AN: I thank you for all of your comments, but I feel that I need to answer some points raised in them here:
1. This is a first draft of the story, it will go through multiple betas and an editor prior to publication.
2. There has been a lot of talk about character development. I do not believe in contrived angst, when it fits, I use it. For instance William was heading in a bad direction when he was 11, it was caught and corrected by his parents, so I see no need to make him suddenly regress to create angst where it would not fit. Lizzy is very different than canon for a simple reason, her parents are not the same as in P&P. Fanny is smart and loving and Bennet is engaged. Is it just me who would think that vastly different parents would produce much different characters in their children?
3. The Prince (Frederick) did start off using the name of his estate as his last name and hid who he was. It was later in the story that the populace of the area discovered who he was.
4. Yes, without royal sanction a marriage is not valid. It was the very reason Frederick kept his secret initially, hoping that with the time passing his father would grant his consent. Initially the King wanted to invalidate (annul) the marriage, but Frederick, who was his favourite son who had supported him in the first attempt to create a regency, begged his father to make it a divorce instead. Yes at that time divorce was hard and a lengthy process. The King was able to speed it up which is why he summoned his Prime Minister and had it done with expediency.
5. As far as Bennet being intelligent and being able to know Lizzy was not his, he had no reason to suspect. Fanny was torn between her vow to Priscilla and her desire to tell her husband. When Ladies Anne and Elaine recognised Priscilla in Lizzy, it tipped the scales and she disclosed to Bennet, who for reasons enumerated in the story, contacted Lizzy's birthfather ASAP.
6. I well know the difference between 18 and the age of majority of 21 at the time. All that was planned for Lizzy at 18 was disclosure of the truth before she came out into society. There are many instances where the story mentions she will only inherit at majority or marriage, which is never implied to be at 18.
7. Thanks to those who pointed out the inconsistency with Lady Sarah and the cutting of Priscilla. It will be corrected to point toward her bending to her husband's will in the earlier chapters so there will be consistency.
Personally, I get very frustrated with contrived angst which often times makes both members of ODC look stupid. When it is called for by the story, I use it, but I will never use gratuitous angst just because. To those who think there is not character development and the characters are 'too perfect' you are entitled to your opinion, but I respectfully disagree. I write my characters to fit the story I am telling, in this case they do.
Even though I disagree with some of the points that have been made, I found much of use and made notes to be updated in the story, as I said at the beginning, what you see here is the starting point ,not the end product. Again thank you for reading my story.
Chapter 29
February 1808
Rather than slip back into his former ways, George Wickham had gone from strength to strength working for Gardiner and Associates. In the year and a half George had worked for Gardiner, he had been promoted three times and now he was an assistant manager of the warehouse.
When Mr. Lucas Wickham had read the report from Mr. Darcy when his employer wrote to him in December of '06, he had been cautiously optimistic that his son had finally chosen to walk an honourable path. Darcy had provided his steward with Gardiner's direction and Wickham senior had written to his son's employer thanking him profusely for giving his son a chance after hearing the truth of George's past.
When the Darcys returned to Pemberley in May of '07, Mr. Wickham had requested and had been granted holiday by Darcy. On arriving at the Gardiners' house, Gardiner had accompanied Wickham to the warehouse where the father had watched his son for some time as he diligently performed his duties and supervised five other clerks.
To say that the reunion of father and son was a joyous one would be a gross understatement. When he had parted with his son in York, Mr. Wickham believed it may have been the final time he would see George. The happiness he felt at having his son back was hard for the man to put into words.
As George's wages had increased, rather than spend more, he saved more. Before his first year of employment was up, he had saved the fifty pounds and change he owed Mr. Darcy. It gave him untold pleasure to burn the vowels Mr. Darcy had sent to him on receipt of the payment. What George did not know is Mr. Darcy turned the money for the debt over to his steward to add to the amount he was saving for a legacy for his son.
Given George's innate intelligence, Gardiner suggested he start taking classes at a local school. It was not Oxford or Cambridge, but if he graduated in a few years, he would be eligible to read the law, which had become George's dream.
Once George had been with Mr. Gardiner for a year, and the reports of George's work ethic and honesty remained as good as any other—better in a lot of cases—Robert Darcy presented his steward with bank draft of two thousand five hundred pounds to be added to George's future legacy.
The irony was that although he did not know it, in some of the projects he was in charge of for Mr. Gardiner, George Wickham was increasing his own legacy as his father had invested his savings with Gardiner and Associates.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Miss Caroline Bingley had learnt to control her supercilious side of her character in order to save herself from going without any allowance. Based on her behaviour over the last year—which had been acceptable—her Uncle Paul agreed in January to allow Caroline to accompany Charles to Hertfordshire to act as mistress of his leased estate.
Caroline had read the royal decree in December of '06 but had not paid attention to the details, nor had she paid attention to the name of the newly minted baronet. Even though she had tamped her desire down for some time, Miss Bingley still believed she was destined to rise to the very heights of society and was on the lookout for a man who would be able to help her achieve her aims.
Since they had arrived in the neighbourhood, Charles Bingley's level of frustration had risen significantly. His sister complained about everyone. The locals were savages, no class, no fashion, and on and on she went. When Bingley had tried to explain to his younger sister that not only were all the landed folks way above her, but that there were not only titles families, but royalty in the neighbourhood, Miss Bingley had dismissed his words as nonsense.
She had met Sir William when he called on Bingley soon after his taking up the lease at Longbourn and before the man had left, Caroline was denigrating him stating that a knighthood was nothing. She was not present in the drawing room when Bingley's landlord, Sir Thomas, visited. Hearing her brother talk about the man after his visit she assumed it was another bumbling knight.
Louisa and Hurst had joined Bingley at Longbourn a few weeks after he took up residence and they agreed with Charles that it was pointless trying to tell their sister the truth and that she would have to learn the hard way.
After Twelfth Night, the Darcy's were in residence at Netherfield Park for a month before returning to London, and William had made the mistake of calling on his acquaintance from Cambridge at Longbourn.
Even though the Darcy heir paid her no attention and refused to answer any of her vulgar questions about Pemberley and his family's wealth, Caroline Bingley decided she had met her future husband. When her brother pointed out that from what he knew, Darcy was unofficially courting a lady who would be out in two months, his sister dismissed the information as meaningless, sure that once the Darcy heir became aware of her advantages, he would turn to her; she did have ten thousand pounds after all.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mrs. Charlotte Collins was a very happy woman. William Collins had asked for a courtship a few months after he started as the curate at Longbourn's church, and then two months later he had requested and been granted Charlotte's hand.
Charlotte had always told the oldest two Bennet sisters she was not a romantic, yet, she had made a love match. They had married in May of '07 and Charlotte had just felt the quickening of their first child. She and her husband were very comfortable in Longbourn church's parsonage.
Mr. Dudley had retired in June of that year and after the good work Collins had done in the parish, coupled with the fact he was liked by the parishioners, and not the least was a glowing recommendation by the retiring clergyman, Bennet awarded the living to his distant cousin and had never repined doing so.
At first, Collins had been wonderstruck by his titled cousins after the elevation in London, which in addition to Bennet's baronet and thanks to the weddings in the past year plus, included a number of peers, a viscount and viscountess, not to mention that Miss Elizabeth was in fact a royal princess. Luckily he did not have sycophantic tendencies so as soon as he saw that his family did not expect any special deference, Collins was able to relate to all in a way that never gave offence.
Charlotte was happy to be related to the Bennets, cementing their friendship of many years and especially enjoying her visits with Eliza. It had taken a little getting used to the four uniformed members of the royal guard who were never far from her friend, but after a few times together with Eliza after the royal decree, Charlotte got used to the guards' presence so that she no longer noticed them.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The double wedding held at the Fitzwilliams' estate of Snowhaven had been an event thoroughly enjoyed by all. Richard and Cassie had the use of Seaview cottage for their wedding trip and Jamey and Anne travelled north to a small estate owned by the Carringtons, a little southeast of Dumfries in Scotland. The estate of Caerlaverock Heights boasted a triangular castle with a moat around it that had been built in the thirteenth century.
The former couple had spent a month near Brighton while the latter couple spent three weeks in Scotland. After the wedding trips, Richard and Cassie had moved into Brookfield Meadows where they had remained until joining the family in London for the little season of '07. Jamey and Anne had taken up residence at Rosings Park. Jamey's estate, Amberleigh, was quite a bit smaller than Rosings Park, which helped them decide to live more of the year at Rosings Park than at Amberleigh.
Cassie believed she was with child as she had just missed her third cycle of courses. Unfortunately, her new sister had not missed any courses yet. Cassie had not mentioned anything to Richard, but he being very much attuned to his wife's health, had a very good idea that she was with child but would not mention it until Cassie first spoke to him. He understood she was being cautious waiting for the quickening. Thankfully she had not had any significant illness in the mornings—yet.
Catherine de Bourgh would have been happy to return to her cottage in Hunsford after Anne's wedding, but Anne would not hear of it. She invited her mother to live with them. While Anne and Jamey had been enjoying their wedding trip, Catherine had returned to her cottage and been most pleased with the way Mrs. Jenkinson was managing and had expanded the learning programmes begun by Catherine.
Once Catherine had gained access to all her funds, she had started to make plans to build a school in Hunsford which would be able to accommodate many more children—and adults in the evenings—than the converted cottage.
Once other family members had heard of her plan, more than enough money had been donated, the Prince adding the thousand pounds of his own funds so in the end, in addition to the school, a clinic was built, and money reserved to employ a doctor and apothecary who would offer their services for free to any in the area.
Once Lady Metcalf—who had cut Catherine over three years previously—realised that her erstwhile friend was welcomed back into not only the bosom of her family, but by royalty as well—she attempted to rekindle their former friendship. Catherine had no time in her life for false friends, and rather than cutting the woman as had been done to her, she told her such politely to her face.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth had borne all of the 'Your Royal Highness' greetings which she had received when they returned to Meryton from London with good cheer. Luckily, the novelty had worn off quickly. Other than Tommy, when the boy of eleven was trying to annoy her or being addressed by those not acquainted with the family, for the most part she was Miss Elizabeth, Elizabeth, or Lizzy, to all who knew her well. The exception was Charlotte Collins and the rest of the Lucas clan who for a reason to which Elizabeth was not party, called her Eliza.
In the little over a year since the public announcement of Princess Elizabeth, the friendship and feelings between her and William had deepened considerably. Only a fool who saw them together could not see that the two were irrevocably in love.
Elizabeth had been party to a conversation between her birthfather and Uncle Robert a month previously. William was not aware yet as his father decided his son would be told the news when and if—as if it were a question—he requested a formal courtship with Elizabeth. As she sat with her book in Netherfield's library Elizabeth smiled as she recalled the conversation.
The family had been at Pemberley to celebrate Christmastide. All of the extended family was present except for Jane and Andrew, as Jane had delivered a baby boy not six weeks before the family all met at Pemberley. Both Elizabeth's mother and Aunt Elaine had been present for the birth of Andrew Thomas Fitzwilliam Junior in November and had remained with Jane for over a month.
Elizabeth had been playing chess with Uncle Robert. She was not quite at his level yet, but she did win—without him giving her quarter—occasionally. Her birthfather had sat down with them. The rest of the family was enjoying a sleigh ride and as Elizabeth had a slight cold, Mr. Taylor had recommended she keep out of the snow.
"My parents are aware of William's ardent interest in their granddaughter," the Prince had stated.
"Will they approve of William, Father?" Elizabeth had asked worriedly.
"They will under one condition," the Prince stated as he had given Uncle Robert a conspiratorial look.
"I will not be able to refuse the King this time will I?" Uncle Robert had stated with what seemed to Elizabeth like resignation.
"Of what do you two talk, if I may know?" Elizabeth asked inquisitively.
"In order to marry a royal prince or princess one much be a marquess or in a lady's case, a marchioness or higher," the Prince had explained to his daughter.
"From my father's time, the Darcy's have been offered the vacant dukedom of Derbyshire," Uncle Robert explained. "My late father respectfully refused the title, as did I—twice."
"Why did you refuse it Uncle Robert?" Elizabeth followed up.
"We felt we did not need it, we—my father and I—were happy to be gentlemen farmers without being a member of the peerage," Uncle Robert had clarified.
"But now, Darcy here will not refuse it clearing the path for William, if you two decide it is what you want, to be allowed to court, and then, become betrothed to you if the courtship reaches its natural conclusion," her birthfather stated with a smirk. Uncle Robert had said not a word to refute the statement.
Elizabeth smiled, not because in the way the Darcys would be forced to accept a dukedom they had previously refused, but the demonstration of a father's love for his son that he would accept the title to ensure William's—and by extension—her own happiness.
On the way home from Pemberley, the family had spent a few days at Hilldale where all of little Andy's Bennet aunts, and lone uncle, had made his acquaintance. Mary, who would be sixteen in a matter of days, could not get enough of Andy. All of them loved their nephew, but for whatever reason, Mary more so than the rest.
Elizabeth smiled as she thought about Mary and the close friendship which had grown between her and Elizabeth's Uncle Wes. He did not have as much time as he had before his becoming the Earl of Jersey, but when he was not busy in the House of Lords, Wes was usually not far from his niece's family, and more specifically Mary.
The more Elizabeth came to know her Grandmother Sarah, the more she came to love the woman. Grandmama Sarah, as Elizabeth called her, had apologised many times for not being stronger in standing up to her late husband. Since Elizabeth shared her philosophy that one should only remember the past as the remembrance gives one pleasure. Lady Sarah had chosen to live in the present. Her year of mourning had ended in December past, six months after Wes and Marie's mourning period.
Elizabeth spent hours whenever they were in company, asking questions and hearing all about her birthmother first as a little girl and then as she grew up. She loved hearing how similar she was to the mother who had given her life.
As Lady Sarah came to know the Bennets, it was not long before she had complete comprehension why Priscilla had chosen them to raise Elizabeth as a normal little girl and not one in a gilded royal cage. It had not been many months before Ladies Sarah and Francine had become quite close.
Elizabeth liked her other grandparents, aunts, and uncles—the King, Queen, Princes, and Princesses—but given their positions in society there was always a formality which she had with none of the others in the extended family. Elizabeth had been told that her grandfather the King, had become ill some years earlier, but the times she was in company with her royal grandfather she never saw any evidence of his sickness.
Of all of her royal aunts, Elizabeth was closest to Princesses Elizabeth and Amelia. When with the royal family and her Aunt Elizabeth was present, the rest of the family called her Princess Lizzy to differentiate between the two.
Elizabeth put her book down as she had an epiphany. If Uncle Robert had not been willing to accept, or there was no option of elevation to, the dukedom, she would have happily renounced her royal title in order to be with William.
There was not a shred of a doubt in her mind that not only was William the right man for her, but he was the only man she would ever be willing to marry. Oh how ardently she loved William.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At Darcy House, a day before the Darcys were to return to Hertfordshire, William knocked on his father's study door. "Welcome William," Robert Darcy said as his son took a seat in front of the huge oak desk. "Why the pensive look."
"Lizzy will come out in a month, or just more than one month, and I know she loves me as I love her, but I have discovered something concerning one who would marry a prince or princess," William reported.
"You have discovered that you must be a marquess or above to marry a Princess of England?" Darcy surmised. "It was a rule the King instituted after the Prince of Wales and his so-called wife and then Uncle Freddy marrying the daughter of an Earl."
William nodded. "We have an ancient and noble line, but you are not a duke nor am I a Marquess," William pointed out.
"You had heard that both I and my father before me turned down a title from the crown, did you not?" Darcy asked.
"Yes Father, I had heard that," William responded with a quizzical look.
"We were offered the dukedom of Derbyshire. The last Duke died without an heir some sixty years previously. You will be a Marquess, the Marquess of Derby, before you go ask the King for permission to court Lizzy," Darcy told his son simply.
"You would do that for me so I may be with the one I love?" William asked in awe of his father.
"William, I would do anything I needed to in order to secure your and Gigi's happiness," Darcy returned his voice gruff with emotion. "When we see the Prince at Netherfield I will ask him to pass my acceptance on to the Crown."