The butler announced luncheon was served, and everyone walked into the dining parlour, sitting where ever they chose. Once they were served, Elizabeth turned to Jane.“Have you and my brother-in-law set a date for your wedding yet?” she enquired.
“We have, the day after I am eighteen, the sixteenth of January. We are marrying from our…I mean my home.” Elizabeth did not comment on the slip. She saw that as Jane had been three at the time of her abduction, her older sister would have traumatic memories from that time that she at age one would not have had.“You will all come, will you not,” Jane asked pleadingly.
“If we are invited, we will not miss it,” Elizabeth stated.
“NotifLizzy,when,” Jane responded with finality. Elizabeth squeezed the hand of the woman who had once been the girl she had often seen in her dreams over the years.
An announcement and the wording thereof had been agreed upon between all of them earlier in the day and sent to the Times to appear on the morrow. The Bennets would no longer be unknown in Town after it was read by the Ton in the morning.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mr and Mrs Phillips arrived just after the meal was over. Having seen the portrait of Bennet’s mother many times, as soon as Hattie saw Elizabeth, she knew for certain who she was. Before introductions were completed, she marched up to Elizabeth, who was frozen in uncertainty, and enfolded the young woman in a hug while she cried tears of happiness. Aggie growled but stayed where she was, eyeing the person accosting her mistress. Luckily, Elizabeth had requested the footman looking after the huge dog outside, to bring her in to meet her new family. Lizzy patted the woman hugging her to show Aggie all was well. She nodded to the servant, and he led Aggie outside again, who assessed everyone in the room one more time before she followed.
“Your Aunt Hattie Phillips, my sister-in-law,” Bennet said with a grin.“I think she is appreciative your beast did not have her as a snack.”
“What a beauty!” Hattie exclaimed, as she took a step back from the young lady who had, but for the hand gesture to Aggie, stayed still. Thankfully, Hattie had not seen Aggie, or she would have had an attack of her infamous nerves.
When Elizabeth had recovered her equanimity after being soundly hugged by the kindly lady who she had never before met, her birth father made the official introductions. It was not long before Franny and Georgiana excused themselves to get to know one another better, as they were but a few months apart in age. The story was told in abbreviated form for the Phillips; who then retired to their suite to rest from the trip.
‘In the span of one day, I have gained three sets of uncles and aunts and a slew of cousins!’Elizabeth told herself. Yes, gaining a bigger family was definitely a huge positive, even if her newest aunt’s manners were a touch on the vulgar side. Elizabeth felt that manners aside, she was a good person. They had just been invited to stay for dinner and the invitation had been happily accepted, so poor‘little’Aggie was sent homesansher mistress.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When the Bingleys arrived, they saw that the Fitzwilliams and Darcys were at Gardiner House, as were the Duke and Dowager Duchess of Bedford. Before they greeted anyone else, the Bingley parents offered profuse congratulations to the betrothed couple, then Charles Bingley stepped forward. Perry was prepared in case he said something to upset Jane as she had apprised him of Charles being an erstwhile suitor and his bitter words at her ball.
Most sincere wishes were offered, and Charles apologised again to both, this time for his petulant words at the ball. Jane was pleased that she would not have to cut the acquaintance, and Perry too was pleased knowing that the man had behaved as a gentleman ought, thinking that the first minutes after a disappointment should earn anyone a little latitude. He would have been miserable had Jane rejected his addresses, so Perry had some insight most would not consider. Both the wishes and apology were accepted without reservation.
Martha heard Lady Elizabeth address Netherfield’s landlord as‘Uncle Thomas.’ “I did not realise that you are related to the Fitzwilliams,” the confused matron stated.
“Neither did we until yesterday, Martha,” Tammy told her as she took her arm.
“I do not understand.” Martha was becoming more confused.
“We wanted to inform you of this when we invited you to dinner,” Anne Darcy said, as she stood at Martha’s other side.
“You know that we had a daughter stolen from us,” Bennet reminded the Bingleys. All three nodded.
“You are aware that Lizzy was a foundling?” Elaine asked. Again, there were nods and then it hit all three Bingleys.
“Good Lord, Lady Elizabeth is the missing Bennet daughter!” Martha blurted out.
“After all these years, how, why, when?” Oscar asked, more than a little flummoxed.
“Many thanks to your son,” Bennet grinned.
“What did I…oh, the chess games!” he realised.
“Yes, the chess games. We were to meet during the little season of the year that Papa was murdered. We chose to observe the mourning period at home, and so it was after a delay of almost two years we met yesterday,” Elizabeth revealed.
“The portrait at Longbourn of Grandmother Bennet!” Charles exclaimed as he hit his head with his hand.“Some years ago, I told Louisa that it looked like Lady Elizabeth…”
“Elizabeth or Lizzy,” the young lady interjected.
“Lizzy, but I never mentioned it to anyone else. I should have spoken up,” he berated himself.
“There were many missed opportunities over the years, so please do not take yourself to task; you did nothing wrong!” Tammy laughed softly.“Otherwise, we all would have much more to blame as I myself asked Jane to not tell Thomas about the portrait, as I did not want to occasion him more pain.” She had begged his forgiveness the night before and he had granted it, though made her promise that if they lost more children, she would tell him when she found portraits of their likeness in other people’s houses.
“Is this why you asked us to visit today, Bennet?” Oscar Bingley asked.“Though either way we thank you for our inclusion of your familial happiness.”
