Chapter 17 #2
“Unlike you, Mrs. Bennet, we have not banished anyone from our house. We love our children and do not mistreat them as you have,” Gardiner thundered.
Fanny was taken aback that her normally mild-mannered brother was so voluble. Her three daughters started to get the idea their mother would not carry her point.
“We had an Elizabeth Bennet here, but now we only have an Elizabeth Gardiner.” Madeline stated pointedly.
It took Fanny a moment to understand what the Gardiners were saying. “How dare you change that ungrateful child’s family name!” Fanny screeched.
“As she is our daughter, and requested it, we did so with the full weight of the law behind us.” Gardiner saw his sister was about to interject.
“Close your mouth and listen to me, Mrs. Bennet.
You are the worst parent I have ever encountered.
Look at what you turned Jane into! Then, when it was convenient, you helped force her into a marriage with that man, even though she deserved it in a way.
And why? All for your own selfish needs.
“Bennet sent a legally binding document relinquishing all parental rights to Lizzy. As he is your husband, you no longer have parental rights to her either. The day after she arrived, I filed the papers with the court and she is now a Gardiner, and Maddie and I are her legal parents.” Gardiner looked at his sister with disgust.
“If you wish to challenge me, do so in court, although I doubt you could find anyone willing to represent you, as you have no standing. It will not be my brother Phillips because he and Hattie have already broken with you. I hope you have a few thousand pounds for the fight.
“All that is left is to tell you is that you will never be admitted into this house, or any property we own, again. I cannot believe you were born of the same parents as Hattie and me. You are the most selfish creature in the world. Leave my house now and take your silly daughters with you before I have you arrested for trespassing,” Gardiner ordered.
Fanny Bennet was of mean understanding, but she understood her brother now reviled her and she would never be able to bring Miss Lizzy home. None of the four Bennets said a word as the Bennet carriage pulled away. His wife’s state of shock, much to Bennet’s delight, was of a few days’ duration.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Tiffany and Giana, it is my pleasure to introduce my best friend and sister of my heart, Miss Charlotte Lucas and her sister Miss Maria. Charlotte and Maria, my extremely good friends Lady Tiffany Fitzwilliam and Miss Georgiana Darcy,” Elizabeth made the introductions after their arrival at Matlock House.
“Lady Tiffany, Miss Darcy, I understand you have been successful at teaching Eliza to ride, something I failed to achieve for many years,” Charlotte smiled.
“As we will be much in company, and any friend of Lizzy’s is a friend of mine, please call me Tiffany. It did not take long for Lizzy to learn; I think she knew much more than she was letting on,” Tiffany teased.
“Tiffany! You will have people think they cannot believe a word I say to them,” Elizabeth stated with mock affront.
“The same goes for me, Miss Lucas and Miss Maria, I would like it if you would address me as Georgiana or Giana,” Georgiana added.
“In that case, I am Charlotte and you can drop the ‘Miss’ and my baby sister is Maria,” Charlotte stated.
“Charlotte, I am sixteen already,” Maria admonished.
“We are the same age,” Georgiana pointed out, “and Tiffany is a whole year older than us.”
Elizabeth had revealed she had not shared all with her two friends when she and the Lucas sisters talked long into the night after they arrived. Charlotte advised that it was time to share her full story with them.
Charlotte and Elizabeth felt as close as sisters. Elizabeth had developed a similar relationship with the two younger girls, and so agreed it was time to make a full disclosure.
When Elizabeth asked about Richard Fitzwilliam who Charlotte often mentioned in her letters, her sister of the heart shared how pleased she was to be in Town, particularly pleased because there would be contact with the Fitzwilliams.
She was unsure if the Colonel returned her regard in full measure, or if he did, would he be able to consider her without an eye to fortune, as he was a second son. Elizabeth had not mentioned anything about Rosings Park, knowing Richard would tell Charlotte if and when it was time to do so.
The five were talking in the shared sitting room between Tiffany and Giana’s bedchambers. “There is something I need to tell you about myself,” Elizabeth commenced her revelation. Both Tiffany and Giana gave her their undivided attention.
“You know there is nothing you can tell us that would ever make us think less of you, Lizzy,” Tiffany stated seriously.
“You remember I told you I knew of Elizabeth Bennet?” Both girls nodded.
“It was me. I used to be Elizabeth Bennet before I became Elizabeth Gardiner some weeks ago…” Elizabeth told them all, how her former mother used to treat her, and about the sister she thought was her best friend and how she betrayed her.
During her recitation, both Elizabeth and Charlotte noticed how Giana blanched at the mention of George Wickham, but she said nothing.
Tiffany squeezed her cousin’s hand in support.
When Elizabeth had told all, up to and including her becoming a Gardiner, there was silence for a few moments.
Having recovered from the shock of hearing the vile seducer’s name, Georgiana stated angrily, “I, who grew up without a mother, thought any mother would have been better than none at all, but now I see it is not true. The woman who gave birth to you does not deserve the appellation.”
“Your former sister got her just reward; she is suffering the fate she tried to assign to you,” Tiffany added.
“You saw my reaction when you mentioned the name George Wickham, did you not?” Georgiana asked.
The other three nodded, as it seemed Maria was as observant as her older sister.
Georgiana proceeded to tell them of the history between the blackguard and the Darcys and what he had attempted with her at Ramsgate.
“All I can hope is that you will not look at me differently now you know what I almost did.”
Elizabeth pulled the girl into a hug. “You did not make the best decision, but you were the victim of a practiced liar and seducer almost twice your age. Additionally, the woman who should have protected you was in league with him. No, Giana, I do not think any differently about you, except mayhap I feel closer to you as I, who prided myself on my perspicacity, was duped by him as well. At the time, I was trying to find whatever fault I could with your brother…” Elizabeth told the part of the story as it related to Mr. Darcy and the Bingleys.
“He said WHAT about you at the assembly?” Georgiana would have taken her brother to task had he been in the same room as her.
“Giana, you know William is prone to insert his riding boot in his mouth when he is uncomfortable,” Tiffany reminded her cousin. “It does not excuse his words and he will have to apologise, but you know what he wrote about Lizzy in his letters. We both know those were his true sentiments.”
“Speaking about William, he still thinks you are married to that horrible man. What should I tell him?” Georgiana asked.
“Urge him to come for Christmastide,” Tiffany suggested. “After the way he behaved toward Lizzy, let him stew for a little while longer. If he decides not to come to London without good cause, then you can give him some hints.”
“At least, we will never have to deal with Miss Bingley again,” Georgiana stated with pleasure.
At Charlotte’s quizzical look, Elizabeth told the story from the day at Gardiner Emporium. She had not written to her friend on the subject yet. “Now there is a reward well deserved,” Charlotte stated. She had no time for people who made themselves feel better by hurting others.
Later that evening the young ladies retold everything that had been discussed to the Countess.
Lady Elaine knew Lizzy used to be a Bennet, but the full story shocked her to the core.
She, like Giana, wanted to take William to task, but agreed he should be allowed to suffer more after the way he had behaved.