“Elaine, you told me that your niece has similar looks to you and your sister, but I think you understated it,” Lady Sarah De Melville, the Countess of Jersey, stated after the introductions had been made. “You, Miss Wendell, are a verybeautiful young lady.”
Elizabeth gave the powerful countess another curtsy. “I thank you for the compliment, my Lady; I am privileged to look like Mother and Aunt Elaine,” she stated.
“Modest too. It seems that her adoptive family raised her very well,” Lady Sarah remarked. “You shall receive a voucher for Almack’s.”
After thanking the Countess of Jersey, Aunt Elaine introduced Elizabeth to Lady Georgiana Russell, the Duchess of Bedford, Lady Grace Chamberlain, the Duchess of Hertfordshire, and Lady Marie Smythe, the Countess of Granville and daughter of the Duchess of Bedford. The ladies were very warm and welcoming, and even though the duchess’ rank was just below that of the royals, they did not display any superior airs.
After Elizabeth had spoken with the duchesses and countess and answered any questions they had, Uncle Reggie led her across the room to meet some of their husbands, the Dukes of Bedford and Hertfordshire, and the Earl of Jersey. Elizabeth replied with confidence, not cowed by them. After speaking with the peers of the realm for some minutes, Elizabeth wandered off to where her Wendell brothers, William, Richard, and some others were standing.
“You know, Matlock, had I been twenty years younger and single, I could see myself being attracted to your niece. She is a little spitfire that one, and so intelligent,” Lord Archibald Chamberlain, the Duke of Hertfordshire—who loved his wife to distraction—mused.
“Darcy, will you introduce me to your cousin?” Lord Harry Smythe, the Earl of Granville, requested. He, Richard, and Darcy had been at Eton and Cambridge together and was a very good friend to both men. His father had been felled in a hunting accident some three years previously, which had resulted in Lord Harry inheriting many years before he eitherdesired or expected to.
Once the introductions were made, Richard joined them. “So, Granville, how are Lady Melody and her husband?” Melody Smythe had been Richard’s first and only woman that he had loved. He had suspected she returned his regard, but her late father had brokered a marriage between her and the heir to the Earl of Sainsbury, Lord Telford Ranger, Viscount Tesco. She had not reached her majority yet and had no recourse but to comply. Richard had decided that if he could not marry his beloved Melody, he would remain single and will Rosings Park and all of his possessions to his brother’s, or one of his cousins’ sons who did not have an estate of their own.
“You have not heard?” Granville shot back in surprise.
“Heard what?” Richard wanted to know as his eyebrows knitted together in question.
“That useless brother-in-law of mine went and got himself killed,” Granville shared. “You know he would wager on anything?” Other than Miss Wendel, l those listening to the Earl nodded. “All I can say is thank goodness my late father tied her dowry up so that neither Sainsbury nor Tesco could touch the principal. About five months ago, he wagered someone, a man to whom he owed enormous debts of honour, that to wipe out or double his debt, he could make an impossibly high jump on his horse. Knowing it was impossible, the wager was taken. Without going into the gory detail, a good horse’s life was ended that day along with Tesco’s. Melody is free of an unwanted marriage. At least on his deathbed, my late father owned up to his error in arranging the match for Melody, so she forgave him before he was called home.”
“Where is she, and are there children?” Richard asked urgently.
“She is at Granville, where society thinks she is mourning. Mother is giving her succour. No children. Sainsbury was incensed at the lack of an heir, and Melody isnot increasing. His line will die out with him, as the patents do not allow the title to flow through either of his two daughters.”
“That dishonourable man deserves no less,” Darcy opined.
“Why did I read nothing of Tesco’s demise in the papers?” Richard enquired. “I would have thought such an end would be the talk of theTon.”
“Sainsbury made sure his son’s stupidity was not known,” Granville related.
“Is it too soon for me to call on Melody?” Richard demanded. “We all travel north a few days after the ball. I do not want to intrude on her mourning.”
“Fitzwilliam, if it was not for being seen to flout society’s arbitrary mourning customs, she would have joined Marie and me,” Granville revealed. “As soon as she heard the family names of those we would see, Melody wanted nothing more than to be present. Mother convinced her it was not worth the scandal, so yes, you are welcome at Granville at any time. Convenient that my estate is but fifteen miles east of Pemberley in Nottinghamshire, is it not?”
“Very much so,” Richard replied with a face-splitting grin. “We will be at Willowmere with Ellie, but I will be at Granville soon after.”
Seeing the questioning look and arched eyebrow on Ellie’s countenance, just like his mother and aunt would do when they needed something explained, Richard explained all to his cousin.
“You deserve your happiness; I will pray that you get it,” Elizabeth said.
Emily approached and waited until Ellie had completed speaking to her brother-in-law. “My parents would like to meet you. They were upstairs wishing my younger brother and sister goodnight.” She led Ellie across the room to a couple speaking with Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie. “Mamaand Papa, it is my pleasure to introduce my cousin, Elizabeth Elaine Wendell. Ellie, my parents, Lord Paul and Lady Edith Carrington, the Earl and Countess of Holder.”
“Your aunt and uncle have been regaling us with the incredible tale of your discovery. It is quite fantastical,” Lady Edith remarked.
“If I had not lived through it all myself, I too would have thought it was fiction, my Lady,” Elizabeth responded. “It pleases me greatly because now I have even more family than I had before. One can never have too much family.”
“Indeed,” Lady Edith agreed.
“How old are your younger children?” Elizabeth asked. “I ask because there are four younger children who remained at Longbourn.”
“Paul the younger is ten and Rebecca is almost thirteen,” Lady Edith replied.
“Depending on how long you remain in the area, I am sure my sisters, brother and Giana Darcy would welcome getting to know them. The twins, Lydia and Henry, are eight. Mary is twelve, and Giana is fourteen.
“I will confer with Mrs Bennet during the ball and arrange something for the morrow. Thank you, Ellie.” Lady Edith squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. When the younger lady walked away to join her sister and David, she turned to Elaine. “What a wonderful girl your niece is.”
“We tend to agree with you,” Lady Matlock stated proudly.
