Chapter 18; the Grand Tour part IV

England, Derbyshire

September 1811

William was sitting at his desk at Pemberley, and looked up at the portrait of his parents and asked: "Were you as nervous about asking Mama to be yours as I am of asking Elizabeth to be mine, father?"

He could see that the painter had caught the happiness and devotion his parents had had for each other in the portrait. He had sent off two letters for their family in Russia, also a letter from Max and Marina as the couple had spilled the beans a few nights earlier in London before he and Georgie returned to Pemberley. When he thought about his parents, his thoughts almost naturally wondered to Elizabeth, to Beth – he had felt his heart miss a beat when he had read the closing of Beth's letter; 'Yours Beth.'

Russia

The Fitzwilliam family in company of Sir John Rosenberg arrived to the Winter Palace.

It was even more fantastic than Elizabeth could have dreamed of. They entered the palace; the Fitzwilliam-girls and Jane were stunned into silence by the splendour of the magnificent Winter Palace.

"This is amazing! Oh Lizzie, I never thought I would see the famous winter palace!"

Jane whispered to Lizzie as they walked through one magnificent hall after another.

"Me neither, Jane!"

Lizzie replied in a whisper.

Mary-Rose came up on their side and said: "I have never seen such splendour, its tasteful and… fantastic!"

"Who would have thought that we would see the inside of THE Winter Palace, the home of the Tsar and Tsarina?" Mary-Rose commented.

"Did you read that the Tsar and his wife lost their daughter three years ago?"

Elizabeth asked.

"I read about it, Lizzie." Jane replied as she and Lizzie began a whispered lesson in the history of the Tsar.

Just then Sir Rosenberg held them back as they spotted a couple, walk up the stairs together. Sir Rosenberg said as the couple disappeared: "The Tsar and Tsarina."

Jane, Mary-Rose and Elizabeth were stunned; they had not expected to see the Tsar or Tsarina.

Elizabeth asked carefully: "Is it really true that they have given up the hope for children?"

"I am afraid so, Lady Elizabeth, the death of their daughter ended all their hopes." Sir Rosenberg answered in a serious tone of voice.

The same afternoon, Elizabeth got all the answers to her letters, and knew a return letter would only reach home a few days before their own return. But news from home was always wanted, indeed needed especially from William, and oh what happy news! Marina had announced her pregnancy!

Pemberley, Derbyshire

England,

September 1811

Dearest Beth,

I am thrilled that you enjoy your trip so much, and that you are learning so much just as you like. I am almost envious that I cannot escort you to the ballet or theatre, though I hope you will allow me to when you return home? I miss you, Beth, I guess as much as you miss me. Your brothers send their love, and I can tell you they cannot stop smirking – what have you asked them to do? Oh, and Beth, I know Georgie is in on whatever plan, those two lunatics to your brothers have!

I am sure you have heard already that Max will become a father in the spring, and that the Gardiners also will become parents shortly before Max and Marina will – they send their love and look forward to seeing you.

Pemberley is still standing, much to my own surprise, and have actually gained an extra two thousands in the yearly income, and since the harvest was so good, Pemberley is hosting a small harvest dance for the tenants, it is the first time since father passed away.

I am sure you are laughing Beth, at my almost running from my own study, with your brothers on my heels and a laughing Georgiana...

Hello Lizzie, I have taken William's letter to improve upon it, and to tell you; he is a blind fool as he cannot stop smiling for days on end when your letters come – he loves you dearly, and I dearly hope that I will be able to welcome you as my sister, soon. Have to run, William is back.

Beth, your brothers are insane! Though I doubt that is a surprise to you. I was unceremoniously dumped in the lake! It seemed mild for those two lunatic's normal practices, can I assume, you were the mastermind behind this plan?

I long to see you, and talk with you! I better end this letter for now; see you in three weeks, if my calculations are correct.

Truly yours

William

She laughed heartily at the letter, and knew her brothers had pranked William, and followed her directions perfectly, and that Georgie helped.

Just as they finished dinner, a footman came in with a letter, and handed it to her mother.

"Children, news from Italy, and the south of Europe, from Cmdr. Wentworth."

They all stopped talking and listened.

"Sicily, Italy
1811

Greetings Earl & Countess Fitzwilliam.

I hope you and your family have arrived safely to Russia? From my directions, you can all see that we are near Sicily, and quite close to Malta, where we are patrolling the waters. I want to thank you all for the many comfortable hours, I spent with you as a family, and it did make me think of my own family back in England. I wonder if I could trouble you with posting the enclosed letter once you reach British soil. I thank you, Earl Matlock for your advice, I will definitely follow it. I have taken the opportunity to send a small piece of robe and explanation, as to how to make a proper Knut which Lady Elizabeth asked into at one of our meetings in Rome. It was a pleasure to meet your family, and I hope you all have a safe journey home to Britain.

I remain yours respectfully Cmdr. Wentworth."

The countess stopped reading the letter out loud, just as Elizabeth asked worriedly, "We will post it, will we not, Mama?"

"Of course, we will, dear. His family deserves to hear from him, as he is so far from home." The Countess replied to her daughter. She was grateful that her babies had not been taken away from her yet, though Richard worried her. Especially as he was a captain in his majesty's army, and could be sent off to anywhere without a moment's notice.

The Fitzwilliam family had seen a lot, and attended a few balls too. Jane had received several letters while they had been away, and apparently Bingley had sought out her parents to be allowed to court her when they returned to British soil. Jane had been radiant with happiness, "Oh Elizabeth! This is too much; I do not deserve such attention or all this happiness!"

"Yes, you do, Jane. Charles is the best man next to...my William." Elizabeth replied confidently, though a little shyness did show when she referred to William as hers. She had grown, and become more confident and outgoing during the last few years, ever since the Fitzwilliam's had adopted her, she had slowly come out of her shell. Nowadays her thoughts often did turn to William, and what he might be doing, and wondered if he missed her, as much as she missed him.

"Oh, he is a true gentleman, Elizabeth! Is this the way you feel about Mr. Darcy?" Jane questioned with happiness evident in her eyes.

"Yes, it is!" Elizabeth replied with a radiant if shy smile.

England

William sat at his desk at Pemberley, looking out over the park, "Oh I wish you were here, father, to guide me through this mess!" He groaned as he looked at the mountain of papers still on his desk. He also looked at the small portrait which had a central spoton his desk; it showed Beth in a beautiful emerald green dress and she had a breathtaking smile on her face. He remembered it well; she had been painted shortly after her sixteenth birthday in Matlock. He returned his attention to the paperwork, though a smile played across his face from time to time.

Just then a voice said: "My god, you are a pathetic lovesick fool!"

William rolled his eyes before he looked up and met Richard's eyes. "Were you not needed in London or some sort of thing?" he asked in a dry tone of voice.

"Yes, to talk strategy, and as the general is in doubt if he should send me off to Copenhagen to be stationed until the new year, I persuaded him to send me after New Years, so I can spend time with my family and see my sister engaged before I leave, perhaps." Richard said, and winked at his younger cousin.

William looked worriedly at his cousin, who he and Georgiana saw as a brother more than a cousin, "How long will you be stationed in Copenhagen?"

"A year or so, I guess. Then I will likely be sent to Spain if the troubles there have not stopped before then." Richard saw the sadness in William's eyes. "Do not worry, Will. Nothing will happen to me. I will come home."

"Will you be my best man the day I marry, Elizabeth?"

William asked, with a crookedly smile.

"Of course, I will, William. There is not another man I rather see my sister marry than you. Especially as you are both so hopelessly in love with each other." Richard responded to William's question, and was for once met with a shrug and a guilty smile from his normally dour younger cousin.

A moment later, Max and Marina entered. "Well, is everything settled? Will you become our brother, Will?" Max asked with a grin on his face.

William groaned and said: "I should not have let you come!"

They all laughed.

"But you will become my brother-in-law, will you not, William?" Marina asked sweetly.

"Yes, I will hopefully, that is if Beth accepts my proposal when the time comes." William replied just as he saw Georgiana in the door to the study, with the biggest grin on her face, he had seen in a long time, though his eyes wandered again to the portrait of Beth.

AU: yeah, I know he is a lovesick fool, but can you blame him?

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