Chapter 10 #2
“There are things you need to know, Jane. Your father’s love for you is such that when he sees you again, all he will care about is that you and Tommy are alive and well.
He would think it most selfish of himself to want you and Jamey to wait even a single day more than necessary.
The second part is that, although you do not need it, being of age, you do have your father’s consent and blessing, through me.
Do you not think we both did not see you and Jamey were headed in this direction?
Before we left for Jamaica, your father gave me full authority to consent to and bless your marriage in his stead if it were to happen before we returned.
” The Earl lifted his soon-to-be daughter’s chin to see Jane was gently crying tears of relief.
Knowing she had her father’s consent and blessing, even if not in person, lifted a great weight from her shoulders. The night before her wedding, Jane Bennet had the most restful sleep she had had in a long, long time.
The morning of the seven and twentieth of February dawned with a brilliant sunrise.
Jane was assisted in dressing by her two cousins and soon-to-be sisters.
The truth was over the last three years of their ordeal they had become as close as any sisters could ever be, and today would be the official ceremony that would match what they already claimed in their hearts.
At two bells—nine in the morning to the Bennets—all crew who were not integral to the sailing of the ship stood in two smart lines on either side of the deck in their best uniforms. The Chaplain stood in front of the mainmast with Jamey to his side, just in front of the capstan, with Phillip as best man standing to his brother’s right.
The Earl, Countess, their two younger daughter, two officers’ wives, and the officers sat on chairs near the mast. Cassie walked toward her brother as she was standing up with Jane.
Once she reached her place, the clergyman gave a signal, and those seated stood as the bosun piped the welcome for a senior officer on his whistle.
All Jane saw was Jamey standing waiting for her.
They had waited for so long, and it was finally the day she had dreamed of from the time she fell in love with Jamey.
Other than Jamey, she noted nothing of the beautiful view as the ship navigated between some of the hundreds of islands in the chain.
Jamey knew his betrothed was beautiful, but she never looked more so than she did as she walked towards him on Tommy’s arm.
She wore a new gown, one that was on loan from the Captain's wife, and although it was a simple gown, it was perfect.
Jane did not need adornments for her angelic beauty to shine through.
Tommy kissed his sister’s cheek. Jane looked up at Tommy, who was no longer shorter than her, and had not been for almost a year.
Tommy placed Jane’s hand onto Jamey’s arm and the couple took two steps to stand in front of the Chaplain as Tommy joined the rest of his family.
The clergyman nodded his head and those with chairs were seated.
The clergyman opened the Book of Common Prayer and commenced the service.
Before they knew it, they had said their vows and were pronounced man and wife.
When Jane signed the register, she had to smile.
Most brides signed their maiden name for the final time at this point in the proceedings, but it was not the case for Jane Bennet.
The new Viscountess Glenmeade had married her cousin, James Bennet Junior.
The crew cheered and whooped loudly and were all released to receive a double ration of grog.
The two crewmen, who had spent the years on New England with the Bennets, wished the newlyweds joy.
They had been assimilated into the frigate’s crew until they reached Nassau, but after three years together, they were honorary members of the family, and would always be.
The Earl had spoken privately to his wife and pledged to help them and their families as much as he could, including the family of Jack Sparrow, the unfortunate soul in eternal slumber on New England.
For their wedding night, the newlyweds would have the Captain's cabin; the other ladies would make alternate plans for one night. Thankfully, in three days or less, The Charger would sail into Nassau.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As soon as Elizabeth arrived at Longbourn, she had the Hills and the other servants check the contents of the house against the inventory. Thankfully, the items Mr. Smithers claimed to have been sold to him were the only items missing. Elizabeth had her servants pack anything of value into crates.
When Mrs. Bennet and Caroline flounced into the house looking well pleased with themselves, their looks changed to ones of horror when they noted all the valuables gone from their places.
“Cinder-Liza! What are you doing with our possessions?” Caroline screeched.
“Contrary to what your mother may have told you, nothing in this house, other than what you brought with you or purchased with your own money, is yours! Why would you care what I do with the heir of Longbourn’s possessions?
It is not like you would have stolen anything to sell in Meryton, would you? ” Elizabeth asked innocently.
Mother and daughter blanched, and their pallor became decidedly whiter. It was then Louisa returned and saw the looks on her mother and sister’s faces. “What has happened?” She asked.
“Never mind; go eat something, Louisa,” Martha Bennet spat out spitefully as she turned on her heel and she and her harridan daughter beat a hasty retreat. Elizabeth then told Louisa privately what had precipitated her action.
“Why did you not report them to Mr. Philips?” Louisa asked.
“Everything is safe. These crates will join the recovered items and be out of their reach until it is time to restore them to their rightful owner,” Elizabeth stated, cryptically.
Louisa knew there was something her friend was not telling her, but she did not push her.
That night after talking to her friend for an hour or two, where Elizabeth noted but did not point out the name Hurst was mentioned by Louisa three of four times, Elizabeth decided she would have to pay attention and help her friend find happiness, to free her of her mother and sister.
Elizabeth had always known she would be free of them eventually, but Louisa deserved the same relief, and if it included the personal secretary to the Duke, it was a twist of fate she would gladly aid.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next morning the Duke, as was his wont, had Zeus saddled and was off across the fields as the sun rose above the horizon, with only Biggs as an escort.
At some point he crossed the boundary between his estate and Longbourn without noticing it.
He slowed down as he approached an apple orchard, as he seemed to remember one on the estate, mayhap not as large as the one he rode into.
Lord William slid off his mount, picked an apple, and offered it to Zeus. He then repeated the action for himself and was about to take a second bite when an apple flew and struck him on the shoulder.
“Who do you think you are stealing my apples?” The angry launcher of the missile hissed. Elizabeth had an apple in each hand, just in case she needed it. It was then the Duke saw the green eyes flashing at him in anger.
“Do ya know w’o ya thowed your apple at?” Biggs asked as he advanced to take hold of the petite young lady. “Ya cannot ‘urt ‘is Grace like that!” The big man stopped as his master shook his head.
“I care not a whit if he is the King himself. That does not give him the right to trespass on my land and eat my apples without permission!” Elizabeth looked at the Duke, daring him to say anything. “Please leave my estate and respect the boundary unless you have permission.”
Before the stunned Duke could retort, the woman turned, her loose chestnut curls flying behind her, and took off walking at a furious pace towards what Lord William guessed was the manor house. As her form retreated he heard: “Insufferable man!”
She obviously knew who he was and did not care a whit. Those eyes. He had only ever witnessed eyes that green and impertinent, such as she had just displayed, by one four-year-old girl. He could not remember the girl’s first name, but those eyes were the same!
It took Biggs to remind the master they needed to return to their own land to break the Duke out of his stupor.
She had not fawned, had not simpered. She had treated him just like what he was—a trespasser.
Any other lady, knowing who he was, would have told him to take anything he desired, including themselves, but not this lady.
She must be the last remaining Bennet daughter at home, the one the report called Elizabeth.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As Elizabeth trudged back towards the manor house, much of her anger bled from her body.
‘Did I just throw an apple at a duke? And then chastised him? Good heavens, he must think me an uncouth harridan! You have to learn to control your temper, Lizzy!’ she berated herself and then sadness overwhelmed her, as she knew those were words Jane had spoken to her on more than one occasion.
Elizabeth sat down on a log and considered all she had lost in her less than twenty years.
First her beloved mother, then Tommy and Jane had disappeared along with her uncle, aunt, and her cousins except for Marie.
Shortly after those tragedies, she lost her father.
She was the only Bennet left, for Marie was a Fitzwilliam now.