Page 8 of Aunt Felicity
W ith each of her daughter’s letters, Beth visualised the glow of happiness combined with that of impending motherhood she had seen radiating from her Felicity during those priceless but all too brief visits in November.
5 March 1778
17 Seaview Road
Ramsgate
Mama,
You are grandmother to a healthy and very noisy grandson. We named him Andrew James Richard. Andrew was Reggie’s maternal grandfather, and the name which is the first of his two other names. James is for your late father, the best grandfather I ever did have. The third name is my Reggie’s third name.
I laboured beginning the evening of the 26th of February. Andrew took his time and was born just after midday on the 27th. Mama, I took your advice and eschewed a wetnurse. You knew of what you spoke when you said that feeding your babe yourself creates a bond which is tangible.
Reggie said not a word in opposition. He has never blindly adhered to the mores of society and has no intention to do so now. He will be the best father. He holds Andrew whenever he is able.
It sounds like his father is much like your husband, only interested in his sons once they were old enough to begin learning from him. I thank God every day that unlike his older brother, my Reggie never accepted the lessons of how to behave in society his father attempted to teach.
Speaking of that family, Anne tells me that especially after she mistakenly mentioned the birth of our son (she was with me while I laboured) in her father’s hearing, he constantly berates his heir to beget a son. Anne does not know how Jefferson and his wife will achieve that end as they can barely stand to be in the same room together and are hardly ever in the same location or city at the same time.
You will remember I told you in a letter I wrote before we met in Meryton that the Earl was trying to marry off his eldest daughter. Evidently, he has discovered a knight, Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose estate of Rosings Park in Kent is not on sound financial footing. Lord Matlock has engaged the termagant (that is what Reggie, Anne, and Robert call her) to Sir Lewis. Lady Catherine tried to refuse to marry a ‘lowly knight’, but her father reminded her of her opinions regarding his other children having to obey him and marry whom he chose. That poor man will gain Lady Catherine as a wife in mid-April. I suppose they deserve one another; he is a poor steward of his estate, and his future wife thinks she knows all about everything.
The nurse has just brought in a squalling Andrew who is demanding food. I will write again soon.
I miss you, Mama, with all of my daughterly love,
Felicity
Beth felt happy and sad at the same time. She was overjoyed to be a grandmama, but sad she would have to wait until the Fitzwilliams arrived in Meryton as the Blacks before she could meet the babe.
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She was a little slower these days, but the best medicine Beth Bennet could think of was a letter from her girl.
13 October 1779
17 Seaview Road
Ramsgate
My dearest Mama,
I am so sorry that we did not travel to Pemberley as normal last year thanks to the death of both Mr Darcy and his daughter, Georgiana, who I had become very close to. The accident was a year ago this month. As I told you soon thereafter, we had to leave in a rush.
This year, thanks to God’s good Graces, there have been no events which have precipitated an unplanned journey. That being said, we (the Blacks) will arrive in Meryton on the 23rd of November and depart in the morning 2 days after. Yes, Mama, we will be at the Red Lion Inn for a full day, and we will arrive around three in the afternoon as we did before.
Now that the year of mourning for the late Mr Darcy and dear Georgiana is over, they are slowly starting to entertain again.
My poor sister. She was so hopeful when she missed courses for two months, but it was another miscarriage. I know it is not my place to do so, but there are times I question His plan. Anne is the nicest, kindest, most charitable woman, yet she is not allowed to have a child.
Speaking of which, I suspected and hoped I was with child again. I missed one month’s indisposition, but it returned the next month. I spoke to an accoucheur in Ramsgate, (Reggie is so good to me that he insisted I see the man regardless of the cost,) and he said that it is not unheard of for certain factors to cause a lady to miss one month, and sometimes more. That is, he told me, why he and other physicians tell ladies that until they feel the quickening nothing is for certain.
In a way I was sorry when I no longer needed to provide my son with my milk and lost that special bond with him. As soon as he got his first few teeth, it became imperative for me to stop. With the way he eats now, I have no worry for his nutrition. He is not at all fussy and will eat anything we give him whether or not he has tasted it before.
Speaking of my dear husband, he told me not to pressure myself. If and when it is meant to be, we will be blessed with another child. And now I must gush about our dearest little Andy. He is 1 year and almost 8 months old. You know he began to walk just after he reached his first birthday, but I was complaining that I wanted him to speak.
God must have heard my words because he started 2 months ago, and now he will not stop! There are no coherent sentences yet, but he makes sure we know what he wants to communicate. I cannot wait for him to meet you, Mama.
I make sure to tell him stories of his Grandmama Beth and how much she loves him and wants to meet him. Reggie speaks of Grandmother Angeline in the same vein, but he does not know if Andy will ever get to meet her. As long as his father lives (and we wish Lord Matlock no ill), he does not see how his mother will manage it. Unlike you, Lady Matlock cannot go into Matlock unaccompanied, and everything she does is reported back to her husband. Staying at the inn there as the Blacks I am afraid would not work. Because her husband knows we are received at Pemberley, he will not allow his wife to go there, and he refuses to accompany her in case we are present.
I forgot to mention that not long after Robert’s father and sister passed away, the Earl of Matlock arrived thinking he would be able to work on the son in his grief. He was sent away with a flea in his ear and told not to return without an invitation.
As always, I send you all of my daughterly love,
Felicity
In six weeks she would meet her grandson and Beth could not wait. She would begin to count the days.
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The three Fitzwilliams had just returned home from Pemberley towards the end of January when, after they washed and changed and put Andrew down to rest, Mr Dodsley brought the master and mistress the post which had arrived for them while they had been away.
There was one from Jenny Goulding and another from her mother. Knowing Jenny’s letter would be short, she read that first.
11 January 1780
25 Main Street
St Albans
Felicity,
As you can see from the address I am no longer resident at Purvis Lodge.
You are aware I thought I was heading for the shelf, but then I met Mr Heinrich Müller, his parents are Germanic, but he was born in England and is a successful solicitor in St Albans. We married and I now live at the address above.
My Heinrich is a very good man and treats me very well and like you, I have made a love match.
I know how important I have been as a conduit for letters to your mother, hence I have arranged with Sarah Lucas née Jones who as you may remember married Mr William Lucas, that I will be sending letters to your mother in her care. I did not mention they will contain a letter from you. Sarah is a pleasant person but somewhat of a gossip (not in the class of Hattie Phillips and Fanny Gardiner) so it is safer this way.
I still have the purse you and your husband left for me when you were in Meryton last, so there is no issue with paying for the post. Your mother will need to reimburse Sarah Lucas, so that will be the only fundamental change.
With regards,
Jenny Müller
Felicity was happy her friend had met a man who would value her for the good person she was. She was also grateful Jenny had made sure letters would still reach Mama.
It was good that Jenny would not post letters directly to Longbourn as Mr Bennet’s suspicions would be aroused at a constant stream of letters from Jenny.
She broke the seal on her mother’s letter and began to read.
7 January 1780
My dearest daughter,
Please give your husband my regards and many kisses for little Andy.
What a wonderful child you have, Felicity. You two are excellent parents, and it is easily seen in the open and friendly nature of your son. Spending so many hours with you both and my grandson gave me pleasure beyond my ability to express.
I assume by now Jenny has written to you telling you she was married. She was very sly, I had not an idea she was being courted or had become engaged. I met her husband and his parents at the wedding breakfast. They seem like very good people. As such, I am sure she has told you about the arrangements she made for your letters to reach me. What a considerate girl she is.
Some news regarding Longbourn, the Hardersons retired effective after Twelfth Night and I promoted the Hills to butler and housekeeper. Agnes will be an excellent housekeeper as her husband will be a good butler. Every now and again when we are alone Mrs Hill asks after Miss Felicity.
If the Blacks could visit Meryton more often I would not complain, but I know we must be careful not to arouse my husband’s ire. Whatever time with all of you I am granted, I will grasp with the greatest of pleasure.
I trust you had an enjoyable time with the Darcys. They all sound like such good people and I am gratified you have a friend as close as your sister, Lady Anne.
Give little Andy love and kisses from his Grandmama Beth and my warmest regards to my son-in-law, and of course much motherly love to you my girl,
Mama
Like her mother Felicity wanted more time together but as long as Mr Bennet held stubbornly to his decree of banishment, nothing could be done. Felicity would need to think of a way to bring her mother to Ramsgate without Mr Bennet or Thomas in company with her.
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With each year that passed Beth Bennet felt more aches and pains in her body, which she knew was part of the aging process. Rather than walk into Meryton like she used to do, Beth had Mrs Hill check with Mrs Lucas if there was any post for her mistress. Beth was reclining on the chaise in her sitting room when there was a knock. She bade the person to enter and it was Mrs Hill who proffered her a letter from St Albans.
Beth dismissed her housekeeper and broke the seal as quickly as her hands would allow her to.
10 August 1781
17 Seaview Street
Ramsgate
Mama,
Joy oh joy, I felt the quickening! I am with child again. With Andy having turned 3 in February past I despaired I would have another child, but as my darling Reggie said, everything in its own time.
I want nothing more than for you to be with me for my lying in and the birth of your second grandchild. To that, I have an idea. I am sure your husband has heard you complain about some of your maladies, has he not? Also, you are very close to Mrs Richmond, the doctor’s wife. If he were to recommend, say, in early January that your lungs needed some time at the coast, then you could come here for a few months!
Neither Mr Bennet nor Thomas are aware of where we live and knowing your husband, he will be happy to send you away and not want to accompany you. Thomas is, of course, too indolent to volunteer to join you, that is, unless you directly ask him to do so.
Please, Mama. I will be alone otherwise. Anne suspects she is with child, and if she feels the quickening (which we are praying for after three disappointments) she will tell Robert, but more importantly, she will not travel and chance anything untoward happening to her while she is enceinte . So, you see I really need you to come to see us, not to mention that Andy, who will talk your ear off, will be beyond delighted that his ‘Gwanmama Beth’ will be here.
There is little news of Reggie’s family. Lord Matlock still berates his eldest son to beget an heir, who swears he and his wife are trying. The Viscount claims that after their daughter passed away, his wife became barren.
Anne told me something which we can only hope is not true. She suspects her older brother has contracted the French disease, and as much as she disdains Lord Hilldale’s wife, she can only pray she is wrong, and it is not passed onto the wife and her attendant lovers.
Contrary to her claims she would bear a son within a year, Lady de Bourgh (she wanted to be called Lady Catherine, but Lady de Bourgh is the correct title for the wife of a knight) has yet to fall in the family way.
Another thing Anne told me is that the long-time steward at Pemberley had told Robert he intends to retire in the next year or two. She tells me Robert is sure he will find a good man to fill the old steward’s big shoes.
Anne loves Pemberley (what is not to love) as do I. Like me she likes to walk (not as far as I do) and, of course, to ride. I will forever be grateful Reggie taught me to ride because if I did not, I would not have seen most of the wonders at the Darcys’ estate. She related that her father refuses to grace Pemberley with his presence since he had been ejected from the estate after Robert’s father was called home to God. That being said, Anne is very happy her mother-in-law is still spry and healthy. She only sees her own mother on very occasional visits to Snowhaven or, when they are in residence at Darcy House, and her mother at Matlock House in London. Evidently Reggie’s father does not believe we do not come to London.
Mama, I pray I will see you here in January. With all my daughterly love,
Felicity
Beth contemplated what Felicity had suggested. Neither Mr nor Mrs Richmond were impressed by what Henry had done, and the way he forbade her to have contact with her daughter. She would speak to Pauline, and see if she, and by extension, her husband would be willing to assist her to get to Ramsgate.
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As she had each year, Beth received a letter from Felicity in November. She knew this year with her daughter close to the end of her increasing that she would not be travelling. She wondered if Felicity had received her own letter posted a sennight earlier.
15 November 1781
17 Seaview Road
Ramsgate
My dearest Mama,
The brother-in-law I have never met is now the Earl of Matlock. About five days before I wrote this letter, and just before I read yours, a letter from Anne arrived with black edging.
Our first concern was that old Mrs Darcy, or heaven forfend; Robert had passed away. It was neither. Evidently Lord Hilldale rode out with his father one morning. They had been arguing bitterly about the lack of an heir produced by the Hilldales. (By the way, Anne is sure Jefferson has the pox.) Two left, and one returned. The son claimed the father’s horse was spooked by a fox and reared up causing the late Earl to fall and hit some rather sharp rocks with his head.
Anne and Robert both believe there is more to it than what the new Lord Matlock claims, but there is no way to disprove his assertions.
Until there is a son born to the new Earl of Matlock, Reggie is technically Lord Hilldale now, and I am a Viscountess! Me, a country squire’s daughter. We will not attempt to claim Hilldale, or go near the new Earl, given how much animosity there exists between the brothers. Hence Reggie will not attend his father’s burial.
The only positive is that the Dowager Countess will take up residence at Pemberley with her good friend the Dowager Mrs Darcy. That means we will be able to see her, and she may be free to travel to come see us.
Now to your news. Mama, you should be on Drury Lane that you have convinced Mr Bennet to allow you to travel based on Mr Richmond’s recommendation. I know not how to thank you as you will be a great source of strength to me as I experience the travails of childbirth again. Ever since Anne confirmed she was with child (she and Robert are hopeful and ecstatic), it was certain that without your being able to come to me, that I would have been alone. I will not be. Even better than your being here with me is the time you will have with Andy and the fact you will meet your next grandchild.
The sooner Twelfth Night arrives, the sooner you leave Longbourn and arrive here. As your husband will need reports from a local doctor, we have one. He is a good friend of Reggie’s who will make sure you will not be well enough to travel for more than four months.
Andy cannot wait to see you again and neither can Reggie and I. With all of my daughterly love and in anticipation of seeing you,
Felicity
Beth was sorry the former Earl was dead, even if he had not been a good person. She wondered what had driven a son to kill his father after Felicity had repeated what Lady Anne had intimated.
Now she had to keep up the charade of her malady, and she would soon be on the way to Ramsgate.