Chapter 9
"We must go introduce ourselves Mama," Caroline Bingley demanded. The four residents of Longbourn were seated at the dinner table.
"Oh yes my girl, that is what we will do," Martha Bennet gushed.
"Far be it from me to stop you Mrs. Bennet, but you may find yourself tossed out of Netherfield Park for that impertinence," Elizabeth smiled.
"Shut up Cinder-Liza! What do you know?" Caroline spat out at her stepsister.
"Of the two if us stepsister dearest, which one of us grew up a gentleman's daughter? Which of us do you think would know the protocol for visiting a new neighbour?" Elizabeth asked amused at the pinched look that both mother and daughter sported.
"In that case Cinder-Liza, elucidate us," Martha ordered.
"Use my correct name and I will consider it," Elizabeth returned.
"Tell me Eliza," Martha tried again. Not being able to strike the chit was most annoying as her stepdaughter had no fear of her at all.
"That is not my name, and well you know it," Elizabeth pushed.
"Elizabeth! Are you happy! Now tell me what I want to know," Martha almost whined. Caroline was pouting that her stepsister had humiliated them once again.
"Under normal circumstances, when the new arrival is of equal or lesser rank, the man of the house would call on his new neighbour, however as a duke is far above any in this area, it is his prerogative to initiate contact and request introductions. If I were to have my guess then his Grace may make an appearance at the upcoming assembly in Meryton so he can meet a good number of then residents in one controlled area," Elizabeth explained. "However, if you do not believe me, then please go right ahead and show up at the Duke's estate uninvited and introduce yourself. I would wager you never get close to the front door."
For all of her bluster, Martha was aware that she knew not the ways of the gentry in general and the Ton specifically. She hated to do so, but she decided that in this case she had to assume that her stepdaughter was correct. She and Caroline stood without a word to Elizabeth or Louisa and exited the dining parlour with their noses in the air.
"Is everything you told my mother true?" Louisa asked. She did not doubt her friend, she simply did not know.
"It is Lulu, every word," Elizabeth assured her friend.
"I know how much you dislike my mother and Caroline, especially for that derisive moniker she gifted you, Cinder-Liza! So why did you stop her from being thrown out of Netherfield Park?" Louisa was confused, she thought that her mother and sister's humiliation would have amused her friend.
"Firstly, no matter how much I dislike them, I would not want to see them be humiliated in such a fashion and second as your mother's last name is Bennet and connected to Longbourn, I have a selfish reason for not wanting my family name and estate to be the subject of neighbourhood gossip and heaven forbid if word reaches so called polite society in London!" Elizabeth explained.
"What do you mean your estate?" Louisa asked.
"The one I live on silly, that my family has for generations," Elizabeth hedged.
"Do you really believe the Duke and his party will attend the assembly?" Louisa wondered.
"I do think there is a good chance, but I may be wrong," Elizabeth owned.
"Mama had purchased new gowns for Caroline out of her widow's portion, but she told me she had no money to spare for me," Louisa lamented.
"Meet me at the dressmakers at eleven Louisa, we will make sure you have something to wear; we have a few days yet," Elizabeth assured her friend.
"Elizabeth, I did not tell you that so you would acquire a dress for me," Louisa protested.
"I know you did not Lulu, which is the exact reason why I am doing it! I will not be gainsaid, so you had better grin and bear it!" Elizabeth smiled as she saw acceptance on her friend's face.
"And when Mama asks me from where a new dress came?" Louisa asked with concern.
"Your mother only worries what her other daughter wears and that sister of yours is far too self-centred to notice what you are wearing, so I believe that all will be well," Elizabeth soothed.
The sad thing was, what Elizabeth said was true.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Tommy was on watch at the top of the hill when he spied a sail. "Another pirate I am sure," Tommy said in exasperation to Parrot who was eating a banana. Tommy opened the spyglass and pointed it at the vessel. It took him some seconds to see the ensign of the Royal Navy flapping in the wind from the quarterdeck of an English man-of-war.
Tommy pulled the canvass of the enormous pile of wood, splashed some water onto the top pieces as Uncle James had instructed to make more smoke and struck the flints to the kindling. He was so excited that the first two tries failed to produce a spark, but the third one did.
As gently as he could he blew on the small embers that settled into the dried grasses and twigs. With in thirty seconds he had flame and he pushed the burning kindling to the much larger pile of the same at the base of the pile of wood.
Within five minutes the flames took hold and a thick plume of black and white smoke rose up towards the clear blue sky. On the beach, the family and the two remaining crew members saw the smoke and they all dared to hope like they had not allowed themselves for some years.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
HMS Charger was a six and thirty gun frigate of the Royal Navy. She was charged with a patrol area among some of the unknown, as was believed, uninhabited islands of the Bahamas chain. She had been sent to this particular area as a pirate ship had been found, chased, and ultimately sunk in the area.
Captain Nevin Sandiford had commanded HMS Charger for over five years and had been stationed in Nassau for just over a year. They had been on this patrol for three weeks and had one more week before returning to port. They had stopped at a few uninhabited islands to take on fresh water and the crew had foraged for fruits and wild vegetables. Fishing was a daily occurrence. It seemed like a normal day of seeing no quarry when the man in the crow's nest yelled "Smoke ahoy!"
The Captain pointed his spyglass, as did his executive officer, a Lieutenant-Commander, and a Sub- Lieutenant who was on watch. Sandiford looked at the hill where the smoke was emanating from and saw a boy or young man waving a Union Jack! He dropped his sight line to the beach and there he saw a group of people, men and women all waving furiously.
"Make for that island with all speed Mr. Chandler," the Captain ordered his executive officer. "I see a reef line, steer a south-west, there is a break in the reef line, we will anchor and launch the long boats." The Captain turned to the junior officer, "Have a contingent of Marines at the ready Mr. Barlow," he commanded.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As soon as Tommy saw the ship change course towards them, he took off down the hill as fast as he safely could. By the time he reached the beach, the warship could be plainly seen with the naked eye. He joined the group rejoicing on the beach. After more than three years, their odyssey was about to come to an end.
Some were kneeling offering thanks to God, others were hugging each other and not a few of their number, men included, were crying tears of joy. His sister and her betrothed were hugging one another tightly, unashamedly crying tears of joy. They would be able to marry at long last. Poor Parrot was squawking, not at all sure what all of the noise and excitement was about.
"What is she?" Phillip asked the carpenter who was standing next to him on the beach.
"She be a frigate, six and thirty gun I believe," the ecstatic man responded.
It took about two hours until they ship's sails were lowered, and she anchored outside of the reef line near the gap. The group on the beach watched in wonder as four longboats were lowered and then men, some sailors and some in the uniform of the Royal Marines scrambled down the netting that had been lowered down the side of the hull and smartly took up positions in the longboats.
Eight oars were raised in each boat, four a side, and then as one they were lowered into the water and again as one, the men started rowing. It took about twenty minutes for the four boats to reach the land. An officer approached those on the beach.
"Lieutenant-Commander Chandler at your service, executive officer of HMS Charger. Who is in charge here?" he asked. The marines standing behind him had their weapons shouldered, but ready for anything.
"I am Lord James Bennet; Earl of Holder and I am in charge of the group of survivors of The West Indies Trader. We have been here since August 1805. We have the ship's log that we were able to save." The Earl did not miss the looks of shock and surprise on the faces of the officer and the men.
"Your Lordship, everyone believed that The West Indies Trader was lost will all hands," Mr. Chandler shared.
"I think I still remember some of the protocols from England," the Earl jested. "My wife Lady Amelia Bennet, Countess of Holder, my oldest son James Bennet Junior, Viscount Glenmeade, my daughters Ladies Casandra and Alicia and my youngest son, the Honourable Phillip Bennet." Each made a curtsy or bow when their name was mentioned. "This young lady is Miss Jane Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire and her bother Thomas Bennet Junior; they are my cousins. Lastly Smith and Jones, the last two remaining crewmembers of the ship."
"I will wager that after three years stranded here you wish to be away?" the Lieutenant-Commander opined. "Is there anything you wish to bring with you?"
"Only Parrot," Tommy spoke up.
"A parrot?" the officer asked.
"Yes, he, we think it is a male, is a parrot, but his name is Parrot," the Countess explained.
"To the boats," the Lieutenant-Commander ordered.
Soon all were seated in boats and some of the seamen pushed them into the lagoon and then jumped on board themselves. The men rowed efficiently, and soon they were alongside the hull of the frigate. Bosun's chairs were lowered for the ladies and once they were all safely standing on the deck above, the men climbed up the netting.
At the Earl's request, the executive officer introduced his captain and fellow officers. When the Captain heard who they had just rescued he was speechless. "My Lord, I think you are familiar with my father. I grew up on Falconwood, being a third son, I chose the navy," Captain Sandiford stated.
"Yes, of course, your father is Mr. Cedric Sandiford, Falconwood is but twenty miles south of Holder Heights!" the Earl confirmed.
"We have a few more days of patrol left and then we will return to Nassau. Unless it is a dire emergency, I do not have the authority to leave my patrol my Lord," the Captain explained.
"You will hear no argument from any of us Captain, after more than three years on New England, we are overjoyed to be leaving our island home behind us." Seeing the Captain's quizzical look, the Earl explained they had dubbed the island with a name that tied them to the home country for which they longed.
"Captain," Jamie called the commander's attention to himself. "Do you carry a clergyman on board?" he asked hopefully as Jane blushed becomingly.
"We do happen to have one with us on this patrol, may I ask why?" The Captain had a good idea why.
The couple explained that they had been betrothed for over eighteen months and as much as Miss Bennet wanted her father and sister present, they could not wait any longer. They decided that on their return home, they would have a celebration and if her father desired, Jane stated they would renew their vows, to which Jamie had no objections.
The parson was called to meet the 'castaways.' He confirmed that as the bride was of age, he would issue a common license, so the wedding was set for the morrow, the seven and twentieth day of February 1809. Parrot told everyone he wanted a cracker to celebrate the upcoming nuptials which led to much laughter.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
"I need money for Caroline's new dress, she must impress the Duke at the upcoming assembly!" Martha demanded as she stood across the desk from her stepdaughter in the master's study.
"Are you telling me madam that you have frittered away your widow's portion, have no more of your monthly allowance and due to your inability to manage your money you now expect the estate to pay for your profligate ways?" Elizabeth asked amazed at the hubris of the woman.
"Listen to me Cinder-Liza, I am the mistress of this is estate and you will provide me the funds that I need!" Trying to intimidate Elizabeth, the woman leaned over the desk with her arm raised as if she were about to strike her.
"Go ahead stepmother dear!" Elizabeth challenged. "Strike me and you and your spawn will be gone before the sun sets in the west this very day!"
Martha shrank bac. How she hated the chit! But there was no option. If she did something to be removed from Longbourn now, they would be destitute. She missed that her stepdaughter had used the singular not plural when she referred to her daughters.
"Did you forget what Mr. Phillips told you the day he read my father's will? All of the funds are kept in trust for the heir and Mr. Phillips disburses funds not I! Even had I wanted to, and I do not, I would not have given you a penny to reward you for wasting your money on nothing of value," Elizabeth stated firmly. She had no doubt that the woman hated her, but her fear of being cast out with nothing was stronger even than the hatred.
The woman stood and flounced out of the study leaving the door open as was her wont. After Elizabeth closed the door, she sat back in the comfortable arm chair her father used to use. Next to Utopia it was the thing that made her feel closest to her late father, she could almost feel his presence in the chair.
'Oh Papa, why did you ride when you were deep in your cups? Even though you locked yourself in this study, you were still here and now you are gone!' Elizabeth dashed away the tears that had collected in the corners of her eyes. 'I have hoped for so long that Jane and Tommy will return, but after three years, is it not time for me to accept it is a dream that will never be? Jane and Tommy how I ache for you, I will try and keep hope alive, but it becomes harder with each passing month!'
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
"Will you attend the assembly your Grace?" Mr. Harold Hurst, the Duke's private secretary asked. Hurst had joined the current duke some two years ago. He was the fourth son of a gentleman who owned a small estate, Winsglade in Yorkshire.
"I think I must. Miss Younge will remain here with Lady Georgiana as she is not out yet. I know that sometimes in the country girls are out locally earlier than in Town but given my sister's shyness and the amount of fawning I will have to endure, it is not a situation to which I would expose her," the Duke replied.
"At least it seems that the residents are aware of protocol, as none have called on you at Netherfield your Grace," Hurst informed his employer.
"So it seems Hurst, so it seems. Where is Lady Georgiana currently?" the Duke inquired.
"Your sister is in a lesson with Signore da Funti. As you requested, Miss Younge and a maid attend her at all times," Hurst reported.
"Did we receive a report on the populace of the neighbourhood that I commissioned?" the Duke wanted to know.
"We did your Grace. There is nothing exceptional, rather like the population of Lambton. That is except for the Bennets," Hurst related.
"What about the Bennets? Did you find a connection between them and the Holder Bennets who were lost at sea?" Lord William asked with interest. In the recesses of his memory her remembered the impertinent slip of a girl of four or five years with green eyes like he had never seen in his life before or since.
"It is easiest to answer the second part of your question first your Grace. If there is a connection between these Bennets and the unfortunate family from Staffordshire, for some reason it has been well hidden as the investigator found no trace of such a connection." Hurst then proceeded to relate that as far as could be told, there were three Bennet children, only one remained at home and there was no clue as to the location of the other two.
He told all about the compromise, the marriage in name only, how Mr. Bennet refused to allow his stepchildren to use his name and how the town's folk disdained the new Mrs. Bennet and her three children, named Bingley.
"Bingley you say? I remember in my final year at Eton, there was this boy, Charles Bingley who attempted to ingratiate himself with any of high birth. As far as I know he never succeeded and there was talk about him lacking character. I wonder if it is the same family?" the Duke mused.
"I believe so your Grace, the former Mrs. Bingley's children are Charles, Louisa, and Caroline. The son is not allowed to return to Longbourn. From what I am reading here, the son was not seen again for too long after the compromise and before the Bingleys arrived at the estate. The older Bennet girl left at the same time that the Bingley boy was banned from ever setting foot on Bennet lands again. In my estimation, the only ones you need to be wary of are Mrs. Bennet and her youngest, Caroline Bingley." Hurst placed the report on the Duke's desk as he concluded his report.
"I will have Biggs and Johns near at all times. Have we stationed some men around Meryton to keep their eyes and ears open?"
"Per your wishes your Grace." Hurst was dismissed soon after.
Lord William sat in his study cogitating. If the Bennets were related to his uncle's and aunt's good friends, why would they hide the connection? The obvious answer must be that there is no connection.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
"Well that is not very friendly of William not to be home to receive us!" the hobbling Colonel jested as he leaned on his crutch in the entrance hall at Darcy House in London.
"To be fair Richard, it is not like we informed William of our coming. You did want to surprise your cousins after all!" Wickham grinned at his brother-in-arms.
"You used to allow me to have more fun George," Richard gave a chuckle. "How was I to know that my parents would depart London before the end of the season to assist Marie and Andrew with the running of the Holder estates and holdings." Richard got an idea. "Killion, where is my cousin?"
This was information that the butler would never give to anyone except a select few, the Colonel being one of them and the Major another. "His Grace and Lady Georgiana are at his estate, Netherfield Park near the town of Meryton in Hertfordshire," Killion shared.
"What does my cousin need with another estate? Never you mind! What say you George? I feel like a travelling to this Meryton; it is early and we ill arrive this afternoon," Richard said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "We will still be able to shock my staid cousin."
A half hour later the two officers and their batmen were in a Darcy coach headed for the estate in Hertfordshire. They arrived at nice looking estate in just over four hours. When Mr. Nichols answered the door, he saw two officers he did not know and looked to Biggs who nodded his head. The officers asked not to be announced and were pointed to the music room where they could hear the sweet sounds of the pianoforte.
Lord William looked up when the door opened, he wondered if he was needed. Through the door, supporting himself on a crutch, hobbled his cousin and behind him his friend George, his arm in a sling. Both were grinning ear to ear.
Before he could say a word, the playing stopped. "RICHARD! Mr. Wickham!" Lady Georgiana yelled out with glee. In an understandable, unladylike display, Lady Georgiana Darcy launched herself at her cousin but pulled up short when she noticed his crutch.
"Do not worry Gigi, I am on the mend, as is my friend George here. In a few more months we will be back to full strength." By the time Richard had completed speaking his cousin was before him as both brother and sister hugged Richard. Lady Georgiana curtsied to Wickham, and he too received a bear hug from Darcy who was careful not to go near the injured shoulder.
Mrs. Nichols was summoned and asked to prepare rooms in the family wing and have hot baths readied for both men.
