Chapter 9
At fifteen, George Wickham was more jealous and resentful of the Darcys and their friends than ever. He had ended up working in the stables for over a year and after that had never been allowed at the manor house again and neither was he admitted to William or his cousins' company to play with them.
The few times he had made the mistake of inviting himself to the manor house had not ended well. The first time, Douglas the butler had sent him on his way with a flea in his ear, which was bad enough. The next had been far worse, he had been physically thrown out by two burly footmen.
To add insult to injury, his father had been summoned to see the master of the estate and on his return, young Wickham did not miss the thunderous look on his mien. Added to the indignantly of being thrown out of the great house, his father had taken his belt to his son.
Mr. Wickham had told his son in no uncertain terms he was not allowed into the park around the house, never mind the house itself, and as soon as he was old enough, he would be apprenticed out, if someone who had not heard of his reputation would be willing to take George Wickham on.
About six months after his last unsuccessful attempt to enter the manor house, he had noted the arrival of the Fitzwilliams and two families he did not know. He had heard that one family was the Carringtons, the father an Earl, and the other the Bennets from the south somewhere.
One day young Wickham had spied William, Andrew, and Richard riding the estate escorting a cart with five young girls in their company, he subsequently learned four girls were Bennets and one a Carrington. He would have approached, but the group was escorted by a number of grooms and footmen, two of them were the biggest men he ever remembered seeing.
One girl, she must have been around eight, was willowy and blond and very pretty, with the bluest eyes he had seen. As friends of the Darcys and Fitzwilliams, they were all marked as enemies of his for the crime of being included where he was excluded.
Over the interceding years he had seen some or all of these friends visit Pemberley and he had marvelled at how the blond one he was fixated on seemed to get more attractive each time she saw her. On her last trip, when he guessed she was about thirteen she had developed some womanly curves and young Wickham had felt stirrings in his loins as he leered at her from afar.
He did not know how, but he would have his angel one day.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Bingleys of Scarborough were well-off tradesmen. The older brother, Arthur Bingley was married to Martha. His Younger brother, and partner of the Bingley Carriage Works was Paul Bingley whose wife was Henrietta. For the most part, the Bingleys were very happy with their lot in life.
The exception was Arthur Bingley's wife Martha who felt they should raise themselves above their roots in trade. She and her husband had three children, the oldest Louisa was fourteen, their son and heir Charles twelve and the youngest, Caroline eleven.
Paul and Henrietta Bingley had a daughter Maude, six and a son, Paul Junior, three. The brothers were close—or had been—until Arthur's wife started with her social climbing and started to put on airs and graces and looked down on anyone in trade, even though it was money from trade which put food on her table and kept a roof over her head.
The two older children were not interested in their mother's constant harping on raising the family's status in society, but in her youngest daughter she found fertile soil for her ideas. Her husband was always busy running the business, so he left the rearing of his daughters to his wife without much interference.
Charles had already begun to learn about the profitable enterprise from his father and uncle. It was clear from a young age the boy had a head for business, not only that, but young Charles also loved working in the business in any role his father and uncle assigned him from physical labour on upwards.
His mother and sister Caroline did not like that he enjoyed putting his energies into trade as much as he did. Eventually Martha wore her husband down and Arthur agreed to send Charles to Harrow in a year or two, and then to Cambridge after that ,so at least Charles would have a gentleman's education which in his father's mind, would open up more choices for his son.
Louisa was asked if she wanted to attend the fancy seminary in London that her mother was pushing for the following year, but she demurred telling her father she wanted to attend school with her friends locally. He granted her wish and no amount of haranguing from his wife would get him to change his mind.
He had planned to dower each daughter with ten thousand pounds and was close to having the needed principal for each to reach his stated goal. Bingley senior invested some of his money with a man he had met in London, Edward Gardiner, the founder and owner of Gardiner and Associates.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
"Welcome Anne, Robert and Gigi," the mistress of Netherfield stated happily as she and Bennet met the arriving guests at the base of the stone steps leading to the entrance to the manor house.
"Aunty Anne, Uncle Robert, and Gigi," Kitty exclaimed excitedly. As much as she liked her adopted Aunt and Uncle, it was Georgiana for whom she and Lydia were patiently waiting. Of the two youngest Bennet daughters, Kitty was the clear leader. It was not just the fact she was the older of the two, she was also a natural leader.
"It is so good to see the two of you," Georgiana returned breathlessly with the innate excitement one would expect from a girl of four years. "It has been forever since we were all at Snowhaven together."
"Elaine and Reggie, Edith and Paul, you are all most welcome. My, Miss Cassie, you look so grown up," Fannie greeted the rest of the arrivals. "Welcome Miss de Bourgh, it is good to see you again." Fanny did not miss the dejected look her son was sporting at the lack of male company.
"It is good to see you again Fanny," Lord Matlock bestowed his hostess with a kiss on her cheek, "and you Bennet," the two friends shook hands, "I hope you are ready for me to challenge you to chess my friend."
"When will Uncle Freddy be arriving?" Lady Elaine asked.
"His note stated he join us at Netherfield by Monday afternoon," Bennet related.
Tommy was looking down the drive forlornly when he spied the Gardiner coach making its way up the drive. "Mama! Papa!" Tommy exclaimed as he jumped up and down excitedly when he spied his cousin Eddie's head in the coach's window. "You surprised me. I will not be the only boy here."
"Did you forget Nick will arrive on Monday Tommy?" Bennet asked his exuberant son.
"I know Papa, but now I will have a boy with me until Nick joins us," Tommy explained. The logic of a boy of four could not grasp how his parents could not understand what he meant.
"Welcome Brother and Sister," Fanny embraced her brother and his wife and kissed her niece Lilly, who would be one in April, in the arms of her nursemaid.
"Your girls are even prettier than when we saw them last. My goodness what a little lady Jane is Fanny," Madeline Gardiner stated as she looked at her nieces. "Is everyone returning from Town to spend Easter with you this year?"
"Except for the Carringtons, yes. They are invited to Edith's parent's estate in Suffolk so they will depart by the end of March," Fanny averred. "If any of you do not remember how to get to your chambers Mrs. Nichols is available to assist you," Fanny stated when she and the Gardiners joined the rest of the arrivals in the entrance hall. "Water for washing will be ready for you in your chambers." The Darcys, Fitzwilliams, and Carringtons would return to Town the day after Elizabeth's tenth birthday and then the former two families return with the boys from their various schools at the end of March.
Elizabeth could not wait for her tenth birthday, not because she anticipated any special gifts, but as she would move out of the nursery and join Jane in the family wing and share a suite with her. It had been a long two and one half years of missing Jane without her in the nursery.
On the other hand, she was sad as she would miss sleeping in the nursery with Mary, Kitty, Lydia, and Tommy. As her parents pointed out, as she had been allowed to have the occasional time to sleep with Jane in her bedchamber, so would her sisters and brother be allowed from time-to-time as long it is what both sides wanted.
Fanny and Bennet would not play favourites or give any of their children that which all would not receive at this point in life. There was no denying in just over eight years, Lizzy's and all of their lives, would change significantly.
Jane was excited that Anne de Bourgh was present as over the years since Anne had come to live with the Fitzwilliams, the two had grown very close. During visits to Hertfordshire, Anne had become close to Charlotte Lucas as well. While she was visiting the Bennets she would take lessons from the masters who were present.
The Bennet parents were adamant they would treat Lizzy just like any of their other children. They decided the move from the nursery would be once a child reached ten, so it would be in her case. The blow to the younger Bennet children would be mitigated with Gigi, Cassie, Mariah, Nick, and Eddy with them after Lizzy's move out of the nursery. Georgiana would remain at Netherfield Park when her parents returned to London.
Recently, Bennet had added two new science and maths masters. The science master was Mr. Brian May. He had come to Bennet's notice though a mutual acquaintance who like both Bennet and Mr. May loved astronomy.
The math master was a Mr. John Deacon. He had a deep bass voice and was very knowledgeable in his area. There was now a doctor resident at Netherfield, at the insistence of the Prince, who travelled with the family. Doctor Roger Taylor had graduated from the prestigious medical school in Edenborough.
There was one more master, one who was recommended by Signore da Funti. A voice master by the name of Mr. Fred Mercury. He seemed to have too many teeth in his mouth attached to his top jaw, but as advertised by the Signore, the man could sing like few any who heard him could imagine.
The Bennet parents suspected that both men, who were bachelors, had a far closer relationship than just friends, but they believed in love above all. Gratified that the two had found one another under their roof, they respected the men's privacy, and the men were grateful for not being persecuted for their preferences.
The five Bennet sisters loved their singing lessons with Mr. Mercury and there had been a marked improvement in their singing since the voice master had been added. Every now and again, the science and math masters would join Mr. Taylor and the singing master and spontaneously play some music together during their free time.
A family member of his had gifted Mr. May with a guitar from Spain, played almost as well as he taught his science subjects. Mr. Deacon played a big bass cello, Doctor Taylor played a long and a snare drum very well for a physician. Mr. Mercury was accomplished on the pianoforte and his voice would swell with song. At time Signore da Funti would play and sing with them when he too was in residence.
An hour later all the guests met the Bennets in the drawing room. The younger children were in the nursery under the watchful eyes of their governesses and nursemaids. "My goodness Fanny," Lady Anne spoke softly to her friend, "All of your children look so well. In a few more years you will have Jane's come out. If nobody has volunteered to sponsor her yet, I would like to be the one to do so."
"Thank you Anne, I will let you know," Fanny replied appreciatively. "As Edith is one of her godmothers, I would have to see if she wants to sponsor Jane, but as there will be three after Jane, I am sure I will be calling on you."
"I understand why our friend decided to reveal Lizzy's true birth at eighteen. As a Royal Princess, Lizzy's presentation will be vastly different from that of regular debutantes," Lady Anne opined.
"She is technically fourth in line for the throne, but Frederick explained even though she is legitimate, the King will remove her from the line of succession as she was born after he and Cilla were divorced," Fanny explained to Ladies Anne, Elaine, and Edith softly. The latter two having joined them, as they sat off to one side of the drawing room. "The Prince also opined that even though the King and Queen could choose not to recognise Elizabeth, if she chooses to make her true status known, they will not do that as his father still feels much guilt over forcing the divorce on him."
"It has been more than ten years since the divorce and Sarah de Melville has never attempted to contact Priscilla, is that not true?" Lady Elaine asked.
Fanny confirmed it was so. "I have honoured Cilla's wishes regarding her family and barring any unforeseen circumstance, I will post the letter to them when Lizzy turns eighteen.
"Could you imagine one of us throwing off one of our children for some arbitrary societal rule?" Lady Anne asked.
"I am sure I speak for all of us," Lady Edith stated firmly, "but I would never even consider such a thing."
"In a way I feel sorry for the De Melvilles," Fanny informed her friends. "To be willing to elevate the perceptions of society above the love of your own flesh and blood." After a moment of reflective silence Fanny continued. "Enough about them, how are all of your sons doing at their schools?"
"William is lonely at Eton now that Jamey has joined Andrew and Richard at Cambridge," Lady Anne shared.
"Jamey is enjoining his time at Trinity College," Lady Edith informed the group of ladies.
"As are my boys," Lady Elaine added. "Do you ever think William and Lizzy will allow themselves to become friends?"
"Hopefully, yes," Fanny replied. "I have asked Lizzy why. She stated she fully forgave William that day at Holder Heights. She said she is not sure why, but she does love to debate with him."
"That is not news," Lady Anne smiled. She was happy with the young man her son had become; there was no trace evident of the arrogant and haughty boy he was five years previously. "I asked William the same with regard to Lizzy; why he is standoffish with her. He had no good answer."
The men were amusing themselves in the game room. Gardiner, Darcy, and Holder were playing billiards while Matlock and Bennet were locked in a chess battle. They were evenly match so no matter how many games they played between them, no one ever had a large advantage over the other. Robert Darcy would routinely bear both of them.
Darcy was looking forward to Monday as the Prince was one of a handful of men who were able to beat him at chess.