook her head worried that her father would make them wait for six months or a heaven forbid, a year!
Perry saw the concern on his betrothed’s face. “Not too long, Jane, your father requires that we wait until you are eighteen.” He had a wide grin on his face as he saw Jane relax with relief.
“Well then, how about on the fifteenth? No wait, if memory serves, my birthday falls on the Sabbath this year, so the sixteenth?” Perry nodded his agreement and Bennet reluctantly added his agreement.
“As we are all due at Matlock House to watch a young lady of fifteen school you in chess, Bennet, what say you that we make the announcement there? I will send a notification to the papers; I happen to have one ready.” Perry sheepishly handed over the prepared notice to Bennet.
“Rather confident were we not?” Bennet quipped as he returned it to Perry. While getting ready, Perry asked Mr Gardiner if he could have one of his grooms deliver the note to the Times.
Bennet valued his life, so he told his wife right away; she happily exclaimed: “Oh I knew how it would be. Our daughter will be happy and loved.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth’s maid was fixing her hair when she heard the commotion of arriving guests. She took her cross and put it on and then started down to the drawing room. She heard the congratulations being given. She assumed that her brother-in-law Perry had proposed to Miss Bennet and been accepted.
As the congratulations were flowing, Bennet turned and noticed the same portrait that had caught Jane’s attention when she was in the same room.
As if in a trance, he walked toward the portrait while his wife and children watched him.
He stopped in front of the painting and stared.
He was looking at his mother. The girl in the painting could have been her twin in the portrait that was painted when his late mother was but fourteen. He felt like he was dreaming.
“Who is this girl?” he asked.
“Why, that is me.” He turned around and it seemed like time stood still.
There in the doorway was his mother, and she was wearing her cross.
At first, he thought he was in a dream as he watched Jane walk to where the apparition stood.
Jane lifted the cross and turned it while Elizabeth stood unmoving as everyone else watched in fascination, not sure what was happening. There was silence until Jane read:
For my Elizabeth
She looked at the young woman still standing perfectly still in front of her as she raised her hand to her face. “It is you, Lizzy!” With tears streaming down her cheeks, Jane threw her arms around her long-lost sister who was still standing open mouthed in shock as pandemonium broke out.
The End of Book 2