AN: FYI constructive criticism is great. I have gone back and fixed a number of issues, like Lady Sarah and her earlier portrayal to support her reactions after the Earl passed. Using the term 'natural child' and others. So to those who catch errors and point them out to me, you have my gratitude.
Chapter 30
The family was anticipating the arrival of the Fitzwilliams as for the first-time little Andy, at almost three months old, was travelling with his parents, Fitzwilliam grandparents, aunt, and uncle. There was an air of excitement that the first grandchild born to the Bennet and Fitzwilliam families was to be at Netherfield for the very first time.
Fanny and Bennet were especially excited. Fanny had the nursery aired out and cleaned from top to bottom as it had not been occupied on a full-time basis since Tommy was moved into his own bedchamber when he had turned ten.
At fifteen and fourteen respectively, Kitty and Lydia were growing into estimable young ladies. They were especially looking forward to their nephew arriving. When they saw him on the way home from Pemberley at Christmas, he had slept almost the whole time they were there. Now, according to Jane's letters, little Andy was interested in the world around him and would gurgle happily when someone played with him.
The two youngest Bennet sisters were not quite as proficient as their older three sisters on the pianoforte, although they were by no means deficient. Their true strength in the musical arts lay in singing. Both spent many hours with Mr. Mercury who encouraged their talent to the point they now had the best voices of the five Bennet sisters. They had sung for the Queen on their own and together during the past little season rather than just part of the larger group as that had been the first time any of them had exhibited for the monarch.
In addition, Kitty excelled at drawing and spent almost as many hours with Mr. Lambert as she did with the singing master. Sketching was Kitty's strongest discipline, but she was no slouch with both water colour and oil-based paints. She could not wait to sketch Jane and Andrew's son and wondered if he still had his deep blue eyes, or if they had begun to change as she had been told was possible. If Jane and Andrew agreed, Kitty planned to make a sketch of them with one of them holding Andy and then she would use her oils to make a portrait for them as a gift.
There was much anticipation at Netherfield as the Darcys and Wes were expected later that day, with the Fitzwilliams the following day, and the Carringtons, including Anne and Jamey, and Cassie and Richard, the day after that, all before the upcoming assembly. The Carrington parents would arrive the following week along with Lady Sarah.
As much as she could not wait to see William again, Elizabeth was looking forward to the upcoming assembly with glee. Although she was not out in society in London, she was out locally and had been for the last six months.
What really amused Elizabeth was how the harridan that was Miss Bingley would behave. The woman had been alienating the local populace with her airs and graces. She had been denigrating the 'country hoyden' who had the temerity to turn her Mr. Darcy's eye and had let it be known she would put the nobody in her place at the assembly.
The Bennets and the Prince had quietly let it be known not to correct the shrew so she would be allowed to find out her own insignificance once and for all. If Miss Bingley thought she would be able to cow her rival—a rival only in her mind as William cared not a whit for her—she would be sorely disappointed, as Elizabeth's courage always rose at every attempt to intimidate her.
The Bennets and the Prince hoped more than believed that the social climbing harpy with her pretentions, airs, and graces would behave herself and not necessitate being put in her place at the assembly. From everything the shrew was saying that had been reported to the family, it seemed that would be a vain hope.
"You asked to see me Papa," Elizabeth stated after been bade to enter the study.
"We did Lizzy," Bennet replied. "We have received an express from Darcy House. Before you worry, all three Darcys are well, there is some unexpected business that will detain them for a day or two. They will still be here in time for the assembly."
"Do you know what detains them in London?" Elizabeth asked.
"No Lizzy, I do not; Uncle Robert was not explicit in his express. I am sure if it was something of concern, he would have been more specific," Bennet opined.
"Thank you for informing me Papa," Elizabeth said over her shoulder after he father dismissed her from his study.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
"William, you, Gigi, and I are to be at St. James Palace at two o'clock today," Darcy informed his son.
"How come, Father?" William asked in a little confusion. "I thought you would talk to Uncle Freddy when we arrive at Netherfield Park."
"Instead, I sent an express to him after we spoke, and he in turn communicated with the King. Evidently our monarch suspects I may change my mind again so this morning a royal courier delivered the message summoning us to the palace," Darcy informed his son.
"I suppose I understand the King's thinking," William returned with amusement, "How many have turned down the honour as many times as you and grandfather have between you? I am sure I would need one finger of one hand to count them, and even then, it would be too many fingers."
"I dare say you have the right of it, William." Darcy clapped his son on the back. "Bennet sent me an express as well." Darcy did not miss the look of concern on William's mien. "Lizzy is well, it is about that Bingley woman and her pretentions. The plan is to allow her enough rope to hang herself at the assembly. If she behaves as a lady should, then she will be safe. If not, social suicide will not begin to describe what she will commit."
"As much as I do not like to see one suffer, after the way she tried to attach herself to me when I went to welcome Bingley to the neighbourhood, she deserves whatever she brings down on her own head," William said with distaste as he remembered the cloying woman and shuddered. "I told Bingley that even should she be found naked in my bed with all of London as witnesses, I would not offer for her."
"And I would support you completely. I could not imagine consigning my son to such a fate as to be aligned with that harpy," Darcy stated emphatically.
"It is bad enough she was the reason Bingley felt we could never form a closer friendship—or any friendship at all—the woman must be delusional to think she had anything to offer me. Even were I not irrevocably in love with Lizzy, I would not look at her twice," William stated firmly.
"Please make sure Gigi is ready to depart. I do not understand how a girl of not yet twelve needs to much time to prepare." Darcy shook his head. His little girl was growing up and each day she looked more and more like his beloved late wife.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Miss Bingley entered Longbourn's drawing room with a sniff, her nose high in the air. "Why did you summon me, Charles?" Miss Bingley asked disdainfully.
"Although we are not sure you will hear what we are about to tell you, it is our duty to do so," Bingley began. Seeing his sister was about to interject, Bingley held up his hand. "Not a word until we are done.
Miss Bingley looked around the drawing room and gave venomous looks to her bother, sister, and brother-in-law. She was not happy that none of them reacted to her so she sat on a sofa with a huff.
"Your pretentions with the younger Mr. Darcy must stop." Bingley gave his sister a quelling look as she saw her about to object after his prior instruction. She held her peace—for now. "The man has told me in no uncertain terms that even were you to sink so low as to try to compromise him, regardless of how many witnesses, he will not offer for you—he will never offer for you, Caroline."
"What would induce you to think a man from the top of the first circles, who has connections to peers of the realm and even royalty would even consider the daughter of a tradesman as his future wife is beyond me," Hurst stated as he shook his head at his sister's wilful blindness.
"I have been educated at the best seminary and have ten thousand pounds!" Miss Bingley spat.
"You were told to be silent until we were done, or would you prefer I send you back to Uncle Paul this very day?" Bingley threatened. "Did you learn nothing at that school you attended. It is birth which sets your position in society. Not only that, compared to most in the Ton, your dowry is insignificant."
"Caroline," Louisa tried a more gentle approach to attempt to reach her sister. "I have heard talk that there are many of the very top of the first circles who visit this neighbourhood, which includes peers and even royalty. Would you really like to expose yourself in front of some of the leading members of society? If you walk the path you have started, your dreams of ever being accepted in any circle of high society will turn to dust. Is that what you want for yourself?"
Miss Bingley sat seething silently, she would not give her brother cause to send her away before she was able secure her Mr. Darcy. Then she would show them, once she was a leading member of the Ton she would shun them.
"You may respond if you care to now, Sister," Bingley allowed.
"High society in this neighbourhood!" Miss Bingley derided. "If you think thusly you have no idea what constitutes high society. There are naught but a bunch of country bumpkins who are far below me hereabouts."
Bingley shook his head. He, Louisa, and Hurst had tried. As was her wont, Caroline could not hear or see anything which did not fit her ideas. He could only pray that he would not be ruined along with his sister when she brought ruination down on her own head. He could not see another way for her to learn. She was nineteen, almost twenty, and would have to learn to live with the consequences of her actions.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
It was done. Darcy was His Grace, the Duke of Derbyshire, William was the Marquess of Derby, and Georgiana had the honorific of Lady. The Darcys arrived back at the house a little after four. The newly minted Duke sent a copy of the patents the Lord Chamberlain had presented him with to the firm of barristers and solicitors at Norman and James who represented his family.
In addition to titles came the estate of Chatsworth—in the Darcys opinion the second-best estate in their home county—four satellite estates and a substantial amount of money and other assets.
According to the Lord Chamberlain the notice of the Darcy's elevation would appear in evening edition that same day as well as the morning papers on the morrow. Their plan was to depart for Hertfordshire in the morning, but with the decree appearing in the evening broadsheets, their elevation would not be a secret to their friends, family, and everyone else by the time they arrived at Netherfield Park.
That evening, before the papers were delivered to Holder House, the three Darcys arrived for an impromptu family diner and informed their relatives of the day's happenings. After many congratulations and much 'your gracing' it was decided the Carringtons would join the Darcys for their journey into Hertfordshire in the morning.
Richard took much pleasure in teasing his younger cousin about his new title and how if he thought he had been hunted by fortune hunters before, it would be nothing to after the elevation was made public.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When the three Darcys walked into the largest drawing room, followed by the Carringtons and Richard and Cassie Fitzwilliam, all of those present rose as one and gave the newly elevated Darcys the deepest bows and curtsies they were able to—including the Prince and Princess.
"Very droll," Darcy exclaimed as Georgiana made a beeline for her best friends.
"My Lord," Elizabeth intoned as she approached Williams her eyes shining with humour.
"Your Royal Highness," William gave his beloved a deep bow.
"Touché, William," Elizabeth conceded. "It is good to see you again."
"As it is very good to see you Lizzy." William took her hand and bestowed a kiss on her wrist. As she always did when he touched her, Elizabeth felt a fluttering of joy. "I would like to reserve the first, middle, and final sets if you please."
"I do please, William, they are yours," Elizabeth granted immediately. "The woman claiming you as her future husband will not be happy to see you dance those sets with me."
"Your happiness is everything to me; hers is nothing and will not affect me in the least," William stated with meaning.
"All we can pray for is that Miss Bingley has a modicum of common sense so there will not be a scene," Elizabeth shared. "I somehow doubt it though."
"Let us discuss more pleasant topics please. I have no interest thinking about—wasting time with you on—that woman.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
"I am to be a Duchess!" Caroline Bingley exclaimed after she saw the decree of the Darcys' elevation in the papers when she finally joined her family to break her fast. Her brother refused to keep Town hours in the country and after she had missed breaking her fast three days in a row, Miss Bingley had learnt when Mrs. Hill had refused to provide her with a plate referring her to Mr. Bingley. Now she arrived just at the upper limits of her brother's forbearance for her to arrive and still have repast.
"What are you babbling about?" Hurst asked frustratedly.
"Did you not see? Mr. Darcy is a Duke now and his son who I will marry is a Marquess," Miss Bingley gushed.
Her family held their breath to cool their porridge knowing they would be wasting time and destroy their own equanimity as she would not hear that which she did not desire to hear.
After a bit of toast with a little butter and jam, Miss Bingley pushed her chair back. "I must go prepare to impress my marquess!" With her delusional statement, Miss Bingley was off to her bedchamber to plan her outfit, coiffure, and jewellery to make sure she would stand out at the assembly.
Her family in the dining parlour were also thinking about her standing out at the assembly, but for very different reasons that she was.