Chapter 36
Happy Ever After
However, being in London again allowed Elizabeth to view the interactions between George and Mrs. Hannah again.
Despite the slightly contentious relationship between the two, Elizabeth had noticed both were intrigued by the other.
As a marquess, George Darcy was not used to women who challenged and fought with him.
Likewise, Mrs. Hannah was not used to men who listened to her and did not immediately dismiss her beliefs.
Since they first met two years ago, she had seen the steps he and his family had taken to provide for the orphanage where they met and others scattered throughout London.
Likewise, it had taken most of the last two years for the plans the Darcy brothers and Gardiner had made in arranging for an orphanage outside of London.
They purchased an estate foreclosed on by the bank, which enabled them to obtain the property cheaply.
The house had required renovations to fit it for their purpose, but the large home was easily arranged to create separate wings for boys and girls.
A housekeeper was hired to run the house, and a steward was hired to run the estate.
The estate’s profits would be used to maintain the house and pay the staff, with the remainder reinvested to provide for its future.
Mrs. Hannah was genuinely impressed when she learned of this undertaking.
Her awareness of the initiative was sparked when she realised several children from the orphanage seemingly disappeared overnight.
Puzzled, she inquired about their whereabouts and soon discovered they were transferred to this new orphanage outside the city.
She was even more surprised when she learned the project was funded through the generosity of the Darcy family and other donors.
The next time Mrs. Hannah encountered George Darcy, she began to offer praise for his work. “My Lord, I have recently learned of the orphanage you and your brother established outside of town. Let me congratulate you on your success,” she said.
“Thank you, but truly, I have had little to do with it. Most of the work is being done by others,” George demurred. He did not care for praise and particularly did not want to hear such words from this woman. He would like her approbation, but not on this matter.
“But you have enabled it to be done,” she insisted.
“Several people have enabled it to be done,” he replied. “Mr. Gardiner, my sister-in-law’s uncle, has done much of the work. I have merely helped with the funds and encouraged others to contribute.”
Sensing his reluctance to continue this conversation, she turned the conversation to another topic.
When they first met, she had been prejudiced against him because of his wealth and position.
Her first marriage was to a man similar to George in both position and appearance, and she had been sure he was the same sort of man.
However, the more she saw of him, the more she began to doubt it.
Her widow’s weeds were intended to put off any potential suitors.
She still possessed an adequate fortune from her dowry and the settlement her father insisted upon.
Her husband’s death in a duel has stirred a scandal preventing her from returning home but left her in possession of the townhouse she shared with her husband.
She sold it, using the funds to purchase a smaller home in a less pretentious area of London.
She rarely participated in society now, spending her time and funds helping those in need.
Along with the orphanage, she did much to support women, especially those escaping from marriages similar to hers.
Another reason she eschewed the idea of remarriage because she believed she could never mother a child.
During her marriage, she miscarried twice—both times following some abuse from her husband, who had been angry over some perceived slight.
The last time, she bled heavily, and the midwife informed her it was unlikely she would ever be able to have a child again.
When her husband died a few months later, she was pleased since it meant she would never again have to willingly submit to a man.
The feelings she had toward George Darcy were unsettling.
She knew he was highly sought after in the ton and, at 35, was not an old man, but he appeared no more interested in marriage than she did.
Lady Anne shared the story of his first marriage with Mrs. Hannah one afternoon, although she did not initially realise why the lady did so.
It appeared Lady Anne recognised the interest both shared.
Several weeks later, Mrs. Hannah told Lady Anne about her marriage.
For the first time in years, she shared with another her real name.
“Lady Anne, I want you to know who I truly am as you have always been so kind and accepted me. My full name is Hannah Thompson, and I was married to Lord David Thompson, a baron. He was killed in a duel over a courtesan several years ago, which caused a terrible scandal. My parents refused to let me return home, so I sold the townhouse in Mayfair and moved into a modest townhouse further away from the fashionable area. I have spoken to few members of the ton since, and I have hidden my true identity from most people I meet.”
Lady Anne thought for a moment. “I believe I vaguely recall Lord Thompson and do not recall any scandal related to his name. Most scandals die out before too much time passes, and it is possible few would remember the name now,” she replied.
“Now that you are comfortable with my family, you would come to dinner at Darcy House. We would limit the guest list to just a few family members if it would make you more comfortable. My children and the Gardiners, perhaps?”
Mrs. Hannah agreed and asked Lady Anne to inform the rest of the family of her full name. She preferred to remain known as Mrs. Hannah as she had come to hate her surname since her marriage, which was another reason she preferred to go by her Christian name.
Several nights later, Mrs. Hannah arrived at the event.
In stark contrast to her attire at the orphanage, she was now dressed in a lavender evening gown made from exquisite silk.
Her ensemble was equally as elegant as the other guests at the party.
She was introduced to several gentlemen whom she had not previously met.
Mary attended the gathering with her intended, a gentleman from Lancashire she met while visiting Charlotte.
Mr. Pattinson, a young man, was the heir to an estate near the Livesays’.
His parents were still living and were in town for the season as they prepared for the wedding.
They greatly liked Mary and held her in high regard, especially when they learned of her charitable work.
Georgiana and Lydia, both 17, were making their debut in society, marking their first season.
Kitty, at 19, was participating in her second.
They had attracted many suitors, but none had yet captured their hearts.
Too many gentlemen pursued them for their perceived wealth and connections, not for themselves.
They were all determined to make a love match, and George, Fitzwilliam, and Richard all kept careful watch on their sisters and cousins.
Richard, now a colonel, recently found his heiress to marry.
She was the daughter of his former general, and the two admired each other for some time, although neither knew of the other’s interest. Their courtship had been interesting, but they married the previous autumn and began their life together at Foxwood Hall.
All these family members were present at the dinner, and Mrs. Hannah was warmly embraced into the family gathering.
George frequently remained near her, although their conversations were limited, which amused Lady Anne.
She noticed her son’s interest in their guest but sensed his hesitance to approach her.
In a subtle conversation, Lady Anne hinted at Mrs. Hannah’s past marriage, and the memory of her husband’s name and the scandal surrounding his death added to George’s reservations, making him grapple with his growing attraction to her.
After that evening, Mrs. Hannah continued participating in the Darcy family’s social events.
She was still discreet in her interactions with society, yet she attended several more dinners with the family and accompanied them on outings to museums, Kensington Gardens, and a night at the theatre.
On these occasions, she often stayed close to Lady Anne and was rarely seen in the company of George, as they both wished to avoid attracting the attention of the ton.
However, as his initial hesitation waned, he found himself drawn to her more frequently, and their paths continued to cross at the orphanage.
She also visited Lady Anne at Darcy House several times and had developed a relationship with his precocious three-year-old daughter Grace.
When summer arrived, the families left London again for their respective estates.
Elizabeth felt the quickening of the child she suspected was on the way in early June.
On the other hand, George experienced a growing sense of ennui upon arriving at Pemberley, feeling as though something—or someone—was conspicuously absent from his life.
Not one to rush to London to attend to his duties in Parliament, this autumn found George leaving Pemberley much sooner than usual.
He dreaded the thought of months without his daughter, who, as she grew, became far more interesting to her father, but he knew his mother would bring her and the other girls to town around Christmas after Elizabeth’s confinement.
She expected this new child in November, and Lady Anne was reluctant to leave Derbyshire until after the birth.