Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth

by Greer Boyd

  Dressed in coordinated riding attire, Jane and Charles arrived shortly after the birth, although they at first had not known that it had occurred. They had taken up residence in Charles’ London townhouse for the final days of their honeymoon and had not placed the knocker on their door, so the runner Mrs. Upton had sent to their house thought that they were not in residence. They had been out riding and had just stopped by to check on Elizabeth when they were informed of the birth. As Elizabeth saw Jane and Charles come into her bedchamber, she started to cry fat, happy tears of joy.

  Jane took the child from Elizabeth’s arms and, as she held him close to her breast, she knew that the greatest of her sister’s wishes had come true, and he was absolutely beautiful. When the baby started to cry softly and her sister raised her hands to take him back, Jane promptly handed him to his mother. As Elizabeth unashamedly began to open her gown to feed him, the men left the room, while the remaining women looked on with pleasure as the babe sought his mother’s nipple and, finding it, latched on and began to feed with contented little grunts.

  Both mother and child fell asleep as he fed. Silently, Jane took him from Elizabeth’s arms and handed him to his nurse, then gently closed the front of her sister’s gown. For the next two weeks, Jane and Aunt Lilly took over the supervision of Lydia and Kitty while their mother returned home to Longbourn. Another two weeks passed and Mary was more than content to stay with Elizabeth and the new baby when Jane and Charles returned to Netherfield delivering Kitty and Lydia to their mother.

  Elizabeth recovered quickly, and her time of ‘lying in’ as directed by the doctor and midwife had her unnerved with all the inactivity. She had flatly refused to lie in a darkened room and instead had the curtains thrown back to allow the sunlight to enter her bedchamber. Soon, she had decided to return to conducting all of her business and investment activities from her study. She was only waiting for the remainder of the month and the return of her monthly menses to be cleared by the doctor to resume all activities after the churching service when Thomas was six weeks old.

  To her surprise, her monthly menses picked up right on schedule as if the last nine months had never happened. Once the cycle was over, she notified Jerome and he joined her in her bedchamber that very night. For someone who had experienced physical release only sparingly before his marriage, he found that he had grown to quite enjoy his wife every night except when she had her monthly indisposition. But even then, he enjoyed the presence of her body lying close to his.

  Jerome had been quite anxious to be with her again after the birth of the baby, and, as always, he was careful to give her pleasure first. But this time as he entered her and nearly withdrew before entering her again several times, Elizabeth began to feel an almost overwhelming swell of pure ecstatic delight start to build and begin to sweep over her when he took his pleasure, withdrew, and rolled to her side. Jerome was a good man and Elizabeth cared for him a great deal, but there was still no true love between them. “Will I have this ‘unfulfilled need’ forever?” she thought to herself.

  ∞∞∞

  Jane and Charles had only been back in the area at Netherfield Estate a little over a fortnight when Mr. Bennet died suddenly in his sleep on February 18, 1818. Elizabeth did not know where her loathsome cousin, Mr. William Collins, had been living, but he was at Longbourn before the evening meal could be prepared and, by tea the next day, Mr. Bennet’s body had been interred and his wife’s and daughters’ belongings packed and placed near the entry gate on the front lawn of Longbourn House.

  When Elizabeth and Jerome arrived, they found her family in tears and in stunned disbelief. The servants were diligently trying to help load the family’s belongings into two wagons that Charles and Jane had brought to gather them. Elizabeth was livid and did little to hide her displeasure. This man was supposed to be a clergyman.

  She had heard many tales of widows and orphans being thrown out of their homes and turned away. She also had long known the cold hard facts of life for women without the protection of a brother or husband. That was the very reason her father had basically forced her to marry Jerome, but she had never witnessed it herself until that day, and the cold cruelty of seeing it actually happening to her family cut at her heart.

  Fortunately, Jerome had traveled to Longbourn with three carriages. It was almost impossible to believe it necessary, but Elizabeth absolutely could not be prevailed upon to leave their son behind. Her refusal had prompted the addition of the nurse and wet nurse and, of course, the baby, along with every possible accoutrement known for a child’s care. The three additional people necessitated a third carriage to contain them and the quantity of luggage needed for an anticipated stay of a week or more.

  Heartsick to see the cold treatment of Elizabeth’s sisters, Jerome had Charles assist him with getting the women into the carriage with Elizabeth so they could travel on to Netherfield, while he and Charles, with the aid of the servants, loaded the Bennet family’s belongings onto the wagons. With the entirety of the remaining Bennet family now ensconced at Netherfield, the women were given only a short time for their grief. After only a few days, the Monday following Sunday services at the Meryton parish church, the family had been divided. Mary and Mrs. Bennet were to live with Elizabeth and Jerome in London, while Kitty and Lydia remained with Jane and Charles at Netherfield.

  The two youngest Bennet sisters proved themselves to be the most unruly and indecorous of young women and were sorely testing the patience of both Charles and Jane. Their constant complaining, about what they described as ‘the unfair rules’ that Charles had initiated to try to curb their behavior, was grating on all at Netherfield. The girls had even begun to sneak out of the house, with one girl covering for the other, so their meetings with certain of the officers happened individually without even the presence of the other as a chaperone.

  Charles had almost reached his breaking point, when their behavior turned abruptly. Suddenly, they began behaving in a manner that was pleasing to everyone. While, when looked upon in hindsight that should have notified everyone that they were up to something, their new behavior was so pleasant that no one thought to question what had occurred to bring it about.

  Then, toward the end of March late one morning, Elizabeth received an express from Charles Bingley.

  Elizabeth,

  I do not know another way to tell you, but Kitty is dead and Lydia is missing. You and Jerome are needed here as quickly as possible.

  Jane is beside herself with worry and grief.

  Charles

  Elizabeth was so taken aback by the letter that when she pulled the bell cord for Mrs. Upton, she could not even begin to tell the faithful woman why she had been called. She simply offered her the express letter. Her face a mask of shock, Mrs. Upton sent a runner to Jerome’s office and another to the Gardiner residence, then directed the maids to begin packing enough clothing for a week. Since they were in mourning for Elizabeth’s father, their clothing choices were simple. All of it would be black.

  Once her maid and the other servants had packed what they needed, Elizabeth, Jerome, Mary, and the baby headed to Hertfordshire followed by the Gardiner’s carriage carrying her aunt and uncle, and her mother. The final hour of the journey from London was made as the darkness of night had begun to fall, but they were determined to arrive as quickly as possible.

  As Elizabeth walked through the door into Netherfield House, she found Jane in the front sitting room looking unbelievably tired and grief-stricken. She, Mary, and their mother huddled together around her crying, with Aunt Lilly encircling them with her arms to help sooth their grief. Elizabeth recovered first and they sat down on the couch, one sister on either side of Jane, while she continued to hold their hands clasped tightly in her own.

  “Jane,” insisted Elizabeth, her voice almost gruff from sobbing during the journey from London, “Tell me what has happened.”

  Jane’s voice broke as she began to tell of the events that occurred during the extrem
ely early hours that very morning.

  She and Charles had been awakened by persistent pounding on their door. The butler answered the door, and was on his way to wake the master when he met them both he and Jane coming down the stairs. Quickly, Colonel Foster, the commander of the militia currently stationed in Hertfordshire, explained that Lieutenants Sanderson and Wickham were not to be found, and that Lydia and Kitty might have run off with them, thinking that the officers were ready to elope. When Jane dispatched servants to look for the girls, they soon returned and reported both were missing from their rooms. Becoming increasingly alarmed, Jane ran to her study and there located a note lying on her desk that bore Lydia’s flamboyant handwriting.

  Jane dear,

  Do not be angry with me and Kitty for we are to be the happiest of sisters. We are running away with the most wonderful of men. You know who they are of course: Kitty with Lieutenant Carl Sanderson and me with Lieutenant George Wickham. We are off to Gretna Green and will return truly happily married women.

  Your loving, happy sisters,

  Lydia and Kitty

  Jane had handed the note to Charles who read it, cursed furiously, and in turn handed it to Colonel Foster. Hurrying to his room, he dressed as quickly as possible so that he could accompany the Colonel and his men as they looked for the girls. Barely more than an hour later, when the two men returned, they were following a military wagon containing Kitty’s body. Apparently Lieutenant Sanderson had been quite drunk and driving his carriage along the road too fast for a nearly moonless night. When the carriage ran off of the road and down a steep ravine, both he and Kitty had been killed. Lydia and Wickham had not yet been found, so the search continued.

  “Lizzy,” sobbed Jane, “here is the note that they left.”

  When she had finished reading it, Elizabeth cried, “Lydia. Oh, thoughtless, thoughtless Lydia!”

  Very early the following morning, Colonel Foster came to tell Charles that Wickham and Lydia had been traced to one of the worst areas of London, but no more detailed information was available. The day after that Kitty was buried beside her father in the cemetery of the parish church at Meryton.

  Charles and Jerome felt that it would be best to await word about Lydia in London instead of remaining far removed in Hertfordshire. Two days later, with no good news coming from Colonel Foster, the remaining family packed for the journey to London. The Gardiners led the group in their carriage, followed by Elizabeth, Jerome, and Mary, with the baby, his nurse, their maid and valet in the three of their carriages, and lastly Charles, Jane, and Mrs. Bennet in one of Charles’ two carriages. A more morose caravan could not have been found in all of England.

  ∞∞∞

  Early the morning of the eighth of April, about two weeks later, Jerome received a note from Wickham asking for money for Lydia’s return.

  Mr. Mills,

  I have knowledge of Lydia Bennet’s whereabouts and will be glad to provide you her location for the mere sum of £3,000.

  If you are interested in my information, give your response to my young messenger, and I will arrange a meeting. If not, dear Lydia will simply disappear forever.

  Wickham

  After Mr. Fleming’s ‘network of street children’ followed Wickham’s messenger to a rundown hotel in one of the most treacherous and despicable areas in the bowels of London, Jerome decided to try to meet with him at his hotel.

  “Jerome,” begged Elizabeth resolutely. “Take a group of soldiers or the police with you. Please, please do not go after Wickham alone.”

  “I will not be alone,” replied Jerome knowingly. “Mr. Fleming and some of his associates are going along with me. Soldiers or policemen would be spotted immediately in that area and then we would probably never find Wickham or Lydia again.”

  “But Jerome,” pled Elizabeth, “I have such a bad. . .”

  “Elizabeth,” Jerome grasped her shoulders, “with the help of Mr. Fleming and his associates, we will bring Lydia home.”

  As he prepared to depart, she stood on the top step and reached up to kiss him on the cheek. “Please be careful, Husband,” she pled as tears filled her eyes and she ran her hand up and down her arm almost as if she had a shiver from a chill. Once the carriage began to pull away, she turned to reenter the house. When the footman closed the door behind her, she shuddered as a feeling of the deepest dread swept over her. All too aware that she would be totally incapable of getting any work done, she went to her favourite smaller sitting room instead of her study to await their return, and Mary and Mrs. Bennet soon came to wait with her.

  Elizabeth’s unease continued to increase with each passing moment. She walked around the sitting room to the window overlooking the street, then would come back to sit down in her chair and start all over again a few minutes later. After perhaps two hours had elapsed, Mr. Fleming’s associate came to the door carrying a bundle wrapped in a filthy blanket. “Lydia . . . the filth . . . the stench . . . her beautiful, fearless, thoughtless sister,” thought Elizabeth agonizingly, as it seemed everyone in the household was helping to direct the man to Lydia’s bedchamber. Mrs. Upton sent for the doctor, had bathwater prepared, and arranged for rolls of cloth to use for bandages, if necessary.

  Elizabeth had thanked Mr. Fleming’s associate, and turned back to Lydia, when Mary came into the room to help. She had wanted so very much to protect Mary from the brutality that she knew Lydia must have suffered, but the insistent young woman would not be deterred.

  Inwardly, Elizabeth was exceedingly proud of Mary and appreciated her help with Lydia. She took a moment to pull Mrs. Upton aside and whispered urgently, “Mrs. Upton, we must prepare for when they bring Jerome home.” The dockworker had not said a word to Elizabeth, but, as she had looked into his face, she saw the very truth of what he had not said.

  Mrs. Upton’s immediate reaction was disbelief, but quickly the realization of the truth began to wash over her. She and her husband had worked and cared for Jerome for more than ten years. Now, their duty was to Elizabeth and the baby. The young mother was going to need their help more than ever, and they were most willing to give it.

  When Mr. Fleming arrived with Jerome’s body, accompanied by Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, Elizabeth maintained her composure as best she could. With everything that had happened, she only wanted to curl up into a ball and slowly disappear. But, she knew that she would never do that. She had her son to care for . . . and Lydia . . . and Mama . . .and Mary.

  Mrs. Upton led the way as Mr. Fleming’s associates took Jerome’s body to his bedchamber, while Elizabeth asked Mr. Fleming and her aunt and uncle to come to Jerome’s study. In response to her emotionally controlled request for details, Mr. Fleming began with the carriage ride to Wickham’s hotel and ended with the inquiry of the Magistrate. Elizabeth cried quietly through the whole tale, as Aunt Lilly, with head bowed and eyes glistening with tears, held her hand gently between both of her own.

  At the end, Uncle Edward rose from his seat and took only a step to stand before his niece, “Lizzy, I do not want you to worry about Jerome.” Turning to the side slightly to gesture toward their mutual friend, he continued, “Mr. Fleming and I will take care of everything, and I will contact Jerome’s solicitor. Long ago he asked me to assist you if and when the need arose, and there are several issues that must be addressed immediately.”

  “Of course, Uncle, your help is always appreciated. Please do whatever Jerome asked, but do keep me informed. I know that we have discussed many things regarding his finances and business. Of most of it, I am aware, but I know there are also some issues on which I am not fully informed.” She took a deep breath and tried diligently to hold her rising panic at bay. Everything had changed in a moment, and she now no longer knew where she stood regarding anything.

  “I will go to Jerome and then take care of Lydia,” she announced as she rose from her seat and gently kissed both her aunt and uncle on the cheek. Taking Mr. Fleming’s hands and squeezing them gently, she murmured, “Tha
nk you so much, Stan,” as she bravely straightened her spine, smoothed her hands down the front of her dress and left the room.

  ∞∞∞

  Elizabeth had spent most of the afternoon alternating between Jerome’s bedchamber and Lydia’s until Charles and Jane arrived. When she saw her older sister, she could contain her grief no longer and simply started to weep, giving vent to all of the frustration, sadness, and grief of the day. Within Jane’s embrace, she began to shake violently as her control broke and gasping sobs overtook her. She did not know exactly when or how it happened, but she found herself being carried by Charles to her bedchamber and then being placed gently on her bed.

  Jane, having never seen her sister in such a state, stayed by the bed for what seemed to be hours until Elizabeth finally fell into a troubled sleep. She awoke a short time later feeling more in control and went once again to Lydia’s room. Although the maid told her that her sisters and aunt were in her study, she almost desperately needed to see her son. So, she headed for the nursery on the floor above. The wet nurse had fed little Thomas a bit earlier, and Elizabeth thanked the young woman before taking her son from the cradle, wrapping him in the most colourful and cheerful little blanket that she could easily find, and carrying him down to her study.