Chapter 28
After almost a week of seclusion, the newlywed Fitzwilliams took their first ride into Brighton to walk along the pier and to see the Pavilion.
The ride was less than an hour. They had decided against using the carriage in order to exercise their horses and had allowed the horses their head over a nice flat stretch of land.
They were accompanied by two armed outriders acting as bodyguards.
Once they were close to the pier, they dismounted.
One outrider walked behind them, not close enough to be obtrusive, yet close enough if he was needed.
The other took charge of the horses to make sure that they rested and were watered once they cooled down.
They promenaded along the pier, taking in the myriad sights and sounds to the backdrop of the sound of waves and the cawing of gulls overhead.
They stopped to purchase some hard sweets from a shop and then made the relatively short walk to the Royal Pavilion.
As they looked at the ostentatious and somewhat gaudy structure, Jane had asked how one could tell that the Regent was in residence.
“Do you see the Royal standard is flying?” Richard pointed out the flag flying above the domed roof to his beloved wife.
She nodded her head. “That means that Prinny and perhaps some of his siblings are in residence. If you like, we can let them know we are here and we would be invited to a lavish dinner or one of the decadent parties that are thrown here.”
Jane smiled but declined after only a short consideration, “No Richard, possibly another time. We only have another fortnight before we travel to Brookfield where we will both be busy with our roles as master and mistress of the estate. Call me selfish if you like, but I want to spend as much time with just you as possible.” Richard kissed his wife on her cheek, just catching himself as he was about to claim her lips but at the last moment diverted after remembering just in time that they were in public.
“You will hear no complaint from me, my love,” he murmured in her ear. “The more time we spend with each other, the happier I am. Let us return to Seaview, I would like to show you just how much I enjoy being alone with my wife!” Jane turned red, then crimson before returning to a pink blush.
“Lead the way husband,” she retorted, as she felt the excitement and her body readied for all he insinuated and more.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The day that the rest of the Ashbys returned to their estate, Anne de Bourgh returned with them.
Originally, she was to return to Rosings Park and her betrothed would have returned to Hunsford to be hosted at the parsonage by the new vicar.
Because Ashby was hosting Granville at Sherwood Park, he had notified Harrison that he would not be returning for now.
Rather than be separated from his betrothed, he had his mother extend the invitation for Anne to join the family at Ashbury.
His brother and sister-in-law were at Amberleigh for the summer, giving his parents time to get to know Anne.
Ashby knew they would love her when he first met her, but it was nice to see it happen before his eyes.
The informal courtship had so far been very gratifying for both Granville and Lady Sarah.
The Tatler had heralded the news that the elusive and enigmatic Earl of Granville was seen at a play, the opera, and a museum with the same lady, one Lady Sarah Ashby.
The few members of the Ton still in town had a lot to say about the lady who seemed to have captured the reluctant bachelor.
Those mamas with daughters who had tried and failed to capture his notice were particularly envious.
The more that Lord Harold Smythe got to know Sarah Ashby, the more he liked her. He had never thought himself a romantic, but was certainly being so now and knew that he was falling in love. What he did not know was if the lady felt the same about him.
Until the gathering hosted by the Bennets, she had never met a man that respected her as Granville did, especially since she was reluctant to play the games of the Ton. He was the only man she had met that treated her as an intelligent being, not a member of the supposedly weaker and inferior sex.
Lady Ashbury could clearly see what was happening, even if neither member of the couple could see it for themselves yet.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
That same day in Hertfordshire, Mrs Chandler, the groom, and footman had just managed to catch up to Lord Hugh Rhys-Davies and Lady Mary Bennet who had given the mares they were riding their head for a nice long gallop.
They had arrived in an area of wildflowers with a brook running through it.
Handing their horses to the groom, the couple indicated that they would be taking a short walk but would remain within sight of Mary’s companion and the two men at all times.
It was a little over a week since the wedding and the couple that was already in love were completely and irrevocably besotted.
If he was less of a gentleman and she less of a lady, they would have done a lot more than kissing already.
Mary became weak-kneed when he looked at her with the dark, smouldering look of desire and love she had lately been allowed to glimpse.
She had never felt any attraction to a man before Hugh, never mind the animal magnetism that she felt with him.
At some level she had worried that she may be a wanton, but she trusted the man that she loved and knew that he trusted her.
However, the love they shared would be unique to them.
They found an old tree trunk that had the top levelled by someone to act as a bench and sat down in full view of the chaperones but well out of earshot.
Hugh took her hands gently in his own and made little circles on her wrists with his thumbs.
“Mary, my love, you know you are my love, my other half. There has never been, nor will there ever be another,” he said lovingly all the while watching her intently.
“I feel the same about you, Hugh,” she answered with a soft sigh. “Each day that we have to be parted is torture for me. I love you more than I ever thought that one could love another.”
“If it were not for the time imposed by your father…Mary,” he looked into her dark eyes as he formulated his question. “If we were allowed to become betrothed, would you still need more time?”
“No, I would not!” she stated with vehemence that surprised him. “However, I will do nothing to go against Papa’s authority.”
“I would never suggest such a thing.” he reassured her.
“I am asking if you would support me were I to apply to your father to give us a reprieve and allow me to pay my addresses now. It is surely what I want to do, as surely as the sun will set in the west and rise in the east. Do you see a reason to delay if your father agrees?”
“Yes, Hugh. I will stand by you if you make that request, as it too would be the answer my heart’s desire to hear you speak for us.
I need to be yours, only yours. I have gone as far as Mary Bennet can walk this path in her childhood home.
I ache to travel forward with you, to be your wife, to make our home, to have our children, to be yours as God surely has intended.
In all ways He intended,” she stated, blushing because he knew that as much as he wanted her, she ached for him, needed him, and he was desperate to give into her in all ways she wished.
“In that case love,” he stood and helped pull her up, “I think that we should return to go see our parents.”
Mary met her suitor in the entrance hall after she had changed out of her riding habit into a day dress. They walked into the drawing room where both sets of parents were sitting and talking.
When they walked in and Bennet saw the determined glint in their eyes, he knew exactly what was going to happen.
Beside him his wife tried to hide her smile so he knew that she too knew and he had to reign himself in and pretend to be a little stern.
It had been a near thing with them as well and he appreciated that they were truly respectful despite the hardship he had imposed.
‘I am about to lose a bet. Bedford was correct, saying they will ask to become betrothed before the week was out and it looks like today is the day.’
“Is there something that you two want to ask me?” he asked aloud, his brow arched in challenge, no one missing that it was the same as his second daughter would occasionally do.
“Yes, Papa, there is. Would you meet with us in your study, and Mama as well?” Mary asked hopefully.
“Unless Hugh’s parents feel uncomfortable with hearing what you want to say, you may as well get on with it here.
Bedford, Rose, any objections?” he smirked as he looked over at the other two who were also trying to hide their amusement as both shook their heads.
“The floor is yours, my dear Mary, for you and your Hugh.” Bennet sat back and waited for the inevitable request.
“Lord and Lady Longbourn…” He was cut off by a smiling Bennet.
“Are we not formal today…” Bennet was then interrupted by his wife.
“Allow the boy to speak unmolested, Thomas. You can tease him afterward!” Fanny slapped his arm playfully, winking at her daughter whose heart raced. That could only mean one thing, she had her mother’s full support and hopefully her father’s!
“In that case I will refrain from comment until you complete what you want to say.” Bennet pretended to frown, and it was not too hard. He was losing his precious and precocious Mary before he had gotten to fully know her!