Page 56 of The Next Mrs Bennet

“W e must assist her!” Lady Anne exclaimed, tears running down her cheeks. “I feel so guilty we did not call on her as soon as we became aware Her Grace was resident at Castlemere.”

Darcy wrapped his tender hearted wife in his arms. “Do not take on yourself the guilt which belongs to me. It was me and my damnable Darcy pride which insisted we be circumspect in approaching the Duchess,” Darcy acknowledged. “I have never heard of such an act of selfless love before. To sacrifice her own happiness and freedom to protect a most loved sister—all of her sisters—is also the bravest action to which I have ever been privy. If she can be so brave, we can fend off the dastardly man if he tries to exploit the connection.”

“Well said, Darcy, I could not agree with you more,” Lord Matlock stated.

“None of you mentioned her presence to us,” Andrew noted. “It would have been good information to have before William admonished her for being where he thought she had no right to be.”

“William, you omitted that from your telling,” Lord Matlock pointed out with raised eyebrows.

“I suppose I suffer from the same improper pride as my father,” William stated, his eyes downcast. He would not have hidden the truth from his parents; he had only hoped to make that particular disclosure in private.

“That is neither here nor there,” Lady Matlock interjected. “How are we to assist Lady Elizabeth?”

“We will first invite Her Grace, and then her family and friends to spend time here at Pemberley as our guests and to celebrate Easter with us,” Lady Anne decided.

“It is a good plan, Anne. Even with our sisters and their families arriving on Wednesday, we have more than enough room to house everyone,” Darcy interjected.

Lady Anne squeezed her husband’s hand. After, she turned to her sister. “Elaine, you and I will make for Castlemere today and make ourselves known to Her Grace. We will invite her to be here as well and any of her servants other than her lady’s maid will not be allowed anywhere but the servants’ areas.”

“The two guards we saw today may have something to say about that,” Richard opined. “By their bearing I would guess they are former soldiers and the most enormous men I have ever seen. Their size notwithstanding, I believe they have catlike reflexes.”

Richard still wanted to question his brother about his having sought out Miss Bennet after the time they had almost knocked her to the ground. That would wait.

“When we see her, I will hand her a written invitation and add a page with our intentions with it,” Lady Anne stated. “If she is as intelligent as you three give her credit for, the Duchess will find the note. Come Elaine, let us prepare to depart.”

“May I join you Mama?” Georgiana who had been silent so far requested. “Her Grace is but a few years older than me and she may enjoy someone who is closer to some of her younger sisters’ age being present.”

Ladies Matlock and Anne looked at one another and nodded. “That depends on your Papa, Anna dear, I have no objection if he agrees,” Lady Anne responded.

Anna turned her face to her father with her best begging look on her countenance, with her deep blue eyes opened as widely as she was able.

Even had he been of a mind to refuse his daughter—which he was not—the puppy dog look would have convinced him to give into her entreaty. Anna looked so very much like her mother so refusing her was almost like refusing his beloved Anne.

“You may accompany Mama and Aunt Elaine, sweetling,” Darcy granted. He was rewarded by a hug and kiss on his cheek from his excited and grateful daughter.

It was a matter of minutes until the Darcy coach was on its way to Castlemere with two ladies and a young girl within.

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

Elizabeth took a deep breath as she was about to take a great risk with her personal freedom by confiding in John and Brian. The two men had been summoned to meet with her in her private sitting room off her bedchamber. She was assured of Loretta’s discretion and loyalty. She felt like she could count on the two guards, but it was a chance—as any unknown was—anyway.

“You asked to see us Your Grace,” Biggs bowed to the Duchess, as did Johns next to him.

“Do you two know of any of the other servants who are reporting on my activities to the Duke?” Elizabeth began.

“The only ones ‘oo sends reports to Mr. Wickham is one of us,” Johns informed the mistress. “‘Owever, there be nothing in our reports which would raise any suspicions.”

“Your Grace, our loyalty is yours completely,” Biggs insisted. “There is nothing your ‘usband could do to convince us to ‘urt you in any way. We said nothing about the people you met at the church.”

Elizabeth was not surprised that the ever vigilant and observant men had noted something in the church. They were tall enough to see in the windows which had been open on the one side and as she suspected, their aim was to protect her, not report on her activities to that man.

“Ya gotta know, Your Grace, the staff, servants, and guards ‘ere all know if they ever did anything to ‘arm you, they will answer to us,” Biggs assured the Duchess.

Tears of relief were released to course down her cheeks. It was safe to see her family and friends. She saw the looks of concern on the two men at her crying.

“These are good tears, not of sadness,” she reassured the two guards.

There was a knock on her sitting room door. Elizabeth nodded to John who opened the door to reveal the butler. “Your Grace are you at home to Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, the Countess of Matlock, Lady Anne Darcy, the mistress of Pemberley, and Miss Darcy?” Toppin enquired.

Elizabeth remembered the conversation from earlier that day and how the three men had asserted they would be speaking to their parents to see what assistance they would be able to offer.

“I am, thank you Mr. Toppin. Please have them wait in the large drawing room which faces the lake and have Mrs. Bannister deliver tea in a quarter of an hour. As soon as my maid repairs my coiffure, I will join them,” Elizabeth imparted.

Mr. Timmons returned to the great hall of the castle where the two ladies and the young girl waited. “Your Ladyships, Miss Darcy, if you will follow me I will show you to the lakeside drawing room,” the butler intoned.

The three visitors had barely entered the room when the door was opened by the footman on duty in the hall, the same one who had done so for them, and in walked the young duchess followed by her butler. The two older ladies had recognised her from when they had seen her presented those months ago.

The Duchess nodded to her butler. “Lady Matlock, Lady Anne, and Miss Darcy, it is my honour to introduce you to Lady Elizabeth Chamberlain, Her Grace, the Duchess of Hertfordshire and Marchioness of Hertford Heights. Your Grace, I present to you Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, the Countess of Matlock, Lady Anne Darcy, the mistress of Pemberley, and Miss Georgiana Darcy.” The butler performed his duty with aplomb. Once he had completed the introductions, with another quick nod from Her Grace, he bowed to the ladies and exited the room pulling the door closed after him.

The Countess and Lady Anne were surprised they were left alone, they had expected one of the Duke’s men to be present to hear whatever was being said.

Elizabeth smiled when she saw the ladies looking around the room and immediately understood why. “We are quite alone here my Ladies. If you are uncomfortable with me, I can have one of my guards summoned.” She arched an eyebrow as she teased the ladies.

“That is most unexpected, and welcome, Your Grace,” Lady Anne began to say when the door opened and the housekeeper directed two footmen where to place the tea service.

There was a plate of seasonal and some exotic fruits, including slices of pineapple next to a platter of teacakes and pastries.

“Is that pineapple?” Georgiana blurted out before she clapped her hand over her mouth and blushed deeply at her ignoring etiquette. She should have waited for the Duchess to address her.

“Please Miss Darcy, do not make yourself uneasy,” Elizabeth soothed. “I had almost the same reaction when I discovered there were a few growing in the conservatory attached to the rear of the castle. If you would like, I will send one home with you today so you may share it with all of your family.”

Anna lit up with pleasure. “That would be very kind, and greatly appreciated Your Grace,” she responded in relief.

Elizabeth poured the tea to the specifications each lady provided. They enjoyed some of the provided comestibles, Miss Darcy enjoying two slices of pineapple. When everyone had completed their tea, Elizabeth pulled the bell cord and soon the tea service had been cleared away and they were left alone once again, the door firmly closed.

“I assume your sons related to you what I shared with them?” Elizabeth began. All three ladies nodded. “As you know I am not here of my own choice and I never sought the title this nightmarish marriage has brought me, please call me Elizabeth, or at the very least Lady Elizabeth when we are alone.”

“In that case Lady Elizabeth, please call me Lady Elaine, my sister-in-law is Lady Anne, and her daughter answers to Anna,” Lady Matlock responded. “If I may, how come you are left without any of your husband’s men making sure you say or do nothing impolitic?”

“Unlike him I treat the staff and servants with respect and consideration…” Elizabeth explained how she related to those who worked for her husband.

“We too believe in treating those employed on our estates and in our houses thusly,” Lady Matlock agreed.

“As we have privacy, I would like to invite you to spend the days before Easter, and as long as you desire after, with us at Pemberley,” Lady Anne proposed. “Is our information you are increasing correct?”

“It is, I have been seen by both Mr. Harrisons and Mrs. Medford, and all of them have opined I am proceeding as would be expected,” Elizabeth confirmed. “I should give birth in September or October of this year. As much as I would love to accept your invitation, my aunt and dearest sister will be here on the morrow under the guise of working with Mrs. Medford.”

“How old are your younger sisters?” Georgiana interjected. She was about to admonish herself for speaking out of turn again when she saw Lady Elizabeth smile warmly.

“Mary is fourteen, she will be fifteen next month, Kate is thirteen, and the youngest, Lydia recently turned eleven,” Elizabeth related.

“I turned twelve in March,” Georgiana enthused.

“My birthday was also in March, I reached the ripe old age of seventeen,” Elizabeth responded.

Just when they did not think they could think worse of him and with confirmation she had been but sixteen when the dissipated duke married her, Ladies Matlock and Anne felt even more disgust for the repellent man.

“You would not have to eschew seeing your family and friends. In fact, you would be able to see them all openly,” Lady Anne explained. Seeing the hopeful and questioning look Lady Anne elucidated. “On our way back to Pemberley, Elaine, Anna, and I will stop at the parsonage in Lambton. It is my intention to invite all of your family and friends to be our guests at Pemberley for as long as they desire to be with us. That way, rather than take the risk someone would perhaps see you with them in Lambton and decide to send a letter to your husband, the interactions will all be hidden from prying eyes.”

For the second time that day, Elizabeth cried tears of gratitude. Without thinking, Lady Anne stood and seated herself next to the young duchess and pulled her into a motherly hug.

As she felt the warm and genuine motherly affection, something which had been denied her for the whole of her life by Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth’s crying turned into great big wracking sobs. Lady Anne said nothing; she held Elizabeth and allowed her to release her pent up emotions all the while rubbing her back.

Seeing how distressed her niece was feeling, Lady Matlock leaned over towards her. “This is healthy for her Anna. She has been beyond brave and I believe this is the first time she has felt she has support and she does not need to ignore it for her and others’ protection.”

It took some minutes for the storm of tears to pass. When she was cried out, Elizabeth did not want to break the contact with the woman sitting next to her. This kind of affection from a mother figure was very rare for her, and something she did not want to lose anytime soon.

She had only received warmth and love from Aunt Maddie during the short stays at Gracechurch Street, and to a certain extent from Aunt Hattie, but this was somehow inexplicably different.

“In that case, I gladly accept your invitation to Pemberley,” Elizabeth stated. “One thing, in case your sons,” she looked at Anna, “and your brother did not relate it clearly, not a word of my reasons for marrying him is to be breathed to Jane or my other sisters. One day, if or when, I am free of the old man, I will tell Jane the truth.”

“I swear I will say nothing,” Georgiana vowed.

“We will honour your wishes Lady Elizabeth, as will our husbands and sons,” Lady Matlock added.

“What time should I arrive on the morrow?” Elizabeth enquired. “I will have my lady’s maid and two guards with me. None of them will report anything untoward to my husband.”

“Any time comfortable for you,” Lady Anne replied. “If you will excuse us, we have a stop to make at the parsonage on our return to Pemberley.”

“Before you depart I have one request. When we are at your home can I be just plain Elizabeth or Lizzy?” she requested.

Agreement was given with alacrity. The two ladies and one girl hugged Elizabeth and then took their leave. Tomorrow would be a very good day.

Anna was delighted to find a pineapple had been placed in the Darcy coach.

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

“Welcome to the parsonage, Lady Matlock, Lady Anne, and Miss Darcy,” Evangeline stated surprisedly. There were times she had met with the mistress of Pemberley regarding parish business or charities, but that was normally a call to Pemberley, where she was received in Lady Anne’s study, or at the church.

Only once, shortly after she married Adam had Lady Anne visited at the parsonage. She led the highborn ladies into the drawing room where Maddie, Lady Lucas, and Hattie Philips were seated. The men and children were taking a walk around the town.

The three ladies stood when Eve entered with two ladies and a girl, all wearing very expensive and fine dresses denoting their wealth and rank. Madeline recognised Lady Anne from the time she used to live in Lambton.

“Mrs. Lambert, would you introduce us to your friends please,” Lady Matlock, as the highest ranking person present, requested.

Eve made the requested introductions. While she had, she had noted how Lady Anne had been looking at her sister-in-law questioningly.

“You may remember Maddie as Maddie Lambert, my husband’s older sister. Some years back before her father passed away, she moved away when she married Mr. Gardiner,” Evangeline explained to Lady Anne.

“Why of course. I remember you would accompany your mother to Pemberley sometimes,” Lady Anne recalled. “We—my sister, my daughter, and I—have a very specific purpose in mind by calling on you this afternoon. Before coming here, we visited with Lady Elizabeth. She will be visiting us at Pemberley from the morning on the morrow…” Lady Anne did not miss the looks of great shock on all four ladies’ faces. She related an edited version of the visit at Castlemere making no illusion to her knowing the true reason Lady Elizabeth married the brute. “Which leads me to inviting all of you, the Gardiners, Bennet sisters, Philipses, Lucases, and Lamberts to be our guests at Pemberley for as long as you choose.”

Madeline was the first to recover her voice. “You say it is safe for Lizzy to come to your home and remain there for some days?” she verified.

“Yes, perfectly so…” Lady Matlock related what Lady Elizabeth had shared regarding her staff, servants, and guards.

“Of course we will…” Hattie began to respond enthusiastically. She stopped when Madeline placed a restraining hand on her arm.

“We will speak with our husbands and of course Lizzy’s sisters and send you a note with our decision as soon as may be,” Madeline completed what her sister-in-law had begun to say.

“For us, my husband cannot be away from the parish, but I will visit most days, and he will when he is able,” Evangeline stated.

With that understanding, the two Darcys and one Fitzwilliam lady took their leave.

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

Less than two hours later a note of acceptance detailing all who would be in their party was received at Pemberley.