"To Elizabeth and Will."
Will stepped forward. "To all the friends we have lost, and new ones we will find."
"Here, here," his comrades cheered, and then applauded.
Charlotte and Vanessa came up to hug her, and finally Vevina came over to embrace them both.
"You sly young chap. I never suspected you would propose so soon. I'm thrilled."
"Thanks, Sis. So am I."
Now all of his other friends came up to wish them both well, and there was a great deal of hand shaking and back slapping all around.
"You can thank me later, old chap," Parks said at one point.
"What for?"
"Why, bringing all this about, of course."
Will stared. "What do you mean?"
"I chased her so hard she was bound to run away from me and straight into the arms of a far more sensible chap like you."
They all laughed, and Will slapped him on the back and embraced him.
"No hard feelings?" he whispered.
"Not at all," Parks said sincerely. "Anyone can see she adores you, and I have yet to fall in love. Not to mention being married to the Army. I'll be hard pressed to find a wife who doesn't mind a career soldier."
"I'm sure you'll meet one some day soon. You're very young yet."
He nodded. "Aye, and there is still so much more to do."
"More?" Elizabeth asked in confusion.
"Yes, of course," Parks said, suddenly looking ill at ease. "Might end up in India, eh, what?"
Elizabeth noticed that Will had gone very still and Monroe was looking at them both oddly.
"That's it. No more Army talk until after my wedding, and that's an order."
"You're a civilian now, but I promise to obey that command for old times' sake. So long as I get to be a groomsman," Parks said, once more resuming his devil-may-care air.
"Of course. Can't think of anyone I would rather have stand up with me than all you chaps. We will sort everything out in the morning regarding the wedding party, I promise."
Everyone's good humour now appeared to have been restored, and Will pulled Elizabeth to him for a long lingering kiss. When he lifted his lips he asked, "Shall we have our first dance together with you as my fiance?"
She smiled and nodded. "It may be my only one, if our engagement is to be so very short."
His hand in the small of her back pressed her more securely against him, sending shivers of delight through them both. "Do you mind?"
She shook her head. "No, not at all. I now understand the phrase ‘better to marry than to burn.' That other day when we were together, I thought I would burst into flames," she admitted with a blush.
"I'm glad. That's the way I want it to be for us, always."
They finished the waltz floating on air. With a final kiss, Will returned Elizabeth to her brother's side.
"I shall be here early tomorrow with the vicar and my solicitor, if I may?" he asked, his eyes never leaving her face.
"I shall look forward to it," the Duke replied.
They shook hands.
Will took Elizabeth's hand and gave it to Thomas. "Make sure she rests tonight, and doesn't get into a tizzy about the wedding. Everyone will pitch in to help, and it will go as smoothly as a military drill."
They all smiled, and nodded. Will took his leave of a few of the other guests milling about to offer their congratulations. Shortly thereafter, he and his friend and sister departed, leaving Elizabeth feeling sorry to see him go, but elated.
The heady sensation drained away like the air from a punctured balloon a moment later, however, as she began to head toward the stairs to her room, and was grabbed by Marcus Fitzsimmons. He dragged into the small anteroom just outside the ballroom.
"Did you enjoy making a complete fool of me, you little whore?" he growled.
She gasped, stunned at his livid face and tone. She was sure she had never seen such a transformation so shocking. "No, never, I-"
"And that brother of yours. So ambitious for you to marry well that he would just hand you over to that crippled bastard. Well, let's see how you all feel about your triumph over me when I've rammed you over and over again until you can't even walk."
His hands gripped her arms so tightly she cried out and shoved him with all her might.
Then she grabbed the nearest weapon she could find, a heavy branched candelabrum, and swung it in a wide arch, splattering him with hot wax and scorching his shirt.
"So you've shown your true face at last!" she hissed.
"If only you knew," he sneered. "If only you knew how I really feel about you all."