Dear lovely readers, thank you for following and reviewing. Sorry, I missed posting last Sunday. I wasn't too happy with young Darcy's thoughts and it took me a little while to revise them. Here is a new chapter and I introduce you to a new and important character. Happy reading and do give me some comments as encouragement!
Chapter Five
1807, five months later
"Mrs. Hill!" shouted Mrs. Bennet to her housekeeper, "Fetch the midwife, quickly!"
It was time for Mrs. Bennet's baby to be born, a child that would secure a lifetime of happiness. By the time the midwife arrived, Mrs. Bennet's babe had already been born, with mother and baby in good health.
"What shall you name him, ma'am?" asked Mrs. Hill, after the midwife left.
"He shall be called James. James Darcy, of course," said Mrs. Bennet, proudly. She never expected a boy child, as she had only had girls with Thomas. This might change things.
"He is a beautiful little lad," said Mrs. Hill.
"He is. It is a shame that I could not know earlier," said Mrs. Bennet, looking at the infant.
"What do you mean, ma'am?" asked Hill.
"Swear not to utter a word to anyone," Mrs. Bennet whispered to the housekeeper.
Mrs. Hill nodded at her in seriousness. "I swear it on my mother, ma'am."
"He is the child of your late master, Thomas," Mrs. Bennet said.
Mrs. Hill continued to gaze upon the child with a calm smile, unsurprised.
"Are you not shocked?" asked Mrs. Bennet.
"Naught could surprise me," Mrs. Hill said.
"Excellent. I have some regrets, as you can expect. I would not go back to Longbourn now that I have seen Pemberley and not have had to act out of such desperation. That worthless husband of mine! He bequeathed Longbourn to that hateful man Collins who would remove us instantly. He also left us only two hundred pounds a year to live! What am I to do with such a measly sum?" Mrs. Bennet complained.
Mrs. Hill only nodded at her mistress. Two hundred pounds was an amount she had only dreamt about.
"You understand then why I had to do it. Passing off the boy as Mr. Darcy's son has given us time—time to work toward living in Pemberley House."
"Are you not pleased with the Dowager House?" asked Hill, confused as the house was a lovely and fine home.
"I am not, of course! Longbourn was hardly splendid enough for a stunning woman such as me. I intend to pass James off as the true heir to Pemberley. We can hardly stay in such a cottage as this for years, you see," Mrs. Bennet said.
"How do you intend to make your way to the main house?" Mrs. Hill asked curiously.
"You see, I have informed the Darcy solicitor that I have reason to believe that Master Fitzwilliam is not the son of George," Mrs. Bennet said with a smirk.
"Will that work?" Mrs. Hill said, hiding her thoughts. She did not expect the woman to go this far.
"I have faith that it shall. Lady Anne is discreditable, from what I have gathered," Mrs. Bennet said, placing James in a bassinette. She also believed there was something irregular with George Darcy's will, that was why Kingsway did not take more decisive action against her claim nor the forged will she bravely asked Morris to obtain. She made sure her dealing with Morris was not documented and that she would put all the blame on Morris if things blew up not in her favour. "Mrs. Hill, please go fetch the wetnurse," she added.
"Right away, ma'am," Mrs. Hill affirmed. Before leaving, she asked, "Mrs. Bennet, would you like me to send word for the girls to come to see their new brother?"
"Send for Jane and Lydia; I care not when the other girls meet him," Mrs. Bennet said.
Mrs. Hill noticed that the mistress did not seem to care for any of her children save Jane and Lydia, who looked and acted similar to her mother.
"Yes, ma'am," Mrs. Hill said, leaving the bedchamber.
"Hill?" called Mrs. Bennet, yawning.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Remember, tell no one of this. Lest I remove you from your position immediately and without reference," said Mrs. Bennet, lying back on her pillows in exhaustion. She recalled that Mr. Kingsway was due to visit, and Morris too. Kingsway had family in the North. Hopefully, one of them brought her good news. She fell asleep, content that all of her plans were falling into place.
The Dowager House offered a sense of foreboding as Mr. Kingsway returned to Derbyshire once again. He returned this time to visit family but unfortunately could not avoid a trip to see Mrs. Bennet. Kingsway desperately wanted to clear George Darcy's name from all of this, but he could not find a way to do it without causing a scandal for Master Fitzwilliam or heartbreak for Miss Elizabeth.
"Mrs. Bennet," Kingsway greeted the woman, whom he came upon holding her new child.
"Mr. Kingsway. Would you like to say hello to the Darcy heir?" Mrs. Bennet said, holding the infant so that Kingsway could see.
"A lovely boy," Mr. Kingsway said. "Ah—about his name, madam."
"What about it, Mr. Kingsway? He is George Darcy's son. Should he not be named after his father?" Mrs. Bennet asked. "Have you any evidence to the contrary that I did not have an affair with George?"
"You know that I can prove the last will supplied by Mr. Morris and you is a forgery?" Kingsway asked in return.
"Is it? And yet you have not sent for a magistrate for either of us. I wonder why," said Mrs. Bennet calmly.
Kingsway's mouth thinned. His staff interviewed acquaintances of Darcy's and even former staff at Netherfield and Longbourn. No one could confirm—or deny. He could have Mrs. Bennet arrested for forgery, but in the trial, Kingsway was sure Mrs. Bennet would slander George and cast doubt over Master Fitzwilliam's parentage in an open court. While justice would be served in the end, Kingsway hated to have the Darcy's name dragged through the mud. He also worried that Master Fitzwilliam would not marry Miss Elizabeth, with her mother possibly sentenced to death for a crime.
"I have my reasons, Mrs. Bennet," Kingsway said. "I shall discuss with Master Fitzwilliam to increase your allowance and help you to retake Longbourn, provided that you do not perpetuate your false claim against the Darcys."
"Longbourn is not enough for me anymore. I shall petition for the boy be called James Gibson Darcy," Mrs. Bennet said. "unless my precious boy is entrusted with an estate that yields five thousand pounds a year!"
"I shall discuss with Master Fitzwilliam and his guardian, Lord Metcalf. But be prepared to wait for six months or more before christening Master James; as the correspondence to India is quite unreliable. You also wanted to discuss funds, Mrs. Bennet?" Kingsway asked, fatigued.
"Yes. I request more money. An infant is very expensive, you know," she stated, matter-of-factly. The last name for James could wait but she was eager for an increase in allowance. There was an emerald brooch she must have.
"I say, you receive quite the sum already, madam, in addition to the house, the money for the servants and your late husband's allowance!"
"I am concerned about the life that my son will live. An heir to the Darcy fortune deserves the best, as well as his mother," Mrs. Bennet said indignantly.
He had never met more avaricious women than Mrs. Bennet and Lady Anne.
"Please have Mr. Morris contact me, and I shall see what can be done," Kingsway said, hoping to buy himself time. He could not besmirch his friend Darcy's memory by allowing her to name her boy his name.
"Excellent!" Mrs. Bennet said happily. "There is something else, Mr. Kingsway."
"Yes, Mrs. Bennet," Kingsway sighed.
"I would like to petition to relocate to the main house of Pemberley. These dwellings may suit my younger daughters, but it is far too uncomely for myself, James."
"I cannot accommodate this request. Money and another small estate are one matter. I do not think you understand the severity your claims upon Master Fitzwilliam and Lady Anne. They will not allow it," Kingsway said.
"I do not think you understand how shameful it is to have my son live here, in a mere cottage, while a pretender controls his rightful home!" Mrs. Bennet said dramatically, forcing tears to well in her eyes.
"You have no proof about the parentage of Fitzwilliam and Master James, and the so-call last will of George is a fake!" Kingsway said, thoroughly irritated with Mrs. Bennet.
"How dare you insinuate that I am lying! Surely, I should know who sired my child! I am prepared to speak in a court!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, glad that the lowly lawyer did not dare to prove her wrong in court, "I insist that you leave now, Mr. Kingsway!"
"Gladly, madam," Kingsway said, gathering his things. He noticed that Mrs. Bennet did not deny her lack of proof regarding the claims against Fitzwilliam. Kingsway was all the more certain about the Bennet widow's false claim of affairs. But how did she get her hands on the expensive lovers' necklace with George's likeness?
Elizabeth heard loud voices from the drawing-room, quickly walking down to the house's main floor, where she found Mr. Kingsway leaving. Life at the Dowager House could not compare to those back in Longbourn. While the house was larger and with adequate servants, Elizabeth missed the books from her father's collection. She had to visit the circulation library in Lambton if she wanted to read anything, as she was not on friendly terms with Fitzwilliam and was not given access to Pemberley library. She also missed the stimulating discussion she had with her father, the late Mr. Darcy and Fitzwilliam. Mrs. Bennet complained a lot when they first arrived. Lately, she fantasised about living in the main house, having so many balls and house parties in the summer that Elizabeth lost count. Mrs. Bennet only sounded like a loving mother was when she talked to baby James.
"Mr. Kingsway!" Elizabeth shouted. "Please wait!"
Kingsway paused, turning to find Elizabeth, whom he gave a smile, dissolving his anger somewhat.
"Miss Bennet, it is lovely to see you," he said, nodding in greeting.
"You as well, Mr. Kingsway. Though I have not heard from you since late last year regarding my father's death," she said, searching. "Have you any information to provide me?"
"My apologies, Miss Bennet. There has been much ongoing with the Darcys," Kingsway said. He would not bother Elizabeth with his search to prove Mrs. Bennet's claims were false; nor the process of establishing the forgery of the new will of George supplied by Mrs. Bennet.
"I understand. I simply cannot believe that my father and Mr. Darcy merely perished in the accident. There is more to all of this—it cannot make sense otherwise," said Elizabeth. She told Kingsway about Sir William's letter. The magistrate from Meryton told her that Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet were thrown from the carriage. They appeared to be killed by the impact. He noticed that the bodies of both gentlemen were not very far from the carriage, which indicated that the carriage did not travel at extreme speed when it went off the escarpment. Mr. Darcy, however, sustained more extensive injuries to both his face and the back of his head than Mr. Bennet. The latter only had injuries on the back of his head. Sir William was puzzled by the injuries then and had ordered the constable to make drawings of them as a record. Sir William said he could supply the illustrations if a legal process was initiated.
"I agree, Miss Bennet. After speaking to staff at Longbourn for another matter, I learned that the carriage remained completely intact, except for a single smashed wheel. I have the name of a carriage maker—Mr. Malcolm McEwen of McEwen Carriages in Newcastle. I have written to him but have not received a reply yet. I will contact Sir William to ask for a record of the drawing."
"Thank you, Mr. Kingsway," Elizabeth said, bidding him farewell. She had heard the name before. Where? She couldn't wait for Mr. Kingsway to write to her—she needed to find out herself.
~P&P~P&P~P&P~
The following Saturday, Elizabeth went with her sisters to Lambton under the guise of buying ribbon. The other girls perused the fabrics and ribbons for making dresses and decorating the hair, but Elizabeth had a mission.
"I shall be back promptly. Mother spoke to me about a draught for soothing little James," she said to the girls, who paid her no mind and pulled Mary to go with her.
They walked quickly instead to the carriage maker, whose location she found out about from one of the servants at the Dowager House.
"Yes, Miss?" Mr. McGregor asked curiously.
"Hello, I am Elizabeth Bennet and this is my sister Mary," she introduced. "We have come to ask you a question regarding carriages. I understand from our servants that you have dealings with the McEwen Carriages in Newcastle."
"Indeed. We have bought some parts from them before. How can I help you, Miss Bennet?" the carriage maker asked.
"Suppose a carriage driver carrying two passengers were to lose control of his horses. This leads the carriage to fly off an escarpment and flip onto its side. Could that cause the death of all four men?" Elizabeth asked impatiently.
The carriage maker paused, considering. "I suppose the driver and the postillion could be thrown from his seat and killed. But he would have to be going terribly fast to kill the passengers inside. Still, I could not say it was impossible if both passengers were flown very far outside."
Elizabeth continued, "What if the passengers were not flown very far, just a few yards and the carriage, what if it had nothing broken save a single broken wheel?"
"That is odd, Miss Bennet. If the carriage were going so fast that the passengers were killed, the entire vehicle should be damaged severely. May I ask why you have these questions? It is not proper for a young lady to be asking such things," the carriage maker said, narrowing his eyes.
Elizabeth wanted to roll her eyes in irritation but gave the carriage maker a smile. "My brother and I had a wager," she said quickly. "Good day, Mr. McGregor."
She assumed Mr. McGregor was trying to learn precisely which carriage accident she was speaking of and left before he could ask any more questions.
"What was all that about, Lizzy?" Mary asked.
"I am going to investigate about father's accident. Don't tell anyone about it."
Mary nodded obediently. She was happy that Elizabeth took her into confidence.
They caught up with Jane, Kitty and Lydia, after which they spent the rest of the time shopping.
Now, she needed to present her evidence to Fitzwilliam. Hopefully, with this evidence, he would see that there was more to their fathers' deaths.
~P&P~P&P~P&P~
"The child has been born," Lady Anne said to Fitzwilliam over their supper a few days ago, "Mr. Wickham notified me this afternoon. She calls him James."
Fitzwilliam felt a rush of sadness at remembering the possibility that his father sired another child and pushed it away. After the confrontation with Elizabeth a few months ago, he tried to go back to live his life as his father would have wanted. Fitzwilliam contacted Kingsway and organised some tutors from Derby to teach him various subjects and structured his days just like he had back at Netherfield. When George Wickham asked to join his class, he agreed. Fitzwilliam thought that his father would have been proud of him, for looking past the background of young Wickham and giving the steward's son a chance at improving his life.
It didn't turn out as Fitzwilliam would hope. Instead of being a good mate to him to learn together, George Wickham was lazy and disruptive. Fitzwilliam found that he didn't enjoy his lessons anymore. Also, he would not spend time with Elizabeth here, as he would have back in Hertfordshire. Fitzwilliam found he missed the comradery and friendship with Elizabeth. He also had to fight with his mother regarding entertaining during the mourning period. Lady Anne also belittled his father's character and demanded money all the time. He found that he didn't enjoy his life of isolation and tension at Pemberley at all. Perhaps it was time for him to go off to Cambridge.
"Is that so? I suppose Mrs. Bennet will try even more valiantly to rid me of Pemberley now that is confirmed to be a male child."
"Yes, though she may have given birth to a son, it is not possible for her to continue her claims that you are illegitimate. She should have spent her effort to reclaim her measly estate."
"I am sure that she will try with her claims. The Bennets can be stubborn," Fitzwilliam added, feeling queasy at the arguments between Mrs. Bennet and his mother. They clashed several times when the two women crossed paths in the estate.
"The Bennets are nothing but social climbers. They will do anything to get their hands on our money," Lady Anne said, pausing before adding, "Mrs. Bennet could still remarry. It would be much easier than this effort."
"I recall Lizzy telling me that her parents were gravely unhappy. I suppose marriage is not a fond memory for Mrs. Bennet."
"You cannot defend the desperate elderly woman who is trying to take everything from you, Fitzwilliam!" Lady Anne rebuked. "And that Miss Elizabeth is a headstrong uncouth girl."
"I am not defending Mrs. Bennet. I was but speculating, Mother," said Fitzwilliam, trying to hide his annoyance. "And please don't comment on Miss Elizabeth. You do not know her."
"I know you are sweet on this Elizabeth. But you own Pemberley and nearly half of Derbyshire. You can have any woman when you come of age. Never forget that the Bennets are the enemy. We must not let them win."
For the past few days, Fitzwilliam was fatigued from his talk with his mother about the Bennet's boy or the suitability of Elizabeth. He decided to go out for a stroll around the grounds of Pemberley for some peace.
"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth called to him.
Fitzwilliam turned, eyes narrowing instantly. "Miss Bennet," he said shortly. He was not in the mood for the conversation he knew she would want to have.
"I know our last conversation did not go well. But I wanted to share the information I have uncovered," Elizabeth said, not letting him have the chance to stop her. "I found out from Sir William that the carriage was found overturned, but yet largely undamaged, save a single wheel. Your father sustained more injuries than mine, and in odd places. I visited a carriage maker, who informed me that if the carriage were going so quickly as to kill all those occupying it, then the carriage should have been destroyed!" Elizabeth said.
Fitzwilliam stared at her, admiring her persistence and courage. But he was also resentful of her attitude. Could she not have more care about him, the living, than his father, the dead? "What am I to do with this, Miss Bennet?"
"It proves that there is more to the accident! Someone or something must have come along after!" Elizabeth said in desperation.
"You are obsessed, Elizabeth. You must let this go," Fitzwilliam said, continuing his walk.
"You do not understand, Fitzwilliam! This could mean that someone is behind all of this!"
"It proves nothing. You must stop this—it is going to drive you mad!"
"What if this could change things? What if it could challenge my mother's claims?" Elizabeth asked him.
"Elizabeth, your father, and my father are both dead. You have to understand that this will change nothing," Fitzwilliam said, sadness behind his eyes.
Elizabeth put her head into her hands. "I cannot understand what has changed between us. Why are you like this?"
"I simply realised that you Bennets are social climbers and liars, and I cannot trust what any of you say," Fitzwilliam growled.
"My mother aside, you cannot believe that of me. Your mother must be behind this thinking! Your father would never have you speak this way!" Elizabeth exclaimed, shocked.
"Do not speak about my mother. As for my father, I know not what he would say," Fitzwilliam said irritably.
Elizabeth raised herself up, looking Fitzwilliam squarely in the eye. "If I am not to speak about your mother, you are not to speak about mine, nor the rest of my family. I will find out what happened to our fathers, regardless of whether or not I have your aid."
"I suppose you have made up your mind then. Goodbye, Miss Bennet," Fitzwilliam said, nodding to her before turning and continuing to walk the gardens of Pemberley.
"Goodbye, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said. If Fitzwilliam continuously rebuffed her attempts to learn the truth, she would have to find out by herself.
Exhausted and saddened by her dismissal from Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth went back to the Dowager House, where she found her mother and Jane discussing their schemes again.
"I cannot wait to live at Pemberley," said Jane gleefully.
"Nor can I, Jane. As you know, you are my favourite, so you may choose your room," Mrs. Bennet said with a smile.
They ignored Elizabeth, continuing to discuss their plans to redecorate the house. She went to the room she shared with Mary and sat at the small desk to write to Mr. Kingsway about her discoveries.
Dear Mr. Kingsway,
I could not wait to hear back from you and thus visited a carriage maker here of my own accord. He told me that the carriage was not as damaged as it should have been if it were going fast enough to kill the passengers. This proves that there is more to the accident. My father should have never been killed, nor Mr. Darcy. What else could we do to further learn about that fateful day?
Mr. Kingsway, I should add that I have attempted to speak with Mr. Darcy twice now, and he is entirely unwilling to assist me. It is his choice, yet the grave change in him concerns me. I wish his guardian Lord Metcalf or you would be able to persuade him to live by his father's way, instead of his mother's. I know it is not for me to interfere with Mr. Darcy's measure of life, but as his friend in the past, I hate to see him change for the worse and against everything his excellent father had taught him.
I thank you without ceasing for your assistance with this matter. Please let me know what else I can do.
Graciously,
Elizabeth Bennet
After she finished the letter, Elizabeth took it to the footman for delivery. That was all she could do for now.
"What are you doing, Elizabeth?" asked Mrs. Bennet.
"Nothing, Mother," Elizabeth said with a smile. Mrs. Bennet looked at her with a suspicious eye.
"Get on then," Mrs. Bennet said, shooing her away to her bedchamber.
"Jane, where exactly did you girls go in Lambton?" Mrs. Bennet asked nonchalantly, knowing her favourite would not lie to her.
"Lydia and I went to the dress shop and Kitty came along, of course. Elizabeth went off with Mary somewhere on their own for a time," Jane said plainly.
"Do you know where she went?"
"She mentioned, but I was not listening. She was gone for quite some time, though."
Mrs. Bennet nodded, wondering what Elizabeth was up to. She needed to keep a careful eye on that girl. She would not let anyone get between her and her fortune.