Page 27 of The Mistress of All & Torn

“Elizabeth. Thank you for coming, my dear.”

“Please do not thank me. I am glad to be here,” Elizabeth said, sitting next to her and taking her hand.

“How is your father, my dear?”

“Better, your ladyship. With the doctor's care and God’s will, he will be well soon.”

“Good. Elizabeth, there is something I want to give you. Besides any other settlements.”

She then took off a gold and diamond ring—too large for her thin fingers—and handed it to Elizabeth.

“I was given it by my grandmother. I always hoped to give it to my daughter one day, but as it is, I wish you to keep it. Please give it to your own daughter, if God blesses you with children.”

Elizabeth looked at the ring in disbelief. Its value was extraordinary—not only in money but more so in meaning. She put it on her finger, and Lady Sedgewick grasped her hand. The grip was weak and cold.

“I am leaving a heavy burden on your shoulders, Elizabeth. I hope God will forgive me for that.”

“God will bless you for all the good you have done, your ladyship,” Cece said tearfully, kneeling by the bed.

“My dear, please play something for me,” Lady Sedgewick asked, stroking Cece’s hair. The young woman rose and hurried to the small pianoforte. The beautiful notes flew around the chamber, bringing a peaceful smile to Lady Sedgewick’s face.

In a short while, with the last note of the song, the Countess of Sedgewick breathed deeply and her soul left her weak body, her hand still holding Elizabeth’s.

When Elizabeth began to cry, Cece returned to the bed, took the other hand and kissed it affectionately.

Elizabeth’s tears fell freely, her heart broken by pain, sorrow, and a strange sense of desolation. She felt even lonelier and helpless than before.

Chapter 9

While she mourned Lady Sedgewick and still worried for her father, Elizabeth barely remembered what had occurred below stairs.

She did not have any time to address her husband about the situation of the hurt maid for a few days. But when she finally did, his reply had been harsh.

“It is neither my duty nor yours to interfere in the servants’ problems. These sort of low people have a different way of thinking and behaving. And I would rather you did not go below stairs again, madam. You only need to ring and someone will attend to your needs immediately.”

To such a response, Elizabeth had no words to reply, only more weight added to her heart. She hoped that, as Lady Sedgewick had once said, her position would allow her to arrange things to her liking.

There were some papers she and Lord Barrington had to sign, in the presence of the trustees and solicitors, but she did not give them too much thought. Since nothing was truly hers, there was nothing she could lose, so any document she signed could not harm her in any way.

Although her acquaintance with Lady Sedgewick had been rather brief, she missed the lady dearly. With Cece she barely had time to speak, so caught up she had been in the tumult of events.

At the end of June, the Bennets returned to Longbourn. Mr. Bennet was well enough to bear the journey and he expressed—with slight coherence—his desire to return home.

As happy as she was for her father’s improvement, Elizabeth received the news of her family’s departure with grief and despair. At that moment, she wished for nothing more than to leave with them and for things to be as they were two months ago. She felt like an abandoned child, left behind, and she reflected on this separation with tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat.

“It is a fortunate coincidence they are leaving London,” the earl said. “We will move to our country estate too in a few days. You have not even seen it yet.”

The news took Elizabeth by surprise. “Your country estate, sir?”

“Yes. It is half an hour outside London, by carriage. Quite extensive grounds, with a large mansion.”

“But sir, should we not visit Lady Sedgewick’s properties first? To introduce ourselves, since we are now responsible for supervising her charities? Especially the schools?”

“Do not worry, all is settled. We will visit them—sometime in the future. For now, there are two trustees and two solicitors taking care of business matters. No need to trouble yourself. They know where to find us if our approval is needed.”

“But sir...”

“Elizabeth, I understood your worry about your father and I found it commendable that you crossed London every day to visit him. I also appreciated your care for my aunt. But I would expect the same regard for my mother—who is not young, nor very healthy and she spends most of her time alone. A few weeks in the countryside would benefit you both.”