Page 53 of The Next Mrs Bennet
D ue to the fact not only was the parsonage in Lambton a large one, but the home belonging to the Lamberts in the town had no tenant currently, there was more than enough space for those arriving from Meryton and London.
The Gardiners and the two youngest Bennets were hosted at the parsonage while the rest of the travellers found themselves at the house just the other side of the green from where the church and parsonage were situated.
Kate and Lydia had found it amusing when they were introduced to Aunt Maddie’s younger brother, Uncle Adam, and his wife, Aunt Eve.
The two had two sons so far. “At least the boys are not named Cain and Abel,” Lydia remarked to Kate, thinking she had spoken without being heard by others.
“We certainly did think of naming them thusly,” Lambert jested, “but then Eve and I decided we did not want to chance history repeating itself with what had occurred in biblical times.”
“Adam,” his wife admonished him playfully. “Do not tell our nieces that, else they will think you serious.”
“Aunt Maddie, may we cross the green to visit our sisters and those residing at Lambert House, please?” Kate requested. The Lambert boys, three and one respectively, were napping, meaning the noise in the house had to be regulated.
“I wanted to speak to Sir William, so come girls, I will escort you,” Gardiner allowed.
Unlike Bennet, who Gardiner used to call his brother-in-law, Sir William had been secretly investing a small sum with Gardiner for some years now. He needed to tell the knight about a new and potentially lucrative investment opportunity he had discovered.
Once the front door clicked shut, Lambert turned to his sister. “In my ministering to my flock, I thought I had seen it all, but selling a child into marriage to a man older than her father for personal gain is something I could not have imagined before you told me of it.”
“What sort of parent does that to their own flesh and blood?” Evangeline wondered.
“It is precisely the reason Lizzy decided they were no longer her parents. If she refers to them at all, she will only call them Mr. and Mrs. Bennet now,” Madeline shared with her brother and sister-in-law. “The other sisters, except for Lydia call them the same as Lizzy. Lyddie does not refer to them at all. It hit her the hardest when she realised Fanny is incapable of loving any besides herself.”
“Have you written to Lizzy to let her know you are all in Lambton?” Lambert enquired.
“I did first thing this morning, it is on the way to Castlemere with one of our footmen who accompanied us from London,” Madeline responded.
“Did you know that estate is only second to Pemberley in size in Derbyshire?” Evangeline queried. “Chatsworth, the estate of the Duke of Devonshire has slightly less land than Castlemere. The Matlock estate, Snowhaven is about as large as Pemberley but part of it is in Nottinghamshire.”
“I am sure Lizzy will love roaming about the estate where she is residing. It will have to be her legs now she has decided not to ride until after she delivers her child,” Madeline opined.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Hilldale coach in which the three cousins rode was traversing Lambton on the way to Pemberley when they passed the village green.
Andrew thought he was seeing things. There on a bench under the old chestnut tree in the centre of the green sat the woman who still inhabited his dreams. Not seeing her these many months had done nothing to chase her from his consciousness.
“Andy, at what are you staring?” Richard enquired.
His brother was sitting as if frozen on the forward facing bench staring intently out of the window facing the green.
As much as he wanted to strike the ceiling with his cane and have his coachman halt the conveyance, Andrew was well aware of how it would look and the last thing he wanted to do was frighten Miss Bennet.
“I-it is nothing, I thought I recognised someone, but I was in error,” Andrew hedged.
“What say you to our riding to Castlemere and fishing in the lake on Monday?” William suggested. “The inhabitants have been undisturbed by me for far too long.”
“The lake at that estate is far larger and deeper than the pond at Pemberley,” Richard ribbed. He knew an easy way to discompose William was to give an implied insult to his father’s much loved estate.
It was a long standing competition—albeit a friendly one—about which estate, Pemberley or Snowhaven, was the better. If Richard was honest, he would admit his uncle’s estate was slightly superior, not only because it was a little larger, but it was much closer to the peaks and the view of said mountains from the hill behind Pemberley’s manor house was unrivalled.
“What would you expect,” William bit back peevishly. “The one at Castlemere is natural, ours is manmade. It is still better than the duckpond you have at Snowhaven.”
Soon enough the coach made the turn onto Pemberley’s land. They would arrive in less than a half hour.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Are we agreed, we will take a wait and see attitude as far as the Duchess goes,” Lady Matlock verified.
“What Darcy proposes is prudent, Elaine,” Lord Matlock stated. “We know not what her situation is. Also, even though he may not be there now, Hertfordshire may arrive at his estate and I am with Robert on this. There is no reason to be connected to him at all.”
“I do feel bad for her, she is so very young,” Lady Anne lamented. “Everyone here saw her at the presentation.”
“You could see she was aware the eyes of every courtier were upon her and she just raised her chin and walked, always looking directly ahead,” Lady Matlock recalled. “What do you think her Majesty said to Her Grace?”
“I believe they are the only two ladies who would be able to answer that question,” Darcy opined, “and given the lack of gossip about their conversation since the Duchess’s presentation, it will not be something we will ever learn.”
Further conversation about the residents of Castlemere was interrupted when the butler, Reynolds, informed the master a coach had entered the park.
Having promised Anna she would be notified when William and her cousins arrived, Lady Anne instructed the butler to inform Miss Darcy. The two sets of parents had just exited the door leading to the internal courtyard when, with blonde ringlets bouncing, Georgiana arrived breathlessly having obviously run from the music room in her excitement.
Anna launched herself into her brother’s arms without thinking as soon as the three cousins alighted. She suddenly became rather shy as she remembered the lessons Miss Younge had been teaching about propriety and comportment. Anna blushed deeply at her lapse. “Please pardon my display,” Georgiana stated contritely, her eyes directed at the ground.
“Although I have not been gone for so very long, I too missed you Sweetling,” William soothed. “Rather than be upset, it warms my heart you were so happy to see me.”
“Truly?” Georgiana lifted her head, a smile forming on her lips.
“You know how much I abhor disguise, so yes, your vivacious welcome was appreciated,” William assured his much younger sister.
After greetings were exchanged, slightly more sedately than Anna’s had been, the family group made their way back into the house.
In keeping with their decision, the parents did not mention the presence of the Duchess at Castlemere.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth was sitting in the rose garden near the entrance to the castle when she thought she was seeing an apparition. If she did not know better she would swear she was looking at one of the Gardiner footmen.
As he drew nearer, she realised it was not a spectre, but a real flesh and blood man. “Peter! Surely my aunt and uncle did not send you all the way here from Gracechurch Street did they?” Elizabeth wondered.
“No Miss Lizzy…sorry, I mean Yer Grace, I comes from Lambton,” the footman responded. “Mistress sent a letter for you.”
“You may still call me Miss Lizzy when others are not near us,” Elizabeth looked to where the two guards were stationed. She had seen them relax as soon as she indicated she knew the man. Also, they were well out of earshot. “How is it my aunt and uncle are so near? Is anyone else with them?”
The young man withdrew the missive from a pouch and handed it to the Duchess. “This ‘ere will explain all. Should I wait for a reply?”
“Yes, please do, Peter.” Elizabeth turned towards the one guard. “John, please show this young man to the kitchens so he may have some refreshment until I am ready for him.”
“Aye Yer Grace,” the guard bowed to the Duchess.
Elizabeth held onto the precious letter while she watched John lead Peter around the corner on their way to the kitchens. She hungrily broke the seal as soon as they were gone from her sight.
20 March 1807
The Parsonage, Lambton
My dearest niece, Lizzy,
Before you admonish us and remind us you said you would write when you thought it was safe, we could not stay away. ‘We’ in this case is more than your uncle, cousins, and sisters. Sir William, Lady Lucas, Charlotte, and Maria are here, as are your Aunt and Uncle Philips.
Before we departed, we read that dissipated man who forced you into marriage was in London. Also, you should know, if you are unaware, from what the locals tell he has never once been to the estate where you are.
In fact, under his late father, the Lambton living used to be in his gift, but it was taken away from him—the church did not think one of his character should be allowed to appoint a clergyman to a living—and given to my brother’s patron’s late father, Mr. George Alexander Darcy. I think if you check, you will see that none of his estates have livings tied to them.
I acknowledge your fears for our safety, especially that of Jane’s, if we approach you openly before you deem it safe to do so. However, we have a plan.
If you have not been to church yet, tell your minders you will attend the Lambton Church starting this Sunday. If the men with you enter the church at all, they will remain at the rear of the nave. You will of course sit with us and they will not be able to see if we speak.
Also, if you have not met her yet, the midwife who will see to you is a Mrs. Medford. She and my sister-in-law are very close and she has agreed to take me on as her ‘assistant’ who will of course, need to examine you weekly, to make sure the growing ducal babe in your belly and you are well. I will, obviously, have a very pretty, blonde ‘apprentice’ accompany me when I come to ‘examine’ you.
When we visit under the guise of checking on your state, you can order any men far away from your chambers to maintain modesty so no one will be able to overhear our conversations.
You had mentioned how concerned your husband is about having a healthy heir. That means even if the frequent visits are reported back to him, he will not object.
Lizzy, is it possible you worry too much? Have you not told me, all of us, how loyal the staff and servants are to you?
It is not my aim to diminish your concerns as you unfortunately know that man’s ways better than any of us. We will be careful I promise you. The very last thing we want is to cause that odious man to punish you in any way.
If he keeps to his reported proclivities, I would wager that you, what you are doing and who you are seeing, is the last thing on his mind. What he does is sickening to any right thinking and decent person, but in this case, I believe it works to our advantage.
I await your reply, my darling girl.
With all my love and regards,
Aunt Maddie
Tears of joy were streaming down her cheeks as she read the letter. Her beloved family and friends were but a few miles away from her at this very moment. Elizabeth stood and made for the castle.
She walked with purpose and climbed the stairs, making directly for her chambers. Poor Loretta was shaken by the door crashing against the wall as Elizabeth pushed it open.
The maid was concerned seeing the evidence Her Grace had been crying. “Are you well, Your Grace?” the maid asked.
“I have not felt better in some time.” ‘ Since before I was tied to him ! ’ she added silently. Elizabeth realised she must have looked a fright having been crying. “Do not concern yourself Loretta, these are tears of joy.”
With that, she sat at the table she had placed under the window in her bedchamber and began to write.
Less than an hour later, the Gardiner’s footman, Peter, was on his way back to the parsonage at Lambton.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Hertfordshire had visited his three remaining mistresses and although he had initially found pleasure being able to treat them as he wanted to, he knew it was nothing to the absolute bliss he would experience when he was able to bring his spitfire of a wife to heel. If only it did not take so many months to deliver a babe.
He would do nothing to disturb her. She was carrying his future—insurance his name would live on—and that was all important. To make sure the babe was healthy, he would wait almost a year after his child was born before recalling her and his son from Derbyshire.
In his mind, if the child survived his first year of life, all would be well. Then, he would revel in taking his pleasure with her. She would be repaid tenfold for every insolent and impertinent remark and action. His thoughts were disrupted by Wickham’s entry into the sitting room.
“You summoned me, Your Grace,” Wickham bowed low the way he knew his master demanded.
The Duke had been debating who his first conquest would be. He most wanted to take the Duchess of Bedford. Not only did her husband dote on her, but the number of times he had been slighted by the mighty Bedford were too numerous to count.
The problem was the Rhys-Davies were wealthier than himself, far more powerful, and the trump was they were related to the Queen. No, he would have to give up on exacting his revenge by cuckolding Bedford. Instead, he would take his pleasure with the next one on the list. What a pity the two after her were no longer in London.
Wickham had informed him that the Darcys and Fitzwilliams had departed Town earlier than was their wont. Ladies Elaine and Anne would be plucked at another time.
“I have decided who the first wife to be bedded by me will be. You are to bring me Lady Jersey on Easter Sunday,” the Duke ordered. “That bastard Jersey was one of the men who tried to get my titles and wealth stripped from me and he is a holier than thou, pious simpleton so his wife being violated on Easter will drive him insane.”
Without a word, Wickham acknowledged the order and was dismissed by the Duke. He had about a fortnight to come up with a workable plan.