Chapter 2 #2
Adam, I trust you are being a great help to our father, and Papa, you have a curate, so do not overexert yourself.
With love and warmest regards,
Maddie.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
7 June 1805
23 Gracechurch Street
London
Papa and Adam,
What joyous tidings I have for you. On this Sabbath past, Lillian Veronica Gardiner was born. We intend to call her Lilly.
At 4, Eddy believed we would have a son because he wanted a brother. Bea, who, as you know, will be 2 on the morrow, had demanded a sister to play with. Eddy is not very happy that we did not comply with his request; however, Bea is impressed that we gave her the sister she desired.
It was good news to hear that Adam’s friend Richard Fitzwilliam has been promoted to a full lieutenant on his own merit, and he is well and uninjured. I am sure his family is very happy about that.
Our family is growing apace. Had it not been for the fact that we have finally added the Bellamys’ house to our own, the space, especially when we host our nieces, would have been in short supply, necessitating a move.
Although the reason for us owning 21 as well as 23 Gracechurch Street is not a happy one, we will keep Aunt Dolores and Uncle Peter’s memory alive in the expanded home.
Thankfully, with the houses sharing a wall, it made creating 1 home out of 2 rather easy.
I know that without knowing where Lucy Carlyle is, we will never know who was responsible for Veronica’s ruin and my aunt and uncle subsequently losing interest in life.
Whoever it was, I hope he gets his just desserts!
I know it sounds like I hold a grudge and smack of bitterness.
I suppose that is true. Yes, both of you preach forgiveness.
After the birth of my 3rd child, this is not what should occupy my mind, but I have never gotten over the way my cousin, who was only 14, was so ill-used.
I apologise for allowing my thoughts to become too melancholic, as writing about the expanded house brought up many memories which I hoped had been buried in my mind.
On a happier note, Eddy and Bea are both well and as sweet as anyone could wish their children to be. My Edward is such a good husband, as he has been since the day we married a little more than 6 years past.
Unless something else occurs so we are unable to come, we intend to be in Lambton during the summer of 1806.
On a more sombre note, I was very sorry to read Adam’s letter in May in which he mentioned that Mr Robert Darcy is ill, and it is his heart. I will pray for his recovery.
I hear little Lilly demanding food, so I will wish you both all of the best and many blessings,
Maddie
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
19 November 1805
North Star House
Lambton
Maddie,
It is my sad duty to tell you that Mr Robert Darcy was called home to God on the 11th of this month.
I was with my friend who, at not quite the age of 23, finds himself the master of Pemberley, Darcy House, and the rest of the Darcy properties.
If that is not enough placed on his young shoulders, he and Fitzwilliam (who was thankfully back in England) are joint guardians of Miss Georgiana Darcy.
I think I mentioned she is called Anna, and in March of the new year she will be 10.
The poor girl. She never knew her mother, and now, before she is 10, she had to say goodbye to the one parent she did know.
Not for all of his wealth would I want to trade places with William Darcy. When most young men of his class are ‘sowing their wild oats,’ he has the responsibility for the welfare of hundreds.
Before Mr Darcy passed away, I had known Wicky to be dissolute and selfish, but even I did not predict what happened next.
Not two days after the interment, he sauntered into Pemberley like he was the master of the estate, and demanded to see Darcy.
My friend had me meet with him and Wicky in the study.
He did not want the dissipated wastrel to lie about their interactions.
I was only too pleased to act as a witness.
Regardless of the family being in mourning, Wicky (he hates that name, which is why I use it) came to claim his inheritance, which he believed, at the very least, was one of the satellite estates.
He was very abusive to his godfather when he was informed that he had a legacy of ?1,000 and a recommendation, on condition he took holy orders, that when it became available, he be awarded the living at Kympton.
Seeing that Darcy was about to lay him out, Wicky, who is a coward, ceased his abuse of the late Mr Darcy.
He said he would never take orders and saw more profit in the study of the law.
Neither of us believed he would ever study the law, but instead, he demanded money in lieu of the living.
He wanted ?10,000; my friend offered him ?3,000 as long as he renounced, in writing, any claim on any living within Darcy’s gift.
To the document, Darcy added that he would no longer pay to cover Wicky’s debts, and if he tried to claim he was Fitzwilliam Darcy, as he has in the past, he would be prosecuted for fraud. Wicky signed and left with a total of ?4,000.
If it were me, I would not have given him a penny.
The recommendation was conditional, and Wicky had stated he would never take orders.
If I were a wagering man, I would take the bet that the wastrel will lose his money at the tables in some gambling hell in short order.
By the by, I doubt whether that waste of a human being ever graduated.
Mr Darcy was too sick to intercede on Wicky’s behalf, so I suspect he was finally sent down from Cambridge.
One more interesting thing occurred before I returned to the parsonage. Lady Catherine de Bourgh swept in, trying to take over the running of Pemberley. She also tried to use the tired old lie that my friend is engaged to his cousin, Anne de Bourgh.
The Earl of Matlock turned her out of the house, telling her that it was well known no engagement had ever been contracted.
He also pointed out that his nephew was a far better estate manager than she was.
Since before Darcy graduated, his father prepared him to be master, so at least for that my friend was ready.
Lady Catherine departed in high dudgeon, but depart she did.
The ridiculousness was not over yet! Bingley arrived to condole with Darcy, but he was not alone.
His younger sister, who will soon be 18, was with him.
After a day of her trying to act like she was already Mrs Darcy, Lord Matlock, without ever allowing an introduction, sent the Bingleys away with fleas in their ears.
My friend knows he may call on me for anything when he needs it, but I thought the family needed their solitude. That is why I am back at the parsonage with Father.
Father is very well; in case you are concerned.
Kiss my nieces and nephew for me. My regards to my brother and brotherly love to you,
Adam
Maddie was sorry that Mr Darcy had gone to his final reward, but she wondered what had caused his wilful blindness to the character of his godson.