by Greer Boyd
“Therefore, under the dictates of the letter of patent issued by the crown and also the Parliamentary and royal warrant stipulation that the title would not be bestowed until after the death of Lady Anne Eleanor Rose de Bourgh, Thomas Jerome Gardiner Mills is now the Duke of Eivanmoor.”
Elizabeth leapt to her feet, suddenly as stunned as had been Charlotte only minutes before. Darcy immediately came from behind the chair to pull her into a protective embrace.
“Mrs. . . . Elizabeth, this is a title ONLY, nothing more. There is neither property nor wealth attached to the title. Lady Anne thought that by the time Master Thomas comes of age your investment of part eight of her will might provide the fortune to go with the title.”
Intent as they were on the bestowment of the ducal title, everyone seemed to have missed the last portion of Henry Grove’s statement. Despite the obviously somber occasion, Richard started to giggle then laugh. “Papa, here we were teasing Darcy last night about searching for ducal titles, and lo and behold Anne beat him to it.”
Elizabeth turned so that she could look straight at Darcy and asked, “William, why were you searching for ducal titles?”
As he pulled her back to her chair, he knelt beside her and explained, “I was not searching for ducal titles, as Henry can tell you. I asked him to look back as far as he could for Thomas’ lineage on both his maternal and paternal side. You told me that Jerome had no family to notify at the time of his death. I wanted Thomas to have more information and to know from where he came.”
“My heart,” cooed Elizabeth, catching herself as she almost leaned forward to gently kiss his lips, “I love you so much.”
Darcy looked determinedly at Mr. Grove before he turned back to Elizabeth. “Piers and I had thought to wait a bit longer, but I think that now would probably be the absolute best time.”
“Wait longer for what, William?” Elizabeth queried, allowing her eyes to travel the same path that his had just taken, looking from Mr. Grove back to Darcy’s face as he continued to kneel beside her.
“Please, my love, Mr. Grove and I will explain,” replied Darcy. “Piers and his family, and Georgiana and I realized we probably would never have found one another had it not been for the assistance you had unknowingly provided. We wanted to ‘reward’ you for your help.”
“But Wills,” she chuckled, “you did reward me . . . with the most beautiful necklace and earrings that I have ever seen.”
“Well, that was only part of the reward. Georgiana told us of how you and your family lost your home after your father’s death. We thought that if we could bring Longbourn Estate back to you, to the Bennet and Mills family, you would have your ancestral home once again, so we went to Mr. Grove for his assistance.”
“I did a bit of research,” interjected Mr. Grove, Anne’s will still held tightly in his hand, “and discovered the entail on the estate was broken when Mr. Collins took possession of Longbourn Estate. Then, I found that because of his lack of knowledge of estate management he was having difficulty paying his obligations. That fact, combined with his boorish and arrogant behavior, which had made him a pariah in the neighborhood, might have created enough of an incentive that he could be persuaded to sell Longbourn.”
As Elizabeth gasped, he continued, “Which he did, to me, but ultimately to Darcy and his cousin, Piers. Currently, there are several modifications and improvements that are taking place, and we hope to have most of them completed before the end of the year.”
Darcy excitedly stepped in, “A new master wing containing a master and mistress suite of rooms and the new library, a new stable for more horses and carriages, a new kitchen and water tower, a new family and guest wing, and more room in the servants’ quarters. Lizzy, my love, there is so much more, but the reason I was having Henry research Thomas’ lineage was for the creation of a Bennet-Mills coat of arms. Now, it seems we will have to incorporate a ducal crest.”
Squirming more than a little bit as he saw the look of utter adoration Elizabeth directed to Darcy, Mr. Grove concluded: “Just think. Now, Thomas will have an ancestral home, a title, and soon a fortune to go with the other two.”
“Oh, Henry, thank you,” Elizabeth exclaimed, hurrying to wrap him in an enthusiastic hug. When she followed that with a kiss on his cheek, his dismay was obvious. He backed away from her slightly, bowed and acknowledged, “As always, it has been my pleasure. However, we must go on now. There are two more parts to Lady Anne’s will.
“As has been previously mentioned, the ducal title, Duke of Eivanmoor, is a title ONLY, having neither property nor wealth attached to it. Lady Anne believed your investment of the funds I am about to delineate would provide the fortune to go with the title by the time Master Thomas comes of age.
“The eighth part concerns the disposition of the remaining five percent of Lady Anne Eleanor Rose de Bourgh’s personal investments. A total of approximately £1,000,000 worth is to go to Thomas Jerome Gardiner Mills.
“Elizabeth, Lady Anne felt your family had suffered enough through the neglect of your father’s care of Longbourn, your family’s treatment at the hands of your cousin, Mr. William Collins, and the abominable treatment you and your family suffered at the hands of George Wickham. She wanted you to know she loved you like a sister.”
Elizabeth started to sob softly and her shoulders drooped. Watching as Darcy and Aunt Eleanor consoled her, Mr. Grove raised his voice authoritatively. “There is one more part of Lady Anne’s last will and testament that must be addressed. The ninth and final part concerns her heartfelt desire that the bulk of her personal fortune might remain intact. I am therefore charged to declare before those assembled here today that it was the dearest wish of Lady Anne Eleanor Rose de Bourgh that Richard Edward James Fitzwilliam and Miss Charlotte Catherine Jane Lucas, two people whom she cared for deeply, might find themselves to be in love with one another.”
Richard smiled brightly, slowly reached for Charlotte’s hand, and then pulled a small rolled piece of paper from the inside pocket of his uniform. Immediately, his mother jumped from her seat and snatched it from his hand before he knew what had happened.
“Mother,” cried Richard abruptly, “that cost me a pretty penny.”
“Charlotte, what is it?” asked Elizabeth as Darcy and his uncle burst into laughter.
“It is a special license,” chuckled Charlotte as she smiled and took her betrothed’s hand. “Richard asked me to marry him just before you arrived. We told Anne last night only moments before she told Richard that he was her heir.”
“Nonetheless,” declared Aunt Eleanor holding the rolled paper tightly in her hand, “we will have a proper ceremony just like the one we will have for your brother.”
“David?” asked Richard as he placed his arm around Charlotte’s waist and pulled her closer to his side. “You mean that he finally got up the nerve to ask Miss Bennet?”
“That he did,” Darcy announced with a smile that grew broad as he continued to speak, “and I guess that I should inform you that I have given my consent for Georgiana and Piers to marry. I hope that you do not mind, since you are her guardian as well, you do have a voice in this.”
“David and Georgiana . . . both engaged?” asked Richard, suddenly taken aback.
“Yes,” chirped Aunt Eleanor gleefully, “and I will tell you that I am thinking of the most exceptional engagement ball and possibly a triple wedding with the most exquisite wedding breakfast that London has ever seen.”
“But, Mother,” questioned Richard, still gripping Charlotte’s slim waist, “suppose we want to be married not in London, but at some other location, such as at Pemberley, or Caenvista, or Rosings Park, or Matlock instead?”
Looking over her shoulder at him, she declared without missing a step, “Should that be so, it will be the most exceptional engagement ball Derbyshire has ever seen.” Then she turned her attention to the solicitor. “Mr. Grove, I believe Anne had things running so smoothly that her steward could handle the household
and estate for a few more months until after the wedding, the honeymoon, and at least partially through the Little Season. Do you not agree?”
“I believe he would consider it an honor to carry on until such time as the new Earl returns or even indefinitely, should Lord Rosings prefer,” Mr. Grove answered, a note of humor dancing through his voice.
“Excellent,” Aunt Eleanor sat back in her chair and absently stretched the fabric of her gown over her lap, before resting her hands there. “Then we leave for Pemberley within the next two to three days. And, I presume that you will let us know when we will need to come to London for the bestowment of Master Thomas’ ducal title?”
“Absolutely,” he replied. “I think I might be able to schedule it for a time either just before or during the first part of the Little Season. It may be possible to have the recognition of the new earl at the same time.”
“Recognition?” asked Richard.
“Do not worry, Richard,” laughed Darcy, “you will not have to wear a presentation gown.”
Glowering a bit as the others laughed, Richard demanded of Mr. Grove, “Is ‘recognition’ really necessary?”
“No, my Lord, it is not ‘formally’ required,” stated Mr. Grove hastily but succinctly, “however given the unusual circumstances under which the title was inherited, I believe that it would be a ‘courtesy’ to the king. You might also want to escort the new duke as his title is bestowed.”
“I had not thought of that at all,” exclaimed Richard, as he turned to Elizabeth. “May I have the honor of escorting the new duke, or would you prefer for Lord Pemberley to do the honor?”
Elizabeth looked between the two men and chuckled, “Richard, I appreciate your offer, but I am fairly certain that Thomas would prefer to have his ‘Papa’ escort him.”
“Rightly so,” Richard said, amusement playing across his face as he watched Darcy stand to his full height and square his shoulders while still holding on tightly to Elizabeth’s hand. “Rightly so.”
∞∞∞
Within three days, the entire party left Rosings Park for Pemberley. This time the caravan consisted of five carriages. Aunt Eleanor, Elizabeth, and Charlotte occupied the first, while Uncle James, Darcy, and Richard were in the second. The remaining carriages contained the maids followed by the valets. The luggage was spread over the entourage, with the fifth carriage containing the bulk of it.
The leisurely return trip turned out to be uneventful, and the weather remained excellent, which allowed Aunt Eleanor to completely plan the engagement ball with the help of Elizabeth and Charlotte.
Nearly two weeks after they had departed, the party returned to Pemberley in the late morning of their fifth day of travel. As the carriage stopped at the vista atop the high rise of the road leading to Pemberley House, Darcy could see that those they had left behind were waiting on the entranceway steps to welcome them home. He could also see that a large tent and tables had been set up on one side of the front lawn leading down to the lake in front of the house.
When the carriages had pulled up to the steps, the entire family party along with several footmen and maids descended on Darcy, Elizabeth, Richard, Charlotte, and Uncle James and Aunt Eleanor. Amidst the hugging all around and best wishes for Charlotte on her betrothal, the footmen and maids had the carriages unloaded and the contents carted to various bedchambers in what seemed record time.
There was ample time for the travelers to refresh themselves, bathe if desired, and change clothes before the lunch was served on the lawn. Darcy took note of the four additional members of the lunch party. Mr. Denny and Mr. Folkes had been expected, but the return of the two young gentlemen who were the sons of Aunt Eleanor’s friends was unexpected.
∞∞∞
Encouraged by Darcy and Mr. Grove, Richard had traveled to London with them the afternoon of the reading of Anne’s will to begin the process of giving up his commission. When he found that it would take much longer than he had anticipated, he gave Mr. Grove written permission to act in his stead. That same day, he ran across Captain Denny and Lieutenant Folkes. To his surprise, both men were at the Army Home Office to give up their commissions as well.
Darcy invited the men to come to Darcy House that evening for dinner along with Mr. Grove. Since the hour was late, he and Richard were not returning to Rosings Park until the next day or possibly the day after. During the course of the evening, Captain Denny, now the Honorable Mr. Frederick Denny revealed that he had inherited a small estate and fortune upon the death of his maternal grandmother.
The estate, called Oakhill, was located in the southern part of Derbyshire fairly close to Avonlea. Actually, it had once been a part of the ducal holding: part of the land that Lord Dove’s grandfather had sold to pay debts owed by his brother, the previous duke. Mr. Denny, as well as the rest of his family, had been greatly surprised by the inheritance, because his grandmother had always seemed to favour him the least of any of her grandchildren.
Lieutenant Folkes, now the honorable Mr. Dudley Folkes, had accepted the position of personal secretary for the Duke of Kympton, Darcy’s cousin Piers. When Darcy had talked with Piers about looking for someone to take the newly created position, Richard had suggested that his aide, Lieutenant Folkes, might possibly be interested. He then sent Folkes a letter suggesting that, if he indeed had an interest in the position, he should follow up with Piers himself which he had done almost immediately.
CHAPTER 15
Thus, it was only polite for Darcy to invite both Denny and Folkes to join them at Pemberley. The other two young gentlemen, Viscount Jacob Tillman and the Honorable Mr. Lawrence Lively, were a surprise. Both were first sons of very good friends of his Uncle James and Aunt Eleanor.
Also, much to Darcy’s surprise, he found that Georgiana had assigned a maid as companion to each of the D’Arcy women, Mary, Lady Annabel, and had also chosen one for herself: the first companion she had welcomed since the debacle at Ramsgate. The idea was, of course, to adhere to the rules of propriety, since, without Aunt Eleanor and Uncle James in residence, Charles and Jane were the only married couple with them. Fortunately, all of the young women agreed wholeheartedly.
When the ladies went riding, David and Piers had always accompanied them, along with two groomsmen and an armed outrider. When the other young men arrived, they continued the same adherence to chaperonage and protection with each riding party. Darcy chuckled at how officiously Georgiana had assumed the role of maidenly protector. He knew that his aunt was going to be well pleased. Soon, he found that Elizabeth’s maid, Katie, had also been assigned as maid- companion to her mistress here at Pemberley, just as she had been during their journey to Kent.
Lunch was extremely pleasant, consisting of lighter foods, cold meats, salads and fresh fruit, and lemonade and tea. The lawn had been laid out for croquet and lawn tennis should anyone wish to play games after the meal was completed.
Pleasantly satisfied with their repast, Piers and Darcy went to refresh themselves. As he was coming down the stairs from his bedchamber, Darcy found Piers waiting for him. “Would you join me in the smaller sitting room before rejoining the party?” Piers asked, seeking a casual tone for his query.
When they entered the room, they found it occupied by Charles, David, Richard, and the four young men who were visiting. Piers smiled and sought his cousin’s face, “Darcy, thank you for coming. I have a situation for which I greatly need your guidance.”
Immediately Darcy understood and tried to hide the smile on his face as he replied, “Well, I will certainly do my best to offer whatever guidance you may require.”
Piers took a deep breath: “The Honorable Mr. Frederick Denny has asked for the hand of my sister Maryann. The Honorable Mr. Dudley Folkes has asked for a courtship with my cousin Pauline. Lord Jacob Tillman, Viscount Pinewood, has asked for a courtship with my cousin Arabella. And, the Honorable Mr. Lawrence Lively has asked for a courtship with my cousin Josephine. I have given them my tentative approval, based
on the final approval from you, Your Grace, since I am very new to this type of situation.”
Darcy looked at his cousins and then at the four young men as he began to speak in quite a somber tone, but ended on a most happy note, “At times like this I think that it is best to simply say . . . welcome to the family.”
Richard started to laugh, “It looks like Mother will get to have her triple wedding after all.”
