Page 37 of Lizzie’s Spirit

The colonel, who was a liberal, good-hearted sort of man, straightened in his chair.

Though generous of nature, he was also mindful of the honour of the regiment.

Further, he could ill afford to lose the approbation of the judge-advocate.

“You’re correct, Darcy. I’ve been concerned for some time he was not paying attention to his duties as he should.

However, I wasn’t aware of his indiscretion during the voyage, though it explains much about his demeanour.

Please pass on my apologies to Miss Bennet.

You have my assurance he won’t trespass on your goodwill again.

“To the other matter. I require your assistance in settling marriage articles. You’re entitled to surprise, sir, for no other knows of our intent, but Mrs. Putland, Mary, has agreed to be my wife and will remain here in Sydney; her father will return to England alone.”

Darcy was indeed surprised, not that they should wed—it had been observed they were seen everywhere together—but by the lateness of the announcement.

Mrs. Putland had already prepared her accommodations on board the Hindostan and embarked her luggage.

He was sure that until this day, the commodore was unaware of their intent to marry.

Darcy replied as befitting a gentleman of good sense and sensitivity.

“Congratulations, colonel. I wish all the felicity that marriage will bring. Mrs. Putland is an accomplished lady. She will do honour to yourself, to the regiment, and, as Second Lady of the colony. Have you a draught, sir, that I may toast you and your betrothed!”

***

Colonel O’Connell and Mrs. Putland’s wedding took place on the 8th of May; the Governor and Mrs. Macquarie gave them a dinner at Government House, the ballroom being decorated with flowers and festoons encircling a device showing the initials of the happy couple.

The grand ball had originally been planned to farewell Commodore Bligh and his daughter but was now adapted to suit both occasions.

During the fireworks later that evening, Commodore Bligh requested to speak with Elizabeth.

“Miss Bennet, all the attention is on the display. A moment, perhaps in the dining-room where we can talk privately.”

Elizabeth saw this was not a request. Annoyed at missing the dazzling spectacle illuminating the skies over Sydney Cove, she accompanied the commodore to stand just inside the French doors of the room. “Certainly, sir, I’m at your disposal.”

“You are a midwife, Miss Bennet; do you hold such conversations with your patients confidential?”

She spoke in a cold tone. “Of course, you need not ask! If you wish to disclose what is private, I’m a gentlewoman, sir; that is enough to secure your confidence.”

Commodore Bligh was oblivious to the insult he paid her.

Elizabeth sighed; she had met him enough times on social occasions to comprehend some of his character.

While his manner irritated and he was brusque to the point of rudeness, she saw he was always direct in his speech; he did not dissemble, and whatever he said, he believed implicitly to be true.

Through this lens, he did not understand that others may see differently; that when they questioned his direction, they genuinely did not see from where he took his stance.

He demanded either instant submission to his command or considered that querying it or contrary action constituted hostile defiance.

Her attention returned to his address, which was made in his normal convoluted style, of which, at the best of times, she had great difficulty in establishing his meaning.

“It was with the highest feelings of comfort and pride, on my returning Mary to England, that she could be under no guidance but my own—my heart devoted to her.” The commodore, uncharacteristically, looked away.

“But I found what I had least expected: Colonel O’Connell had, unknown to me, won her affections. ”

Elizabeth felt his shame in recounting this ignorance, whereas most of the colony knew of the couple’s increasing affection. She remained silent.

“A few days before we were to sail, when everything was prepared for Mary’s reception and we had even embarked, the colonel opened the circumstance to me—I gave him a flat denial, for I could not believe it.

But he persisted that there was a particular reason he and my daughter should wed, notwithstanding they had a genuine attachment and that she approved of his addresses. ”

Elizabeth’s hand covered her mouth. She was puzzled; she had not seen the signs— ‘twas unlike her to miss such. Mrs. Putland—now Mrs. O’Connell—was with child?

The commodore continued, “I was overwhelmed with a loss I could not retrieve; I had only to make the best of it. However, on many proofs of the honour and character of Colonel O’Connell—notwithstanding Mary’s delicate condition—having no alternative, I consented to her marriage and, as you saw, gave her away at the ceremony.

“I relate this to you, Miss Bennet, because my Mary will not have an easy time of carrying. She’s petite, her constitution delicate, like my dear Betsy, who bore me eight children but not without much pain and sorrow.

I would not have that for Mary.” He paused, and Elizabeth saw both great compassion and hurt in having to relate thus to a stranger.

“Miss Bennet, indeed, I do recognise you as a gentlewoman—you care for your inferiors as is your duty, just as by my duty I always sought the best for the men under my command. But through wilful misunderstanding, little did that prevent them from besmirching my name!” He was silent for a time, letting his indignation subside.

“Normally, I do not ask, Miss Bennet, for that is not my nature. But, by God, can you see to assisting Mary through her trial? She is proud—but I have written her a letter to be read once I am gone, therein soliciting her to seek you out as midwife. Forgive me, ma’am, for placing this burden upon you.

But my Mary is lost to me; she’s now for Colonel O’Connell, for God, and for you, to protect. ”

The commodore moved away. Elizabeth saw him straighten his slumped shoulders; he strode to Governor Macquarie and spoke words of approval over the evening’s sumptuous entertainments.

He did not look back to Elizabeth, just nodded to Darcy as the latter approached her with a querying look on his brow.

They were not yet wed, so Elizabeth would keep this secret, for now.

Several days later, Commodore Bligh made his final embarkation on board the Hindostan .

The next day, the ships Hindostan , Dromedary , and Porpoise sailed out from the Heads.

A large contingent of people from the town went to view them, including the governor and his wife in their carriage.

Elizabeth and Darcy rode there also and saw the ships put to sea with a very fine fair wind.

“I fear,” said Darcy, as he and Elizabeth returned along the South Head Road, “with Mrs. O’Connell remaining in the colony, there will be no restoration of harmony between the parties—those who supported Bligh during the rebellion and those others who were indifferent or active in support of Major Johnston. ”

“You have the right of it—Colonel O’Connell will be a good deal influenced by her prejudice against any who were in the least inimical to her father’s government.

” Elizabeth laughed. “But we’re much too serious!

Come, let us ride to Boondi Beach—I wish to revisit the place where you so charmingly sought my hand.

And, in three days, Mr. Darcy, we shall be wed! ”

Darcy watched as Elizabeth turned her horse towards the beach.

She was a sprite; she entranced him. But not against his will—he needed to marry, for the sake of prudent application of the law, but to wed Elizabeth was a privilege.

His mind turned to his young sister, Georgiana; she had urged him to marry their cousin Felicity so he would remain in England.

Lady Felicity was the daughter of an earl; she possessed all the accomplishments that came with her rank and position in society.

Yet, she was but a child, her interests frivolous; in another year, she would have her come out.

Perhaps, had he stayed, they might have wed.

But, by the grace of God, he had come to this place on the other side of the world and found her .

“Miss Bennet,” said he, riding alongside the lady, “shall we request of the governor that he grant this land to you, say, two hundred and fifty acres around Boondi, as part of your wedding gift? It is his custom to do so, to make such an allotment.”

“Oh, William, I didn’t know! What a fine idea—this place is wonderful.

Thank you, I do not deserve such consideration.

” She looked to him, her eyes soft and moist with tears of delight.

The happiness that this reply produced was such as Darcy had never felt before.

He knew he was beginning to love her, but now his affection grew so strong he could scarcely resist taking her in his arms and holding her tight in his embrace.