Page 64 of Her Favourite Daughter

“You are correct!” Hattie exclaimed after perusing the page. “Lord Thomas and Lady Frances, the Baron and Baroness of Meryton! What an honour!” She had a satisfied smile on her face. “Now, let Sarah Lucas try and rub our faces in her elevation. Did you see that King George knighted both William Collins and Mr Bingley as well?”

“I must admit it will be entertaining with two Sir Williams in the neighbourhood,” Phillips stated with a grin. He saw his wife’s quizzical look. “Did you forget that William Collins is to succeed Mr Pierce as rector?”

Hattie Phillips tittered. “I would like to see the Lucases’ faces when they read this.”

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

“William, what ails you?” Lady Lucas enquired when she saw her husband staring at the newspaper as if it was a snake that was about to strike. “Is there bad news? Are the French invading us?”

“No, not that; it is the Bennets. When the duchesses, earls, countesses, and viscounts left the area, I thought things would go back to normal, with us being the only titled people around Meryton,” Sir William explained. “But here I see in today’s Times of London that Bennet and his wife are now a baron and baroness. They are now Lord and Lady Meryton, and her ladyship can be addressed like the wife of an earl, as Lady Frances. If that were not enough, the Bennets’ cousin, Collins’s son, has been knighted, as has Mr Bingley.” Sir William paused as he stared off into space. “I realise that I considered my knighthood to be far more special than it was. It is a rather common honour, and next to Bennet, or should I say Lord Meryton, it is nothing as he is now a peer of the realm.” As an afterthought he added, “The same way I insisted that Lord Meryton and all my friends address me as ‘Sir William’ and not Lucas any longer, I am certain that I will not be allowed to address my friend informally. I became a pompous fool.”

Sarah Lucas was struck all of a heap[12]. How many times had she not boasted about her title to Hattie Phillips and Fanny Bennet, among many others in the area, and tried to lord her elevated position over them. Hattie never enjoyed her boasting, but Fanny was always stoic about it and never commented one way or the other. In addition, her friend also always refused to partake in gossip. She was sure that Hattie would cast her boasting in her teeth[13] and Sarah was not looking forward to having to eat humble pie. Lady Lucas suspected that Fanny would be gracious and not hold her past boasting against her.

That would not stop several of Sarah’s friends in the neighbourhood from throwing the news in her face. Oh, why had she been so keen to aggrandise herself at the expense of others? Hattie and those others would make sure she heard about the new Lady Frances as much as possible. Perhaps she could claim an indisposition and remain closeted, not going out, and not being home to callers. However, how long could she claim such?

Lady Lucas knew that was the coward’s way out; however, like her husband had said regarding being pompous about his title, she had been no better. More than anything, she felt shame about the way she had behaved towards her friends.

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

Hattie Phillips was about to call on Sarah Lucas, so she could crow about her sister, Lady Frances, the baroness, when her housekeeper delivered a letter in her sister’s hand.

She wanted to see what Fanny, no, Lady Frances—how well that sounded—had to say before she went to watch Sarah Lucas eat a healthy portion of humble pie. The seal was still the regular Bennet seal. Hattie assumed there had not been time to make a new one. She broke the seal and unfolded the paper admiring her sister’s flowing script. Hattie began to read.

21 July 1807

Leeds House

St James Square

London

Hattie, my dear sister,

We have been told that the patents for Thomas’s title will be delivered this afternoon. In addition, the Crown has seen fit to gift us a house in Portman Square. It is two doors down from Hilldale House (Andrew Fitzwilliam’s house) and we will go to see it this afternoon.

Our plan is to depart for Meryton in the morning on the morrow. Before I continue, I need to ask you to do something for me, or in this case, it would be to not do something.

I am aware that you and others in the neighbourhood were greatly put off by the way Sarah Lucas behaved after her husband was knighted. I own that it was not exemplary behaviour. However, you or any of my friends using the titles the king bestowed on Thomas and me to get back at her, would make you and our other friends no better than Sarah. Also, even if I did not approve of what was done in my name, it would throw shade on me, Thomas, and our children. What you do in our name is, in the eyes of others, the same as us doing it. That would hurt and not help us, and I am certain that you and our friends would not want to do that.

Thus, I beg you, Hattie, to not use my, our, elevation as a way to get back at Sarah. I beseech you, and I would like you to pass this request on to our friends as well, to not do anything hurtful in my name or that of any Bennet.

When I am home and have made sure that everything is in order with the tenants at Longbourn, I will see Sarah and speak to her. Like I will tell my other friends, I will inform Sarah that when we are not in a formal setting, I am still Fanny; and by the by, as it is my decision, when addressed with my title, I will be ‘Lady Fanny’ as I love that version of my name, which you, Sister, began to call me when I was not yet two years of age.

Also, please let our friends know that as His Majesty addressed Lizzy as Lady Bethany, she is to be called Bethany or Bethie by those she permits to address her informally. In private, her Bennet family (which includes the Gardiners and Phillipses) may call her Lizzy, but only when no others are present.

When you see people in the area, please inform them that Friday is the first day I will be at home to callers. I first need a day or two to ensure there is nothing urgent for me to do.

While Thomas and I make for Longbourn alone, Mother Beth, Penelope, and all our children will travel with Bethie (you see it is not so hard to use the name with which she was Christened) to some of the ducal estates in Yorkshire.

This afternoon Bethie and I will call at 23 Gracechurch Street where my daughter will invite the Gardiners to visit her castle. She has not forgotten you and Frank. If my brother is able to take some time from his practice, you are both invited to travel north with us. If Frank is unable to get away, and can spare you, Hattie, you may travel with us. If I were to tell you all here, I would be writing for many hours. When I see you, I will relate everything else to you and Frank. To that end, unless you are otherwise engaged, you two are invited to have dinner with us on the morrow.

With all my sisterly love and looking forward to seeing you.

Fanny

Hattie read Fanny’s words a second time. She knew her sister well. Even though Hattie wanted to visit Sarah Lucas and watch her squirm, she should have known this was how Fanny would react.

She admonished herself for her desire to take some petty revenge. Instead, she made herself ready to visit Fanny’s friends and pass on her message.