The Adventures of Lizzy Bennet - Book 3: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Kate Speck

He walked to his personal safe and pulled out the important papers to inspect it once more. Seeing that all was in order as he had requested his solicitor, he placed the document in his pocket to hand it to Lizzy before he left her once again. The other precious item he had always carried in his pocket was secured safely there and he could not bear to take it out yet, as he felt that if he chose to remove it from his pocket, then it would mean that all hope was lost. But he still held on to it with the possibility that until Lizzy was wed, he still had a chance to be close to her, whether as a friend or a husband, it mattered not.

  He closed the safe and called for his stallion again, which he had purchased only a week ago, and travelled to Longbourn one last time.

  ~*~

  “Welcome, William!” Mr. Bennet greeted the young man while he was working out of doors with the steward. “It has been too long since you last called on us, even if we saw each other in town several times.”

  William nervously shifted his feet, “I apologise, sir. I would like to speak with Lizzy before I depart to Pemberley. I had only arrived this morning but urgent business calls me away.”

  “Oh?” Mr. Bennet raised his brows, “You have not seen her then? She asked when you were returning to Hertfordshire and I had told her what you had written to me, that you were expected today. I thought she had gone to see you, William. She left on her horse again and it was only moments ago. I had been convincing her to try to speak with you again these past few days in order to make peace. I hope she will tell you the good news herself when she sees you next.”

  William’s heart dropped. “I am... I have already been made aware of it, Mr. Bennet, and that is why I had wished to call on her. I will go and see if I can find her. Perhaps we missed each other on different routes.”

  Mr. Bennet smiled broadly and William left Longbourn quickly to search for the ever-evasive Elizabeth Bennet.

  Chapter 15

  William rode his horse again to Oakham Mount to their tree and saw no one there. He sat atop his large stallion and casted his eyes on the horizon to see if there were any traces of the young lady and after a minute of searching, he saw the familiar horse running from the direction of Longbourn to a pond located near Lucas Lodge.

  He kicked his horse to ride towards the pond and as he neared closer to her, his life flashed before his eyes, as Lizzy was attempting to place something on the pond but fell in head first instead.

  William’s heart began to race faster as he rode harder to the pond, and he jumped off his horse to dive in after her, when he saw Lizzy’s head pop up and he heard her laughing. Lizzy began to pull herself up and out of the water and William ran to assist her.

  “What on earth were you doing, Lizzy?!” William shouted as he grabbed under her arms and pulled her up. “You could have been killed!”

  Lizzy continued her bursts of laughter as she lay flat on the grassy ground, sodden to the bone but uninjured from the accident. “The pond is only three-feet deep, Will! I can easily stand on it. I had only wished to see if the miniature model of Lord Nelson’s HMS Badger would float but it seems I sank instead. I am fine. I am not hurt.”

  William helped her to sit up and angrily retorted, “You could have been killed and I would have drowned myself right after you, Lizzy! Have you no compassion on my nerves?!” He took off his great coat and wrapped it around the young woman who began to shiver as she stood. He continued his chastisement while wiping her wet face with his handkerchief, “I could not go on with my miserable life if something were to happen to you, Lizzy. How am I to depart for Pemberley if I cannot trust you to keep yourself safe?”

  “Pemberley? Why are you going to Pemberley when you have just arrived? Will you be taking Miss Bingley with you?” Lizzy asked in surprise.

  “Miss Bingley? Why the hell would I take that woman anywhere with me?” William exclaimed.

  Lizzy shouted in return, “Because you are courting her! I thought you found her attractive and you would marry her. She is genteel and has a large dowry and will be your perfect society wife.”

  “I do not want her! I never wanted her!” William yelled back. He took a deep breath and sternly growled, “I am in love with you, Lizzy. How could I ever forget you? I know you are engaged now and I have lost you, but I will love you until my last breath.” He sighed and spoke softer, “I came to give you my last gift before you marry.” He pulled out the papers from his pocket and handed it to her. “A wedding gift, I suppose. It is the cottage in Ramsgate, Lizzy. I bought it for you and it is yours. It was always meant to be yours. I know Wickham will not have enough funds to keep you comfortable and you can sell it or use it for your home or lease it out; it is yours to do as you wish. Even though I cannot marry you, I will continue to be your blood-brother and wish for your comfort for the rest of your life. I always intended for you to have the cottage but I know I will not be able to give you much more once you are married.”

  “I am not engaged.” Lizzy bluntly stated. “I have never been engaged and I will never marry Mr. Wickham.”

  “But I saw you... I heard that you and he...” William could not speak. “I... but...”

  Lizzy smiled as she reached up and cradled his cheek. “Kiss me, Will. Kiss me again like you did last time.”

  William immediately obeyed and began to kiss her fervently. There was no softness, no slow, warming kiss, but rather the impassioned desire of a man who was desperately in love with the woman of his dreams. He held her as closely as humanly possible and made love to her mouth with all the ardency he had bottled up for over a year.

  At last they separated for breath while William continued to hold her. He could not believe he was able to hold her and kiss her and he still could not understand how she was not betrothed. She had requested the kiss and he felt as if he would lose his mind if he could not hold her like this for the rest of his life. He kissed her neck and ear. “Tell me you love me, Lizzy. Tell me you wish to kiss me and allow me to hold you like this forever. I love you and I will never stop loving you.”

  “I love you, Will. Ask me your question again.” Lizzy commanded. “Ask me to be the happiest woman alive.”

  William released her from his embrace in disbelief and knelt with one knee on the ground. He pulled out the precious ring that he had carried for over a year. “You are the love of my life, Elizabeth Bennet, and there is no life without you in my future. You are perfect as you are and it would give me the greatest honour to become your husband. Will you marry me? Will you grant me my greatest wish?”

  Lizzy could only nod and smile as he placed the beautiful ring on her finger. It was a large blue stone of the brightest sparkle and it was the most gorgeous ring she had ever seen.

  She wiped her tears of joy and spoke tenderly to him, “I had discovered that I was in love with you after our last kiss. Your passion was evident when I felt our souls connect and I saw you as a husband and I had wished to marry you. I believe my feelings had slowly begun to turn after your first proposal but until the kiss, I could not admit it to myself that I could belong with you as your wife. I had finally sorted out my emotions when I arrived in Darcy House after speaking with my aunt of my heart, but then I saw you with Miss Bingley and you looked happy. I gave you up because I wanted you to have the best.”

  William affectionately kissed her lips several times. “I had tried to see if I could find someone else to marry but my heart would not budge. I danced with a dozen ladies and spoke with various women whom I found all wanting. I even called on Caroline Bingley three times and I could only imagine what impertinent questions you would have asked her and she failed miserably again, Lizzy. They were not you. None of them came close to a fraction of the woman that you are, my love. There was and will never be anyone for me but you. Look inside the ring.”

  Lizzy pulled off the ring to see the tiny inscription inside. It read, ‘ED+FD ALWAYS’.

  “E.D., Will?” Lizzy asked. “I am E.B.”

  William laid his forehead on hers, “
Elizabeth Darcy, silly girl. My Elizabeth, my Mrs, Darcy, the wife of my dreams.” He kissed her again ardently until she began to shiver. “Good lord, I forgot you are dripping wet. We must get you home.”

  Lizzy laughed when he cossetted her again and began to help her onto his own horse. “I can ride on Snowflake, Will! I must gather the model ship as well. Papa will be furious that I took it out of his study.”

  William chuckled, “Considering that it is yours to do with as you wish, your father will not be angry with you. At least you have finally seen that it does float.” They laughed together while he picked up the ship from the edge of the pond and placed it into a bag. “You will ride with me, my love. I am not letting you leave my embrace right now and Snowflake will follow us.” He climbed up behind her and he wrapped his arms around her to kiss her neck affectionately while pulling her closer. “Why did you take the boat out now, though? Mr. Bennet said that you were aware that I was arriving in Hertfordshire today.”

  “I missed you but I dreaded facing you, Will.” Lizzy answered as she rubbed his hand around her waist. “I knew I had to accept your choice of wife but I feared that I would jump into your arms and wish to be yours forever.”

  William turned her head towards him and kissed her fervently again. “You will be mine and I will be yours, Lizzy. I love you more than my own flesh and everything I have is yours. I know you do not care for my wealth but if you will have me, as flawed as I am, all that I have is at your disposal. I will buy you a hundred model ships if you wish. That ring on your finger cost me a fortune but I will give you everything you desire for the rest of my life.”

  “Thank you, Will. It is exquisite. The prettiest ring I have ever seen!” Lizzy exclaimed. “I did not know such a beautiful stone existed.”

  “It is a blue diamond and one of the rarest stones in the world.” William answered, as he continued his ministrations on her neck. “It is only one of a dozen or so in size and colour in all of England and I thought it perfect for you when I saw it. A unique diamond for a unique lady.”

  Lizzy melted as he wrapped his arm around her tighter and she replied, “I love blue. You know me so well.”

  “Better than anyone, Lizzy. I truly love you and I feel this is all a dream.” William turned her face towards him once more and began to kiss her passionately again. “I think we must marry soon. I feel like I might die if we do not marry as soon as possible.”

  “Do you think Richard will agree to a double ceremony? Can you wait one month?” Lizzy asked after her mouth was freed once more.

  William smiled as he commanded his horse to a trot. “I would wait with bated breath for the rest of my life if only to have you agree to marry me. I can wait one month, Lizzy. Let us go to Longbourn so I can ask your father for his consent. There is much to do and all I wish is to spend my days at my lady’s side.”

  Lizzy softly smiled, “I do not know why you thought me betrothed to Mr. Wickham. He is to marry Mary King and will make a fine husband for her.”

  “Because I am an idiot, Lizzy. I heard two officers speak of Wickham’s engagement and then I saw you in his arms under our tree. I stormed off before you could see me and caused myself all kinds of grief.” William confessed.

  “Oh, my love, I wondered if I had seen you there but your new horse was unfamiliar to me. I only tripped over Mr. Wickham’s sabre and he caught my fall.” Lizzy explained. “I do not find him attractive like I do you and I only wish to be in your arms. After Papa told me that you were to arrive today, I grabbed the model ship and left so I could distract myself and remember the wonderful times we had spent together before. I was afraid to have you tell me that you will be married to Miss Bingley.”

  “I will not run from you again, Lizzy. If we misunderstand each other, if either of us is confused or angry with the other, let us make a pact that we will not abandon each other and speak of our frustrations before we go to bed.” He cleared his throat, “I hope we reside in the same bed always, Lizzy. Knowing you, we shall be very happy in our wedded state.”

  “I will agree to it, Will. I will love you all of my days and I will attempt to listen to you. Shall we make another blood pact?” Lizzy arched her brow.

  “We will make our vows in front of God and man in one month and our pact, our blood pact, will be for life. I will love you as the dearest companion of my life and I will need you to tour the grounds with the steward and look over the ledgers, while I take tea with lovely ladies who will fawn over me and flutter their lashes and compliment me of all of my wonderful accomplishments. My head will truly be as big as Richard’s then!” He jested.

  Lizzy laughed loudly, “No sitting with ladies! You are far too handsome and too tempting, even when you will be wedded to me. But I will certainly help you with any tasks with ledgers or estate management. I wish to help you.”

  “I shall like that very much, Lizzy. I need you with me constantly, and we will attend lectures and host scientists and speak earnestly with political leaders.” William explained. “When I said I will give you everything, I truly mean everything you care about.”

  Lizzy beamed, “And I will do all I can to be a good wife to you, Will. I will change what I can, not because you ask it of me, but because I love you and wish to change for you. You had shown me your love by your willingness to learn how to embroider, and that is when I saw you as a gentleman worth marrying for the deepest love and I wanted to do all I could to make you happy. I also have learned that I am independently wealthy.” She smirked. “The great Miss Caroline Bingley might boast of her £20,000 but apparently, I have more than £25,000 to my name!”

  William was shocked at the revelation but quickly replied, “I do not care for your fortune, Lizzy. You must know that.”

  “I know, Will. You have always been generous with your gifts for me, and you have given me your favourite stallion and the house in Ramsgate.” Lizzy caressed his arm around her waist. “You are the best of men.”

  Chapter 16

  “Do you mean to tell me that she has finally accepted you?” Mr. Bennet beamed, “I am most happy to hear it, William! I am in disbelief because I did not think Lizzy would ever relent. I thought she would be a spinster and yet she will be the first to marry. Come and sit by the fire. You are still damp from Lizzy’s unplanned swim.”

  William laughed as he used a towel to dab his soggy clothes, “I would have begged a thousand times if she would have allowed it but she had not wished for me to ask her again after my first blunder, and only when she requested that I repeat the question, she readily accepted me and we wish to marry alongside my cousin Richard. Since all of my family is to attend and Lizzy was also travelling to Kent for it, I wonder if you will consent to joining us there, or if I can convince Richard and Mrs. Jenkinson to move the venue to Hertfordshire, it might be better for all of us.” He explained, “Mrs. Jenkinson’s family could not be happier and her parents will attend, but Mrs. Jenkinson did not feel comfortable marrying from Kent in any case, as many who had seen there before the engagement only knew her as my cousin Anne’s companion. Being at Hertfordshire with Netherfield and Longbourn would be to everyone’s advantage, as Rosings is being remodelled and the Gardiners will already be at Haye Park to attend the wedding.”

  Mr. Bennet chuckled, “And what are Lizzy’s thoughts on this, William? You know you will not be able to override her wishes. Not that you are the servant and she, the master, but she has strong opinions, even for one so young, and you might wish to bend to her demands.”

  William laughed as well, “Yes, sir. If at all possible, I would do all as she wishes. She has had a hold on me at ten years old and it is even stronger now, and I would do anything for her, not because I fear her but I love her and wish her happiness above all else. I am certain we will argue and become frustrated with each other often but I wish to give her the world if I can. She was the one who actually offered the alternative location, sir.” He smiled. “She is brilliant and suggested that the Fitzwilliams wou
ld enjoy Netherfield and we can certainly host the Grantleys as well. I have the settlement papers in my safe and will ask you to sign it tomorrow. What is rightfully hers will always remain that way and I will contribute all I can. I know you will be pleased with what I will settle on her, sir.”

  “I heartily approve,” Mr. Bennet responded, “I always thought of you like a son and am most pleased that I will be gaining you as one. Your parents, I hope they will be satisfied with your choice.”

  “I have no doubt about it. I told them that I was returning to Netherfield in the middle of the season, as I had no desire to spend one more minute with vapid ladies in town, and if I were not to be successful with regaining Lizzy’s friendship, that I would travel to Pemberley until I received a sign that she wished to see me again.” William explained. “I was acutely miserable without her and my parents saw for themselves that I was a poor companion to my family for the entire month. They will be thrilled for me.”

  Mr. Bennet nodded, “Lizzy will have to tell her mother and my dear wife just might faint with the news. If you will let me know about the Fitzwilliams and their decision, I am willing to do as you wish. I am very happy for you both.”

  The gentlemen shook hands with smiles and William departed for the drawing room to wait for his betrothed to change into dry clothes.

  ~*~

  “But we must have the wedding breakfast here! It will be the grandest celebration Hertfordshire has ever seen and we will have such a number of courses for the breakfast and we must fill the church with as many flowers as possible! I can hardly believe it! My Lizzy, married! And the first one as well!” Mrs. Bennet gushed the next day.

  Lizzy rubbed her mother’s arm. “Mama, you know that my wish is for a small wedding ceremony, next to the ocean if it were possible, and married by a pirate captain of a ship, if I could have my dream wedding, but Lady Matlock is planning majority of the celebration and Will must ask for his cousin’s permission to hold the double ceremony before more can be planned. Mrs. Grantley is happy for her eldest daughter’s wedding but since the future Mrs. Fitzwilliam has been previously married, they will wish to keep the ceremony simple.”