Page 37 of A Life Diverted

B arnabus Wendell, called Barney by most, could not imagine why he had first received an express to return to London, and then another to travel to the town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, and a third for him to come to the estate of Netherfield Park near that town.

The only thing he could think of as he prepared to leave his friend’s estate in the morning was that it had something to do with the lady, a Miss Bennet, in whom David had mentioned being interested.

He seemed to remember something about her being from the area of Hertfordshire where he would be travelling.

The letter mentioned that Uncle Stephen, who since Aunt Adelle had passed almost never left Glenmeade, had been asked to come as well.

The years that had passed since Aunt Adelle and the babe she had been attempting to birth had been called home to God had not dimmed Uncle Stephen’s mourning.

Barney was worried Uncle was only forcing himself to live until he reached the age of thirty in less than four years.

It was at that age that Uncle Stephen would sign Glenmeade over to Barney.

Uncle had not demanded that he take the Granger name.

Rather, he said it was enough that Barney had Granger blood in his veins.

When Ellie was taken and murdered at some point, something had died in Uncle Stephen.

He had loved his niece fiercely, so he had taken her loss almost as hard as Mother and Aunt Elaine had.

Then, when Aunt Adelle, along with the babe, had been taken in childbirth a few years after Ellie, Uncle Stephen had all but lost his will to live.

Once Barney had become his heir after Richard received Rosings Park, Stephen Granger had wanted to make Barney the master when he turned one and twenty.

When his sister and brother-in-law had objected it was too soon, Stephen had attempted the same when his nephew was about to turn five and twenty.

Again, he had been put off. In the end he had to settle for thirty.

His sisters were well aware he would not give up while he was master of Glenmeade, which is why Cilla and Wendell had not agreed to an age less than thirty, something with which Barney had wholeheartedly agreed.

Everyone in the family held out the hope that by the time Barney reached that age, Stephen Granger would have moved past his melancholy.

Unfortunately, to date that had not occurred.

In the less than four years left before Barney became the master, the family intended to try what they may to convince Stephen not to give up.

‘ Rather than speculate, I will know when I arrive at the mentioned estate, ’ Barney told himself as his thoughts returned to the present.

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

Stephen Granger had debated with himself, going back and forth, many times since the express from his brother-in-law on behalf of his sisters had arrived.

Not for the first time did he unfold and reread the missive.

1 October 1811

Netherfield Park

Near the market town of Meryton

Hertfordshire

I am scribing the words as your sisters dictated.

Wendell

Brother ,

Elaine and I are fully aware that you dislike travelling away from Glenmeade unless there is no choice.

This, Brother dearest, is one of those times.

We cannot go into detail in writing, but believe us when we tell you that you will not be sorry if you answer our call and come hither.

All we will tell you, yes, is it is to do with ELLIE !

Please, Stephen, make all haste. We promise you that you will not be sorry if you do.

Hoping we will see you soon. With our sisterly love,

Cilla and Elaine

He had almost resolved not to go, convinced that it was that they had discovered a grave for her. He did not think he would survive seeing irrefutable proof that his vivacious niece, the one Adelle loved as she would a daughter, was dead.

Before he was about to write the refusal, he allowed himself to examine the tone of the letter. It was not one of sadness, and if it was a grave, would his sisters not have said so? As he went over possible scenarios in his mind, his interest became engaged.

In the end, he did take up his quill and write a reply, but rather than a refusal, it was to let his sisters know that he would be hours, or at most, a day behind his response.

Feeling a will to live more than he had since Adelle had passed away, Granger issued orders to his surprised staff and servants that he would be travelling first thing in the morning. If his coachman changed horses frequently, he would reach this Netherfield Park on the evening of the third day.

For the first time in many years, Stephen Granger was excited about something.

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

Since Jane and then Eliza had come out, it was the habit of the two eldest Bennet sisters and Charlotte Lucas to meet the morning after the assembly while her mother would spend time with her friend, Fanny Bennet.

Charlotte’s curiosity was fully ignited due to the note which had arrived at Lucas Lodge the morning after the assembly before mother and daughter had walked to Longbourn as they intended to do.

There were already questions, what with Eliza doing something Charlotte had never before witnessed, fainting, and then the Bennets, Phillipses, and the Netherfield Park party all departing minutes later.

The note asking the Lucas ladies not to call until further notice had only added to the mystery.

When the Lucases had discussed the request while they broke their fasts that morning, all were very inquisitive as to what had occurred, but not one of them had an inkling as to what had caused the request to be sent.

After the meal, Charlotte had walked around the estate’s small park as she went over the happenings from the previous night at the assembly.

She stopped as she remembered something.

That overdressed Miss Bingley, who as the daughter of a tradesman, thought she was above all of the residents of the area, had been asking about Eliza.

It was no secret, but as soon as Mrs Long had mentioned that Eliza was a foundling, the Bingley woman had looked elated. She had not remained to hear Mrs Long explain that Eliza was as much a Bennet as any of her five brothers and sisters and that the belief was that she was gently born.

Charlotte had watched as the shrew had approached Messrs Fitzwilliam and Darcy and their aunt, Lady Catherine, if memory serves. She had seen the woman speak to the men; the two had exclaimed something before Eliza fainted .

As she went over what she had observed again and again in her mind, Charlotte came to a conclusion. Did the men know who Eliza really was?

It was pure speculation at this juncture, so Charlotte hoped that the embargo on calls to Longbourn—during the morning calls other friends in the area had reported receiving the same request—would be of short duration so that her suspicions could be confirmed or denied.

No matter how much she wanted to know, Charlotte’s main concern was for Eliza, who she counted as the best of friends.

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

In the library, some men were speaking while others played chess.

Bennet was playing against Wendell. He found they were evenly matched.

Thinking of Lizzy’s ability at the game made Bennet grin.

“Just wait until you play against Lizzy. It has been a few years since I have been able to win against her with any regularity,” he stated as he tipped his king.

“I look forward to playing against Ellie,” Wendell returned. “Bennet, you agree that at some point the fact that Ellie has been discovered and reunited with us will become known in society, do you not?”

“I do. Why do you bring this up?” Bennet queried.

“We,” Wendell indicated his son, brother-in-law, and eldest nephew, “were discussing the potential danger to Ellie when it becomes known she is recovered. The bastard, or bastards, who took Ellie may see her as a threat. I doubt the responsible party would think logically that a child of less than three would have no memory of the occurrences after more than seventeen years.”

“I had not considered that. What do you suggest?” Bennet enquired.

“Matlock had a suggestion, thanks to Richard…” Wendell related what had been discussed about employing fo rmer soldiers, marines, and sailors as guards and outriders. “We would be more than willing to pay for the additional men…” He stopped speaking when Bennet held up his hand.

“The suggestion is a good one. As much as I appreciate your offer, I am more than able to pay the wages of as many men as we think are needed,” Bennet responded.

“I did not mean to imply otherwise,” Wendell clarified.

“It is an unexpected expense caused by the connection to our family. That, and that alone, was the genesis of my volunteering to pay the wages of the additional men. It does not take a soothsayer to see that your estate is prosperous, and that does not take into account your second estate.”

Bennet inclined his head to Wendell. “In that case, I thank you, but politely refuse your generous offer.”

“I would suggest you employ a dozen added men,” Matlock proposed.

“Where do I locate such men?” Bennet wondered.

“Richard,” Matlock summoned his son. “Bennet needs twelve men like the ones you have at Rosings Park and assisted, your uncle, Andrew, William, and me in employing.”

“It is always a pleasure to assist soldiers in finding employment and earning good wages, for a fair master. I will send a note to my friend in London who is a former colonel, by the name of Christopher Brandon, and there will be men here for you to speak to by Thursday,” Richard agreed.

“That will be good, thank you,” Bennet responded.

Richard, with Bennet’s permission, used the interleading door to the study and wrote a note to his friend, which was handed to one of the Matlock couriers to take to London.

Hill entered the library to inform the men it was time for dinner.

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