He was shaken out of his musings by the arrival of three of his cousins. Two of them were as forlorn as he that the lady of his choice was not in Town. At least Andrew had been granted a courtship by Jane Bennet. All that was needed now was to find a way so Richard would not need to remain an officer in His Majesty’s army. That was a problem for another day. After greetings were exchanged, the four young men made their way to the billiards room.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Given Longbourn became her property on the tenth day of April (the same day Mary turned fifteen) for the first time since the day the Gardiners had taken them away from the estate, all five sisters were together in the house of their birth to celebrate the dual milestone.
The two Collinses had been ready to depart that morning, but they had been invited to remain to honour Mary’s birthday. They had gladly accepted with Mrs. Collins restricting her son’s effusions and making sure he did not toady up to Lady Elizabeth.
Mrs. Hill and the female servants had cried tears of happiness to have the girls they loved back in their childhood home. Even the stoic Mr. Hill’s eyes were suspiciously moist.
An impromptu birthday party was soon planned. The Lucases and Philipses were present, as would be expected. As word that the sisters were at Longbourn spread, callers streamed in to come see them. Very soon, the celebration of Mary’s birth became a party to also mark the return of the sisters to the area.
Pleasure was expressed by the many neighbours who called at Longbourn regarding Elizabeth’s freedom and the fact none in the neighbourhood would ever have to encounter Mrs. Bennet again. No words of sorrow for Mr. Bennet’s passing were mentioned either.
If anyone from the area noticed or disagreed with none of the sisters wearing mourning garb, not one word was said.
During the celebration, Mr. Hill brought Miss Lizzy the newspaper. It contained the royal decree naming her family name to be Gardiner and stating that the name of Chamberlain would not continue regardless of whether Her Grace delivered a son or a daughter.
Her final outward connection tohimhad been severed. Never would his name be mentioned again and the child she was carrying would not know about him.
Lady Elizabeth Rose Gardiner was contented.
Chapter 33
In the coach on the return to London the morning after the party, Elizabeth could see Lydia mulling something over. A few times her youngest sister seemed like she was on the verge of asking a question, but each time she seemed to think better of it.
“Lyddie, you know there is no embargo on asking questions,” Elizabeth told her sister gently. “If you have a query, go ahead and ask it. If it is not something I am able to, or choose not to answer, I will inform you.”
“It is the change of your name and the ending of the Chamberlain line which has had me cogitating,” Lydia shared.
“Let me guess, you are wondering why I asked Her Majesty to remove that name from the line, are you not?” Elizabeth conjectured.
“Yes, it is. I know how evil your late husband was,” Lydia responded, “however, did I not hear that his parents and those before him were honourable and good, Godly people?”
Elizabeth considered her sister’s words. Lydia was but eleven but was showing much thoughtfulness in what she said. “It is something which was canvassed with Her Majesty,” Elizabeth began to explain. “What you alluded to is true about all those who camebeforehimbeing good people.” Elizabeth paused to consider how to explain it to Lydia. “You like to ride, do you not Lyddie?”
“Very much,” Lydia responded confusedly.
“Let us suppose there was a bloodline which had produced good animals who were much sought after to ride.” Lydia nodded still not quite sure where Lizzy was headed with her analogy. “Something happens to corrupt the line producing unrideable horses who only desire to hurt their riders. Due to the corruption, regardless of the past, the line must be ended and a new one begun.”
Understanding dawned for Lydia as well as the other three sisters who had been listening intently. “Your late husband is the corruption of the line, and starting anew does not negate the goodness of those who came before him.”
“That is it exactly! Even thoughheis with the devil, where he richly deserves to be, I am denying him the fondest wish he had.” Elizabeth further explained, “the main objective by enslaving me and making mehisbrood mare was so that his line, hisnamewould continue on after him. With the royals’ help, it will be made known in the realm that the change of name in no way sullies those who came before the deplorable ancient man.”
“I am happy Lyddie asked you this Lizzy,” Jane stated. “I too wondered about the same thing, but I did not want to raise something you may have found distasteful.”
Mary and Kate nodded indicating they were of similar minds.
“Please take what I said to Lyddie about asking what you desire to heart. You are my dearest sisters, my closest family, my flesh and blood. I will never be upset at a question from any of you,” Elizabeth stated. “You should know if I bear a female child, I will, thankfully, not be the dowager duchess any longer. The title will transfer to my daughter and her son will be the next duke. In the case I am blessed with a son, I will have to keep the title, little that I want it.”
“If you marry again. Let us say the son of a gentleman farmer,” Mary smiled at her sister slyly, “the most you will be called is Lady Elizabeth unless the occasion is extremely formal.”
Mary was lucky she was sitting across the coach from Elizabeth else the latter would have swatted her, albeit playfully.
“It will be your time to look at men as more than big brothers in two or three years, Mary,” Kate pointed out.
“It is a long time off,” Mary waved her younger sister’s comment away. As she did the visions of a certain captain danced in her mind.
For the remainder of the ride to London, less weighty subjects were discussed. When they were not occupied with their younger sisters, the two eldest sisters’ minds would contemplate the virtues and visages of the man each loved.
