Mr. Timmons returned to the great hall of the castle where the two ladies and the young girl waited. “Your Ladyships, Miss Darcy, if you will follow me I will show you to the lakeside drawing room,” the butler intoned.
The three visitors had barely entered the room when the door was opened by the footman on duty in the hall, the same one who had done so for them, and in walked the young duchess followed by her butler. The two older ladies had recognised her from when they had seen her presented those months ago.
The Duchess nodded to her butler. “Lady Matlock, Lady Anne, and Miss Darcy, it is my honour to introduce you to Lady Elizabeth Chamberlain, Her Grace, the Duchess of Hertfordshire and Marchioness of Hertford Heights. Your Grace, I present to you Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, the Countess of Matlock, Lady Anne Darcy, the mistress of Pemberley, and Miss Georgiana Darcy.” The butler performed his duty with aplomb. Once he had completed the introductions, with another quick nod from Her Grace, he bowed to the ladies and exited the room pulling the door closed after him.
The Countess and Lady Anne were surprised they were left alone, they had expected one of the Duke’s men to be present to hear whatever was being said.
Elizabeth smiled when she saw the ladies looking around the room and immediately understood why. “We are quite alone here my Ladies. If you are uncomfortable with me, I can have one of my guards summoned.” She arched an eyebrow as she teased the ladies.
“That is most unexpected, and welcome, Your Grace,” Lady Anne began to say when the door opened and thehousekeeper directed two footmen where to place the tea service.
There was a plate of seasonal and some exotic fruits, including slices of pineapple next to a platter of teacakes and pastries.
“Is that pineapple?” Georgiana blurted out before she clapped her hand over her mouth and blushed deeply at her ignoring etiquette. She should have waited for the Duchess to address her.
“Please Miss Darcy, do not make yourself uneasy,” Elizabeth soothed. “I had almost the same reaction when I discovered there were a few growing in the conservatory attached to the rear of the castle. If you would like, I will send one home with you today so you may share it with all of your family.”
Anna lit up with pleasure. “That would be very kind, and greatly appreciated Your Grace,” she responded in relief.
Elizabeth poured the tea to the specifications each lady provided. They enjoyed some of the provided comestibles, Miss Darcy enjoying two slices of pineapple. When everyone had completed their tea, Elizabeth pulled the bell cord and soon the tea service had been cleared away and they were left alone once again, the door firmly closed.
“I assume your sons related to you what I shared with them?” Elizabeth began. All three ladies nodded. “As you know I am not here of my own choice and I never sought the title this nightmarish marriage has brought me, please call me Elizabeth, or at the very least Lady Elizabeth when we are alone.”
“In that case Lady Elizabeth, please call me Lady Elaine, my sister-in-law is Lady Anne, and her daughter answers to Anna,” Lady Matlock responded. “If I may, how come you areleft without any of your husband’s men making sure you say or do nothing impolitic?”
“UnlikehimI treat the staff and servants with respect and consideration…” Elizabeth explained how she related to those who worked for her husband.
“We too believe in treating those employed on our estates and in our houses thusly,” Lady Matlock agreed.
“As we have privacy, I would like to invite you to spend the days before Easter, and as long as you desire after, with us at Pemberley,” Lady Anne proposed. “Is our information you are increasing correct?”
“It is, I have been seen by both Mr. Harrisons and Mrs. Medford, and all of them have opined I am proceeding as would be expected,” Elizabeth confirmed. “I should give birth in September or October of this year. As much as I would love to accept your invitation, my aunt and dearest sister will be here on the morrow under the guise of working with Mrs. Medford.”
“How old are your younger sisters?” Georgiana interjected. She was about to admonish herself for speaking out of turn again when she saw Lady Elizabeth smile warmly.
“Mary is fourteen, she will be fifteen next month, Kate is thirteen, and the youngest, Lydia recently turned eleven,” Elizabeth related.
“I turned twelve in March,” Georgiana enthused.
“My birthday was also in March, I reached theripe old ageof seventeen,” Elizabeth responded.
Just when they did not think they could think worse of him and with confirmation she had been but sixteen when the dissipated duke married her, Ladies Matlock and Anne felt even more disgust for the repellent man.
“You would not have to eschew seeing your family and friends. In fact, you would be able to see them all openly,” Lady Anne explained. Seeing the hopeful and questioning look Lady Anne elucidated. “On our way back to Pemberley, Elaine, Anna, and I will stop at the parsonage in Lambton. It is my intention to invite all of your family and friends to be our guests at Pemberley for as long as they desire to be with us. That way, rather than take the risk someone would perhaps see you with them in Lambton and decide to send a letter to your husband, the interactions will all be hidden from prying eyes.”
For the second time that day, Elizabeth cried tears of gratitude. Without thinking, Lady Anne stood and seated herself next to the young duchess and pulled her into a motherly hug.
As she felt the warm and genuine motherly affection, something which had been denied her for the whole of her life by Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth’s crying turned into great big wracking sobs. Lady Anne said nothing; she held Elizabeth and allowed her to release her pent up emotions all the while rubbing her back.
Seeing how distressed her niece was feeling, Lady Matlock leaned over towards her. “This is healthy for her Anna. She has been beyond brave and I believe this is the first time she has felt she has support and she does not need to ignore it for her and others’ protection.”
It took some minutes for the storm of tears to pass. When she was cried out, Elizabeth did not want to break the contact with the woman sitting next to her. This kind of affection from a mother figure was very rare for her, and something she did not want to lose anytime soon.
She had only received warmth and love from Aunt Maddie during the short stays at Gracechurch Street, and toa certain extent from Aunt Hattie, but this was somehow inexplicably different.
“In that case, I gladly accept your invitation to Pemberley,” Elizabeth stated. “One thing, in case your sons,” she looked at Anna, “and your brother did not relate it clearly, not a word of my reasons for marryinghimis to be breathed to Jane or my other sisters. One day, if or when, I am free of the old man, I will tell Jane the truth.”
“I swear I will say nothing,” Georgiana vowed.
