Chapter 7 #2
When his watch was complete, he shared what he had seen with his wife, Cassie, Jane, Jamey, and the two crew members not on watch. There was universal agreement that he had made the correct decision. There was no reason to leap from the frying pan into the fire.
The jungle provided more than enough fruit and wild vegetables. There was no shortage of water, and the secluded pool seen on the first inspection of their island was ideal for bathing. The mornings were reserved for the males while the afternoons were for the females.
Phillip and Tommy had found a young parrot shortly after arriving on the island that had an injured wing, they surmised it was from the storm.
He or she was simply named Parrot, and after a year, Parrot became very vocal.
During their waking hours, the vibrantly coloured bird could be found perched on one of the boys’ shoulders.
James and Amy Bennet thought that, even if Parrot were able to fly, it would not leave the boys who always made sure there was an ample supply of fruit on hand for it to feast on.
‘How I hope Papa and Lizzy are well and not suffering too much not knowing our fate,’ Jane thought one day shortly after the one-year anniversary of their being stranded on the island, which the children had dubbed New England.
It was a name accepted by all. ‘Please do not give up hope for us to be discovered; I have to believe we will be found. If there are privateers in the area, then our Royal Navy cannot be far away either. Please God, send us a ship to rescue us.’ Jane lifted her eyes to the heavens to repeat her daily prayer for deliverance.
She smiled as her thoughts turned to how close she and Jamey had become.
Jane wondered if she would feel like this about her cousin had they not been stranded and thrown together as they were on New England.
After all, if they were home, Jamey would have been busy on his estate, Glenmeade in Leicestershire, making their time in company together limited.
After a lot of thought, she decided that the chances were a resounding yes, it may have taken longer, but she had a sneaking suspicion she and Jamey had been formed for one another.
As the group entered their second year stranded on New England, they all kept hope alive that one day they would be rescued and reunited with their families at home.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The first few months after her second husband’s death, Martha Bennet had been on edge waiting for the heir to arrive and claim his inheritance. As her confidence grew with each passing day the heir did not arrive to claim his property, Martha once again asserted herself as mistress of the estate.
It would have been easy for Elizabeth to disabuse the woman of her pretentions, but she decided with the limited power available to her stepmother, it took some of her duties off her plate.
As long as the interloper had no control over the purse strings and no power to engage or fire servants, Elizabeth would allow her to believe she was the mistress of the manor.
She was perfectly happy that Miss Jones, their former governess, was now her companion.
Miss Jones was a link to her sister and brother, just as her precious book was a link to her father.
About three months after her father’s death, when Elizabeth changed from full to half mourning, Mr. Philips was visiting the estate to make sure all was running as it should be and Mrs. Bennet had not crossed any lines stipulated in her late father’s will.
“No, Mr. Philips, she has refrained from anything that would contravene any of Papa’s rules,” Elizabeth reported as they sat in the study, now effectively her study.
She unconsciously patted her pocket to reassure herself that the copy of Utopia her father had gifted her was on her person, as it always was when she was awake.
“What of her usurping your authority as mistress?” Mr. Philips enquired.
“I have decided to allow her to believe she is mistress…” Elizabeth explained her reasoning to Mr. Philips.
“Be wary of that one, Lizzy, you give her an inch and she will want a mile,” Philips warned.
“Yet she will only receive an inch,” Elizabeth stated with determination.
Just then the subject of their discussion barged into the study without so much as a knock on the door. “Why should you meet with my stepdaughter when I am mistress here?” Martha demanded.
Philips was about to disabuse the brash woman of her pretentions when Elizabeth gave a slight shake of her head. “Mr. Philips meets with me about estate business, as I manage it,” Elizabeth stated evenly.
Martha sniffed with disdain and looked to Philips. “Where is this heir who was supposed to inherit? If he does not want his inheritance, then my Charles should be made the master here!” she stated primly.
“There are a few issues with that statement, Madam,” Philips replied slowly, so his words would not be misunderstood.
“Firstly, you know what will happen should your son set foot onto Bennet lands, do you not?” Martha barely nodded, her pinched expression proving her irritation with the rule still being in affect.
“Next, only a Bennet by blood may inherit, so there are no circumstances under which any of your progeny might inherit the estate and Bennet holdings.” He paused to allow his words to sink into the woman’s thick skull.
“The reason the heir has not been made known is a matter of law. Until seven years from the loss of the ship passes and all on board are declared dead,” Philips reached over and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand as she grimaced when he said the last, “then the heir will claim the inheritance.”
“So, I have six years left to live here with my daughters?” The woman lit up with pleasure as she realised there were years ahead of her before she would have to consider finding a new home.
She already had a plan for Caroline to compromise the heir when he finally showed himself, and then they would finally get full control of the estate and its funds.
“Technically correct, as long as you do not commit any of the infractions that will have you removed from the estate without warning,” Philips reminded the woman, whose face became contorted with a pinched look of deeper irritation at the reminder that they were always monitored and still unwelcome.
“Well, I never!” the woman spat out as she sailed out of the study without closing the door.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Please, brother,” Lady Georgiana Darcy beseeched her brother. “I would love to study under music master Signore da Funti! As you are aware, he does not travel more than forty miles from London.
“Without making a promise, Gigi, I will see if there is aught I can do. Before you suggest it, you know how much I eschew society in Town, so our townhouses are out. Your staying with our aunt and uncle at Matlock House would be a possibility,” Lord William said soothingly.
He knew that, at twelve, his sister was far more advanced than many twice her age on the pianoforte, and to study with the music maestro was one of her dreams. It had been a few years since Miss Younge had been able to teach his sister anything on the instrument.
The Duke had hired masters from Derby, but they were not Signore da Funti and could only take his sister so far.
“I would hate to be away from you for months at a time, Wills; we are all that is left of the Darcy family,” Georgiana said sadly.
“As I said, I will look into options and attempt to find a solution. In the meanwhile, as much as I hate Town, we will spend a month there every now and again so you may start some lessons with the Signore. I know you want more time with him. As soon as I find an acceptable solution, I will let you know, Gigi,” Lord William compromised.
He had been hunted enough by debutantes and their families, as had Marquess Pemberley.
Now that he was a Duke at four and twenty, the huntresses would be relentless.
After his sister skipped out of his study, the Duke picked his quill and penned a note to his man of business to seek properties for sale fifteen to forty miles from London.