An Unexpected Legacy

by Don Miller

  It was finally decided they would attempt to have the wedding in three weeks at St James Church in London. This seemed appropriate, because traditionally the wedding was held in the church of the bride’s family, and Lord and Lady Denby attended St James Church regularly and were occasionally joined by the Dumonts. The Dumonts were raised Catholic, and though they had theoretically converted to the Anglican Church and provided a living for a pastor in Hastings, near Staunton Park, they were very seldom there anymore and hardly knew the current pastor. The church in Kympton, where the Darcys supported the living of the pastor, was too far away from London and would make it very difficult for all of the Carlson family members and friends to attend, as well as family and friends of the Dumonts and the Darcys. And, of course, the church in Meryton, where Elizabeth had once expected to get married, was not even considered. Another advantage of the church in London was that it was closer than either Kympton or Hastings for the Bennets, Gardiners, and Bingleys.

  Elizabeth did say she would like Jane Bennet to be her maid of honor, and, of course, Georgiana would be one of her bridesmaids, and she hoped Margaret Farnsworth would be another. Darcy said that he would probably choose Col. Fitzwilliam for his best man, if he was available. If not, he would ask Bingley, who otherwise would be one of his groomsmen.

  They finally broke for lunch, during which they received a reply to the note Lord Monttard had sent to the Earl of Denby for a meeting in the afternoon between their families to discuss some family business. The Earl responded they would be happy to receive them at 3 PM, so after lunch, Darcy escorted Georgiana back to Darcy House and then returned to Dumont House. Elizabeth had asked he come with them to see Lord and Lady Denby, and he was happy to accommodate her.

  As soon as their party was ushered in to the sitting room at Denby House, Elizabeth was happy to see that Margaret was there, and was about to speak to her when, Lady Denby, seeing Darcy, smiled and said, “I think I know what the family business concerns. Mr. Darcy, have you come seeking our consent?”

  “No, my Lady, I have received that from Elizabeth and Lord Monttard, but I would certainly like to have your blessing for my engagement to your granddaughter.”

  “Well said, Mr. Darcy,” said Lord Denby. “Pray tell, when did all this happen?”

  “We had a meeting of the minds last night, Grandfather,” said Elizabeth. “I finally woke up to the fact that I loved him and wanted to spend my life with him, so I enticed him from his house last night and convinced him to propose again, and now here we are engaged.” And then turning to Margaret, she said, “and Peggy I am here to ask you to be one of my bridesmaids.”

  Margaret came forward and they hugged, “Of course, I would love to be, and I am happy for you, but here I am again, the only young unmarried woman in our family.” She stepped back a little and turned to look at Darcy, and then looking back at Elizabeth, she sighed, “I just go off for a few weeks and suddenly I am deserted by my new best friend. He better be worth it.”

  “He is, and I certainly will not be deserting you. I will expect you to spend time with us and give your grandparents a break. I am sure you and I and my new sister Georgiana will make a happy threesome when you visit us at either Darcy House or Pemberley. And if I can get my one-time sister Jane to visit at the same time, we will really make a happy group.” And then she had a sudden thought. “Oh, excuse me Margaret, I should have asked, how was your brother?”

  “He recovered nicely, thank you. He had a very high fever for several days and we were in despair, but then a few days ago, during the night, it suddenly broke and he woke up the next morning feeling almost like his usual self.”

  “I am so glad,” said Elizabeth.

  “So give us some details,” said Lord Denby, “when and where are you going to get married? Are we going to be able to see a large and elegant marriage commensurate with bringing two of the wealthiest families in England together?” And then winking at Elizabeth, he continued, “Since you know the Queen so well, are you going to invite her?”

  In a teasing tone she told him, “We were thinking of Westminster Abbey or the Royal Palace, but decided the former would just be too ostentatious and the later would put too much pressure on the Queen to decide what kind of wedding gift to get us. We finally decided that in deference to my father’s family, we would hold it in the St James Church. Do you think that can be done?

  Although her reply put a smile on everybody’s face, Lady Denby was particularly happy. “Saint James is a lovely venue and your wedding will be one of the highlights of the year. You know everybody is going to want to see who Darcy is finally willing to marry. And of course, Elizabeth, you’re the talk of the town also, so they want to see you.”

  “I see you do not know Darcy very well,” said Lord Monttard. “I am sure what you have just said may have convinced him to change his mind and have the wedding in Kympton, near his estate, or in Hastings, which is even farther away. You know how he avoids the limelight, and to some extent, Elizabeth seems to share that feeling. However, I have been assured the only thing each of them really cares about the wedding is that the other one is there exchanging vows with them. Now the question is, when? They want to get married in three weeks. Can we secure the church and get out all the invitations and prepare a wedding breakfast and ball in time?”

  “Three weeks,” cried Lady Denby. “Why so soon? You know I want to have a ball on the wedding night, but we have a ball coming up on Saturday. Cannot you put the wedding date off a few weeks? Besides, then it would be easier to get exactly the day we want.”

  “Elaine, I am afraid I have to beg your indulgence on this one,” said Lady Monttard. “Although I have not done it for years, I have decided that it is time that I had a ball at Dumont House. Also, we are going to ask Lord and Lady Matlock to host the wedding breakfast, because I am sure they will want to be involved. Oh yes, and we do want you to make the announcement of the engagement at your ball.”

  There was more discussion about the timing of the wedding, but in the end Lord and Lady Denby could see that Elizabeth and Darcy were not to be dissuaded from their choice of time and that Lord and Lady Monttard would not be dissuaded from hosting the wedding ball. They agreed that Elizabeth and Margaret and their grandparents would invite Lady Matlock and Georgiana to join them in the morning at Dumont House to start planning the wedding, breakfast, and ball.”

  Just as they were leaving, Margaret drew Elizabeth aside and whispered to her, “You have done well, Lizzie. There are few men in the ton that I consider worthy, marriageable material, and Mr. Darcy and his cousin, Col. Fitzwilliam, are in that category. You are very lucky woman.”

  When Darcy arrived back at Darcy House, he told Georgiana what had happened at Denby House, and she was very excited that Elizabeth would be her sister in so short a time. She then told him that a note had arrived from their aunt and uncle saying they would love to have them for dinner and suggested 6:30. Promptly at the 6:30 Darcy and Elizabeth and Georgiana were ushered into the sitting room at Matlock House. Once again, Lord and Lady Gladney and Col. Fitzwilliam were there with Lord and Lady Matlock.

  Seeing that Elizabeth was the friend to whom Darcy referred in his note, Col. Fitzwilliam asked, with a smile, “So, Miss Dumont is the mysterious friend. Are we to assume you meant she was Georgiana’s friend, Darcy, and you did not want to get our hopes up?” Turning to his mother, he said, “Do you not find this all very mysterious, mother?”

  “I do indeed. What do you suppose could be the meaning of this?” she said with a smile.

  Lord Gladney, still fretting about his boorish behavior the last time Darcy and Elizabeth had been at Matlock House, rather sheepishly said, “Darcy, once again I apologize to you and Miss Dumont for my inexcusable behavior the other night. But…,” And he arose and offered Darcy his hand and bowed to Elizabeth. “I believe maybe everything has worked out for the best.”

  “Thank you, Gladney. You have been forgiven and of course you are right
. We came so we could announce our engagement and tell you of our wedding plans, which, by the way, involve you, aunt, if you are so inclined. I was fairly confident when I walked in the door with Miss Dumont on my arm you would figure out why we were here. And you see standing before you one of the happiest of men.”

  Everyone stood and came over to the couple and hugged them and gave them their congratulations and asked them for more details. They were also somewhat disappointed that the marriage was going to be held so soon, because, like the Denbys, they thought the wedding would be quite an event and that their friends and acquaintances of note should be given plenty of advanced notice. However, knowing Darcy’s tendency to take a long time to decide on something, but once he had decided on it, to want to do it quickly, they understood they could probably not change his mind. So they did not argue the point long.

  Lady Matlock then asked Darcy and Elizabeth what they would like her to do for the wedding, and when Elizabeth told her they would like her to hold the wedding breakfast, she was delighted. She thought it was very thoughtful of Darcy and Elizabeth to include her in the festivities, knowing how she loved to host social events of all kinds. And, of course, Darcy and Elizabeth were delighted she accepted, because she was acknowledged to be one of the best hostesses of the ton, and they were sure the wedding breakfast would be an event to remember.

  Eventually the conversation came around to Lady Catherine DeBourgh and how she would take the news of Darcy’s engagement. She had been badgering Darcy for years to marry his cousin, her daughter, Anne DeBourgh because she and Darcy’s mother had agreed they wanted to unite the two families and estates. She ignored declarations from both Anne and Darcy that they did not intend to marry each other and continued harping about it. Since she and Anne rarely left Rosings, it was likely she did not know about Elizabeth’s elevation in rank and would have no idea who Elizabeth Dumont was. She would probably assume she was some upstart fortune hunter and come storming into town to find out what this engagement was all about.

  Darcy had thought about going to Kent to tell her face-to-face, but had decided that even though he could get there and back in 2 days, it would not allow him time to finalize the details of the settlement with his lawyer, which he wanted to do this week. Besides, he admitted it would be a grueling journey, and he did not want to take the chance something could happen causing him to miss the ball Saturday night. So he had sent her a note, telling her he had become engaged to one of the wealthiest young ladies in Britain, without explaining to her that it was the same person she had met as Elizabeth Bennet. He hoped his note would mollify her enough that even though she might not like it, she would accept it. At this suggestion, Lord Matlock snorted, stating that if he knew his sister, she would not accept it lying down.

  After dinner, when the men separated from the women and went into the billiards room for a drink, Darcy received Col. Fitzwilliam’s assurance he would be able to stand up with him at the wedding. He was reasonably certain he would not be going back into the field unless there was a major setback in the campaign against Napoleon.

  When the ladies were alone, Georgiana, who had always been impressed with Lady Gladney’s skill on the piano, asked her about the music she had been practicing recently. While they were in that conversation, Elizabeth took that opportunity to ask Lady Matlock, in a low voice, how well Col. Fitzwilliam knew Margaret Farnsworth. Surprised at the question, Lady Matlock asked Elizabeth what had prompted her to ask that question, and Elizabeth replied that during the last conversation she had with Margaret, she had expressed admiration for Col. Fitzwilliam. Elizabeth asked if there had ever been a thought of an attachment between the two.

  “It is interesting that you should ask that, Elizabeth,” said Lady Matlock, “because I was just thinking of that the last time that I saw Margaret when we were at dinner at Denby House. They have known each other for a long time, but Margaret has never appeared to be anxious to marry, being too involved in her horses and her music. If it were not for her music, I would almost say that she was a tomboy. It is only in the last two or three years she has blossomed into the beautiful young woman she is now. Because Richard has been away in the war most of that time, I doubt that he has seen her more than once and has probably forgotten her. What do you think of her?”

  “I have found her to be a very engaging person, with a personality more like mine than most of the ladies of the ton, and I believe your son was, at one time, somewhat attracted to me. Like you, based on my first conversation with her, I too had the impression the men of the ton did not interest her, and then, totally unexpectedly, this afternoon, she expressed the opinion to me that I was lucky to get Darcy, because she considered him and his cousin the only marriageable young men she knew. It came to me she knew that I was coming here tonight, and I wondered if she was giving me a subtle hint I should somehow try to push your son her way. I do believe she has quite a substantial dowry.”

  Lady Matlock thought about it for a few moments. “You know them both. Do you think they would be a compatible couple?”

  “The only occasion I had to spend much time with her was at the dinner at which I met you, but from the time I did spend with her, I received the impression, as I told you, her personality is somewhat like mine, but she is a little more open and not quite so introspective, which is how I think of Col. Fitzwilliam. She is strong willed and would occasionally test his patience, but, yes, I think they might go very well together.”

  “Are you of the opinion I should say something to Richard about her, or did you have some other scheme in mind?”

  “My intention was to make sure she was near me at the same time Col. Fitzwilliam was…” At which time Lady Matlock stopped Elizabeth by putting her hand on Elizabeth’s arm, and said, “You and I are close enough to being family. Will you please refer to him as Richard? I get tired of hearing him called Col. Fitzwilliam all the time.”

  “Certainly. As I was saying, when I can get both Margaret and Richard near me at the same time, I will reintroduce him to her, and, once he gets a good look at her, if he does not realize he should ask her to dance, I will force him to ask her. I suspect she is going to make herself particularly attractive for the ball and, who knows, maybe he will be attracted to her without my help.”

  At about that time the men returned to the room, sooner than expected, primarily because Darcy did not want to be separated from Elizabeth for long. Most of the rest of the evening consisted of everyone asking the newly engaged couple’s about the extended travel that was planned for after their wedding and their plans for where they would spend most of their time as a married couple over the coming years.

  Chapter 15: More Announcements

  Dumont House

  May 31, 1810

  Dear Sister Antoinette

  I was not sure whether it would be proper for me to make the salutation of this letter Dear Mother, although that is how I think of you, so I settled on just your name. I hope you have received Grandmere Marie’s letter which told how she and Grandpere Henri discovered me in my uncle’s bookstore. It has been one of the defining and happiest moments of my life, for I felt an immediate kinship to them and have come to love them very much. I am told I look very much like you, and that I can thank you for my agreeable looks and inquisitive mind.

  I have now come to another defining moment in my life, and this time I thought it only right I write and tell you about it. But let me first say I have been blessed with a wonderful life. It has had its ups and downs, but, for the most part, I think somehow God’s hand has been guiding my life. I know it was difficult for you to give me up, but you could not have given me to a better family for me. Was it just a coincidence that Mrs. Bennet and you gave birth at the same time in the same house? Mr. Bennet took me in hand as a special daughter and taught me all he could and encouraged me to read and learn and be self-reliant. He was the perfect father for one of my personality. I had an older sister Jane who became my best friend and has been a stea
dying influence on my life. And then, just when it was time for me to leave home and find my way in the world, another amazing coincidence, your mother and father found me, and I discovered the joy of having not just one, but two sets of wonderful grandparents.

  As for the last defining moment that was the impetus for this letter, I want to tell you I have found the perfect match for me in a man to whom I have become engaged. His name is Fitzwilliam Darcy, and he is from one of the oldest families in England. He is everything I could wish for in a man, and I suspect one of the few men in England who could put up with me. I look forward to a long life of happiness with him. And Mr. Darcy and I are well aware of all that God has given us, and we are determined to use our resources to make the world a better place in which to live.

  We are to be married in three weeks. The exact date has not been set yet. The only thing missing at that wedding ceremony will be the presence of my true mother. Oh how I hope I can see you some day. My husband and your father have both promised me that if peace in the world ever does come, then we will travel to Italy to see you.

  We know not whether you are still alive, because Grandmere and Grandpere have not heard from you in so long. There has been little mail from Italy reaching England. However, we hope and pray you are alive and well, and I hope you will think of me and pray for me. And I hope that whether or not we ever meet, you will know I will always be

  Your Loving Daughter

  Elizabeth Dumont9i

  Elizabeth put down the pen and reread her letter. She had rewritten it several times, but decided it was time to admit that no matter what she said, she would not think it quite right. She was writing to a stranger who was her mother, so she had to say more than she would to a stranger, but she could not say all the things she could to a mother, partly because she did not know just what she should say to a nun. And she wondered if it was all in vain. Times were hard and her mother worked among the poor in Italy. She could have contracted one of the many diseases found in those areas of Italy where the indigent lived and died. But until she knew for sure, Elizabeth would assume she was alive and pray she would someday have a chance to see her.