Chapter Nine:

October 1813 Rosings Park,

Dear William,

I leave this letter in the care of our dear cousin, Richard.

I have asked him to read this letter aloud upon my death, to yourself and my mother so you both my know my thoughts and wishes if the worst may happen. Tomorrow is our wedding day, so I want to take the time today to put my thoughts in writing, firstly thank you for your kindness, securing the good name of De Bourgh continue with disgrace and that of my child.

I know our marriage is an arrangement that we will both benefit from but your kindness and understanding of my situation did not go unnoticed. I enter our marriage with no secrets from you, I have left you with all the information my child will need if they find out their true parentage I ask you to not share any person but my child when you feel the time is right.

I had the intention of being the best wife and mother I could to you and your daughter, Clara Anne is a delightful child with who I have already fallen in love.

I want you to be aware that my London physician has already advised me that there is a high chance I won't survive childbirth due to my ailing body from my childhood illness, please do not feel pity for me I have come to terms with this. I pray that I survive and we are given a chance to be a family I hope you will feel the same about my child as I do about your daughter and raise him/her as you would your own if I can not.

William as my husband, you will lawfully own me and all my possessions including Rosing Park my death won't change this, I will rest in peace if you would follow through with the following wishes. Mother, I hope you will also agree with the below wishes as my last request to you as my mother.

In the event of my demise, I request you fully educate both of our children regardless of sex. I believe women are just as entitled to an education as men, that they should know how to run estates as well as being gentlewomen. I know you will raise then to be kind and respectful of all regardless of their place in society and not proud.

I would appreciate it if you continued to support the care of my mother. I would consider it a kindness if you keep her in the lifestyle she is customed to from the proceed's of Rosing Park and allow her to continue to act as the mistress till her death. As per our Marriage contract, my estate will be left to my child upon your death. If the worst happens to both me and my child I would like you to leave Rosing's to Clara Anne. upon your death.

If I die, I wish for you to persist with the plan to announce Clara Anne to be my child and give her the chance to grow up without the black mark of shame. I also plan to be bold and ask you to change her name from Clara Anne to Catherine Anne. I hope this will keep her safe and secure her place in first circles, being our child which we would naturally name after both our mothers and myself as my heir. I ask my mother to love and treat her, as her own grandchild as you will treat my child, Fitzwilliam's child will be without a mother as a young lady, she will need a strong woman in her life to guide her, I hope you will be this person in her life.

Lastly, I believe it goes without saying that the details of this letter should go no further than those present, please burn this letter for the protection of both my children.

I hope I have time in life to speak to you both about my wishes, for know I will say my farewells as we are due to dine,

Your wife and daughter,

Anne Darcy Nee De Bough.

Silence filled the room as Richard finished reading, Darcy was overwrought with the kindness his wife had shown his daughter but voiced he was more than willing to follow Anne's final request. Lady Catherine agreed to comply with her daughter's wishes as she felt it was the best way to honor her memory she appreciated her daughter had found a way to resolve her deepest fear of losing her rights to be mistress of Rosing Park.

In the following week, Darcy arranged the funeral for his wife, between himself and his mother in law, they were able to explain Darcy's marriage to Anne as an arranged marriage by their mothers, as the bride and groom why shy in nature Lady Catherine advised she had agreed for a small intimate wedding that they planned to keep private for the first year. Their Matlock relative had presumed that it was Darcy's idea and lady Catherine would have agreed to anything to make sure Darcy married Anne. They were content to spread the story through the ton, of the passionate arranged marriage of their niece and nephew, and their niece's sad death during childbirth. The following notices appeared in The Times and London Gazette newspapers.

Deaths

Darcy Nee De Bourgh of Pemberley and Rosing Park

15th October 1813

Loving wife of Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley &

mother to Catherine Anne Darcy

Births

Mr & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley

Welcome the birth of their daughter

Catherin Anne Darcy

15th October 1813

Darcy returned to Pemberly he would be in full mourning for his wife for a year, he was happy to be able to return home with his daughter a daughter he could claim as his own he would always be indebted to Anne a debt he would never be able to repay. Especially as Anne had paid the ultimate cost. Clara Anne know known as Catherine Anne Darcy was a much-loved child, he hoped that if Elizabeth ever found out he had changed their child's name she would understand the reasons behind it and he hoped that the name Clara Anne was not a family name. Lady Catherine arrived to be with Darcy, Georgiana and Catherine she grew closer to Georgiana who learned to be less intimidated by her aunt. As a grandparent she often offered much more unconditional love than she had ever offered Anne, she has recognized her failures as a mother, she was more patient with her namesake and found it was a great pleasure to spend time with a child who she didn't have to be the sole disciplinary. Lady Catherine like many a new grandparent so realized there were added benefits of experience and wisdom.