Chapter 9
Richard called on Matlock House for an early afternoon visit. The first person whom he encountered was his father, Lord Edward Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Matlock. He had missed seeing his father when he accompanied Ben, Georgiana, and Anne to the Grosvenor Square mansion earlier that week.
“Richard, how good it is to see you, son. I am sorry to hear about the Bennet family’s travails. This cannot be an easy time for them.”
“Indeed. Elizabeth was especially hard struck by the news. I want to say, on Darcy’s behalf, how appreciative he is that you and mother are able to look after Georgiana and Ben while arrangements are being made to bring them to Hertfordshire.”
“Think nothing of it. We are happy, even if a bit surprised, to be of service.”
“Surprised, my lord? In what respect?”
“Surely you are no stranger to the contentiousness that has long marred the relationship between Darcy and me. I do believe this is the first time he has ever prevailed upon me to do anything for him.”
“You must admit that things are vastly different now that you are no longer determined to dictate whom he should or should not marry. In addition, he is a father now, and I know he wants nothing more than to give young Ben a strong sense of family, even stronger than Darcy himself enjoyed as a child.”
“Yes, that is very clear, as evidenced by that rather odd gathering at Pemberley at Christmas.”
Richard strolled over to the drinks cabinet and began filling a glass. “What a festive occasion that was, but if you recall, we have Ben to thank for gathering us all together.”
Lord Matlock joined him. “Yes—yes, indeed.” Changing the subject, his lordship said, “Your cousin Anne is looking particularly lovely. I was very pleased to see that she did not remain at Rosings. Although, I can imagine my sister did not take too kindly to the development.”
“Lady Catherine was not pleased but, then again, Anne is of an age where she must choose her own comings and goings.”
“True—true, Anne is a fortunate young woman. It is a shame that she has not married. Then she might secure an arrangement of a more lasting convenience than that afforded by her stay at Pemberley.”
Richard threw back his drink in a single gulp and poured another. “I suspect I know where this is going, my dear, matchmaking father.”
“And why should I not make it clear that a match between you and Anne would be most advantageous for both of you? It spares both of you the time and trouble of a long and protracted courtship. Neither you nor Anne is getting any younger. Surely Anne will wish to have children.”
“Having witnessed first-hand the love Darcy has for his wife and what a difference it has made in his happiness, I am thinking I want the same thing for myself. I do not know that I would enjoy such a life with my cousin.”
“Surely you do not compare yourself to Darcy. He is a very rich man, thus he was able to marry where he would with no thought of the wife’s fortune.
Besides, if I know anything at all about my nephew, he is firmly in control of young Ben’s inheritance by now.
” Lord Matlock took a sip of his drink. “You, on the other hand, must marry a woman of large fortune if you wish to maintain the manner of living to which you are accustomed, and Anne’s fortune is magnificent. ”
Darcy stood in almost the exact spot where he and Ben had first met, engrossed in discussion with a local carpenter.
Time was of the essence if his surprise for Ben would be ready when he arrived in Hertfordshire.
He had planned to keep it a secret—even from Elizabeth.
So much for the best laid plans. Hours earlier, Darcy had been working at a table in front of the window of their small apartment, when Elizabeth tiptoed behind him and tried to peep over his shoulders.
Her soft breath against his neckline, as pleasing as it was, prompted him to roll up the parchment in haste.
“What are you studying with such intent, my love?”
“I did not expect to see you so soon. I supposed you to be with your father.”
“I came to retrieve my book.” She reached for the parchment. “What is this?”
Darcy tucked it behind his back. “This is meant to be a surprise.”
“A surprise? For me?”
“Actually, it is a surprise for Ben.”
“How wonderful. May I see it?”
“You will soon enough. I plan to unveil it to both of you soon after Ben’s arrival.”
Elizabeth eased her way into his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and nibbled his ear. “Please, my love, do not keep me in suspense.”
“Is this your plan—to use your feminine wiles to bend me to your will?”
Elizabeth traced her tongue slowly along his earlobe. “How am I doing?”
What a dilemma his wife had posed. His special project was in jeopardy of being the furthest thing from his mind. “Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course, I can.”
Darcy removed the parchment from behind his back and uncurled it. Elizabeth’s mouth fell open upon taking it all in.
“I know what you are wondering. Let me assure you, it is safe.”
“Oh, I would not think otherwise. No—I am astonished, that is all. Ben will love it.”
“That is my thought exactly. Its construction is underway as we speak.” Darcy placed the rendering on the table and stood with his wife in his arms, carried her to the closest of the two small beds, which were more conveniently rearranged for his purposes, and commenced bestowing upon her his undivided attention.
Her soft moans had given him to know he would be late in meeting the builder for their scheduled appointment. One satin covered button by one, Darcy slowly unfastened his wife’s gown. He could not imagine committing such an unprofessional breach in etiquette for a less worthy cause.
Georgiana knew without being told the purpose of her aunt’s early morning summons.
Revered amongst her society acquaintances, Lady Ellen was heartbroken upon learning that her niece had eschewed coming out that spring.
It was time for Georgiana to take her proper place amongst society’s elite, and her ladyship told her niece as much.
Georgiana crossed her arms over her bosom. “I suppose this is your polite way of telling me it is time I find a husband—preferably a titled one should you and my uncle have your say and a wealthy one should my brother have his.”
“Mind your tone, young lady. I am sure your brother and uncle want what is best for you—as I do.”
“I beg your pardon, your ladyship. I have had this discussion so many times before with my brother and Elizabeth, even Lady Catherine.”
“That is all the more reason to take this matter seriously. With that being said, I have written to your brother, expressing my concerns. He wrote back with his assurance that we are of the same mind on this subject. You will have your presentation at court and your coming out next year.”
“So, I am to have no further say at all as regards my own future?”
“What reason might you have to possibly object to this scheme? Is this not what every young lady dreams of?”
Georgiana said nothing. She was not about to tell her aunt about her tacit understanding with the son of her late father’s steward, Mr. Wickham. There was no need to subject the grand lady to a fit of apoplexy.
“Well, young lady, what have you to say further on the matter?”
There was really only one easy way to end their line of talk—feigning submission.
“I know what is expected of me. I am exceedingly delighted about my coming out Season.” Going further to add that she could hardly wait would have been stretching the truth a bit too far. Instead, Georgiana asked to be excused.
Each morning at Matlock House brought a new adventure into young Ben’s daily routine. Still, he missed his parents dearly. The added uncertainty of his grandpapa’s health weighed on him as well. He needed to do something to help his family, and he had just the thing in mind.
His lordship entered the study and, to his surprise, found the room occupied. “What on earth are you doing in here, young man?” Lord Matlock’s booming voice was enough to frighten the poor child. Ben recoiled, knocking the inkwell over, and in so doing created quite a muddle of things.
“Look at my desk!” Lord Matlock marched across the room and pulled the bell for a servant.
“I am sorry, my lord!”
“As well you should be! I asked you what you are doing in here.”
“I am writing a letter.”
By now, his temple throbbing, his eyes bulging, his lordship stood directly before Ben. “A letter!”
“Yes, my lord, to my grandpapa in Hertfordshire.”
His lordship observed the ink stains on Ben’s hands and various parts of his clothing. He picked up the letter. “This looks like the work of a child.”
Ben’s face clouded with puzzlement. “I am but a child, my lord.”
“Yes-yes, so you are. Why did you not get your aunt Georgiana or your cousin Anne to assist you in your letter writing campaign? I am sure the results would have been better than this.” He looked at the splashes of ink all over the place. “It surely could not have been worse.”
“Letters are meant to be private, are they not?”
“Some letters, letters of business and letters between adults, but as your letter does not fall into either of those categories, I do not see that any privacy is needed.”
“Will you help me, my lord?”
“Me? I do not even know your grandfather!”
“Of course you do. You met him at Pemberley. Have you forgotten?”
“But of course—but how do you suppose I might help?”
“Surely my grandpapa and you have much in common. My friend Samuel and I are the same age, and we have much in common, and my grandpapa and you are the same age, so that means you two have a lot in common.”
Lord Matlock huffed. “I am the Earl of Matlock. I am sure there is nothing common about me.”
When the servant arrived, his lordship directed his attention to the ink spill, and the servant moved quickly to tidy things up.
“Is being the Earl of Matlock very important?” said Ben.
“I should say so!”
“Is it more important than being a grandpapa?”
His lordship jutted his aristocratic chin. “Being a grandpapa is not to be compared to being an earl. One has nothing to do with the other.”
“What exactly does an earl do?”
“An earl has many important duties. I am a member of the House of Lords, the second house of Parliament. I give voice to the laws of the land and affect legislation.”
Ben shrugged. “I suppose all those things are important.”
“They most certainly are.”
“But is it not also the duty of an earl to look after his family and see that they are protected and happy?”
“Yes—yes, there is that.”
“Much like a grandpapa’s duty is to look after his family and see that they are protected and happy.”
“I shall not readily concede your point, young man. Anyone might be a grandpapa, but not every man is entitled to call himself an earl. One must be of noble blood to bear such a distinction.”
Ben grew quiet as he considered his next words. By the looks of it, Lord Matlock was growing increasingly confident by the second that the child would not possibly have a retort that would justify any further discussions along those lines.
“My lord, if two men are walking together in the forest, and one of the men is of noble blood and the other is not, and they came across a ferocious fire-breathing dragon, which man do you suppose is more likely to fall prey to the dragon’s attack first?”
His lordship curled his lip, and his steely eyes narrowed.
Releasing a quick breath, he said, “Remove yourself from my chair and pull up a seat next to me, and tell me what exactly you wish to convey in this missive to your grandfather.” After Ben took his place by his lordship’s side, the elder man said, “By the bye, you do know there is no such thing as dragons, do you not?”
Ben tilted his head to the side. He could grow to like his great uncle very much, but he most certainly had his work cut out for him. No such thing as dragons, indeed!