Page 51 of Her Favourite Daughter

The Gardiners had departed that morning as Gardiner could not be away from his business for too long unless the absence was well planned for, which this journey into Hertfordshire had not been.

“Mamma, will you not accompany me to London?” Elizabeth asked.

“I will see you in Town in the future, but not this time. I need to remain here with your papa, James, Mary, and Kitty. Do not forget that Papa will convey James to commence his studies at Cambridge in two months,” Fanny pointed out. “Also, aside from your mother, Jane, and hopefully Charlotte, the Fitzwilliams and Darcys will all be with you when you are in London, so you will not be alone.”

As light as she kept her voice, for Fanny this separation, the first one since Lizzy had become her daughter, would be very difficult for her. She refused to allow Lizzy to sense that because she would not burden her daughter with any more concerns on top of all the others she would have in Town. So far the talk of Lizzy, or Lady Bethany, being a duchess had been academic and something not wholly real. That would all change as soon as Lizzy met the king and the royal decree appeared in the newspapers. At that point, the abstract would become reality, and her life would change irrevocably. Fanny would, of course, be at Lizzy’s side if truly needed, but she knew she would be doing her favourite daughter a disservice if she did not allow Lizzy to find her way without Fanny there all the time. It would hurt her heart to be away from Lizzy, but it was what needed to be done for her girl to learn how to live within her new situation.

“Besides, it is not like Longbourn is not close to London, so you will be able to visit at any time you want,” Fanny added.

“Mamma, what about John and Brian? May I offer them a place so they may keep protecting me?” Elizabeth requested. “Do I need to speak to Papa about this?”

“It just so happens that we spoke of this very thing. If you feel more secure with them guarding you, and John Biggs and Brian Johns agree, you are free to employ them as part of your household,” Fanny allowed. “Knowing how much they enjoy protecting you, I am very confident they will agree to remain with you when you leave Longbourn.”

“That is very generous of you and Thomas,” Lady Amelia acknowledged.

“Whether she is Lizzy here or called Lady Bethany in London, we will always want her to have as much protection as she needs. There are too many unscrupulous people in the world who would attempt to take advantage of Lizzy. The two guards we mentioned and their men will never allow our girl to come to harm,” Fanny insisted.

“I am happy to have Mother in my life again, but I have a feeling that as I travel this new road I will sometimes long for the day when I was simply Miss Elizabeth, the daughter of a country squire.”

“There is no doubt in my mind that you will discharge your duties with aplomb,” Fanny stated firmly.

“I agree with Fanny,” Lady Amelia added.

The three ladies left the parlour and made their way back to the drawing room, where all but the four younger men could be found. Hilldale, Fitzwilliam, Conyers, and James were out riding. Unsurprisingly, William Collins was at Netherfield Park.

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

The next day a royal courier arrived with a letter for Lady Amelia Osborne, the Dowager Duchess of Leeds.

Chapter 19

“We are summoned to an audience with Their Majesties at St James’s Palace on Monday the twentieth day of July,” Lady Amelia told those in the drawing room after she had read the epistle the royal courier had delivered. Evidently, the palace had chosen to send a courier of their own rather than use the services of the Leeds man. “The palace will publish the notice of Bethie’s recovery in the next day or two. This is because His Majesty accepted my assurances that she is my daughter.”

“You mean you and Bethie?” Lady Anne verified.

“No, Anne, I mean all of us. Yes, Bethie and me, but the Fitzwilliams, the Darcys, the Bennets, the Collinses, and the Bingleys as well,” Lady Amelia clarified. “The summons excludes the offspring of the various families except for Mr William Collins.”

“Why would the rest of us be summoned?” Fanny enquired nervously. In her mind, she thought that the Bennets were to be censured.

Amelia saw how perturbed Fanny was. “Fanny, if it was something bad, instead of a formal invitation, the Royal Guards would have come and demanded you accompany them. Without any doubt, I am able to assure you that you have nothing about which to be concerned.”

Fanny accepted Amelia’s words and allowed herself to relax.

While his Fanny had verbalised her concerns, Bennet had silently been most concerned about his wife, mother, sister-in-law, and himself being summoned to see the royals. All kinds of scenarios were running through his head, none of them pleasant. On hearing and understanding Amelia’s words, as Fanny’s had, Bennet’s equanimity returned.

“That gives us almost a fortnight. That time can be used to begin visiting the shops and introducing Bethie to some of the Ton,” Lady Elaine pointed out. She turned to the four adult Bennets. “We know that Fanny’s brother has a house in London, and I do not remember what Maddie said about the capacity for hosting visitors. If they do not have enough chambers for all, any of us would be more than pleased to host you, the Collinses, and the Bingleys in Town.”

“That will not be an issue, Elaine,” Lady Amelia pointed out. “Bethie owns Leeds House in St James’s Square, which, as you know, is rather large. If that is not enough, I was willed Osborne House in Portman Square by Francis. I think between the two houses we will have more than enough room to accommodate everyone.”

“Do not forget that Jane and Charlotte will accompany me as well,” Elizabeth pointed out. Until now she had sat back and listened without comment. “As Mamma and Papa will accompany us, unless you mean to leave them at Longbourn, James, Mary, and Kitty will be with us as well.” Elizabeth smiled. The thought of having all of her siblings close by as she navigated her new life was comforting.

“It has been some time since I have been to the newly constructed Leeds House,” Holderness added. “However, if memory serves, it has more than enough chambers to accommodate all of those with no London houses a few times over.”

“Your memory is true, Robert,” Lady Amelia agreed. She looked at Bethie. “It is your house, Bethie. If you would like it opened and made ready to be occupied, I will send an express to the housekeeper and butler forthwith. It has not been lived in since your late father was called home to God.”

For a few moments, Elizabeth did not react as the first example of her new wealth and status became a reality. Leeds House, as Mother said, was nothing short of an enormous mansion. ‘Come now Lizzy. You are not one to be awed by material possessions, no matter how many it seems you own,’ she admonished herself silently. “I would much rather we were all together. In that case, Mother, please have the house opened and readied for us.” She turned to her Bennet family and then to the Collinses. “There will be no argument; you will all be hosted at Leeds House. The Gardiners and Phillipses are welcome as well.” Elizabeth got a challenging but teasing look on her countenance. “You would not gainsay a duchess, would you?”

“Of course, we will take you up on your very generous offer,” Fanny responded after seeing nods from her husband and the others. She turned to those who knew London well. “How close will we be to Hyde Park?”