Lady Matlock sat in a wingback chair next to her husband and began to read. “Oh my!” she exclaimed. “This is the news we have been praying for since Richard joined the army. He has resigned and sold out. He will never ride into battle again. Reggie, I have dreamed of this for so many years; I had begun to think it would never happen.”
Lord Matlock sat upright with speed. “With Richard’s pride in always refusing helpfrom us, Andrew, or William, what caused him to do so now?”
“Anne! Our niece has succeeded where all of us have previously failed. Mostly thanks to Catherine hiding the truth from us, it is sad that we did not know that Anne’s illness had become so bad. However, Richard writes that our niece does not believe she will see the middle of next year. She made Richard her heir, and after he accepted the position, she casually told him that she had signed it over to him already.”
“What is ‘it’?” Matlock questioned.
“All of it. Rosings Park, de Bourgh House, and the de Bourgh fortune. Although he is not as wealthy as Andrew will be or William is, our son has more than enough. When word reaches theTonthat Richard is no longer a poor second son, I hope he is not beset by the huntresses like Andrew and William have been. It is bad enough that one son felt he had to take the extraordinary steps Andrew has.”
“I am beyond pleased for Richard. It always saddened me that due to the entail on the Matlock estates and fortune, I could not provide better for our second son. Thanks to Anne, as sad as I am for the reason she chose to do this, that is no longer an issue. Now if only Andrew or Richard would meet estimable ladies who inspired them to offer for them and not their worldly goods.” Lord Matlock sighed. “I cannot fault either of our sons for shying away from the vapid, fortune-hunting ladies who populate London’s society.”
“That, Reggie, my love, is a problem to be solved on another day. For now, I just want to drink in Richard’s good fortune and revel in the fact he is no longer in the army.” Lady Matlock smiled widely.
Matlock did not disagree with his beloved Elaine.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
It was Wednesday, the first day of July, and Lord andLady Matlock were enjoying a relaxing day. As there was a cooling breeze blowing from the peaks, which were on the western side of the nearby town of Matlock, the Earl and Countess were seated in comfortable armchairs placed on the wide stone veranda on the west side of the mansion. It was part of the newer construction which had been added to the remains of the original castle. There was a small table between them which held a pitcher of lemonade. There were two glasses, one almost empty and the second half full.
When the post arrived, the butler saw there was a letter from Lord Hilldale. Knowing the master and mistress would want to see missives from their sons upon arrival, the old retainer left the rest of the epistles on Lord Matlock’s desk and placed the one from the Viscount on his silver salver, which he carried out to the veranda.
Lady Matlock knew that the butler would not disturb them with the post at this time of day unless it was from Andrew or Richard. When the senior staff member bowed and proffered the salver, she saw it was from her eldest.
“Will you read it aloud?” Matlock requested once the butler withdrew after bowing again.
“Of course I will, Reggie,” Lady Matlock agreed. She broke the seal.
29 June 1812
Windermere View House
Bowness-on-Windermere
Mother and Father:
I pray you are both seated when you read this because I am certain it will be as much of a shock to you as it was to me that I found what I was looking for as soon as I ceased seeking it.
Rather than drawout the suspense, I have requested, and been granted, permission to court a most wonderful lady.
“Elaine, did he say he has found an acceptable lady to court? I was not dreaming, was I?” Matlock demanded. “We have hoped for this for so long; I need you to confirm that I am not imagining what I desired to hear.”
“If it is a dream, then it is one we are sharing. I read the sentence three times, and the words remained the same. Should I read on and discover who this paragon who has captured Andrew’s attention is?” Lady Matlock enquired. In her mind’s eye she saw grandchildren, something she had desired for some years now.
“Please do. At least now, I know I heard what he actually wrote,” Matlock replied with a wide grin on his face.
Lady Matlock’s eyes returned to the words before her. She read on.
The lady’s name is Miss Jane Bennet of Longbourn. If the last name and estate sound familiar, you are not imagining it. Miss Bennet is the older sister of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Yes, the lady William insulted and proposed to in Kent, and who rejected him.
You also are aware that they are Gardiner’s nieces. Quite by chance, Gardiner leased the neighbouring house to the one I rented. From the first time I saw them, before I even met them, I knew the Misses Bennet were not anything like those who have hunted me in theTon. Luckily, it was Miss Bennet and not Miss Elizabeth who attracted me. Were that not the case, William would not have been well pleased with me.
As Gardiner would recognise me as soon ashe saw me, I spoke to him explaining my reasons for hiding my true identity. He agreed to allow me to approach his nieces as long as I made a full disclosure before making anything official.
I did, and both Misses Bennet understood my reasoning, which is why I was accepted. Unless Miss Jane Bennet felt we could eventually love one another to build on mutual respect, she would not have accepted my offer for a courtship.
By the by, Miss Elizabeth is not indifferent to your nephew since he apologised in London, and they decided to begin again.
The fact that Miss Bennet has no dowry to speak of and no connections those in Town would consider capital makes not a whit of difference to me, and I trust it will not matter to you either. The fact is, she is the first lady I have ever been inclined towards.
