I am weak of body, but not of mind. Before I told her what she was promising to do, I convinced Fanny to promise me she would obey my wishes to the letter as I have asked of her. Who better to raise my daughter than the woman who has been at my side through these recent times, good and bad? The same lady whose daughter Jane is my niece in all ways but blood.
Yes, Elizabeth Sarah, named for my beloved late Grandmother Beth and my mother is my daughter. Even after she cut me, I have honoured my mother with my daughter’s middle name. No matter her actions, she is still my mother and I will always love her.
I have made some small bequests, but everything else, including the money Frederick settled on me, will be Elizabeth’s. Other than Fanny, and now you, the only others who know the full truth are the solicitor, Mr. Frank Phillips, and my man of business, Mr. Edward Gardiner.
Not being here to have you give me your vow as I requested Fanny make, I beseech you to honour my wishes. When Elizabeth is eighteen, she will know the truth, as will her birthfather, my parents, and Thomas Bennet. I ask that you not share the truth of Elizabeth’s parentage, even with your husbands. As I dictate the last, I am sure it is something you will not be able to do.
Anne or Elaine, if it is you, I understand if you need to tell Robert or Reggie all. I know you do not keep secrets from your husbands under any circumstances. Before you do so, please have them promise they will not inform anyone until Elizabeth’s existence becomes common knowledge.
Mr. Phillips has the true page of the register, the one witnessed by the midwife and others if there is ever a question of her paternity. As I was with child before the divorce, Elizabeth will never be tainted with the stain of illegitimacy. Given she was born less than six months after Frederick was torn from me, there will be no question who the father is. The law states that a child born up to ten months after separation is the child of the previous husband. Thus there is no legal or moral question of my daughter’s paternity.
I support Fanny in keeping her true fortune from becoming common knowledge as it would draw every fortune hunter in the known world to her.
Please know how much I value those like you who did not abandon me. I meant to write and reopen correspondence, but it was not to be. If the reader is either Anne or Elaine, know how much your friendship meant to me.
God bless you,
Cilla
“I am so happy she had you with her Fanny; what a burden you have shouldered these five years.” Lady Anne repeatedly wiped away her tears, her shoulder resting against Fanny’s as she was grateful to share her grief with someone so connected to Priscilla, who had been her support and comfort until she breathed her last. “Mr. Bennet does not know Lizzy is not his daughter by blood?” Lady Anne asked after she composed herself.
“No, he does not. He commented once on Lizzy’s green eyes, but never anything since. If he asked me directly I would tell him, but I cannot break my promise to Cilla,” Fanny averred.
“Where is she buried?” Lady Anne asked.
“At St. Alfred’s in Meryton. It is the church closest to Netherfield Park,” Fanny replied.
“You live at Netherfield now, correct?” Lady Anne asked, her mind starting to race now that she had more from Mrs. Bennet than she had ever imagined she might gain during this visit, and within but three hours of their meeting.
“Yes, we lease out our estate, Longbourn. When Lizzy gains her majority, she will receive control of her inheritance, including Netherfield Park. I still feel Cilla’s presence in the house, which is why I asked Thomas to allow us to live there.” Fanny smiled sadly, understanding the look of longing in Lady Anne’s expression. “When you travel to Town for the season—I assume you do?” Lady Anne nodded. “If we are home—and the chances are we will be as Thomas eschews Town—you will be welcome to visit Netherfield Park. It is as Cilla decorated it; I am sure you will feel her presence there as well,” Fanny suggested.
“Fanny, may I take the letter to show Robert when I tell him? Priscilla knew me well; as she herself asked you to write, we do not keep secrets, and I did not make that vow to her, but Robert will be the only one I share the information with, as she asked of me,” Lady Anne requested. “You should know that my sister Elaine will not keep secrets from her husband—my bother—either.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After his wife told him all and allowed him to read the letter, Robert Darcy was silent for some minutes. “So William insulted a Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, one who has more wealth on her own than we do. And unless she tells him, or there is an announcement from the royals after she turns eighteen, he will not know.”
“You know we are about to become close connections of the Bennets do you not, my love?” Lady Anne asked.
“No doubt, Anne; I had no doubt when the two of you started crying together.” He soothed her as he held her hand a little tighter in appreciation of her finding some relief after being sad so long because she had no word from her friend. “It does not hurt that Bennet seems to be exactly the kind of man I would like to know. What about Elaine and Reggie?” Darcy asked.
“If Elaine draws the same conclusions I did, Fanny will tell her and allow her to read the letter. Whether or not my sister then tells my brother will be up to her. I am sure Elaine would not keep secrets from Reggie,” Lady Anne opined.
Lady Anne returned the precious letter to her new friend. An hour later, the Matlock coaches arrived at Holder heights.
Chapter 6
The Fitzwilliams went directly to their chambers to wash and change. Andrew, who was fifteen, went to join his brother, cousin, and Jamey, while the Earl and Countess of Matlock joined the rest of the adults in the drawing room for afternoon tea and were introduced to the Bennets.
The Bennet sisters were in the nursery playing dolls with Cassie. The latter normally only had Jamey as a playmate, and he never wanted to play dolls with her—just as she had no interest in playing with his toy soldiers.
As much as it was killing Lady Anne not to mention anything regarding Priscilla to Elaine, she bit her tongue and honoured her friend’s dying wishes, just as Fanny did. If Elaine said anything about Priscilla, or noticed anything about Elizabeth, then she would ask Fanny to join them for an enlightening talk.
When Lady Elaine learned that the Bennets lived in Hertfordshire, she asked if they had ever met Priscilla, and was truly surprised when she realised the Bennets had been introduced as being from Netherfield Park, and that Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were from the same shire. “Is that not the estate of Priscilla De Melville, so named before marrying the Duke of York and Albany—Prince Frederick?” Lady Elaine asked, not missing the small, sad smile that passed between her sister Anne and Mrs. Bennet. “How is Priscilla, and can you tell me why she stopped communicating with those of us who refused to cut her because of a divorce in which she had no say?”
“Elaine, our friend passed in childbirth some five years ago,” Lady Anne said gently as she took her sister’s hands in her own. “Her son was stillborn.”
“No! How can that be? She was so healthy and vibrant. What happened to her? And why are the Bennets living at her estate?” Lady Elaine asked, feeling the shock of the news washing over her.
