PP AU Non-Canon General Regency

NOTE: Just in case anyone else is wondering. The marquess really was clueless. He had no idea what he was holding onto.

Previously:

"Are you sure?"

"Most certain, as I just told you, the man is crazy if he expects me to keep things I have no interest in but..." the marquess winked. "I insist this time you come and give this dear lady the last dance of the evening. Your search party has come to tell you the evening is almost over."

"But of course."

Search in Scotland

Ch. 19

Charlotte had no idea what was going on down in England; all she knew was she had been given the task of looking for the records of Gregory Bennet and any proof of a marriage of his daughter, Janet Louisa, to one Robert de Bourgh. The lady had gone, as instructed, to the Bryce's second estate's church archives first. That was mainly because their own gardener was of the opinion he had seen the name de Bourgh in one of the church's files. Charlotte turned page after page. She came across names such as de Vere, de Clare, and de Moray but no de Bourghs. There was Burnet, Barrett, Barnet, and Bradet but no Bennet. Closing the book, she left off looking through the archives and headed up to the main house. Her feet took her up a grassy hill, away from the stone church and in through a back door. Going up a flight of stairs, she entered a library seldom touched. In its four walls were kept important documents pertaining to the history of events which had occurred on the estate within the last couple hundred years, maybe a bit more.

The dimly lit library exuded an air of solemnity and reverence. Dust particles danced in the slivers of sunlight filtering through the narrow windows. Charlotte gingerly approached the nearest shelf, her fingers lightly brushing against the aged leather bindings of the books. Each volume seemed to hold a fragment of history, waiting to be unveiled.

She began her search in an orderly manner, starting with the section dedicated to family records. The Bryces had maintained meticulous documentation of their lineage, and Charlotte hoped to find some connection to the Bennet and de Bourgh families. She pulled out two hefty ledgers and placed it on the reading table. The book creaked open, revealing handwritten entries dating back to the early 1600s, full of names and dates—with a minuscule amount of information about each name.

Charlotte hoped she could find what Lord de Bourgh needed. As she scanned the pages, she started reading dates of births, marriages, and deaths—each entry a peek into a life lived long ago. She found mentions of various family members, their accomplishments, and their connections to other prominent families. Yet, there was still no sign of Gregory Bennet or his daughter Janet Louisa, nor of her husband Robert de Bourgh. Giving up was not an option; therefore, Charlotte simply moved on to another ledger. This one contained record of land transactions and property ownership. The Bryces had evidently been influential landowners for quite some time, with estates spanning both England and Scotland. Charlotte's eyes widened as she stumbled upon a familiar name—Robert de Bourgh. Her heart raced as she read the entry detailing his acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to the Bryce estate.

Could this be the same Robert de Bourgh connected to Janet Louisa? The possibility was enough to fuel any dying fire. She continued her search, now with a renewed determination to help her husband give aid to Lord de Bourgh. Hours passed as she painstakingly combed through the library's extensive collection. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, but Charlotte paid no heed. She felt inside herself as if she were reaching a point of significant discovery which could be truly give the aid her friends truly needed to put another strong link to their much-needed chain to any past family relations.

Finally, her perseverance paid off. In an obscure corner of the library, she found a fairly decent-sized, leather-bound journal. The cover bore the initials "J.L.B."—Janet Louisa Bennet. Her hands trembled as she carefully opened the journal. The pages were filled with neat, elegant script, chronicling the life and thoughts of Janet Louisa.

Charlotte's eyes welled up with tears as she read the journal's contents. It painted a vivid picture of a young woman torn between duty and desire, navigating the complexities of the society in which she lived. The entries revealed Janet Louisa's deep affection for Robert de Bourgh and the challenges they faced in gaining approval for their union. Apparently, the two families had always had an 'on again, off again' type of 'relationship'.

The journal entry which stood out the most was the one which mentioned the birth of their daughter. Charlotte felt a profound connection to Janet Louisa, as if their lives were intertwined across the centuries. She knew she had to find the official records to confirm the details. Therefore, she left the library and walked down a dirt path. The crisp air, tinged with the scent of fallen leaves, filled her lungs as she ignored stone buildings and waved to a few tenants working in the early fall air. The landscape was a patchwork of amber and gold, with leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. Charlotte focused on getting to the next place she needed to be.

Charlotte's next destination was the local town archive, a repository of historical documents maintained by the community. The archive was located in a modest building, its exterior giving no hint as to the wealth of information within its four walls. Charlotte's anticipation grew as she stepped inside, greeted by the musty scent of old paper and ink.

The man in charge, once told of Charlotte's research, guided her to the section containing birth, death, and marriage certificates. She spent hours sifting through the records, her fingers tracing the delicate script on each document. It was here that she found the official birth certificate of George Bennet. The fragile document, carefully preserved, confirmed his parentage and place of birth. It was a definite score for Lord de Bourgh's goal and Thomas Bennet's family, as she held in her hands the tangible proof of George Bennet's existence.

But her work was not yet complete. Charlotte continued her search, still needing proof of the birth, death, and marriage dates of George Bennet's daughter and her husband. Her persistence paid off when she found the details in question in the same local archive. The records, once hidden away in dusty files, now lay before her, offering a glimpse into the lives of people who had lived, loved, and passed on.

As Charlotte left the local archive, she was relieved Lord Bryce, and she, would be able to send these items down to Lord de Bourgh. "Charlotte." The wife of her butler's voice turned the lady's head. "I did not think you would be out so late. Let me give you a ride home."

"I lost track of time." Charlotte started walking towards the carriage only to have Lord Bryce's own carriage pull up. "Thank you, but it looks as if I do not need that ride after all."

"I see that."

It was only after Lady Bryce climbed up into her husband's carriage did the lady speak low. "What is wrong with Mrs. McCully? Unless I am losing the ability to deduce what is going on around me, I think her eyes thinned out quite a bit when your carriage pulled up."

"Thank heavens I did." Lord Bryce replied as they rode by the woman's carriage. "Her husband is not far behind me; he told me her mind is not... well, let us say she is not going to be roaming free anymore and leave it at that. We both counted it a blessing the tenants saw the direction both of you went." Looking at what his wife held, he saw the documents. "Is that what Lord de Bourgh needs?"

"Yes."

Lord Bryce went to say speak only got the strangest impression not to and, though it made no sense, opted to wait 'til they were in the privacy of their own quarters to do so.