Page 109 of A Life Diverted
“Mother and Father, Prince Frederick has informed his cousin Lady Rose and her husband that it is not his desire they push for a divorce,” Marie Rhys-Davies née De Melville, Marchioness of Birchington, informed her parents.
Lady Marie was meeting—two days before the revelations at Netherfield Park would be made—with her parents and her brother Wes
—Wesley De Melville, Viscount Westmore— at the family estate, Broadhurst in Essex, in their parents’ private sitting room to be sure no one in the household could overhear them.
“We are saved,” Lord Jersey exclaimed gleefully.
It was the first good news in the sea of bad news that had befallen the De Melvilles since the displeasure of the royals—not only restricted to Prince Frederick—had become known to the Ton which had necessitated the flight back to their country estate.
“No Father, that is not what this means,” their daughter informed her parents firmly. “I am afraid the condition for no divorce is that I am to cut ties with you.”
“How can anyone be so cruel?” Lord Cyril asked indignantly. He knew full well as soon as word of the split with the Rhys-Davies became common knowledge—and it would as surely as the sun would rise in the east on the morrow—the De Melvilles’ fall from grace would be complete.
“Father,” Wes interjected. “how can you be so hypocritical? Did you not cruelly reject your daughter—our sister—in exactly the same manner and ordered our mother to do the same? It seems to me you are reaping what you have sown.”
“How dare you disrespect your parents thusly?” Lord Jersey blustered angrily.
“Over sixteen years ago, at a time she needed her family more than ever, you cut ties with Priscilla, denying her the succour of family, of her mother and father,” Wes shot back.
“If I were not a boy of six or seven years I would have objected then.” Wes paused allowing his words to sink in.
“At least Marie has come to deliver the news in person, and not like you did in a short, impersonal letter you ordered my mother to write. I know we are supposed to respect our parents, but enough is enough! Your only worry was what society might think—which as we all know you were wrong about—when your only concern should have been for your daughter.”
Lady Jersey was about to tell her children how sorry she was for not standing up to the Earl when her husband placed a hand on her arm and gave her a warning look. “Our son and daughter are tired. We need to give them time to come to their senses,” Lord Jersey deluded himself.
“No, Father, we do not need time,” Wes stated, and Marie nodded. “All we can do is beg our sister’s forgiveness and her pardon for following your dictates since we have been old enough to know them to be wrong. Come, Marie, I will away with you.”
Marie turned without another word and walked out with her brother. It did not take long before the father whose pride would not allow him to admit he had been wrong, was left alone with his devastated wife at Broadhurst in Essex.
The Earl and Countess did not know it, but the two children they had just lost were on their way to Hertfordshire to throw themselves on Priscilla’s mercy and beg her forgiveness. If Lady Sarah had been aware of that fact, she would have begged to accompany them regardless of her husband’s edicts.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“It is done, Lizzy. Your name is now officially Elizabeth Priscilla Francine,” Phillips informed Elizabeth as she sat in her father’s study with him, her birthfather, and her father.
“Thank you, Uncle Frank,” Elizabeth replied.
“I appreciate not having to have my late birthmother’s mother’s name as my middle name another day longer.
” Elizabeth thought for a moment as she turned to the Prince.
“What am I to call you now? It does not seem right to call you Uncle Freddy any longer now that I know who you truly are.”
“Bennet, would you have an objection if Lizzy calls me Father and you Papa?” The Prince asked.
“Not at all, York,” Bennet averred. “I think, though, that if Lizzy is to address you thusly, should you not inform the King and Queen before they hear the news from another quarter?”
“Before you discuss anything further,” Phillips interjected, “am I needed here?”
Bennet looked at the Prince, who shook his head. “Thank you, Brother, but we need nothing further at this moment.” Phillips took his leave with a bow to the Prince and closed the study door on his way out.
“The disclosure to my parents cannot be delayed now that Lizzy is aware of the truth,” the Prince acknowledged. “I am expected at court the day after Jane and Andrew’s wedding. While there, I will request a private audience with my parents and older brother.”
“Father, the King and Queen will not order me to leave my mama, papa, sisters, and brother, will they?” a concerned Elizabeth asked.
“How long have I dreamed of hearing you address me so,” the Prince exclaimed. “I will not lie to you, Lizzy, there is a very small chance they may demand that of me; however, it is my solemn belief that is not what they will do.”
“Why do you think that?” Elizabeth followed up.
The Prince explained his reasons, which were largely centred on the guilt his father felt for tearing a loving couple asunder for political reasons. Although she knew there was always a chance, Elizabeth felt somewhat more confident she would not be taken away from the family she loved.
“May I solicit the first set from you at the ball on the morrow, Lizzy?” her birthfather requested. The betrothal ball for Jane and Andrew had the same rules for Elizabeth and Mary as Jane’s coming out ball. The difference was that they would be allowed to remain for the whole of the ball.
“Yes, Father, those dances are yours,” Elizabeth granted happily.
“In that case, I will take your second set of dances,” Bennet stated.
“Of course, Papa,” Elizabeth allowed just as happily.
“York, I assume you do not want word of Lizzy’s rank to be disseminated in the neighbourhood until the King and Queen decide whether or not they will acknowledge her?” Bennet asked.
“That is correct, Bennet,” the Prince averred. “We will be telling the younger children later today, will we not?” Bennet nodded.
“We will need to impress on them the need to be silent on the subject until there is an official response from the palace,” Bennet pointed out.
“Even though Tommy is the youngest, Papa,” Elizabeth noted, “he will understand the need for discretion, as will the other three girls.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The younger group of children had just been informed of the truth of Elizabeth’s parentage and rank when they were summoned to the family sitting room, where all of Netherfield’s residents and the Prince were present.
“Does this mean I need to bow to you and address you as Your Royal Highness each time I see you, Princess Elizabeth?” Tommy, who had just turned ten some days previously, asked cheekily.
“If you are not careful, Master Thomas Bennet Junior,” Elizabeth replied with mock affront, “you will have to address me thusly and stand whenever in my presence.”
“I have heard the story of your insult on the Bennets’ first visit to Pemberley many times, William,” Georgiana reminded her brother whose pallor darkened as he looked anywhere except at Elizabeth.
“Gigi, and everyone else,” Elizabeth responded, “It has been well over ten years since that occurrence. William was granted our pardon many years, ago and I know it is amusing to embarrass him over his intemperate words then, please let us leave it in the past where it belongs.”
William gave Elizabeth a thankful look. He did not need anyone to remind him, as he would never forget the day or his ill-advised words. Thankfully for William, it was the last time he was reminded of the incident by any in the extended family.
“You four do understand why you may not discuss this with anyone outside of this room, do you not?” Fanny asked.
“And, if you do want to talk about it with one of us, you must make sure we are alone and have complete privacy. Once the King and Queen accept Lizzy as their granddaughter and make a formal announcement, then you will be free to talk about Lizzy’s rank openly if you need to. ”
“We understand,” the three girls and one boy chorused.
“The Gardiners and Phillipses will be arriving for the betrothal ball in the morning on the morrow,” Bennet informed the family.
“Both sets of adults are aware of Lizzy’s true parentage, but your Gardiner cousins are not.
The restriction regarding discussing what you have been told here includes them.
” The four nodded their understanding and agreement.
“You are still our Uncle Freddy, are you not?” Lydia asked.
“Of course, my dear, yes,” the Prince confirmed. “The only change is that Lizzy now knows I am her birthfather, as do you all.”
“It is so exciting that I will be attending my first ball tonight,” Kitty gushed.
“We have set thirteen as the minimum age for attendance; however,” Fanny stated, “unlike Lizzy and Mary, you will retire after supper.”
“Yes Mama,” Kitty acknowledged.
“We still have some last-minute things to see to for the ball, Fanny,” Lady Elaine pointed out, “Are we finished here?”
There was general agreement there was nothing else to discuss. The family dispersed to their own pursuits, not before Kitty, Lydia, and Gigi gave Elizabeth a deep curtsy, each of which elicited a tinkling laugh from the object of their deference.
William felt forlorn when he heard the laughter he loved to hear.
‘ I love her, but she is so far above me! I am a mere gentleman, and she is a princess. I will always love her, but I will have to reconcile myself to the fact the King and Queen will never sanction a match to one as low as me for their granddaughter especially with the new law. ’ William told himself as he felt melancholy set in as he thought about the future he thought he would never have with Elizabeth.