Chapter 18 #2
“The easiest way to begin is to tell you that I am not a Bennet by blood.” Elizabeth could see how her friend’s eyes went wide and her eyebrows shot up.
“I was born Lady Bethany Anne Elaine Osborne…” Elizabeth told all about her being kidnapped as a babe and found by her Mamma.
She spoke of why the Bennets left the area without a word to anyone about the babe they had found.
Fanny picked up the story at this point.
“When we arrived at Longbourn with three children, my family and Mr Bennet’s family members knew the truth.
However, we never dissembled to anyone about Lizzy,” Fanny added at that point.
“We chose not to correct the perception that she was born of my body because of the similarities in looks she shares with Mrs Beth Bennet.”
“I was told that I was not born a Bennet the day I turned sixteen…” Elizabeth continued and told all up to her birthmother’s arrival.
“Eliza, I mean, Your Grace, you are a duchess!” Charlotte exclaimed.
“There will be no gracing me from you, thank you very much, Charlotte. I demand you keep calling me ‘Eliza’ until it is decided what name I must use. You will hear that Mother, the Fitzwilliams, and the Darcys all address me as ‘Bethie’. I have a feeling because of the dukedom; once I have been before the king and queen, which name I use will be chosen for me.”
“I assume that Her Grace, your mother, not you and your mamma are here to make sure I know you are not jesting with me.” She watched as Eliza nodded indicating that was true.
“It is just as well that those who conspired against you and your family are no longer in the mortal world,” Charlotte insisted.
She cogitated for some moments. “Are you telling me that until all the revelations with the Bingleys seeing your mother in you and the Collinses identifying the writer of that despicable note, you knew not who your family by blood was? No one suspected the truth?”
“When the notice about my birthfather’s passing appeared in February 1799, Papa wondered if I was the missing Osborne babe mentioned, but he was not certain enough to investigate at that time,” Elizabeth related.
“Once they had revealed all to me on my last birthday regarding how I was found, where, and that I was not a Bennet by blood, it was then that the decision was made to consult Cousin Clem Collins.”
“My parents will be amazed that we were living next to the daughter of a duke, and, for the last eight years, a suo jure duchess! On the one hand, my parents will be in awe of your rank while wanting to spread the news far and wide. Is this public knowledge yet?” Charlotte asked.
“Not yet,” Lady Amelia responded. “As her best friend, Bethie wanted you to know this from her before it is reported in the papers. I have written to His Majesty. As soon as the King accepts the proof of who she is, there will be a royal notice published. She will be summoned to an audience with King George III and then her title will be officially conferred on her.”
“Poor Jane, she will be devastated to lose you as a sister,” Charlotte opined.
“That is why Mamma is with us. My name will change, and I have a title, but that will never change my connection to the Bennets. I care not that it is not by blood, but they are my family just as surely as Mother is,” Elizabeth reported.
“Are you related to the Darcys and Fitzwilliams?” Charlotte enquired.
“I am a distant cousin to the Darcys through Mother’s late father, but there is no blood relationship with the Fitzwilliams. However, the earls and countesses are my godparents, and I address them as uncles and aunts. Charlotte, do you have any further questions?” Elizabeth queried.
“Not for the nonce,” Charlotte replied.
“If that be the case, then I have a request for you. When I am summoned to London, Jane will accompany me. I would like to invite you to join me as well. With all the changes I will have in my life, I would like to have both my best friend and closest sister with me,” Elizabeth petitioned.
“Even though I am of age, as soon as your news is made public, I will request permission from Papa. I am certain he will not deny my request to attend a duchess in London,” Charlotte predicted. “Will the ‘gentle giants’ accompany you, or will they remain here?”
“I am not sure; I need to ask Mamma and Papa. If they and the guards agree, I would be well pleased if John and Brian remain with me,” Elizabeth replied.
“Unless there is more you need to relate, I will make my way to the drawing room and join Jane,” Charlotte said. When no one indicated there was more, she made her way out of the parlour and headed for the drawing room.
“The house will seem very empty when you and Jane go to Town,” Fanny said wistfully.
“James will be beginning at Cambridge in October, and that will only leave Mary and Kitty at home with us. You will write to me, will you not, Lizzy? And if you or Jane need me in London, you know I will come without delay. It is good that Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward live in the area.”
“There will be many purchases which will need to be made, including a whole new wardrobe for London society. There will be no difficulty gaining appointments with my modiste, Madame Chambourg, whose shop is on Bond Street. We will acquire outfits for Jane and Miss Lucas as well,” Lady Amelia stated.
“If we must,” Elizabeth said with a scrunched-up nose.
“Shopping is not my favourite activity.” She looked at her mother.
“I am not sure you are aware of this, but Uncle Edward supplies fabric to most of the modistes and mantua makers in London. If we go to his warehouse first, then we will have the choice of bolts which have not been supplied yet, and it will save us half the cost of the fabric on Bond Street. I care not how wealthy I am to be; I dislike wasting money.”
“That is prudent. I will be happy to see Maddie and Edward again,” Lady Amelia responded.
The Gardiners had departed that morning as Gardiner could not be away from his business for too long unless the absence was well planned for, which this journey into Hertfordshire had not been.
“Mamma, will you not accompany me to London?” Elizabeth asked.
“I will see you in Town in the future, but not this time. I need to remain here with your papa, James, Mary, and Kitty. Do not forget that Papa will convey James to commence his studies at Cambridge in two months,” Fanny pointed out.
“Also, aside from your mother, Jane, and hopefully Charlotte, the Fitzwilliams and Darcys will all be with you when you are in London, so you will not be alone.”
As light as she kept her voice, for Fanny this separation, the first one since Lizzy had become her daughter, would be very difficult for her.
She refused to allow Lizzy to sense that because she would not burden her daughter with any more concerns on top of all the others she would have in Town.
So far the talk of Lizzy, or Lady Bethany, being a duchess had been academic and something not wholly real.
That would all change as soon as Lizzy met the king and the royal decree appeared in the newspapers.
At that point, the abstract would become reality, and her life would change irrevocably.
Fanny would, of course, be at Lizzy’s side if truly needed, but she knew she would be doing her favourite daughter a disservice if she did not allow Lizzy to find her way without Fanny there all the time.
It would hurt her heart to be away from Lizzy, but it was what needed to be done for her girl to learn how to live within her new situation.
“Besides, it is not like Longbourn is not close to London, so you will be able to visit at any time you want,” Fanny added.
“Mamma, what about John and Brian? May I offer them a place so they may keep protecting me?” Elizabeth requested. “Do I need to speak to Papa about this?”
“It just so happens that we spoke of this very thing. If you feel more secure with them guarding you, and John Biggs and Brian Johns agree, you are free to employ them as part of your household,” Fanny allowed.
“Knowing how much they enjoy protecting you, I am very confident they will agree to remain with you when you leave Longbourn.”
“That is very generous of you and Thomas,” Lady Amelia acknowledged.
“Whether she is Lizzy here or called Lady Bethany in London, we will always want her to have as much protection as she needs. There are too many unscrupulous people in the world who would attempt to take advantage of Lizzy. The two guards we mentioned and their men will never allow our girl to come to harm,” Fanny insisted.
“I am happy to have Mother in my life again, but I have a feeling that as I travel this new road I will sometimes long for the day when I was simply Miss Elizabeth, the daughter of a country squire.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that you will discharge your duties with aplomb,” Fanny stated firmly.
“I agree with Fanny,” Lady Amelia added.
The three ladies left the parlour and made their way back to the drawing room, where all but the four younger men could be found. Hilldale, Fitzwilliam, Conyers, and James were out riding. Unsurprisingly, William Collins was at Netherfield Park.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next day a royal courier arrived with a letter for Lady Amelia Osborne, the Dowager Duchess of Leeds.