Page 1 of A Life Diverted

P riscilla Wendell, the mistress of Willowmere in Derbyshire, wife to her beloved husband Joseph, and mother of two sons, David, almost ten, and Barnabas—called Barney—five, could not believe God had blessed them in the way He had.

She had been convinced there would be no more children, especially not a daughter, and here in her arms was her daughter.

Until this day and this miracle, she, like her older sister, had only two sons.

Priscilla, called Cilla by all who knew her well, had accepted she too would only be blessed with male children.

Their estate was about five miles from Snowhaven, where her sister lived, and about the same distance from Pemberley, where one of her best friends and relations by marriage was mistress.

The Wendells were not extremely wealthy like the families who lived at the other two estates, and unlike her sister and brother-in-law, they were not titled.

Joseph was a simple gentleman farmer. Their income of six thousand pounds per annum was more than sufficient for them and allowed a decent amount of savings to accrue each year.

Wendell was concerned because Barney’s birth had been very difficult, and the midwife had opined there could be no more children. Hence, when that woman had been proved wrong, five years after their second son had joined the family, Cilla had considered it a miracle, while he worried.

For the whole of the time of her increasing, Joseph, the dear man that he was, had tried to keep his worry from her, but Cilla knew her husband far too well to be fooled.

She told him that it was in God’s hands.

Her one and only sister and best friend, Elaine, tried to assure Joseph, but his worry persisted.

Elaine managed to convince him that his worry would only succeed in upsetting Cilla, so he did his best to regulate his concern.

Elaine was four years older than Cilla and had married the then Viscount Hilldale some fourteen years previously.

The match was much to the consternation of Lord Reginald Fitzwilliam’s older sister, namely because he had chosen the daughter of an untitled landowner.

Their late father’s estate earned seven thousand pounds per annum, and she and Elaine had had dowries of ten thousand pounds each, but that had not been good enough for Lady Catherine Fitzwilliam.

She had receded when her father, the late earl, had ordered her to desist.

Lord Willard Fitzwilliam and his wife, Lady Hilla, had perished in a carriage accident some two years previously, which had elevated Reggie and Elaine, and made their eldest son, Andrew, nine at the time, the new viscount. Richard, their second son, was three years younger.

Even though Cilla had married Joseph two years after Elaine wed, she had borne David just short of a year after Andrew.

Barney joined the family a little more than two years after Richard.

The cousins were extremely close to one another, and not only physically.

Their group of friends included William Darcy, who was a year younger than Richard and the son of Lady Anne and Robert Darcy.

Lady Anne was Cilla’s brother-in-law’s younger sister.

It was another match Lady Catherine had not approved of, but had wisely held her peace.

Lady Catherine had ultimately married a knight, Sir Lewis de Bourgh of Rosings Park in Kent, a year after her younger sister, Lady Anne. She had borne a daughter, Anne, three years after Lady Anne had delivered a son.

Included as a friend was the son of Pemberley’s steward, George Wickham, who was a little older than Andrew.

When his father, Lucas Wickham, had been employed by Robert Darcy, George had been almost six and William Darcy two.

Somehow the late Mrs Wickham had manipulated Robert Darcy into becoming her son’s godfather.

Priscilla, Elaine, and Anne Darcy did not like the Wickham boy being with their children, but it was not because he was the son of a steward.

There was something about him they did not feel was right, but their husbands saw no ill in the boy.

All of Cilla’s thoughts about her family and friends flew from her head when her housekeeper, Mrs Bannister, brought the squirming babe to her.

Cilla saw that her daughter had a shock of raven-coloured hair like she and Elaine had.

Joseph stood and looked on in wonder as the housekeeper placed the swaddled girl into her mistress’s arms.

The mite let out a mighty squall, so as soon as Mrs Bannister retired, Cilla put her hungry daughter to her breast. While the babe sucked hungrily, she realised they had not named her yet.

“Joseph, what say you to Elizabeth Elaine for her name? The first name for my and Elaine’s late mother and the middle name for my most loved sister,” Cilla suggested .

“I think that our little miracle looks just like an Elizabeth Elaine,” Wendell responded. “But what of you, Cilla, my dear? Are you well? No complications?”

“The midwife says everything was normal, and, as you well know, Mr Harrison was here, even though his services were not needed,” Cilla assured her worried husband. Mr Jackson Harrison, whose practice was in Lambton, was the physician who served both Snowhaven and Pemberley.

“I cannot believe I have become such a worrywart. I am more than pleased to have a daughter, but I would not have been able to stand it had you been called home to God,” Wendell related.

“I was not. As you can see, I am hale and healthy. There was no excessive bleeding, so Mrs Madison told me that I should recover from this delivery as well as I did with the boys,” Cilla pointed out.

She changed the subject. “It saddens me that Elaine and Reggie could not get away from London in time to be here for Ellie’s birth. ”

“Ellie?”

“Yes, my love, I like Ellie as the diminutive form of Elizabeth. Albeit, she is named for my late mother, who was called Eliza; she does not look like an Eliza to me.”

“Knowing how close you are to Elaine, I am sure it was disappointing that she could not be here.” Wendell grinned. “Given how much Elaine and Reggie wanted a daughter, they are going to spoil Ellie at every turn. By the by, does she have the birthmark?”

Both Elaine and Cilla, as well as their four boys had a birthmark in the same location. It was a crescent moon, on the back, just below the left shoulder.

“She is sated; you can look when you induce her to belch.” Cilla handed her satisfied daughter to her husband. As soon as he took their daughter, Cilla put herself to rights and covered herself with the coverlet again .

Wendell took his daughter and rested her face down on his forearm softly, while he gently patted her back with the other hand.

It did not take long before Ellie emitted a rather loud belch for such a small girl.

Wendell pulled the swaddling back from her left shoulder and spied what he had been seeking.

“Yes, love, she has the birthmark in the same shape and location as you and our sons,” he reported.

“I think it is time for David and Barney to come meet their sister,” Cilla opined after her husband had returned Ellie to her welcoming arms. “I believe they are with the governess in the schoolroom.”

Not too many minutes later, Wendell ushered the boys into their mother’s bedchamber. They were happy to have a sister, but were unimpressed that all she could do was sleep.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

“A letter from Cilla,” Elaine Fitzwilliam, Lady Matlock, exclaimed excitedly.

“She must have delivered their third child.” She looked across the settee at her husband.

“It is a great pity the session of Parliament would not allow us to be with her, Joseph, and the boys. At least the letter is in Cilla’s hands which is a good sign. ”

Like her brother-in-law, Elaine had worried about her sister surviving the birth and had her husband not needed her in London, she would have been at Cilla’s side. She broke the Wendell seal and opened the letter. She decided to read it aloud.

6 March 1791

Willowmere

My dear sister, Elaine,

I am well. The midwife and Mr Harrison both announced that there was nothing out of the ordinary with the birthing process. Your little sister is not leaving you yet!

Elaine, you have a niece!

“Drat! I lost a bet with Darcy,” Lord Reginald Fitzwilliam exclaimed. “I was certain it would be a son.” He saw his wife watching him with raised eyebrows. “Carry on, my dear.”

Her name is Elizabeth Elaine Wendell. We are calling her Ellie.

She has the same-coloured hair as we do.

Only time will tell if it is wavy like ours.

Her eyes are the dark blue that you would expect to see in a newborn.

We will have to wait and see if her eyes will change to the emerald-green colour you and I have.

Yes, she has the birthmark in the same shape and location the rest of us do.

Elaine, Joseph and I would like to request that you and Reggie stand as her godparents. Will you pass on the news to Anne and tell her we would like her to be her other godmother?

I will write to her in a few days. I just do not have the energy for more writing now.

I need to rest. You know my Joseph; he wants to make sure I recover apace. I look forward to seeing you, Reggie, and my nephews as soon as this session of parliament closes and you are able to travel north.

With much joy, I send my love and regards,

Cilla

“Even though He did not grant us a daughter, I am so happy for Cilla,” Lady Matlock said. “My sister’s happiness is palpable even from this short note. I am sure Anne will not refuse to be Ellie’s godmother. Reggie, how soon before we are able to leave London?”