Chapter 6
“I appreciate your coming to see me today, Itch,” Elizabeth welcomed her brother into her sitting room. She had asked Mrs Annesley to give them some time while she talked to her brother, so her companion was knitting in a comfortable armchair in Lady Elizabeth's bedchamber.
“As I told you, Sprite, your wish is my command,” he gave her a deep bow with a flourish of his bicorn. He kissed Elizabeth’s cheeks then sat next to her on the settee. “What is it that we need to discuss, Lizzy? Do I need to take that scoundrel Will to task for you?” he grinned.
“No, Richard, this has nothing to do with Will.” As soon as she used his full name, Richard knew that this was a more serious conversation.
“Go to it, Sprite,” he invited, his tension increasing for fear that she worried someone again intended her harm.
“You own Brookfield and have since grandmama bequeathed it to you before I joined the family, do you not?” she asked evenly, resting her hand on his to reassure him danger was not afoot.
“What of it?” he asked suspiciously.
“Let me start out by telling you that no one has asked that I talk to you on this subject. Only Marie knows that I am talking to you, and even she does not know the subject I intend,” she assured him.
“I will hear what you have to say, Lizzy. More than that, I cannot promise.” He covered her hand with his, now holding it between both of his own.
“My request will not come as a surprise, given my opening question,” she took a deep breath. “I am begging you to sell your commission, resign from the army, and take up the management of your estate.”
“You remember when I explained to Father that I felt a calling, Lizzy; that has not changed,” he stated, falling silent when she squeezed his hand with hers.
“I know and respect that, Richard, but I put forth to you sometimes men put down their calling to do their duties to their family. Do you remember what Uncle George and Will told us about Mr Elliot? He had no less of a calling than you, but when the time came to do his duty to his family, he did it without any hesitation.” Elizabeth was grateful she had been able to get even this far into the conversation.
“How am I not doing my duty to the family by remaining in the army?” he asked, not seeing the logic of her request.
“Do you have any idea the concern you will cause in Mama or me if you are ever ordered into battle? How much has she already lost? If heaven forbid, she lost you too; she would not recover, Brother. And then there is also how I would be affected.” She admitted quietly.
“You? I do not understand?” He scowled.
“My history is known to you better than almost any, Richard, so how can you ask that? Do you think that Mama would be the only one who would not be able to recover if something happened to you? No, it would be me as well. I have lost enough in this life already, Richard,” tears began to stream down her cheeks as she spoke, tearing at his heartstrings.
“Do you think that I would be able to recover from your loss, especially knowing that you had a choice? How many who have estates and the funds that you have to your name are in the army?” she asked as she wiped her tears away.
“That is a perspective that I will admit I had not yet considered,” Richard replied.
“Will you give me some days to think about what you have asked of me? The army is a part of me, but,” he raised his hand, seeing that she was about to interject, “as I was saying, but you, mother, and the family are much larger parts of who I am.
So please, Lizzy, give me a little time; this is a life-changing decision.
Elizabeth understood her brother’s quandary, so she promised that she would not ask him again before the family dinner after her curtsy before the Queen, which was more than a sennight hence.
On his way back to the Dragoons’ barracks, Richard shook his head to clear it.
Elizabeth had always had the ability to bring fresh perspectives into relief and had done so again.
His father had not stood in his way when he had announced his intention to join the army all those years ago.
He knew that neither of his parents was happy about his decision, but they never made their displeasures known to him, thus allowing him to choose his path without interference.
Elizabeth’s words haunted him. Could he put his mother, sister, and the rest of the family through that amount of grief that could be avoided if he chose to, especially if he were sent into battle and the worst should happen? He had an option, one that most who chose the army would have jumped at.
Not only did he own an estate, but the profits had been invested for him since he inherited it—the last few years with Gardiner and Associates. He had over one hundred thousand pounds working for him, so he was no poor second son. In fact, he was better off than many first sons.
By the time that he reached his rooms in the barracks, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam knew that there was only one decision that he could make.
He took a brisk walk across the courtyard to General Atherton’s offices and asked the adjutant if the commander was available, and if not, asked for an appointment to see him.
As it happened, the General was able to see him.
Richard saluted smartly and was shown to a seat by the Royal Dragoons’ commanding general. “Yes, Colonel,” General Atherton drawled.
“I have reached a very painful decision sir. I am going to resign from the army and sell my commission,” Richard informed his superior officer.
“Why now Colonel Fitzwilliam?” he was asked. He relayed the conversation that he had with his younger sister and sheepishly informed the shocked man that he was no poor second son but a man of independent means.
“You joined the army while at the same time you owned an estate that cleared more than eight thousand a year?” Richard nodded. “I honour your patriotism, but why? Most of us who choose the army do so because we need to. You did not.”
“No sir, I did not, but I felt that it was my calling,” Richard explained.
“That is understandable, and you made one fine head of the training grounds; but as much as I hate to lose an officer like yourself, I can see your sister’s point of view.
Fill out the paperwork, and I will accept your resignation.
There will be no shortage of potential purchasers for a lieutenant-colonel’s commission.
” Atherton stood, as did Richard. Richard saluted, and the General returned it.
The adjutant handed Richard the required form, and once his name was affixed to it, the form was placed in front of General Atherton, who signed it.
In three days' time, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam would no longer be a member of His Majesty’s Army.
He decided that he would not inform his family until his resignation was final after the General who was chief of personnel signed the form.
He had thought about taking this step several times but had always convinced himself that this was what he really wanted.
All it took was fifteen minutes with Elizabeth to make him look at things again and come to a quite different conclusion.
He did not know a lot about estate management, but he did know that Andrew, Will, and Uncle George would be beyond excited to teach him, and besides, his steward at Brookfield, Mr Murray Lefroy, was excellent at what he did and as honest as the day was long.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As the day of her curtsy approached, Elizabeth could feel her excitement building.
She had worked with her mother, Marie, and Mrs Annesley until she could execute the curtsey and the backing away from the Queen flawlessly.
Elizabeth detested the dress with the hoops, train, and layers which she would have to wear for her presentation, which fulfilled the extremely strict dictates in design from the palace, which had not changed for many decades.
She had practiced in her mother’s old one and had tripped more than once as she learnt how to walk and back away in the monstrosity.
Besides practicing for her presentation, much time had been spent at Mrs Chambourg’s shop on the gown she would wear for her coming out ball, along with a completely new wardrobe that would be needed for one now in society, after which there had been much shopping for all of the accoutrements that she would require.
Unlike most young ladies, shopping was not high on the list of things that Elizabeth preferred to do.
It was something that she tolerated but truly did not enjoy.
The ball gown was made of rich burgundy silk with a clear gossamer overlay that had diamond chips sewn into it that would reflect the light as she walked, giving the effect of twinkling stars.
The sleeves ended just above her elbow, and the gown flared out from the empire waist and had a lower cut neckline, more daring than anything that Elizabeth had ever owned before.
She had ensured that it was not too low cut as some wore, even though she had ample assets to fill the bust line of the gown.
When she tried it on for the final fitting, it made her feel like a fairy princess, and there was only one prince that she saw in her mind’s eye.
Elizabeth was sponsored by her mother but was also accompanied to St James Palace by Jane, Marie, and Tammy Bennet.
When the Lord Chamberlain announced: “Lady Elizabeth Rose Bennet Fitzwilliam,” all of the courtiers in the reception chamber quieted.
Many had not seen Lady Elizabeth for some years and were struck by the absolute beauty that made her way towards the Queen.
Elizabeth executed a flawless curtsey, then expected the queen to proffer her hand to kiss as was done for the daughter of an earl. Instead, Queen Charlotte beckoned her closer to her throne and kissed Elizabeth on the forehead as she would the daughter of a duke.