Page 188

Antonio álvarez was in a quandary. The more he listened to his mother and Mrs. Younge venting their spleens, the more he continued to doubt the path on which his mother and the Younges were propelling them.

Tony had learnt to assimilate facts and then make a decision.

Until he, his mother, and the Younges had come to Bundoran, he had never been exposed to everyday people as he was in Ireland.

He had found that these people were the salt of the earth, and that money or possessions were not what made people truly happy.

The contentment that he saw had nothing to do with material possession as the townspeople had very little in the way of money, but they seemed to have wealth in abundance.

He resolved that he would seek his future on his own, to set his own path rather than blindly follow his mother and her cohorts.

He was becoming ever surer that their actions would lead them to the same fate as Karen Younge’s Wickham and his own father.

The only way that he could walk his own path without interference was to leave, so he decided that he would sneak aboard the Dennington Lines ship and stowaway.

He knew that the Coastal Trader was due to arrive in the next sennight to ten days, and after they left port, he would reveal himself to the captain to work off his passage.

Once he had decided to chart his own future, he was deeply relieved.

He had allowed the desire to avenge his father blind him to the fact that culpability for his fate was his father’s alone and had nought to do with any other.

He decided to live a good and righteous life rather than to be swayed by the folly of others, not even his own mother.

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

The Duchess was met by her butler and before he spoke, she could tell from the sadness in his eyes that things with the duke were not good.

“Is he gone?” Lady Rose asked, scared that she had missed being able to say goodbye to her beloved Sed.

She felt a modicum of relief when the long serving butler shook his head, she instructed him to send a message to Buckingham House post haste, thus fulfilling her promise to the Regent.

The family sat in the family sitting room while Lady Rose and Lord Thomas went directly to Lord Sed’s bedchamber.

Both sets of newlyweds held each other tightly, the Darcys sitting with Lady Anne and Georgiana on one settee, while Tom and Amy sat with Lady Sarah and James on another.

The older twins and their husbands sat near the younger Bennet twins, the tears too frequent to catch as all said their own silent goodbye to the man, the love of whom would never be allowed to fade.

When he entered his brother’s chambers, Thomas Bennet was not sure who was supporting whom when he and his sister saw the grey pallor on Lord Sed.

His breaths were crackling and rasping and there was no doubt that each one he drew, caused him pain.

His wife knew that he had held on to see them and say goodbye, to not spoil the ball he had insisted should take place.

The duchess gently let go of her brother-in-law and went to her husband’s side.

“He forced himself to hold on to see us, did he not?” Lord Thomas asked Mr. Penrod who nodded in response.

“I believe so. I wish I could give you better news, your Grace,” the doctor offered with quiet solemnity, “but it is the end. His Grace will not see another sunrise.”

“Oh, Sed,” his wife said as tears streamed freely, “I would have come home to be with you if you had summoned me.” As it was too painful to talk, he shook his head as vigorously as he could in his state.

“But of course, you wanted us to finish the ball, after which you knew you would see me, us, to say goodbye before you rest.” She soothed and he relaxed, wondering to himself how he could have worried she wouldn’t understand him better than he understood himself.

“We are here now, Sed. We will all be here as you start your eternal slumber.” She motioned her brother-in-law to the bedside.

“You were always a stubborn one, Sed,” Thomas said as he cried quietly.

“I could not have asked for a better brother than you, Sed. When I was a young boy, my much older brother always protected me. You taught me to have fun, to swim, to ride, and so much more. I will miss you, brother, but I cannot be selfish. I can see how you suffer, and as much as I hate to do it, I must let you go be with Mama and Papa. I love you, Sed, we all love you.” Thomas Bennet kissed his brother on the cheek and felt a weak squeeze of his hand.

“Thomas, give me a few minutes and then bring the family in,” Lady Rose requested, “You want your family with you as you go to sleep, do you not Sed?” She nodded when he gave a small nod of agreement.

“I will send a footman when we are ready, brother,” she told her brother-in-law.

Lord Thomas, the doctor, and the valet left, the last man closing the door.

Once they were alone, Rose sat as close to her ailing husband as she was able, and took both of his listless hands in her own.

“I do not regret one day that God has allowed me to have with you, Sed. At one time I was very angry with the Lord that He did not grant us children, but, as He always does, He had a plan. He allowed us to be a second set of parents to Sarah’s and Thomas’s children, and we could not have loved them more if they had been born of my body.

“How I will miss you,” she said with tenderness.

His wife did not miss the tears that were running down her husband’s cheeks.

“You are the love of my life, Sed. I love you with my all heart, and always will. The pledge that I made to you that I will only mourn you for a year, and will live my life rather than pine away and force myself to join you before God calls me home, will be upheld. I will not be alone; I will be with our brother and sister and our three daughters still at home. My preference would be that God grant us the miracle that we have all prayed for, but it seems that He wants you in His Kingdom.” Lady Rose leaned over the bed and embraced her husband, kissed his lips, then walked to the door to ask a footman to summon the family.

She returned and sat next to her beloved, taking one of his hands and clasping it tightly.

“I…love…you…Rose,” Sed rasped out. His declaration caused her tears to fall anew, both because she was about to lose the love of her life, and knowing how much speaking must have pained him.

A few minutes later the family respectfully entered the bedchamber.

Each of the former and current Bennets kissed their uncle and said a tearful goodbye, followed by the rest of the family that had come to say their final farewell.

His breathing became more and more laboured, there was a distinct crackling sound as he fought for his shallow breathes, he then passed into an unconscious state, and a few minutes after the final goodbye, Lord Sedgewick Bennet, the tenth Duke of Bedford, drew his final breath; all movement ceased, and he was at peace.

Mr. Penrod confirmed that he had passed, and so it was, Lord Tom Bennet was then the eleventh Duke of Bedford.

Not long after the Duke of Bedford passed, the Regent arrived at Bedford House with his contingent of royal guards and retinue.

He was shown into the family room and as the occupants stood to honour him, no one had to say a word.

The tears flowing freely was all he needed to see to know that he was too late, he missed saying a final goodbye to Cousin Sed.

Prince George was relieved that at least he had spoken to his cousin the day of the wedding.

The Regent understood that the Dowager Duchess of Bedford was with her husband and did not ask for her to be disturbed.

He commiserated with the Duke of Hertfordshire and his family, with the promise that he and the other members of the royal family would see Lady Rose in a few days, at the late duke’s funeral; he offered subdued congratulations the new Duke and Duchess of Bedford, and then left as quietly as the Regent could.

Tom Bennet, the newly minted Duke of Bedford, felt the weight of the world descend on his shoulders.

He was grateful that he would have his duchess with him to lighten the burden and responsibilities that came with the dukedom, but was devastated at Uncle Sed’s loss.

A few short weeks ago he had accompanied his beloved Amy as they toured Birchington, now he was to move into Longfield Meadows in Yorkshire, the primary estate and jewel in the crown of the ducal properties entailed.

He had gone from caring for one estate, and the servants and tenants who were dependent on it, to five estates, three of which were equal or larger in size to the Marquess of Birchington’s estate.

The number of dependents that he was responsible for had increased exponentially.

He sat next to his duchess as she leaned over to him.

“Tom, please remind our aunt she never needs to leave her house if she does not want to, and that she could just visit with our Bennet parents as she chooses. I would be as glad to have her with us as you, possibly more I dare say, as you will be out riding the estate some days and I can have her teach me about her charities and works so we do not miss something so special.” She asked softly, her eyes imploring him to remind her she was loved by many of her children.

“It will be Aunt Rose’s choice, Amy,” he agreed with absolute resolution.

“I too would be glad she stayed for as long as Aunt Rose needs, and if it is the full year of mourning, then so much the better! However, with her understanding I would like us to take over management of the estates as we do not want to neglect them or those dependant on them due to Uncle Sed’s passing. ”