Thanks to ElizabethAnneSoph. I don't own Pride and Prejudice. This is the last of my three chapters this week. A shoutout to lovepj who guessed who Hanneli bit. The following chapters will be posted on Mondays. I'm going to list the lineage at the bottom of this chapter so you all don't get confused. Please rate and review.
Last time: Hanneli bit Miss Bingley's hand and Darcy threw her out of the carriage.
Hanneli's Birthday- November 1820
It was Hanneli's fourth birthday. The first birthday that she would remember. She knew that for her Papa it was a sad day because her Mama died the day she was born. She never asked for anything from her father and relatives but there was something this year that she really wanted above nothing else. A Mama. She knew she wouldn't get one on her birthday but she might in the months to come.
The Darcy's and Fitzwilliams gathered at Darcy's House in Grosvenor Square at 10am on the morning of Hanneli's Birthday. The servants were seen bringing in piles of presents from various people into the drawing room. Carriages lined the square dropping off presents. The females in the family always spoiled Hanneli and this occasion was no different. For the men of the family they always saw a drop in their bank balances whenever Christmas or Hanneli's birthday was near but they all loved her.
The Washington's sent Hanneli £100 for every year of her life each year. She would have £800 in the bank account that Darcy had made for her so that she had some money for when she either married or when she was 21.
Darcy never spoiled his daughter to the extent that his relatives spoiled her but he knew that it would get worse as she got older.
Hanneli ate her breakfast of porridge and an apple with some milk. She dressed herself in a dark blue dress with a white pinafore with some help of Claire her maid. Claire plaited Hanneli's hair and put some ribbon in it. She wished her friends Lilibet and Cathy were there. Claire helped Hanneli down the stairs and into the drawing room.
Lady Grace Darcy (Darcy's aunt by marriage) was the first hug Hanneli received, then Lady Agapanthus Philpot, the Countess of Matlock Lady Grace Fitzwilliam and Richard's mother and then Lady Roberta Fitzwilliam and finally her Aunt Georgiana, who was very withdrawn and was sitting on the window seat staring out into space. The family knew to leave her alone as did Hanneli. Her Papa told her that her Aunt Georgie was ill and she was not to be disturbed.
The males then descended on Hanneli with Sir Andrew Darcy, Lord Philip Philpot, The Earl of Matlock Lord Matthew, The Viscount of Bakewell Lord Frederick Fitzwilliam, Hanneli's beloved Uncle Dick or Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam and finally her father. She was content.
She looked at the table of presents. She was attracted to a large box that hadn't been prettily wrapped like the others. It was plain brown paper. She tried to pick it up but it was too heavy for her. She picked up the letter that was on top and gave it to her Papa to read.
The letter read:
"Miss Hanna Elinor Darcy,
Happy Birthday from Jane, Lilibet, Mary, Cathy and Uncle Dave in Meryton. You are now four years old a big girl. I hope you will never forget us here in Meryton and that your time with us was happy. You're with your family who all love you but you have friends here in Meryton who also love you. Before you know it you will be a young woman stealing young men's heart something which your Papa will dread. Now a witty poem courtesy of Lilibet and Cathy;
You're four.
Why would you want to be more?
You're a beautiful child.
Who likes to be wild.
You tug at people's hearts
"It is hard for us to be apart.
Please do not dally.
Or tarry.
Do not grow.
It will cause woe.
Have a great day.
Let us meet again in May
Happy Birthday Miss Hanna
Love from
Uncle Dave, Jane, Lilibet, Mary and Cathy Bennet"
"Who are the Bennets?" Lady Grace Darcy asked
"They looked after Hanneli when I came to town on business." Darcy said and looked at his sister sat at the window staring into space. He hoped that she would recover soon.
"I like Jane, Lilibet, Mary, Cathy and Uncle Dave." Hanneli chirped in.
"Are they a good family Fitwilliam?" Lady Agapanthus asked. Both Darcy and the Colonel turned around.
"I mean both of you." She added.
"They are a good family. They protected Hanneli from the claws of Aunt Catherine very well and they are very beautiful girls." The Colonel said proudly.
"The youngest daughter and the mother are unbearable but the others are beautiful in looks and in personality. It is a family of 5 daughters. They started teaching Hanneli while she stayed with them. Can we celebrate my daughter's birthday and open her presents?" Darcy started getting angry. He wanted to escape to his study and be with Hannah but he must be with Hanneli and not make her feel unwanted. He lifted out a beautiful green dress out of the box from the Bennet's It was simple and elegant with a small amount of white lace on the hem and the cuffs.
"What do you think Hanneli?"
"Me like dress." She smiled. Her cheeks puffed out in glee. Darcy pulled out another 3 dresses. One from each of the sisters reflecting their personalities. Elizabeth's the green, Jane a subtle pink, Mary a dark blue and Cathy a summery yellow. All had corresponding embroidery. There was matching shoes and hair ribbons. There were also 4 white aprons included in the box. Hanneli loved wearing white aprons like the Bennet girls. The pains the girls had gone to and the secretive nature of what they were making for her. He brought out a painting of Longbourn. It had a man, 4 women and a child stood outside the front door. On closer inspection it was the Bennet girls and their father with Hanneli. It was a very good portrait and well done. The Bennets were too good to her. He found some sewing patterns with examples and the thread and fabric she'd need to complete them. There were also her favourite books and pressed flowers in the box. Mr Darcy and Richard were shocked at the generosity of the Bennets. Elizabeth's smile came to him. He knew that it was her idea. He smiled to himself. He kept that inner smile with him all day. He would see to it that the portrait of Longbourn was hung in his bedroom wherever he and Hanneli stayed. At the bottom of the box he saw two more portraits. One of Hanneli and the other of him. Both were done by Miss Elizabeth. She'd captured him very well. It was like he was looking at a mirror. These simple presents meant a lot to Darcy and Hanneli. Hanneli twirled the dresses against her body. She didn't want to open any more presents. These were the best presents she'd ever had. Lady Grace Darcy made Hanneli open more of her presents. The Matlocks and Lady Roberta bought her more dresses from the finest modiste in London and a new rocking horse. The Philpots gave her even more dresses and dolls complete with clothes. Viscount Bakewell bought her a new bonnet on the advice of his mother. The Darcy's bought her even more dresses, shoes, bonnets and toys. Nothing was too good for Miss Hanneli. She had a complete new wardrobe. Darcy wouldn't have to go clothes shopping for his daughter for a very long time it seemed. Richard on the advice of Georgiana (who hadn't bought her niece anything because of what happened) and on the approval of Darcy had bought Hanneli two black Labrador puppies. Hanneli's eyes were lost at the two bundles of fluff. She instantly fell for them and started stroking them giving them love. One was male and the other was a female. She looked up to the Colonel.
"What are they called?" Hanneli asked
"They don't have names. You can choose. One is a boy and the other a girl. Shall we all help name them?"
"Yes please Uncle Dick." Hanneli said sweetly,
"Fanny and Dick" The Earl suggested. The adults laughed but it went over Hanneli's head. The Earl was already drunk. He was rarely sober.
"Chlamydia and Syphilis if you're going down that road." Bakewell suggested
"Don't listen to them Hanneli. What about Flora and Fauna?" Lady Agapanthus suggested.
"Just because you don't like your name Ag doesn't mean that you should inflict other names like it on Hanneli's puppies." Bakewell joked
"I hate my name. I couldn't spell it till I was 10 years old. I was teased incessantly about it. Only my friend Madeline didn't say anything." Agapanthus complained.
"At least Ag has an interesting name. I hate mine. It's the female version of Robert. Only Hanneli makes it fun. Don't you sweetie." Lady Roberta tickled Hanneli's chin
"Auntie Bert, Auntie Bert." Hanneli chortled.
"See. Now what is this my dearest brother of you and Darcy wanting me to go with you into the Dragon's Den this Easter? Darcy you haven't been to Aunt Catherine's since Hannah died. She hated going there never mind the fact that Aunt Catherine hated you for marrying her in the first place. You were destined for Anne according to her. Can you remember as children, she used to preach to us all that Anne and Billy would be together and that I shouldn't encourage you?. Not that I needed to. As soon as you met Hannah you were lost. I'm not going. I hate Rosings I wouldn't go there if you paid me." Roberta protested. Richard loved his sister.
"We need you dearest sister. Darcy is bringing Hanneli with him and you are needed to keep Anne entertained and not thinking about how she can secure Darcy. You can entertain Aunt Catherine as well to keep her mind off Hanneli as well. Remember I had to rescue Hanneli from the clutches of Aunt Catherine. She had help from her parson and Mrs Bennet. The parson is heir to the Bennet's estate of Longbourn and by the looks of it he's engaged to one of the daughter's. Have you seen the paper today?" Richard tried to convince his sister. He got a copy of the paper and read the announcement.
"Mr and Mrs David Bennet of Longbourn House, Meryton, Hertfordshire are proud to announce the betrothal of Mr William Algernon Obadiah Collins rector of St Patrick's Church, Hunsford, Kent to their daughter Miss Mary Chrysanthemum Peony Bennet. The marriage will take place at St Bartholomew's Church, Meryton on the 6th December 1820." "It is as verbose as I expected. You know Miss Mary a little don't you Darcy?" Richard questioned.
"I don't know her very well but she will suit Mr Collins. She maybe a hard nut for Aunt Catherine to crack. She's bright and knows her own mind something that Aunt Catherine doesn't like." Darcy passed off. A servant came in with a letter on a silver salver.
"Sir from Meryton. It is for Miss Hanna." The servant left and Darcy read the letter.
"Well Hanneli. The Bennets think a lot of you. They have asked you to be a bridesmaid for Miss Mary's wedding along with their cousins' the Gardiners children. Would you like that?" Darcy asked
"Yes please." She ran into his legs and hugged them.
"They want you to wear your new yellow dress that Miss Catherine made you and your blue hair ribbon and shoes. I will see to it that we go to Netherfield with Bingley but without Miss Bingley. I can't stand that woman." Darcy started to get angry as he mentioned Miss Bingley's name.
"Billy didn't you push her out of the carriage?" The Countess asked
"I did. She hit Hanneli. I wouldn't stand for it. She had to right to hit her."
"What did she do to hit her?" Ag asked
"She bit Miss Bingley's hand." The entire room roared with laughter. Even Georgiana chuckled.
"Little Vampire Hanneli. Now these dogs what are you going to name them?" Richard said trying to control his laughter.
"Rosie and Jim." Hanneli sang.
"What about your new dolls?" Lady Grace Darcy asked
"Jane, Lilibet, Mary, Cathy and Sally." Hanneli said while playing with Rosie and Jim. Darcy looked at his daughter. She was happy. The Bennets had made her so. He couldn't hope for a better daughter. Hannah would be proud. He left Hanneli with his relatives and went to his study. There he looked at Hannah's portrait. He'd done it while she was pregnant. She was beautiful. There was so much of Hannah in Hanneli. Her deviousness and her ability to make the correct judgement on a person just by their first impression. She was always right. She was right about the Bingley's and his aunt Catherine. Luckily Hannah had never liked his aunt either. He returned to the drawing room, picked up his daughter and swung her around. He said 'I love you Hanna Elinor Darcy.'
"I love you too Papa." She kissed his cheek. For his relatives Darcy's parenting methods were unusual but they suited him. Hanneli was the light in his life but they all wondered if another light was about to turn on in his life. The women would stop encouraging him to marry and leave him be. For Darcy had to pressure Bingley into making an honest woman out of Miss Jane Bennet. He was content.
For the rest of the day the Darcy's and the Fitzwilliam's enjoyed cake, games, alcohol for the gentlemen apart from Darcy. Hanneli gave them a fashion show of all her new dresses. They agreed that the Bennet girls dresses were the best. If Miss Mary wasn't to marry Mr Collins after their father had died he could see them setting up shop making dresses and gowns for even the most discerning client of the ton. If his aunts and cousin was impressed with what they had produced for Hanneli even if they didn't set up shop he could see his family making an order for a dress or two.
Hanneli slept well that night. It was her day. She dreamt that her Mama was proud of her and so was Lilibet who she wished would be her Mama. Hanneli concocted a plan to make her Papa marry Lilibet. She would be her Mama.
Lineage of the Darcy/Fitzwilliam family.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is the son of George and Lady Anne Darcy nee Fitzwilliam.
Georgiana is Darcy's sister and the only daughter of George and Lady Anne
George has a brother Sir Andrew who is married to Lady Grace Darcy.
George had a sister called Agapanthus (Ag) who is married to Lord Philip Philpot.
Lady Anne has a elder brother Matthew the Earl of Matlock he is married to another Lady Grace their children are Frederick (Viscount of Bakewell), Richard (Dick) and Roberta (Bert).
Lady Anne's older sister is Lady Catherine De Bourgh who married Sir Lewis De Bourgh and they had a daughter Anne.