Page 57

J ane Millar was looking at her worst fear coming true.

The Duke and Duchess of Hertfordshire were expected to arrive at Greenfield in two days.

She had hoped and prayed they would not be in residence before, or if, she was allowed to leave being in service.

However, it was not to be. The half-sister she had tried to harm, the worst mistake of her life, would be here, and she would have to face Her Grace.

She knew not if Her Grace would want to see her, and if so, how would Elizabeth relate to her? All she could do was hope that Their Graces could see the genuine changes she had made to her character.

As such, there was only one decision: Jane would carry on as she had since the day she had arrived at the estate. Unless they asked to see her, Jane would behave like any other servant in the home and not address them unless first spoken to by them.

To that end, as His Grace had not visited in several years, the housekeeper had addressed all of the female servants, while the butler did the same with the males, and given instructions on the protocols for when Their Graces were in residence.

Jane had begged to speak to the housekeeper once she dismissed all of the female servants.

However, her request to be reassigned while the master and mistress were in residence was refused.

The housekeeper, butler, and steward were the only ones who knew that Miss Millar was related to Her Grace.

All three were careful to follow the Duke’s orders that Miss Millar be treated just like any other maid at the estate.

The housekeeper did not tell her, but Their Graces had anticipated Miss Millar’s desire to be out of their presence and therefore, had issued orders to make no changes.

That night when Jane had finally rested her weary body on the straw-filled mattress, when Betsy had wanted to chatter, as she did most nights, Jane politely asked to be allowed to sleep, claiming fatigue.

As she lay in the dark after Betsy extinguished the tallow candle on the dresser, Jane hoped that she would be able to maintain her equanimity when she saw her half-sister.

Her being here as a duchess only highlighted all of Jane’s bad decisions and actions.

Her last prayer before she was claimed by a fitful sleep was that He would give her strength and that Her Grace would see the genuine changes she had made to her character.

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

“Archy, I just felt it!” Elizabeth exclaimed as they travelled towards Greenfield. Before they began their journey to Ireland, Elizabeth had missed her third months’ courses, and now she felt the quickening, confirming their hopes and prayers that they would increase the size of their family

“The quickening, my love?” Hertfordshire verified excitedly. He had always suspected his wife was passionate, but he had not expected her vehement demand to

“Yes, it was just like Aunt Maddie told me; it felt like a fluttering, almost like a butterfly was flapping its wings in my belly,” Elizabeth related as she placed her hands on her, as yet, flat belly. “Ooo, there it is again!”

Hertfordshire pulled his wife to his side into a fiercely protective hug.

Given what happened to Lady Felicia when she was enceinte , he was very worried for Lizzy’s health.

He could not imagine living in the world without her.

‘ Do not forget that Felicia’s selfish actions caused the babe’s death and killed herself.

Lizzy would never do something like that, and you know it!

’ Hertfordshire told himself silently. That realisation helped him relax.

“Are you nervous about seeing your half-sister? It would be natural if you were.”

“No, Archy, I am not. I would assume it will be very difficult for Jane to see me when she is in service in one of our houses. You know I wanted to see her progress for myself. The reports we have received are comprehensive. In my opinion, this is not a form of dissembling. Jane, from everything we know, has made significant changes to her character. You saw what Mrs Chetting wrote about how well Jane works with the other maids, and she never treats any of them as if they are less than herself.”

“Yes, Lizzy dearest, I have received similar reports from Chetting and Davidson, all bolstering what the housekeeper reported. The steward agreeing with the Chettings is independent verification.” Hertfordshire paused to kiss his wife languidly.

“If she has truly changed, what think you that we end her time in service here?”

“As long as we both think the change is genuine and not another one of her schemes, then yes, I think it is time. On a different subject, when did William Darcy complete his service at Glen Morgan Heights?”

“About a fortnight before we sailed from Liverpool. I received a letter from Darcy before we departed; he thanked me profusely because he says they finally have the man they always hoped their son would become. We will see them in London during the Little Season. I am looking forward to seeing the changes for myself.”

“As am I.” Elizabeth paused and thought of the one cousin on the Bennet side she had. “What think you of Mr Jamison taking my cousin on as his curate?”

“He, like the rest of us, was impressed with Collins’s behaviour at the wedding.

Jamison spoke to him in depth and found that their philosophies regarding the running of a parish and the treatment of the parishioners were in alignment.

” Hertfordshire paused as he thought of the man who was more friend than spiritual guide to him.

“Unlike what I had thought, Jamison is not as spry as he used to be, so Collins will be a great help to him. He will mentor our cousin and assist him to take orders once he has served the year minimum he needs to serve as a curate.”

“It is a true calling for Cousin William. He could lead a life of leisure on the dividends Uncle Edward earns for him, but he chooses to serve the Lord and His children instead. Did he take Mr Jamison’s counsel and interview for other positions as well?”

“Indeed. One of them was for Hunsford. That termagant Lady Catherine de Bourgh was looking for a new rector. The parish is in Rosings Park’s advowson.

From what he told Jamison; she wanted a man fresh from the seminary because she thinks such a man would be more obedient to her.

Evidently, she claimed she desired to prefer a man who would allow her to write his sermons and that any conversations he had with parishioners needed to be reported to her.

Safe to say, Collins reported all to the Bishop of Kent, who removed the parish from the estate’s gift so that Lady Catherine has no further authority over the appointments. I hear she was seriously displeased.”

“Uncle Reggie and Aunt Anne have both told me about her. How can she be so different from her siblings?”

“That, my darling Lizzy, is a question only He,” Hertfordshire lifted his eyes to the heavens, “is able to answer. You remember I told you she attempted to compromise me, and I was told she was running around London looking for our wedding on the day you married me.”

“Enough about that virago. How much further to Greenfield? Will we stop beforehand? I would like to make sure our sisters are happy in the coach following ours.”

The reunion with Mary after the wedding trip had been as expected between two sisters who were best friends as well.

Mary had resided with the Gardiners during the honeymoon, so Lizzy and her husband had stopped at Gardiner House to visit on their way back from Seaview House.

From there Mary had travelled to Falconwood with them.

During the interceding months, Cathy and Lydia had alternated their time between Falconwood and the Phillips’ house in Meryton. Now they were all travelling to the estate where Jamil and Aphrodite had been born.

Even though Cathy was only thirteen and Lydia was almost eleven, their brother had offered to allow them to choose a horse each from the horses at the estate in Ireland.

The crossing of the Irish Sea had been very exciting for all four sisters.

Especially as it was done in the lap of luxury.

Cousin John had put his personal vessel, The Rose , named for his mother, at his cousins’ disposal.

The ship was docked and waiting for them in Dublin’s harbour.

“We will stop for refreshment and to allow the horses to rest in about a half hour. Once we leave the Dancing Leprechaun Inn, it will be less than two hours to our estate.”

“And you do not object to our three sisters joining us in this coach?”

“What manner of question is that? I love our sisters, who are also my wards, and always enjoy being in their company. We have more than enough private time for ourselves.” Hertfordshire waggled his eyebrows at his wife suggestively.

“You are incorrigible,” Elizabeth admonished playfully. “Never change!”

Unlike with his first wife, after verifying relations would not harm the babe growing in Lizzy’s belly, their intimate activities had not ceased.

In fact, if anything, they had increased in frequency as his wife seemed to need more physical congress while she was with child.

Of course, this was something about which Hertfordshire had no complaint.

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

When the coaches were drawn to a halt before the manor house—of similar size with the one at Netherfield Park—the Chettings and Mr Davidson were waiting to welcome Their Graces and their party. With them were two parallel lines of servants, in the second row, was Jane Millar.

“Now remember, we do not want to single Miss Millar out before the rest of the servants. Just think how humiliating it will be for her if her fellow servants come to know she is our sister, half or otherwise,” Elizabeth reminded her two youngest sisters.