Page 68 of Her Favourite Daughter

Hence, when they departed on Tuesday morning, it was with a clear conscience. They were missing their children very much. For her part, Fanny could not wait to see her favourite daughter surrounded by all to which she had been born. Hattie had not wanted to leave without her Frank, which was why she was not travelling with her sister and brother-in-law.

Chapter 26

Bethany had been ecstatic to welcome Mamma and Papa to Hornby Castle a few days previously. They, in turn, were beyond pleased to see their daughters and son again. They had been too busy greeting all their family members and friends to be awed by the enormity of the castle and the estate surrounding it.

A sennight after the Bennet parents, the Phillipses arrived. They were followed by Edward Gardiner two days later.

It was a pleasure for Bethany to walk out with Mamma and Mother on some mornings. On other days, they rode around the vast park—it was five and twenty miles around—at which times Bethany loved riding Jupiter, who was completely at home in her new stall in the stables.

During the rides, and oftentimes when the residents were all together in one of the drawing rooms, Bethany found herself gravitating towards Cousin William. There were some reasons for this, which she told herself had nothing to do with romantic feelings. No matter how many times she won at chess—he had managed to play her to a draw a few times—or won the majority of their debates, he never reacted badly because of her sex. He treated her as an intelligent being, and Bethany liked the fact that William had added James to his circle of friends, regardless of the age difference between them.

As the month of August progressed, the residents of Hornby Castle began to prepare for their departure to the Matlock Estate of Odendale, which was four miles north of the coastal market town of Filey in Yorkshire. Filey was less than eight miles southeast of Scarborough. Odendale was barely four miles from the town where Caroline Bingley was to marry Sir William Collins. All those who were resident at the castle had accepted invitations to attend the wedding.

The manor house was on a similar scale to Longbourn’s current size, which meant there was enough room for everyone. The Fitzwilliam brothers—with William, who volunteered to reside with them in sympathy—were consigned to the dower house.

If the late Martha Bingley was still alive, she would have died a happy woman with the knowledge that two duchesses, two earls, two countesses, a baron, a baroness, two viscounts, and other members of the first circles would be in attendance at her daughter’s wedding. Caroline understood something her mother never had: regardless of her antecedents, it was her respectful interactions, without fawning or putting on airs, which led to her acceptance.

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

George Wickham would have preferred to be in much better accommodations than Briar Rose Cottage, which Karen Younge had rented when they finally arrived in Tickhill. It was, thankfully, better than the inns where he had slept. At least here, especially with the twins seeking work at Kiveton Park, he did not have to share a bedchamber with anyone. It had not only been the filthy inns and sharing a room with Clay Younge that was offensive, but Wickham had had to suffer more than a sennight riding post carriages to reach their final destination. The vast majority of that time was on the box with that dunderheaded Younge.

He knew that he could not do anything to draw attention to himself while he waited. Hence, he had not attempted to seduce any silly young girls, nor did he open credit accounts in the town. At least, Karen paid a maid to come clean three days each week, and another lady would come once a day to prepare food for him, but much to his disgust, Wickham had to exert the effort to serve himself for the meals when she was not present.

It had been a fortnight, and he had heard nothing from the twins. Just when he was beginning to think they had failed, a letter arrived for him in Karen Younge’s hand. He broke the seal and read hungrily.

14 August 1807

Kiveton Park

George,

We have both been employed at the above estate. For obvious reasons, you should not write to me here.

You had the right of it when you said they would need positions filled with the return of the new duchess. I have been taken on as a maid (there was no position for a companion available) and Clay as a footman. That all went to your plan. However, there is a problem. This is no longer the ducal seat! That honour belongs to Hornby Castle, which is more than 80 miles to the north!

Before you suggest it, now that Clay and I have been employed at Kiveton Park, it would look very suspicious if we were to leave and ask for a position at the castle. There is too much communication between the senior staff at the two estates for that to be feasible.

Do not despair! Their Graces will be here quite often. Both of us will work hard to get close to the young duchess. From what I have gleaned, she is very much like you opined she would be: young and easily led.

Thankfully, no one here remembers the name Younge (you had the right of that as well); so there have been no awkward questions. At the same time and as much as Clay and I would like to learn more about how our mother was murdered, we cannot ask. Doing so would stir up questions as to why we are asking. Also, that would invite scrutiny none of us want.

So far, I have asked nothing about Lady Bethany; I have also made sure Clay does not either. That would seem out of place for newly employed servants who supposedly do not know very much about the Osbornes.

Seeing all the wealth displayed in the décor of this house—the baubles left out for anyone to see, and the artwork on the walls—I would suggest that you double or triple the ransom you ask for the young duchess when we succeed. ₤50,000 would be a drop in the bucket for these toffs.

Wickham rubbed his hands together with glee as he allowed himself to imagine how it would be owning all the wealth Lady Bethany had. It was right that it should be his! After all, it was only an accident of birth which had made it hers. Now, if he could find a way to be made the duke, he would be able to lord it over the Darcys and Fitzwilliams as well. Karen was seeing what was important. Such a pity she would be in gaol while he enjoyed the rewards of his successful plan. He went back to the rest of the letter.

We need to be careful about which of the other servants we trust. For some reason, they are very loyal to the Osbornes. That means we cannot allow any of them to get wind of our plans because then we will achieve nothing, except end up being arrested.

I will write another letter to you as soon as I have news to impart.

Until then, I miss you,

Karen

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

Sarah Lucas opened the letter from Charlotte with some anticipation of the words it contained. After Fanny had told her of Charlotte’s unofficial courtship, she had wanted nothing more than to be with Charlotte to help her, or at the very least to advise her on how to catch the man. Following Fanny’s advice, Lady Lucas had fought against her own inclinations and not mentioned a word about a potential suitor to her daughter. Rather, she would wait for Charlotte to speak on the subject first. How she hoped this was the long-awaited news. She unfolded the paper, smoothed it, and began to read.