Page 52 of Her Favourite Daughter

“It is less than one and one half miles distant,” Matlock replied. “For you, Amelia, and Bethie, that is no distance at all. Leeds House is close, no more than a few hundred yards, to both St James’s Park and Green Park. The latter is not open to the general public, but as you will be residents of St James’s Square, it will be open to your household.”

“And of course Jupiter, Calista, and the rest of our riding horses will come with us,” Elizabeth enthused. Calista was Jane’s mare.

“There are several horses at Leeds House; however, you have more than enough room for your mounts in the stables,” Lady Amelia revealed. “Bethie, we will have to ride in the accepted way in London. I dislike the side-saddle as much as you do, but we will be riding in the public view in Town.”

As much as she hated using the side-saddle, Elizabeth knew that if she were to ride in London, there would be no choice. She huffed but did not say anything else about having to use the objectionable saddle.

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

The next day when Bennet unfolded his newly delivered copy of The Times of London, he saw the royal notice, which was impossible to avoid as it covered the top half of the front page.

Although he knew what the gist of the text would be, Bennet decided nevertheless to read the notice, with the royal seal, for himself.

His Majesty the King informs his subjects:

Lady Bethany Anne Elaine Osborne, the suo jure Duchess of Leeds, has been discovered.

She is hale and healthy and has been positively identified by her mother, Lady Amelia Osborne, the Dowager Duchess of Leeds. In addition, her godmothers, the Countesses of Matlock and Holderness, have confirmed Her Grace’s identity.

With Lady Bethany’s recovery, the Leeds Dukedom will not go into abeyance, and the line will continue.

The King and Queen look forward to hosting the Duchess of Leeds and the Bennets, who saved her life many years past and kept her safe as their own daughter, named Elizabeth Rose Bennet, at St James’s Palace.

The more he read, the more he had come to hope that the Bennet name would not be used in the notice, but there it was. At least, there had been no mention of Hertfordshire, Meryton, or Longbourn.

However, with Lizzy’s name mentioned and being aware that many in the neighbourhood read the London papers, it would lead to an onslaught of callers with many questions starting this very morning. If only they had not mentioned Lizzy’s name. There was nothing for it now. All they could do was prepare for the callers who would be beating down the Bennets’ door.

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

At Lucas Lodge, Sir William was following his morning ritual, having a cup of coffee before he broke his fast as he sat and read his copy of The Times of London. He had just taken a mouthful of the dark beverage as he read the information about the suo jure duchess.

Did not Charlotte report that she had met the Dowager Duchess of Leeds at Longbourn? Surely, this had nothing to do with the Bennets?

Sir William held to that belief until he read the final paragraph. It caused such a shock he coughed and expelled the coffee still in his mouth. How could this be? Eliza was born to Bennet and Fanny, was she not? Was this an error? It must be; surely he would have known if Eliza were this Lady Bethany Osborne, the Duchess of Leeds?

The sounds he made when he expelled the rest of his coffee in his mouth brought his wife, sons, and daughters into the dining parlour to verify that the patriarch was well.

“What has vexed you so, William?” Lady Lucas enquired.

“There is a grievous error in the newspaper. A royal notice claims that Eliza is Lady Bethany Osborne, and she is a duchess. Perhaps Bennet had this page made to rib me,” Sir William reasoned.

“Our tree-climbing, not to mention boy-beating Eliza, a duchess!” Johnny Lucas exclaimed. “I am sure this is a prank because that girl is the last one in the world who would be a duchess.”

“It is true,” Charlotte said softly.

“What!” was chorused by Charlotte’s parents and brothers.

“And you did not tell us?” Lady Lucas demanded.

“How do you know this is not part of Bennet’s devious prank on me?” Sir William suggested.

“Do you remember a few days past when Eliza requested I come to see her at Longbourn?” Charlotte saw nods from everyone. “In the parlour, it was not only Eliza who was present, but Mrs Bennet and Lady Amelia were there as well. When she was a babe, Lady Bethany was kidnapped…” Charlotte told the story as it had been related to her. “Before you ask why I did not tell you prior to now, I must tell you that I was sworn to secrecy until her recovery was made public.”

“My goodness! You are the best friend of a duchess!” Lady Lucas exclaimed. “Even so, it was not well done that the Bennets told us she was born to Fanny.”

“They never claimed such,” Sir William recalled. “We all assumed Eliza…Her Grace…was a natural Bennet child because she had similar colouring to Mrs Beth Bennet. As Charlotte just told us, they simply did not correct the assumptions. I never asked about the parentage of their newest daughter, did you? Further, why would we?”

“No, I suppose I did not,” Lady Lucas acknowledged. Then, she got a predatory gleam in her eye. “Johnny, you were always close to Eliza; you should broaden your connection, and when she is a little older, ask to court her.”