“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.
