Chapter 14 Bingley is betrothed, and Darcy is chagrined. #2
Mrs. Collins changed the topic back to the upcoming nuptials, and Darcy asked if Miss Elizabeth and Miss Lucas would like to ride in his carriage with Colonel Fitzwilliam on Saturday.
They would stop in London to collect Miss Bennet and Miss Mary and then continue on to Hertfordshire.
Elizabeth graciously accepted the invitation; however, Maria expressed some reluctance to leave a week early.
Charlotte argued the advantages of the scheme, and she finally agreed.
As the three cousins were returning to Rosings, an express from London was delivered to Mr. Darcy. The rather thick packet with a solicitor’s seal drew a frown of concern to Darcy’s face.
“’Tis a day for letters for you, Darcy! I hope this news is as welcome as the first,” Colonel Fitzwilliam commented as his cousin excused himself. When in his chambers, Darcy broke open the seal and saw there was a second sealed letter folded within the first.
Carlton House
April 8 – 1812
Dear Sir,
As you are aware, the Heiresses to the Estate of Miles Lydon, the Earl of Shelton, are two Misses who have been under the protection of a Gentleman of Hamilton in Bermuda, West Indies, as at the death of the fourth Earl of Shelton on 23 July in the year 1792.
We have word from said guardian, a Mr. Thomas Bennet, formerly of Hamilton, Bermuda, and most lately of Longbourn, Hertfordshire.
As required by the Last Will and Testament of the Earl of Shelton, the responsible protector of said Beneficiaries of the Estate was not to take charge of the Inheritance; the stewardship of the Estate and related Trusts and Profits were administered by Mr. George Darcy of Derbyshire, and by his heir in the event of his death, until the Conditions prescribed by said Will were met.
Said Conditions are as follows: upon the betrothal of either of the heiresses or the elder living heiress reaching the age of 25 years, the Inheritance would be distributed as required by the Will; furthermore, the information of the state of the Inheritance would be reviewed jointly by Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy prior to the distribution of the assets.
As of late, Mr. Thomas Bennet has approved the application by a Mr. Charles Bingley of London for the hand of Lady Jane Elinor Lydon (known by the name of Miss Jane Bennet), the eldest heiress. Enclosed are further particulars of the distribution of the Assets of the Estate and other Holdings.
Believe me at all times,
With sincerity and respect,
Your faithful and obliged Servant,
B. Larrasby, esq.
Solicitor
Scarcely able to believe what he had just read, Darcy tore open the second letter hoping for clarification.
Longbourn
April 6
Dear Mr. Darcy;
I must apologize for the necessity of disclosing the information that is to follow in the form of a letter.
As you know, your late father was named Executor of the Estate of the Earl of Shelton, however, he desperately wanted to keep his daughters.
The Darcys agreed that if any man could bring up two babies on his own, it was Shelton, and they offered to care for the girls while he dealt with business related to his wife’s death.
“Dear, the girls have a father who loves them very much. We can visit them at Shelton Manor, and they can come to see us, just as Jenny always has.”
Fitzwilliam looked towards the floor. He was aware there was no mention of the girls’ mother, and he knew why.
He had heard the servants whispering that Lady Shelton had died, and he knew what that meant: Lady Shelton had gone to heaven and would never come back.
He would not admit it, but he was now terrified of losing his mother.
He felt tears filling his eyes and hoped no one saw them.
His nanny scooped up little Jenny. His mother softly told him that the nurse was to take the baby to the nursery.
Fitzwilliam glanced up at his mother, and she gave him a gentle smile of assurance.
He looked to where the baby still held his finger and pulled gently to release it from her grasp, but she held tight.
He furrowed his brow as he tried unsuccessfully to pry her tiny fingers loose.
He made a funny face at her, and the baby smiled and gurgled then released him.
“Bye, bye, baby Beth,” he said in a cooing voice, smiling.
19 April 1812
Rosings, Kent
Darcy read the two letters several times and was well able to understand his duty. He was shocked, confounded, and curious at the revelations contained within, but as was to be expected, those emotions soon gave way to anxiety and self-deprecation.
Daughter of an earl. Enormous fortune. Her parents among the best of people.
My dear parents as her godparents. He was dumbfounded.
The implications were clear. The woman he had loved so long but hesitated to offer for was about to be recognized as a most sought-after heiress.
Every charming, lively, amiable, handsome, fortune-hunting suitor in the country would be ready to please Lady Elizabeth Lydon, and he might pale in comparison.
Darcy regretted his delay in proposing and wondered how she would interpret his declaration once she was privy to the intelligence contained in the missive. He believed Elizabeth’s inevitable response would be to reject his suit; at the very least, she would be well advised to defer her decision.