Ok, so here is the sequel to my first fanfic "Leaving Longbourn". All has been inspired by Jane Austen's masterpiece. I can only dream of even coming close to her genius.
I am including a list of all the children that were born to make things easier for my readers. Sorry for all the nicknames and such but I can't bear the thought of calling small children things like Augustus.
Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy
Sarah Anne and Susannah (Susie) Francis Darcy (August 1802)
Michael Bennet Darcy (October 1804)
James (Jim) Fitzwilliam Darcy (September 1806)
Julia Mary Darcy (February 1809)
Clara Jane Darcy (June 1813)
John (Jack) Edward Darcy (April 1815)
Charles and Jane Bingley
Joseph Edward Bingley (April 1803)
Lydia (Liddy) Caroline Bingley (July 1805)
Augustus (Gus) Charles Bingley (March 1808)
Viola Louisa Bingley (October 1812)
Benjamin and Catherine Fitzwilliam
Josephine (Josie) (Wickham) Fitzwilliam [adopted (January 1801)
Edward (Ned) Benjamin Fitzwilliam (April 1804)
Clarissa Jane Fitzwilliam (November 1807)
Georgiana (Georgie) Elizabeth Fitzwilliam (April 1810)
Samuel (Sam) Charles Fitzwilliam (May 1814)
Henry and Mary Bracknell
Francis (Fanny) Alexandra Bracknell (August 1804)
George Peter (January 1806)
William (Will) Henry and Margaret (Maggie) Henrietta Bracknell (March 1810)
Amelia Catherine and Marianne Bennet Bracknell (September 1813)
Elinor Mary Bracknell (January 1816)
Benjamin (Ben) Charles Bracknell (February 1817)
Fifteen years had passed since Mary and Henry Bracknell had married and today she was returning home to Longbourn for the first time since then. Unfortunately, it was not for a happy a reason as before. Mr. Bennet had died just a few days before at Mary's home in London. Together, with her sisters, brothers-in-law, children, nieces and nephews they made their way, on a cold, dreary January morning, to Longbourn to bury him.
Mr. Bennet had spent the past fifteen years staying with each of his daughters a few months at a time and spoiling his grandchildren. In fact, as affectionate a father as he had become, he was even more affectionate as a grandfather. And his affection was generously distributed among his four and twenty grandchildren.
The Darcys had a family comprising of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Sarah Anne and Susannah Francis, the twins, were now fifteen. They were identical, with their father's bright amber eyes and mother's thick, chestnut hair and beauty. They were not out in society yet, their parents were wary of allowing them out at an early age, but would be by this Christmas. Sarah was quiet and studious, favoring languages, music and painting. She was already fluent in French, Italian, German, and Latin and was studying Spanish and Greek. Susie was much more outgoing than her twin; flirtatious would be the best word for her. But she was just as studious, but in philosophy and literature. Michael was next, at thirteen years of age. He was the spitting image of his father but of his mother's disposition. He was fond of horseback riding and hunting but not at all studious in any way. James Fitzwilliam followed two years later. He was a shy boy, just eleven, with thick spectacles that rarely saw the outside of his father's library. Julia Mary, almost nine years old, was a sweet, funny little girl, very similar to her Aunt Kate. She had big dark eyes and hair, like all her siblings and adored mathematics. At her young age, she could solve problems that the twins' tutor gave them with ease. Clara Jane, Lizzy and Darcy's four years old, was a sullen child, overshadowed by her older siblings and two year old brother, John Edward. Clara and Jack were each others playmates but Clara still needed the most attention.
Charles and Jane Bingley did not have as large a family as the Darcys, but their four children were just as accomplished and wonderful. Joseph Edward, the eldest, was nearly fifteen, funny and witty and very good with animals. He had shockingly red hair and masses of freckles and soft grey eyes. Lydia Caroline was next. She was but thirteen years old but looked as old as her cousins Sarah and Susie. Liddy was tall and slender like her mother but her hair was just as red as her brother's and deep blue eyes like her father. She was as beautiful as she was simple. Liddy had absolutely no interest in her studies or the outdoors or any other accomplishments. She could not play, sing or draw. However, she was remarkably good with children and had been for years. If one of her younger cousins could not be consoled, Liddy could calm them in just a moment. Augustus Charles was nearly nine years old. Gus was a sickly child, especially prone to coughing fits and chills. That said, he was clever, always up to something, playing pranks on his family, especially his sisters. The Bingley's youngest, Viola Louisa, was five. She was a genuinely happy child, with bouncy, golden curls and dark blue eyes.
Lord and Lady Matlock, better known as the Fitzwilliams, had a slightly larger family, with four children and their niece, Josephine, who had been adopted by them years before and did not remember the Wickhams at all. As far as she knew, she was Josephine Fitzwilliam, adopted but had never been anything else. Josie, now seventeen, had grown into a lovely young lady. Her passion was music and would play for hours on end. She was as charming as her father and vivacious as her mother but unlike them, she was level-headed and thoughtful. Her blonde ringlets had loosened into soft waves and her eyes had changed to a vibrant green over the years. Legally, Josie stood to inherit very little from the Fitzwilliams, just her dowry and a hundred pounds a year after her marriage. This provided a constant worry for the Colonel and his wife. The Fitzwilliams eldest son, Edward Benjamin was fourteen, almost fifteen. Ned willingly went away to military school a few years before. Stoic and wise beyond his years, his father was convinced that Ned could become a general with or without assistance. His sandy blonde hair and deep set brown eyes made him a favorite of his sisters' friends. Clarissa Jane was next, only ten but very witty, like her Aunt Lizzy in humor and appearance. She was a favorite of her parents' friends because she told stories remarkably well and carried on conversation with ease. Georgiana Elizabeth, their eight year old daughter, was the exact opposite in every way. She was shy and fair, horribly afraid of strangers and change. Samuel Charles, the youngest at four years old, was a carefree little boy, content to spend his days out of doors and in the sun.
Lord Henry and Lady Mary Bracknell had largest family of all her sisters. They had eight children, including two consecutive sets of twins. Francis Alexandra, named for both of their mothers, was thirteen, petite, blonde and lovely. Fanny longed for companionship, longed for dances and flirting and assemblies and young men. Her parents often had to check her wild behavior since her disposition was a little too familiar to her mother and aunts. George Peter followed, now twelve years old. He was a bumbling boy, klutzy and awkward but very sweet and studious, favoring any subject he could get his hands on. The first set of twins arrived four years later. William Henry and Margaret Henrietta were seven and the best of friends. Will took after his father in personality and appearances as did Maggie. Maggie was a boyish little girl, preferring to play outside with her brothers than sit with her sisters. Amelia Catherine and Marianne Bennet, aged four, were identical in looks but not in disposition. They took after their mother, fair skin, dark eyes and hair, but Amelia was loud and giggly but it was easy to forget that Marianne was in the same room as she was so quiet. Their parents believed that Marianne was simply overpowered by her sister and as they grew up, she would come out of her shell. Elinor Mary had just turned two and her brother Benjamin Charles would be one in a month.
In order for the whole family to journey to Longbourn, five carriages, two luggage carts and a hearse were necessary. They were all going to stay at Netherfield, which Mr. Bingley had purchased a few years prior. Netherfield was much larger than Longbourn, of course, but it also allowed the sisters time together
They all arrived at Netherfield to be greeted by the old housekeeper, Mrs. Hill, Uncle and Aunt Philips and the entire Lucas family, including all their children and their respective spouses, Mrs. Collins and her daughter.
The only satisfaction in their father's death was that Mr. Collins had died just a few weeks prior and his son a few years prior. Charlotte had returned home to Lucas Lodge, penniless and with her ten year old daughter, Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina, unfortunately, took after her father in every single way. She had dull, stringy, greasy hair and large, bug eyes. She spoke with a pedantic air and constantly looked down her nose at anyone and everyone. Kate had heard from Maria that Wilhelmina was an awful child and none of her cousins liked her.
As soon as they had all exited their carriages, Wilhelmina went straight to Clarissa and said, "Black doesn't suit you. You look dreadful."
Clarissa stared at this odd girl with incredulity. Yes, she did look dreadful in black, she was fully aware of that, but she was in morning and she had been especially close with her grandfather. She wanted to tell the dumpy girl that her frothy green lace dress was tacky and that she should consider taking a bath every now and then, but she bit her tongue and made her way into the house with Liddy.
The guests all went home, leaving the large family to themselves. They would go to Longbourn tomorrow. Tonight, there were decisions to make.
Since Mr. Collins and his son had died, Longbourn was now entailed to Jane's son Joseph as he was the oldest boy. Joseph, who stood to inherit two estates and a house in town when his father died, did not need another residence but his mother and aunts were reluctant to let their childhood home leave the family. But as he was now the owner, his opinion mattered, legally, more than theirs. As he sat with his mother and aunts in their sitting room, Joseph knew what he would suggest but he did not know what they would think of it.
"Mother, I know what I want to do with Longbourn."
"Yes, Joseph?" Jane asked as she sipped her tea.
"Mother, Aunt Kate, I want Josie to have Longbourn." The room was silent. The four women stared at the boy with surprise. "Josie legally can not inherit much from Uncle Fitzwilliam and I want her to have a home. I can let her live there and give her all the income of the estate and will write it over to her when I am of age."
"Joseph," Kate said carefully, "Are you sure of this?"
"Yes, Aunt. Josie needs a home to call her own. I can give it to her."
"But what if she marries?" Mary asked her nephew.
"If she marries, it will go to her eldest son."
Jane smiled as she looked out into the gardens where Josie was playing in the snow with her cousins. This was what they had hoped to do. Josie loved Longbourn, felt at home within its walls and garden. An estate, even one as small as Longbourn, would greatly help her chances at marriage. "Very well. I shall ask your father to have his attorney draw up the papers for the deed transfer."
"Mother, Aunts, who is Josie really?" Joseph asked nervously. The four women froze and stared at him for a moment.
"What do you mean, Joseph?" Lizzy asked, eyeing her nephew.
"I mean, Josie looks like all of you. If she was adopted, then she would not look like any of us. But each year, she look more and more like all of you and the girls. Who is she?"
Kate set her tea down and took a moment before beginning to speak. "Joseph, your grandfather did not have four daughters. He had five."
"Josie is your sister? My aunt?"
"Hush!" Kate said, more sharply than she had intended to. "Josie is not our sister. She is our niece. She is, in fact, your cousin."
Mary, after receiving an approving nod from each of her three sisters, took over from here. "Our youngest sister, Lydia, eloped with a soldier, Mr. Wickham, when she was just sixteen. Josie was soon born and a little more than a year later, Lydia died giving birth to her second daughter. Not long after, Wickham was murdered by bandits on his way back to camp. Your Aunt and Uncle Fitzwilliam had already been named her guardians and with Wickham's death, they adopted her and raised her as their own."
"She is my own," Kate stated matter of factly. "I am her mother, I raised her, I loved her. Joseph, we are only telling you this because you should know whom you are giving your house to. And we also ask that you say nothing to anyone, especially not Josie. She does not know yet. If you have any questions, ask us or your father or uncles."
"I understand, Aunt Lizzy. When are you going to tell Josie, if I may ask?"
"She will know soon. She deserves to know," Kate said as she went to the window to watch her niece that was as good as a daughter to her. Josie was leading the girls in a snow ball fight against the boys and seemed to be winning spectacularly. "Joseph, your Aunt Lydia was an incredibly silly person. Your Uncle Wickham…well, let us just say that he mended his ways near the end and died a good man."
"Please leave us, Joseph. We have matters to discuss," Jane asked her son. He nodded and left the room for his own to collect his coat, scarf and boots to join the battle on the lawn.
"You know what this means, don't you?" Lizzy said as soon as the door was shut.
"Yes, if he suspected something, at least one of the others has as well. Maybe even Josie." Mary poured her self another cup of tea carefully.
"My sisters," Kate said, still standing at the window, "Josie has asked me if I knew anything of her real parents."
"When?" Jane implored.
"Last week. She thought it was odd that she and I have the same eye color and she and Jane have the same hair color. Then she asked if I knew them."
"What did you say?" Mary asked, her eyes wide.
"Nothing. Georgie came in crying because Ned had hidden her doll before I could."
"Will Joseph say anything?" Lizzy postulated.
"No. If there is anything that Joseph can do well, it is keep a secret," Jane said, joining Kate at the window. Lizzy and Mary went to them as well. The four watched their children play joyously in the snow. Josie looked up at the window, saw them and began to smile and wave. They waved back and soon, all the children had abandoned their forts and snowballs to wave up at them.
"We have been so blessed," Jane stated as she and her sisters enveloped one another in a tight embrace.
