Elizabeth watched from her window as footmen carried trunk after trunk to the carriages gathered in the drive of Netherfield Park. The noise of her mother and sisters did not register as she paced her room with her son on her hip. He was restless and whimpered as he jostled about in her arms.
Jane and Charles would take them to London to Bingley House, the townhome Charles had purchased as soon as he and Jane had returned from their wedding trip.
Elizabeth had not been to London in some time. She had always enjoyed the theatre with their Aunt and Uncle Gardiner whose home was in Cheapside on Gracechurch Street.
She and Jane had visited them many times as young girls and London afforded a different kind of society than the countryside of Hertfordshire.
She looked at her son and knew it would be beneficial for him to be raised in Town amongst the upper classes now that he would be the heir to the Fitzwilliam fortune. Her heart feared such a life for him since it had never been what his dear Papa had wished for himself. But young Richard was not his father.
Elizabeth knew she must put away Richard’s reserve where his family was concerned, though it felt like a betrayal. Circumstances were much different from when they had married. Had he survived the war, he would have been the next Earl of Matlock and their son would grow up far from Longbourn.
Fate often had a way of changing the course of lives in the same manner nature had of changing the course of a river. All one might do was to flow along with the tide instead of fight futilely against it.
Still, she would fight to see that her son knew his family in Hertfordshire and a simpler way of life. They could return to Longbourn whenever they wished.
Mrs. Bennet called for her from the hallway as her younger sisters bemoaned their fate of being left behind at Longbourn instead of taken to London. “Hush girls! We shall surely visit Lizzy and Jane there. Just think of a winter ball in Town!”
Elizabeth gave a final glance about her rooms at Netherfield and pulled young Richard closer. She whispered against his precious silken curls. “I shall keep you safe, my love.”
Soon, she was secure in the carriage with Nanny and the children. Jane and Charles would follow along in a second carriage. Elizabeth wished she might confide in her sister during the trip but Jane had her own worries with traveling so late in her condition.
She would have her second child in London and though there were any number of experienced midwives to be found there, Charles had arranged for the midwife who delivered Rose to come along with the family.
The children’s questions as they made their way to Town would not allow Elizabeth to ponder her future and the trip to London passed in a blur. Aunt and Uncle Gardiner would meet them at Bingley House as Charles had sent an express the day before they were due to arrive.
In due time, the carriages rolled into town and Elizabeth gathered the children by the windows and spoke to them of the sights of the city. “There is Vauxhall Gardens. Papa shall take you to see the fireworks there come the New Year!”
The children had never seen fireworks before and both clapped their hands with glee at this promise. Nanny smiled at Elizabeth and slid over her bench to join her young charges in gawping at all the people on the streets.
When the carriages arrived at Bingley House in Grosvenor Street, Elizabeth’s countenance clouded. The townhome was lovely from the outside and her aunt and uncle were there waiting as promised, but a sense of foreboding could not be ignored.
Forcing herself forward, she took her Uncle Gardiner’s hand as he opened her carriage door. “Lizzy, how wonderful it is to see you once more! What has brought you to London with Bingley and Jane?”
Forcing a smile she most assuredly did not feel, Elizabeth gazed upon her uncle as he caught both children when they launched themselves forward away from Nanny and the carriage. There would be much fun for Rose and Richard in London with their cousins, the Gardiner children.
“I’ve been away for so long, Uncle Edward. I thought it might be fun for Richard to see Town and visit his cousins. He and Rose adore one another’s company but I believe he shall enjoy Peter’s company too.”
Elizabeth hoped her words were convincing as her Aunt Madeline arrived and swept her into a warm embrace. “Peter begged to come along today but we told him surely you and Richard would come tonight for dinner. I don’t expect Bingley and Jane shall since your sister is in need of an early night with all this traveling.”
“I should love to dine at Gracechurch Street and spend the night if we may. I have so missed those days, Aunt Madeline.”
Rose and Richard had grown quiet in Uncle Gardiner’s arms once they realized they did not know him. They had both been but babes the last time the Gardiners came to Netherfield.
When Elizabeth mentioned spending the night, Rose leaned closer to Richard and whispered, her little eyes leaking fat tears, “Do not leave me bubby!”
Elizabeth took the girl and kissed her cheek. “Your mother shall say you must go with us if you smile prettily when you ask her.”
The little girl immediately ceased her crying and reached for her mother. Richard bounced into Elizabeth’s arms as soon as they were empty. “Will Cousin Peter like Rosie, mama? She is a girl.”
The last sentence was delivered in such a whisper, her boy’s habit when speaking to her of secrets and words that might offend, it caused Elizabeth to laugh. “Peter will come to love Rose as you do, Richard.”
The boy did not like this answer. “I do not want Peter to love her, only to like her. She is my Rose.”
Elizabeth loved her son so when he spoke this way of his cousin. They would love one another as siblings for all their lives. ‘Twas a wonderful solace when Elizabeth despaired of marrying again. There were precious few gentlemen in Hertfordshire she might consider when comparing them to Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.
Jane gave Rose to Aunt Madeline and touched Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Let us go inside, Lizzy. The children need their naps and I would like tea before I go up for my own nap.”
Nanny took Richard’s hand when Elizabeth set him down. Rose joined them and the Gardiners followed.
Elizabeth climbed the steps of Bingley House with Jane. As they were the only three still on the steps, Charles pointed down the street to a townhome that gleamed white as men lit the lights along the road.
“‘Tis Matlock House there, Mr. Darcy’s townhome is farther along the way.”
Elizabeth leaned against her sister and bit her bottom lip. She had not thought her son might live so close to the Matlocks. “I don’t know how we shall accomplish it, but no one must know I have a son yet.”
Jane took her husband’s hand. “Charles and I will never speak a word of it to anyone, Lizzy.”
Charles echoed his wife’s assurances. “Only you shall decide when they will know, my dear. I wished to make you aware of how very close they are to Bingley House. But in London, in their society, secrets are most difficult to keep. It is a blessing my sisters have never returned to Netherfield since Jane and I were married. Caroline certainly would have carried news of your marriage to the Colonel back to Mr. Darcy.”
Elizabeth had not thought of Mr. Darcy in years. “Why would she tell him of our marriage? I knew she was in love with the man but what has my marriage to do with him?”
Charles was astonished his sister did not know the connection. Mr. Darcy had left Hertfordshire after the Netherfield Ball and so Lizzy had never learned more of the man. Richard had persuaded Bingley never to tell Elizabeth of the connection, though Richard and Darcy were not estranged.
“Richard and Mr. Darcy were cousins, Lizzy. Quite close, too. He kept it secret as a way to shield you from everyone in his family.”
Elizabeth felt her anger rise at this news. Richard had been unable to share the happiest news of his life with his family. She should not be surprised for Mr. Bingley had become estranged from Mr. Darcy, his best friend, because of his decision to marry Jane.
She recalled her distaste for Mr. Darcy. He was the proudest, most arrogant man of her acquaintance. That Richard was his cousin seemed nearly impossible, for the two men were nothing alike. Mr. Darcy had insulted her at the assembly in Meryton and been most judgmental of Jane. It was incomprehensible as Jane was the sweetest creature in all of England.
In that moment, it became quite clear to her that the Fitzwilliam family was capable of driving away those they loved most. Her husband’s estrangement from his family would certainly complicate her life and by extension, that of her son.
Her heart heavy with regret at coming to Town, Elizabeth took the hand Jane offered and placed one foot in front of the other with effort. There was no turning back even if she begged Charles to return to Hertfordshire.
Once all were settled in the parlor of Bingley House, Aunt Madeline sat close to Elizabeth. “You seem most unhappy, Lizzy. Did you not wish to come to London?”
Jane called for tea while Charles looked to Lizzy. She nodded to him and bowed her head. Aunt Madeline placed an arm about her niece. She loved all her nieces equally, but Lizzy was her particular favorite though she would never say such aloud.
“We have come to London at the request of Richard’s family. Their eldest son, Andrew, died in a fire recently leaving them without an heir. Somehow they learned Richard had married and sent a letter to the War Office.
The War Office supplied them with Elizabeth’s name. We have come so that they might settle Richard’s portion upon Elizabeth and learn of their only grandson.”
Uncle Gardiner gave a low whistle. “So young Richard is now the heir? What will you do Lizzy? Richard never wanted his family to meddle in his life. Do you think he would wish them to know of his only child?”
Elizabeth lifted her head and looked to her uncle. “I cannot think, under the circumstances, he would wish for his son to be kept secret. With no living heirs, the Matlocks will decide on another male within their family and my son will lose his birthright. I will not deny him that no matter how I long to keep him hidden. I must come to know them first and so we will pretend young Richard is not mine for a time. It should not prove difficult.”
Aunt Madeline patted her hand. “Certainly we will keep your secret, Lizzy. Take heart my dear girl. Surely they shall come to love him as he will be a balm after the loss of both sons.”
Jane came in again and soon there was lively conversation and tea. Elizabeth’s heart lifted. Her son had more family to love him and a secure future ahead. She would decide when the Fitwilliams might meet her precious boy.
If they would love him, she would not keep them from him. But if they treated him as they had her husband, Elizabeth Fitzwilliam would take her son home to Hertfordshire and the Fitzwilliam family could wait until he was a man to know him better.