Page 63 of The Next Mrs Bennet
K ingsford Marylebone looked over his late client’s will as well as the marriage articles the late Duke had signed.
Everything was in order. As to clauses viii, ix, x, and xi in the addendum to the marriage contract, the solicitor had tried to advise his client that if he passed, as had now occurred, the Duchess would inherit almost everything.
Yes, the Duke had been a rogue, but Marylebone had earned much money from him over the years. He was aware one of the uncles who was to be her guardian was, in fact, a lawyer. He was concerned if the Duchess moved all of her custom to another solicitor, it would leave a rather large hole in his annual income. All he could do was show Her Grace he carried out his duties in a professional manner and that duty included adhering to the letter of the law. He hoped Her Grace would continue to retain his services.
“Here is the documentary evidence you will require to file the petitions with the court of Chancery to have the deeds made over in Her Grace’s name. If you do not have the name of a barrister, I know of a few,” Marylebone told Philips. “This is what you will need for the banks, along with this list of banks where accounts are held. The clear profits from Falconwood, which are around fourteen thousand pounds per annum, will be accumulated in a trust account for the future Duke’s use. Both that estate as well as Hertfordshire House are available for the Duchess’s use, but as they are both tied to the dukedom and per the agreement, they will be held in trust until there is a duke who reaches his majority.
“The ownership of the shipbuilding yards in Southampton, Liverpool, and near Glasgow will be recorded in Her Grace’s name in the next day, or two days at the most. You should know the Duke of Bedford, who has shipbuilding concerns as well as a shipping line, has in the past expressed interest in purchasing these three yards. His final offer was six hundred and fifty thousand pounds.”
With an uncle, each one a guardian, seated on either side of her, Elizabeth was dumbfounded. She knew the man was purported to be wealthy, but the numbers just mentioned were far beyond anything she had imagined.
“J-just how much have I inherited?” Elizabeth asked tentatively.
“From the seven estates which now belong to you, the combined income is around fifty thousand pounds per annum,” Marylebone began to explain. “The shipbuilding yards primarily, but the other business concerns as well, earn a similar amount each year. You have close to two million pounds in the various banks, most of which is in the four percents earning a little less than eighty thousand pounds per annum. Then there is the collection of gold and jewels which is rather extensive. Some belong to the dukedom, but most do not. Your late husband refused to have the collection valued for some years now, but if I were to guess I would say you own more than three hundred thousand pounds in gold and jewels.”
It was not only Elizabeth who was stupefied. An uncle sitting on each side of her had his mouth hanging open as well.
“Now I understand why he settled two hundred thousand pounds on Lizzy as if it was nothing to him,” Philips managed once he recovered the power of speech. “As far as a barrister is concerned, we are known to Mr. Hubert Barrington.”
“A very good man who is excellent at what he does,” Marylebone commented.
“He agreed to that amount as he believed Lizzy would not live to spend it,” Gardiner added harshly.
“Is any of this money the proceeds of illegal activity?” Elizabeth questioned.
“No, Your Grace, it is not. Your late husband held one small account for gambling and as I am sure you have heard, he cheated to win,” Marylebone articulated. “It was never about the money, but rather a way for the late Duke to gain leverage over those he wanted to control. It is one of the reasons the late Duke was never challenged by anyone whose wife he had forced himself on, until Lord Jersey ended his life.”
“Where are those debt markers held?” Elizabeth demanded.
“In a safe in the study at Hertfordshire House. The key was always on his person. It was returned to me with his other effects he had with him the day justice found him.” Marylebone opened a drawer in his desk and handed Her Grace the key.
Elizabeth handed the key to Uncle Edward. “I want every single debt marker returned to the victims as soon as may be.”
Gardiner took the key and nodded. “It will be a great pleasure to release the markers back to those on whom he used to prey.” He turned to Marylebone. “Is there anything else other than signing these documents now? My niece has an appointment at Buckingham House.”
The solicitor indicated there was not. The two guardians signed the documents making Lizzy the richest woman in the realm, in fact one of the richest people who was not a royal.
“Mr. Marylebone, although I intended to cut ties with anyone who used to enable my late husband’s repulsive behaviour, I can see you were not one of those, so I will be happy to retain your services for any work in London,” Elizabeth told the relieved man. “You will of course work through my Uncle Philips who will be my primary representative.”
The two uncles shook hands with the solicitor and Elizabeth inclined her head to him. Her uncles led her out of the office.
“How am I to explain to my sisters and the rest of the family just how wealthy I am?” Elizabeth wondered after they sat in the Hertfordshire town coach.
When they had arrived in London, Elizabeth, her sisters, one aunt, an uncle, and Charlotte had taken up residence at Hertfordshire House. Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward had returned to Gracechurch Street to prepare for the impending lying-in. The first thing Elizabeth had ordered was for any sign of mourning to be removed from the doors or anywhere else in the house.
It had been obvious none of the staff or servants were upset at the Duke’s passing nor at the order regarding there was to be no mourning.
“What say you we sell the shipyards to the Duke of Bedford?” Elizabeth proposed as the coachman got his team of six moving. “Although what I will do with the money I already have, I know not. There will be charities I support and my sister’s dowries will be increased significantly.”
“There is much time to make those decisions, Lizzy. Nothing needs to be decided today.” Gardiner pointed out. “As you requested, the Fitzwilliams and Darcys will meet you and accompany you into Buckingham House.”
“I wish you and Uncle Frank would be welcomed there as well,” Elizabeth lamented. “Such nonsense that because you are both in trade…”
“It is the society of which we are a part,” Philips took one of his niece’s hands. “Who knows, one day there may come a time when those in trade are welcomed everywhere. Until that time, we conform with the conventions of the day.”
“It does not mean I need to like it,” Elizabeth pouted.
Both her uncles grinned. It was easy to forget she was but seventeen years old.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After an unforeseen delay along the route, the expresses for Gardiner and Philips arrived at the former’s house around the time they and Elizabeth were on the way to Buckingham House. The rider delivered the two missives to the Gardiners’ butler. Knowing where his master was for the day, and where the Philipses were residing, and after gaining the mistress’s agreement, he instructed a groom to ride to Berkeley Square and deliver them to Hertfordshire House.
Less than a half hour later, the butler at Hertfordshire House took possession of the two letters and delivered them to Mrs. Philips who was in the main drawing room with some of her nieces and their friends.
Hattie returned them to the butler telling him to provide them to her husband and brother when they returned with Lizzy from Buckingham House.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth and those who accompanied her were led into an ornate drawing room at Buckingham House. The Queen was seated on one of the two large chairs in the centre of the room. The Crown Prince was seated to her left.
“We welcome you to our house, Lady Elizabeth,” the Queen inclined her head as Elizabeth and those with her gave deep curtsies and bows. “We are pleased to see Lord and Lady Matlock, Lord Hilldale, and Captain Fitzwilliam as well as Lady Anne, Mr. Darcy, and their son with you.” The Queen turned to her eldest son. “Why has your father not bestowed a title on Mr. Darcy?”
“Because like all Darcys before him, he will turn down the honour,” the Prince of Wales drawled. “Father decided not to be politely refused, so he did not make an offer to the current Mr. Darcy.”
If the Queen objected to Elizabeth not wearing mourning clothing, she said not a word about it.
“We are pleased to see you Lady Elizabeth, especially as you are freed from that millstone which had been tied about your neck. How may we help you?” the Queen enquired.
“There are two things for which I beg your indulgence, Your Majesty. The first is regarding the mourning period, or more to the point, the lack thereof, for that man,” Elizabeth began. “I assume the true facts of his death are known to you.” The Queen and Crown Prince agreed it was so. “I thank goodness Lady Jersey was not hurt by that depraved man, but there were others, and not a few, who were. I request that a royal decree be published stating due to his wickedness, no mourning, official or otherwise, will be observed for him.”
“That is easy to allow. We agree it would not do to honour a man who had no honour,” the Queen granted. “As it is, we have spoken to our vicar to investigate whether posthumous excommunication is warranted; we think it is. Is the other request as easy to allow?”
Elizabeth had to stop herself smiling at the way the Queen referred to the Archbishop of Canterbury as her vicar.
“If Your Majesty is not aware, I am carrying his child,” Elizabeth’s hand unconsciously went to the slight swell in her belly. “With all the evil he encompassed, I do not think his name should live on. I am well aware the late Duke’s father was a man of honour, as were those before him, but the son sullied the name to such a degree anyone bearing that name will be tainted by association.”
“We find your request reasonable,” the Queen agreed. “Do you have a name in mind, Lady Elizabeth?”
“Given my former parents’ behaviour, I do not want the name Bennet to be used.” A picture of a man she was fast falling in love with formed in her mind. She looked at William as she spoke. “ If I marry again, what think you if my son or daughter bear his surname? Until then, I would like to adopt the surname Gardiner, that way if I am not married before the birth, the babe will not have a reviled family name.”
The Queen looked to her son who nodded. “His Majesty will grant that boon. It may take some weeks, but as soon as he does, we will have a royal decree published.” The Queen smiled playfully. “We understand you are now a lady of some means. We do have a few unmarried sons, you know.”
Elizabeth could not help but smile. She knew the Queen would never try and push her to marry where she was not inclined; once was far more than enough.
“ If I decide to marry again, I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty,” Elizabeth jested back.
“Where will you live until that occurs?” the Queen questioned.
“It is not something I have thought on, but I suppose I would prefer Castlemere,” Elizabeth related. “I found the area and the people to be much to my liking.”
The Queen looked to Ladies Matlock and Anne. “Are not your husband’s estates close to the one the Duchess mentioned?” the Queen wondered.
“Pemberley is but two miles away, Your Majesty. We share a boundary fence with Her Grace’s estate,” Lady Anne confirmed.
“And Snowhaven is a little more than ten miles distant,” Lady Matlock added.
The Queen looked at the Darcy heir. She had not missed the tender way he and the Duchess looked at one another from time to time. “It is well you have made good friends,” the Queen turned back to Elizabeth. “We are well pleased you and your sisters are all safe from that man.”
“As am I, Your Majesty, as am I,” Elizabeth responded.
The Queen ordered some tea and cakes. As would be expected there was enough to feed an army. Once tea was drunk and some slices of cake consumed, the Queen and the Prince of Wales stood, received their bows and curtsies, and then exited the drawing room.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
That afternoon one Clem William Collins presented himself at Mr. Philips’s law offices in Meryton.
“I thought you would be older,” the clerk stated when he saw the man who was barely twenty sitting before him.
“My honoured father passed away a little over a year past. It is only my mother and me now,” Collins informed the clerk. “As much as I appreciate my inheritance, I know not how to manage an estate.”
“There are many in the neighbourhood who would assist you,” the clerk replied. “I do have a question. The only Bennet remaining at Longbourn is the former mistress, Mrs. Frances Bennet, what will you do regarding her?”
“My mother will be the mistress for now. I will decide what the best course of action is regarding Mrs. Bennet after I have met her,” Collins mused. “Is not one of my distant cousins a duchess?”
“Yes, the second daughter of the late Thomas Bennet is the Duchess of Hertfordshire, and if you have read the news recently, you will know her husband is lately deceased,” the clerk responded.
“Does that mean I am her and her sisters’ guardian?” The idea of being the protector of a duchess appealed to Collins.
“It does not. That was all spelled out in the articles of the marriage settlement. She and her four sisters are, for now at least, under the guardianship of their two uncles.” The clerk quickly dispelled the notion Collins would have any authority over the Duchess or her sisters.
There was no missing the way Collins’s face fell at learning the last. “I suppose I should go and introduce myself as the new master at my estate…how do I get there?” Collins wondered.
The clerk imparted the information Collins needed to reach Longbourn. Soon he was on his way in the gig in which he and his mother had arrived.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Charles!” Caroline Bingley shrieked. “I hear the Darcys have returned to London. When will we see our friends?”
Bingley knew telling Caroline how disinclined the Darcys and their family were to be in her company was not worth the tantrum which would follow. “Mayhap we will see them at Drury Lane this evening. Much Ado About Nothing is being performed and I know it is one of Darcy’s favourites.”
“Then you must go and acquire tickets right now,” Miss Bingley commanded. “As soon as he sees us he will invite us to the Darcy box, of course.”
Bingley obediently ordered his coach to go to the box office to acquire the tickets his sister demanded. Anything was better than her whinging.