Chapter Fourteen
Saturday, May 30th, 1896.
Bennet Nursery.
Elizabeth dusted her hands when Norman appeared in the nursery.
"Miss Bennet? Another letter has been sent to you. And you would be pleased to know it's from the nurseryman!"
Elizabeth wasn't embarrassed when she walked over and smiling at Norman, she answered.
"Thank you, Norman. I'm sure it is Mr. Valcourt's thank you for helping him."
"He surely is grateful for what you proposed, Miss Bennet," Norman answered as he handed her the letter. After Elizabeth opened the contents, she inwardly smiled when she read Newport's nurseryman's expressions of happiness as well as appreciation when Elizabeth stepped, though secretly, out of her way to inquire if his son would be willing to take the position of 'new butler' at Diamond Springs.
"I know Mr. Valcourt, Miss Bennet. He was more than grateful when he learned his son got the position! And he starts next month!"
Hearing this, Elizabeth dropped the letter; she recalled Mr. Darcy informing her his brothers' would be out of town for a month and June was around the corner! And over the course of the week – not a word was sent from him.
"Not since my runaway like I did," she thought as she folded the letter.
"Was there anything else you wish, Miss Bennet?" Norman asked.
He figure stood in the doorway but he folded his arms. As of late – Elizabeth seemed to feel that he was her only confidant when he concerned anything to do with Diamond Springs. And 'the Beast' as all of Newport knew Mr. Darcy to be. But she never forgot how Phillip and Henry treated him. Especially addressing him as 'the Beast' and then the actions on their part…
"No, thank you, Norman. I believe I am finished here. Thank you for handing me Mr. Valcourt's thank you card. He surely is pleased his son has the position!"
Elizabeth smiled and in response, she answered.
"He sure is a man to jump at a chance like that! I remember him when he was younger. No longer inclined to follow his older brother in the direction of footman, correct?"
"Yes, Miss Bennet. Mr. Valcourt's sons' sure have had their interactions with jobs around town."
Perhaps this was the time to inquire about what he knew about Diamond Springs or what Elizabeth remembered Norman told her about Mr. Darcy. He pushed himself away from the doorframe before she could ask as he announced.
"Well, Miss Bennet… that was what I wanted to inform you about. Mr. Valcourt is truly appreciate of what you've done and I'm sure we will be hearing about it in the paper next week. You do recall that we're going to be selling off some of the horses for new ones, too?"
"Oh, yes! I do!" Elizabeth replied.
She inwardly thought hitting herself on the head was the best idea! But it wasn't… being 'queen of beauty' was harsh on her… especially when she had all those social gatherings as well as horse auctions to attend and the one she was supposed to watch was that afternoon!
"Norman? When I'm finished in here, will you hitch the carriage? I need to be in town by one."
"Right away, Miss Bennet." Norman answered and he turned to her and bowed. Then he left and Elizabeth was left by herself in the nursery. Shaking her head, Elizabeth thought.
"How many obligations do I have when it concerns being 'the beauty' of Newport!"
She resumed her work in the cottage before she stepped out and making sure no one was watching her, Elizabeth secretly placed another Lizzy pot to the side… here… she would retrieve it when she would visit Mr. Darcy again. Unknown to anyone else – even Norman – but her cousin, Caroline, snuck another invitation from Fitzwilliam Darcy for her to drive to Diamond Springs and exchange the pot she was working on to plant in his gardens. And she wanted to make sure no knew about this… not even her butler.
"Doesn't surprised you're here." One of the men barked.
He held the other by his collar and his comrade folded his arms. Raising a brow, he asked.
"And you're telling us the truth? Just when we're about to sail?"
"Yes." Answered the one who was struggling.
"And he never listens."
"Correct on that. Seems more we should rid him until we can find a way to continue this up."
"Are you pulling my leg? If we simply leave it… he'll tell everyone."
"And no thanks to this one," the other answered as he reached in his pocket.
"He's of no use to us now."
And he took out a gun and held it to the man's head. The other stopped struggling when the sound of the weapon clicked but not bang was heard. The others on the ship stopped in their movements as they watched as the one with the gun hissed.
"You best find a way to keep him there… otherwise… you'll meet your fate with a bullet to the skull."
"Then release me so I can return and do as you asked!"
"Very well." Was the reply.
Then he was released and landing on the ship's wood, which was hard and smelled like sea murder, he stood to his feet but when he met the eyes of those assembled… he knew he would have to act on extreme measures when one of them slapped him hard on the cheek as he barked.
"And next time: don't be so weak! He's weaker than you are! And he knows this!"
If the hit had been any harder… the man's cheek would have bleed but he pushed this away. His eyes watered at the impact from the hit and he must have promised himself he was one of those on the list to be hanged. But he pushed this away when he said.
"I'll get right on it."
When he was kicked in the back, with a very hard shove, he heard them hiss.
"Good. And make sure you do the job or you will be hanged."
Newport – Evening.
"Miss Beauty? To home?" Norman asked.
"Yes, Norman. Would you?" Elizabeth replied.
Her hand was gloved and after the horse auction, which was in Newport, Elizabeth smiled at her coachman as he helped her inside the carriage. The light was decreasing but Elizabeth remembered she wanted to make her way back to the Bennet Residence. Sunday, though she felt her soul heat with embarrassment, was a Holy Day of Obligation and papa would never approved if he learnt she was no longer attending Mass. Once the door was closed, she thanked Norman again before she felt him pull himself up and then he slapped the reins. Feeling the drive lurch forward, there was an applause and Elizabeth turned and waving her hand, gracefully bid the crowd farewell.
"As the beauty of Newport, I've grown accustomed to such applause," she thought as the horses and coachman left the field which hosted the auction. Elizabeth asked Norman that some of the horses needed to be replaced and she was informed that her bids were accepted. Though she wished she had a man to help her with them, Elizabeth was able to purchase the needed animals to replace the ones in the stables. Remembering this, she glanced over at the sheets of paper which the auctioneer handed to her and she narrowed her eyes.
"The older mare will be replaced with the stallion. The other two with the younger stallions. They're fresh but they obey like a snap of the reins." Elizabeth remembered hearing the man tell her.
And if any would attest: he was turning a color red when he tried to keep his voice calm.
"Similar to any man when they lie eyes on me," Elizabeth thought as she continued to read what he'd told her about.
She sighed when she drew her head back. Attending such auctions to buy simple animals was hard! Here – Elizabeth remembered how she was unwed and part of her ached. She was the 'queen of beauty' yet she was unmarried… something the majority of her friends' in her circle always hinted to her… especially the Macy Sisters.
"Elizabeth? You need to select your male suitor! Otherwise: you'll become an old maid!"
And Elizabeth knew this. The age of ladies in her circle married from 18 to the present but Elizabeth been picky in her selection. When they started to vie for her hand, starting at 15, Elizabeth allowed their attentions more than wondering if they were the right ones for her. But at fifteen – Elizabeth suffered an even greater injustice to herself and this caused her extreme pain and mistrust from men when she leaned forward as the memory of how she became 'queen of beauty' appeared before her.
Newport – Rhode Island.
1888.
The Welsh Estate.
"I only recently heard that Edward likes you." Patricia Welsh whispered to Elizabeth.
The young Elizabeth, turned and spotted the handsome blond haired man. He was a year older than herself and Elizabeth fancied herself how much she was in love with him. How his eyes were and how he smiled at her. Whenever she would approach him, he always seemed to sparkle at her and she in turn – repeated the gesture. Edward Welsh, a local resident of Newport, and attending St. Mary's on Broadway, was someone Elizabeth pictured herself married to!
"He has the perfect family and his sister and I get along perfectly!" Elizabeth thought as she continued to stare at Edward. He was standing alone, as was his usual custom, by a table and Elizabeth wondered if she should step over and start conversation with him. But she remembered a lady never crossed the line with a man…
"He is the one to initiate first," she remembered one of the ladies' of her circle inform her about.
Turning her conversation over to Patricia, Elizabeth asked.
"He does?"
"Yes. Why don't you go over and ask him yourself"
Feeling her face heat, Elizabeth cocked a brow and Patricia, Edward's sister, simply pushed her forward as she replied.
"Go on! He's only waiting for you to do it!"
"If you insist," Elizabeth replied but she felt her heart beat when she watched how Edward seemed to view her with an expression of gentleness. This soothed her because she was undergoing a challenging time after papa's death. As she made her way up to him, Elizabeth thought.
"I know he would have liked Edward. He is a charming young man and I like his family very much."
Then she approached and the handsome Mr. Welsh stood before her.
"Hello, Edward," Elizabeth awkwardly began.
"Hello, Elizabeth," he replied but he didn't seem to take his eyes off of her.
She swallowed and tried to hide the movement of her hands. He chuckled and this broke the ice when he answered.
"I suppose I can't escape it when you're the queen of beauty?"
Hearing this, Elizabeth's world changed and when she looked into Edward's eyes, they were soft and when those words entered – it was as if fresh spring of water entered a garden – as Elizabeth asked.
"What did you call me?"
Edward Welsh leaned forward and in a voice which Elizabeth never forgot… answered.
"I said you are the queen of beauty, Elizabeth."
Then without realizing it… Elizabeth's was taken away… to a bedroom…
"Miss Bennet?" A voice asked.
Startled, Elizabeth jolted from her memory as her carriage drove up. The familiar Bennet residence stood before her but Elizabeth didn't realize she'd cried during that period. It was Norman who opened the door and with a concerned expression, asked.
"Is everything alright?"
Swallowing, Elizabeth wiped her cheeks as she answered.
"No, Norman. I was remembering something from long ago."
"You know you can't hide that from me, child," Norman answered as he held his hand out to her. When she placed it in his, the evening birds were making their songs known. She felt him grip her hand softly as he closed the carriage door behind her. She felt as if she should be shut away when he gently placed his other hand on her shoulder as he whispered.
"Both of us know the secret, Miss Bennet… both of us know the secret…"
Elizabeth clasped the auction for the horses to her chest, as if she were strangling her past, as she answered.
"Yes, Norman… I know that."
Diamond Springs Manor.
The door to the kitchen burst open and Anne was startled when she exclaimed.
"Francis! Whatever in the world are you doing here?! I thought Master Fitzwilliam fired you!"
"Well… apparently… he won't live to see that happen."
The butler replied and Anne, pausing her work, narrowed her eyes as she answered.
"You know he'll…"
"He's not going to, Anne." Was the harsh reply and she knew instantly to keep silent. But she hoped that Master Fitzwilliam would find out about it as she scrubbed the pot. She heard the former butler place his clothing and other items on the table and Anne hoped he wasn't going to toss the newly hired butler that very moment.
"Master Fitzwilliam was blessed to have him here." She thought as the former butler took his cloak off. But she couldn't escape the smell he'd been out to Newport's docks. The sea water was evident and she could only guess where he'd been to and who'd he'd seen. She kept her shudders in as she continued to ponder.
"They must have been drinking hard before they set off. I know they'll be gone for a month but not from how he's acting. Seems more they're this desperate to make sure this plays out. Oh, if only…" she glanced over towards a small Crucifix which was to the side of the stove. "Dearest Lord! Help those who are here to expose the culprit! We need your power more than ever!"
Anne continued her work as Francis set his sea smelling cloak on a hook and at that moment… the side door to the kitchen opened and the new maid, Caroline, asked.
"Anne? Master Fitzwilliam would like…"
But the young woman stopped immediately when Francis's eyed her.
Anne took this as her cue to introduce Caroline to Francis. Raising her cloth, she said.
"Francis? I'm sure you remember Caroline?"
"Yes. That I did." Francis answered but Anne could tell he wasn't pleased seeing her. The young woman, who was in her late teens, shrunk a little but Anne used her eyes to silence her of anything which could mention Mr. Fitzwilliam or the newly hired butler. Caroline, who seemed to receive the message, answered.
"Francis… I presumed you were gone."
"No. I'm not and I don't' plan on leaving anytime soon."
"Oh," Was the response but Anne used her eyes to inform Caroline to remain silent. Instead, she asked.
"Caroline? What is it that Master Fitzwilliam wants?"
"Another one of his Lizzy bushes has arrived." Was the woman's answer.
"No doubt from Mr. Valcourt." Francis took over and Anne wished Caroline would make herself scarce and do something more than stand there. Both she and Caroline knew Master Fitzwilliam seen Miss Beauty not too long ago and that was earlier that week when she'd delivered her papa's Lizzy bush to him. And it was thanks to Caroline the two managed to sneak that meeting together.
"It was all Master Fitzwilliam would have done to speed away from those exercises," Anne thought as she bounced her eyes for Caroline to clean something.
The young woman slightly nodded as Francis said.
"May as well resume the usual: Anne?"
She rolled her eyes inwardly but answered.
"Yes?"
"Where in the world are those polishing tools?"
