Henry Bennet had taken his sister’s passing very hard. The fact that it had been expected had not made it easier for him. He had soldiered on and not given up as he had vowed to Fee before she went to her final reward.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Think how much our great-aunt and great-uncle lived and what good lives they had,” Jane, who had been sitting quietly as she rubbed her swollen belly, stated. “Do not forget that they saw another three weddings in the immediate family and more great-grandchildren before they passed away.”
Even though she was great-grandmama only to the children born to her grandchildren, Felicity had been considered such to those born to all her great-nieces. Henry was counted as the great-grandpapa to all children born in the extended family.
“That is true, Janey,” Elizabeth owned. “How pleased they were to attend Lola’s, Anna’s, and Kitty’s, no Kate’s, weddings.” When she came out, Catherine had asked to be called Kate.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Lola and Johnny Lucas, who had become the heir to Lucas Lodge when Franklin had been taken in a hunting accident a year before, married in May 1814, just before she turned twenty. The Lucases had been flabbergasted when they learnt that Lola had such a huge dowry.
As a wedding present to Lola and Johnny, Henry purchased Haye Park when the Gouldings quit the neighbourhood, which when Sir William was called home one day would be joined with Lucas Lodge. They had been blessed with a daughter before Gammy—as she had been addressed by all of her grandchildren, honorary or blood—and Uncle Henrydeparted the mortal world.
Kate and Anna—with Mrs Younge as her companion—had met the twin sons of the Duke of Hertfordshire at their joint coming out ball held at Matlock House in the season of 1813. Kate was eighteen and Anna would be eighteen in March of the following year. Neither young lady was ready for a proposal that first season, or even their second season. However, when Kate was twenty, she accepted the proposal of the Marquess of Hertford and Anna, at almost nineteen, accepted Lord Archibald Chamberlain, the younger—the same name as his father—a month later. A grand double wedding had been held in London in March 1815.
Kate had delivered a son in February 1816, and Anna a daughter in May that same year. Before she was taken home to God, Aunt Felicity had known that the two were once again in the family way. Uncle Henry had been with them when they were born. In fact, Anna’s daughter who was named Felicity Grace, had been born a sennight before Uncle Henry’s birthday.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Henry Bennet’s seven and seventieth birthday had been a celebration for the ages on Saturday, the eleventh day of May 1816. He was frail and blind, but his mind was as sharp as it had ever been.
Henry had been surrounded on his birthday by a large and ever-expanding extended family and friends he had made over the years.
After the party, Elizabeth had approached him and mentioned her concern that he was not looking well at all. To her, he had been the only father she had ever valued, as her birth father had never been heard of or from again—much to everyone’s pleasure. Seeing him thus worried her more than she was willing to admit. To this day she could hear the conversation she had had with her beloved great-uncle before she went to join William in their bedchamber.
“Uncle Henry, are you well?” Elizabeth had asked concernedly.
“Lizzy, I am an old man. Other than that, there is nothing in particular which ails me,” Uncle Henry had responded. “Lizzy, do not be overly concerned for me. I have lived a long and good life. Not even the loss of my sight changed that for me. You know of the good fortune that one man in a million is granted in his lifetime. For those reasons and many more, I am ready whenever God decides it is my time to come home. Whatever is to come next does not scare me. I will miss seeing you most of all, but one day we will see each other again, just like I will see Fee when it is my time.”
“But I am not ready to say goodbye to you, Uncle Henry,” Elizabeth had replied plaintively as some tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Uncle Henry had sensed she was crying and offered her a handkerchief. “Lizzy dear, you are no longer alone in the world like you were when I brought you to this house days after your birth. My nephew, Thomas, has been out of your life these last five years, and your mother is not the same woman she was then. She loves all of you dearly and will hopefully be with you for many more years. William is the perfect husband for you, and you already have three children. I am only sorry I will more than likelynot be here when you and William are blessed with more offspring. And Lizzy, when I do pass, I do not want you to stop your life. Always remember what a good life I have enjoyed.”
She had not responded to his last statement as it would have made what was surely coming all too real. “I hope it is many years before you leave us,” Elizabeth had stated. “I will miss you always.” She had wiped her tears with Uncle Henry’s handkerchief, one Lyddie had embroidered for him. Based on his feeling the intricate work, Uncle Henry had complimented the youngest Bennet for her good work.
“As you know, that is in His hands. Lizzy, you know I have made accommodations for both Mrs Bellamy and Rouse so neitherof them will ever need to go into service again. I intend to bequeath Luke some of my shares in Gardiner and Associates so he will become a partner rather than just a manager. He has done very well, has he not?”
“Indeed, he has. He has never regretted not reading the law. I am happy he and Lilly have just begun to court. I think if they decide on one another, they are well matched. And I would expect nothing less from your generous nature. The more you leave to others, the happier I am.”
“How many times over have you proved that I made the correct choice when I made you my heir? I have no doubt you will do even more good with the fortune than I did. Now Lizzy, kiss this old, wrinkled cheek and go to William. I do not want my great-nephew to think I am keeping his beloved wife from him, do I?”
Uncle Henry had smiled and sent Lizzy on her way after said kiss to his cheek.
Almost exactly a fortnight later, Uncle Henry had gone to sleep and never woken again.
As devastated as Elizabeth had been, as had been the rest of her family, especially her mother and sisters, she had remembered his words and not stopped her life because of his death.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Recalling Uncle Henry’s words pulled Elizabeth from her melancholy. She decided to lighten the mood as Andrew joined them, his and Jane’s eldest, little Beth Elaine, who was not four yet, holding her papa’s hand. “Did you see how Felix and Eddy have both filled out during their years at Cambridge?” She noted.
After Eton, Eddy and Felix had gone on to Cambridge. They were both entering their final year and would graduate in May 1817. They planned to take a grand tour to Europe now that the Corsican tyrant had been defeated once and for all.After the tour, Felix would take possession of Netherfield Park and Eddy would begin to learn to take over the running of the business from his father. Over the years their friendship had only deepened.
“Can you believe that Lyddie has delayed her come out until Lil comes out in the season of next year?” Jane asked in amazement. “She will be more than twenty!”
The changes to Lydia had been beyond anything any of them had dreamed of. When she had completed her year at the Dark Hollow School for Girls, a companion, a Mrs Annesley, had been employed for Lydia. The lady had been chosen because she was able to, along with masters, continue Lydia’s education.
