Chapter 24 #2
“William, how can that be in two weeks?” Elizabeth asked in amazement.
“You never know what can be accomplished with an almost unlimited budget,” Darcy replied. It was not a boast, but a simple statement of fact.
“Mrs. Killion, my husband and I will take our meal in our sitting room; please have our repast sent up at six unless you hear otherwise,” Elizabeth instructed.
When they arrived at the mistress’s suite, Darcy stood back so Elizabeth would see her newly decorated chambers first. “Oh William, it is perfect!” Elizabeth exclaimed excitedly.
“I agree,” Her husband said, but he was looking at her, not the décor. “Your chambers look good as well,” Darcy grinned, and his wife blushed. “How long do you need, Elizabeth?
“With my bath, an hour. Is that acceptable?” Elizabeth asked.
“Of course it is. Take as much time as you need, my love,” Darcy averred and then left his wife to go have his own bath which Carstens would have ready for him.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After her bath, Elizabeth had her maid help her into a pale peach nightgown and matching robe.
Together they did a credible job of covering her body, but the sheer nightgown left little to the imagination on its own.
Almost to the very second that the one hour had elapsed, there was a knock on the door that led to their shared sitting room.
When she opened it, she found it hard to breathe at the sight of her Adonis-like husband standing before her wearing only an opened lawn shirt and breeches. How long had she waited for this day to see him in such a state of undress? His muscular chest fairly rippled as she stared at him.
Darcy took her hand and led her to his bedchamber, using his foot to swing the door closed once they were both inside. “I want to see you Elizabeth, please,” Darcy beseeched, his voice husky.
Elizabeth allowed the robe to fall and suddenly he could see all of her through the filmy haze of fabric. Her breasts were a nice size, and she was excited, cold, or both, as her nipples were pushing against the nightgown.
Silently they removed any remaining clothing and Elizabeth waited for him to close the distance between them, whispering, “Love me, William,” when he was close enough to touch.
Her husband lifted her as if she were a feather, then gently placed her on the huge bed and proceeded to obey that request and any others she asked of him.
After an early breakfast the next morning, the newlywed Darcys departed for Seaview Cottage near Brighton. Both were supremely happy as they had allowed their love and passion for each other free rein late into the night.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As planned, the Bennet and Fitzwilliam families departed Hertfordshire the day after the wedding. The Bennets were hosted at Darcy House by Georgiana. The Fitzwilliams were at Matlock House, just across Grosvenor Square from the Darcy townhouse.
“Lizzy is mistress of this mansion?” Kitty asked in awe as the Bennets were welcomed to the house by the housekeeper, who was happy to see how joyful and outgoing Miss Darcy had become since the last time she was at Darcy House.
Mrs. Killion showed them into the drawing room, where refreshments were ready for the arriving party.
“This is small compared to Pemberley,” Georgiana stated matter-of-factly.
“Kitty, it is but a house. It is the people who live in it who make it a home regardless of the size,” Charlotte told her stepdaughter.
Lydia, who had so far been silent as she took in her surroundings, turned to Gigi. “How big is the park at Pemberley; is it larger than Longbourn’s?” Lydia asked.
“It is ten miles around,” Georgiana replied.
It was at that moment the youngest two Bennet sisters realised just how rich their new brother was.
Rather than vulgar effusions, the two were quiet.
“We will see Pemberley in the Summer,” Charlotte shared.
“Eliza and William have invited all of the family for at least six weeks. I understand your Uncle Gardiner intends to fish as much as he able.”
“In my excitement of welcoming you to Darcy House, I almost forgot you would be with us for the Summer. Do you ride?” Georgiana asked Kitty and Lydia.
“I started to learn when I was ten and then gave it up,” Kitty owned.
“It was lack of patience for me, and my late mother told me it was a useless accomplishment which would do nothing to assist me catching a husband,” Lydia shared.
“Lydia, you know your late mother loved you and thought she was teaching you the right thing, do you not?” Charlotte asked and Lydia nodded. “You also know your mother was not brought up as a gentlewoman, so unfortunately her advice, no matter her intent, was not correct.”
“It was a hard lesson to accept, but yes, I do know the truth of the matter now,” Lydia agreed.
“Will you allow William to teach both of you to ride? He taught me, and I can attest that he is a good and patient teacher,” Georgiana offered. Both Kitty and Lydia agreed.
“Lydia, I did not discuss it with you as I believed you had no interest, but Charlotte tells me they have a riding programme at the Wrightfield School. When we arrive, would you like me to inform the headmistress you hope to be included in their riding lessons?” Bennet asked and was surprised that Lydia nodded enthusiastically.
Seeing the disappointment on Kitty’s face of having to wait until the summer, Bennet turned to his fourth daughter and said, “I will start teaching you at Longbourn, and we have grooms who are good teachers as well.”
“Thank you, Papa,” Kitty beamed with joy.
Charlotte assumed the duties of mistress and poured tea. Afterward the housekeeper showed the Bennets to their chambers.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next morning, not long after Bennet departed with Lydia to take her to school, Charlotte and her stepdaughters, Gigi and Lady Matlock departed for Bond Street.
They spent the majority of the day shopping for Jane’s and Mary’s trousseaus.
Although Anne de Bourgh was invited to join them for the excursion, she demurred and remained at Matlock House with her uncle; she did not have the energy for a full day of shopping with the other ladies.
Dinner that night was at Matlock House. After the five ladies had rested, washed, and changed, they made the short walk across the square to the Fitzwilliam’s house.
While everyone was happy to be dining with friends, there was a debate as to whether Jane and Mary were more pleased to be in the company of their betrotheds again, or if the brothers were more pleased to be in the company of their betrotheds again.
“Mother tells us the stores on Bond Street will have to close for at least a fortnight to replenish their wares after your onslaught today,” Richard jested.
“I said a few days, Son; do not exaggerate,” Lady Elaine teased.
“There were one or two ladies who tried to snub us, presuming we were pretentious upstarts who trapped you and Richard,” Jane related. “However, as soon as they saw Mother Elaine and her disdain for them, they scurried away.”
“No one slights my daughters-to-be!” Lady Elaine stated emphatically.
“If you know their names, let me know. I will have a little chat with their fathers or husbands, and set them straight,” Lord Reggie offered.
“Later, Reggie, if it proves necessary, but I believe I sent them running with fleas in their ears,” his wife advised.
“Bennet will depart Wiltshire on Friday to return to Town on Saturday, will he not, Mrs. Bennet?” Andrew asked.
“That is his plan, Andrew. If he has to stay longer, he will spend the Sabbath at the inn and then come directly to Rosings Park on Monday,” Charlotte informed the rest. “May I request you and Richard call me Charlotte as my stepdaughters do? My title is Mrs. Bennet, but in a matter of weeks you will be my stepsons-in-law, and I believe we are of about the same age.”
“I will do so in future, Charlotte,” Richard agreed.
“And I,” Andrew bowed his head in agreement.
“Well done, you two,” Mary smiled. “I see you can be taught, Richard, which bodes well for the future,” Mary teased.
“Do not look at me, Son. You wanted a strong woman, and that is exactly what you, both of you, have been blessed with,” said the Earl with a grin.
The Earl then proposed a toast was to his sons’ fast-approaching nuptials and to the honeymooning Darcys.