Page 116 of A Life Diverted
“Yes, and until recently neither did the Marchioness of Birchington and Viscount Westmore. When they came to apologise to Priscilla and beg her pardon, they were informed and have met Elizabeth, as have the Duke and Duchess of Bedford and their heir,” Frederick informed his family members.
“Technically, she is fourth in line for the throne, but given her birth was after the divorce I will not anger the church; I will see she is removed from the line of succession by Parliament,” the King decreed.
“I expected that, Father. In fact, she has been promised it would be so, to her relief. When you meet her you will see titles, pomp, and ceremony are not things that interest her. She and her sisters are wonderful musicians. My daughter has the voice of an angel, and can speak many more languages than I,” Frederick owned.
“Then her education has not been neglected?” the King asked.
“Not at all. She is as educated as any man I know. She debates rings around the Darcy heir, who studied at Cambridge. My daughter is beautiful inside and out, my natural bias notwithstanding,” Frederick reported proudly.
The Queen looked at the King who nodded.
“We will recognise Princess Elizabeth as our granddaughter with all rights and privileges of a Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, excepting her ineligibility to be part of the line of succession once Parliament acts. When may we meet her?” the Queen asked hopefully.
“Before you answer that, and given her feelings for the Jerseys, is she not also angry with us for forcing the divorce on you and your Priscilla, Frederick?” The King asked, not wanting to upset his granddaughter.
He felt a renewed remorse for having forced that which had separated his second son from his beloved wife, and in turn his granddaughter from her birthparents.
Hearing that the upbringing of his favourite son was amongst the reasons her late mother had wanted her raised as she had been, he longed to see the hitherto unknown princess and begin to make up for his actions, even if they had been right for the Kingdom and could not be corrected.
“She is not, and you have her birthmother to thank for that…” Frederick explained what Priscilla had written and her explanation of the King’s duty to crown and country.
“We are very sorry she is no longer with us; she was an exceptional lady. What were Jersey and his wife thinking? Did they not know what we did, we did for England and did not want to hurt either of you? They presumed we would take pleasure in being so cruel?” the King mused. “We are tired, we will rest.”
Once his father had left the parlour, Frederick turned to his mother to address her question.
“May we bring her on the morrow, Mother?” Frederick requested.
The Queen nodded her assent. “Would ten o’clock be agreeable to you?
” The Queen nodded again, a small smile showing she was looking forward to it.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“The King raised the spectre of treason?” Bennet asked with no little trepidation. “I have long worried that he might.”
“It took me less than a minute to point out the truth of the matter to my father, and he understands it was with my full permission and approval you and Fanny raised Lizzy. It all went very much as I predicted. Lizzy will not be in the line of succession; it needs an act of Parliament, but it will be quickly and quietly done. Other than that, she will be recognised as a legitimate Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.” Frederick went on to tell Bennet, Fanny, and Darcy about his meeting and the King’s sentiments regarding the Earl and Countess of Jersey.
“It is only right they should suffer now after the way they treated their own flesh and blood!” Fanny stated vehemently. “As she had stated she wants nothing to do with them, what will happen if they importune Lizzy?”
“Then I will execute my threat and my father will act on my recommendation. The King will have the Earl and Countess stripped of their titles, but rather than confiscate their lands, Wes will be elevated to Earl as soon as it happens—if they are so foolish as to attempt such a thing,” the Prince stated emphatically.
“Who will be with us when we meet the King and Queen on the morrow?” Bennet asked.
“All of the Bennets, excepting the newlyweds. They know Jane is on her honeymoon in East Sussex,” the Prince averred.
“Let us inform the children,” Fanny suggested.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At a few minutes past ten, the Lord Chamberlain showed the Bennets into the receiving room in Buckingham House.
The gold everywhere made it the most ornate room any of them had ever seen.
On the opposite wall were two thrones; both had gold frames with red velvet upholstery.
The King was seated on their right and the Queen on their left.
Prince Frederick stood next to his father, and to his right was a rotund man the Bennet parents assumed was the Prince of Wales. Elizabeth walked between her parents as they approached the thrones, with her sisters and brother walking behind them.
When the Lord Chamberlain indicated they should stop, all seven bowed low and curtsied deeply to the King and Queen.
“We welcome you to Buckingham House, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet,” the King drawled.
“And a special welcome to you, Princess Beth. We welcome the Misses Bennet and Master Bennet as well.” The King turned to Frederick.
“From what we remember of the late Lady Priscilla, you are correct, Frederick, our granddaughter is a true likeness of her mother.”
“You mean her birthmother , Father. Mrs. Bennet is Princess Beth’s mother.” Frederick pointed out quietly. The King nodded, verbally agreeing it was so.
“Approach, Granddaughter,” the Queen ordered.
“We do not bite.” Elizabeth approached the Queen’s throne until she was a foot away.
“You did not exaggerate, Son; your daughter is a true beauty.” The Queen’s focus turned back to Elizabeth.
“We have a daughter Elizabeth, so when you visit us and she is present, there will be two Princesses Elizabeth at court.”
“I am sure we can find a solution that will not cause confusion, your majesty,” Elizabeth stated. Her decided lack of fear above all was impressive to the person she was addressing.
“What is your full name, child?” the Queen asked.
“Elizabeth Priscilla Francine Bennet,” Elizabeth replied.
“It is good your name honours both your birthmother and your mother,” the Queen opined.
The Queen turned to her second son. “She is delightful, Frederick.” Then her Majesty turned back to her granddaughter.
“We will call you Beth so we do not confuse you with our daughter Elizabeth. Welcome to the family, Beth.” The Queen stood and opened her arms for her granddaughter, bestowing a warm hug upon Elizabeth.
As the Queen sat, the King held out his hand and Elizabeth kissed it, then she backed away and re-joined her parents. “Our son had told us of the love and care you have shown our granddaughter,” the King stated. “We will reward you.”
“With all due respect, your Majesty, nothing we did was done with an eye to a reward. It was done out of love and to honour the dying wish of my best friend in the whole world,” Fanny informed the monarch.
“We are well aware you did nothing expecting a reward, but it is our prerogative to grant one,” the King returned.
The Lord Chamberlain instructed Bennet to kneel in front of the King. “I name you Baron Longbourn.” The King stood and tapped Bennet on the shoulder with his ceremonial sword. “Arise, Lord Thomas.”
“Lady Francine, our son has told us our granddaughter is most accomplished, as are her adopted sisters. We invite you and your daughters to tea, two days hence at eleven. My lady in waiting, the Duchess of Wolverhampton, will send you the pertinent details.” The Queen had issued an invitation, but Fanny—Lady Francine—was well aware it was a summons and not an invitation.
“It will be our pleasure, your Majesty. As you are a connoisseur of music, may I be so bold as to suggest Ladies Matlock and Holder, their daughters, and Miss Darcy be included?” Fanny replied.
“We will have our lady send invitations to them as well. We understand our Cousin Rose was at your eldest daughter’s recent wedding.” The Queen stated and Fanny nodded it was so. “We will invite our cousin and her daughter-in-law as well,” the Queen decided.
After the Bennets backed out of the receiving room, they were joined by Frederick. “Did you know the King was going to make me a baron?” Bennet asked, a decided frown on his countenance, as he had loved their daughter from the day she was born and had needed no such reward.
“It was as much a surprise to me as it was to you,” the Prince averred.
“Well then, Lady Francine, I think it is time to return to Darcy House to prepare for the dinner at Bedford House this evening,” Lord Thomas, the Baron of Longbourn stated.
“Papa am I Lord Tommy now?” the youngest Bennet asked.
“No, Son. One day, when you inherit Longbourn, you will become Lord Tommy, now you are the Honourable Tommy Bennet,” Bennet explained, mussing his son’s hair as they stepped into the carriage.
With the Prince accompanying them, the Bennets departed Buckingham House for Darcy House.