by Suzan Lauder
It has been arranged for my father’s carriage to collect us in London, & we will travel to Longbourn with you. I am sorry that your visit to Charlotte will be cut short by one week. I hope this does not cause too much of an inconvenience.
Please send my best regards to Charlotte, Mr. C. & Maria & my wishes that they attend our wedding. No date has yet been set, but Mr. Bingley is hoping Papa will agree to a short engagement, & I am of the same mind.
Dearest Lizzy, I am so looking forward to seeing you soon! Mary sends her love.
Yours very affectionately,
J. Bennet
Elizabeth’s astonishment at the contents of the first letter piqued her expectations of the second. Hoping it would detail the parts of Jane’s letter that were unclear, she tore open the seal on her father’s letter with alacrity. She skimmed down the page until she found the section of most interest.
My Lizzy, your birth parents were not without fortune or connections & have left you & Jane bequests that are much more generous than is rumoured in Meryton. Mary, Kitty & Lydia will share the monies from your mother’s settlements, which are also much larger than generally presumed. I know you may feel unhappy that your mother & I have not kept you in our confidence regarding this information, but we wanted all of you to marry for love & did not want young men swayed by your fortunes. I have asked Jane & Mr. Bingley to assist in continuing the rumours about your & your sisters’ modest fortunes, & I also ask this of you.
With Jane’s betrothal to Mr. Bingley, the time has come for me to share the details of your inheritance. Thus I am asking for you & Jane to return for a private conference.
I have asked Mr. Darcy to be present for this discussion since he has been responsible for some of the legal aspects regarding the inheritance. I requested that he kindly provide transport for you as far as London, where my carriage will collect you and your sisters. I hope you do not mind travelling with him. You have not had a particularly positive view of Mr. Darcy, though I cannot fathom your reasons as his one enemy has turned out to be a gamester & a cad. I have always thought Mr. Darcy a good man & not as proud as you think.
As always, your mother & I miss you very much. We are very happy that we will see you sooner than planned. With all our love & respect,
Yours affectionately,
T. Bennet
***
As Elizabeth pondered the messages sent by her father and Jane, a similar letter was being read by Mr. Darcy while breakfasting with his two cousins at Rosings.
“This is from Bingley. I can tell because he has blotted the direction.” Darcy broke the seal and read his letter.
Laweder H•use, Monday April 6th
Darcy.
You must congratulate me for I am the happiest •• men. I am betr•thed to Miss Jane Bennet. I requested her hand & she has accept•d me. Her father approves & gives his Blessing to our union. The job of convincing him to do so was more complicated than I had anticipated.
As you recall, last month you wisely counselled me to act upon my partiality and pursue Miss B•nnet with the intention of marriage. I had • expected to easily obtain her father’s consent to • courtship, and although my arrival at Longbourn seemed to be welcomed by the family, upon receiving a private meeting with Mr. B•ennet, I found myself interrogated rather more harshly than expected given his temperament. It seems Mr. Benn•t had expected my return to Hertfordsh•re last autumn since he had no intelligence to the contrary, & he expressed indignation that I had spent so much time with Miss Bennet last autumn as to raise expectations in the neighbourho•d as to my intentions, which at the time were sincere.
Unwisely, I heeded the advice of my family and stayed away from Hertfordshire •against my own inclinations. I was sorry of my mistake and glad when you & I discussed the matter • you assisted me in making the correct decision •• to pay court to Miss Bennet.
After a month •f courtship, I was convinced I had made amends for my ill actions, but Mr. Bennet was not finished with • admonishment. I found myself compelled t• express my apologies & once again convince him of my sincerity. I w•s finally relieved when he retreated from his reproaches. Fortunately I w•s able to convince him of my worth as a son & thus I am able to report to you that I am to wed Miss Bennet in June.
Mr. Bennet requests an audience with you & me at Longbourn as soon as you are able to travel to Hertf•rdshire. You are welcome to stay at Netherf•eld. I must warn you, Darcy, it will be bachelors only. Louisa & Caroline are forbidden from Netherfield due to their interference in my courtship •f Miss Bennet, in spite •f which, I have secured her hand. I am a lucky man indeed!
Als• Miss Bennet & Miss Elizabeth will join us at Longbourn for an audience with Mr. Bennet. He was quite cryptic in his reasons for including all •f us in the discussion & says that you •• attend to some legal matters. Miss Bennet did not know, but I wonder if there could be another reason for you & Miss Elizabeth to attend these settlement discussions. If this is the case, have y•u been sly with me about such a thing? Although you did enjoy animated discussions with Miss Elizabeth while •• visited Long••urn last autumn. I w•uld imagine that with your love of debating, you would think arguments with the fairer sex showing not a little • particular regard. Miss Elizabeth is intelligent enough to challenge your mind, my friend.
Mr. Bennet has asked Miss Elizab•th • return to Hertfordshire from her visit to Kent on Monday se’ennight. I would be pleased if you could arrive • same day. Miss Lucas would be travelling as well if she so pleases.
I am &c
Y•ur Servant,
C. Bingley
Darcy furrowed his brow as he tried to read the letter between missed words, blots, and the poor penmanship of the author. He smiled and then chuckled, and Colonel Fitzwilliam quirked an eyebrow at him.
“Is the letter good news?” Anne asked.
“My good friend Bingley is lately engaged to Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth’s sister. It seems that I am requested to go to Hertfordshire as soon as is possible, as is Miss Elizabeth. Fitzwilliam, we must offer to escort her in my carriage.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam and Miss de Bourgh thought it an excellent plan and volunteered to accompany Darcy to Hunsford to apprise Elizabeth of the arrangement. At an acceptable hour for calls, Miss de Bourgh rode over in her little phaeton whilst the gentlemen walked. They were welcomed and offered tea and refreshments by Mrs. Collins while her husband effused his appreciation of their condescending to visit his humble abode and his surprise at the good fortune of Miss Bennet to have captured such a gentleman for a husband after having declined the suit of Mr. Collins himself. This drew raised eyebrows from all the rest in attendance. Elizabeth was aware that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had voiced strong disapproval of Mr. Collins’s unwanted attentions to their daughters, and the other guests were surprised that he would make such an ill-bred statement in front of his wife, who was clearly embarrassed.
Mrs. Collins changed the topic back to the upcoming nuptials, and Darcy asked if Miss Elizabeth and Miss Lucas would like to ride in his carriage with Colonel Fitzwilliam on Saturday. They would stop in London to collect Miss Bennet and Miss Mary and then continue on to Hertfordshire. Elizabeth graciously accepted the invitation; however, Maria expressed some reluctance to leave a week early. Charlotte argued the advantages of the scheme, and she finally agreed.
As the three cousins were returning to Rosings, an express from London was delivered to Mr. Darcy. The rather thick packet with a solicitor’s seal drew a frown of concern to Darcy’s face.
“’Tis a day for letters for you, Darcy! I hope this news is as welcome as the first,” Colonel Fitzwilliam commented as his cousin excused himself. When in his chambers, Darcy broke open the seal and saw there was a second sealed letter folded within the first.
Carlton House, April 8 – 1812
Dear Sir,
As you are aware, the Heiresses to the Estate of Miles Lydon, the Earl of Shelton, are two Misses who
have been under the protection of a Gentleman of Hamilton in Bermuda, West Indies, as at the death of the 4th Earl of Shelton on 23 July in the year 1792. We have word from said guardian, a Mr. Thomas Bennet, formerly of Hamilton, Bermuda, and most lately of Longbourn, Hertfordshire.
As required by the Last Will and Testament of the Earl of Shelton, the responsible protector of said Beneficiaries of the Estate was not to take charge of the Inheritance; the stewardship of the Estate and related Trusts and Profits were administered by Mr. George Darcy of Derbyshire, and by his heir in the event of his death, until the Conditions prescribed by said Will were met. Said Conditions are as follows: upon the betrothal of either of the heiresses or the elder living heiress reaching the age of 25 years, the Inheritance would be distributed as required by the Will; furthermore, the information of the state of the Inheritance would be reviewed jointly by Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy prior to the distribution of the assets.
As of late, Mr. Thomas Bennet has approved the application by a Mr. Charles Bingley of London for the hand of Lady Jane Elinor Lydon (known by the name of Miss Jane Bennet), the eldest heiress. Enclosed are further particulars of the distribution of the Assets of the Estate and other Holdings.
Believe me at all times
With sincerity and respect
Your faithful and obliged Servant
B. Larrasby, esq.,
Solicitor
Scarcely able to believe what he had just read, Darcy tore open the second letter hoping for clarification.
Longbourn, April 6
Dear Mr. Darcy;
I must apologize for the necessity of disclosing the information that is to follow in the form of a letter.
As you know, your late father was named Executor of the Estate of the Earl of Shelton, & as his heir, you were left with the responsibility of holding the assets of the estate. Once the conditions described in the attached document were met, the appointed guardian would notify the offices of the late Mr. Bertram Larrasby, attorney-at-law, who would apprise Mr. Darcy of Pemberley as to the identities of the Shelton heiresses.
Lord Shelton designated me as the primary guardian of Lady Jane Elinor Lydon & Lady Elizabeth Anne Lydon upon the death of their birth parents in May & July in the year 1792. The children adopted the surname of Bennet at that time per their father’s wishes.
Although the will did not state an age when the heiresses would be advised of their rightful titles & heritage & the accompanying fortune, as their guardian, I have used my discretion to withhold the knowledge until they received notice per the conditions of Lord Shelton’s will. My wife & I thought it best to conceal Lady Jane & Lady Elizabeth’s substantial inheritance to ensure that all our daughters would be raised with the same privileges & none would be a target of fortune hunters.
Mr. Bingley approached me today requesting the hand of Lady Jane. I gave him my consent & blessing, & sent word to the junior Mr. Bertram Larrasby & requested that this note be included with his advice to you regarding the disclosure of the inheritance. I have not yet divulged these details to my daughters or to Mr. Bingley & I request that you honour my confidence.
I thank you for the years that you & your late father cared for Lady Jane’s & Lady Elizabeth’s properties & funds. Lord Shelton could not have chosen more appropriately for the management of his estates.
I do hope that you can travel to Longbourn as soon as is possible to discuss the particulars of this letter. I also hope it is not too much to ask that you escort Lady Elizabeth as far as London, where my carriage will await her & her sisters for the trip to Longbourn. I have advised Mr. Bingley that the conference will take place on 13 April 1812. Please send word with the courier sent by Mr. Larrasby as to your plans.
I am yours etc.,
Mr. Thomas Bennet
Darcy sat silent for some moments, looking at the two letters with shock. How could this be? He arose and paced back and forth, occasionally shaking his head with astonishment. He pored over the letters again, reading the details with disbelief. He could not have been more surprised to find that the mysterious beneficiaries of the lands and financial holdings he had been administering on behalf of the Shelton estate were none other than his dear friend’s daughters. Bennet had known this throughout their friendship and, in all likelihood, also knew of the intimate relationship the Darcys had shared with the Sheltons.
***
May 1792
Pemberley, Derbyshire
“Papa! Mama!” shrieked the boy as he recklessly ran to the door upon seeing the approaching rider.
“Fitzwilliam, please have a care!” his mother called out as she put away her needlework and followed him to the door. The boy ran outside and stopped alongside his father. George Darcy pressed his lips together to stifle a grin as his young son hopped about in excitement.
“Fitzwilliam, a gentleman is much more dignified than is your display!” George Darcy admonished the boy. Young Darcy mimicked his father by standing stoically with his hands behind his back with as stern an expression as an eight-year-old could manage. He closely watched his father collect the missive from the rider and direct the groom to care for the horse following the difficult ride.
“Thank you, Pratt,” Mr. Darcy said as he opened the letter. He skimmed the content and closed his eyes as he tried to stifle his reaction, aware the boy watched his every move.
Schooling his features, he informed his son in a slightly clipped tone, “It is from Lord Shelton, Fitzwilliam.”
The boy knew Lord Shelton was a good friend of his father who visited Pemberley quite frequently. He liked Lord Shelton. He would always bring him sweets and had helped him when George Wickham nearly drowned him last autumn.
“Lady Shelton is unwell,” said George Darcy. “Jones, please show Pratt to the kitchen and have Mrs. Reynolds give him some refreshment. Pratt, I will bring you my response shortly. Fitzwilliam, you may accompany them, but then you must return to the schoolroom.”
“As you wish, Father,” the boy said in his deepest, most grown-up voice, then emulated his father’s serious demeanour as he escorted the express rider to the kitchens. He was proud to be allowed such a grown-up task and was already anticipating the sweet biscuit that Cook would slip into his hand.
When Lady Anne met her husband as he entered the house, she could tell by his countenance that something was dreadfully wrong. He silently gestured for her to accompany him to the library. He closed the door, asked her to sit, and handed her the express. George Darcy sat with his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees as his wife read the note.
“Dear God!” Lady Anne Darcy cried out. Tears streamed down her face. “Poor Shelton . . . Olivia . . . how badly was she hurt? Oh, George, I must go to Olivia as soon as may be. Shelton needs our help tending to her injuries.”
“I will have the carriage readied for first light. I will accompany you as far as Shelton Manor, then I must be away to carry out Shelton’s wishes. We will leave Fitzwilliam here with Nanny. I do not want the boy exposed to the conversations that must take place at Shelton, nor the emotions.”
“Nor to see Olivia in such distress. Must you deliver the letter to London personally, my dear? Can you not send a servant?”
“It is a delicate matter. He prefers that I tend to it to ensure privacy regarding the matter.”
“I am afraid for you and Shelton, George. Please try to convince him not to fight.”
“I will speak to him, dear, but I do not anticipate a change in his decision. She is his wife. They are our best friends. The baby is our goddaughter. As much as I fear for my friend, I respect his decision and I will support him to uphold his honour. He would do the same for me.”
***
A fortnight passed while his parents were away from Pemberley. Young Fitzwilliam Darcy knew they were coming home that day, and he watched for the carriage, excited for the reunion and wanting to tell them all about the adventures he had during their absence. Mrs. Reynolds would not allow him out of doors
in the rain, so he waited rather impatiently in the entrance hall.
When his parents entered, he saw that each held a small child, and he rushed to embrace his mother. His father released a chubby blonde girl, a little less than two years of age, to the floor and then hugged the boy. The girl eyed the boy with suspicion.
“Hello, Jenny! Do you remember me?” he asked as she regarded him with large china-blue eyes while holding his father’s breeches in one hand, the other in a fist in her mouth. Fitzwilliam bent with his hands on his knees and a cheery expression as he looked at the child. He held out his hand to her and said, “Come, Jenny! I have many good toys. Can she walk by herself, Father?”
“She can, but she is timid. We will have her taken to the nursery shortly, and you can play with her there.”
“Very well, Father,” the boy said solemnly, then regarded his mother with wonder. “Is that Baby Beth?”
“Yes, dear.” Anne Darcy lowered the baby so he could meet her.
“Hello, Baby Beth. You are very small!” He timidly touched her plump cheek as her bright eyes met his. She yawned and Fitzwilliam laughed. The baby reached out with one chubby hand, and he held out a finger, as he had done when Jane was a baby, and she clutched it in her wee fist. He looked up to his mother, and they shared a smile.
“Mama, could they stay here and be my sisters?” he asked, as he always had since first meeting Baby Jane. Anne and George Darcy shared a look. The situation was different now, and this was a question they had already asked of their grieving friend; however, he desperately wanted to keep his daughters. The Darcys agreed that if any man could bring up two babies on his own, it was Shelton, and they offered to care for the girls while he dealt with business related to his wife’s death.
“Dear, the girls have a father who loves them very much. We can visit them at Shelton Manor, and they can come to see us, just as Jenny always has.”
Fitzwilliam looked towards the floor. He was aware there was no mention of the girls’ mother and he knew why. He had heard the servants whispering that Lady Shelton had passed away, and he knew what that meant: Lady Shelton had gone to heaven and would never come back. He would not admit it, but he was now terrified of losing his mother. He felt tears filling his eyes and hoped no one saw them.