Chapter 7
On arriving back at Netherfield Park, Fanny's first order of business was to meet with her housekeeper and make sure all was in order and there were no immediate issues the mistress needed to deal with.
After Fanny washed and changed she knew there was no more putting off the task before her. She retrieved the letter her sister of the heart had written to Thomas and made her way to the study where he was going over the ledgers with Netherfield's steward.
"Enter," Bennet called when he heard a knock.
"Mr. Bennet, we need to talk. Is now a good time or would you prefer to finish your meeting with Mr. Harrelson first?" Fanny asked almost hoping for the reprieve of more time. She prayed Thomas would not be angry with her.
"No Mrs. Bennet, Harrelson and I were just completing our meeting," Bennet indicated the chair the steward just vacated. The man bowed to the master and mistress and took his leave.
"Thomas what I have to tell you may shake the very foundation of our marriage, but I trust you will understand and not be too angry with me for not telling you the whole truth. Before I say more, I have a letter—from Cilla—I need you to read. After that we can discuss all," Fanny stated evenly as she sat on the settee and patted the cushion next to her. Bennet sat and he handed him the letter.
27 February 1790
Netherfield Park
Thomas,
If you are reading this letter then the worst has come to pass and I am no longer with you and my dearest friend—my sister—in the mortal world. Let me start by begging you not to be angry with Fanny for not telling you all as I will have made her swear to honour my wishes.
I am aware that since the King tore Frederick and me asunder I have not been the same. I knew I was with child before my beloved went to his father and did not mention it to him just in case what I feared happening happened. To my everlasting sorrow it did.
My will has been made over with the help of your brother Phillip, I am sure Fanny would have told you about the bequests to her, Jane, and any future daughters. She fought me valiantly on my bequeathing her and your children anything, but in the end I prevailed.
This letter signifies that not only am I dead, but that Fanny agreed to take my child as her own and by extension, your own. I am not sure Fanny will be able to wait until my son or daughter is eighteen to tell you, but that is what I intend to ask her.
My reason for not telling Frederick he had a child is that the son or daughter will be fourth in line for the throne, and I want my son or daughter to grow up with loving parents and not be a piece of furniture to be forgotten at some country estate of the royals.
I want my child to be raised by loving parents who will love the boy or girl with all of their hearts—in other words, just what I have seen in you and Fanny in the rearing of Jane so far. My ardent belief is that it is the way you and Fanny will love all of your children, including the one I have asked you to take into your home and love as your own. I know not if you are reading this on my child's eighteenth birthday or before then, but I do know this: I could not ask better parents to love my child than you and Fanny.
As we will enter our confinements close to one another's time, I will ask Fanny to tell you she bore twins—so I hope she does not in fact bear twins—if I do not survive. I thank you both for whatever you have done for my son or daughter so far and reiterate that if you are to be upset, it is me to whom your ire should be directed.
Both of your brothers know of the arrangements as Mr. Phillips will take care of all legal aspects, including holding the genuine certificate of birth, and Mr. Gardiner who will manage my heir's fortune.
Until my child reaches his or her majority, Netherfield is yours do use as you see fit. All I can do is apologise from beyond the grave to you for any subterfuge and pray it does not diminish the love you feel for the child you now know is not yours by blood.
My eternal thanks and God bless you and your family,
Cilla
"Lizzy," Thomas whispered as he put the letter down.
"Yes Thomas. Lizzy is Cilla and Prince Frederick's daughter," Fanny admitted with bowed head as the tears flowed freely.
"Little Frederick buried next to Priscilla?" Bennet asked already knowing the answer.
"Our stillborn son. It was her dying wish Thomas. How was I to refuse her?" Fanny asked forlornly.
"Fanny look at me," Bennet requested as he gently lifted his wife's head applying gentle pressure to her chin. "I am not angry. I understand you were sworn to secrecy, but why now?"
Fanny related the happenings at Holder Heights and suddenly Bennet understood why both Ladies Anne and Elaine had been fixated on Elizabeth. She explained that Lord Matlock had suggested she should reveal the truth to him now and not wait until Lizzy was eighteen as Priscilla had requested.
"For me, Lizzy is as much my daughter as any of the other four. You will not push her away now will you Thomas?" Fanny worried.
"Fanny how could you even think that a possibility? Like you, I love her as a father should love his daughter, but there is something we must do, regardless of Priscilla's wishes. We must contact the Prince." Bennet held up his hand to stem the protest forming in Fanny's throat. "Lizzy is a royal, not a cousin, but a Princess! If we wait until she is eighteen as Priscilla wanted and the Prince is angry with us, we can be charged with treason. So this must be done. We will have to rely on his love for Priscilla that will induce him to follow her wishes. That way we are legally covered as we will have legal sanction."
"But what if he takes her away Thomas?" Fanny asked in a panic at the thought of losing Lizzy.
"It is a chance we must take Fanny. Surely you can see that we cannot risk the welfare of all of us including our four natural daughters if we do not do as I say we need to do," Bennet asserted.
"As much as I hate to own it Thomas, you have the right of it. How will you go about it?" Fanny asked. Her insides were roiling at the possibility of losing Lizzy, but she was sure it was the only course open to them.
"I will write to him at York House. From bits I have read in The Times, I believe that is his primary residence as his wife lives at Oatlands Park. You know they separated do you not?" Bennet asked. Fanny nodded. As Bennet picked up his quill and pulled a fresh sheet of parchment from the stack on the corner of his desk, Fanny went to seek her daughters. She felt an uncontrollable urge to hug Elizabeth.
After her long hug, Fanny sat down and wrote letters to both Elaine Fitzwilliam and Anne Darcy.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As it happened the Duke of York and Albany, Earl of Ulster was on the continent in negotiations on a treaty for the King when the letter from Thomas Bennet arrived at York House on St. James Square in London.
He arrived at his town house a fortnight later and the next day he was sitting in study with his private secretary sorting through correspondence. His secretary asked his master if he knew a Thomas Bennet, at first the Duke demurred and just before the man threw the missive into the fire, the Duke grabbed his arm.
He remembered the man was the husband of his beloved's best friend in the world and correctly surmised that there must be a good reason for the man to be writing to him out of the blue and it must have something to do with his darling Cilla.
That very morning, the Duke ordered his coach to be made ready and along with a contingent of the royal guard, he departed for Netherfield Park.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Both Anne and Elaine had responded to Fanny's letters and asked if she needed their company. Fanny had responding thanking them from the bottom of her heart but refusing their offer saying that as they had no response yet from the Prince. There was no telling when, or even if, they would hear from him.
She was about to hie to the study to ask her husband if mayhap he should seek a personal audience with the Prince when she heard the sounds of riders and a coach in the drive. Her husband heard it as well and joined her at the entrance to the house.
There was no mistaking the royal guards' uniforms or the coat of arms on the coach's door. Biggs placed a step at the door and opened it and stood to the side, his back ramrod straight as the Prince alighted from the conveyance.
"Welcome to Netherfield you Royal Highness," Bennet intoned as he and his wife genuflected.
"Come now Bennet, you used to call me Oatland, no need for formality," Frederick said amiably.
"That is before I was aware you were the King's second son," Bennet retorted.
"As it is my prerogative, how about you call me York," the Prince commanded.
"Please follow me into the study," Bennet invited.
Once the three were ensconced in the study the Prince refused refreshment as he was impatient to know the reason for the urgent request he attend the Bennets at Netherfield. He was not surprised his generous Cilla would have bequeathed the estate to the Bennets.
"I am about to give you a letter from Priscilla written before she died. She wanted it to wait for another thirteen years, but when I found out the facts of the matter the day I posted my letter to you, I decided you must be made aware of the facts now," Bennet stated as he handed the confused prince the letter from Priscilla.
For a while the Prince simply held the letter in his late wife's hand, trying to imbue her presence. When he felt ready he broke the seal and started to read.
27 February 1790
Netherfield Park
My one and only true love Frederick,
Let me open this letter by telling you how ardently I love you and even in death, that will never change. If you are reading this my darling then the worst has happened, and I am no longer living in this world without you. Know that when God brings you home to His kingdom, I will be waiting to be reunited with you.
If you are being handed this letter then our daughter, Elizabeth Sarah, is now eighteen. Yes, we have a child. Before you become angry with the Bennets, I ask you in the name of the infinite love that we shared to listen to my reasons. I am confident you will agree with my decision.
"I have a daughter?" The Prince asked wondrously with rancour to no one in particular. He went back to reading.
The reason my sister Fanny will not have contacted you about your daughter before, is that I intend to make her vow to me she will honour my wishes for the following reasons: Firstly you told me how you and your brothers and sisters were raised and secondly how many times did we not comment on the fact that Fanny and Thomas were the best of parents?
Do you remember my love how you told me how lonely your upbringing was—placed in a country house with nursemaids, governesses, and tutors, seeing your parents only once in a great while. You told me how your parents were almost strangers to you until you were older. Is that what you want for our Elizabeth? Do you want her to grow up not knowing a parent's love?
I can hear you Freddy, you are saying you would love her, but if you are honest, you will know as soon as she is known to your parents it will be out of your hands. We made a pledge, one to the other, do you remember my love?
"Yes I remember Cilla, I remember," the Prince said aloud, tears running down his cheeks. He was not ashamed at his display of emotions. He went back to the letter.
You know in your heart that Fanny and Thomas will raise our child with love, compassion, and caring and she will have a real chance to be the best version of herself possible.
If, as I suspect she may, Fanny tells Thomas about our child before she is eighteen, then I beg you Freddy, allow Elizabeth to remain with the Bennets. Work out a way to be part of her life without anyone else knowing you are her father.
In case you are wondering why Fanny's script appears in places, it is because I will ask her to fill in certain words if I am able before I am no more.
I ask this in the name of all that is holy and the love we shared; the love I hope we still share.
Yours forever,
Cilla
The Prince read the letter over twice more before he was willing to speak. "Like you Fanny, I made Cilla a promise, I will not break it now. She will remain with you. Your brother Phillips is available?" the Prince asked.
"He is York, I will have him summoned for you," Bennet stated. He stood and called the nearest footman in the hall and dispatched the man to summon Mr. Phillips.
"If you assumed the house is ours, it is not…" Fanny went on to explain all about Priscilla's will. She also explained to the Prince that it was her son who lay in eternal slumber next to Priscilla.
"It is as it should be, the only difference is that when she is older and she allows me to acknowledge her or not, she will be my heir," the Prince informed the Bennets. "I see some very large footmen you employ Bennet; would you allow me to supplement them with some of the royal guard who will be incognito as footmen, coachmen, and outriders?"
"I see no reason why not. I assume you would like to meet our children; it has been many years since you saw our Jane," Bennet suggested with a twinkle in his eye.
"How will I know…I am guessing I will know her when I see her, I assume she has some of my Cilla in her?" the prince surmised. "Before we go, do the De Melvilles know about Elizabeth or even Priscilla's death?
"You could say that Frederick," Fanny stated cryptically. "Let us repair to the west drawing room, the three older girls will be there waiting for us." Now that she knew the Prince would not remove his daughter and fully intended to honour Priscilla's wishes, Fanny felt as if a millstone had been lifted off her shoulders.
The moment the Prince walked into the drawing room and three inquisitive girls looked up at him, he knew. He was staring into his Cilla's eyes. Not only that, but his daughter looked like a miniature version of his beloved. She had Cilla's complexion and her mahogany curls which Frederick used to love so. She seemed to have her mother's looks. Frederick supposed she would break many hearts when she was older. He told himself he would have to place a whole regiment of royal guard as her protection once she came out into society.
"Jane, Lizzy, and Mary you remember all of the stories I tell you about your Aunt Cilla who gave us this house?" All three nodded vigorously. "This man is Uncle Frederick, he was Aunt Cilla's husband."
"Uncle Frederick is a big mouthful is it not?" the Prince asked the three sisters as he sat near them.
"It us Uncle Fred-rick," Mary responded seriously.
"Well, in that case you may call me what Aunt Cilla used to, I will be Uncle Freddy," the Prince told the girls who agreed it was a much easier name to say.
"Would you like to accompany us to the music room Frederick to hear Jane and Lizzy play?" Fanny asked. "Yes, they can play—quite well," Fanny told the Prince after seeing his quizzical look.
When first Jane played the pianoforte followed by his daughter he thought he was dreaming. They played better than a lot of debutants he had heard. If that was not enough, the two played a duet where Jane was on the harp.
Frederick remained for the midday meal and before he left, he met with the Bennet parents and Phillips who had just arrived, in the study. Now that the girls accepted he was another uncle, the Prince agreed it was the role he would fill and would visit when convenient for the Bennets. He wrote a letter and signed it for Phillips to hold to indemnify the Bennets in case it were ever needed.
When Frederik departed Netherfield Park that day there was a spring in his step. For some reason the Ton could not comprehend his days of being a rake were suddenly behind him. There was no more excessive drinking, carousing, gambling, or the like. In addition, no one could fathom what had changed to lift the veil of sadness which had descended on the Prince since his forced divorce.