Chapter 19 #2
“Mother, Eliza, Her Grace, and I would never suit. I see her more as a sister than a woman I would want to marry,” Johnny asserted. “Do not forget, not only is she only sixteen, but I am not close to ready to seek a bride.”
“Trying to take advantage of her and her rank will be the quickest way to turn Eliza into a former friend. It could also be detrimental to your health!” Charlotte interjected.
“Mamma, she will be going to London soon, and the chances are great that she will not be in the neighbourhood very much for some time. She has to learn about her duties, estates, and other houses. You should know that I have been invited to join her when she leaves for Town.”
“Of course, you must go,” Lady Lucas gushed. “You will be put in the path of many rich men.”
“That, Mamma, is not why I will join Eliza. Jane and I will be with her to make sure she has some familiar people with her when she swims in the shark-infested waters of the Ton. If I do meet a good man, then that will be an added bonus. However, my primary aim is to support my friend in any way she needs me.”
It was hard to admit it, but Lady Lucas knew Charlotte had the right of it. She sniffed, stood, and left the dining parlour.
As Sir William sat at the table, he thought of all of the times he had crowed about his knighthood to the Bennets. The whole time, he had been in the company of a duchess. Meeting the earls and countesses had been humbling enough. This knowledge, however, was even more so.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As much as he hated work of any kind, George Wickham had found employment as a clerk in a shop in London which sold general merchandise. At least, he was not expected to perform any manual labour.
He had a warm place to sleep in a room above the shop, and he was fed two meals each day.
It could have been far worse. After losing the little money he had to his name at the tables, there had been no choice other than to work for much-needed blunt.
Since losing his first month’s wages in a gambling hell, Wickham had finally learnt his lesson and ceased patronising such establishments.
As he had planned when he left the maid who worked at the Darcy’s Seaview House, his aim was still to make his fortune from the Duchess of Leeds.
The problem was that it had been frustrating that ever since gaining the intelligence that the girl had been discovered, he had not heard a word about it in society or in the papers.
His employer allowed him to peruse the newspapers in the morning before he began his work.
This morning, he saw the notice from the king. He read the words announcing the Duchess of Leeds’s recovery. It told him nothing other than the name Bennet and the name she had been given. No mention of where these Bennets lived or any other clues to help him discover her whereabouts.
When he began his work that day, Wickham was very dissatisfied. Yes, there had been word about the chit, but basically only what he already knew; that she had been discovered. The name added nothing!
He would keep looking for clues because George Wickham was not meant to work for his money.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“I don’ know why you read the stuff ‘n nonsense in them newspapers!” Clay Younge stated derisively as he and Karen sat at the table in their dining parlour enjoying the morning meal.
Since they had repaired and renovated the house on Edward Street, they had begun to do a fairly good trade in renting out some of the eight chambers they had available. That brought in a steady income without having to endanger themselves by burgling houses.
“I read it because it is a way to learn about the Osbornes. It says that the Osborne brat who Mother used to look after has been discovered,” Karen reported.
“‘Ow was she found? Where she bin?” Clay queried.
“It does not say. All it says is that she is a duchess now. I am certain that means she is as rich as Croesus. Unfortunately, it does not tell us where she is or where her mother is,” Karen responded.
“That being said, I am sure they will be coming to London soon. We will have to pay some waifs to watch Leeds House and to tell us when they arrive.”
She did not consider that little indigent boys would stand out loitering around St James’s Square. With the palace close by, directly opposite St James’s Park, the area was kept clear of such children without a parent with them.
“I know some lads. I will give them a shilling each to watch the ‘ouse fer us,” Clay volunteered.
Hence, Clay left the house after he had eaten his fill to find some boys.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Among members of high society, the reactions varied.
Most were very pleased for the Dowager Duchess that she had been reunited with her daughter.
However, several mothers imagined their sons would suit as Lady Bethany’s husband.
In addition, there was a group of men who were in need of a large fortune to save them from their gambling losses and speculative investments who saw themselves as her husband.
None of those who saw Lady Bethany as a way to enrich their families were aware that under the terms of the patents governing the dukedom, that the suo jure duchess’s husband would have no control of her estates or her fortune.
They also did not care that she was not out in society yet.
Regardless of who they were and what they desired to gain, they were interested in one thing now, which was the same as those who wanted no more than to congratulate Lady Amelia on recovering her daughter. They were all hungry for news of the Osborne ladies arriving in London.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Bennet was not at all surprised when the first callers, arriving before eleven that morning, were the Lucases. He was amused when Lizzy bristled at any fawning over her and demanded to be treated as she always had been.
Being introduced to the Dowager Duchess of Leeds went a long way towards forcing Lady Lucas to behave acceptably.
It did not hurt that the Earls and Countesses of Matlock and Holderness were present as well.
Any time Lady Lucas attempted to ask an intrusive question, a quelling look from one of the nobles caused her to desist.
It was the first, but certainly not the last time that day, that Fanny was asked to recount how she discovered Lady Bethany in the woods of Lincolnshire.
After the Lucases, there was a steady stream of callers from the neighbourhood.
No matter what Elizabeth had requested, none of them treated her like they had when they knew her simply as Miss Elizabeth, second daughter of Fanny and Thomas Bennet.
Seeing the reactions to her now that she had a title was eye-opening.
She was, after all, a girl who had grown up in their midst, and she still felt like she was the same person.
It was a stark reminder for Elizabeth about how much her life had changed.
Until today, she had attempted to think of the coming changes as something in the distant future.
It was obvious to Elizabeth that the future was now.