Page 6 of Aunt Felicity
B y the time Bennet reached Gretna Green after six days of travel without even one sighting of his wayward daughter, to say that he was in a foul mood was an understatement.
To make sure he did not bear the brunt of his father’s bad mood, Thomas said not a word to him without being addressed directly. The two Bennets had just reached the last smithy’s shop when they had to wait for three men who were asking the blacksmith if he had conducted a wedding for a man who one of them was describing.
The description was meaningless to Bennet who hardly listened to what was being said as he determined the man asking was nought but a servant. Thomas felt a memory stir when he heard what the man was saying. It reminded him of the man Phillips had introduced the night of the summer assembly in Meryton. His father had not asked for his opinion, so Thomas held his peace. He was sure he was mistaken. After all, he had only met the man briefly and had never seen him again.
The next day, after having crossed one another’s paths multiple times, two groups of searchers departed Gretna Green for the south—three men on horseback, and two in a carriage. Neither group found those whom they were seeking. The only commonality between both was the feelings of frustration, anger, and failure.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Lord Matlock was pacing back in his study at Snowhaven. None of the reports Robertson had sent him each day were favourable as no trace of his son or the carriage had been discovered.
On the morrow Anne would be joined with Robert Darcy in matrimony, and no amount of caterwauling from Catherine would change that fact. She had objected first because Anne’s fiancé was not titled. Next she had tried to use her own failure to attract a man as a reason Anne could not marry. As he needed the distraction, the Earl of Matlock had dismissed his older daughter’s concerns and told her she would be restricted to her suite until after the wedding so she could not object during the ceremony, as he suspected was her intent.
The only problem was what was he to tell the Duke of Hertfordshire and his termagant of a daughter once the wedding had taken place. Some sort of letter telling Hertfordshire of his and his son’s travel plans to Falconwood was expected. He knew the chances of Robertson discovering his son before it was too late at this point was almost none at all. However, as long as he was unaware Reggie was married, there was hope.
As he had that thought, his aging butler knocked and then entered the study, silver salver in hand on which sat a single missive. The Earl prayed it was finally the good news he needed it to be. He took the sealed letter off the tray and did not look at it until the butler had vacated the study and pulled the door closed behind him. He looked at the seal and saw it was his second son’s. Now he had to hope Reggie had changed his mind and was informing him of his return to his senses. Lord Dryden Fitzwilliam sank into his chair behind his desk, took a deep breath, and then broke the seal. He began to read tentatively.
14 July 1777
The Flying Pegasus Inn
Longtown
Cumberland
Father, congratulate me, I am married.
The Earl knew all was lost. If his stubborn son had married two days previously, then it was irrevocable. He balled the letter up and threw it into the empty grate. He no longer had a second son! All he could hope for now was that Jefferson’s wife bore him a male child. As long as there was no one to inherit the title after his eldest son, he could not disown his younger one.
As angry as he was, the continuation of the earldom was primary. Unlike some titles, the Matlock title could only flow through a son born of the body of the previous Earl. He would have to command his wife, son, and daughters that they were forbidden to have contact with his second son and whoever the chit was he married. In his anger he forgot that after the wedding on the morrow, Anne would be able to do whatever her husband permitted.
What Lord Matlock did not know was that a letter had been delivered to his youngest just before the butler brought him his.
Lady Anne Fitzwilliam had been sitting with her mother discussing the wedding on the morrow and how in love she was with Robert Darcy. The butler had delivered a letter to her which she immediately identified as having been written by Reggie. Knowing she would put her mother in a very difficult position if she said from whom the letter was, and as Mama did not ask, Anne had excused herself and made for her chamber. She had locked the door, sat in the window seat for lots of light, and broken the seal.
14 July 1777
The Flying Pegasus Inn
Longtown
Cumberland
My dearest baby sister, Annie,
I am married, sweetling. Such a sister I have got for you. She is much more like you than our older sister, but unlike you, she is not shy and will defend her opinions vigorously.
Her name was Felicity Rose Bennet, the only daughter of the master of an estate named Longbourn near the town of Meryton where I was working for Norman and James. I met her…
Reggie told of the meeting and everything which had occurred subsequently. He described in detail how Felicity’s father had attempted to force her into an unwanted marriage, and how they had rescued one another.
I know I sound like a character from one of your Gothic novels, but I swear I fell in love with Felicity almost from the first time I beheld her. She is shorter than you, has dark, wavy tresses (which I love to see and touch, her hair is so silky) and the finest emerald-green eyes I have ever seen. This is all to say that although her beauty does not meet the definition society holds, she is the most beautiful woman to me.
My hope is you marry Darcy soon because as soon as you are no longer under father’s authority I am hopeful we will be together, and I will have the distinct pleasure of introducing you to your sister.
If you want to write to me, we will be at my house in Ramsgate.
I wish you everything of the best with Darcy. Let me know if he finally asked for your hand.
With all of my brotherly love,
Reggie
Anne read the letter a second time. Now she had another reason to hope the hours before her wedding to Robert flew by. As soon as she was married she planned to reach out to Reggie and her new sister, Felicity.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Robert Darcy, his mother, and his younger sister, Georgiana, came to visit the afternoon before the wedding. After greetings were exchanged, Mrs Darcy sought out Lady Angeline to enquire about any last minute assistance which may be needed.
Robert and Georgiana joined Anne who had been practicing on the pianoforte. “Where is the virago?” Georgiana Darcy, always outspoken, asked when she did not see, or more precisely, hear Lady Catherine.
“Father has restricted her to her apartments until after our wedding.” Anne looked around making sure no servants could overhear. “I received a letter from Reggie, he is married,” she related in sotto voce .
“Do not tell me he married that harpy Lady Elaine Winston,” Georgiana stated with distaste.
“No, her name is Felicity and he met her…” Anne gave a synopsis of what had occurred ending with their wedding over the anvil. “Robert, my father will forbid it, but after we wed, you will not disallow me to see Reggie and meet my new sister will you?”
“My dearest loveliest Anne, you should know me better than to think I would throw over my long friendship with your brother merely because your father demands it,” Robert assured his fiancée.
“And if he did, he would never hear the end of it from me,” Georgiana added saucily.
“That is all the inducement I need had I thought along those lines.” Robert stopped when the Earl entered the drawing room. Greetings were exchanged, and Lord Matlock asked young Darcy to follow him to his study.
“I know you and my younger son have been friends for many years, but I demand that you sever all contact with him, and give me your promise that you will not allow my daughter to see him as I am cutting him from my family. I would expect your obedience in this, and to give me the respect and deference owed to my rank,” Lord Matlock insisted. “He has disobeyed me and married some nobody against my wishes and not the woman I selected for him.”
“My Lord, with all due respect, I am a Darcy not a Fitzwilliam, and I will not have anyone other than my own father dictate with whom I may or may not have a connection. If your son ever did something against me or another Darcy, that would be something entirely different.” Robert sat quietly while he saw the anger play over the Earl’s face.
“I could withdraw my permission for you to marry Anne if you do not obey me in this,” Lord Matlock blustered.
“That would not stop us marrying as she is of age as of a few days ago. Besides, would you want a second scandal connected to marriage in your family?” Robert stood, bowed, and exited the study leaving a flummoxed Earl behind him.
Lord Matlock had bluffed and lost.
He would speak to Jefferson and Catherine after the wedding. They, along with his wife who had no choice, would obey him regarding Reggie or the chit he married. He would make sure they would not be noticed by his family or friends. They had wilfully acted against his inclinations, and for that they would pay. He would see to it that they would be censured, slighted, and despised by everyone connected with the Matlock earldom. Their alliance would be a disgrace; their names would never even be mentioned by any of them. Yes, Lord Matlock would make sure of their punishment.
He smiled when he thought about the fact that they would have no source of income. The smile was soon gone when he remembered he needed to write to the Duke of Hertfordshire about the wedding which would not occur.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On Friday, with a footman as escort, Beth made the short walk to Purvis Lodge. Knowing that Felicity would direct a letter there, she had found reasons to call over the preceding two days as well.
On this day Jenny was bouncing on the balls of her feet in anticipation when she saw Mrs Bennet. As soon as she noticed her friend’s mother crossing the park, she made for her. “This arrived within the past hour,” Jenny stated as she extracted the missive from her pocket and handed it to Mrs Bennet.
“Thank you Jenny dear,” Beth responded gratefully. “If your mother has seen me, tell her I remembered something urgent I needed to do at home and will call on her soon.”
Jenny nodded she would do so before Beth was off for the less than one mile walk to Longbourn. When she reached the house, she made directly for her sitting room, instructing Agnes that she was not to be disturbed by anyone. She did not recognise the seal with the R and F pressed into it. Nonetheless, she broke it and began to read.
14 July 1777
The Flying Pegasus Inn
Longtown
Cumberland
Mama,
How I miss you, but I must tell you before I burst, I am no longer a Bennet. As of an hour or two ago, I am Felicity Rose Fitzwilliam, wife to the most wonderful of men, Reginald Andrew Richard Fitzwilliam who is the second son of an earl.
He is such a good man, Mama, and he will always protect me while at the same time taking my opinions and desires into account. He is not one who will ever force a daughter of ours (if He so blesses us) into a marriage for his own twisted reasoning. If it sounds like I love him, it is because I do. I love him, Mama! Reggie is the best of men.
Even though he is a second son, he inherited a house and fortune from his maternal grandmother, so as I said before, although we will not be wealthy, we will want for nothing.
He has an older brother (Viscount Hilldale) and sister (neither of whom he is close to) as well as a younger sister, whom he loves dearly. If he is correct, she will be married soon so we will be able to see her and her husband. Why do I say that? Well, Reggie’s father tried to force him to wed a very nasty woman who happens to be the daughter of a duke. So as he says, we rescued each other.
I never imagined I would find a husband whom I could love with my whole being, but that is what I have in Reggie, Mama. As much as I hope and pray he will meet you, I know that as long as Mr Bennet is alive, the chances of that happening are slim.
When we reach our house in Ramsgate, I will write to you via Jenny so you will have my direction. To prepare you, I want you to know that I did write to Mr Bennet.
You have my love and respect, Mama. I only hope my elopement did not cost you too much trouble with your husband. I think about you every day. Please guard your health.
With all the daughterly love possible,
Mrs Felicity Fitzwilliam
Beth did not even realise that tears had begun to fall. They were not of sadness, but rather joy. Her girl was well, happy, and safely married. Henry could rant and rave, do his worst, but he no longer had authority over Felicity.
If her husband took the ill-advised step of confronting their new son-in-law, Beth had no doubt the son of an earl would not be cowed by Henry Bennet.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
A few days later Bennet and his son arrived home. All he told his wife was he did not want to hear his daughter’s name mentioned by any of them again, and he went directly to his study.
On top of the mound of correspondence waiting for him was one in a script which looked vaguely familiar to him, with a seal he had never before seen. Bennet lifted it from the stack, broke the seal, and began to read.
14 July 1777
The Flying Pegasus Inn
Longtown
Cumberland
Mr and Mrs Bennet,
As your former daughter I am writing to inform you that I was married over the anvil earlier today. My husband is the Honourable Mr Reginald Andrew Richard Fitzwilliam, second son of the Earl of Matlock. So, before anyone thinks they can work on him, you cannot.
As I am sure you went to search for me in Gretna Green, we purposefully did not used that town. You do know one is able to marry in Scotland in locales other than Gretna, do you not?
Yes, I know. I am banished from Longbourn, you have revoked my dowry, and you will never know me again. That is a small price to pay for not having to marry that brute of a man with whom Mr Bennet was so determined to have me join my life. I would have rather lived in the hedgerows than have married that man!
We have the means to live well and will survive without the ?4,000 dowry you took from me. My husband was reading the law to become a barrister before we joined our lives. He tells me that if Mrs Bennet’s wedding contract states that her dowry is to go to any daughters I could challenge you and have the courts reverse your edict. As you are determined to do this, you may have the dowry.
I thank you for my childhood, and I am only sorry that our relationship had to end the way it did. I, we, will never try to force a son or daughter of ours to marry against his or her inclination for our own selfish, or any other, reasons.
Your former daughter,
Mrs Felicity Rose Fitzwilliam
Bennet sat staring at the words as if they would change. They did not. His daughter had well and truly thwarted his plans and now he was certain, Collins and his dullard of a son would not be happy.
Whether he wanted to or not, Bennet owned he would have to rely on Thomas to marry and sire male children.