“No one else will ever claim my heart, Cilla, for it is yours alone until I draw my last breath. I care not what the decree says, you will always be my wife in my heart. When I marryPrincess Frederica Charlotte, in my heart my vows will be to you, not to her.” Frederick rubbed his former wife’s hands with his thumbs. He was nearly desperate to kiss her, but he restrained himself, for it was hard enough on her already, and he knew one kiss would never be enough. “The only news which I do not despise having to share is that my father has honoured our settlement to the letter. Here is a record showing three hundred thousand pounds deposited in your name in the bank of England.”
“You must also know that is the last thing which concerns me at this time,” Priscilla stated quietly as she fought to keep her composure.
There was a cough from the door, reminding his Highness it was time to depart. With a last longing look at the only woman he would ever let himself love, His Royal Highness Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, Earl of Ulster, took his leave.
Once she heard the coach begin to move outside, the dam broke, and Priscilla cried, giving vent to her broken heart as she lay curled up in a ball on the settee which still held her beloved’s scent.
An hour or more later, Priscilla regained some composure and wrote a note to her best friend, requesting her immediate presence at Netherfield Park. Fanny did not miss the tear stains on the note, immediately surmising that the worst had happened.
“Thomas, I must go to Priscilla; I may be there for some days’ duration,” Fanny stated after her husband had invited her into his study. Seeing her husband’s look of concern she added, “Thomas, it seems the King has dissolved Priscilla marriage. I must go to her; I can only imagine the pain she is in. Jane will be well taken care of by her nursemaid.”
“I will not delay you before you leave, Fanny,” Bennet offered his understanding, for she would not make such a request were it unnecessary.
Bennet kissed his wife and saw her to the Bennet carriage which would carry her to Netherfield Park, promising he would have a trunk sent should she request it.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As soon as Fanny was shown into Cilla’s private sitting room, the latter collapsed into her arms with a fresh bout of tears. Each time Priscilla thought she could cry no more, devastation would overwhelm her, and more tears would flow.
Fanny said not a word. She held her friend and rocked her gently in an attempt to soothe her intense pain. It was more than an hour before Priscilla regained the ability to speak coherently. She told Fanny all, what the King had done and why.
“It is not fair, Cilla. As much as I feel your pain, in matters of state, I can see why the King did not hesitate to take the action he did. You were his wife for a little more than a year, and in that time your heart knew the purest version of love. I know what I am telling you may sound like empty words at this moment, but in time you will move past the pain and be comforted by the memories,” Fanny opined. Priscilla gave her friend a watery nod, beginning to comprehend what she said.
When the London papers were delivered the next day to Netherfield Park and Longbourn, they contained the divorce decree. At Longbourn, Bennet nodded to himself; when the time was right she would relate any additional pertinent information to him. It would be a tale of both love and woe.
At Netherfield Park, Fanny ordered Mrs. Nichols to dispose of the papers. There was nothing to be gained by Priscilla seeing the decree; it would not change anything. Slowly but surely, over the course of a sennight, Fanny began to draw her friend out. All progress was lost when a curt letter arrived from Lady Jersey.
September 18, 1789
Broadhurst, Essex
Lady Priscilla,
As you have brought the scandal of divorce down on our family, we have no choice but to break with you to protect the reputation of the family, most especially that of Marie and Wesley.
May God bless you,
Lady Sarah De Melville
Although Priscilla expected this, but it did not stop the added infliction of pain on her already frail emotions. Fanny stayed with her friend for almost a month complete, supporting Priscilla until her friend was able to get through a whole day without spontaneously bursting into tears.
It was during Fanny’s stay at Netherfield that both her and Priscilla’s state were confirmed. They would both give birth in February or March of the coming year. Before she departed, Fanny received her friend’s permission to tell Mr. Bennet all she had not already shared.
What Priscilla was unaware of was that the decision to cut ties with her came from her father who was very conscious of his position in society, and what theTonthought of him. Her mother had pleaded, begged, and cajoled, none of which had moved him. She had taken a vow to obey him—as much as she would like to ignore her vows, she could not as her husband made sure she would not go against him putting measure in place to keep her in check.
Chapter 1
February 1790
“Fanny, you remember my telling you about my good friend from Cambridge, the Earl of Holder, Lord Paul Carrington?” Bennet asked as he sat as his desk with a letter from the man.
“I do, Thomas,” a heavilyenceinteFanny replied. “Why do you ask?”
“A letter arrived today; he begs my presence to help him with some matters about which we have been corresponding. I pledged to help him if he ever needed it for the service he provided me at Cambridge, protecting me from those vicious lordlings. He has never expected anything in return, but I feel honour bound to assist him now that he has need,” Bennet explained. “I will allow you to make the decision, Fanny, as I am not able to promise I will return by the time you enter your final confinement.” Bennet did not inform his wife that a large part of his reason for travelling to his friend was to see if there was a way to break the entail on Longbourn, for he did not want to get her hopes up if it came to naught.
“You should go, Thomas. I will join Priscilla at Netherfield Park until you return so we will not be alone. Miss Jones and Jane will accompany me,” Fanny agreed.
“Only if you are sure,” Bennet verified again, more to reassure himself she was accepting of his leaving at such a time as this.
