Just as he was preparing to breach the door, it opened to reveal a smiling Maddie. As soon as Bennet saw her joy, he knew that neither Fanny nor his new daughter or son were in danger. He watched as she, Hattie, and Lady Lucas glided out of the room. They were followed by the midwife. Hill came and stood at the door. “Master, the mistress is calling for you,” the housekeeper reported.
As soon as Mrs Hill stood aside, Bennet practically ran into the chamber. The sight which met him would be burnt into his consciousness for the rest of his days. Fanny was sitting in the bed, propped by pillows, and she had a swaddled babe in each arm!
Suddenly the different-sounding crying made sense to Bennet. They had twins!
“Come meet your son and daughter,” Fanny invited tiredly.
“You have done very well, Fanny, my love,” Bennet stated as he advanced into the room. “Have you thought of names?”
“If you agree, we can name her,” Fanny cocked her head towards the slumbering girl, “Lydia, after my late grandmother. And her slightly younger brother,” she inclined her head towards their new son, “we can name him for your late brother.”
“Those are fine names. I think Lydia’s second name should be Fanny for her wonderful mother. For Henry, I leave it up to you.”
“If Lydia is partially named for me, then Henry’s second name should be Thomas, just like his father, whom I love to distraction. I think Henry Thomas Bennet is a fine name.”
“I have no objections to our second son bearing my name.” Bennet paused as he thought. “What say you to me bringing the children in to meet their new siblings?”
“That is a capital idea, Thomas. That way they, and especially Lizzy, will be able to see that I am well. You know how concerned Lizzy gets when she does not know how I fare after not seeing me for a while.”
Bennet nodded and made his way to the drawing room where his mother was with the children.
“The ladies told me that you have both a new son and daughter; I am so happy for you both,” Beth enthused as soon as she saw her son.
“May we see Mama?” Lizzy asked nervously. She had been told that Mama was well, but until she saw her for herself, she could not be sure. Adults, at times, tried to protect children by shielding them from the hard truth.
“That is why I am here; your mother and I want you all to come and meet your new sister and brother. We have namedthem Lydia and Henry,” Bennet stated.
“That is a very good name for a boy born at Longbourn,” Beth said as memories of her late son washed over her. She refused to give in to the melancholy. After all, there were new grandchildren to meet. “Come, children.” Beth stood and led her four grandchildren out of the drawing room.
“Mrs Bennet is correct,” Sir William opined before Bennet followed the four children. “Those are good names.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The instant Lizzy saw Mama sitting up in the bed and smiling, she was able to relax. Mama would be well, and she would not be leaving her.
She was aware she was not a Bennet by blood, but as she had no memories of her former parents, Elizabeth could not explain from where the worry of her being removed from her family came. All of her memories of living with the Bennets were positive, and never, not even for the smallest measure of time, had they ever made her feel anything but loved and wanted.
It was not only the Bennets who treated her like she had always belonged with their family, but also the Phillipses and Gardiners. That she was a foundling was common knowledge in and around Meryton, but that had never caused anyone in the neighbourhood to treat her as less than.
As she hugged Mama and met the sleeping Lydia and Henry, Elizabeth began to think of the treat she would have in a few months. She was to go be with Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward at their house on Gracechurch Street for two months beginning in October when the heat and attendant odours of London had lessened considerably. It had been Janie’s turn after this past Christmastide.
It used to be both Jane and her until Lilly had been born. With three children of their own in the house, the Gardiners had begun to host them one at a time.
Like he had after James had been born, Bennet wrote to Clem Collins to notify him of the birth of another son. The letter he received back was not written for his distant cousin, but rather from his son, William.
The writing on the page did not show any more intelligence than his sire, but at least the son could read and write. He informed Bennet his father had passed away a year prior to the date of the letter. The son used ten words when one would have done and told of how he intended to study so that he could enter the church.
There was some nonsense about the Bennets stealing his birthright, and how could Bennet rest easy when he had stolen Longbourn from the Collinses? Seeing the twaddle William Collins put into his letter, Bennet decided that he would not attempt to write to Collins again. Fanny heartily endorsed his decision.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Wendells did not keep a house in London, but when they did go to Town they were hosted at Matlock House in Grosvenor Square, across the green in the middle of the square from Darcy House. If the Fitzwilliams were not in residence and Wendell needed to go to London for business, he would be invited to reside at Darcy House.
In the middle of October 1803, Cilla agreed to accompany Joseph to London. Ever since Ellie had been taken more than nine years past, she had eschewed London society as much as possible. As her husband was not titled, and they had never participated in events theTonfrequented, their absence from London’s social scene had not caused any talk. The tale of their murdered daughter was known, but after so many years, it was never spoken of in society.
The reason she had agreed to come to London was for David’s levée. He had graduated from Cambridge this past May. Barney had two more years to complete his studies atuniversity.
On the final Friday in October, Wendell, Darcy, and Matlock had a meeting scheduled with Edward Gardiner at his house near Cheapside. When the latter met with members of high society, he did so in his office in the house rather than having them meet him in his warehouse.
