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“Indeed. She is sixteen years old,” Hertfordshire revealed.

He did not miss the looks of surprise on his friends’ countenances.

“Yes, that is an eight and twenty-year age difference, but before you judge her as being too young, I ask that you meet her. Also, do not forget that it is not uncommon in our society for marriages with an even greater difference to take place and thrive. We do love one another, and there is the prerequisite respect on both sides.” He noted the sceptical looks.

“Ask Anthony if it is real between us. After all, if I sire a child, he will no longer be my heir presumptive.”

Four pairs of eyes swivelled to Anthony Barrington.

“You will see when you meet Lizzy—Miss Elizabeth Bennet—she is mature far beyond her years. I honestly believe she may be the only single woman in the realm who would have refused Uncle Archy had she not loved him in return.” Anthony paused as he remembered something and grinned.

“Mr Darcy, do you not take pride in your prowess at the game of chess?”

“I do. William has just begun to win our matches…very occasionally,” Darcy replied proudly.

“What say you, Uncle, less than fifteen minutes for Lizzy to win and perhaps a half hour or so for Mary?” Anthony estimated. “Cathy and Lydia would be a challenge for Mr Darcy as well. Mary is not fifteen yet, Cathy is soon to be thirteen, and Lydia is ten. They are Lizzy’s younger sisters.”

Darcy was dubious of the claims, but he had to discover the truth for himself. “If they would like to be schooled by a chess master, I am more than willing to deliver that lesson.” He could not grasp why Hertfordshire, and his nephew were grinning.

“The younger two sound like they are of an age to be in Anna’s company,” Lady Anne opined.

“They are all good girls. Cathy and Lydia were wards of their other aunt and uncle, the Phillipses.” Seeing the questioning looks as they divined there must be a tale there, Hertfordshire told all there was to know about the Bennet sisters and why they had not been raised on the estate where they were born.

At various times during the telling, both Ladies Anne and Elaine had tears in their eyes. Their husbands just looked angry that anyone could treat young innocent children in that fashion.

“It is good the woman is no longer in the mortal world,” Lady Anne insisted as she dried her eyes. “I do not excuse Miss Millar, but to be inculcated all of your life by the woman who was supposed to nurture and protect you must have left her a very damaged young lady.”

“Which is why she has a chance to redeem herself,” Hertfordshire stated.

“My original intention was to have her transported along with her mother. She needed a great shock to make her see more clearly, seeing that she believed her beauty allowed her anything she desired. Being in service is just that.”

“Given your desire to protect your fiancée and her sisters, I can see why you accelerated the time before you intended to propose to her,” Matlock mused.

“If she is only partly like you and young Barrington have described, she will be your match in every way.” The Earl looked at his wife, who nodded.

“Elaine and I will support you. I assume Bedford, Jersey, and Colbath will as well?”

“I am waiting to hear from Bedford, but when he meets Lizzy, he, like anyone else who meets her, will understand. Colbath will miss my wedding, as he will remain at Colbath Dale with his wife. Jersey and his family will, I am sure, attend. The celebration is to be at Falconwood on the twentieth day of May. By the by, Anthony and his Charlotte will be married in the same ceremony. Knowing my history with my first wife, I am sure you will all understand why I am eschewing marrying at St Paul’s.

” Hertfordshire informed his friends what his wedding present to his nephew and new niece would be.

“Before any of you ask, if Lizzy and Uncle Archy are blessed with a son or daughter, I will not repine…” Anthony laid out why he would not feel bitter about not being the next Duke of Hertfordshire. “Charlotte and I are of one mind in this.”

“What of the entailed Bennet estate?” Darcy questioned.

“I have written to the heir presumptive with the options. He should have the letter in hand today,” Hertfordshire responded.

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

Clem William Collins was a man of one and twenty, and since his father’s passing some weeks before, he had asked to be addressed as William.

He would rather not bear the name of the man who had beaten both himself and his beloved mother—the latter so much that she had succumbed to a fever caused by her injuries.

He had sent a letter to his distant cousin, Mr Bennet, to inform him of his father’s death, but the current master of Longbourn had not deigned to reply to the letter.

Thus it was somewhat of a surprise when he had been handed a letter that day before his classes.

He had assumed it was from his distant cousin and left it in his chamber until after his lessons were completed for the day.

Imagine his surprise when he read the return direction on the back of the sealed missive, and he noted it was none other than a duke—the Duke of Hertfordshire to be exact.

He cared not why such a great man would write to him, just that he had.

He broke the seal hungrily and smoothed the missive reverently and began to read.

16 April 1807

Netherfield Park

Hertfordshire

Mr Clem William Collins:

I am secretary to His Grace, the Duke of Hertfordshire, and I am writing at his behest.

This letter is regarding the fact you are the heir presumptive (if your father has passed away) to the Longbourn Estate in the above county.

His Grace has a vested interest in the wellbeing of your cousins, and hence you are offered two choices regarding the entail on the above-mentioned estate:

1. His Grace will pay you the sum of ?25,000 if you come to Meryton in the sennight following this missive (a carriage is waiting if you choose this) and sign the document Mr Bennet already signed to end the entail.

2. If you refuse this generous offer, His Grace will use his influence, which includes a close friendship with Their Majesties, to have the entail voided by the Court of Chancery. In that case, you will receive nothing.

If you make a sensible decision, inform the head of your seminary you will not be gone for more than a few days, and the conveyance will bring you to and from Meryton.

M Tapper

Secretary to His Grace, Lord Archibald Winston Chamberlain, Duke of Hertfordshire and Marquess of Hertford

Collins read the letter twice more. He admired the Duke’s seal affixed below his man’s name. As such, Collins knew there was only one good choice. He went directly to the bishop, who was the head of the seminary, to request some days to transact family business.

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

By April 1807, Lucas Wickham, using the name Peter Waterford, was the steward of a medium to large sized estate, Oak Grange, in Gloucestershire, not far from the border with Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

With the glowing characters he had received from his prior employers, finding this position which paid considerably more than the last one, had been easy.

He knew it was not wise to move further north without raising suspicion.

His hope was that this final move, even though it was not a county bordering Derbyshire, was close enough.

That is where his son met his end, and that was where he intended to have his revenge.

The estate where he was employed was not far from the market town of Chipping Campden. It was in that town he met a barmaid by the name of Karen Younge and her twin brother Clay, who worked in the stables at the same tavern.

Over the first months he was there, he came to esteem Miss Younge and offered for her. He knew the marriage was invalid because he did not use his true name, and he never informed his wife of that fact. He could not chance his enemies tracing him.

The former Miss Younge was well pleased with her new situation.

Rather than a barmaid, she was now the mistress of the steward’s house at the estate of Oak Grange outside of Chipping Campden.

In addition, her brother was now also employed at the estate.

They would never have to work at that tavern again.

Wickham, or as she knew him, Waterford, had a woman to warm his bed, but more importantly, when the time came, he was certain the brother and sister would assist him as needed. They would be useful as soon as he was ready to repay the ones responsible for George’s hanging.

He had waited this long; what was another year or two?