“Would you like me to read this to you, Fanny? I will scan it first, and if it is bad news, I will prepare you,” Bennet offered. He saw his wife give a sharp nod. He broke the seal and did as he promised. “No bad news, Fanny. You will want to hear this, but first allow me to close the door.” Bennet did so before coming to sit next to his wife. He began to read so she could hear, and no one else outside of the room could listen .
25 June 1812
St Mary’s Convent
Derbyshire
Dear Mama and Papa,
I have the best of news! I am not in the family way!
“Thank you, God. You haveanswered my prayers. My baby will not have a babe now,” Fanny rejoiced, her eyes lifted to the heavens. “Please read on, Thomas.” Fanny calmed herself and prepared to listen again.
I had my indisposition towards the end of May, but Sister Agnes, the Mother Superior, said I had to wait until I had the same this month. She told me that it can happen, although the chances are slight, that a lady has something like the monthly occurrence and be with child. Once my courses came this month, it was certain I was not in the family way.
Emma and Hannah had theirs about a fortnight after me, so I am beseeching God that He allow them to have the next month’s as well. None of the girls who were manipulated like I was deserved to have that seducer’s seed grow inside of them!
Mama, please go see Mrs Jackson and make sure Paulette is continuing to have hers. That was my worry that Paulette had what Sister Agnes spoke of. If it is not that, I will be most grateful.
Mama and Papa, I need to again apologise for my actions which led to my being at the convent. I should never have allowed him to do what he did to me. Mama, even as you said before I went, you should not have encouraged me to flirt, you never told me to do what I did.
It is for that reason that I will remain here for the next three-plus months. I do not want to come home early.
Papa, the girl you called ‘the silliest girl in all of England’ is enjoying her lessons. And guess what? It seems I have a natural affinity for chess! Sister Etheldreda, you remember I told you she is the one in charge of my dormitory, loves to play chess, so I tooklessons from her. In a few weeks, I was beating her. When I look at the board, it is as if I can see all of the possible moves my opponent will make and how to counter them.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. Please let me know all is well with Paulette.
My love and regards,
Lydia
“Thomas, can you not see how much our baby is maturing? One is forlorn when her daughters all grow up,” Fanny said as she wiped a single tear from her eye. “I am very pleased that Lyddie is learning to behave as she should, but I still mourn the fact that she is no longer the little girl she was.”
“I too am very impressed by the way Lydia is growing. There used to be one person, and only one, she cared for…herself. Now she is more worried about others,” Bennet stated. “Rather than call her a silly girl, I should have taught her. So, as I said when I made my amends to you, I am mostly to blame for how things turned out. We are very fortunate that others stepped in and helped so that Lydia’s and the other girls’ ruination was not made known in the community.”
“Can you believe that our girl, whose head was only full of officers, flirtations, and fripperies, is enjoying learning and can play chess?” Fanny shook her head.
“I cannot wait for the remaining three months to pass,” Bennet shared. “It will be very interesting to see if Lydia will be able to beat either Lizzy or me. If I had asserted myself years ago, I would have known that rather than a silly girl, our youngest is intelligent with a special gift of her own. However, we cannot look back; we need to look to the future.” Bennet paused. “Look at the changes in Jane, Mary, and Kitty as well. We have to do better for allof our girls in the future.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Anne, you asked me to come and see you at Rosings Park?” Fitzwilliam stated when he walked into the drawing room. He did not expect to see Mrs Collins there, and not in the colours of half mourning. She looked rather becoming. He bowed to the lady. “It is good to see you, Mrs Collins.”
“While Jenki is away, Charlotte agreed to keep me company,” Anne explained. “Richard, go wash and change, and we will be here when you have done so.”
Fitzwilliam bowed and made his way up to the chamber which had been prepared for him. As soon as he had entered the house, he noticed a great many changes. All of his aunt’s gauche décor was gone and replaced with understated elegance. From what he had noticed, the furniture in the drawing room was no longer uselessly fine but serviceable and comfortable.
As he made his way to the chamber he always occupied in this house, he saw more of the same. The house was so much brighter and more airy without all of Lady Catherine’s classless items filling every open space.
His bedchamber had been updated as well, and the mattress was actually comfortable. His batman assisted him to wash and change, and when he was ready, Fitzwilliam presented himself in the drawing room. He noticed a man who had not been there when he had arrived had joined the ladies.
“Richard, this is my solicitor, Mr Thomson. Mr Thomson, my cousin, the Honourable Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.” Anne made the introductions. She waited until both men sat after bowing to one another. “Richard, I want you to resign, sell out, and move to Rosings Park.”
“Why would I do that?” Fitzwilliam asked a little indignantly. He never allowed Lady Catherine to dictate tohim, so he was not about to do so with Anne.
“Because, Richard, you are my heir. I need you here now because I am not long for this world, and it would be preferable for you to be familiar with your estate and holdings before I am called home to God,” Anne stated firmly.
His cousin’s words took all of the wind out of Fitzwilliam’s sails. “I am so sorry, Anne, but is it certain?”
