by Massey, Beth
Jane and Charles Bingley purchased Netherfield from Sir Walter, and within five years, put the estate back on a firm financial footing. Charles’ roots in trade became instrumental in their success. It was decided to develop Jane’s business. In the beginning, the revenues were seen as a way to enhance the estate’s income, but soon the emphasis shifted, and they began seriously making and selling her scented waters and sachets. After the war with France ended, they did, indeed, visit Grasse as Charles had promised, but decided that rather than develop the exotic and complex fragrances that came from that region, they wanted their products to remain reminiscent of simple English scents.
Their firm, Bingley of Bath, began by developing four wonderful essences of lavender, rose, jasmine and lilac. They grew the plants needed on the estate. The name of the firm was chosen because of its alliterative quality; and Bath was the first place they chose to seriously acquaint customers with their wares. Soon they began developing other beauty items. Their skin lotion became even more popular than Gowland, and Sir Walter was the most effective advocate for its powers. He swore by it to all his acquaintances in Bath and London. He loved to point to Jane when in company, and declare that all the ladies would look like her if they used Bingley of Bath’s lotion. The couple’s four children, two boys and two girls, were as angelic looking as their parents, and all grew to be excellent ambassadors for their family’s business.
Lydia and Ronald Bledsoe returned to England after four years in Canada. His best friends, who knew of the events in Brighton, persuaded him that all curiosity about the former Lord Wolfbridge’s demise had been eclipsed by other scandals. Few could even remember the particulars of the Viscount’s murder. Sally did not return with them. She had married a young lieutenant and the couple decided to remain in Canada. Bledsoe, a highly decorated officer, weary from war, craved a more tranquil life. He sold his commission and settled in Hertfordshire to be near his dear wife’s family. The Gouldings had recently quit Haye Park, and Mr Bledsoe bought that property. It was fortuitous it was such a large house, for Lydia and Ronald eventually had thirteen children—this was either a testament to their enjoyment of each other, or perhaps it was a tribute to her tenaciousness that allowed her to carry so many babies to the end of her confinement.
Their home became the centre of social life in Meryton. Lydia’s table was known far and wide as the best in the county. The Bledsoe daughters were always beautifully dressed, though it was not because Lydia spent to excess on their finery. Their elegant appearances were due mainly to their mother’s creativity. She had learned to live frugally on her husband’s army pay. They came back to England ready to embrace the industrial revolution taking the country by storm. Their considerable savings were invested in railroads at a most advantageous moment. Ronald Bledsoe rivalled his brother-in-laws, William, John, Charles and Fitzwilliam, for the esteem of his wife’s father.
Just before Darcy and Elizabeth were to leave for London in the spring of 1813 so Georgiana could make her debut, Dr Wilder visited Pemberley. He had been invited for dinner but came early to practice the duet he and Georgiana had been readying as a present for the newlyweds’ six-month anniversary party. They were just about to rehearse the piece a second time, when suddenly, just as she had envisioned in her dreams; he pulled her hands from the keys, kissed her palms and wrists fervently and expressed his desire to marry her. Darcy accepted the passionate Irishman to be his brother immediately, and thus was spared spending the Season in London.
Richard Fitzwilliam and Eleanor finally wed in 1817. He had first distinguished himself in the Battle of Vitorio, and then followed Wellington into France. Once again, he was cited for his accomplishments at Orthez and Toulouse. Just before Waterloo, he was promoted to major general. He was one of the lucky scions of Britain’s ancient titled families. Though he lost an arm, he came back alive. The couple waited a year after he returned to marry. They preferred to give the appearance that their love developed after he returned to Elderton.
Mr Harding died in 1818, followed a year later by the Earl of Elderton. After the death of their fathers, the couple moved with Eric and their new baby daughter, Cassandra, to Manchester. Richard Fitzwilliam managed the textile business that had been inherited from his father-in-law. He was a good motivator of his workers, much as he had been a good commander to his troops.
Seven-year-old Eric became the Earl of Elderton on the passing of his grandfather. Richard had requested of Dr Wilder, that he and Georgiana live on the estate and attempt to improve it financially for the boy. It was a difficult task, since the Fitzwilliam family had mismanaged the property for several generations. One other provision of this arrangement made for the benefit of the young earl involved the property known as Wolfbridge that abutted Elderton, and was the seat for the viscountancy of the same name. Richard Fitzwilliam and his mother had cajoled his father into having some land on that property set aside to be used for the improvement of the citizens of Derbyshire. A building was to be built there to house the New Hope Wolfbridge hospital. They had shamelessly convinced the Earl of Elderton that it would be a fitting monument to his murdered son.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh died three years after the passing of Lord Elderton. Her sister-in-law saw the death of the sister and brother as an opportunity to redouble her efforts to change the image of the Fitzwilliam family name for her grandson. Lady Elderton believed she was infusing the Darcy tradition of honour, family love and respectability into his legacy. By the time Eric had a son, who could become the next Viscount Wolfbridge, the association with that title would be transformed from cruelty to charity.
Many from the numerous estates as well as those involved in trade in the county donated funds for the hospital. Mr and Mrs Darcy were some of the most tireless crusaders for providing medical care to the people of Derbyshire. Each summer they hosted an extravagant benefit that drew hundreds to Pemberley for a Midsummer picnic.
Sir Walter gave up a permanent residence in Bath, and for the remainder of his life, lived by the kindness of family and friends. He spent Christmas every year in Derbyshire with Sir Gareth and Lady Hughes and their children. He often stayed with Lord and Lady Hastings during the Season, and used his time wisely promoting Bingley of Bath scents and lotions. He returned to Hertfordshire during the autumn, and was always welcomed by the numerous grandchildren of his childhood friend, Thomas Bennet. As their almost grandpapa, Jane and Charles set aside an apartment in the family wing at Netherfield for him.
Sir Walter asked Mrs Bennet whether she wanted to marry and accompany him on his annual circuit. She declined, and told him they could spend time with each other when he was in Hertfordshire, or perhaps she would see him when she visited her grandchildren in Derbyshire, but in truth, she was content being a widow.
The ten years after the marriage of her last daughter were some of the happiest of Mrs Bennet’s life. Reading to her husband, writing correspondence for him and keeping the books, as Lizzy and Mary had done before her, became her daily routine. She rarely had time for gossip but did not miss the diversion. Frances Bennet felt profoundly sad upon the death of Thomas Bennet, but her grief was less devastating because of the many pleasant memories of their time together.
Soon after becoming Mistress of Pemberley, Elizabeth hoped to persuade Mrs Reynolds to move into the family quarters as a relative. Retiring was also uppermost in the housekeeper’s mind now that her master was most agreeably settled. However, she preferred to move in with her brother and sister-in-law. One request she made was that she be allowed to attend any births. She was, indeed, there with Bronwyn Hinton when Lizzy gave birth to the first babies born to her as Mrs Darcy.
Twins satisfied both their existing little one’s desires—their new mother gave them a boy and a girl. Bethany immediately started planning for things she and her new sister could do when she was older. Lewis also thought about what activities he could indulge in with his new siblings, but his main wish was that his mother would get her st
rength back quickly, and once again be able to tell him stories, tuck him in and cuddle with him during their morning family meetings. He believed he loved his new brother and sister, but he was certain he loved his mama even more.
They were given the names Richard and Lydia. Their personalities were opposite to their namesakes… Lydia was most like Cousin Richard, and Richard was most like his Aunt Lydia.
Lydia became aware of the power she held over her father at an early age. Once she realized he responded to her ability to make him laugh, she was relentless. A sort of disrespect even greater than her sister Bethany’s was tolerated by her father. Lydia, from the time she was very young, felt no hesitancy in calling him ‘silly’… a sort of childish version of naive and witless… when his behaviour deserved the epithet. At first, he thought she was skilled at her grandfather Bennet’s barbs, but later, after years of observing her, he decided the trait was more like his cousin’s. No one, except Richard Fitzwilliam, was as adept at manipulating Darcy into achieving his potential.
The Darcy’s son, Richard, developed a reputation for being forward with the young ladies. His parents feared they might have a rake in the making, but soon determined that he simply preferred the company of females. The youthful Richard was definitely not like his brother Lewis, but instead, early on, decided he wanted all the fun he could muster before life forced him to settle down. His notion of enjoyment meant pleasing numerous young women. At assemblies and balls, he danced every dance. Seeing young women sitting down without a partner was the cause for much anguish to him.
At eighteen he had been gripped by a singularly uncharacteristic passion for one woman. He proposed to his cousin Elizabeth Collins. She was a pretty, young woman and a magnificent story teller. In that she reminded him of his mother, but that was where the similarity ended. She was much more serious in the subjects of her tales than her namesake. One Sunday afternoon he became mesmerized while she was relaying a particularly heroic tale of sin and redemption. His offer the next day was gravely rejected when she cited his frivolous ways as the reason for her objection. His dejection propelled him to follow the path of the man he was named for, and he persuaded his father to purchase a commission for him. He was the second son after all. Only belatedly did he realize that it would be men in whose company he would be most of the time. It was fortunate that the early part of his tenure in the army was at a time of relative peace, and soldiers were allowed plenty of opportunity to charm the ladies. When asked why he had chosen his career, he admitted openly, his main hope had been to win the admiration of women. He felt his form was most attractively displayed in a uniform.
His twin, who was as devoted to him as her sister Bethany was to their brother Lewis, often rolled her eyes at Richard and exclaimed, “Let us hope the country is never dependent on your abilities as a soldier… I fear at the moment of battle you will be distracted by a young woman and forget to fire.”
Three more girls, Jane, Mary and Catherine, had followed the twins for Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Having so many daughters was the cause of much dread on the part of their father. He would have to participate in the Season entirely too often for his taste. His constant complaining about having to beard the ton in their den five times caused his ten year-old daughter, Lydia, to put her hands on her hips and say, “Papa, stop whining, and do your duty. What conceit to think you might be forced to dance? You are old, and your looks are only tolerable. No woman will pay consequence to you… except Mama.”
His daughter’s shocking words caused Darcy to cut back at meals and begin an exercise program designed by Jamie to trim his middle. Elizabeth thought he was looking quite tolerable, and told him so in the privacy of their boudoir—especially when he was sans culottes and sans everything else. It rekindled a new wave of spontaneity and the result was their last child, Thomas.
When their son Richard Darcy was sent to Afghanistan in 1839, he disproved his twin’s pronouncement. The twenty-five year-old lieutenant was a courageous and disciplined member of HM 13th Foot during the storming of the Gates of Ghuznee. He was promoted to captain for his heroism and composed demeanour under fire. As word of the annihilation of the 44th Regiment of Foot battalion reached England, his mother, his twin and the woman, Elizabeth Collins, who had rejected him years before all diligently prayed that a similar fate would not befall the 13th.
Once back at Pemberley with his family, Richard voiced the opinion that the foray into Afghanistan had to be one of Britain’s most ill-advised and disastrous wars. He stopped short of telling any, even Richard Fitzwilliam, details of the siege of Jalalabad and the reprisals they had inflicted for the destruction of Elphinstone’s forces. What was clear to his family was that the glamour of military life was over for him.
Soon after Richard’s return, Lewis spoke to his father about the unfairness of the circumstances of his birth. Life was about much more than wealth and property, and he had no desire to carry the burden and responsibility for two estates. The oldest Darcy son had, indeed, married Sian Hughes. Shortly after their wedding, the couple had moved to Kent to manage Rosings. Both he and Sian pined for Derbyshire and their families. He petitioned his father to allow Richard to inherit Rosings. In truth, it took little persuasion. That Anne DeBourgh’s son wanted to give part of his birthright to Elizabeth Bennet’s son seemed appropriate to his father. As he penned his signature on the documents changing his will, his thoughts were of Bethany and her belief in signs.
Mrs Bennet stayed on at Longbourn after Mr and Mrs Collins returned to assume ownership of the estate. She doted on their five children, as well as her numerous other grandchildren close by in Hertfordshire. She never once thought of finding husbands or wives for any of them. She became fond of saying on the subject ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that what will be, will be.’ Mary was pleased that her daughters would not experience the pressure she and her sisters had. Mr Collins agreed with his wife. He enjoyed having his children at home or within an easy distance of Longbourn.
Their oldest daughter, Elizabeth, was well into spinsterhood when she made a fateful trip. Her favourite cousin, Lydia, Lady Rathbone, invited her to accompany her family on a trip to Rosings for Easter. Now that her twin, Richard, was master there; she wanted to renew the tradition of springtime in Kent. Both young women remembered fondly the times they had spent together at the estate as children. The trio were the same age and had been great friends since practically in their cradles. After her rejection of Richard Darcy, Elizabeth Collins had seen him only briefly. On those few occasions they had been in each other’s company, she had treated him with an indifference that belied the turmoil in her heart.
Elizabeth had always enjoyed Richard’s company; but when he caught her unawares with his ardent proposal, she had refused because he seemed too feckless to make a well-suited partner for her. His principal interests seemed to be dancing and turning the heads of young ladies. She preferred solitary enjoyments—reading, writing, gardening and contemplating the struggle between good and evil. She even aspired to write novels like Jane Austen, though she felt it unrealistic to always provide readers with a happy ending. She had precipitously concluded Richard would never understand such hopes. Still, he seemed much altered since returning from Afghanistan.
About a week after she arrived, the two met one morning while he was out surveying the grounds. She was rereading Persuasion and it’s plot and being in his presence had put her in mind to remember possible past regrets. She had hardly been persuaded by another, as her decision had been wholly her own.
Richard sat beside her on a fallen branch in the grove where they had often played as children. It had been a favourite spot for picnics and kite flying when the two families spent time together in Kent. His Aunt Georgiana had even said this particular log was special to his parents. She said it had been a place where they met to talk when courting.
Elizabeth’s voice was filled with emotion as she spoke. “Richard, I was relieved when I learned yo
u had returned home safely—though it is evidence of what a selfish creature I must be that I could think only of you when so many souls were lost. Tell me what it was like. Is it true Dr Brydon was the only one to survive the retreat from Kabul to Jalalabad?”
Her heartfelt words and the compassion in her eyes moved him to tell another the details of the horrors he had witnessed. First he spoke of the difficulty campaigning in Afghanistan’s inhospitable mountainous terrain with its extremes of weather. Her rapt attention encouraged him to admit the frustration he had felt with the turbulent politics and the armed and refractory population—they had resented the British occupation. He even admitted he felt little stake in England’s ‘Great Game’ to dominate Central Asia. This conversation was nothing like any he had ever had with a young lady in a ballroom. The pain he felt when he described the destruction of the bazaar in Kabul in retaliation for the annihilation of the 44th was clearly shared by her. The simple act of putting her hand on his arm in comfort and forgiveness gave him hope. As he told his story, he became aware that not only was Elizabeth a wonderful spinner of tales, but she was also a consummate listener.
Over the next few days, they met often for walks and talked of many things neither had ever spoken of before with someone of the other sex. She told him of her hope to write a novel, and his sincere encouragement surprised her. His desire to make Rosing’s park more natural and rid it of the artifice that Lady Catherine had put in place was met with her enthusiasm and numerous suggestions. As she had spent the first ten years of her life near the property, she showed him many nooks and crannies he had yet to explore.
