Chapter 13
“Both the Fitzwilliams and Darcys will arrive around noon today, or perhaps later in the afternoon,” Collins reported after he read the note the Matlock courier had just delivered.
This morning, Bennet had been closeted in his study with Gardiner and Phillips to discuss the possible legal pitfalls of never seeking Lizzy’s birthparents and also what would occur with her dowry of almost fifteen thousand pounds.
Gardiner related that if Lizzy were proved to be Lady Bethany, she would own multiple estates and houses in London, not to mention a dowry which would be many times larger than the combined amount of the Bennet sisters’ fortunes.
He suggested that if that be the case, Bennet divide the amount of Lizzy’s dowry between his other three daughters.
From a legal standpoint, Phillips opined that he did not believe that the Bennets would be in legal jeopardy. He related that from what he had researched, rather than arrest, the Bennets could very well be honoured and rewarded for saving and raising Lady Bethany.
Bennet stated unequivocally that he would refuse any reward. He and Fanny needed nothing more than the years they had had Lizzy in their lives. He was not ready to call her Lady Bethany yet.
Fanny was seated in the drawing room with Mother Beth, Penelope, Maddie, and Hattie.
She felt very apprehensive. If Lizzy were proved to be Lady Bethany, a suo jure duchess, everything would become real, and she would be looking at losing her second daughter.
Yes, she had heard what both Thomas and Lizzy had said on the subject; however, until those who were connected with the birth family arrived, she would not know if her favourite daughter would be sundered from them.
Now, as hard as it was to wait calmly, that was all she could do.
The die had been cast, to bring the Fitzwilliams and Darcys to Longbourn.
As much as she wished it would not be so, Fanny was certain that the crescent moon birthmark behind Lizzy’s left ear would be positive proof that her favourite daughter was indeed Lady Bethany Osborne.
She admonished herself for the selfish feelings.
Cousin Clem had confirmed the name of the criminal who had written the scrap of the vile note Fanny had discovered the day she found Lizzy.
Not only that, but he had assured them that the family of the lost Lady Bethany had always loved her and would have given their lives to protect her.
As such, Fanny knew that as much as her heart would ache if Lizzy were removed from their care, she would be happy for the mother who had been deprived of such a daughter for almost sixteen years.
All Fanny could do was pray that it would be as Lizzy said and that she would not give up her Bennet family for anyone or anything.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Why does no one agree with me that these Bennets should be held to account for never seeking my cousin’s family?
” Conyers whinged soon after they left the last coaching inn before they reached the insignificant estate where the Bennets resided.
He was riding in a coach with his sister and three Fitzwilliam cousins.
The two sets of parents were riding in the lead conveyance.
“William, you can be a stubborn prig sometimes,” Hilldale responded before his brother knocked some sense into their cousin. “It is not like you two are closely related. Your father and the late Earl of Holderness, the one your father inherited the title from, shared a common great-grandfather.”
What Andrew said about the family connection was nothing but the truth.
However, he used that relationship as justification for his opinions regarding those who had found Lady Bethany.
As Conyers looked around the cabin of the carriage, he could see that his opinion had no more support with his sister or cousins than it did the two sets of parents.
“Well, they did keep the information hidden and never sought her parents,” he said petulantly.
“You seem to ignore facts which do not fit with your preconceived opinions,” Fitzwilliam shot back while Anne and Giana shook their heads.
“Did you skip over the part about the Bennets believing that they were protecting Bethie from parents who wanted to murder her?” He raised his hand to cut off the forming protest. “They made the best decision they could with the dearth of information they had. All they knew based on a portion of a note they recovered, was that someone wanted her dead, so they protected her.”
Rather than speak, Conyers considered his cousins’ words as well as the scornful looks he was receiving from his sister and theirs.
Perhaps he had been too quick to judge without knowing all the facts.
Unless he discovered proof of his assertions, he resolved to not mention them again.
He leaned back against the squabs and feigned sleep.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Betty, why do you never tell me what the Darcys are doing?” George Wickham said as he put on an injured look.
George Wickham had used the pitiful allowance his father gifted him to take the post to Brighton to try putting himself in the Darcys’ company.
He was sure that when Lord Holderness heard how George’s father demanded he work if he wanted more money, he would see the unfairness of it and finally take him on as a godson, thereby allowing George to live in the manner in which he and his late mother thought he was entitled.
He ignored the inconvenient facts that the earl had always refused to take on that role and had consistently warned George away from his family.
“That, Georgy, be ‘cause anyone caught gossipin’ about the family will be sacked without a character. I cannot afford to live without me wages, and you don’ ‘ave money to keep me,” Betty, a maid at Seaview House responded.
Betty Cambell was a downstairs maid at Seaview House, and she was no one’s fool.
She enjoyed having some fun with George Wickham, but she was fully aware that very little coming out of his mouth would be the truth.
What she was about to tell him, she knew, would be public knowledge soon enough, so there was no harm in it.
With his most charming look in place, George looked at Betty seductively. “Will you not tell me where the Darcys have gone?”
“You will read about it in the paper soon enuf,” Betty responded. “They left in a great hurry yester-morning. By what me ‘eard, that Lady Bethany be found.”
He forgot all about the woman he intended to bed and sat up.
The girl was a duchess! From what he knew, she was among the wealthiest non-royals in the realm.
She owned many estates across the country and made the Darcys look like paupers!
George could only imagine how good his life would be if he managed to get his hands on even a part of her fortune.
He would be patient and wait for news about her, and then he would make his plans.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As it had been decided, the three Bennets—Bennet, Fanny, and Lizzy—as well as Collins, were waiting outside, near the front door as the coaches trundled down the drive towards the house.
In the second conveyance, Conyers was admitting this was no insignificant estate.
Based on the size of the park and the length of the drive, Longbourn seemed to be rather substantial.
As soon as he saw the large manor house, Conyers realised his estimation of this Bennet being a minor country squire had been wrong.
Ladies Elaine and Anne were seated on the forward-facing bench of the lead carriage.
Lady Anne was on the right-hand side, so when the coach turned a little to the left, it gave her a view of those waiting for them just in front of the door.
Her eyes were arrested when she saw the younger lady standing next to the older one.
In the parson’s letter, he had reported how Miss Bingley said that Miss Elizabeth Bennet was a younger version of Lady Amelia.
Until this instant, Lady Anne had not been sure.
Seeing such a close copy of her friend caused her to burst into tears.
The other three in the conveyance were greatly concerned at Anne’s reaction. Before Holderness could ask his wife what ailed her, she pointed at the same time while she tried to bring herself under regulation. Three pairs of eyes followed Anne’s finger, and then they saw her.
If there was scepticism in any of them, seeing someone who looked so very much like Amelia as she had looked when she came out at seventeen drove all doubts away.
Lady Elaine hugged her sister-in-law as tears involuntarily began to run down her cheeks.
The two earls were also choked up with emotion.
Each man had moist eyes, but they did not allow themselves to cry openly.
Whatever Elizabeth expected, it was not two matrons bursting out of the lead conveyance, practically running towards her.
They had tears streaming down their cheeks but wide smiles on their faces.
Before she could say a word, the two ladies pulled her into their arms and hugged her tightly.
The one on her left side, very gently lifted her hair off her ear to expose the birthmark.
“Bethie, my goddaughter!” Lady Elaine exclaimed.
Fanny felt her heart lurch as soon as the one lady looked at the birthmark without delay. The question was settled; Lizzy was Lady Bethany Osborne. Now, they had to see how they would all move forward, making sure that Lizzy’s desires were not ignored.
By now, the second coach had halted, and those within had alighted. “It seems that this is Bethie,” Hilldale understated. None of the five who stood looking at the young lady before them missed how much she looked like the dowager duchess.
Matlock and Holderness gently pulled their wives to their sides. The former looked at Collins. “Will you introduce us, please?” Matlock requested.