Page 11 of Her Favourite Daughter

“No, I would not. If de Bourgh and Catherine have sunk this low, then they deserve the consequences they receive,” Matlock insisted.

“I am with Matlock. I hope the de Bourghs did not have a hand in this but like my brother-in-law, I would not put it past them,” Holderness stated. “I also would not attempt to intercede if it is them. Anne and I spoke about this and she too suspects that Catherine is responsible for this despicable act.”

“My primary concern is recovering Bethie,” Leeds revealed. “It will break my Amelia’s heart if we do not find our daughter. I will be no less affected than my wife.”

“All we can do is pray that Bethie is safe,” Holderness stated.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Three days later word reached Leeds that a body had been found in the woods near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The report stated that the man had a bullet wound in his back. Also, it stated that although no babe had been found, a soiled napkin had been left on the seat of the carriage, and there were some blankets on the floor.

The footman, Tom, who had seen the carriage and the criminal, was sent to identify the conveyance and the dead man. He recognised both.

Unfortunately, no trace of Lady Bethany was found in the area. The local parish and all of those for more than twenty miles around were visited and asked if a babe had been left with them. No clues to where she was were found.

The only thing that gave Leeds and his wife a little hope was the fact that someone had changed Bethie. That was not the action of one who meant her harm.

Notices were sent to papers in the counties surrounding Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. All that the Osbornes and their friends could hope for was that someone who knew something would respond to the notices and the offered reward.

Men were sent to question Mrs Becky Younge’s family as well as the former nursemaid who had recommended her.

Chapter 4

On the fifth day of travel, not counting the day they remained at an inn to observe the sabbath, the Grantham coach reached Longbourn.

As they passed the gateposts with the black fabric draped over them, Bennet felt a wave of sadness hit him. He had been close to both his father and older brother, and it was still hard to come to grips with the loss of both of them.

Having Lizzy with them had been a good way of distracting him from his grief. Thinking of Lizzy made him remember that he and Fanny had agreed to tell first Mother and Penelope, and then, when they saw them, the Gardiners and Phillipses the truth. They had been sure that once they heard what the parents had attempted to do with Lizzy, they would agree that he and Fanny had done the right thing to rescue an innocent life.

When the coachman brought his team to a halt, Bennet could see his mother and sister-in-law in their widow’s weeds waiting in the drive before the front door. Fanny was also wearing a black dress. The afternoon before leaving Grantham, she had a maid dye one of her older gowns, which she had donned this morning. Bennet had a black armband in place.

One of the footmen from the back bench extended the step from the recess and opened the door. Bennet handed Fanny out who was soon in a three-way hug with his mother and Penelope. Next, he helped Janey out who was soon enfolded in his mother’s arms. James did not recognise his grandmother and aunt, as he had only met them once when everyone had been in Grantham. That did not stop him bestowing wet kisses on both, which elicited weak smiles from both widows.

Lastly, Bennet took Lizzy from Sophie before the footman helped the nursemaid alight.

Lizzy was awake, giggling and gurgling. Her little arms were flapping.

As had been expected, Mother and Penelope looked on with surprise. Bennet stood still while his mother approached to inspect Lizzy.

“Thomas and Fanny, I know not where this babe is from, although she does have some of my colouring,” Beth Bennet stated as she looked from her son to her daughter-in-law.

“Lizzy is our sister,” Jane volunteered. “I love Lizzy.”

Beth Bennet arched an eyebrow in question.

“Mother, Penelope, we have much to tell you, but it would be preferable to do so in the house,” Fanny prompted. She linked her arm with Penelope’s. “We were so sad to receive Hattie’s letter. You have my deepest sympathies, and you will always be my sister.”

“Thank you for your comforting words, Fanny,” Penelope responded.

With Jane holding one hand and James the other, Beth made her way into the house. Bennet followed, leading Sophie, who was holding Lizzy in her arms. In the entrance hall, Bennet did not see the butler and housekeeper who had served Longbourn for many years.

After handing her grandchildren to a maid who proceeded to show the nursemaid holding the mystery babe up to the nursery, Beth noticed the confusion on Thomas’s countenance. “Mr and Mrs Langston retired a year ago. Thomas, allow me to introduce you to Mr and Mrs Hill, the new butler and housekeeper. Mr and Mrs Hill, my son and daughter-in-law, Mr and Mrs Bennet, the master and mistress of Longbourn.” It hurt Beth to name anyone other than her husband in that role, but there was nothing which would change that fact. At least the master was still a Bennet, and Thomas had a son, which would keep Longbourn in the family for generations to come.

Had they not had a second son who had his own children, Longbourn would have become the property of a distant cousin, Clem Collins. It was not because of an entail to heirs male, as that was not how the entail was crafted, but rather that Longbourn could only be inherited by one of Bennet blood. None of Bennet’s ancestors had seen the need to entail the estate on the male line. Although the cousin bore the name Collins, his great-grandfather had been a Bennet third son. He had married the only daughter of a man named Collins, and in order to become master of the family’s estate, William Bennet had become William Collins. The Collins estate had been lost by Clem’s father, who was a gambler, and Clem Collins had taken orders and received a living in Hunsford, Kent. As far as Beth knew, he lived in his parsonage with his wife, Ophelia, and his son, William. The son was three years older than Jane.

If Thomas and Fanny had not been blessed with James, Jane would have been the heiress to Longbourn.

Beth was snapped out of her reverie about the family as she joined Penelope, Fanny, and Thomas in the drawing room. She watched as Thomas closed the door. “It seems you have much to tell us,” she stated as she sat.