Chapter 34 #3
At the summation of supper, the Regent offered a toast to the two couples and officially welcomed the brides, the rest of the Bennets, and Darcy as cousins. Most of the royal family then departed, leaving Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth and spouses to represent the family.
After supper, Mary danced with her soon to be father-in-law while Lizzy danced with Lord Matlock. “Rose and I could not be more pleased with Hugh’s choice of bride, Mary. I very much look forward to gaining you as my third daughter.” The Duke of Bedford looked at Mary with warmth.
“Thank you, your Grace,” Mary answered, a faint pink blush on her cheeks as she still had not reconciled to all the compliments that she received.
“You know that in two days’ time there will be no more ‘your Grace’ or any other honorific besides Father and Mother!” He raised a brow then let her hand go as the dance required.
“I will bear that in mind, your Grace,” Mary replied smoothly as they came back together.
“I would do more than keep that in mind, Lady Mary. I prefer not to have a wife that is sad her daughter refuses to be her daughter. Then I would have to be stern with Hugh and he would try to act like he is in charge and I would rather not have to place gongs and footmen at every door,” he teased, chuckling when Mary’s laugh filled the area around them while she circled him and then returned to her position facing him.
“A single man carrying a gong following us on each floor should do just fine, My Lord,” she said arching an eyebrow reminiscent of Elizabeth. The Duke put his head back and loosed a deep rumbling guffaw, his laugh shocking so many, a fan dropped nearby.
“You know that you are the best thing that ever happened to William, Lizzy, and that was before you accepted him,” Lord Matlock stated quietly as he guided his soon to be niece through the dance.
“Thank you, Uncle Reggie, though I am not sure I understand your meaning,” she said while she waited, having belatedly learned the lesson about conclusions far more painfully than one would prefer.
“Before Hunsford…” they were separated by the dance, and when they came back together, he proceeded, “William was becoming like my sister, in behaviour not character, thank God. It took the shock of your refusal and upbraiding to jolt him enough to be introspective, to take stock of his life and the direction that it was taking.”
They went down the line so conversation ceased until the Earl took her hand again.
“I do understand why he developed his mask and wanted to be repugnant to most. From the time he entered society he had been an object…” a few figures were performed with others, “…of fortune hunters and it was a barrier to keep himself safe from the machinations of those stalking him. Unfortunately, it became part of him, until you shattered that persona.”
“I was angry with him at the time, though some of that was misplaced and I have apologised to him. I did not care who he thought he was, what his position made him think he was. I hate hypocrisy and his behaviour was unacceptable. That man is gone; I could never have fallen in love with him if he was still as he was. This man, the real William, is the best of men,” Elizabeth stated brooking no opposition.
Lord Matlock chuckled as he could not but agree, arching a brow when the Duke broke out in laughter and Lizzy fell into a melodious laugh as she saw her sister staring at him with playful challenge in her eyes.
While her daughter danced with her uncle Fitzwilliam, Lady Longbourn danced with his nephew. Darcy had not imagined this moment and it surprised him that when he requested her hand for the set, he was not doing a duty, he was looking forward to the pleasure of her company.
“You know Lady…” He started and almost grinned when she let him get no further.
“If you please, William. It is Fanny or Mother Bennet, nought else. Sorry to interrupt you my dear boy, but when you start off talking to your mother-in-law like she is a cold fish I believe some reprimand is in order. Now, what were you saying?” the Countess challenged with impertinence he now recognised his beloved had inherited from her.
This time a glass slipped from a hand somewhere in the background when Darcy’s laugh filled the quiet conversations around them. Many pairs of eyes swivelled towards them, as Darcy focused solely on the woman he was guiding around the floor.
“I just wanted to say, Mother Bennet, that I cannot…” he let her hand go as she circled him, but his hand waited for hers the whole of the time until they came back together, “…think about the way I behaved before without abhorrence.”
“William, before you start self-flagellating again, there are two things I must say. Firstly, the way that I used to behave deserved scorn. It was not who I was, but I allowed the worry about the future to take over and govern my behaviour…” she stopped when they went down the line until she was able to rest her hand in his again.
“Much like I let being sought for my wealth and position control mine,” Darcy interjected.
“Yes, but we both know better now do we not?” Lady Longbourn asked gently and he nodded his agreement, “Secondly, as our Lizzy says the past should be left in the past,” she smiled when he tried to hide his.
“I know she says it better, but that is the essence and she is correct. Did she not tell me that you two had agreed to leave the past where it belongs?” He nodded ashamed he had slipped again.
“Then I ask the same between us as well. In two days, you will be my son and I want no more self-recriminations from either of you. As long as you treat my girl with love and respect, we will not have an issue.”
Darcy heard the implied ‘if you do not’ in her tone. ‘My Elizabeth will always be happy, because it is right, not just because her mother would be a terrifying force to cross if anything untoward was done to their Lizzy.’
Bennet stood on the side with Gardiner watching his daughters with immense pride bursting forth from his chest. ‘In less than two days we will only have three girls at home.
Who would have thought that I, who used to love my solitude to escape the cacophony in my house, would be lamenting the departure of my daughters?
A father could not be prouder and all three have found very good men.
Jane was happy before her marriage to Richard, but now she glows with contentment.
It is a fact that Lizzy would need a special man who would not try to stifle her, but hold her as an equal partner.
That is what she has in William, regardless of the inauspicious beginning.
‘Mary, my studious Mary. Who would ever have thought that the middle and forgotten child who used to spout Fordyce’s Sermons would turn into the self-assured, smart, playful, witty, and loving woman that is dancing with Bedford? In not too many hours she will be a Marchioness!
‘If I had not been so blind and had trusted Fanny from the beginning how much better…no. There is little point in such maudlin thoughts that will only make me missish. I cannot change the past, but I can and will make sure that there are no repetitions of the errors of my past today nor for all of the tomorrows that God has granted me until He calls me to heaven.’
Hugh Rhys-Davies, Mary’s Marquess, was just then dancing with his sister-in-law to be Jane.
She had continued the sweet and inquisitive line of questioning until she was certain that no one was really paying attention to them except a select few.
She always preferred to know Richard’s eyes were following her, as were those of all the extended family in glances to ensure they knew exactly where the women were and that all was well.
“You do know, Hugh, that if you ever hurt Mary it will be me that seeks retribution, not Richard. I would not be as easy on you as my husband would.” She waited for his reaction to her not so subtle warning; her eyes locked on his.
Having fallen in love with his Mary who betrayed some of the depth of her emotions, Birchington had never been fooled by Jane’s serene countenance. He knew that there was a steely resolve under the mask that she allowed others to see, and that she was the peacemaker for a very good reason.
“I would sooner die than ever knowingly hurt Mary,” he vowed quietly, his eyes never wavering from hers.
“Until I met her, I did not think I would ever find the kind of love that we have between each other. My heart resides in her so I can promise that I will do anything which will enhance her happiness all the days of my life. Though you must know that Mary will only be happy when she is bargaining and winning her way with me so that she may reward me with whatever she thinks I have earned. I suspect we will argue more than all of you combined, but it will be in heated debates not for any other reason than to help me practice my points for the House of Lords. Then she will, of course, point out which are weak and make them stronger for me, for which I, of course, will reward her…” He stopped when Jane’s airy tinkle floated melodiously around him and she nodded.
“So long as there is no harm, do argue with her. Her only opportunity was Lydia and she too often ceded for peace not always preferred,” Jane added. “But if I even suspect she is unhappy there is no place you could run to where I could not find you,” she reminded him.
“I know, Lady Jane, and I promise to give Mary the chance to be the extraordinary woman she is,” Birchington promised.
Jane was well satisfied that both of her younger sisters were making love matches to men who deserved them, possibly the only men who were their true matches.
It seemed that all three of the older Bennet sisters had found their soulmates.
She sent one of her beatific smiles to her husband as he passed her partnering his sister, Marie.