Battle of the Dragons Chapter 21, a pride and prejudice fanfic

Oh, dear… 😊

You asked for it...

~O~

Dragon of Rosings

Two days later, while the funeral of Anne de Bourgh was attended by the gentlemen, ladies came to pay their respects and convey their condolences to Lady Catherine.

Amongst the first to arrive was Isabella, accompanied by Jane, Elizabeth and Charlotte.

As Lady Catherine, swathed in black brocade, was busy lording it over two local ladies, they were greeted by Lady Matlock, dressed in muted colours and draped in a black shawl.

The lady smiled at them with relief. 'Thank you for arriving early. I should not say so, especially under the circumstances, by Catherine has been… trying.'

'She has just lost her daughter,' Jane attempted to soothe her future mother-in-law.

'A daughter she barely acknowledged,' huffed Lady Matlock. 'But perhaps you are right, and I am doing her an injustice. Not everyone displays their feelings openly.'

They slowly moved closer to Lady Catherine, who noticed the new arrivals and accepted their condolences as her due.

As soon as the polite forms were completed, she introduced Isabella and her nieces to the local ladies, proudly announcing the relationships and that Jane was to marry Richard Fitzwilliam.

While the ladies were polite, Elizabeth noticed one of them rolling her eyes when she thought herself unobserved. It reminded Lizzy of her mother at her boasting worst was no different than Lady Catherine.

Fortunately, several other local ladies arrived, Isabella judged some of them to be tenants of Rosings, giving her, her nieces and Lady Matlock a chance to move a way. Charlotte felt honour bound to remain and support Lady Catherine.

Once they had a modicum of privacy, Lady Matlock remarked to Isabella, 'I have to thank you for whatever you said to Anne on your visit. She appeared quite at peace when she passed.'

Despite the expectant look from Lady Matlock, who obviously wanted to know what had been said, Isabella merely commented, 'I am pleased that I could give ease to your niece.'

As more visitors arrived to convey their condolences, Isabella overheard several of the ladies speculating. 'I wonder if the old dragon is going to inherit Rosings at last and we are stuck with her for decades yet, or the rumours are true and there will be a new owner soon?' The general consensus appeared to be that the locals wished for a new owner.

An hour later, after the funeral, the men returned to Rosings. Lord Matlock, together with Richard and Darcy, were also accompanied by a most subdued Mr Collins, as well as the solicitor, who had arrived just before the funeral. They were followed by the husbands of the ladies who were commiserating with Lady Catherine.

~O~

Propriety had been observed and the mourners, after consuming copious amounts of food and drink, took their leave.

While the guests were getting ready to leave, the solicitor, with authority provided by Lord Matlock had the servants set up chairs in the library for everyone he deemed necessary for what would normally be the reading of the will.

Just as everything was ready, Thompson's assistant arrived with the last two people he had sent for. They were given a brief respite to refresh themselves before settling in the library.

~O~

Once only invited guests were present, the solicitor, supported by Lord Matlock, took charge of the proceedings and invited them all into the library.

The group included Mr Thompson and his assistant, Lady Catherine, Lord and Lady Matlock, Richard Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Isabella, Jane and Elizabeth.

As Darcy entered with Elizabeth, Jane and Richard, he spotted a familiar figure. Confused by the lady's presence, he blurted out, 'What are you doing here? This is an occasion for family only.'

The lady looked annoyed at being addressed in this fashion but replied politely enough, 'I do not know what I am doing here. You should ask that man if you wish to know.' She indicated the solicitor. 'He came to my brother's house yesterday and insisted that my brother and I should come here. He did not explain, only said it was of the utmost importance.'

As it happened, Mr Thompson had overheard the exchange, he said loud enough for all to hear, 'While it is unusual to include parties who have no direct interest in the proceedings, I thought it would be simpler to have everyone present so as to avoid having to repeat information later and risk that some of it may become garbled.'

Lord Matlock reclined in his chair. 'We would not wish to have a case of Chinese Whispers, or worse, deliberate obfuscation of the facts.'

'Quite.'

Lady Catherine huffed, 'There is no need for this rigmarole. I do not know why you even bothered to come here. Anne did not have a will. Therefore, as my daughter's nearest relation, her estate comes to me.' She stood ramrod straight, and looking as haughty as was her wont. It was obvious to everyone that she thought that she could cow Mr Thompson into compliance.

'I am sorry to disappoint you, Lady Catherine, but with the death of your daughter, Rosings and everything formerly belonging to Sir Lewis de Bourgh goes to members of the de Bourgh family,' declared the solicitor.

'There are no other members of the de Bourgh family,' insisted Lady Catherine, while thinking, I made quite certain of that before I married that man.

Mr Thompson disagreed, 'According to the will of Sir Lewis and my investigation, it is quite certain that there is another branch of the de Bourgh family.'

'I have never heard of such a branch.'

'Perhaps if you were to sit down and be quiet, I would have a chance to explain.' Thompson saw no further need to cater to Lady Catherine's whims and gave her a withering look.

While the look did nothing to quell the lady, she wanted this farce finished. 'Oh, get on with it then,' she growled as she sat down and crossed her arms.

During this exchange, Isabella's group quietly greeted the newcomers before she and the others took seats. They were all curious what information the solicitor would impart.

'Before I go into the family history, I need to mention that there is an entail on Rosings Park. That entail was enacted by Sir William de Bourgh, Sir Lewis' grandfather. If Miss de Bourgh's health had been better, she could have benefitted from it as the estate is entailed to the oldest child of the line of Sir William de Bourgh. As a matter of fact, she did inherit on her birthday last year but as she has passed away without issue, the other clauses of the entail come into effect. Those clauses state that if the line of the oldest child fails, the inheritance of the estate devolves to the second child and her descendants.'

Lady Catherine opened her lips to interrupt but Thompson held up his hand and demanded, 'Allow me to finish. Then you can ask questions.'

That earned him a glare and a huff, but Lady Catherine remained quiet. Thompson continued, 'Then of course there is the matter of the Baronetcy. If Miss de Bourgh had lived, married and produced a male child, the title and associated properties would have devolved onto that son. For the last two generations, the first-born child was a son in both cases. This meant that both Rosings Park and the Baronetcy were inherited by the same heir. If the first born had been a daughter and the second child a son, the daughter would have inherited Rosings and the son the Baronetcy. And, as I mentioned before, if there is only a daughter in the succession, such as Miss Anne de Bourgh, the title is in abeyance until a son is born to the oldest daughter.'

Thompson looked around the room and asked, 'Is everyone clear on those points?'

'Yes, yes. Get on with it.'

The solicitor waited a moment longer in case anyone wanted to query his explanation so far.

'Very well. Now we get to the family history. As I was informed that Miss de Bourgh's health had deteriorated, I thought it wise to make enquiries into the de Bourgh family tree. I discovered that Sir Lewis de Bourgh's father, Sir Phillip de Bourgh, had a younger sister. Her name was Grace de Bourgh. She married a solicitor and had two children. The first child was a son, the second a daughter. The son married and had twin girls, followed two years later by a son.'

Lord Matlock suppressed a smile when he saw the sour expression on his sister's countenance as Lady Catherine demanded, 'Since you seem to know so much about my husband's family, perhaps you could enlighten us with the name of those people.'

'I will get to that in a minute. Further investigation showed that Grace de Bourgh's son has passed away, but his children are alive and well. The oldest and the youngest have children of their own.'

'So, who are they?'

Thompson smiled and nodded towards Isabella. 'Perhaps Her Grace would be so kind as to explain?'

Isabella inclined her head as she said, 'As you wish.' As she continued with a bland smile Elizabeth noticed the twinkle in her eyes. 'Grace de Bourgh married Henry Gardiner. The name of their son was Robert.'

Isabella paused at the slight gasp which Elizabeth could not supress, while Mrs Bennet sat in stunned silence. 'The children's names in order of age are Fanny Gardiner, Martha Gardiner and Edward Gardiner. The married names of the girls are Mrs Thomas Bennet and Mrs Harold Phillips.'

Colonel Fitzwilliam grinned broadly as he asked, 'Is the name Mrs Gardiner, nee Miss Grace de Bourgh, gave her daughter Isabella perchance?'

'Indeed.'

Darcy had remained in the background at the beginning of the discussion as it mattered little to him what happened to Rosings. As long as he was no longer saddled dealing with Lady Catherine, he would be content.

When Isabella started her explanation of the de Bourgh family, he became mildly interested, wondering how she came to know so much. Yet, considering that she was of a similar age as his Fitzwilliam aunts and uncle, it should not be too surprising that she had some knowledge of happenings when Sir Lewis was a young man.

As he idly listened to the conversation, Darcy engaged in his favourite pastime, watching Elizabeth. He became more alert when she gasped and was therefore in time to consciously hear the revelation that Mrs Bennet was a granddaughter of Grace de Bourgh. He almost laughed out loud when he realised that Elizabeth was a cousin by marriage.

'Thank you, your Grace. That was a most succinct account,' Thompson said with a polite nod towards Isabella. He turned back to the others. 'My investigation absolutely confirmed the Duchess's explanation of the de Bourgh family tree.'

He paused theatrically before he announced, 'Therefore, as the only son of Grace de Bourgh Gardiner's firstborn son, Sir Edward Gardiner is the heir to the Baronetcy.'

A momentary stunned silence was immediately followed by a babel of exclamations of surprise and congratulations, as well as introductions of Edward Gardiner and Mrs Bennet, who had sat quietly listening attentively in the hope the need for their presence would be explained.

Gardiner raised a brow as he addressed Isabella, 'My dearest aunt, you have been holding out on us.'

'I had no wish to raise expectations until it was confirmed and official,' Isabella explained. 'But I think we should all calm down as I believe Mr Thompson has not yet finished.'

Her comment turned everyone's attention back to the solicitor. 'Thank you, Your Grace. That takes care of Sir Lewis' title. Now as to Rosings Park. Due to the rules of primogeniture, the oldest grandchild of Grace de Bourgh Gardiner, Mrs Fanny Bennet, is the new mistress of Rosings.'

Mrs Bennet gaped at the solicitor until she cried, 'I cannot believe it. I shall go distracted.'

At the same time Lady Catherine screeched, 'No, that cannot be. Rosings Park is mine.'

'No, Lady Catherine. As of today, you are no longer mistress of anything. Your marriage settlement and your husband's will entitle you to your jointure which will allow you to live in comfort for the rest of your life. With it you can rent a cottage and be well settled.'

'A cottage?! Are you out of your mind?'

Mrs Bennet gave her a withering glare. 'That is better than the hedgerows, which was going to be my fate if my husband pre-deceased me.'

Lady Catherine refused to accept that she was being replaced by some insignificant country nobody, the daughter of a solicitor no less. When she disrupted proceedings too much, Lord Matlock offered his sister a glass of brandy, which the lady tossed down. Withing minutes she was slumped in her chair… snoring.

'I always thought Aunt Catty could hold her liquor,' commented Richard.

'Perhaps the laudanum I added had something to do with the efficacy of the brandy,' Lord Matlock grinned at his son.

~O~

Once Lady Catherine had been removed to the rooms which were still hers for the present, the Fitzwilliams and Darcy offered to remove themselves from the discussion to follow.

The Bennets, Gardiner and Isabella exchanged glances, and after a brief consideration, Gardiner suggested, 'As you will be family soon, you might as well stay. And I have a feeling that you either have more information or some of what we will discuss will affect you.'

Gardiner immediately raised one concern. 'English law prevents married women from owning property. My sister is married, and her husband is indolent, forgive me for saying so. I would not wish for him to have access to the funds of this estate.'

Thompson gave a reassuring smile. 'The entail is set up to cater for the situation where a daughter inherits, by specifying that the owner must be of the de Bourgh bloodline. Therefore, Mr Bennet has no right to the estate.' He looked at Richard and added, 'Miss Bennet's future husband, once she inherits will also not be allowed to own Rosings, but only be its custodian.'

At that comment, several pieces of a puzzle fell into place for Lady Matlock. She whirled towards Isabella and cried, 'That is what you told Anne! That Richard would eventually be the custodian of Rosings.'

Isabella only smiled.

Mrs Bennet, who had been looking around her, feeling rather overwhelmed by her surroundings, suddenly asked, 'Do I understand you rightly. Jane will inherit this grand estate?'

'She is the heir apparent. Although if you should predecease her, Miss Elizabeth will be next in line.'

'Never mind that. But while Rosings Park is indeed a grand estate, I do not want it. I would rather have Jane and her future husband looking after it. I gather, Miss de Bourgh wanted Mr Fitzwilliam in charge of her estate when she passed on?'

'Yes, mama, that is what she said to me,' Jane supplied, having listened quietly throughout.

Mrs Bennet thought furiously. She might not be the most intelligent person, but she knew what would make her happy. 'I have no wish to leave my friends in Meryton. Perhaps Rosings has enough funds to buy me a small house near my sister.'

Darcy interjected, 'More than enough.'

'Then it is settled. Rosings will be Jane's dowry and I shall be cosy in my house in Meryton.'

Richard also had listened to the exchange. That last comment had him exclaim, 'But I did not wish for an heiress.'

Isabella grinned as she added her own contribution to the discussion. 'Too bad.'

~O~