Lizzy laughed, “Your face tickles! You are behaving so strangely, Will!” She wiggled and broke free from his embrace. “Can we go riding on Snowflake today? I missed riding with you so much!”
“Yes, my dear,” William chuckled. “We will do anything you wish today. I will be departing to London with Richard in the morning but I will spend the entire day with you today.”
“But I thought you were done with your travels!” Lizzy frowned. “You were to stay here for several months.”
William gently stroked her hand with his fingers, “I must go on a matter of urgent business, Lizzy. Father said the Bennet clan is joining us for Easter again in London so I will see you there in March and we will have your birthday celebration there once again. It has become quite the tradition, has it not? I hope it will be a very special birthday for you this year.”
Lizzy, with her affectionate and natural disposition, was not made for melancholy and she immediately cheered. “Papa has promised me to take mama and Jane to the horse races this year and I will be able to show them how to place their bets like you showed me, Will. I was able to attend the theatre last year and although I detested the dinner parties, your mama has promised a grand ball with Lady Matlock and I am most curious if these exclusive events are all that they are rumoured to be. I will laugh at all the ladies dripping in jewels and perhaps one of them will trip and fall on her face! Good lord, that will likely be ME! I hope you will be there to help me, Will! I am still terrible at dancing and I cannot remember all of the steps in order.”
William assisted her up onto his horse and raised himself up to sit behind her. “I will teach you the steps and we will dance every set together. We will cause a scandal for dancing too many sets and everyone will frown and we will laugh.” He chuckled. “You are definitely big enough now, Lizzy. Your papa was right. You are ready for your own horse.”
“I am going to go fast, Will. You can hold on to me if you do not wish to fall.” Lizzy confidently stated. “I have learned to ride a side-saddle, did you know? Your mama taught me, but I like riding astride best.” She commanded, “Fly, Snowflake! Make us fly!”
William laughed and kicked the horse as he held onto the saddle, and Lizzy soon stood upright with her arms raised as he took over the reins. She walloped in joy and leaned back against his body when she sat back down, and William wrapped one arm around her waist with a large grin on his face, eager to propose to her and make her his betrothed as soon as possible.
After they travelled to Netherfield and dismounted, William grabbed Lizzy’s hand and pulled her in excitedly as they ran into the house. “I have something for you, Lizzy. I brought it for you from a small shop in Scotland that I found and I thought you would like it.”
He walked her to the library where he had left the gift. It was a small box that fit in one hand and Lizzy rapidly unwrapped it.
“I brought gifts for the others and I handed them out earlier but I wanted to make this one special and waited to give it to you, Lizzy. I was... I had to make a decision and after speaking with Richard, I know what I need to do and I wanted you to have this before I left. I will see you in two months and I will continue to write to you, but I hope you remember me every time you see it.”
Lizzy gasped when she saw the beautiful gold watch. It was on a chain that could be worn around her neck, but she was especially surprised to see the beautiful engravings of flowers on the casing. She opened it and the watch began to play music.
“It is a musical watch from Switzerland. The owner of the little shop escaped France after the war began and brought the most valuable of the pieces with him.” William explained. “There are little metal pins that run across the steel teeth and it makes the music notes as the rod spins.”
Lizzy looked up and smiled with her eyes moist, “It is the most beautiful watch I have ever seen, Will.” She placed the chain around her neck, “Thank you for thinking of me. You have been always so kind to me and you are the best brother I could have ever asked for! Thank you, Will!” She reached up to kiss his cheek but he turned his head and she pecked him on his lips. She smiled as she released him and took a step back to gaze at her watch again. “Thank you! I wish to go and show it to Georgiana immediately! Did you get her one as well?”
“No, Lizzy. I purchased the finest lace for her but the watch only for you. I remembered.” William responded as he attempted to steady his heart. “Go on, dear; off with you to your lessons. Father said you are now studying Spanish and Miss Carter is learning more from you than she is able to teach you.” He chuckled. “You are incredible, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Lizzy grinned and ran off to the nursery to meet with Georgiana and the governess. Now being out in society, she had no further need to sit in the nursery
