Page 34 of Her Favourite Daughter

“My God, Reggie, what is it?” Lady Anne asked.

“It is about Bethie,” Matlock managed.

“Has a body been found after all of this time?” Hilldale questioned.

“Rather than each of you speculate, I will read it to you. I ask that you refrain from exclamations and questions until I have completed the reading.” He held up the paper, cleared his throat and began to read.

1 July 1807

Longbourn (My cousin Bennet’s estate)

Hertfordshire

Lord Matlock,

Please excuse my freedom in writing to you when not replying to a missive you posted to me. However, I think that you will understand my reasoning very soon.

I believe that my daughter-in-law-to-be has discovered Lady Bethany Osborne.

“Bethie!” Lady Anne exclaimed.

“How do they know it is our goddaughter? If this is not true, and she hears of the possibility; it will break Amelia’s spirit,” Lady Elaine stated.

“This is the reason I asked you to wait to make comments or ask questions,” Matlock said. “If you allow me to continue, I believe that many of the questions you have will be answered. I know how hard it is, but please wait until I have read it all to you.” Matlock looked around the table and received nods from all. He picked up the letter again.

I believe Charles Bingley is known to some in your family. He and his sister, Miss Caroline Bingley (my William’s betrothed) met us at Longbourn today. When I introduced the family, Caroline stared at the girl we have always known as Elizabeth Bennet, the middle of five children of Mr and Mrs Thomas Bennet. Caroline and her brother had met the Dowager Duchess of Leeds at Rosings Park in the summer of 1806.

When Lizzy (who is rather impertinent) asked if she had a blemish, Caroline stated that Lizzy looked exactly like a younger version of a lady she met over the summer past. Caroline’s brother, Charles blurted out his agreement that Lizzy was a younger version of Lady Amelia Osborne.

It was then my cousin agreed that even though we all believed Lizzy was his daughter by blood (she looks similar to Bennet’s mother, Mrs Beth Bennet), she was not.

Bennet and his family had been living in Grantham in Yorkshire. They were travelling to Hertfordshire after receiving word that his father and brother had died in a horrific carriage accident.

His wife, Fanny, loves walking, especially in wooded areas, and went for a ramble while the horses were being rested at the coaching inn. She walked in the forest near the town of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire on the 5th day of August 1791. During her walk, she discovered a crying babe in a carriage in a clearing. There was a dead man next to the carriage. In his pocket she found a part of a note which instructed the criminal to murder the babe.

She was still feeding her son at that time, so she was able to provide the girl with sustenance.

She and Bennet assumed (incorrectly) the note was from a parent wanting to rid themselves of an unwanted babe. As such, they told no one, named her Elizabeth Rose, and departed for the south. They believed they were protecting her from those who wanted to murder her.

I have seen the note. It was in the hand of the late Mrs Catherine de Bourgh.

I told them what I knew of Mr and Mrs de Bourgh’s actions and that the Dowager Duchess still prays her daughter will be found. I also told them that the de Bourghs had paid for their actions with their lives.

I suspect that Lizzy Bennet is in fact Lady Bethany Osborne, but as I am sure you understand, no one here wants to raise the Dowager Duchess’s hopes unnecessarily. This letter is to beg you to come hither before contacting Lady Amelia Osborne. I was hoping you have a way to identify Lady Bethany conclusively.

Lizzy (or Lady Bethany) mentioned a rather distinctive birthmark. I have not seen it, nor would I ask her to reveal it to me.

With respect,

Reverend Clem William Collins

The silence around the table was deafening for some moments after Matlock concluded reading the missive.

“These Bennets stole Lady Bethany!” Conyers exclaimed.

“No, William, they did not. They more than likely saved her life,” Lady Anne corrected. “Did you not hear your uncle read why they believed that Bethie was in mortal danger, and they were saving her from evil? You should not be so quick to jump to conclusions without all of the information.” She turned to her brother. “Mr Collins did not say where the birthmark is or what it looks like, but I am almost certain that Elizabeth Bennet and Bethie are the same person.”

Conyers felt his mother’s rebuke. He did not like being told he was wrong, but it seemed he was overruled by everyone at the table. Even Anne and Giana were looking at him with disagreement.