Hi
You do not need to go to a Record Office to find a death. I wondered if you knew that the full BMD index is on
www.ancestry.co.uk and is free to search. Choose the Beta option. It is always worth trying FreeBMD too as they are constantly adding to their database.
Unfortunately unless you get the certificate you are not going to know about Fanny E - that will show her husband's name almost certainly or at the least it will indicate if he is still alive. I think it will be worth the £7. Two years is a long time to search with no result!
Have you looked at the cemetery records to see if they help?
Might William have left a will?
A few thoughts that might help I hope.
Andrea