Vol 2, Chapter 13 #3
“How could I not feel overjoyed being married to my soulmate?” Jane asked softly, looking across the room at her husband then again turned to her younger sister. “Did you answer the questions I gave you to ask of yourself, Lizzy?”
“Which questions…Oh,” Elizabeth realised what Jane was asking. “Yes, Jane, I was able to ascertain the answers to the questions you advised me to ask myself.”
“Well?” Jane pushed.
“I love him, Jane!” Elizabeth declared softly. “There is no version of my future I can imagine that does not include William in it. I was so blind in the beginning. Yes, his behaviour was atrocious, but now I know he is the best man for me. The only man for me!” Elizabeth informed her sister.
“Have you told William yet?” Jane asked.
“William told me he loves me before he returned to Pemberley for business some weeks ago. At that point I was not quite in love with him yet, but I shared I had tender feelings for him. While he was away, it struck me how much I missed seeing him and was finally able to acknowledge my true feelings for him to myself,” Elizabeth shared softly so no other would be able to hear her declaration.
“Do you plan to tell William?” Jane asked as she held her younger sister’s hands.
“If he raises the issue again. If he does not do so before the end of the mourning period for Uncle Sed, I will prod him a little after it passes,” Elizabeth told Jane shyly.
“You will not propose to him like Charlotte did to her late husband, will you?” Jane teased.
“One never knows, Jane, one never knows. However, as William is not as obtuse as that man was, I have no doubt that he will not need any prompting to declare himself in July,” Elizabeth assured her sister.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The rector in the adjacent town of Bedford, who held the Longfield Meadows living as well, issued the common licence on the Tuesday before the wedding.
It was with little surprise to Lady Priscilla and others that it was Lady Lucas who cried the most at the happiness she gained as she witnessed her oldest daughter marry for love after said rector intoned the final benediction.
After signing the register and the short ride from the church to the manor house, the Honourable Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam were announced by the butler as they joined those present in the cavernous ballroom were one corner had been set up for the wedding breakfast.
Elizabeth hugged her newest sister tightly. “At last we are sisters in deed and not just of the heart. You and Richard could not look happier, Charlotte,” Elizabeth gushed.
“As I have thought of you as my sister for so long it is not new, you will understand when I say I am far happier to be Richard’s wife than your sister,” Charlotte quipped.
“One would have to be blind not to be able to see how happy my little brother is with you as his wife, Charlotte,” Andrew stated as he kissed his new sister on her cheek. “I thank you for adding three younger brothers and a little sister to the family.”
“Now that we are related in truth, I assume you will not object if I help a little would you, Lucas?” Bennet asked his long-time friend.
“What do you mean, your G…Bennet?” Sir William asked suspiciously.
“We cannot have a duke’s cousin enter society with five hundred pounds as a dowry, can we?” Bennet ribbed.
“Bennet what are you about to do?” Sir William looked at his long-time friend, who was now also family.
“Unless you object, I have set up funds with Gardiner for Maria and your two younger sons of twenty thousand pounds each,” Bennet stated matter-of-factually.
“You know I could never allow you to do that, Bennet,” Sir William insisted.
“Will you allow your pride to sink your children’s prospects?” Bennet challenged.
“I suppose when your put it like that,” Sir William responded, the fight leaving him as quickly as it had gathered.
“Lucas, we have more wealth than Croesus. I know you do not expect anything but friendship, but Priscilla and I feel it is something we want to do to make sure all of your offspring have a good start in life,” Bennet explained.
“Charlotte too will receive the same. And for her I give you no choice as she is now, after all, my children’s sister by marriage, but a daughter of the heart, which you always have known. ”
Sir William could not believe the generosity of his friend and relative.
He started to suspect from where the scholarship funds that sent his three boys to Oxford came, but he decided not to ask and left well enough alone, thanking his friend with a long handshake, chuckling when Bennet winked at him as he disconnected.
He was gratified that, in this moment, he saw the very Bennet he knew looking back at him.
Not long after the conversation between Sir William and the Duke, the new Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam departed for the Brighton area for three weeks at Darcy’s Seaview Cottage.
That night, Charlotte’s time of being a maiden came to a pleasurable end as she felt what it was to be loved by a true man and was loathe to let him out of her bed for the duration of the visit.