Chapter 6
The Fitzwilliams went directly to their chambers to wash and change. Andrew, who was fifteen, went to join his brother, cousin, and Jamey while the Earl and Countess of Matlock joined the rest of the adults in the drawing room for afternoon tea.
The Bennet sisters were up in the nursery playing dolls with Cassie. The latter normally only had Jamey at home to play with and he never wanted to play dolls with her while she had no interest in playing with his toy soldiers.
Her sister-in-law had not yet met the Bennet girls, and specifically Elizabeth. As much as it was killing Lady Anne not to mention anything regarding Priscilla to Elaine, she bit her tongue as she fully intended to honour her friends dying wishes. If Elaine said anything about Priscilla noticed anything about Elizabeth, then she would ask Fanny to join them for an enlightening talk.
It did not take long before Lady Elaine asked a questions regarding Priscilla when she realised the Bennets had been introduced as being from Netherfield Park in Hertfordshire and that Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were from the same area. "Is that not the estate of Priscilla De Melville, as she was before marrying the Duke of York and Albany?" Lady Elaine asked and did not miss the looks that passed between her sister Anne and Mrs. Bennet. "How is Priscilla and why did she stop communicating with those of us who refused to cut her because of a divorce in which she had no say?"
"Elaine, our friend passed in childbirth some five years ago," Lady Anne said gently as she took her sister's hands in her own. "Her son was stillborn."
"No! How can that be? She was so healthy and vibrant. What happened to her, and why are the Bennets living at her estate?" Lady Elaine asked feeling the shock of the news washing over her.
"Your Ladyship, you may know my name as Francine from Cilla's letters. For her own reasons, she always used my formal name when writing about me to her friends," Fanny shared.
"You are the one she made a sisterly bond with?" Fanny nodded. "Please tell me all," Lady Elaine asked as her husband replaced his sister sitting next to his wife and holding her hands.
"Bad business that whole forced divorce and the way the De Melvilles cut her to protect their place in society, very badly done," Lord Matlock opined.
"It pained Cilla no end that her parents cut her and kept her sister and brother from having a relationship with her your Lordship. Through it all she loved her parents until she drew her final breath," Fanny informed the Fitzwilliams.
"Please Mrs. Bennet share what you are able," Lady Elaine beseeched. She quietly cried as she accepted her husband's handkerchief to dry her eyes.
"As you know, Cilla and I became the closest of friends—sisters of the heart…" Fanny told all up to and including the devastated Prince attending his beloved's and son's funerals. She explained how as an afterthought the clause had been added to the will in case Priscilla passed with no heir. When she was done there was silence for a few moments.
"So you are telling me that when she reaches her majority at one and twenty your second daughter will be the wealthiest person in the land outside of the Royals?" Lord Matlock asked in wonder.
"Yes Matlock," Lord Paul confirmed, "which is why Lady Priscilla exacted the promise of secrecy regarding Lizzy's wealth. Could you imagine the line of fortune hunters if they had an inkling of her wealth?" Lord Holder looked to his friend and his brother. "Bennet and Phillips you have things structured to protect Lizzy have you not?"
"Very much so Carrington, not only that, but when Lizzy chooses a husband, the marriage settlements will be ironclad leaving the control of her fortune in her own hands," Bennet confirmed.
"At least I know she did not want to cut our friendship," Lady Elaine stated.
"As sorry as I was when Fanny told me about her death, I was relieved to know Priscilla was surrounded by love when she left this world. It helped when Fanny told me Priscilla fully intended to establish communication after her child was born with those of us who remained true to her," Lady Anne added.
"You two do not know what happened at Pemberley last week," Darcy told his brother and sister-in-law.
"What are you talking of Darcy?" Lord Matlock asked his curiosity piqued.
"The Bennets were by chance touring the house the day Anne and I were with you at Snowhaven. William heard the pianoforte and assumed it was his mother…" Darcy told the story fully.
"He called them riffraff?" Lord Matlock asked in surprise. He was met with multiple amused nods.
"Wait, your five-year-old daughter plays so well that William thought my sister was home and playing the instrument?" Lady Elaine enquired in disbelief.
"The Bennet's music master is none other than Signore Alberto da Funti," Lady Anne informed her sister.
"Gracious me, when will we hear this prodigy play?" Lady Elaine wanted to know.
"Prodigies Elaine," Lady Edith interjected. "The older sister Jane, who is a whole seven, or is it eight now Fanny?"
"She is eight now Edith," Fanny confirmed.
"Well Jane is as good if not better in some cases than Lizzy on the pianoforte and well on her way to becoming a virtuoso on the harp. The youngest of the daughters here with the Bennets, Mary who is three, has just begun to take lessons from the Signore. Am I correct Fanny?" Lady Edit informed her friend.
"Yes Edith, that is accurate. Mary has started catching on so fast that Signore feels she may exceed her two older sisters in musical talent," Fanny shared.
"Will I meet these wonders who are your daughters Mrs. Bennet?" Lady Elaine asked hopefully.
"I was about to go see how they are doing in the nursery playing with Cassie, you are welcome to join me your Ladyship," Fanny offered.
"Elaine please Mrs. Bennet," the Countess allowed.
"Then please call me Fanny," was the reply.
"May I join you two?" Lady Anne asked knowing she needed to be present when Elaine saw Elizabeth for the first time.
"Of course Anne, please do. Edith, gentlemen, please excuse us," Fanny intoned as the three ladies stood and started up to the nursery.
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When the three ladies entered the nursery, the girls were having a tea party with their respective dolls. Mary and Jane were facing the doorway while Elizabeth and Cassie had their backs facing that direction.
"Girls, there is someone here who would like to meet you," Fanny claimed the girls' attention. After making sure their dolls were seated securely without them, all four girls stood and lined up in age order. "My oldest is Jane," Jane gave a most creditable curtsey, "you know Cassie I am sure?" Elaine nodded. "Next is my Lizzy, the one from the tale at Pemberley."
Lady Elaine had been looking at Fanny when she said the last, as she turned the petite girl was in a curtsy, and then she stood and looked at the Countess with the greenest eyes—eyes that green and large she had only seen on one before—Priscilla De Melville.
"Lastly," Fanny carried on as if she had not seen the reaction to Lizzy, "this is Mary, who is but three years old."
"Your daughters are very pretty," Lady Elaine said but her eyes were locked on Elizabeth. It was as if she was looking at Priscilla at a young age.
"Girls it is my pleasure to introduce you to Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock," Fanny completed the introductions.
Lady Elaine turned to Fanny. "Elizabeth is your daughter, your natural daughter?" she asked quietly.
"Come Elaine, you need to join Fanny and me for a talk," Lady Anne suggested in a tone letting her sister know it was not a request.
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As soon as the door to the sitting room was closed, Lady Elaine turned to the other two ladies. "Elizabeth is not your daughter by blood is she?"
"No she is not. Let us sit. Read this first and then I—we will answer any questions you have." Fanny handed Elaine the letter. Both she and Anne sat in silence while Elaine read the letter twice over.
"Goodness gracious. Elizabeth is Priscilla and the Prince's legitimate daughter. She is a Princess. Why did Priscilla not want her to be raised by the royals?" Lady Elaine asked.
"Because Elaine, Cilla's dying wish was for Elizabeth to be raised in a regular family with love. She was afraid if her existence as a Princess was known at that point her daughter would have been taken from her and cloistered in some palace or country house belonging to the monarch and raised by governesses, nursemaids, and fawning attendants. She wanted Elizabeth to know the love of a mother and father; unconditional love." Fanny sat back and allowed the Countess to assimilate the information.
"What if she is seen in society?" Lady Elaine asked.
"She will not be, not for many years at least. My Thomas has no time for the hypocrisy and debauchery of the Ton, so until Elizabeth is much older, there is no worry on that front. I know your families are members of the Ton, so I am sorry if my words offend," Fanny stated contritely.
"No contrition needed; we happen to agree with you. It is that hypocrisy that caused Priscilla's family to cut her and lose contact with their granddaughter," Lady Anne stated emphatically.
"You know I will not be able to keep this from Reggie as Anne was not able to keep the news from Robert," Lady Elaine explained. "I have a suggestion Fanny," Lady Elaine took Fanny's hand.
"What is it Elaine?" Fanny asked although she felt she knew what was coming.
"Is it not unfair to your husband not to know the truth of his daughter's parentage. Do you worry he will love Elizabeth less if he knows the truth?" Lady Elaine asked softly as she looked at Fanny.
"No, I cannot see anything that would cause Thomas to love her any less. But I promised Cilla." Fanny was conflicted between her vow and the knowledge Elaine was correct.
"You have honoured Priscilla's wishes more than any other would have, I am sure if she were here she would be the first one to tell you she understood the need to be completely honest with your husband. Do not forget he had been denied the right of mourning his son," Lady Anne soothed.
"You are both correct. I will inform him when we return to Longbourn as Priscilla's letter is there. I want to be able to have him read it when I make the full disclosure to him. Thank you; this will lift a great weight that I have been carrying." Fanny felt relief now that she had decided to inform her Thomas.
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Lord Reginald Fitzwilliam was very seldom—if ever—at a loss for words as he was after his wife told him the truth of Priscilla's daughter and gave him the letter to read.
"She is not the wealthiest non-royal, she is a royal! She is a Princess of England Elaine," Lord Matlock stated as he emerged from his stupor.
"That she is Reggie, and we will honour Priscilla's wishes and allow Elizabeth to be raised with love and family," Lady Elaine stated not brooking any opposition.
"You have my word Elaine, I will not breathe a word of this to any," Lord Matlock raised his hands in mock surrender. He would honour Priscilla's wishes anyway, but he also would not gainsay his wife. "Your suggestion that Mrs. Bennet inform Bennet is a good one. Did you see the pride and love on his mien when she and her older sister exhibited for us after dinner?"
"Yes Reggie, it was hard to miss. There was no exaggeration of those girls' musical talent," Elaine averred. "I loved the story of how Elizabeth kicked William's shin. It pleases me that our brother is making him learn humility, one Catherine in the family is more than enough, thank you very much."
"We must do anything we can to assist the Bennets if they ever need it. Mayhap one of our boys will have the good sense to fall in love with Elizabeth," Lord Matlock stated. "Do not look at me so Elaine, I will not interfere,. I want our sons to marry for love as their father did."
"Can you remember ever seeing more strikingly beautiful girls? All three Bennet sisters we met are gorgeous in their own way. I wonder if the two youngest sisters in the nursery are as pretty," Elaine surmised.
"Given the two natural daughters we met, I would assume it is so," Lord Matlock opined.
Lady Elaine returned the letter to Fanny. On her return to her chambers, Lady Elaine felt drained from the day of disclosures, so it was fairly soon when she had her husband climbed into bed.
The time at Holder Heights flew by and before each departed to their own estates, invitations were proffered and accepted. The Darcys and Fitzwilliams would stop at Netherfield on their way to Town after Andrew and Richard were dropped off at Eton.