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“Maybe so, but he means well.”

“I cannot disagree with that.”

“Would you like for me to arrange a small wedding? We can invite family and close friends, enough to make the ceremony official but keep it discreet. I know that your godfather will be glad to officiate, and he can provide you with a license to use on just about any date you choose. I can also carry one of Miss Bennet’s gowns to Madame Dubois to use for measurements to fashion a wedding gown—though I will explain that she has lost a lot of weight and the gown may need to be adjusted once it is ready.”

“That would be very helpful, as I have not had the time to dwell on any details. Just be certain to tell the modiste to make the gown of white satin without an overabundance of lace. Elizabeth does not like ostentatious displays.”

“I shall,” his aunt replied. “Now that we have a plan, I shall leave so that you may ask the young lady in question to be your bride … again.”

“Let us pray that the young lady will be in the mood to make me the happiest man in the world, sooner rather than later.”

That night

Richard had joined the family for dinner whilst William was upstairs with Elizabeth, watching as she consumed her meal. That day Cook had done as Mr. Graham suggested and fixed some chicken soup containing soft vegetables and small pieces of meat. Elizabeth had been happy to have more than broth that she requested a second helping, which pleased William.

Because she had eaten so heartily, she fell asleep soon after the maid had come upstairs to retrieve her tray. At that point, William went downstairs to see Richard, leaving a maid sitting with Elizabeth. Though Mr. Graham thought her well enough to be without constant surveillance, William insisted on it; thus, the household continued as it had since she arrived from Mr. Graham’s office—with someone always watching her.

Downstairs, William found Georgiana playing the pianoforte whilst Mrs. Annesley, Lydia and Richard enjoyed her performance. Upon seeing William, Richard rose and walked over to him.

“Mother told me to begin polishing my brass,” he said quietly.

“Oh?”

“You are going to ask me to stand up with you, are you not?”

A brilliant smile crossed William’s face. “I am, if Elizabeth agrees to marry me.”

“Are you unsure if she will?”

“No. But I am unsure if she will marry me as quickly as I wish her to.”

Suddenly, Mrs. Barnes appeared in the doorway holding a dinner tray. “You have not eaten yet, Mr. Darcy. Where should I place your tray?”

“Take it to my study, please.” Turning to Richard he asked, “Will you join me so that we may continue our discussion? I do not want the others to overhear my plans until everything is set in stone, else Georgiana will not give me a minute’s peace.”

“Certainly.”

Once inside William’s study, whilst his cousin set about eating his dinner, Richard continued his line of questioning.

“You mean to say you have not asked Miss Elizabeth to marry you as yet? From what Mother said you were going to do it right away.”

“I have not had the opportunity to ask, since people go in and out of her bedroom so often. I need an uninterrupted stretch of time to make my case before she begins her arguments about why we should wait.”

“Then might I suggest that you tell everyone to stay out of the room for a certain period of time? You can always say she is especially tired and does not need to be disturbed.”

“You will be glad to know that I thought of that already. Tomorrow is when I shall put the plan in place.”

“Excellent! I think it will be good for Miss Bennet since, according to Mr. Graham, you greatly influence her wellbeing.”

“If I do, it is because I love her more than life itself.”

Richard shook his head. “I once thought I knew what it takes to make a woman happy. Watching you and Elizabeth, I now realise I know very little.”

William laughed. “I am pleased to be part of a love story that will show you what it means to love someone beyond reason.”

“I am not certain that I have what it takes to learn that lesson or even that I wish to know.”

“I hope you learn enough to discover such a love, for I can vouch for the happiness it has brought me.”