Authors: Melanie Schertz
When they reached the usual location where they
would part ways, Elizabeth knelt down and embraced
her beloved friend and placed a kiss on her face.
“Thank you Sadie. Wish me luck.”
Elizabeth stood and began to walk towards the
house. She had taken quite a few steps when she
realized that Sadie was still at her side. “What are you
doing, Sadie? You have never come this close to the
house.”
Expecting the dog to turn and leave anytime,
Elizabeth continued to walk to the house. Every once
in a while, she would look down and find Sadie was
still with her. It was highly unusual. But it was
confusing when Elizabeth reached the house and
found Sadie appeared not ready to leave. Opening the
door, Elizabeth stepped to the side to see if the dog
would enter the house. Without a moment’s
hesitation, Sadie marched inside as if she had always
lived there. The sight brought laughter from
Elizabeth.
Darcy was just coming from his study as Elizabeth
entered the house, with Sadie at her side. Hearing the
laughter from Elizabeth made Darcy smile. “So, what
have we here? Sadie has deemed the house a safe
place to be?”
“I was telling her how much I wished she were
willing to remain with me today, as I am quite
nervous at meeting my aunt. You can imagine my
astonishment when Sadie took my words to heart and
came to be with me. Do you mind? I can take her
outside, if you do not approve.”
She is a member of the Pemberley family, and a very
dear friend of yours, so she will always be welcome in
my home.”
“I will inform Mrs Reynolds of our newest guest.
And we will make certain that some of the bones and
scrapes, which are fed to the hunting dogs, are saved
for Miss Sadie.”
“You are extremely generous, Mr Darcy. I know
Sadie is grateful for your kindness as well. Are you
not, Sadie?”
Sadie walked over to Darcy, sniffing him, before
she rubbed up against his leg. Darcy was pleased to
see the acceptance Sadie had given him. “Shall we see
you at breakfast, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Yes, and I will inform Sadie that she should
refrain from joining us in the dining areas. She will
learn where she is allowed and where she is not to
enter.”
“It is not a problem, Miss Elizabeth. If you will
excuse me, I will find Mrs Reynolds. I will see you in
the breakfast room.”
By late afternoon, Elizabeth’s nerves were nearly
frayed. Her aunt and cousins were to arrive anytime,
and she both longed for their arrival and feared it.
What if they do not like me? What if they are
disappointed in me? Will they regret coming here?
So
many questions continued to run through her mind.
The Bingleys were still in the house, much to
everyone’s disappointment. Hurst was adamant that
they leave immediately, but, as he was demanding
Caroline move so her maid could pack her belongings,
Hurst tripped and fell over one of Caroline’s traveling
bags. He required a physician to tend him and was
diagnosed with a broken leg. The poor man was
furious with his wife’s sister, and would have
strangled her if she had come near him.
Though Hurst insisted on Bingley taking his
sisters to Town and leaving the ladies there at Hurst’s
townhouse, Bingley was reluctant to leave Pemberley,
and Miss Jane Bennet.
None of the Bingleys’ party were aware of the
identities of Darcy’s soon to arrive guests. Darcy had
insisted that Bingley keep his sisters away from the
drawing room on the first floor, as he did not wish for
Elizabeth to have to contend with Caroline Bingley’s
sharp tongue. Nor did he wish to subject members of
the royal family of Brunswick to the likes of Miss
Bingley. Bingley promised to keep his sisters with
him and away from the rest of the party.
The carriages arrived, bringing Margaret Walker
and her children, Rosemary and Robert Jr, who was
known to his family as Robbie. The guests were met
at the front steps by Darcy, and he personally
escorted them into the drawing room.
Elizabeth was standing beside her father, who had
his arm wrapped around her waist. Mr Bennet had
met Margaret twice before, and it was simple enough
to recognize her, as she had not changed much in
appearance. For Margaret, the moment her eyes took
in the vision of her niece, she gasped. “You are the
image of your mother. Oh, my dear sister’s very
likeness.”
Mr Bennet smiled. He had thought the same as he
watched Elizabeth grow. Seeing Constance in
Elizabeth’s features had kept her alive for him, and
kept his love for her alive. “I have had the same
thoughts over the years.” He reached out his other
hand to Margaret. “You have not aged at all. Have you
found the fountain of youth in Scotland?”
Margaret smiled. “Thomas, it is a pleasure to
finally meet with you again. Thank you for sending
the invitation for us to come here.”
“The invitation was actually from our host. Mr
Darcy has been gracious enough to welcome all of us
as guests here. With all that has happened, we felt it
was better for Lizzy to have some time here, away
from Longbourn.”
“We can discuss all of that later. First, I wish for
my children to finally meet their cousin. Rose, Robbie,
this is my dearest sister’s only child. Miss Elizabeth,
these are my two youngest children, Rosemary and
Robert Jr. My older children are living in other areas
of the world, including one daughter who is living in
the Americas. She has yet to receive the letter I sent
to her, but I know she will be excited.”
“If it is acceptable to you, I would prefer if you
called me Elizabeth or Lizzy. I do not wish to be
formal with you.” Elizabeth stated softly, hoping she
did not offend her relations. She was uncertain if it
were acceptable to refer to her aunt in such a manner.
“And you must refer to me as Aunt Maggie. Oh,
how I have longed to hear you call me Aunt Maggie.
Your mother teased me when we were young. Our
brother was not as close to us, and I always told him
that his children would have to call me Aunt Margaret,
but Constance’s children were to call me by the
informal term.”
Rosemary chuckled. “Fortunately, our Uncle
Albert has never had children, so we need not fear for
any hurt feelings. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.
May I call you Lizzy?”
“My family call me Rose. Lizzy, I must say, you are
as beautiful as your mother’s portrait. I have seen the
image of your mother all of my life.”
“Rose, I was planning to surprise Lizzy.” Margaret
stated as she swatted her daughter’s arm. “My
parents had portraits made of all my siblings and
myself every five years. When they died, our cousin,
Charles, saw that the portraits were continued. After
Constance died, I kept her portraits with me, in the
hopes of one day delivering them to you. I had
duplicates painted of them, so I would have them in
my study in my home.”
Elizabeth’s eyes swam with unshed tears. She
would be able to see likenesses of her mother, from
her childhood until she was a young adult. “I look
forward to seeing them.”
Margaret smiled. “I have other items which were
your mother’s as well. I see that you wear her cross.
It was her favorite since Charles gave it to her. Our
grandfather had it made for our grandmother, but he
died before Father’s birth, and she died during the
birth. There were several pieces of jewelry that
Grandfather had ordered made for Grandmother.
Besides the cross, there was a pearl necklace with
matching ear bobs, and a sapphire necklace with a
matching bracelet. I have the pearl set, and Albert has
the sapphire. There is a pair of garnet ear bobs to go
with your cross, I brought them with me.”
Just then, the door to the drawing room opened
and Caroline Bingley walked into the room as if she
was the Mistress of the house. “I was unaware of
more guests arriving, Mr Darcy. You should have
informed me.”
“Miss Bingley, as you are also a guest, I felt no
reason to inform you of private matters in my
household.”
“How private could the matter be if the Bennets
and their … relation are here? Shall I ask Mrs
Reynolds to send refreshments?” Caroline asked as
she stepped towards the pull cord.
Darcy walked quickly across the room and
stopped between Caroline and the cord. “Miss
Bingley, I must ask you to leave the room
immediately. This is a private matter, and has nothing
to do with you. My sister is acting as hostess and has
already spoken to Mrs Reynolds.”
An out of breath Bingley quickly entered the room.
Darcy’s eyes rolled up, as the situation was becoming
worse by the moment. Bingley approached his sister
and took her by the arm. “Caroline, I told you not to
leave my side. We were to keep Hurst company this
afternoon, as he needs a distraction from his pain. As
it was your bag which caused his accident, it would be
fair for you to aid in cheering him.”
“Charles, there is no need for me to be there.
Louisa and you are more than capable of tending to
his needs and comfort. I was just about to take
refreshments with Mr Darcy and his guests.” Caroline
motioned towards the newcomers in the room.
Bingley leaned his head towards his sister,
speaking to her in a harsh whisper. “Caroline, you
will accompany me upstairs this moment. I will not
tolerate any further refusal.”
Ignoring her brother, Caroline walked over to a
chair near the sofa where Margaret was sitting.
Elizabeth watched with a chuckle, finding the
situation to be quite humorous. Seeing a perfect
opportunity to put Caroline Bingley in her place,
Elizabeth stood. “Miss Bingley, I wish to introduce
you to Mrs Margaret Walker and her children,
Rosemary and Robert Jr. Margaret, Rose, Robbie, this
is
Miss
Caroline Bingley, sister of Mr Darcy’s dearest
friend, Mr Charles Bingley.”
Caroline was surprised at Elizabeth making the
introductions, but she tried to hide her contempt. “It
is a pleasure to meet you. Are you friends of Mr
Darcy’s?”
“Actually, no.” Margaret stated flatly. “We are here
to see my niece, Elizabeth. She is the daughter of my
late sister, Lady Constance of Brunswick. I rarely use
my title these days, but it is Lady Margaret. Our
grandfather was brother to Charles I, the late Duke of
Brunswick, making our great grandfather, Ferdinand,
Duke of Brunswick.”
Caroline nearly fainted. “But it is not possible for
Miss Elizabeth to be your niece. Her mother is Mrs
Bennet. You are not telling me that such a foolish
woman as she is royalty.”
“No, indeed she is not my sister. And Fanny
Bennet is not Elizabeth’s natural mother. Mr Bennet
and my sister were waiting for my brother to come to
England, so Mr Bennet could properly ask for my
sister’s hand in marriage. Before my brother arrived,
Fanny Bennet purposely compromised Mr Bennet,
forcing him into marriage. As my sister’s engagement
was of such a nature that only a few knew of it, Mr
Bennet was not in a position to announce it without
approval of my brother or my cousin, Charles II, the
current Duke of Brunswick. My niece should be
referred to as Lady Elizabeth, as she has the blood line
of Ferdinand and Antoinette.”
“And Miss Elizabeth is the natural child of Mr
Bennet, with your sister?” Caroline asked, and
everyone in the room could see the look in her eyes.
Caroline looked as if she were a cat, licking cream
from her fur. “I will be sure to keep your confidence,
as I am certain you will not wish for anyone to know
of this matter. It would be embarrassing to everyone,
especially to the royal family, to have such a birth
known.”
Margaret had dealt with plenty of people, the likes
of Caroline Bingley. “Oh, that is not necessary. As a
matter of fact, my cousin, Princess Augusta, has
written a formal announcement which will be
published in the papers next week. We welcome
Lady
Elizabeth into the family with open arms and are
pleased to have her with us.”
Elizabeth reached out her hand and took hold of
her aunt’s hand. “Thank you, Aunt Maggie. I am
grateful for the acceptance you have given me.”
“For the likes of you, perhaps. But there are many
of our station of life who accept such children as a fact
of life. I would hazard to guess that you are from new
money. Am I correct?”
Caroline blushed vividly. “My brother is in the
process of purchasing an estate. Mr Darcy has been
assisting him in finding the perfect place. And my
brother is practically engaged to Miss Darcy.”
“Caroline, I am not planning to marry Miss Darcy.”
Bingley declared. “You must keep such statements to
yourself, as they are not true. Miss Darcy is like a
much younger sister to me.”
“But it would be a brilliant match for you, Charles.
And the connections we would have from such a
marriage would be just what our parents had hoped
for us.”
Bingley took hold of his sister’s arm and roughly
pulled her from the chair. “Forgive us, ladies and
gentlemen. I believe my sister is required upstairs.”
He marched to the door of the drawing room,
dragging a protesting Caroline behind him.
“My, my, she is quite interesting.” Margaret stated
with a chuckle. “Is such entertainment readily
available here at Pemberley?”
“The Bingley party only arrived yesterday,
unannounced. They were supposed to leave this
morning, but one of their party fell and broke his leg.”
Darcy explained. “I beg your forgiveness for Miss
Bingley’s rude behavior. She has high expectations of
being a part of the highest circle of society.”