Page 68 of Great Uncle Henry (Pride & Prejudice Vagary)
Kate had delivered a son in February 1816, and Anna a daughter in May that same year.
Before she was taken home to God, Aunt Felicity had known that the two were once again in the family way.
Uncle Henry had been with them when they were born.
In fact, Anna’s daughter who was named Felicity Grace, had been born a sennight before Uncle Henry’s birthday.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Henry Bennet’s seven and seventieth birthday had been a celebration for the ages on Saturday, the eleventh day of May 1816. He was frail and blind, but his mind was as sharp as it had ever been.
Henry had been surrounded on his birthday by a large and ever-expanding extended family and friends he had made over the years.
After the party, Elizabeth had approached him and mentioned her concern that he was not looking well at all.
To her, he had been the only father she had ever valued, as her birth father had never been heard of or from again—much to everyone’s pleasure.
Seeing him thus worried her more than she was willing to admit.
To this day she could hear the conversation she had had with her beloved great-uncle before she went to join William in their bedchamber.
“ Uncle Henry, are you well?” Elizabeth had asked concernedly.
“Lizzy, I am an old man. Other than that, there is nothing in particular which ails me,” Uncle Henry had responded.
“Lizzy, do not be overly concerned for me. I have lived a long and good life. Not even the loss of my sight changed that for me. You know of the good fortune that one man in a million is granted in his lifetime. For those reasons and many more, I am ready whenever God decides it is my time to come home. Whatever is to come next does not scare me. I will miss seeing you most of all, but one day we will see each other again, just like I will see Fee when it is my time.”
“But I am not ready to say goodbye to you, Uncle Henry,” Elizabeth had replied plaintively as some tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Uncle Henry had sensed she was crying and offered her a handkerchief.
“Lizzy dear, you are no longer alone in the world like you were when I brought you to this house days after your birth. My nephew, Thomas, has been out of your life these last five years, and your mother is not the same woman she was then. She loves all of you dearly and will hopefully be with you for many more years. William is the perfect husband for you, and you already have three children. I am only sorry I will more than likelynot be here when you and William are blessed with more offspring. And Lizzy, when I do pass, I do not want you to stop your life. Always remember what a good life I have enjoyed.”
She had not responded to his last statement as it would have made what was surely coming all too real.
“I hope it is many years before you leave us,” Elizabeth had stated.
“I will miss you always.” She had wiped her tears with Uncle Henry’s handkerchief, one Lyddie had embroidered for him.
Based on his feeling the intricate work, Uncle Henry had complimented the youngest Bennet for her good work.
“As you know, that is in His hands. Lizzy, you know I have made accommodations for both Mrs Bellamy and Rouse so neither of them will ever need to go into service again. I intend to bequeath Luke some of my shares in Gardiner and Associates so he will become a partner rather than just a manager. He has done very well, has he not?”
“Indeed, he has. He has never regretted not reading the law. I am happy he and Lilly have just begun to court. I think if they decide on one another, they are well matched. And I would expect nothing less from your generous nature. The more you leave to others, the happier I am.”
“How many times over have you proved that I made the correct choice when I made you my heir? I have no doubt you will do even more good with the fortune than I did. Now Lizzy, kiss this old, wrinkled cheek and go to William. I do not want my great-nephew to think I am keeping his beloved wife from him, do I?”
Uncle Henry had smiled and sent Lizzy on her way after said kiss to his cheek.
Almost exactly a fortnight later, Uncle Henry had gone to sleep and never woken again.
As devastated as Elizabeth had been, as had been the rest of her family, especially her mother and sisters, she had remembered his words and not stopped her life because of his death.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Recalling Uncle Henry’s words pulled Elizabeth from her melancholy.
She decided to lighten the mood as Andrew joined them, his and Jane’s eldest, little Beth Elaine, who was not four yet, holding her papa’s hand.
“Did you see how Felix and Eddy have both filled out during their years at Cambridge?” She noted.
After Eton, Eddy and Felix had gone on to Cambridge.
They were both entering their final year and would graduate in May 1817.
They planned to take a grand tour to Europe now that the Corsican tyrant had been defeated once and for all.
After the tour, Felix would take possession of Netherfield Park and Eddy would begin to learn to take over the running of the business from his father.
Over the years their friendship had only deepened.
“Can you believe that Lyddie has delayed her come out until Lil comes out in the season of next year?” Jane asked in amazement. “She will be more than twenty!”
The changes to Lydia had been beyond anything any of them had dreamed of. When she had completed her year at the Dark Hollow School for Girls, a companion, a Mrs Annesley, had been employed for Lydia. The lady had been chosen because she was able to, along with masters, continue Lydia’s education.
Even though Lil was three years her junior, Lydia had become very close with her. As she had not been in a hurry to enter society anyway, she had asked, and the request had been granted, for her to wait for Lil.
Although the amount was not publicly known, it was rumoured that the Bennet and Taylor girls had massive dowries.
Thankfully, Richard and Elli had allowed Biggs and Johns and some other former soldiers the two enormous men found, to act as protection for any of the girls in the family who were entering society.
Hence, when the two ladies had their entry into society, they would be very well guarded.
“It is not surprising seeing how much Lyddie changed. The old Mama would have decried her youngest delaying entering society, but Mama was very supportive. I think she was pleased she would have one of us left at home,” Elizabeth opined.
“Does not Mother come to you and William after Twelfth Night?” Andrew enquired.
“Indeed, she does,” Elizabeth confirmed.
For a few years now, Fanny Bennet spent a few months at a time at one of her daughters’ homes. The schedule was only interrupted when she had to be with one of her daughters for a lying in.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Charles Bingley leased an estate in Yorkshire in 1813, and was assisted to learn estate management by his good friend, Darcy.
Bingley found that as he was ready for it, he liked the life of a country squire.
He married a lady whose father owned the neighbouring estate to the one he purchased. They had a son and daughter so far.
Caroline Bingley was educated by her aunt for a year. In late-1812, she met a moderately wealthy tradesman in Scarborough. When he offered for her, she accepted him in a trice to escape her aunt’s home. To date, she had three daughters. She never returned to the polite society she used to crave.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh fell down a flight of stairs and died from her injuries at the asylum on the island of Jersey in June 1812.
It was not determined whether it had been an accident or deliberate.
After all, she was universally hated by inmates and employees alike.
No one was ever arrested, that is, if it had been done on purpose.
The self-styled ‘great lady’ would have been pleased she had been useful in death; everyone was much happier.
Even though his family never heard from him again, Thomas Bennet only lasted about three years in New South Wales.
His propensity to think he was much more intelligent than anyone and to make them the butt of his cruel humour caught up with him.
One morning his body was discovered lying in an alley close to the room he had rented. He had a knife stuck in his back.
When George Wickham’s father had passed away in 1814, Richard had released him from his service so he could take his late father’s position at Sherwood Dale. One of the under-stewards the late Lucas Wickham trained became Rivington’s steward.
Before he moved north, George had married the daughter of the local parson in 1812. They had two sons so far.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Later that afternoon, the whole family present at Netherfield Park were in the ballroom where the children could be rambunctious in the warmth.
Fanny was sitting with Elaine, Hattie, Debby, Sarah Lucas, and Madeline watching the new generation of the family playing with abandon, the older men, Matlock, Taylor, Gardiner, and Phillips were in the drawing room speaking about their common business endeavours.
Their sons and daughters were in the ballroom. Some of the parents played with the children and the rest watched their children indulgently.
Elizabeth looked up at her beloved William.
“You know, William, this is Uncle Henry’s true legacy.
Not the fortune, gold, jewels, or property, not all of the good works which have been done in his name through the charities and foundations, but all of us.
” She moved her left arm, her hand palm up, indicating those in the ballroom from one end to the other.
“Family, that is my great-uncle’s greatest gift, the wealth he cared most about. ”
“If Great-Uncle Henry were with us, I am sure he would agree with you,” William stated.
Anyone who had known Henry Bennet knew it was nothing but the truth.
~~~The End~~~