Chapter 12 #3
Mama’s shoulders drooped. “Such a tragedy. She and Sir Lewis were in Scotland on their wedding tour. They were so happy and she’d only just discovered she was with child.
I and my brother were having some fun near the standing stones when they stumbled upon us.
We’d been reckless with our magic and although Lady Catherine was familiar because of her Miatharan background, Sir Lewis was quite afraid and angry.
Looking back, he probably feared more for his wife and unborn babe than himself.
My brother, who held no soft spot for humans, told Sir Lewis that if he didn’t like what he saw, then maybe he should go to where he hadn’t seen them, inadvertently sending them back in time to their wedding day.
The babe Lady Catherine had been carrying was lost. I begged my parents to let me help them conceive another child, as he’d not only caused her to lose her babe, but withered her womb.
It was truly a terrible thing he did. Father stripped him of his powers and banished him to a continent called Australia. ”
“As I’ve seen Anne de Bourgh, you obviously were successful in your mission.”
“Yes, and Lady Catherine, at the time was so grateful. She has changed much from the carefree woman I once knew.”
“I’m glad you helped Miss Anne.” Lizzy set down her tea cup. “Now. About Papa.”
“Yes, your papa.” Mama smiled and a whimsical look crossed her face. “I fell in love with him the moment I saw him in Paris.”
“Paris!”
“It was at a royal ball and I was there guised as a lady in waiting to the Queen. He was so handsome and through gossip I learned he was leaving for England and moving to a small village called Meryton. I knew he was my soul mate without even touching his hand and made haste to find this Meryton and wait for him to arrive.”
“How did you achieve that? A single woman on her own would not be acceptable.”
“The Gardiner family had just lost their daughter Fanny in a boating accident and had yet to return to the village with the news. It was an easy feat to alter their memories of her death and carry on as Frances Gardiner, daughter of a successful attorney. When Mr. Benoit, or Bennet as he called himself arrived, all I had to do was meet him at a social function and let nature take its course.”
“No spells? You didn’t bind him to you with magic?”
“No, Lizzy. True love cannot be found through magic. When you meet your soul mate, nothing will stand in your path.”
“So, Papa has no idea that you are Ellorian?”
“None.”
“What of the spells he cast to make sure you did not have a son and ensure his daughters have no magic?”
The tinkle of Mama’s laugh had the clarity of a silver bell.
“As I stated before, your papa’s spells do not work on me. At least, not in the way he intended.”
“Then,” Lizzy began to unravel the puzzle of their family in her mind, “we all should have magic.”
“Very good!”
“But...”
“Your Papa’s spells and wards have dampened the girl’s magic. I’m surprised you haven’t picked up on their talents. Jane is a healer. She sees the good in everyone and you must have realized she has an uncanny ability with herbs and plants. Every plant or animal she touches, flourishes.”
Lizzy sat back in her chair and thought about her eldest sister. It was true. There wasn’t a flower or bush that hadn’t bloomed with health every year since Jane took over the garden.
“What about the others?”
“Well, Mary is so introverted. She has the gift of music but the poor dear doubts herself. She thinks no one notices her as the middle child. I’ve allowed her to delve into her books because she is so uncomfortable among a lot of people.
When you and Jane marry and move out, I’m sure she’ll come out of her shell and blossom in her own right. ”
“I fail to see what Lydia and Kitty’s gifts are, Mama.”
“Kitty is artistic. If allowed, her paintings would provide peace and healing for those who gaze upon them. I’ve not given her over to her potential yet. She’s too much under Lydia’s control.”
“Aha! You DO think Lydia controls Kitty.”
“Of course, my dear. I love my daughters, but I am not blind.”
“What of Lydia. She has no boundaries and is a determined flirt.”
For the first time Mama sank into her chair, her expression sober.
“Lydia is the only child I stripped completely of power. She is too much like my brother. She is loving and fierce in her loyalties, but in a fit of temper all it takes is one wrong word for lives to be irrevocably changed. I could not allow that to happen again.”
“Why have you not told Papa?”
“Too much time has passed and he’d feel like the fool if he knew the power I possessed without his knowledge.
” She flicked her wrist and the doors unlocked.
“I’m surprised he hasn’t figured it out.
He’s quite brilliant you know and when you turned that vicious dog into a baby lamb, I thought for sure Jane would babble about it. ”
“I turned a dog into a lamb?”
“You were only four and a stray dog had wandered onto the grounds. He was obviously feral and hungry. I had stepped away from the cradle which held Kitty and the dog came too close. He was such a ferocious thing, spittle dripping from its mouth, snarling and growling. Before I could even raise a finger, you’d pointed at him and said, with your delightful lisp, ‘Be gone, you bad dog. Nothing but bunnies and lambs are allowed near my baby sister.’ Instantaneously, the beast transformed into a bleating lamb. ”
“I did that?”
“Aye, you did. You see, your gift is protection. You will do anything to protect those you love. You are a warrior, my Lizzy. Your magic is the strongest of all the girls. I think it was because you were conceived on Mr. Bennet’s father’s estate.
The ground and air were both steeped in magic.
Between the atmosphere and ancient lineage of both our families - although your Papa was unaware of mine - your powers have potential to be quite formidable. ”
“No wonder your poor nerves were tested,” Lizzy teased.
“You laugh now, Miss Lizzy, but I was kept on my toes with you as normal blocks and barriers didn’t seem to work. I had to make a quick trip to Miathara and consult my parents. They were thrilled to meet Kitty.”
“Was this the time you went to Brighton for a month? I remember, even at four, how much Papa missed you. Jane cried every night.”
“Yes, it was five weeks for you but only a stitch in time for me. My father helped me weave a spell that would dampen your powers. I’ve had to bolster them each solstice as you grew stronger.”
“Have we ever met your real family, Mama?”
“Yes, many times. Do you recall?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Fensworth!”
“Aye. They come every summer to ‘escape the heat of London’. They love you all so dearly.”
“I always wondered how they looked so youthful. Now I know.”
“Well, their aging has progressed quicker than most Ellorians because they are affected by human time for the few months here, but to see their grandchildren is worth it. Lately, they’ve been disguising their youth, making themselves appear older for our sake.”
“I have to ask, Mama, and please don’t think it rude. Why do you go on about the entail? With magic at your fingertips, and knowing who Papa truly is, you know we won’t be destitute. You’ve made my life miserable over Mr. Collins.”
“Oh, pooh. I knew you’d never accept his offer of marriage and the way I behaved was expected.
I did wonder, at one time because of your protective streak, if you’d accept his offer to save the family from the hedgerows.
However, I helped him along with his officious babbling and made sure his body odor was stronger than normal to ensure you would send him on his way. ”
“Mama! Now poor Charlotte is stuck with him.”
“You’ve missed the point. He’s a very amiable gentleman and keeps himself in good shape. I knew immediately he’d be a good husband for her. I just had to get everyone else on board and that meant removing my daughters from his thinking. I thought I was quite brilliant in the whole thing.”
A horrifying thought crossed Lizzy’s mind.
“You never bespelled Mr. Bingley, did you?”
“Goodness, no. He loves Jane without help from anyone. And her regard for him is genuine as well. I told you before. True love cannot be twisted and woven into a different path. It will always find its way to the heart. It is the greatest gift the Creator gave us and you don’t dally around with it, which is why Anne de Bourgh has been so sickly all these years.
She loves Colonel Fitzwilliam and he loves her.
Lady Catherine sought to subvert her love and direct it toward Darcy.
The poor child has suffered for years, but now that all has been removed, her recovery should be swift and sure. ”
Lizzy rose to her feet and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek.
“I love you, Mama. You’ve given me much to think on.”
After her second eldest left the room, Francis Gardiner Bennet - Ellucia - shimmered from sight and hovered over her husband, reading in his book room. She glanced down at the hand which held a book. An elaborate scroll mark graced the inside of his wrist, matching the one on hers.
“Oh, Thomas. How I love you,” she whispered into his thoughts. “Come to me, my love. I await you.”
He paused in his reading and slowly lowered the book. A soft smile crossed his lips and he said, “Fanny. I always knew you had a touch of the Fae.”
“Then don’t keep me waiting...” And she was gone.
He stood, laid down his book and made his way upstairs where his true love awaited.