Page 3 of Raised at Rosings (Elizabeth and Darcy True Love Multiverse #4)
Chapter Two
Even with his wife's silent fury lingering in the air, the evening was more pleasant than any Lewis could recall spent in her company. If only he had known that her anger would spare him from enduring her pontificating about topics she knew nothing about, he would have provoked her long ago. To be fair, the enjoyable evening hinged entirely on her brother’s presence and that of the public eye. A similar attempt at Rosings would have yielded a very different and far less agreeable outcome.
The conversation between himself, Reginald, and Judith had been filled with laughter and lightheartedness, which would never have happened had his wife had her way. All the children had exhibited excellent manners and had even contributed to the conversation at large on occasion. Despite their recent introduction to one another, the lost little girls had seamlessly integrated with the others to form a cohesive group. Though soft-spoken, little Jane exuded a friendly demeanor and blossomed under the loving care of his sister-in-law, Judith. For all that she was the youngest, Elizabeth effortlessly conversed with Felton, Richard, and Anne, despite the pain that occasionally flickered across her face.
He had never seen his daughter light up so much as when she was talking with Elizabeth. It was as if the little girl had something magic about her, drawing Anne out into a cheerful conversation. In the few meals he had been able to spend with his daughter, she was always so quiet, but he blamed that on his wife’s domineering personality.
Frankly, he enjoyed having the children eat with them, and unlike his wife, was quite grateful the carriage with the children’s governess had been delayed by a damaged wheel. He had never been fond of the idea that children needed to be whisked away from their parents as much as possible. He found joy in spending time with his daughter and nephews. He often questioned why people even had children if they would not enjoy spending time with them.
Once dinner was over and the governesses had finally arrived, all the children, including Jane and Elizabeth, were escorted upstairs to be tucked into bed and the adults had retired to their private sitting room. Often the quiet one of the group, Lewis watched the others in the room. There were several meaningful looks passing back and forth between Reginald and Judith that Catherine was purposefully ignoring. With her arms crossed, she simmered as she stared into the fire.
“That settles it then. We will take Jane and Elizabeth with us when we leave in the morning.” After taking a sip of the sherry she had been enjoying, Judith added, “It cannot be too difficult to look after them. Who knows, we might even be able to make them our wards.”
“You cannot be serious!” Catherine practically screeched.
Reginald leaned back in his chair and crossed his feet at the ankles. A person who did not know him would have thought him relaxed, but Lewis knew this was not the case. When Reginald spoke, his voice had a hard edge, and it didn’t surprise Lewis at all. “She is entirely serious, darling sister. Judith and I are going to bring little Jane and Elizabeth into our home, possibly as our wards. The specifics will be decided later.”
Lewis couldn’t help but admire how Reginald and Judith managed to make such a decision without speaking—a kind of silent understanding he had never experienced with his wife. Their thoughts were too dissimilar for her to truly understand him. He did, however, understand that she was about to release a torrent of blandishments on them.
Catherine began her rant with a haughty glare. “While I will admit that it is not unheard of to take a ward, generally there is some sort of prior understanding between the two families. Additionally, those girls are anything but orphans, unlike what is usually expected.” Huffing, Catherine continued, “You do not even know anything about the girls’ mother or where she has gone! She is obviously of a lower class if she was so willing to abandon her offspring. The town must handle the woman’s disappearance as well as the care of the waifs. Surely there is some form of governance to manage things.”
Personally, Lewis believed that despite her high station and pedigree, Catherine would abandon Anne in a heartbeat if she thought it would benefit her in any way. Feeling the need to contribute, Lewis spoke up and said, “I believe their mother is alive and has not come to any harm, only that she found abandoning them the easiest of her options as a widow without an estate to rely on.”
Turning to face him, Reginald asked, “Why would you think so?”
With a sigh, Lewis explained, “I heard Elizabeth ask Felton what a millstone was, and then she went on to explain that the girls’ mother had referred to her and Jane as millstones.”
“How utterly deplorable!” Judith gasped. “How could a mother behave in such a fashion?”
Tapping his thumb against the armrest of his chair, Reginald seemed to contemplate something before he said, “Elizabeth said that another man took over their estate because of ‘tale’. It makes me wonder if the estate had an entail that only allowed male heirs. If the male heir was not closely connected or plain greedy, he might very well evict the widow and her daughters with just the clothes on their backs. In such a situation, even a titled lady might find herself overwhelmed by the situation.”
“Thank heavens Rosings has no such nonsense to contend with,” Catherine said. “There is no chance that I will lose my rightful place. Right, Lewis?”
Lewis smiled blandly, noticing that Catherine did not finish the sentence with the word mistress. He knew she fancied herself the master of their estate, but he had long since given up trying to make her see the truth. She refused to accept anything she did not wish to be true. What she did not know was that the moment he knew of his daughter’s existence, he changed his will. Lewis found no need to grant a grasping harpy control over what he loved. Should he die, his daughter would inherit everything and would have the right to choose which dower house her mother moved to, the one on Rosings’s estate or the one on their satellite estate in Scotland.
Seeing his wife’s glare increase in magnitude, Lewis finally gave in and said, “Do not worry, Catherine, you will get exactly what you deserve.”
Something in his voice must have alerted Reginald and Judith both, because they looked at him carefully. Catherine, on the other hand, simply preened, as if accepting what she saw as her due. Discreetly rolling his eyes, Lewis brought them back to the topic at hand by saying, “Though I know Catherine may disagree, I think it is a good idea to take the girls away from here. This is a small town, and I doubt they have the resources to provide for them adequately. Even though we have made plans, it will be crucial to talk to the girls before we depart tomorrow. It would not do to just cart them away without explaining anything to them.”
Crossing her arms in a childish manner, Catherine objected with, “I still think taking in both girls will not do, no matter what you may think. It is rare that someone of our class takes on a ward and never do they have two wards—it is always one. Taking on both girls is just ridiculous!”
Looking at one another, Judith and Reginald frowned. For himself, Lewis wondered if he had ever heard a case of the nobility taking on two children as wards. It was just not something that he could remember seeing. There would already be enough trouble with the girls’ origin. Would there be more problems with them being taken in together?
Hesitating for only a moment, Judith voiced what she was thinking. “But we cannot just leave one sister on her own with no care. It would be crueler than what their mother has already done.”
With a thoughtful expression, Lewis considered the situation. “I think I may have a solution,” he said. “Let me contemplate it overnight, as we cannot forsake one girl for the sake of the other.”
Elizabeth stared into the nothingness of the dark that surrounded her and struggled not to cry. Despite the comfort of a clean bed and the coziness of a borrowed night rail, sleep eluded her tired body. So much in her small life had changed recently, not the least of which was the loss of her mother. One difficulty after another struck her life. It started with her father’s death, followed by the loss of her home, and shortly thereafter, her mother’s disappearance.
No matter how brave she was for her age, it was just too much. That Jane was sound asleep did not help any. Elizabeth knew that she could, or maybe had to, be strong for Jane, but with Jane asleep, the haunting feelings seeped into her heart once again. Rolling over, she tried to muffle the sound of her tears in her pillow, embarrassed that she was giving into them at all, even in the dead of night.
Elizabeth felt a sudden touch on her back, accompanied by the soft words, “It is all right if you cry, I will not tell.” A slender hand continued to soothe her. “Besides, I think you had a very bad day, and it is all right to cry after a very bad day.”
Elizabeth froze for a moment, startled by Anne’s kindness. Though she had enjoyed meeting the older girl, Elizabeth had not expected her to be so sympathetic to her tears. Sniffing, Elizabeth said, “I am sorry if I waked you. I was trying to be quiet.”
“Do not worry, I never sleep well in odd places,” came Anne’s soft reply. “I am sorry that my mother was so mean, speaking about you like that. Please do not think that it was you. I do not think my mother knows how to be nice.”
While Elizabeth acknowledged Anne’s mother had been cruel, she did not want Anne to feel bad for something beyond her control. “My mother is not much better. At least you did not have to meet her.”
It felt odd to say such a thing. Elizabeth knew that she should be a dutiful daughter and think and act as Jane did. She had heard it enough from her mother and their nurse, but she just did not have it in her. Especially not with the situation Elizabeth found herself in. Elizabeth did not know what might have happened to two little girls alone in the world without anyone to rely on, but she knew enough to understand that if Anne’s family had not stepped in, it could have been very bad.
Sighing, Anne said, “I guess some mothers do not know any better. Though it would have been nice to have one of the good ones.” Repositioning herself, Anne yawned and lay her head on the pillow next to Elizabeth before adding, “I am named after my aunt. She was a wonderful mother. I always loved spending time with her and my cousin Fitzwilliam, but she died. We are on our way back from the funeral. Not that I was allowed to go to the funeral, just the men and older boys.”
“They did not let me go to my papa’s funeral either,” Elizabeth complained, the first hint of feminism growing in her mind as she considered the unfairness of the custom. “I am sorry your aunt died.”
“And I am sorry your father died,” replied Anne. They lay there together, both quiet for a time, before Anne asked, “Are you worried about what is going to happen to you and Jane?”
Biting her lip, Elizabeth considered the question before answering, “Yes, I am.”
Anne briefly fumbled in the dark before finding Elizabeth’s hand and squeezing it. Reassuringly, she said, “I do not think you will have to worry. My father said that whatever happens, you and your sister will be well cared for.” Giving Elizabeth’s hand another squeeze, she continued, “As horrible as my mother is, my father is good, and he has never lied to me. I am certain he will make sure you and your sister are well and happy, if it is at all possible.”
Hearing Anne’s reassurance went a long way to helping Elizabeth finally drift to sleep. The unknown was frightening, but the conviction in Anne’s voice soothed some of her fears. While Elizabeth still did not know the particulars, the warmth of Anne’s hand and the promise of care calmed her anxieties.
Lewis did not have a peaceful night’s sleep, though he had known that it would not be. His thoughts had been all awhirl and when he had drifted off, his dreams had not been pleasant. Although he was hesitant, separating the two Bennet girls was the best solution to all of their problems.
He could tell that Judith had grown fond of Jane, though she harbored quiet concerns about how society would view them for taking on two wards. It was precisely that kind of narrow-minded judgement that had long kept him avoiding the ton. Their treatment of anyone who fell outside their rigid ideals was something he had never been able to stomach. He doubted a family as powerful as the Earl of Matlock would have an issue with taking in two wards. Yet, he feared Catherine’s concerns might prevent them from taking in both girls. So if Jane joined the Fitzwilliam family, that left Elizabeth without a place to call home.
While Lewis had a solution in mind, he still felt guilty for how much pleasure he knew it would bring him. Although he longed for little Elizabeth’s presence in his home and believed Anne would benefit from her companionship, he knew firsthand that living with Catherine was a punishment. Hopefully, he could make up for Catherine’s callous disregard with his own care and compassion. Was exposing Elizabeth to Lady Catherine on a daily basis wrong?
It was that question that had him tossing and turning in the night, and the only answer he found was he would let Elizabeth decide. Yes, she was young, but she seemed to be highly intelligent. It was possible she was capable of making a decision that would affect her life so completely, right?
So he waited for everyone to come downstairs and break their fasts so he could reveal his idea. He already had an idea if how his wife would react, and he had come up with the perfect response. Most things in his life were not important enough for him to feel they were worth the struggle, but seeing Elizabeth well settled was. His heath may have been poor, and he might give way to his wife more than he should, but the well-being of a child, any child, was more important than his comfort. He would see it happen if that was what she wanted.
It turned out he did not have to wait as long as he thought he might. Lewis sat in the private parlor the family had obtained, lost in thought, and one of the governesses brought Elizabeth into the room. While he had asked for Elizabeth to be brought to him once she was up and dressed, he had not thought she would be up so early. Thanking the governess, he took a sip of his coffee for fortification before saying, “Good morning, Miss Elizabeth. Were you able to sleep at all?”
Elizabeth shrugged, her luminous green eyes blinking owlishly in the dim light. “I had trouble falling asleep,” she confessed, “but Anne was really nice, and we talked some.”
Sitting forward, Lewis asked, “What did you talk about?”
“She told me I should not be worried because you would make sure I was all right.” Looking down, Elizabeth smoothed the black dress she was wearing and Lewis absentmindedly hoped that it had been cleaned somehow before she had been forced to wear it for a second day.
The thought that Anne had reassured Elizabeth because she had that much confidence in him was heartwarming. It took Lewis a moment to form a response after swallowing the lump in his throat, but at last he managed to say, “Anne was right. I am going to try my very best to make sure you are safe and happy.”
The strength of Elizabeth’s smile when she thanked him nearly took Lewis’s breath away. It dawned on him in that moment that the child before him was just a faint reflection of the incredible woman Elizabeth Bennet had the potential to be. Despite her tender age, she exuded a strength that inspired him. He wanted to be part of her life and help her get wherever it was that she was going.
He also knew that they needed one another in each other’s life and that thought drove him to ask, “What would you think about living with my family and having me take you in as my ward?”
Heart thudding rapidly in her chest, Elizabeth forced words to come out of her mouth. “But what about Jane?” she asked.
“Jane would go with my wife’s family, but for reasons I do not fully agree with, it is not probable that you will be able to stay together. If Reginald was not an earl, it might be different, but he and his wife feel strongly that they must follow societal norms.” Lewis paused, studying Elizabeth’s face. He knew he was using words probably far too big for her, but she did not look confused so much as disappointed. So he continued with, “But that does not mean that they do not want you to be safe and happy, just that it might be best for you to do that with me and my family.”
Nodding automatically when Mr. Lewis stopped talking, Elizabeth contemplated what he was saying. She had not known that the other nice man was an earl. While she did not exactly know all that entailed, she knew it was important somehow. Hadn’t her father said that the people in London, especially the important ones, lived by different rules when he told her mother he did not want to go there? Was this one of the things he had meant?
While she did not want to be separated from her sister, it sounded like it would be a good thing for Jane. If they took her in, she would have so many more opportunities than even she would have had back at home. She would have pretty dresses and maybe even harp lessons like she had been talking about. Elizabeth wanted to see her happy, and the woman’s gentle touch and caring nature gave her confidence that she would be a good mother to Jane. Certainly better than their actual mother.
Elizabeth finally asked, “What about our real mother? What if she comes back?”
Sighing, Mr. Lewis said, “I am not sure if she will come back, Elizabeth, but regardless, I will have someone look into the situation and find out what happened to her.”
Elizabeth studied Mr. Lewis as she considered what he was offering—a place in his home and his family, which was something she certainly needed. If she did not accept, Elizabeth did not have the first idea of what might happen to her. She acknowledged to herself that she liked the man and found Anne to be very kind, but his wife was not nice at all. Biting her lip, she asked, “What about your wife? I do not think she will like the idea.”
“My wife has never been a happy woman, Elizabeth, and she very well may react badly to you joining our household, but I promise that I will do what I can to shield you from her and her, shall we say, outbursts. I genuinely think having you in our home will greatly benefit both Anne and me.”
The sincerity on Mr. Lewis’s face was so compelling that Elizabeth could not help but think it would work. After all, in the home she came from, her mother was not the best mother. How much worse could this other woman be? Her own father enjoyed teaching her but never made an effort to shield her from her mother’s nerves, whereas Mr. Lewis seemed genuinely interested in helping her thrive in his home.
Still, she had questions. “Do you play chess?”
Eyes widening slightly, Mr. Lewis answered, “Yes, I do.” Then, after a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Do you play chess, Miss Elizabeth?”
With a small smile, Elizabeth explained, “Yes, I was learning how to play from Papa before he got sick. He was also teaching me other things like Latin. Mama said it was not fitting, but I liked it. If I come stay with you, will you teach me too, Mr. Lewis?”
Elizabeth saw from his expression that she had surprised him and for a moment she wondered if he felt the same way her mother did about girls learning. She had just begun to truly worry when he smiled and said, “It would be my pleasure to teach you whatever you would like to learn, whether it be chess or Latin or botany.”
“Well then, Mr. Lewis,” she started, “I think coming to stay with you will be a good idea. As long as I can see Jane from time to time, I think I will be happy.”
Tilting his head to the side, Mr. Lewis said, “I would never want to replace your father, but as you will be part of my family, I would be honored if you would call me Uncle Lewis or something of the sort.”
Pinching her lips together as she considered his suggestion, Elizabeth nodded before saying, “I can do that, I think, Uncle Lewis. Would you be willing to call me Lizzie?”
“I can do that with ease.” Leaning towards her, he opened his arms, offering her a hug.
She had spent the previous day trying to appear strong and fighting her anxiety, anticipating the worst outcomes once she understood her mother had abandoned her and Jane. Yet, to her surprise, the situation turned out to be far less dire than she had anticipated, thanks to the kind man before her. It only took a moment before Elizabeth decided a hug would be a good thing and she rushed into Uncle Lewis’s arms. The strength of his embrace was not the same as what she had received from her father, but the affection felt the same when he said, “Welcome to the family, Lizzie.”