Page 39 of Her Favourite Daughter

As soon as she was alone Amelia continued reading hungrily.

The discovery began with Miss Caroline Bingley, whom you met at Rosings Park in the summer of 1806. She is engaged to Mr William Collins, the curate at, and son of the rector of, St Cuthbert’s Church in Hunsford. The Collinses are cousins of the Bennets from whose estate this missive was sent.

Miss Bingley and her brother could not believe how much Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked like you. The Bennets had intended to seek Mr Collins’s counsel as to what they should do. They had only informed their daughter on her 16th birthday that she was not of Mrs Bennet’s body. They celebrated Bethie’s birthday on the 3rd day of February each year. The reason they wanted Mr Collins’s advice was they had come to doubt the assumptions they had made about who wanted to harm Bethie based on some evidence Mrs Bennet discovered when she found Bethie.

All of your questions will be addressed when you arrive at the address listed in the direction we scribed.

What we can tell you is that Bethie has been raised as a gentlewoman. She has been loved and never made to feel any less because she was not born of Mrs Bennet’s body. She has 4 siblings, 3 sisters and 1 brother, whom she loves as fiercely as they love her.

We are awaiting your arrival before we have the harder and more in-depth conversations. Reggie and Robert will enquire about accommodations at the local inn because we will not depart until you arrive and some important decisions are reached.

No one will write to the royals about her discovery until you have seen Bethie and confirmed her identity for yourself.

A similar letter has been posted to Seaview House in case the courier is not able to discover you as he rides north.

We know it seems like a dream, but Amelia, it is true! We are here with Bethie.

With all of our love to our sister of the heart,

Elaine and Anne

Amelia read the epistle twice more just to satisfy herself that she had not misinterpreted any of the words. They remained the same with each rereading. Other than Jenny, who had come to see if she was well, out of concern, there was one servant above all who needed to be told the news. “Tom, please come to me,” she called out.

“Aye, Your Grace,” Tom responded as he bowed to the mistress.

“Tom, I want you to give orders that we depart with first light on the morrow,” Lady Amelia said with a smile.

“On the Sabbath, Your Grace?” Tom verified.

“Normally I would not travel on the Lord’s day, but I believe He will forgive me as we will be travelling to see Lady Bethany,” Lady Amelia confirmed.

It took the footman a few moments before his face was wreathed in smiles. “It is ‘Er Ladyship, I should say, ‘Er Grace’?” For many years, no matter how many times he had been told that he was not at fault for the little mite being taken, Tom had felt the weight of guilt caused by his inability to save Lady Bethany. He had prayed to hear this news almost as much as Her Grace had.

“Yes, she has been identified by the Countesses and Earls of Matlock and Holderness,” Lady Amelia confirmed. “Tell the drivers we are for the estate of Longbourn near the market town of Meryton in Hertfordshire. I want them to make all speed without endangering the horses.”

“Aye, Your Grace, it be me pleasure to tell ‘em that.” Tom bowed and practically ran out of the sitting room.

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

The next morning as the sky lightened in the east, Lady Amelia and her lady’s maid climbed into the lead coach. She had been pleased to be told that the Matlock courier was returning to her friends with her message telling them that she was on her way. Before riding off, he had given her coachmen the directions so they would not have any problems finding the way to their destination.

When she spoke to the coachman before boarding, Amelia had been pleased to be told that with frequent changing of horses, they would reach Longbourn on the morrow in the afternoon or evening. With short breaks to change horses, the long daylight hours would aid them in the number of hours they would be able to travel. Added to that was the motivation of those employed by her to get her to her daughter as soon as may be.

There were none who were employed at any estate owned by the Leeds Dukedom who did not know about Lady Bethany’s kidnapping. Many of those who had been employed at Kiveton Park were working at Hornby Castle, leaving a small group of staff and servants at the former ducal seat.

A large number of them had been there the day the babe had been stolen. Hence, as word spread among the retinue that the new duchess had been found, and they were conveying their mistress to see her, the mood lightened considerably.

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

On Sunday the Bennets’ neighbours were curious about the expanded party who entered the church with their friends. The Gardiners and Collinses were not unexpected, but the fact that the Phillipses were worshipping at St Hugh’s Church in the Longbourn Village and not at St Alfred’s in Meryton was unusual. The ten people whom no one recognised looked decidedly noble.

Sir William and Lady Lucas had arrived at almost the same time as the Bennets—they alternated Sundays between this church and the one in Meryton—and Bennet knew he could not forgo introductions without being rude; Matlock and Holderness had agreed to being introduced. As he did so, Bennet was amused by Sir William’s reaction, which he understood. Until that moment, his friend and his wife had been the only titled persons in the area. Now there were earls, countesses, viscounts, as well as a lady, which highlighted the fact that a knight was the lowest of the titles possible. After that, it was the work of moments before the identity of the Bennets’ guests raced through the congregation like wildfire.

The sermon that morning was delivered by Clem Collins. Mr Pierce, the long-time rector, was suffering from a summer cold. Collins had volunteered to stand in, and Pierce knowing that his counterpart spoke well, was only too happy to be able to stay abed and allow his friend to conduct the worship service. The younger Collins was at St Alfred’s Church with the Bingleys and Hursts. They would join everyone else at Longbourn for the after-service meal.

Once the service was completed, those from Longbourn held back until Collins had time to greet all of the parishioners. With his duty done, they all walked the mile back to the manor house together.

Lizzy and Fanny led the group, outpacing them all somewhat.