Chapter 15

As planned, Louisa met with Charles Bingley the day they had scheduled to speak. It did not take long to before she was able to discern her brother was sincere and all he wanted was to help and not do anything for gain.

Louisa had the foresight to have Mr. Hurst and Miss Jones wait for her in the tea room. She showed her brother in and after he repeated his tale a second time, he found himself in a carriage with the three and on their way to Netherfield Park.

Still not trusting her brother to that extent she would reveal that Elizabeth was in the house, they were shown to a public drawing room rather than the family sitting room near Elizabeth's bedchamber. When the Duke entered the drawing room with both of his Fitzwilliam cousins and Major Wickham, Bingley did not misunderstand the hostility the men showed towards him. That all changed as he told his story.

When he was done the livid duke spoke first. "That woman thinks she will be able to blackmail me into marriage by having you compromise my sister, her own niece?"

"Correct your Grace, she cares nothing but for her own selfish desires. She is obsessed with getting her claws on your wealth," Bingley said. "I know I have done things in the past that would make you doubt my word, but I do have her last letter with me your Grace." Bingley handed the missive to Hurst.

The Duke passed it to the Viscount who shook his head after he read it and passed it to his younger brother. "She is a loon!" Richard exclaimed. "Who is this Dryden she threatens you with?"

"He is the one that does her dirty work for her Colonel. They know your cousins are always guarded, so how they thought I would ever be able to achieve what I was sent to do, even had I the inclination to attempt it, is beyond me," Bingley averred.

"This is what we will do…" the Duke enunciated his plan. "You will assist with this Mr. Bingley?"

"Yes, your Grace, I am willing to do anything you require.

"It is time to invite my parents to your estate William," Andrew stated. No one disagreed with him.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

It was about a week after her injury and Elizabeth no longer needed sleeping draughts. First Mr. Harrison and then Mr. Bartholomew had returned to Town as they were no longer needed. There had been nothing other than an exceptionally low fever, which had not lasted longer than a single day.

Mr. Jones returned to his abode and had been replaced by Miss Jones. She had received a letter calling her home to take care of an ailing close friend. Neither Mrs. Bennet nor her daughter regretted the departure of the companion as she was a reminder of Cinder-Lizzy in their home. She had done them a favour, as they were not permitted to dismiss any servants.

Neither of the criminal women noticed or cared that Mr. and Mrs. Hill started to spend a good portion of time away from Longbourn. What did they care as long as their needs were met? Even though her sister Louisa slept most nights in a house with two attempted murderesses, she was away from Longbourn most days and not a few nights were spent, at Lucas Lodge, or so Mrs. Bennet and her spawn thought.

Much to the disappointment of the local populace, the masque ball to be held at Netherfield Park had been cancelled due to an unspecified reason. Martha and Caroline were most put out; in their twisted mind they imagined they would have received an invitation.

There were few outside of the close-knit circle who knew the true reason; the Lucas, Long, and Goulding families were the only others that were aware of the true reason for the cancellation.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

A little over a week after the attack, Elizabeth woke from a restful sleep to find her Cousin William reading to her out of her beloved Utopia. After so many years of reading and then re-reading the book, Elizabeth could recite most of it verbatim, but hearing his deep baritone voice caress the words she loved so dearly made her feel warm all over. His voice gave her a sense of comfort—more than that she felt safe in his presence.

Miss Jones was sitting in a corner fastidiously working on her sampler. As Elizabeth looked at her incredibly handsome cousin, she did not see a duke, but a man. A man who was compassionate, would do anything to protect his loved ones, who was intelligent, and who she had fallen in love with!

She did not know his feelings for certain, but all the signs, unless her perspicacity had deserted her, pointed to the fact that her feelings were returned. "You know William," Elizabeth stated boldly, "people may get the wrong idea about your spending so much time with me." She arched her eyebrow. "Please pass me the glass of water."

Before Miss Jones was able to set her embroidery aside, her cousin had performed the office himself. "And what idea would that be Elizabeth?" William asked her his voice heavy with emotion.

"That there is something beyond cousinly affection between us," Elizabeth dipped her head blushing having been too forward.

"Miss Jones, it seems I need to have a private conversation with my cousin," William said in his best Duke of Derbyshire voice.

"I will be in the hall Miss Elizabeth, and I shall leave the door open!" She was not cowed by the Duke, but she had no doubt her charge wished to hear what he had to say.

Elizabeth was looking down at the half-full glass of water she held in her uninjured hand. She felt William lift the glass and place it on her bedside table. Her head was still down when she felt his fingers below her chin gently lifting her head. The frisson that she felt at his touch was something she had never experienced before. She was not sure what she wanted, but she knew she wanted more.

"Let people talk Elizabeth, it is no more than the truth. It is my hope that your feelings will one day match my own and you will agree to be my life partner," William stated unequivocally.

"How could you be interested in me, the daughter of a man who was but a lowly country squire?" she asked hoping that this was real. If it were not, she was sure she would suffer from the acutest of heartbreak.

"Do you think me so proud of my position I would ignore my heart, Elizabeth?" She hated that he looked wounded by her words.

"I hoped not William because I find that I am falling in love with you, or may be in love with you already," she replied shyly.

"Then we have that in common. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I love you, Elizabeth. I think it began the day you pelted me with that apple, it seems that it was Cupid's arrow disguised as an apple!" William related.

"I thought you would abhor my behaviour, especially after my performance in Meryton that led to your being accosted by those two women!" Elizabeth looked chagrined.

"I was tongue tied because I was so affected by you Elizabeth. I see that if you eventually accept me, I will have to be aware of that quick temper of yours," he half joked!

"Where do we go from here?" Elizabeth asked quietly.

"As your Uncle Bennet is missing, your Uncle Gardiner is your guardian, is he not?" Elizabeth nodded and was most appreciative William had said missing and not dead. "In that case, Elizabeth, I request a formal courtship with an eye to the natural conclusion of making you an offer of matrimony."

"Yes William, I would like nothing more than to be courted by you, but have we not been doing that already?" Elizabeth arched her eyebrow. How he loved it when she did that, especially when he saw his love reflected in her shining green eyes.

William rose from his chair and bestowed a lingering kiss on her right hand's wrist right over her pulse. At that moment it seemed that both of their hearts beat in unison. He left to find Mr. Gardiner and Elizabeth was joined by Miss Jones who returned to her sampler without a word.

It was not long before William returned with escorts. "You will be a very happy woman Lizzy," her uncle stated indicating his consent—not that he would have denied anything for which the Duke deigned to ask.

"Lizzy, you will be my sister!" Georgiana almost squealed and covered her mouth at the unladylike sound she produced.

"If William proposes and I decide to accept, then yes Gigi, we will be sisters," Elizabeth teased the young lady.

The four were soon replaced by Louisa and Mr. Hurst. "I am so happy for you Lizzy! Great minds think alike, Mr. Hurst—Harold—requested a courtship today and I have, of course, granted his request," Louisa gushed.

"Oh Lulu, I am so pleased for you. I hope you treat her like the jewel she is Mr. Hurst," Elizabeth wished the couple.

"Her happiness will be my life's work Miss Elizabeth. We do not plan on a lengthy courtship," Hurst related as Louisa nodded her agreement.

They were replaced by Marie and Andrew, and the Earl and Countess of Matlock. All four expressed their unreserved pleasure and support for the newly acknowledged courting couple. "Catherine will have an apoplexy when she hears of this," Lord Reggie opined.

"That dear husband is why she will not hear until William has sprung his trap. Personally, I think it is hight time that she is taught a lesson," Lady Elaine stated with certainty.

"She is my sister and I wish I could disagree with you Elaine, but I find I am not able to do so!" the Earl stated sadly. The four remained for a few more minutes before taking their leave.

The final group were the Colonel, Major, and Miss Younge. Elizabeth did not miss the little tender looks that passed between Miss Younge and Major Wickham. "George and I have extended leave as the doctors have ruled that it is still some months, if ever, we two old warhorses will be able to return to full duty. At least we will be here to witness when you confront those women and to see my aunt receive her just desserts," Richard stated.

Elizabeth was patient, but she was aware it would not be long before she eradicated the scourge residing in her home once and for all.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

May 1, 1809

Elizabeth had gone from strength to strength in the month plus since the attack, as had the relationship between her and William. The Earl and Countess of Matlock were still in residence, as were Andrew and Marie. Marie kept to her resolve that she would not leave her cousin until she was completely healthy and had dealt with the cancer at Longbourn.

Elizabeth had been allowed to leave her bedchamber, first only to the family sitting room, and then as her strength grew and the pain receded, she was allowed anywhere in the house. For her the greatest day had been two weeks prior when she was allowed outside to walk, or in her case hobble with crutches, William at her side, in the garden.

Louisa had fallen deeply in love with Harold Hurst, although her primary motivation in visiting Netherfield was to be in her sister's company. Mr. Hurst had kept his word and proposed a fortnight after Louisa had granted him a courtship.

It seemed as love was in the air as Hurst and his betrothed were to have a double wedding on the morrow. The other couple who would marry the same day as them were George Wickham and Karen Younge. Similar to Hurst and Louisa, the two had realised they were in love spending so much time together. When the couple approached the Duke, he had wished them well and although he did not ask her to do so, Miss Younge would not resign her post until a replacement companion was found.

With Lady Matlock's help, Mrs. Helena Annesley was found and hired. Georgiana would always miss Miss Younge, but she quickly grew to love her new companion as well. She was older than her former companion and like Miss Younge had been, exceedingly kind and considerate to her charge.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Life at Longbourn was boring to Martha and her ingrate of a daughter, Caroline. Neither had the patience for Louisa to write the second letter to Mr. Phillips which would give her access to Longbourn's coffers. The two were salivating over the prospect of being able to spend the funds long denied them.

They did not care that Louisa spent no time with them during the day and only slept a few nights each week at the estate. Louisa would be useful in helping them attain the funds they craved—beyond that they cared not for her.

More than a month had passed since they rid the world of Cinder-Liza. The two were supremely confident they would suffer no consequences because of what they did. They were bored with no funds to spend, but they were as happy as two who were never pleased could be without having to suffer the barbs that Cinder-Liza used to deliver.

Now all they had to do was find a way to gain the Duke's notice.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Elizabeth was proficient on the pianoforte but had not a chance to practice until her arm had healed. It was the first day she was without splints or a sling, so her cousin Gigi invited her to join the lesson with Signore da Funti. The cousins were about halfway through with the lesson when the Duke asked the Signore if he could steal Miss Elizabeth away.

The couple walked outside into the rose garden on the side of the house. Elizabeth used her crutch on the left while her right arm was supported by the Duke. Miss Jones trailed them by a distance while the huge bodyguards took up station at end of the path.

Once he helped Elizabeth sit on the bench under the gazebo in the middle of the rose garden, the Duke dropped to one knee and took Elizabeth's delicate hands in his own. "Elizabeth Rose Bennet, you are the holder of my heart. Since the day I requested a formal courtship, my regard, my affection, nay my love for you has only grown in strength to an immeasurable level. You my love see the man and not my title or wealth. You are beautiful, the most beautiful woman of my acquaintance, but that is only one of your attributes. Your compassion, charity, empathy, and character all make you my ideal partner.

"There is none but you I would want, or agree to make, as my duchess. I know you will always challenge me and keep me on my toes. You will not allow me to hide in the corners of a ballroom as I have been known to do. With you I want to be sociable so all can note that I have won the crown jewel of the kingdom as my wife. My life without you would be without love so I beseech you to accept my hand in marriage so I may bask in the warmth of your glow for the rest of my days," William poured his heart out to the lady he loved above all others.

"Even when I erroneously believed you would not look at me as a helpmeet, I already had strong feelings for you William. They grew into love. They started small, like an acorn and like the acorn, my love became mighty and strong like the strongest of oaks. It has been for some time now I have known you are the only man I could marry William, so yes, a million times yes! I will marry you!" Elizabeth replied making her Duke the happiest of men.

William rose from his knees and sat down next to her. Forgetting they were not alone William brushed his betrothed's lips with his own. The touch of his lips on hers sent her heart racing at speeds never before attained. He was about to do what they both desired and deepen the kiss when Miss Jones cleared her throat tactfully.

Both blushed as they moved a little apart. "I hope you do not require a long betrothal Elizabeth," her hopeful betrothed asked.

"I do not William, a few weeks will be enough. I will first need to clear my estate of all vermin though before we marry," Elizabeth stated matter of factually.

"And we have Lady Catherine's arrival to anticipate on the morrow," William stated with resignation.

In his weekly updates, Bingley had led the lady to believe he had met Lady Georgiana and had begun to win her trust. Each subsequent missive had reported more progress, which all those at Netherfield believed would cause the lady to lick her lips in anticipation. The last one sent reported success and her nephew would meet her on the second day of May to hear her terms for silence. The Earl opined that if they listened very carefully, they would be able to hear his sister's joy from where they sat at receiving the last letter.

"Then why do we not say three weeks William?" Elizabeth suggested. "By then both of our problems will be solved with finality."

"I agree, three weeks it will be. I asked your Uncle Gardiner's consent and blessing before they departed for London, so we are official," William related.

"Sure of my answer, were we?" Elizabeth teased.

"I did have hope my love, but I would say I was prepared, not over confident," William grinned.

As they mounted the steps to enter the house, they heard a horse at full gallop and turned to see Mr. Phillips barreling toward them. He pulled on the reins as the horse stopped with little pieces of gravel flying. He humped off his horse and withdrew a sheath of letters from his pouch.

"They are all alive!" an out of breath Mr. Phillips stated excitedly, "all of them, Tommy, Jane, your cousins!" It was the last thing Elizabeth heard before her world went black.