The Decision of a Moment

Lord Brockhurst was not a cruel man, but when his beloved wife fell sick and a third child was stillborn, he was desperate for her sanity. So when the feverish stranger gave birth and refused to even see the child who was not born a boy, the Earl found a way to justify his next action. It was the decision of a moment which had far reaching effects.

Historical Note: In 1798, the first French "Army of England" assembled with the intention of invading England. Napoleon was fixated instead on Egypt and Austria, so this first attempt was never made. In this story the French embarked and evaded the British blockade in order to invade. A fast British sloop was immediately sent to carry the warning and the coast of Essex, identified as the target beachhead, was evacuated.

Schaeffer Abbey, Essex

"It was kind of you to take us in, Lord Fitzpatrick."

"Nonsense, Adam! We have been friends for seven years, despite the fact that our families and duties kept us too busy to meet as we otherwise might. I was sorry to hear about your father, but must say that I always knew you would make a fine earl... and it looks as if you might have an heir on the way?"

Lord Brockhurst watched as the midwife and his wife's maids led her away. "Let us hope and pray, Lewis." He did not and would not say that his wife had lost two stillborn already, or that he feared that a third loss might overset her for good. She was a dear, delicate creature who took her supposed failures deeply to heart. After the first two still-births, the new Earl of Brockhurst had hired an elderly midwife to reside in the house and look after his wife full-time.

"I hated to take her on the road in the middle of her confinement, but did not wish to take the chance. If it is acceptable to you, I shall be riding back to the coast to organize the locals for defense until a full complement of troops can arrive."

"Certainly, Brockhurst. In fact, I will send some of my men to bolster your numbers. Good men all."

"Thank you again, my friend."

Four days later Brockhurst stepped over the threshold of Schaeffer Abbey again. The first person he saw aside from the butler was Lord Fitzpatrick, "What news, Brockhurst?"

"The fleet has caught up with the French and are harrying them. This storm may prove our greatest boon or our vilest enemy, depending upon whether Nelson can keep close or should lose the frogs in the dark. We stand ready if and wherever the French make landfall. How is my lady?"

"My housekeeper, Mrs. Baxter, tells me that she is well, but could begin at any time. I wished to beg a favor along that line."

"How so?"

"Among the refugees we have taken in is a young gentlewoman who is heavy with child and who has already begun her travails. Until Lady Brockhurst is ready, would you consider allowing your midwife to see to the affair?"

Brockhust hesitated only a moment before replying, "Certainly. But if my wife should begin..."

"You have my word that your midwife sees the care of your dear wife as first and foremost."

"Good then. I shall meet with my wife, take a bath and a rest, and then return to the coast."

After taking a tray of supper with his beloved, the Earl left the room to take a rest. He halted his progress at the sight of the prettiest little toddler he had ever seen, rocking back and forth on her heels outside of a closed door. "Hello there, little miss. Are you well?"

Big china blue eyes looked up at him from a pretty face shrouded in blond locks. "Mama is havin' a baby. I'm gonna have a brother. Why is she screaming?"

Just then the screaming that she had asked about burst through the thick door. She flinched and clenched her tiny hands. Lord Brockhurst looked about, but there was nobody to hand the lass off to. "Come, your Mama would not want you to hear that. I know that it sounds frightening, but it is just the sounds a woman makes when having a baby. All will be well. Would you like a treat?"

The little girl nodded. She took one more look at the door, then allowed herself to be led away. The earl led her to the kitchen, where the comfortably round and motherly cook cheerfully set the girl down with a pastry. He did not hurry away, but sat with the little doll-like girl and visited for a full quarter hour. After he excused himself, he thought, If my Miriam has a girl I shall be just as content. My sister and her husband may yet have a boy child and he could inherit my title. A girl as dear as that little one would be a blessing to our home.

The earl was almost back to the coast on the following day when a fast-riding messenger caught up with him. "Your Lordship! I was sent to tell you that your wife's time has begun."

He reached the estate two hours later and quickly rushed inside. His wife smiled at him with a sheen of sweat drenching her forehead. "This time, Adam. This time."

Lord Brockhurst could only nod and gently squeeze his wife's hand. The midwife was with Miriam, so he could only assume that the other woman had delivered. At the moment, however, his attentions were fixed upon his own family.

The day turned into night and the torture dragged on. Lord Fitzpatrick informed his friend that he would ride to the coast and take up station until Brockhurst was free to resume his duties, so there was nobody to talk with as he waited. Unable to sit outside his wife's door and listen to the screams, he finally stood and began to pace the halls of the estate. It was then that he heard the gossip. "Foolish woman refuses to have anything to do with the child. Claims that she is better off dead. Blames the babe for not being a male-child!"

"From what I hear, she should not'a bin on the road nohow. Hails from Hertfordshire, but her man is off on some task. So she decides to join her brother n' his wife who are on holiday. Gets caught up in the people runnin' away."

"The older girl is a dear, sweet child. Prettiest little thing."

"T'mother likes that'n 'cause she looks like her. Same hair and eyes, though I think the girl is set to be prettier. None of her mother's mean nature. I fear for this new one. Dark fuzz on her head already. Brown eyes. She's a dear wee thing, but that mother took one look and all but tossed the girl out of her arms. Won't even see her now."

Lord Brockhurst, who had already lost two children and who longed to hold his child as much as his wife did, ground his teeth. Lord, why does a woman like that get blessed so easily while my wife must struggle so?

Later, he could not explain how his feet led him to the nursery. The nurse was asleep in a chair, but a tiny babe was looking up at the world with wide, brown eyes that seemed to have a life and sparkle all of their own. He would have never thought to do such a thing before, but his arms reached out and there the child was in his arms, looking up at him with happy, intelligent eyes.

"That'n is an old soul, yer Lordship," the nurse, who had woken, stated softly. "She'll need to be if'n what I hears 'bout the mother is true. Won' have an easy life, that'n. Shame."

"Is the mother truly that bad? Her eldest daughter is a sweet, well-behaved child."

"Pardon yer Lordship, but that woman is a pretty, spoiled, selfish creature. The other child suits her idea of perfect, an' who kin argue that met the child? This'n is pretty too. She has fire. Won' be a good match for the mother if'n ever the woman claims her."

"She might even deny the child?"

"Husband's off doin' somethin' fer the King. That woman might just lie n' say the child died. She 'as forbid the other daughter from seein' her sister."

A harried servant rushed up, clearly stressed from having to search for the Earl, "My Lord, the midwife sent for you."

The previous conversation was all but forgotten in the following hours as Lady Miriam fainted from loss of blood and yet another child was born stillborn. The midwife was in tears as she carried the tiny body of a girl child away. Meanwhile the earl sat helplessly beside his wife as she, in a nightmare, grasped and reached for the child she would never hold.

It was the decision of a moment.

In the years to follow he would question and second-guess himself a thousand times, but at that moment he only knew decision. With purposeful strides he left his wife's chamber, strode down the halls and up a flight of stairs and to his destination. He spoke only one word to the woman in the room as he took possession of his prize. "Come."

The nurse followed. One did not question an Earl, especially one with such firm resolve in his eyes. Neither she nor the midwife protested as the little bundle in his hands was gently and carefully placed into his sleeping wife's flailing arms. She calmed instantly, having finally found that which was lost in her dream. The woman slept. The babe slept. The Earl gestured for his two silent accomplices to follow him out of the room.

Money was offered, but both women knew of the child's situation and Lady Miriam's travails. Eventually they did agree to receive a stipend, but neither woman ever intended to speak on the matter. In a large home with tens of servants, such a secret could not be entirely hidden, but those who learned of the matter only nodded. The other woman had done a fine job of making herself unwelcome. Those in the know only wished that the other bright little miss could find a better home as well.

The storm which had held back the French continued until the admirals and generals decided to turn the fleet east once again. For better or worse, the French were able to slip back into harbor in much the same way they escaped.

In England the people returned to their homes with a sigh of relief. The woman refugee, whose name remained unknown to most of the staff, took the news that her second child had died with perfect peace until her husband rushed to Essex to collect her. Then she made the perfect picture of a grief-stricken woman. The couple and their sweet, pretty daughter departed on that same day.

Lord and Lady Brockhurst enjoyed the hospitality of Schaeffer Abbey for another two weeks until the mother was well enough to travel. No woman could be more pleased with her child than she. The baby, named Elizabeth after her husband's mother, had the most intelligent eyes for such a tiny thing. She had brown hair like her mother and brown eyes like her father. It was difficult to determine where her other unique features came from at such a young age. All that Lady Miriam knew, all that mattered, was that this was her dear girl. Adam, bless his heart, was not distressed in the slightest that the child was not male.

Twenty years later...

"It is a good thing that I like your friend Charles so well, my love," Lady Elizabeth groused, "I cannot abide Miss Bingley and her cloying, grasping ways."

"On this we agree, my dear. I promise that I will provide Bingley with the most basic understanding of what is required of an estate owner and then we will depart. Georgiana requires your help in preparing for her coming out and that shall be our excuse... Of course, you could have remained in London."

"And allow that harpy to try to sneak into your bed? No, I think not. I cannot imagine how you defended yourself against Caroline Bingley before you married me, William. There are endless examples of scheming young ladies in London, but I have not met her equal for sheer audacity."

Fitzwilliam Darcy laughed. Until the moment that he met his Elizabeth, he had despaired of ever finding a suitable match. It was seeing her soundly defeat her father, Lord Brockhurst, at chess which first sparked his interest. When she played him and they each took two games, he was intrigued. But it was watching her befriend and help his sister Georgiana to recover from her near-disaster which wholly captured his heart. Their courtship was not easy. They were both possessed of such strong personalities that easy was not an option. But his steel met her fire and a true bond of love was forged.

He pulled her close now as their carriage sped on towards a place called Meryton, "I simply avoided ever being alone with the creature. Now I have my fierce wife to defend me." He looked down at the love of his life and two sets of eyes darkened.

If the Darcys were slightly disheveled when they arrived at Netherfield, only Caroline Bingley saw fit to sneer and make a comment.

Over the next month Lady Elizabeth met all of the local families, but she gravitated to one in particular. The Bennets of Longbourn had two daughters and two sons. The daughter, Jane, was the child of Mr. Bennet's first marriage. The first Mrs. Bennet lost a second child in childbirth on a foolish excursion to the coast. When she returned home, a fever came with her. Within a month of returning, she had passed from this world. Mr. Bennet had remarried to a kind, sensible, and intelligent woman. Together she and her husband grew their estate and income until it was the largest and most prosperous in the area.

Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were well-spoken, kind, and sociable. The younger children were intelligent, attractive, and well-behaved, but it was to Jane that Lady Elizabeth became particularly attached. In fact, she formed such a bond with the stunningly beautiful woman that one day she felt the need to speak with Charles Bingley, "Mr. Bingley, I have made note of your attentions to my dear friend Miss Bennet. I like you. My husband likes you. But I will be blunt: If you do not do something about your sister Caroline, then you have no business in attaching yourself to my dear friend Jane."

"Lady Elizabeth..."

"No! I know that William has urged you for years to take a strong hand with your sister. I will tell you that he only continues to associate with you due to his strong attachment to you, but if he did not feel that way he would be forced to throw you off due to your sister's cloying ways and numerous attempts to compromise my husband. If you were to marry Jane Bennet and bring her into your home, your sister would do all that she could to prevent dear, sweet Jane from becoming the true mistress of your estate. You must decide: Jane or Caroline."

Charles chuckled, but quickly spoke when Elizabeth's eyes flashed, "I only laugh because you and your husband are so much alike. He used different wording, of course, but he told me much the same two days ago. You will notice that my sister has yet to present herself downstairs this morning?"

Lady Elizabeth did notice now. She nodded.

"That is because my carriage, with my sisters and brother-by-marriage in it, has already departed for London. I love Jane Bennet and fully intend to make her my wife, if she will have me."

Elizabeth saw the uncertainty in Mr. Bingley's eyes and smiled, "I will not reveal any secrets, but you might wonder if I would have spoken to you in such a manner if I thought she might refuse."

Charles pondered this for a moment, and then his face erupted in the smile that Jane loved so dearly. Lady Elizabeth rose, "Well then, Charles. I assume that you have a task that you wish to perform. I will go and speak to Mrs. Nichols concerning dessert... should a celebration be in order. Perhaps, as temporary hostess by default, I might suggest you invite the Bennets to dine this evening."

Charles and Jane married and were quite happy. He purchased Netherfield Park and with the helpful guidance of both Darcy and Mr. Bennet, turned the estate into a going concern. Whenever the Darcys extracted themselves from their beloved Pembeley, Darcy and his lady always remained a month full at Netherfield. The same was true with the Bingleys and Pemberley. Both families had houses in town, so they spent many happy seasons together there. Due to the notice that the Darcys and particularly Lady Elizabeth gave to the Bingleys, the "lesser" couple rose in consequence until most people forgot that Mr. Bingley rose from trade. This concession was not ever made to Miss Bingley, who eventually married a tradesman and lived in Cheapside.

Lord and Lady Brockhurst never had another child, but they did not repine. Elizabeth was a treasure for both husband and wife, so Lady Miriam was able to overcome her earlier shame and enjoy motherhood.

Lord Brockhurst's sister and brother-by-marriage did have a boy, a fine, stout, steady lad who was taken under the Earl's wing and brought up by both families to become a true example of nobility. How could the boy not become a good man under the watchful and determined eye of his dear cousin, Lady Elizabeth. When her father passed Lady Elizabeth Darcy felt no sense of disquiet in seeing her cousin, Lord Stephen take over his estate and title. The two families remained close and their children maintained a close bond thereafter.

Lord Brockhurst had written a letter to his beloved child concerning her true origins, but after watching Elizabeth and the only woman she knew as "mother" together, he threw the letter into the fire.

It was the decision of a moment, but he never regretted it.

Author's Note: Thank you to all who offered assistance in my quest to understand women and titles and riding side-saddle. I will go back through the stories and attempt to revise them to be more accurate.

On another note: I forgot that not everyone has read my other comments in stories. While I do have a condition which requires regular doctor visits, it is my spouse and parents who have required me to make frequent, even daily trips to medical facilities around the area. It seems to never end. I apologize if my earlier comment misled you.