by APRIL FLOYD
Jane was amenable to the offer. "You could take mother and father too, you know."
"I would be happy to ease your burden where they are concerned. Tell them Cook is making something special just for them and I will send the carriage around before dinner."
Elizabeth made the offer most sincerely. She was feeling generous due to the festive air of the day.
Soon Rose and young Richard were snuggled tight into the small sled Mr. Harley had brought. He took the basket Elizabeth had got from Cook and hung it with authority on his own arm. "You must only walk along with us. I will pull the sled along and see that the children are amused."
The pair, the lady and her butler, fell into step and the children giggled as they discovered the joys of riding a sled over the snow-covered streets. They had been too young in Hertfordshire the last winter to recall such an adventure.
They passed Darcy House and Matlock House as they went and Mr. Harley asked whether Elizabeth might like to stop.
"I would not intrude upon their day with the children along. They shall all dine with us next week. Cook has said our menu shall be fit for royalty."
Mr. Harley handed Elizabeth the basket as they approached the gate that surrounded the park. "This is an entrance known only to servants. Saves us walking through the park."
He pointed to a wooden door further down the walk from the front gate. Elizabeth was delighted to be included in the secret. Once inside the park, the foursome followed a footpath overgrown with trees. Their bare limbs sparkled with snow.
A stall ahead featured all manner of greenery studded with red winter berries. There was a fire crackling merrily from inside a ring of stones on the ground and Elizabeth was reminded of the winter solstice celebrations her father's tenant families would have this time of year.
The scent of roasted nuts and mulled wine filled her nose and Elizabeth turned to see another stall with a small table across from the first.
The laughter of children echoed to them and Mr. Harley explained the games the servant children would play as they ran through the forest on their errands for either masters or parents. "Children will play a bit of tag as they come and go. It allows them to rid themselves of the fidgets."
Elizabeth admired the reason for the game as she glanced at Rose and her son. They were nearly out of the sled because of their own fidgets. "I will take them off the path to play in the trees while you choose the greenery, Mr. Harley."
A young girl spoke up from behind Elizabeth. "I can take them for ye, mum. And only a sixpence for me trouble."
Elizabeth smiled at the girl but Mr. Harley objected. "I shall take the children myself as I ran these woods as a boy. Be off girl.”
Mr. Harley was not unkind but his manner and tone of voice brooked no argument. The girl simply smiled and turned away to seek another means of employment.
“She did not seem untrustworthy, Mr. Harley. Perhaps we both shall take the children to play and choose our greenery on the way home," Elizabeth offered.
Mr. Harley looked down and shuffled his feet. Rose and Richard reached their arms toward him and he knelt. "Mrs. Fitzwilliam, you stay and choose your decorations. Mr. Griffin will load them all and have them sent to Fitzwilliam House."
Elizabeth saw the tense set of his jaw. The man had never seemed upset to her as he did now. ”Mr. Harley, I..."
He stood but held tight to Rose and Richard’s gloved hands. "I would not see a young master as important as this one trusted to strangers, no matter how trustworthy they seem."
Mr. Harley did not need to admit the truth Elizabeth suspected. He knew the boy was Richard's and had taken on the role of protector.
Her voice trembled as she blinked away the tears that threatened. "Your service, and your silence, is more dear than you know, Mr. Harley."
"It is my duty to your husband and to you. I will guard him as his father would have all my days."
He turned and walked away with the children. Elizabeth cleared her throat and turned away to purchase a mug of mulled wine to ward off the chill and settle her emotions.
After an hour at the table, Elizabeth smiled as Mr. Harley returned with the children. Their cheeks were splotches of crimson and two sets of bright eyes fixed on her as she rose to greet them.
“Come children! There is chocolate to drink and biscuits. Cook was most generous with her basket."
Mr. Harley helped Elizabeth to set out the winter feast and she gave him a mug of the wine she'd had earlier. "Your payment, sir, for releasing their fidgets."
He laughed and took the mug. "I believe my fidgets have gone as well. A nice sit by the fire will do us good, but our little ones will be lucky to stay awake until we are home."
The children were tired and Nanny would have an easy time of putting them down for a nap. Elizabeth looked to Mr. Harley and graced him with an easy smile. "I must say, I spent the hour in thought of how comforting it is that you share my secret. I do hate keeping the news from the rest of the servants. "
Mr. Harley's face colored and he finished what was left of his mug. "There are suspicions, Mrs. Fitzwilliam. Servants would not be servants without them. But I do not believe the whispers will come to anything. Still, though it certainly is not my place, I would advise his parentage be made known before long."
His words shattered her earlier happiness though Elizabeth knew he was only speaking the truth. A secret as noteworthy as the boy who was the next Earl of Matlock would never keep for long in the downstairs portion of the townhomes lining Grosvenor.
"You do not speak out of turn, Mr. Harley. I suppose I hoped for more time with him before our lives change completely."
Mr. Harley stood and helped Rose dust the crumbs from her coat. "There will be very little change, I would think. He is living in the home his father held before his passing. It is only to be expected Mr. Darcy would influence the Matlocks to do what is right."
Elizabeth helped Richard into the sled next to Rose and cleared the table. Mr. Harley’s words gave her hope that when young Richard was revealed to his paternal grandparents there would be only minor changes in how their days were spent.
Mr. Harley took the rope and Elizabeth fell into step beside him as the snow began to fall again.The soft, white blanket that covered the street as they went brought some peace to her heart.
Chapter 14
The day of her family dinner came and Elizabeth welcomed her sister Jane and Mr. Bingley, her parents, and the Gardiners, as the afternoon gave way to evening. The Gardiner children went immediately to the nursery to visit with cousins.
When Uncle Gardiner, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Bennet made their way to the library, Elizabeth led her sister, mother, and Aunt Gardiner to the salon. The younger Bennet sisters were already gathered there and happily employed with the making of paper ornaments for their younger relations.
Mrs. Bennet made a slow circuit of the salon admiring the furnishings and artwork. "Why Lizzy, you did not say how lovely was your new home! It is no wonder your sisters prefer to remain here. I must see their rooms after dinner. Who would have ever thought you would have such a home after marrying a soldier?”
Elizabeth was grateful her mother had arrived well before the Matlocks. She would not want Lady Matlock to have yet another reason to dislike her. “It is a lovely home but I was thinking of new paper upstairs. Just a small change so it feels like home."
Mrs. Bennet clapped her hands with glee. "What a lovely idea, Lizzy! You must allow me to help. I do have such experience with decorating a home.”
Shame filled Elizabeth as she hoped her mother would not remain so long in Town as to help her redecorate. Her own relationship with Lady Matlock was slowly improving but she was certain her mother would provide a set back to that situation.
Aunt Gardiner sat with Elizabeth as Mrs. Bennet went to greet her other daughters. "Have you thought of when you might tell the Matlocks about Richard?"
Elizabeth smoothed her skirts and placed a hand to her hair, nervo
us over the meeting of her family and the Matlocks. The motions did not distract her aunt.
"Lizzy, you are a vision in that new frock and your maid is skillful with her brush. You must think of revealing young Richard's existence soon, you know."
“I was thinking earlier that the time had come as Mr. Harley has already guessed. Gossip in London travels much faster than in the country.”
Aunt Gardiner agreed. “There is an efficient grapevine amongst the servants in Town, to be certain.”
The men joined the ladies and Elizabeth did not wish to discuss the topic further. In her mind, she thought perhaps after the new year she would speak first with the earl since he was possessed of a more even temperament than his wife.
Before her family might settle and wait for the remaining guests, Mr. Harley entered the salon with the Matlocks and Darcys. “Your guests have arrived, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, and Cook has said dinner is ready.”
Standing to welcome her guests, Elizabeth forced a smile as introductions were made around the room. Lady Matlock appeared polite and mildly interested in her parents but her younger sisters seemed to irritate the woman. Elizabeth could understand, they often irritated her, so there was no ill feeling on that score.
Presently, they all went into dinner and Elizabeth spoke with the butler about the children coming down to take their meal in the breakfast room.
“It will be terribly exciting for them to enjoy the decorations there and practice their manners, don’t you agree? Be certain they remain there until after we have finished dinner and gone into the parlor.”
Mr. Harley nodded and called a footman to his side. “See that the children are brought down to the breakfast room as the first course is served. Mrs. Fitzwilliam wishes for them to remain there until after the adults are in the parlor. You shall serve them.”
Elizabeth was pleased with her plan and joined her guests in the dining room. She wanted to welcome them all as family and remember Richard before his parents.
“I am grateful you all have come. My family has grown these past weeks and I know Richard would be pleased by this gathering. He was kind, brave, and a pleasure to know. I am blessed to have been his wife.”
Glasses were raised around the room and the earl stood when Elizabeth sat at last. “It is a wonderful thing to gain a daughter. I only wish we might have known before the marriage vows were taken. Richard was a wonderful son, even when we could not see eye to eye. I wish he were here to see us gathered together. Thank you, Elizabeth, for having us with you tonight.”
Another toast went around the table and Mr. Darcy stood. Lady Matlock placed her glass upon the table and mumbled what Elizabeth expected was a request to be excused. Mr. Darcy began to speak but his aunt hastened to quit the room.
Elizabeth rose to go after her, placing a hand on Jane’s arm as a silent plea for her to remain. The earl and Mr. Darcy followed Elizabeth from the room after abrupt pleas for forgiveness. Mrs. Bennet rose but her brother and husband kept her from leaving the table.
In the hallway, Lady Matlock stood with her husband, turned away from Mr. Darcy to hide her grief. Elizabeth spoke softly, her words a beseeching apology for calling up the memory of Richard. “I only meant to honor him, to recall all that he meant to each of us.”
Lady Matlock turned to speak but the noise of many feet on the stairs startled her. The children had escaped Nanny and were joyously racing to the breakfast room. The footman tasked with overseeing their meal rushed to herd them together and line them up proper.
Elizabeth was grateful for his quick thinking. Her nerves plagued her as she could not move to encourage her son and single him out. “Now children, go with Thomas and mind your manners.”
The children turned and followed the footman quietly, their heads cast down at being caught on the stairs unaccompanied. Nanny came suddenly down the stairs, her face red and her eyes darting to her mistress. “I am very sorry, mum. It will never happen again, aye.”
Elizabeth nodded to the woman to go in with the children. They would speak later. As Nanny brought up the rear of the line, feverishly admonishing the children in strident whispers, young Richard broke away and ran to Elizabeth.
“Mama,” he said, and reached up for her embrace. “Mama, will you join us in the breakfast room?”
Chapter 15
Elizabeth lifted young Richard into her arms. There was nothing more she might do to cover the truth and so she chose to do what she must.
“I cannot my dear for I have guests tonight. I would like you to meet someone first, before you go to your meal. This is the Earl of Matlock and Lady Matlock. They are your father’s parents, your grandparents.”
The Matlocks stared intently at the boy in Elizabeth’s arms. The hallway was silent for a moment before young Richard reached for Lady Matlock. “Grandmother?”
Elizabeth swallowed the knot in her throat. She had not planned for this moment, for her son to be revealed, and it was fraught with emotion and peril. She held tightly to her son but Lady Matlock stepped forward and took one of his small outstretched hands.
“Reginald,” she whispered, “is he not the perfect replica of Richard as a child?”
Richard Thomas Bennet Fitzwilliam launched himself into the lady’s arms and gave her the sweetest hug. Lady Matlock was stunned, but she turned to her husband with tears streaming down her face. Elizabeth watched as they lavished her son with loving care and attention.
Mr. Darcy’s hand on her shoulder startled Elizabeth. His voice was low but she heard every tortured word. “Why would you lie to us? Why hide Richard’s son all this time when you knew he was the heir?”
Elizabeth stuttered and searched for the words that would express her fear of losing her son. “I was afraid, William. I am afraid. I hated the lie, I did. But how could I trust the Matlocks when Richard did not trust them with the knowledge of our marriage?”
“You could have trusted me,” he hissed, his eyes gone to slits. “I fought for you against them. I believed we were at least forming a friendship and perhaps more, or are your feelings a lie as well?”
Elizabeth’s head moved slowly from side to side. The remaining family members in the dining room had filtered out and now Georgiana looked around in confusion. She could not understand what she was seeing. “William, what has happened?”
Mr. Darcy took his sister’s arm as she stepped near. “It seems that young Thomas here is not Bingley’s son after all.”
Georgiana looked to Elizabeth. “What does he mean, whose child is this?”
“He is mine, mine and Richard’s, he was born after Richard died in the war.”
Georgiana’s hands trembled as she hugged herself and tears of joy blinded her momentarily. Mr. Darcy pulled his sister closer and whispered for her to maintain her composure. “The child will not understand if we descend upon him with tears and questions all at once.”
“But why did Elizabeth hide him from us? Did she not think we might love him as we loved his father?” Georgiana kept her voice low so the child would not overhear.
Elizabeth stepped toward the Darcys eager to explain and give her apology for the deceit. “I feared many things, Georgiana. It is difficult to explain at the moment. I am sorry for deceiving you. You never deserved such treatment.”
The small hand tugged her skirts again. “Mama, who is this?”
Elizabeth bent down and hugged the boy close again. This was not the way she planned to introduce her son but she could not turn back now. “This is Mr. Darcy and his sister Georgiana. They are your cousins.”
“Mr. Darcy sent the books!” Young Richard exclaimed and turned to look up at the man. “Thank you sir, I love books!”
Mr. Darcy smiled at the boy and knelt to shake his hand. “It is my great pleasure to know you liked them. I think I shall send more.”
Elizabeth smiled at Mr. Darcy over her son’s head but his eyes were cold when he glanced at her. Georgiana knelt beside her brother. “I am pleased to make your acqu
aintance, Thomas.”
The boy corrected her most kindly. “Thomas is my middle name, after my Grandfather Bennet. Richard is my real name, after my father.”
Georgiana swiped at the stray tears on her cheeks. “You look so very much like him, you know. He would be so proud of you.”
She lifted a hand and tousled the fair curls of her newly found cousin. The hallway had fallen silent again and Elizabeth stood and took her son’s hand. “You must not miss a most wonderful dinner with your cousins, my dear. Come and take your seat in the breakfast room.”
The dinner guests made their way back to the dining room, each lost in their own thoughts and preparing for battle when Elizabeth returned.
Chapter 16
“I never meant to hurt anyone. I only meant to protect my son.” Elizabeth’s words were measured and her voice clear and strong. All whispers and exclamations ceased as she took her place at the head of the table.
“But your deception was not necessary, not where Georgiana and I were concerned.” Mr. Darcy stood and challenged her openly.
Lady Matlock pounded a fist on the table rattling the silver and dishes. “Fitzwilliam, you would have kept her secret had she shared it. You were the one who stood against us in her favor and now you see how she has repaid you?”
Elizabeth maintained her composure. “Why would I wish for my son to know the hatred you hold for his mother? You will never accept me as part of your family and I will not have my son poisoned against me.”
Lady Matlock stood and pushed her chair aside. The earl was on his feet in the blink of an eye. “Margaret, you must stop this feud with Elizabeth. She was chosen by our son, like it or not, and she has given us such a gift, an heir. He will be the next Earl of Matlock. Sit down.”
Lady Matlock turned on her husband. “She will keep him from us, use him to take more and more of the Fitzwilliam fortune. Can you not see it?”
