Page 7 of The Next Mrs Bennet
1790 – 1810
A lthough they were confident in their love when they had married in July of the previous year, Becca and Thomas Bennet had had no idea how much their love for one another would increase daily. That is not to say they never disagreed; with two such intelligent people, it was certain to occur, and it did, although very rarely. Rather than cause a fight, they would employ their logic and eventually reach a compromise which satisfied both of them.
Beth Bennet was in her element. Her son was beyond happy; she loved Becca no less than had she been a daughter of her body, and Janey was growing as would be expected. Her relationship with Anna and Elaine had only strengthened as had the bonds between the three families.
The only thing lacking—so far—was more children. With so much love to give, there was enough for as many children as He deigned to bless Becca and Thomas with.
As much as Becca was praying for children of her body, it never diminished the way she related to Jane. Quite the contrary, Jane was as loved as she would have been had she been Becca’s family by blood, and she was treated as such by all of the Cavendish and Fitzwilliam family members.
The Bennets had been very pleased for Marie and Will when the former had delivered a son in January 1790. He had been named William Francis. They looked forward to meeting their nephew when they spent time with the family in summer upcoming.
Both Becca and Bennet had prayed to be blessed with another child, and for almost the first year of their marriage, their prayers were not answered. The first month Becca missed her courses was at the end of June 1790. She was hopeful but decided to say nothing to Thomas until she missed one more month’s indisposition. By the end of July—when they were at Holker Hall in Yorkshire with the Cavendishes and Fitzwilliams—there had again been no courses. Becca had taken great pleasure in telling her husband what she suspected. Once they had calmed down from expressing their pleasure at the news, they had decided not to mention anything to the family until the next month’s cycle was missed.
The night before they were to depart for the south, Becca and Bennet sat in their bed. “Thomas, even though the time for my third set of courses is still a sennight or so from now, I think we should inform Mama, Papa, and Mother of our strong suspicion.” Becca rested her hand on her belly, which was not showing any signs of her state yet, as she said, “As much as I love Mother, I would prefer for all of our child’s grandparents to be told at the same time. As we depart in two days, the morrow is our last time to do so, unless we wait two months until my parents and sister travel to London.”
“As long as you are sanguine with informing them now, I have no objection, my Love,” Bennet responded and emphasised his point with a languid kiss. “If we are to inform the grandparents, then I suggest we include Aunt Elaine and Matlock as well.”
“That is a good idea. Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie are after all my godparents, so they will be additional grandparents to our children,” Becca agreed. She cogitated for a moment. “Have you seen how good and patient our young Fitzwilliam cousins are with Jane? She has rudimentary verbal skills and is still a little unsteady on her legs, but that has not discouraged them, and they are so gentle with her. As I expected her to be, Connie is a doting aunt. That reminds me, her coming out will be in November. It is perfect as it will allow us to fulfil our promise to her. Had her ball been scheduled for the season, it may have been too hard for me to travel to Town, or anywhere else for that matter.”
“Then we are agreed; we will inform our parents, aunt, and uncle, of our suspicions in the morning. They would see Marie and Will and tell them when they stopped at Longbourn on the way to London from Woburn Abbey, her parents’ main estate in Bedfordshire.
After they expressed their physical love for each other, the Bennets fell asleep in one another’s arms, like they did every night.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“None of you look very surprised!” Becca exclaimed indignantly once she and Thomas had broken their news.
“We are all very happy, but we have seen the glow of your being enceinte for about a month,” Lady Georgiana stated with a wide smile. “As hard as it was for us, we did not say anything to you until you were ready to tell us your news. Do not forget that when you tell Connie, she will be both surprised and joyful. She will be well pleased you two will be able to attend her coming out.”
Becca relaxed at her mother’s explanation. Thomas took her hand closest to him and gave it a squeeze of encouragement.
Bennet had not told his wife this yet, but he was somewhat nervous about the first time he and Becca would be seen in London as man and wife. He was sure there would be much debate about the ‘ inappropriate ’ match the daughter of a duke made with a nobody country squire. That was a worry for another time. Now was a time of joy to celebrate the coming expansion of their family.
As predicted, when Connie was informed she would be an aunt for the third time, she was ecstatic. The fact that Becca and Thomas would not be stopped from keeping their word to her, as they would have been forced to remain at Longbourn if her sister had been close to her lying-in, made Connie’s joy complete.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Given how enormous her belly was by the end of January 1791, Becca was doubly thankful she had been able to attend Connie’s coming out in November past.
Thinking of the ball recalled the memories of some of her husband’s concerns he had expressed to her back at Longbourn coming to fruition. Like Thomas had predicted, there were some denigrating comments made about him in his hearing. Just as she had assured him, those remarks had been stopped very quickly when the jealous insulters realised that the match was supported by three dukes—Devonshire, Bedford, and Hertfordshire—and a slew of other peers led by the Earl and Countess of Matlock. It had not taken long before the message that a slight or cut to Mr Bennet was taken as the same by all the peers who approved of his marriage to Lady Rebecca Bennet née Cavendish. What they said in private was not known, but there had been no further overt or public disapproval of Thomas Bennet expressed.
It was the end of February, and Becca was grateful that her mama, Aunt Elaine, and Marie were resident at Netherfield Park to assist her. She had also come to agree with Mama and her aunt that she was carrying twins. At first she had scoffed at the idea she was to birth twins. She had pointed out that even though she was a twin, neither her mother nor aunt had had twins herself. All of her self-assuredness fled when her mother and aunt had informed her that based on their family history, birthing twins seemed to skip a generation.
Added to that was the fact that at times it felt like there was a stampeding herd of horses inside of her. Becca could hardly believe one babe could be that active. Also the midwife—not Mrs Brown, who had attended the late Fanny Bennet and had since retired—but Mrs Parsons, the new practitioner who followed the practices of cleanliness very closely, and the apothecary and doctor in one person, Mr Jones, were both sure Mrs Bennet was carrying twins. In the face of the overwhelming evidence, Becca acknowledged the facts .
To make certain his local family had the best medical care possible, the Duke of Devonshire had funded the doctor-apothecary’s move to Meryton, and paid to have his practice set up, just like he did close to any estate he or his family owned.
The pains in her lower back commenced in the early afternoon of the third day of March. By the evening of the next day, Friday, Becca was labouring in earnest. She had Mama, Mother, Aunt Elaine, and Marie with her in addition to the midwife and Mrs Hill.
Bennet was downstairs pacing back and forth in his study, and nothing his father-in-law, uncle, brother-in-law, or Mr Jones said to calm him had that effect or stopped his stalking. When he heard the screaming from the birthing chamber, it took the combined strength of all four men to hold him back so he would not bound up the stairs and burst into the room.
The first babe was delivered at half after two on the morning of the fifth of March. That child had cried but was quite placid compared to the second. This one came out kicking and screaming, quite indignant to have been left alone for a half hour, or perhaps at not being born first.
“Mama, what did I have?” a tired Becca asked as soon as she was cleaned and changed.
“Elaine is holding your firstborn, a son, and Marie has his sister. She is the one who complained about being born second so bitterly; however, as you can hear, she is calm now,” Lady Georgiana reported. “They both look very healthy and are a little smaller than a single babe, which, we are told, is to be expected with twins. Are you ready to hold one?”
Becca nodded emphatically. The Countess stepped forward and gently placed the sleeping and swaddled son into Becca’s waiting arms. “What little hair he has is Thomas’s light brown; we will have to wait and see if his eyes remain blue,” she said in wonder as she watched her slumbering son, his lips sucking the air. She looked at her new daughter, who was now in Mother’s arms. “Janey will be so pleased that she has a sister. She hoped for two sisters, but she will have to settle for one.”
“Little Janey is already such a complying child; she will not object to the sex of the babes as long as they are able to play with her at some point.” Beth smiled. “That brute Clem Collins will not be pleased. He rubbed salt in the wound when Thomas was gifted a daughter and the woman passed away. He boasted about his having a son where Thomas did not, and in his words, would never have one. It will be a pleasure posting a letter to him with the news that Longbourn has an heir.”
“Mother, may we swap babes, and someone needs to summon Thomas to meet his children.” Becca looked at Marie. “Sister, will you please request that my husband join us?”
Marie nodded and made her way down to the study.
Ever since the sounds of his wife labouring stopped and was replaced with the squalling and crying of babes, Bennet had been on edge as he waited for news. His glass of port remained untouched. When the door opened and his sister-in-law entered, all it took was one nod from her, not a word, and he was out the door as if shot out of a cannon.
“Becca delivered a son and daughter,” Marie related to the four remaining men in the study. “Mr Jones, you may go and examine mother and children, but from what I could see, all three are well.” Devonshire visibly relaxed upon hearing his daughter and grandchildren seemed well.
Jones bowed to the men in the study, picked up his bag, and made his way out of the room.
When Bennet entered the birthing chamber, he froze as he saw his contented wife with a babe at her breast. That did not cause him to vacate the room, and none of the family members within said anything about his presence while one of his newly born children was being fed.
“Becca, you have done so very well. What do we have?” Bennet asked as he approached the bed.
“I am feeding your son, and Mama is holding your second daughter, whom I am sure will demand to be fed soon enough.” Becca did not miss the look of wonder on her husband’s countenance. “Yes, my dearest man, we have been blessed with a son and daughter.”
There was a knock on the door, and Mrs Hill informed Mr Jones that he would have to wait a little while before entering.
No sooner had the male child been sated than his sister demanded sustenance. Bennet was able to hold his son briefly before his mother took her grandson to the nursery, where Mr Jones would be able to examine him.
After their daughter was sated—she seemed to take quite a bit more than her brother—Bennet held and burped her before she too was taken to be checked by Mr Jones. By the time Mr Jones came to check on Mrs Bennet everyone other than her husband had vacated the room. Jones announced her in fine fettle for one who had just birthed twins. With his duty discharged, he exited the room, leaving wife and husband alone.
“What should we name them, my Love?” Bennet asked as he caressed one of his wife’s hands.
“Your father was named Henry, correct?” Becca verified. Bennet allowed it was so. “Then, if you agree, I think our son should be Henry William after his grandfathers. Seeing that your father’s life was cut short, it will be good that the master of Longbourn to succeed you should bear his name. For our daughter, following the convention for our son, I suggest Elizabeth Georgiana. What say you?”
“I think those names are perfect for them. Welcome to the family, Henry and Lizzy,” Bennet intoned. “Calling her Lizzy will reduce confusion as Mother is called Beth.”
The family members who were present found the names perfect for the new twins. The next day, when Jane woke and was informed she had a brother and sister, she was most excited to meet ‘Henwy’ and ‘Wizzy.’
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As expected, if the letter he had a clergyman write for him was anything to go by, Clem Collins was none too pleased when he received the information regarding his distant cousin having been blessed with a son.
15 March 1791
In care of the Petersford Parsonage
Worcestershire
(Allow me to preface this by saying I have edited out the profanities Mr Collins used as well as some of his more colourful wishes with regards to you and your son. M.P. Charleston, Rector)
Cousin Bennet,
How dare you conspire to cheat me and my son out of our rightful inheritance by first marrying again and now having a son?
Longbourn should have belonged to a Collins these many years if it were not for the (imprecations removed) Bennets stealing our birthright, and now you have done so again.
This is a disaster for my family because if your whelp survives to be 18, the entail will be broken! It was supposed to be me and my son to break the (words removed) thing so that a Bennet would never be able to get his grubby hands on the estate again.
I would wager you have substituted a changeling and claimed the birth of twins. As you would have bribed the midwife and other witnesses to say the bas**** was born of the body of the serving wench you married, I know I will not be able to prove what we both know is true.
(He wishes you to hell, but in much more colourful language.)
God will stand on the side of right and not allow the brat to reach the age of 18. (I almost did not write this but thought you should see it to know your cousin’s state of mind.)
Clem Collins
Bennet did not bother to show the diatribe to Becca; he consigned it to the fire, which had been lit on the cold spring day. There was far too much to correct to bother to respond, the most ridiculous assertion being that Longbourn was somehow a birthright of the Collins line. The fact was it was the first Collins’s profligate ways—the man used to be a Bennet three generations past—that had necessitated the entail in the first place.
Now that he had a son it was moot, but in Bennet’s opinion the entail had been very badly worded if a Collins, a descendant of the man who had lost over half of Longbourn’s land, was in the line of succession.
The day Henry turned eighteen, the entail would be no more.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
For a little more than a year, Becca did not fall with child again. By the time she felt the quickening in April 1793, Jane was almost four, and according to her Uncle Edward, who called from time to time, looked exactly like her birth mother at the same age. Thankfully, Jane’s character was nothing like the woman who had birthed her.
Jane was very calm, but when she knew she was right, she would not back down, and she felt very protective of her younger siblings. Woe betide anyone who dared to hurt either of them.
The twins were already two. Henry had remained almost bald until after he and Lizzy turned one. By then he had the same coloured eyes as his mother, almost golden, and looked more like his sire every day. Lizzy looked very much like her mother, Grandmama Anna, and Aunt Elaine with her facial features, but her hair was darker, raven coloured, and she had emerald-green eyes. Both had been inherited from her Grandmama Beth.
Where Jane was a serene little girl—most of the time—who hated to get dirty, Henry and Lizzy were the opposite. They were rather rambunctious and led their nurses on a merry dance. As soon as they had begun to walk—just prior to turning one—rather than walk at a sedate pace, they had chosen to run. Both had managed to say some words before their first birthday, but by two months later they were talking, and once they started, they had no desire to stop.
In October 1792, Marie had delivered a daughter who had been named Rosemarie Georgiana. Her first name combined Marie’s mother’s and her own first name.
Due to the fact that they had a son, Becca and Bennet had agreed to use part of her dowry to purchase back as much of the lost land which used to belong to Longbourn as possible. Phillips represented them in the transactions, and the seller was not told who the buyer was. Unbeknownst to his daughter and son-in-law, Devonshire paid a portion of each land purchase, which left more of the dowry intact. Once the land, or most of it, was reacquired, Bennet and Becca planned to renovate and enlarge the manor house.
By the time their third daughter was born on the eighth day of August 1793, through Phillips, Bennet and Becca had managed to acquire more than seventy percent of the land the ancestor had gambled away, doubling Longbourn’s land, making it larger than Netherfield Park. The new arrival was named Mary Rose.
As happy as she was to be blessed with another daughter, Becca was sad she had missed Connie’s wedding, which had been celebrated less than a fortnight after Mary was born. Her mother and Aunt Elaine had left Longbourn two days after Mary’s delivery to travel to Chatsworth, the estate where the two would marry. Both wanted to remain longer with Becca, but they were consoled by the fact Beth was with her.
In almost two seasons, Lady Constance Cavendish had not found a man who she felt she could find the kind of love with which she saw so many examples of in her extended family. It seemed like her sister before her, she would find her match outside of the Ton .
Then she met Lord Harry Smythe, the young Earl of Granville, who was only five and twenty. He had lost both of his parents some four years past, and like Connie, he was tired of being hunted. They had met at a dinner at Hartington House given by Will and Marie, and each had been intrigued by the other.
One thing led to another, first a courtship, then an engagement, and lastly the wedding on the twentieth day of August. Connie had understood why Becca and Thomas could not be present. After their honeymoon and spending a few weeks at Granville in Nottinghamshire—not too far from the Cavendish estates in Derbyshire—the newlyweds would spend a fortnight at Longbourn on their way to London.
As Becca sat feeding Mary, she remembered her concern from before she became with child, that she may not be blessed with more children, and now she had four, three of them, of her body.