Chapter 17. George Darcy’s Legacy #2
I leave a purse of one thousand pounds for Mrs Hammond.
She carries a portion of my heart to this day, and I thank her for two handsome boys.
Upon my death, funding for the education of her sons passes solely to the income of the trust funds for the boys and they receive the principal of the trust upon graduation from university or the attainment of four and twenty years.
These trusts are fully funded at ten thousand pounds each.
If either boy should die before reaching that age, the funds revert to the Darcy estate.
For Mrs Grace Murray, currently residing in Lambton, I grant a life estate in the house known as Mayflower on the Darcy estate in Kent.
The income from the estate will be delivered to Mrs Murray on a quarterly basis for the remaining years of her life under the direction of my son Fitzwilliam.
If Mrs Murray marries, my son is to remain as administrator for the estate distributing the income for the benefit of Mrs Murray without regard to her husband’s wishes.
For her son, Matthew, a trust of ten thousand pounds is to be funded to provide for his education.
Upon graduation from university or attainment of four and twenty years, the boy is to receive the principal.
If the boy should die before reaching that age, the funds revert to the Darcy estate.
For my daughter, Georgiana Charlotte Darcy, I bequeath the total of her mother’s dowry of thirty thousand pounds upon her marriage with the approval of her guardians, my son Fitzwilliam Darcy and my nephew, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.
If my daughter should marry without the consent of her guardians, the dowry is to remain in trust until she is thirty years.
For my godson, George Wickham I leave my regrets and a thousand pounds.
I wish I had never elevated him to the pulpit and but love him too well to leave him penniless.
The bishop has defrocked him so the damage ends.
I encourage him to venture into town and to make himself an establishment that suits his nature.
The administration of all these trusts is left to the care of my son Fitzwilliam in whom I place all faith and confidence.
**++**
There were additional bequests for his valet, elderly servants in town and on the estate, and one for the couple on the Pemberley estate who cared for his pack of fox hounds.
“Is the document to your liking sir?” Mr Tolliver asked.
“It is to the liking of my father. He is the master of Pemberley, and we are all his servants this day,” William replied before taking the pages to the bed for his father’s signature and then to the table to watch the witnesses sign in the appropriate places below the shaky signature of George Darcy.
The solicitors provided a second copy of the same document that was signed and witnessed. With their duties at the master’s bedside complete, the two men left immediately to deliver the first copy to the courts in Derby while leaving the second copy with Master William.
Mrs Reynolds arrived with a tray of the promised chicken broth.
As she spooned it into the master’s mouth, he asked his son about Netherfield and his sister.
While they spoke of crops, tenants, and merchants, William came to a realization and shared it with his father, “I understand why you have kept me from Pemberley these past years.”
“Indeed? And why is that?”
“So that when I become ‘Mr Darcy of Pemberley’, the tenants and merchants will see me as my own man, not just the son of George Darcy.”
“With none of my sins upon your shoulders,” Mr Darcy said between spoons of broth. “It is a mighty thing son, to be master of great wealth and power. Mr Grenville sends inquiries concerning my health regularly. He will call on you to maintain the seats to his liking.”
“I shall carefully consider Mr Grenville’s requests sir, but I do not see any need for change. Our interests in the East India...”
Seeing his father’s eyes drooping, William grew silent as Mrs Reynolds withdrew and the physician once again checked his patient.
“The thimbles of brandy have done the trick,” the man reported. “He will sleep several hours.”
“I shall stay with him,” William announced.
“After you bath and eat, Master William,” replied the physician. “Go now and then you can return to sleep on the settee while I sit with Mr Darcy.”
**++**
It was before dawn when George Darcy woke again and asked for a taste of coffee.
The footman was sent to rouse a cook and get the master coffee.
In quick order, the man returned with a hot pot of fresh coffee.
This time it was William who fixed his father’s coffee to his liking and spooned the liquid into his father’s mouth.
“It tastes marvellous!”
“Do you remember the first time you allowed me to taste brandy?” William asked.
George smiled. “I remember! It was Christmas when you were twelve years. You declared you were a man grown and would have a thimble of brandy. Your mother was very displeased, but I allowed the drink.”
“And I sputtered and coughed for five minutes when I attempted to down it with one swallow.”
They shared a smile as William spooned more coffee into his father’s mouth.
“You were correct about George Wickham,” his father admitted. “He should not have been a parson. It cost me thousand pounds to clean up his mess.”
William looked surprized at the sum named. “That is substantial, sir.”
“His dalliances required two dowries for local girls for farmers in Derby and Nottingham to take them as brides while they were increasing with another man’s child.”
“A thousand pounds?” the son asked with growing surprize.
“No, only fifty pounds for each dowry but Wickham had debts of one hundred pounds, and I gave the bishop eight hundred pounds to bring a stable parson to Kympton. The bishop sent a man with a large family who is unlikely to lift the skirts of the daughters of his parishioners.”
“Father...” William tried to speak and tell his father that it did not matter.
“We argued,” Mr Darcy admitted sadly.
“With whom did you argue Father?” William asked.
“I argued with Wickham. I was very angry with him, and he was not repentant in the least. I was shouting at him when suddenly I could not breathe,” Mr Darcy admitted. “I awoke only after the physician had been called and I was in this bed.”
“Wickham should not have argued with you father.”
“He came to the house expecting my help with the bishop. Of course, there was nothing I could do for him or should have done. The evidence was too damning with two fathers–good tenants–testifying against him with the bishop.”
William remained silent but sat back for a moment; his father was still angry at Wickham.
“He did not understand why I could have mistresses and natural children without penalty, but he could not. When I explained that I am placed much higher but still had to pay the cost, he demanded that I assist him.”
From his sick bed, George Darcy said, “The boy thought he was my natural child. I would never have dishonoured his father with his mother.”
“Father do not distress yourself,” William said. “It will be morning soon and Georgiana will be here today.
“I know you do not approve of my life,” George said. “I have told myself that it does not signify but here at the end. I find myself wanting your forgiveness.”
William took his father’s hands and said, “There is nothing to forgive. You have been the best father you could. I have learned everything you taught me.”
“Soon now... soon,” George Darcy murmured as he fell asleep again.
**++**
At mid-morning, Mr Darcy was awake and talkative. “Tell me of Georgiana.”
“She grows tall, and she is very happy in Hertfordshire with her friends.”
“And how are your friends?”
“My friends, sir? Do you mean Mr Bingley?”
“The Bennets,” replied Mr Darcy. “You are thick with Mr Bennet when it comes to estate management. Your improvements at your estate have raised the income to what? Four thousand?”
“Over five thousand last year,” William admitted proudly. “I have taken great interest in the estates of my neighbours, and we have increased every income in Meryton.”
“Farmer George would be proud of you,” Mr Darcy said referring to the King’s interest in his farms and crops.
William nodded, “His Majesty is a farmer–as should be all Englishmen of note.”
Mr Darcy laughed once followed by a fit of coughing. “Now, how is the eldest girl turning out? A beautiful face and good horsewoman I believe.”
Again, his son nodded, “Miss Bennet is talented in all matters with horses. She rides well and she cares for the animals as well. She is called on to attend most births in the stables now for she has a way with the mares and foals.”
“Would she make you a suitable wife?”
“Wife? Miss Bennet?”
“Is she not virtuous and unmarried?”
“She is of course but I think of her as a sister, sir. I could not...”
Again Mr Darcy laughed though he did not cough this time, and his son continued, “Miss Bennet has a very small dowry, and I have always been told that I must marry a woman of wealth equal to my own.”
Mr Darcy shook his head, “There are only a few families with wealth equal to your inheritance William. None but the dukes...”
Father and son waited in silence for a moment before Mr Darcy continued, “I married your mother for my pride and for the connection with the Matlocks. She never forgave me for not having a title and I never forgave her for taking a lover after you were born.”
William remained silent as his father continued, “We were never happy together and you were our only good thing. The man who sired your sister–Lord Humphries–he wanted the connection with the Matlocks, but he did not have the money and power that I did. His son married your cousin three years back and was saddled with at least one of Matlock’s mortgages. I hope they lose it all...”
“My sister is as dear to me as anything father.”