Page 39 of A Life Diverted
T he Lucas parents and their two daughters arrived at Longbourn just before eleven o’clock in the morning.
The two Lucas sons were Franklin, the eldest, two years older than Charlotte, then came Johnny, who was three years younger than his older sister, followed by the youngest, Maria.
Both sons were away looking at horses; hence, they were not with the family that morning.
John Lucas had a tendre for Lizzy Bennet, but he was aware she had no interest in him beyond a platonic friendship.
When Charlotte and Maria alighted just before eleven o’clock, they spied the younger Bennets and others they did not know walking in the park.
It was a perfect way to take advantage of a mild, but cool, autumn day.
“Mama, Papa, will you excuse Maria and me to join our friends in the park?” Charlotte requested.
“Off you go,” Lady Lucas allowed. “We will see you when everyone comes in for tea.” Lady Lucas was disappointed that her sons, Franklin and Johnny were away looking at horses, especially Johnny who held an unrequited tendre for Lizzy.
“Eliza,” Charlotte hailed as she neared the group. There were four unknown gentlemen, one lady, and a young girl who looked close in age to Mary and Maria. One of the men was walking with Jane, and unless Charlotte was wrong, they were lost in a world of their own.
“Charlotte and Maria,” Elizabeth welcomed.
“There is much to tell, but I think the introductions may make some things clear.” All the walkers had stopped and were watching Elizabeth.
“Everyone, this is Jane’s and my best friend, Miss Charlotte Lucas and her sister, Miss Maria.
Maria is Mary’s very good friend. Charlotte and Maria, may I present Lord Andrew and Lady Emily Fitzwilliam, the Viscount and Viscountess of Hilldale, and my first cousins . ”
“I was right! You found your family, or they discovered you,” Charlotte interpolated. “That is why you fainted, was it not?”
“I will get to that, I promise. First, the Honourable Mr Richard Fitzwilliam of Rosings Park in Kent, another first cousin, Mr William Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire and his sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy, cousins by marriage. Last, but certainly not least, is Mr David Wendell of Willowmere in Derbyshire, my brother and Jane’s fiancé . ”
For a few moments Charlotte stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded. How was it Eliza’s newly met brother was already engaged to Jane, and from where did all these cousins come?
“How?” was all Maria managed with a squeak.
Jane told the story of her time in London.
Then Elizabeth filled in what Charlotte did not know about the assembly.
Finally, she told about the arrival of her birth parents.
“And there is one more brother, Barney, who is to arrive on the morrow. He is of an age with you, Charlotte,” Elizabeth revealed.
“Also, we are hoping my uncle, Stephen Granger of Glenmeade in Staffordshire, will arrive soon. He is Mother’s and Aunt Elaine’s brother.
By the by, James is on his way home as well. ”
“Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward returned to London this morning. They did not want to leave our young cousins for too long,” Jane related.
“They will return in time for the ball at Netherfield Park.” She saw the quizzical look at the mention of a ball.
“There will be an engagement ball in a little more than a fortnight. I am sure Mother, Mama, and the rest of the ladies are informing your mother of this as we speak.” Jane smiled.
“ There will be more men than at the assemblies, even if one or two of them are already taken.” She looked at David first, and then at Lizzy’s cousin, Andrew. ”
“It has been many years since there was a private ball in the area, so I look forward to it with anticipation. Now if I may, I have some questions about your past, Eliza,” Charlotte responded.
“Ask what you will, and if I am able, I will answer,” Elizabeth allowed.
“Before you were kidnapped, you were called Ellie by your family members?” Charlotte verified.
Elizabeth nodded.
“And because of your belief that you had been abandoned, which you now realise was wrong, you did not want to be called Ellie. Hence, when the men you now know are your cousins called out the name Ellie, it led to you fainting. Do I have the right of it?” Charlotte enquired.
“You do,” Elizabeth confirmed.
“In the dreams you have had, which you thought were fantasies but that you now know were real, you never saw the face of the man who drugged you and carried you away from your home?” Charlotte queried.
“That is accurate,” Elizabeth agreed.
“Besides the fact that you, your birth mother, and your aunt all look very much alike, down to the colour of your eyes, what makes it certain is that they all have the same birthmark as you have on the left of your back? Further, it was your aunt who added your initials in red to the nightgown you were wearing when you were found,” Charlotte checked.
Elizabeth nodded. “There is no doubt; I am Elizabeth Elaine Wendell.”
“Does this mean you will be leaving the neighbourhood soon?” Charlotte worried .
“I do want to see where I was born at some point, but I will never cut my ties to the Bennets and everyone I have known here for most of my life. You will soon meet my Wendell parents and see for yourself that they are not attempting to separate me from the Bennets. They have already promised Mama and Papa they will not do that. Hearing that relieved much of Grandmama Beth’s concerns.
You know how close we have always been,” Elizabeth reported.
“Where I will live is not something we have canvassed as yet. There is still so much of which to speak before we get to that. You must know that no matter where I am, the bond between us will not be broken.”
The final statement earned Elizabeth a hug from Charlotte.
“Do I understand that your older Wendell brother was calling on Jane before either realised you were his sister?” Charlotte verified.
“Indeed,” Elizabeth confirmed. “In speaking to David and Father, it seems that there were a few times over the years when they almost discovered me. One was when I was twelve visiting the Gardiners at Gracechurch Street—he is one of Uncle Edward’s investors.
Father saw me from behind, but he did not know I was a foundling, and Uncle Edward was not aware that the Wendells’ daughter had been stolen away at the time Mama, Papa, and Janie discovered me. ”
“I know that your kidnapping must have occasioned your birth family much sadness, but I can never regret that you came here, and I met you. We would have never been friends otherwise. It does sound selfish, does it not? I do not mean it to be,” Charlotte clarified.
“What you are saying is clear to me, and I would have disliked not having you as my friend as well,” Elizabeth replied. She gave one of Charlotte’s arms a reassuring squeeze.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~ ~
Inside the house, Sir William and Lady Lucas had lost the power of speech. It was not only the discovery of Lizzy’s birth family after all of these years, but they were awed by meeting a peer of the realm and his countess.
Since his elevation to his knighthood by the King some ten years past, Sir William Lucas had been very impressed with his new station and was used to being the only titled person in Meryton.
He had just been introduced to the Earl and Countess of Matlock and been informed that the Viscount and Viscountess of Hilldale were in the park with the rest of the younger people.
Lastly, he was introduced to the earl’s sister, Lady Catherine.
Compared to them, he was nothing. He had met other knights at his investiture at St James Palace, but other than the royals at the ceremony, never anyone of higher rank than himself.
As he and Lady Lucas began to relax, they could see that although Lady Catherine was a little more aloof than her brother and sister-in-law, the three titled people did not stand on ceremony and allowed the Bennets to address them by their familiar names.
Thanks to Lizzy binding the two families together, it stood to reason it should be so.
“Lady Lucas, we will send formal invitations in another sennight or so, but there will be an engagement ball held at Netherfield Park where we will make a formal announcement about Ellie. That is the name we have always called Lizzy,” Cilla shared.
“She has taken to being addressed by both names in stride.”
“Engagement?” Lady Lucas asked, her eyebrows knitted together in question. Fanny and her guests spoke about how they discovered one another but nothing of a betrothal.
“I did not realise we omitted that news,” Beth—who was seated next to the two ladies—interjected.
“Janie met Lizzy’s brother, David Wendell, in London, and they were courting before Janie met Cilla and Elaine.
Upon meeting the two ladies, Jane promptly fainted when she saw Lizzy’s face and eyes staring back at Maddie and Edward.
Coincidentally, it was the same night as the assembly. ”
“My goodness! Mrs Wendell, it seems that your Ellie was to be discovered one way or another, and in this case, in two different locations and unbelievably at practically the same time.” Lady Lucas shook her head.
“Ellie has told me how kind you and your family have been to her over the years. I owe you all a debt of gratitude which can never be properly repaid. Please call me Cilla like all my family and friends do,” she stated.
“I am Sarah, and it was our pleasure, Cilla. Your Ellie, our Lizzy, is very easy to love,” Lady Lucas responded.