Chapter 20: Ball at Netherfield Park
As William and Elizabeth walked back to the house after a two hour walk, William said,
"I love you, Beth, so dearly."
"I love you, William – I have for a long time." She spoke softly, as she leaned gently on his shoulder as they walked back to the garden door.
"Do you want me to go straight to your father to ask for your hand?" William asked, and stopped Elizabeth and looked at her.
"I would prefer it, but I will leave it in your capable hands, Will." Elizabeth replied and looked at him with radiant yet serious sparkling brown eyes.
"I will come find you once your father has given us his blessing."
William said softly and placed a kiss on her knuckles.
"I am glad we already have Papa's blessing; that really means a lot to me." She responded quietly.
"Your father would have loved seeing you happy, Beth."
He responded, and opened the door for her.
"Uncle Darcy would be very proud of you, Will. We have both come such a long way." Elizabeth said as they walked into the sitting room, which again housed the elder Fitzwilliam's, the Hurst's, Georgiana, Charles Bingley and Jane. Nobody in the room could confuse William and Elizabeth's radiant smiles for anything less than glee, happiness and love.
Her father asked with a twinkle in his eyes,
"William - is there something I should know?"
William smiled and asked,
"May I have a word in private, Sir?"
Her father and William departed the room, and a moment later, Elizabeth was surrounded by her mother, Georgiana, Jane and even Louisa Hurst.
"Is there something you wish to tell us...?"
"What has happened, Lizzie, do tell us!"
Elizabeth smiled radiantly as she answered calmly, "He proposed to me." Elizabeth whispered.
The Countess embraced her, and exclaimed, "Oh my dear, have you given him an answer?"
"Yes." Elizabeth responded simply.
Elizabeth could barely hide the overwhelming happiness she was feeling.
Jane whispered as she embraced Elizabeth, "You will be so happy! Congratulations!" The two girls laughed happily as they embraced.
Charles looked on and said: "My friend is a lucky man; I offer my congratulations as well." "Thank you, Mr. Bingley."
In the library, "LordMatlock, Uncle, I am asking for your blessing to marry your daughter, Elizabeth. I am in love with her, and this afternoon I asked for her hand and she did me the honour of accepting my proposal."
The Earl smiled proudly, "Your father would be very proud of you, and to see you happy and in love was his highest wish. Of course, I give my blessing, William." He sent him a smile.
"I better write my secretary to send me Lewis' next letter."
The Earl commented as William smiled, and responded with a sincere: "Thank you, Uncle."
When William returned to the sitting room, he found Elizabeth alone, with a book in her hand. "Where is everybody?"
"They went up to change for dinner. I...I waited so I could, well... hear father's reaction..." She blushed, and he was aware that she meant to say something else.
"Uncle gave us his blessing, Elizabeth."
"Oh, I am glad. Will... only Beth from now on, please?"
William replied softly, "Of course, Beth. Though I must be allowed some endearments..."
"Well… my love would be lovely…"
Elizabeth said as they held hands.
"How about… my dearest? My beloved? My darling?"
Elizabeth blushed prettily. "Those… would be acceptable… Will." She responded softly in a near whisper.
"What will you call me, beloved?"
The word sounded so right when he addressed her as such.
"My dear, William, Will, my love… my beloved Will." Their eyes met, and another tender kiss was shared.
During dinner, Charles Bingley announced that he had arranged a ball for two weeks hence, which made Elizabeth blush as William heldher hand in his under the table.
The Hurst's werevisibly a little shocked over the short time limit to prepare for a ball.
The Earl and Countess looked happy, and Jane's smile could not get more delighted.
Georgiana asked,
"Brother, may I... possibly attend the ball?"
William looked apprehensive, but then his smile softened and said,
"Well yes, part of it, you may. What say you, Uncle?"
The Earl said, "I agree with your sentiment, William."
The next morning Jane and Elizabeth were escorted to Longbourn by William, "Are you sure you cannot stay at Netherfield Park?"
"Will, I have agreed to their kind invitation; I am going. And I expect you to visit with Georgie every day and I am starting my morning walks again." Elizabeth replied.
"We are here, Lizzie."
Jane said with an apologetic smile to William.
Outside the carriage, the whole Bennet family was waiting, greeting Jane as she exited the carriage. Elizabeth and William then came out, and Jane said,
"Mama, Papa, this is Lady Elizabeth Fitzwilliam – I am sure you remember her. This is her fiancé Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy."
"Welcome Lady Elizabeth. Welcome to Longbourn Manor. May I introduce our children; John, you know, the twins Mary and Kitty and our youngest Lydia."
Elizabeth curtsied and said,
"It is a pleasure to meet you all. Thank you for having me, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet."
Mr. Bennet said,
"It's our pleasure, Lady Elizabeth. Congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you, all." Elizabeth replied with a smile.
They all walked in and Jane called as she had already runahead to their room, "Lizzie, will this do?"
She was obviously thinking she was right behind her.
"I better go." Elizabeth said.
Just then John Bennet came out from the sitting room, where he had led his mother and siblings a few moments before, "Ah, Mr. Darcy, I thought you had left. May I see you out when you have said your goodbye to your fiancé?"
William said, "Master John, could you give us a moment?"
John just smiled and retired to the sitting room.
William drew Elizabeth into his embrace and kissed her lightly.
"See you tomorrow at Oakham Mount."
"At dawn…?"
"Please say seven, love." William said almost pleadingly.
"You will be up at dawn anyway, Will."
"That is true, but you will need your sleep." He argued.
"I am stronger than I look, now go and entertain… keep Mr Bingley occupied till morning."
He smiled, bowed and said,
"As you wish, love."
She smiled as she saw him leave with John Bennet.
"Coming, Jane."
She called as she took the stairs as fast as possible.
That evening, the Bennet family was sitting at dinner, "How was the trip, Jane?" Mary asked.
"It was a wonderful journey, Mary. Do remind me to show you my drawings later."
Jane replied as she looked at her younger sister with a smile.
Lydia asked demandingly,
"Did you meet any handsome men?"
Jane met Elizabeth's eyes across the table and gently apologized for Lydia's uncouth comment; Elizabeth just shrugged her shoulder.
"We danced with several men, Lydia, though it is not polite to talk of such matters, or interrupt a conversation, especially with a guest in the house." Jane said, and looked at the youngest of her sister's.
"Oh Jane stop scolding her; she is only a child." Mrs. Bennet said as she sent her eldest child a stern glance.
Elizabeth suddenly could not keep her mouth closed any longer, as she said,
"She might be a child, but she is nearly the same age as my fiancée's sister and therefore old enough to know her manners, Madame."
The room grew quiet. Jane looked in awe at Elizabeth for her words to her Mama. It was likely the first time she had been so outspoken. It was also the first time; someone had told Mrs. Bennet that Lydia's behaviour was not up to the expectations of polite society. Elizabeth blushed in shock at her harsh words, and barely spoke for the rest of the meal.
14 days later, the day of the ball, Netherfield Park
It was the day nearly the whole of Meryton had looked forward to;the ball at Netherfield. At Netherfield Park, a few guests had already arrived; including Captain Fitzwilliam and Lord Daniel and Lady Mary-Rose Blake and Viscount Jonathan and Viscountess Rachel Blake. The Gardiner's had regretfully declined the invitation, and Max and Marina had also begged off, though both couples sent their congratulations to William and Elizabeth on their engagement.
William was for once looking forward to the ball, so he could dance with Elizabeth again.
He was glad that Georgiana had become so close to Elizabeth, Miss Jane, the twins and evenLydia, who had improved a little with Georgiana's more graceful behaviour in the last two weeks. Georgiana had also become livelier with the company of the Bennet girls – while he had become closer to Mister Bennet and Charles, though he had missed his best friend.
He stood in the welcomingline with Charles, Mrs. Hurst and his aunt and uncle, as people arrived from Meryton.
At last he spotted the two carriages – one his uncle had sent for Elizabeth and Miss Jane and the other Bennet carriage. From his uncle's carriage, John Bennet came and helped out, MissJane first in a lovely white gown with golden lace – next came Beth.
She looked even more beautiful than that morning. She was dressed in a white dress with an emerald green overskirt and she wore his emerald neckline around her neck. He had gifted her, the emerald necklace as an engagement present. Beth was bewitching, clever and utterly beautiful!
Charles was frozen in place when the Bennet family, Jane and LadyElizabeth were greeted.
"I am so glad you are here." Charles got out in a slightly rushed tone of voice.
"So am I." Jane replied with a smile.
When it was Elizabeth's turn to greet William, she blushed under his intense but caring glance.
William was completely frozen, until he managed, "You...you have never looked more beautiful, Beth."
"Thank you, William." She replied.
Just before she walked away he asked,
"May I ask for your first dance and supper dance and the last dance?"
She blushed anew and said teasingly,
"Three dances...one could get the impression that you were announcing something."
He could not help but answer her teasing smile with a smile of his own and a raised eyebrow.
"And what if I was?" he questioned; he never got the answer as more guests arrived.
As Elizabeth and Jane walked into the ball room, Elizabeth was blushing so deeply that Jane questioned: "Lizzie is something wrong?"
"No, Jane! Just... I am so happy!"
Jane smiled,
"You both deserve that happiness, Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy and you have both been behaving so perfectly the last two weeks."
Lizzie thought, 'If only you knew' as she and William had met each morning at Oakham Mount, both to talk and confirming their ever growing love for each other – as her old fear of losing him still were slightly in her mind, as she dealt with her childhood.
The Earl had dealt with several letters from Lady Catherine, and had also gotten the letter from Matlock Lake House from Lewis to Elizabeth. Elizabeth had read it privately first, but later shared it with her parents and William.
Flashback
Elizabeth had walked out in the official gardens at Netherfield, when her father had given her the next letter from her Papa.
Dearest Lizziebeth,
When you get this letter, you have become engaged to the man of your dreams, I hope.
I can only hope the man you have accepted is the right kind of man for you, my dearest girl.
As your father, I can only hope you have accepted that you and young William share a deep affection and connection to each other.
If I am right, I can only hope your Uncle Matlock has given his blessing for your union. I am hoping that you are gloriously happy with the man who has won your hand, and your heart. If my hopes are fulfilled, young William will make you a good husband as he will respect you and adore you.
Elizabeth smiled and said quietly, "You are so right, Papa. I am marrying William."
I do congratulate you, my dearest girl, on getting engaged! I am hoping that you are getting your fairy-tale ending as I always wanted for you – even when you were a small child.
As my dearest child, Elizabeth, I want you to have the marriage of love you deserve so dearly.
All my love
your father, Lewis
When William came to find her, she showed him the letter and he smiled and said,
"Your father really knew the future uncannily well, and knew you and I very well." He sent her a teasing smile.
"Yes, Papa apparently knew us very well. I miss him so badly."
He hugged her lightly and said: "Just as I miss my father and mother. It will get easier with time, Beth."
As the orchestra began playing, William saw Charles guide Jane onto the dance floor, and to his surprise Rich leading a slightly blushing Catherine Bennet out onto the floor. He guided a smiling Beth onto the dance floor for their first dance that evening.
As the first notes of the melody began playing, they began the familiar steps, "May we continue the interesting conversations from the receiving line?" he asked.
"We may." She replied with a knowing smile.
"And what if I was?" He asked.
"Then you should ask your fiancée."
She responded and danced away.
When they came back together, he asked, "How are you, Beth?"
"Frightened out of my mind for once, and you?" she asked, her eyes betraying her nervousness.
"Shaking in my boots." He replied.
He knew she still feared Lady Catherine would findout about everything, but he and his uncle Patrick were working on keeping the old bat away from Beth.
"Even if you are frightened, you look beautiful." He stated as they once again moved apart for a few steps.
Before the dinner dance, William let Beth away from the ball room, where they could talk for a few minutes
"Where are you taking me, Will?"
She questioned as they walked through a few darkened rooms.
"To a small sitting room, I need a few minutes alone with you."
When they sat on one of the couches, he took her hand, and said, "Something is missing. Close your eyes."
"What are you going to do?" she asked.
"It is a surprise, Beth." He responded softly as her eyes closed.
He pulled out the ring; he had sent for from Pemberley; it was his grandmother's engagement ring.
"Now open your eyes."
He said, as he put the ring on her ring finger.
Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked at the stunning ring on her finger, "Oh Will! It's the most beautiful piece of jewellery I have ever seen."
"It was my grandmother's engagement ring; in her will she left it to me to give to that 'special' woman who would win my heart. And you, my beloved, have bewitched me body and soul, and own my heart."
"Just as you own mine, Will."
As he leaned down towards her lips, she met him half way in a tender kiss.