Chapter 17

To say that the reunion at Netherfield the next day was emotional would have paid a great disservice to the word. No one knew who to hug first. Tommy hugged Elizabeth and lifted her clear off the ground and swung her around. "Tommy, you do know my leg is not completely healed do you not?" Elizabeth smiled at the exuberance of her brother.

No, she could no longer call him her little brother. He was as tall as her betrothed and inches taller than their late father was. With a sheepish look Tommy put his sister down who was then engulfed in Jane's arms as the two cried tears of both joy and sorrow simultaneously. "If only Papa was here to witness this," Jane sniffed as she held onto her younger sister for dear life as if she let her out of her arms she would awaken and find it was all a cruel dream. Jane pinched herself just to be sure.

"Jane, why on earth did you do that?" Elizabeth asked though her tears.

"I was afraid this was a dream, so I had to make sure," Jane averred with a watery smile.

Marie was enfolded in her parents arms, something she had been fearful to admit she believed would never happen again. Cassy, Ally, and Phillip joined the group as Marie was surrounded by her parents and three of her four siblings.

Jamie was with his wife and now the recipient of one of his new sister's bear hugs which had earned the nickname Liz-Bear from her late mother. "I am so happy to have you all home!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "You two remember by betrothed, William?" Elizabeth asked as she drew the man to her side. William had been standing back, allowing the family their time until his betrothed pulled him into the fray.

"Yes, we all know William," Jamie retorted as he shook the man's hand.

"The last time I saw you your Grace I was but seven or eight," Jane stated.

"I remember, and please, my name is William, we are to be brother and sister soon enough after all," William lifted his soon to be sister's hand and bowed over it.

"Elizabeth motioned Louisa over. "Jane, you remember out sister Louisa?" Elizabeth asked with arched eyebrow. Luckily, Louisa's unstinting support of her sister had been part of what the Gardiner's had told her the previous day.

Louisa was not sure what her reception from Jane Bennet would be like if she did not already know of the close friendship she and Elizabet had formed. All her worries were for naught when Jane enfolded her in a hug. "Thank you for all you have done to help our sister," Jane said quietly in Louisa's ear. Louisa could not help but beam. "This handsome devil here," she indicated Jamie, "is my husband, Jamie Bennet. Jamie our sister Louisa." Jamie bowed to Louisa.

"Well met Louisa. Another sister will never go amiss." Jamie made Louisa feel welcome and accepted.

"This sometime shy young lady is the Darcy you did not meet Jane and Tommy, Georgiana. You may remember she is called Gigi by all who know and like her, and one cannot know her without liking, no loving her! She will soon be our sister also." Elizabeth roundly complemented the younger girl who blushed furiously at her words. While well pleased by the compliment, she was also embarrassed.

Georgiana blushed even more when she greeted the extremely handsome Tommy, but when she met Phillip Bennet her heart skipped a beat. There was something inexplicable about the young man that attracted her to him as she had never been before. She dismissed the feelings as being caught up in the moment and pushed them to the recesses of her mind.

Lizzy was given a long hug by her aunt, uncle, and cousins whom she had not seen these long years. As the Holder Bennets and the Darcys were well known one to the other, there were no introductions needed except to Major Wickham and Mr. Hurst. "Uncle, Aunt, Cassy, Ally, and Phillip, I would like you to meet my sister Louisa." Louisa curtsied to the Earl and his family. Any worry she had about acceptance from Elizabeth's cousins were washed away as each of the five she had not yet met welcomed her to the family warmly.

The Earl of Holder turned to William. "Is there not a question you wish to ask me your Grace? I am Lizzy's legal guardian after all," he sported with the Duke.

"In that case may I…" William started to say and was cut off by a grinning Earl.

"Yes William, you have my consent and blessing. I could not think of a better or more honourable man to whom to entrust my cousin's second daughter. Welcome to the family." The two men shook hands rigorously.

Richard Fitzwilliam could not believe the beauty he saw before him in the form of Lady Cassandra Bennet. The last time he had seen her she was barely a young girl out of the school room. He now saw a poised and intelligent woman before him. He would have to take his time to know her all over again and hopefully she would want to know him.

"Now that we have all calmed down somewhat," Elizabeth stated, as she sat on a settee with William to her left and Jane and Jamie to her right, "I have a suggestion. William and I will marry on the seven and twentieth of this month and we would like to know if the wedding breakfast may be used to celebrate both weddings, ours as well as Jane's and Jamie's." She looked toward her sister and brother-in-law. "I am not sure what kind of wedding breakfast you had on one of his Majesty's war ships."

"There was a lot of grog involved," Phillip piped up.

"Our brother has the right of it," Jane smiled, "unless Mother Amy or my husband object, I would like to accept Lizzy's and William's thoughtful offer."

"There is no possible objection that I can see," Lady Amelia added.

"Nor I, Wife," Jamie stated.

"Then it will be so, but I would think we need to have the breakfast here as Netherfield has far more room for what I believe will be a larger event than Longbourn can accommodate," Elizabeth opined. There was general agreement.

Marie summoned a footman and said something quietly to him. The man nodded and withdrew. Some ten minutes later two nursemaids entered. The arriving Bennets all went quiet when they saw a little boy holding his nursemaid's hand until he spied his mama and ran into Marie's welcoming arms. The second nursemaid was holding a babe, a little girl if all of the pink was to be believed.

"Mama and Papa, I would like to introduce you to your grandchildren. This is Jamie Thomas, not yet three and Amy Cassie, who is being held by her nursemaid; She is eight months old." She looked at her son as he stood holding onto her wide eyed with all of the new people. "Jamie, you remember I told you about your other grandparents besides Grandpapa Reggie and Grandmama Elaine?" The little boy nodded tentatively. Marie turned him towards her parents. "This is Grandmama Amy and Grandpapa James."

"My new grandmama has the same name as Amy?" little Jamie asked, and his mother nodded. "An' my new grandpapa has my name?"

"You are named after him and your Uncle Jamie, but in essentials you are correct my son. Be a brave boy and go see your new grandmama and grandpapa." Marie gave her son a gentle nudge in the direction of her parents.

There was no missing the tears forming in the corner of Lady Amy's eyes. Here were two miracles as she had never thought to meet them or see her family again for that matter. As it was with young children, it did not take little Jamie long to warm to his newly-met grandparents and a slew of new aunts and uncles.

Little Amy looked at each successive adult who held her with good cheer and the biggest blue eyes that were common to the Fitzwilliams. Half an hour later, little Amy began to fuss, so Marie excused herself with a nursemaid in tow to go feed her daughter. A little while later, little Jamie's nursemaid returned him to the nursery for a nap as he was fading fast.

Once Marie returned from providing sustenance for her daughter, the arriving family was apprised of the plans for the masque and the revelations that the two despicable women would be subjected to.

"The masque will serve as a betrothal ball for you and William, will it not?" Lord James confirmed. Both nodded. "Also, it will be a reintroduction, or for many an introduction of your family, namely us?"

"That is correct Uncle James. What are you asking?" Elizabeth questioned.

"Just this Lizzy. Why have this unpleasantness spoil what otherwise will be a joyous celebration? Why wait? Let us go see them on the morrow and have them arrested and be done with it. As William stated, by attacking you they committed treason. There is no need for a dramatic scene at your ball. Believe me, it will not be many minutes before all in the neighbourhood are aware of their perfidy and crimes." Lord James said nothing further, allowing his suggestion to percolate.

"I think my friend's suggestion has merit," Lord Matlock opined.

Elizabeth looked at her betrothed who gave her a nod, then she looked to Louisa who also nodded. "It seems we are in agreement; we will go rid Longbourn of the vermin on the morrow. We need to contact Mr. Phillips and have Sir William ready with some of his constables."

"I will contact Mr. Phillips," Mr. Hurst volunteered.

"And I will send a note to Charlotte to ask her father to wait on you this afternoon. In fact, should we not invite the Phillips, Lucas, Long and Goulding families to see for themselves that Jane and Tommy are alive and well rather than at the masque along with everyone else?" Louisa suggested.

"Lulu you are brilliant! I should have thought of that myself; I can only plead my brain was addled with excitement. Oh! Do not forget the Hills! In fact William please have them sent for now." Elizabeth knew that the Hills would be besides themselves with joy when they saw Jane and Tommy hale and healthy.

While notes were being written, Jane turned to her sister. "Lizzy you say that our stepbrother has turned his life around? Is it genuine?"

"It is Jane, he helped with no expectation of reward with Lady Catherine. When William offered him a substantial reward, he refused. He had come to his epiphany years after Lulu, but it is real," Elizabeth shared with Jane.

"If that is the case, if I ever see him and he asks it, I will forgive him," Jane allowed.

"Jane, before we received the letter from you, I had planned to ask Lulu to stand up with me, but you are here now, so if you agree, I will have you instead," Elizabeth shared her quandary.

"Louisa has been a saving grace and it was she who gave you her friendship when you needed it most; it is right she should stand up with you. If you desire it, I will be more than content as a bridesmaid," Jane replied with complete sincerity. The sisters hugged, again.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

A little more than an hour later, the Hills were shown into the drawing room at Netherfield Park. One of the Duke's coaches had waited for them in the lane next to Longbourn to convey the couple.

When Mrs. Hill saw Jane and then Tommy, she simply stood with her hand over her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks. It became real for her when Jane enfolded the long-time housekeeper in a welcoming hug. Mr. Hill looked pleased and nonplussed all at the same time.

Not too much later the three families from the neighbourhood arrived. When Charlotte saw Jane she shrieked and then pandemonium broke out with much crying, laughing and hugging as the three families welcomed the long-believed dead Bennets back home. Those who did not know the Holder Bennets were introduced. The younger children were led outside by Ladies Georgiana and Ally, along with Phillip, and Tommy.

Once there were only the adults remaining, the tale of the attack on Elizabeth was told along with the plan for the morrow. Sir William, normally jovial and affable, looked as if he was ready to commit murder. "I wish I would have known right away," he looked at Charlotte in an accusatory fashion who would not look her father in the eye.

"Sir William," the Duke called Sir William's attention away from his daughter, "Elizabeth and I swore Miss Lucas to silence. My betrothed—" seeing the looks of surprise on the faces of the neighbourhood residents William remembered they had not known that fact, "—and I support her completely—wanted to be the one to deal with the despicable women. I could not deny her that. Would any of you?"

The men and women all nodded they would not want to deny Elizabeth the closure she was seeking. "Sir William, I ask that you and some of the constables to be present on the morrow. They will be leaving Tommy's estate on the morrow under arrest and will be transported to the tower to answer for committing treason," Elizabeth stated with steel in her voice.

'Papa, how I wish you were here to see this! Not only to see that Jane, Tommy, and all of our family alive, but cleansing Longbourn of them on the morrow! I miss you Papa, but it is a little easier now with all of my family standing with me,' Elizabeth looked to the heavens as she recited her message to her father.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Monday the two and twentieth day of May was no different than any other day before it for Martha Bennet and her darling daughter. It was one of the few days that Louisa remained at home. Caroline was whining about the lack of entertainment and the fact not one invitation had been received from Netherfield Park, even though she knew of the upcoming masque.

"Mayhap there will be an invitation delivered today," Louisa suggested.

"How well that sounds. I am sure some servant dropped our invitation and has just found it," Martha deluded herself. The three ladies sat up when they heard the front door bell ring.

"Mama!" Caroline Bingley jumped up and down with excitement. "I recognise the crest on the first huge carriage; it is the Duke's!"

"Caroline sit, you must look ladylike when the Duke comes to solicit your hand for two or three sets," Martha fussed to straighten her daughter's skirts as Louisa shook her head.

"Mr. Harold Hurst, private secretary to the Duke of Derbyshire and Earl of Lambton," Hill announced.

Mr. Hurst entered the drawing room bowing as the ladies curtsied. He shot his betrothed a quick smile. "His Grace requests an audience with the Bennet and Bingley ladies," Hurst intoned.

"His Grace, and any he cares to bring, are welcome at any time," Martha preened.

Mr. Hurst turned and nodded to the door. The Duke, Lady Georgiana, the Earl and Countess of Holder, Viscount Glenmeade, Tommy Bennet and Sir William entered the drawing room. Caroline shifted over hoping the Duke would take the hint and sit next to her, but he sat as far from her as possible.

"Would you introduce your friends your Grace," Martha asked demonstrating her lack of knowledge of protocol.

"You know Jane, after all the times I told those two about protocol, you would have thought they had learnt something," Elizabeth said as she and Jane entered the drawing room.

"WE KILLED YOU!" Caroline Bingley screeched.

"Do I look dead to you Jane, William, Gigi, family?" Elizabeth looked from one to the other with her mocking question.

"Y-you are dead!" Martha spluttered as she looked at Jane, her eyes as huge as saucers.

"Lizzy, did you hear what that woman said, I too am dead." Jane scoffed at the gaping woman.

"As I refuse to call you Bennet, Mrs. Bingley, and Miss Caro, do you know the charge for attempting the murder of a relation of the Queen and royal family?" Elizabeth asked evenly.

"You a relation to the queen, you are nothing but Cinder-Liza who gets cinders and soot on her face reading in front of the fire!" Caroline tried to rise to get to Elizabeth, but she felt an enormous hand pull her back into her chair none to gently. Biggs and Johns had taken up positions, one behind each lady.

"Did I omit to mention to you my dear stepsister my connection to the Duke? You see my cousin Lady Marie Fitzwilliam, née Bennet, is married to Viscount Hilldale, who happens to be the Duke's cousin, so that makes me cousin to his Grace, and by extension his cousins, the royals."

"What of Louisa, she helped us that night," Martha was clutching for any straw she could think of.

"You mean my sister Louisa Bennet who saved my life that night? She played along so she would be left with me and got help as soon as she could. You may wonder who these other people are." Elizabeth watched as the two women who were whiter than a sheet looked at those they did not know. "We may not have mentioned that my late father's cousin is the Earl of Holder, Lord James Bennet, his wife the Countess, Lady Amelia Bennet, their son and heir, Viscount Glenmeade, who happens to be Jane's husband. Sir William you know, and the young lady and my future sister is Lady Georgiana Darcy."

"You are betrothed to my Duke!" Caroline screeched as she vainly struggled against the hand holding her in her seat.

"Are you really that delusional Miss Bingley," the Duke drawled. "The one time you tried to talk to me I cut you. If you were the last lady alive, I would not offer for you. You disgusted me before you attacked my betrothed. It is only her desire to see you thrown out of her home in purpose that you have lived as long as you have."

"Before I forget, this tall strapping fellow is the one you have asked after so many times." Martha and Caroline looked at Tommy not knowing who in the world he was. "My brother Tommy Bennet, the heir of Longbourn!"

Martha stood stupefied as blow after blow kept coming. All of her bad decisions seemed to be coalescing around her in one day. "I may have advocated for transportation had you showed an iota of remorse for what you did to my betrothed, but the only thing I see is remorse that you have been caught out!" the Duke told the two with disdain.

"Louisa how could you do this to us?" Martha screeched.

"As you believe and have said many times, I am only here for the food. I have done nothing to you madam. It is by your actions and that of your disgusting daughter that have led to your well-deserved consequences. Not that it is any of your business, I will be Mrs. Harold Hurst before the masque!" Try as she may, Louisa could not summon any sympathy for the two. She knew had she asked it, Elizabeth would have had them transported, however, the last remaining bonds between her and the woman who bore her into the world were irrevocably torn asunder the night they had attacked and kicked her sister on the filthy floor of the hunting lodge.

"We are done here Sir William, please have your men remove the rubbish from our house," Elizabeth stated dispassionately.

Four constables entered the drawing room at Sir William's nod. A pair each lifted both Martha and her daughter by the arms and carried them out as they screeched invectives at anyone. The last words they heard from Caroline Bingley was something about Cinder-Liza, but then thankfully there was quiet in the house.

Mr. Phillips had waited in the hallways until the two criminals were arrested. "Now that Lord Holder is returned, he becomes Miss Elizabeth's guardian until she marries, and Tommy becomes his ward. Additionally, the Earl will manage Longbourn until Tommy is of age," Phillips explained after a question from the Earl.

"I do not know if we will find anyone to manage Longbourn as effectively as Lizzy has since my cousin passed, but I believe we will look for a steward," Lord James stated.

"There are one or two under stewards at Pemberley who would more than fit your requirements Holder," William offered.

"If memory serves, Andrew told me we have a good candidate who is under steward at Holder Heights, I think Tommy and I should interview all three and then make a decision," Lord James stated.

"Papa would have loved this day when the interlopers were dragged out of Longbourn," Tommy said as he looked to the heavens.

"I am sure Mama and Papa are looking down on us with love and pride," Elizabeth told her brother.

"Lizzy has the right of it Tommy; Mama and Papa had a love for the ages. I too am sure they are together again looking over us. If first Mama and then Papa were not watching over us do you think we would have survived the shipwreck and the years languishing on New England?" Jane asked.

"I suppose not," Tommy replied thoughtfully.

Before they departed a much more peaceful Longbourn, Jane, Elizabet, and Tommy spoke to the Hills and requested they have the house cleaned and readied so they would be able to sleep there the night before Elizabeth's wedding. The Hills gave their word that the house would be ready to receive them on time.

Everyone returned to Netherfield Park to let those who remained behind know outcome of the arrest and removal of the vermin. With the exit of the two evil woman, Elizabeth was never called Cinder-Liza again.