Page 19 of Her Favourite Daughter

“That is correct, we did arrive with soldiers,” Matlock confirmed. “May I speak plainly in front of your wife, Mr Collins?”

“Indeed, you may, Lord Matlock. There are no secrets between my Ophelia and me,” Collins responded. “If you agree, her remaining will save me the trouble of repeating everything later.”

Matlock, with some assistance from Holderness, explained what had occurred earlier up to what the disposition of the estate would be.

“You may call me callous, my Lords, but Mr and Mrs de Bourgh deserve no less than they are about to receive after having plotted against an innocent babe. What kind of monster tries to have a babe murdered?” Ophelia proclaimed.

“As I agree with you, I cannot censure you for your sentiments, Mrs Collins,” Matlock responded as Holderness nodded his agreement.

“What hubris to speak of their misdeeds the way they did.” Collins shook his head. “It makes my testimony superfluous, about which I cannot be sorry. It means I will not have to be away from my wife and son.”

“What you say is true, Mr Collins, but if not for you, we would not have been here to hear them incriminate themselves so completely,” Matlock said. “You understand that regardless of all the changes in ownership, nothing changes for you, do you not, Mr Collins? If you need something out of the ordinary, you only have to write to me. And as we said, either Holderness or I will be here for some weeks every four to six months.”

“For my part, I am happy that Miss de Bourgh… well no, that is Miss Fitzwilliam now, will have a happy home with parents who will love her and not treat her like a china doll,” Ophelia opined.

After agreeing wholeheartedly with Mrs Collins, the two callers took their leave and made the quick walk back to the manor house. They found the Matlock coach ready, the trunks loaded and Anne and Miss Jenkinson within. After a final word to the butler and housekeeper, the two earls boarded, and they were off on their way to London and their wives and sons.

Chapter 7

By the time Matlock and Holderness arrived back in London, Leeds had already returned to his wife, and they were with Elaine and Anne at Darcy House waiting for the earls to return.

There was a house on Park Lane, right next to Holder House, called Londonderry House, which belonged to the Earl of Holderness. The current earl much preferred his original house, Darcy House, on Grosvenor Square, less than a quarter of a mile from the mansion on Park Lane. Matlock House was just on the other side of the green in the centre of Grosvenor Square from Darcy House. The three sons were playing at the Fitzwilliams’ house under the watchful eyes of the staff and servants as well as a governess, a tutor, and various footmen guards.

About two hours after Leeds arrived, Matlock and Holderness entered the drawing room at Darcy House. Anne Fitzwilliam was holding her father’s hand, and the two men were followed by a nursemaid.

“Anne, my dear daughter,” Lady Elaine enthused as she pulled her new daughter into a warm, motherly hug. “What a pretty girl you are.”

“Thank you, Mamma,” Anne responded.

On the journey to London, Matlock and Holderness had told Anne all about her mother, brothers, aunt, and cousin. Hence, when she entered the room, she was not overwhelmed.

Ladies Matlock and Holderness were introduced to Miss Jenkinson.

“Anne’s brothers are across the square at Matlock House,” Lady Elaine stated. “The coach will take you there so the footmen may unload your trunks. Anne dear, you are in the nursery, and Miss Jenkinson will have one of the chambers connected to it.” Lady Elaine realised Anne had not met the Osbornes yet. “This lady is Aunt Amelia and one of my best friends, and the man next to her is Uncle Francis, her husband.” She turned to the nursemaid. “The boys are expecting Anne to arrive, but they will allow her space to get used to her new home. We will be home anon.”

Miss Jenkinson bobbed a curtsey and took her charge by the hand, leading her back down to the coach.

“Francis told us what happened until he left to accompany the dastards to their new homes,” Lady Anne said. “Will you two tell us what occurred after that point?”

Matlock and Holderness related all from the time that they had separated from Leeds.

“Robert is correct,” Lady Anne opined. “My former sister had no more fashion sense than any other kind.” She turned to her sister-in-law, and one of her best friends. “If you will allow it, I would love to shop for clothing for Anne with you.” Lady Anne caught the look of sadness on Amelia’s face. “Please pardon me, Amelia; here I was going on about clothing Anne when we know not where Bethie is.”

“Anne, you have nothing for which to be pardoned. Until I am able to hold my Bethie again, there will be a certain feeling of melancholy, but it is in no way connected to you being excited about dressing your namesake, or that Elaine and Reggie have a daughter. Your joy in no way adds to my sadness,” Lady Amelia assured her friends. “Perhaps at some point, I will want to join you on the shopping expedition even if we do not know where Bethie is.” She looked at everyone in the room. “My sadness was wholly caused by the two miscreants languishing in some dark dungeon in the Tower right now. I am not one who wishes death on anyone, but I am not sorry that neither of them is long for this world.”

There was agreement and understanding from the other five in the room.

“I intend to ask a boon of His Majesty that the trial not be made public, and the same with the execution. Even though the Fitzwilliams and Darcys have disavowed any connection to the de Bourghs, I do not want one person to throw guilt by association on any of you,” Leeds insisted.

Not long after the Osbornes left, the Fitzwilliams walked across the green to their own home to see how their new daughter was doing with all of the rapid and major changes to her life.

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

Under normal circumstances, trials for the high crime of treason were held in the Old Bailey or Westminster Hall and open to the public.

Given the potential for scandal with Mrs de Bourgh being sister to the Earl of Matlock and the Countess of Holderness, and in response to a request from the Duke of Leeds, the crown ordered the trial for the above-mentioned two, be held in private and inside a room at the Tower of London. There would be no jury.

The trial was to be held in the morning on the first Wednesday of September. A half hour before de Bourgh was to be led from his dank cell to the makeshift courtroom, Leeds, Matlock, and Holderness arrived at de Bourgh’s barred door.