Chapter 10
Wednesday the fifth day of March dawned as a cloudless spring day. There was a light breeze making the leaves on the trees wave gently. Elizabeth woke not long after the sun was up knowing it was a big day for her. Yes, it was her tenth birthday and she was looking forward to it, but much more importantly, she had just slept her final night in the nursery.
As she had told her mother when they discussed her move, Elizabeth was torn. She would miss her four younger siblings, but the reward of sharing a suite with Jane mitigated most of the sadness she felt at leaving her sisters and brother in the nursery.
The nursemaid who was on duty helped Elizabeth dress in clothes that were ready for her. The rest of her clothing had been moved to her new bedchamber the previous day and once she left the nursery that morning, the rest of her possessions would be moved to her new room. Not wanting to disturb her sleeping siblings (at least she assumed they were sleeping), Elizabeth slipped out of the nursery and made for her new chambers.
Jane had a maid, Miss Antoinette de Chambé, who had started with her when she turned twelve. Until Elizabeth turned twelve, de Chambé would assist her as and when needed once she had seen to Jane's needs.
Prince Frederick had wanted to gift his daughter with her own maid as soon as she moved, but he had been soundly overruled by both Fanny and Bennet, pointing out how important it was that his daughter not be treated differently that her sisters. Seeing the truth in their assertions, Frederick had withdrawn from that particular fight.
Elizabeth did not see anyone on her way to her new chambers and did not think much on it as she entered the sitting room she and Jane would share until one of them eventually left the house. Her mother had given her permission to ask de Chambé to style her hair for the special day.
Elizabeth found the maid waiting for her in her new dressing room and was somewhat disappointed that Jane was not up to wish her happy, but she would not disturb her sister if she needed to sleep still.
After her hair was done in an elegant updo—a special treat for her birthday even if she was a little young for such a coiffure—Elizabeth made her way to the breakfast parlour to start her day off with a cup of chocolate, then she planned as she did in the mornings to take a walk in the park until returning to break her fast with the family. On her way to the parlour she stopped at her father's study to wish him good morning, but there was no answering call to enter. Disappointed, Elizabeth turned toward the direction of her waiting morning drink.
The doors to the parlour were closed, but as she approached, Biggs and Johns, almost cracking smiles, pushed the doors open for her. "Happy birthday!" came the combined chorus of everyone resident in the house. Elizabeth stopped and gaped, but soon had the biggest smile as she realised why she had not seen anyone from the time she got up until now.
Nearest to her was Jane who opened her arms for her younger sister. "Were you surprised Lizzy?" Jane asked as she hugged her sister. "It was so hard for me not to be there when you went to have de Chambé do your hair, but it was worth seeing the look on your face."
"Uncle Freddy!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she saw her uncle who she loved dearly next to Jane. "What time did you arrive from Purvis Lodge? As always, I am very happy to see you."
Prince Frederick almost melted at his daughter's words of affection. He hugged her and held the living breathing part of Priscilla remaining in the mortal world. "Ten today Lizzy, you are becoming an old lady, you will soon be on the shelf," he teased.
"Very funny Uncle," Elizabeth said with a smile. She loved all of her uncles, but for some reason she could not fathom, she felt an affinity to Uncle Freddy that was different than her other uncles.
Elizabeth knew that he was a Prince, in fact second in line for the throne of England after his older brother. Based on knowing her uncle, she assumed all royals were friendly and approachable like he was. Frederick had been in her life for almost five years now and he was wont to shower all six Bennet children with gifts. Jane and her cobs, Avery and Juniper respectively, was just one of such example. If that were not enough, he had gifted the rest of the Bennet children with ponies. She was sure Uncle Freddy had some extravagant present for her birthday, but she cared not as long as he was present in person.
After Uncle Freddy, she was hugged tightly by her Mama and Papa who both wished her happy and congratulated her on reaching the milestone of her own bedchamber. Elizabeth shared an opinion common to all six Bennet children that they had the best parents anyone could have.
Elizabeth was surrounded by the rest of her sisters, as well as Charlotte, Anne, Cassie, Gigi, and Mariah. Once she made her way through the wishes of that group, Tommy approached her with a baleful look on his face.
"Tommy, why do you look sad?" Elizabeth asked.
"You are leaving the nursery and I will miss you," Tommy owned.
"You will not see me less during the day Tommy," Elizabeth insured the pouting boy of three. Elizabeth put her mouth next to his ear. "Would you like to come visit my chambers later? After our guests leave, you will be invited to spend the night like we did in Janey's chambers sometimes?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
The reaction was immediate. Tommy's look went from sad to beaming with happiness. For reasons known only to him, he felt closer to Elizabeth than his others sisters—who he loved deeply—so her offer put him at ease. Eddie and Nick wished her happy too, each was rewarded with a hug from the birthday girl.
After she received hugs from her Gardiner, Darcy, Carrington, and Fitzwilliam aunts and uncles, everyone was seated and enjoyed the celebratory breaking of their fasts. As was her wont on her birthday, Elizabeth was treated to a second cup of chocolate at the end of the meal.
From the dining parlour all proceeded to east drawing room, the largest at Netherfield Park for the presentation of the presents. For once, Frederick had not gifted his daughter with an over-the-top gift. His gift, as most of the others, was clothing, in his case a sable pelisse.
When Fanny saw the material of the pelisse she looked at the sheepish Prince with arched eyebrow. "It was a pelisse as you asked Fanny," Frederick said quietly in his defence near Fanny's ear as Bennet smirked with an 'I told you so look' to his wife.
"But sable Frederick! I suppose it is my fault when I told you she needed a pelisse that I did not specify that you should not be extravagant in the material," Fanny shook her head at the incorrigible Prince who looked well satisfied with himself.
In the end Elizabeth found her wardrobe well supplemented, with day dresses, gloves, half boots for walking, and two riding habits. As happy as she was with the presents—and what girl of ten would not be—the thing she enjoyed more than anything was having their extended family with her on this special day.
The extended family tried to be present when any of their children had a significant birthday, so this occasion was not the first such meeting to celebrate a birthday and neither would it be the last.
"Who would like to go for a ride?" Bennet asked once all the gifts had been revealed, the givers thanked most sincerely by Elizabeth, and two maids having removed them to go place them in the little miss's new walk-in closet.
As would be expected, most replies were in the affirmative. Everyone decided to join the riding party save for Fanny, Madeline, and Ladies Anne, Elaine, and Edith. "Mama, may I wear one of my new riding habits?" Elizabeth asked excitedly.
"Yes Lizzy, of course you may. Which one will you choose?" Fanny asked.
"The green one from Aunt Anne," Elizabeth averred and then turned to Lady Edith. "I will wear the one you gifted me the next time we ride Aunt Edith." After being ensured her aunt felt no slight at the one from the Darcys being worn first, Elizabeth made for her new chambers.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
It was a large party that rode out from Netherfield. Luckily for their guests who did not bring their own mounts, Netherfield's stables had more than enough horses and ponies available for everyone.
Even though there were several men in the party, there was still a full complement of escorts with them, especially as the Prince was one of their number. The guards did not know they were protecting a Princess as well, but that would not have changed the vigilance which was always high.
The party made their way to Oakham Mount, which was just past the north-western border of Longbourn. Once they crossed from Netherfield Park's fields to those of Longbourn, those who were comfortable galloping, gave their horses their heads. Although Tommy would have loved to gallop his pony, he knew he was not allowed above a canter, so he and the rest of the children on ponies brought up the rear.
When they arrived at the base of Oakham Mount—in reality a hill—everyone dismounted, and they made their way on foot up to the flattened summit of the Mount. From the top, there was a clear view of the area. Bennet acted as guide and pointed out Netherfield Park to the east, Longbourn below them, and Purvis Lodge in between the two. It was easy to see Lucas Lodge as it was the estate between Longbourn and the market town of Meryton.
"Lizzy, the habit the Darcys gifted you looks very well on you," Jane stated as the group of older girls stood under the big oak on the summit.
"Thank you Janey," Elizabeth averred, "it fits me just so."
"Do you know when I used to live with my mother she would not allow me to learn to ride, or learn anything else for that matter," Anne told her friends.
"Was your mother really that bad Anne?" Charlotte asked.
"Worse!" Anne stated emphatically. "Until Uncle Reggie and Aunt Elaine took me into their households five years previously, I was not living, only existing."
"If it were not to unladylike, I would kick her shins like…" Elizabeth went quiet with embarrassment as she recalled her actions from five years in the past.
"Like when you kicked William?" Anne smiled. Elizabeth nodded. "That and lessons in humility from Uncle and Aunt Darcy changed William for the better. I would not recommend walking around kicking everyone who offends you, but that day, it was well delivered and deserved."
The group of girls giggled and talked among themselves while the three boys climbed into the branches of the oak tree. Biggs and Johns were the only men from the group of escorts who walked up with the family, and they stood beneath the tree ready in case one of the boys missed his footing and fell.
"It is a nice view Bennet," Lord Matlock allowed, "but I prefer the wilds of Derbyshire with the Peaks in the background."
"It is not surprising that either you or Darcy over there," Bennet inclined his head to where Robert Darcy was standing, "would favour Derbyshire over all other shires."
"If it were only our home shire," Darcy stated, "that would be one thing, but even you must admit Bennet that there are few views that match the one from the lookout towards the Peaks at the end of the bridle path at Pemberley."
"You are not incorrect," Bennet conceded. "There are few vistas I have seen on this island of ours that rival that one."
"You can see the Peaks from Snowhaven as well," Lord Matlock defended.
"As you can from Holder Heights," Holder added. "However I will not deny you do not see a view of the Peaks as spectacular as the one from Pemberley from my estate—or yours for that matter Matlock." Lord Matlock admitted the truth of Holder's statement.
Once the debate about views in their home shires was completed, and the monkeys descended from the tree, the party made their way back down the hill to where the horses were being minded by their escorts. Mindful of their mounts, there was no galloping on the return ride to Netherfield Park.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Lady Catherine de Bourgh felt the diminution of her power most keenly. The servants were no longer afraid of her and if she was rude to them, they simply ignored her. In her mind she had excoriated her brother for imposing the limits on her and on her late husband for not changing his will as she demanded many times over.
She had heard little snippets about how her family, both the Fitzwilliams and Darcys, had become a close connection of Prince Frederick. Lady Catherine could only imagine how her status would have been enhanced had she been allowed into the royal's company, but she had not seen any of her family since that infamous day Reggie had removed Anne from her authority.
Her brother had even removed her right to appoint a new clergyman to the living at Hunsford if it became vacant. The incumbent had always bent to her will until all the changes had happened. She used to go as far as write the man's sermons for him and made them about maintaining the distinction of rank.
After a meeting with the Earl of Matlock where the peer had made sure the man understood that Lady Catherine had no authority over him, and should he ever allow her to write another sermon or share with her what was told to him in confidence by his parishioners, the Earl would report him to the Bishop of Kent and have him defrocked.
The man used to bow and scrape before her, but not in the last five years. She had once attempted to deliver a sermon to the man and give him added instruction on the running of his household, which had not gone anything like she expected.
The sermon she wrote was consigned to the fire and the parson—her parson—had told her in no uncertain terms that she was not welcome in his house to direct the way it was run. When she tried to ask if the parishioners had told him anything of import, he told her that he would never discuss anything with her regarding his flock unless they specifically requested him to do so.
Her world had come crashing in on her. How could she, the exalted Lady Catherine de Bourgh, daughter of an Earl, be treated thusly? She decided that she would have to gain her revenge for the degradation she was suffering. She did not know how or when yet, but she swore that her day would come.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Friday after Elizabeth's birthday the Prince, the Darcys—minus Gigi—the Fitzwilliams, Gardiners, and Carringtons all departed for Town. "Why do we never go to London Mama?" Elizabeth asked as she walked back into the house with her mother after farewelling their extended family.
"You know your father detests London do you not Lizzy?" Fanny reminded her daughter. In eight years Elizabeth would be told why they could not go to London, but not now. Although it was not the whole truth, what Fanny told Priscilla's daughter was true.
The night before, the adults had all met in the Bennet parent's private sitting room. Fanny could still hear the conversation in her head verbatim.
"We had thought at some point, even at the end of the season taking Lizzy to Town would be safe," Fanny had said, "it seems there is disagreement among you?"
"As much as I would like to have Lizzy, all of you visit me at York house, she looks too much like my Cilla to take the chance. I move in the same circles as the Jerseys, as do the Matlocks, Holders, and the Darcys." The Prince had said thoughtfully.
"The Prince has the right of it Fanny and Bennet," Robert Darcy stated. "There are too many in society who will recognise Priscilla in Lizzy, especially now. It will become all the more obvious as she gets older."
"When we are all together at one of our estates, we are able to control who visits and who does not," Lady Anne agreed. "How would we explain to Lizzy if she did go to London that she would not be allowed to venture out in society? She, Jane, and Mary would see through the ruse and know there is something else at play. We may be able to fool your younger three, but certainly not the older sisters."
"It seems that my aversion to London will have to persist. What of when Jane comes out in five years? How will we tell Lizzy she is not allowed to attend Jane in London for Jane's festivities around her come out?" Bennet asked.
"She does not have to be in London for anything but her curtsy to the Queen," Lady Edith suggested. "Using your dislike of Town we can have her ball at one of the country estates, like Holder Heights as we are her godparents. Just like we do now, we can make sure that we only invite those who would not have known Priscilla."
"Not to mention that as Lizzy will not be out yet, she will have minimal contact with those attending," Fanny stated.
"If Jane asks why she is not to have a London season, we will have to tell her Fanny," Bennet pointed out.
"At eighteen, I have no fear she will not understand, it will be a surprise, but I am sure she will love Lizzy as she always has once she learns the truth," Fanny opined. "At least we have five years before we have to confront that particular issue."
The meeting had ended soon after with the consensus of what to do going forward.
Having heard her father pontificate on his dislike for London and the Ton many times, Elizabeth accepted what her mother told her. She would go to London at some point, of that she was certain.