A Royal Bennet Page 11

  In the corner of the bedchamber was a desk, with a bookcase built on top of it. Inside the bookcase were several books, including some of Elizabeth’s favorites. Did Mr Darcy plan such a treat for her? How would he know her favorite books and authors? Finally, Elizabeth convinced herself that it was a coincidence and thought no more of the matter. Beside the desk was a door, which lead to a balcony. Opening the door, Elizabeth stepped outside to take in the view. It was magnificent. Though it was cold and becoming dark, the smell of the air and what she could see of the gardens delighted Elizabeth tremendously.

  A knock on the door brought Elizabeth back from her thoughts. A young lady entered the room by way of the dressing chamber. “Forgive me, Miss, but Miss Darcy requested I be your personal maid while you visit. My name is Rose.”

  Elizabeth blushed. She had never had a maid before, as Jane had always assisted her in dressing and pinning up her hair. “That is not necessary, Rose. My sister will be able to assist me.”

  “Oh, but Miss Darcy has made arrangements for all three of you ladies to have maids of your own. My sister is to tend your sister, and Maggie is to tend your aunt.”

  Again, Elizabeth was amazed at the generosity of the Darcys. “I have never had a maid before.” She said softly. “We had one maid to assist my sisters and me, and my youngest sister always monopolized the maid’s time.”

  “Well, you shall have a treat then. Now, I was told you were injured, and that you are to keep your arm in a sling at all times. Mrs Reynolds gave me some different pieces of cloth which we can use to make slings, some will match the colors of the gowns you have. Would you prefer to take a bath tonight, or wait until tomorrow? As you have been on the road all day, I thought you might wish to wash all the dirt off tonight.”

  “Will we have time to do so before dinner?” Elizabeth asked. “Oh, surely we will. I have water steaming already, and have buckets of water waiting in the servant’s room behind the dressing chamber. Dinner will not be for two hours, so there should be plenty of time to bathe and dress.”

  Elizabeth smiled at the girl’s preparedness. “Very well, I will take a bath.” “And what is your preference for scent, Miss? From the clothes I unpacked, it appears you like orange blossom and lavender.”

  This amazed Elizabeth. “But the clothes we brought with us were new, and I have not had any of my scent bottles with me.”

  “Oh, no, Miss. The trunk which was sent from Lambton. Miss Georgiana said the seamstress in the village had your trunk sent here after she learned of your friendship with the family, and that you were coming here.”

  “Mrs Lackney sent my belongings here? How kind of her to do so.” “She is a right fine lady. My ma knew her and stated she was always the kindest of ladies.” Rose assisted Elizabeth in removing her gown and stays, placing the items to the side so she could have them cleaned. Once the remaining clothing was removed, Rose poured a few drops of scent into the water she had prepared.

  Elizabeth sank into the water, allowing the warmth to envelop her. She felt a sense of joy flow through her, being able to finally take a full bath. In Liverpool, she was unable to bathe in a tub, as she was required to wait until the wound was completely healed. Now that it was, it was a true blessing to submerge in the warmth and her favorite scent. She closed her eyes, relishing in the comfort it brought her.

  Rose assisted her charge in washing her hair, using a scented soap which Georgiana had given the maid to use. Once it was rinsed, the girl assisted Elizabeth with the rest of her bath, and then carefully aided Elizabeth to her feet and out of the tub. She dried her with the soft towels, wrapping Elizabeth’s long, dark chocolate curls in one towel, while drying her with another.

  Elizabeth chose to wear one of her favorite gowns, a mint green silk with which her aunt and uncle had gifted her. Rose set about drying Elizabeth’s hair, commenting on how beautiful the curls were. Once dried, she pinned the hair in an elegant style upon her head. Looking in the peer glass, Elizabeth hardly recognized herself. “Rose, you are a miracle worker. I cannot believe how beautiful I look.”

  “Miss, if you can pardon me for saying so, I did nothing to make you beautiful. You are naturally beautiful, one of the most becoming ladies I have ever seen. It is simple to do your hair and dress you in a gown, the true beauty comes from deep inside and shows in everything you do.”

  “My mother would disagree with you.” Elizabeth smiled half-heartedly. Then she thought about her words. It was time to be honest. “Well, as she is not truly my mother, her hateful words should mean nothing to me.”

  “Someone spoke hatefully to you, and she was supposed to be your mother? Goodness, what a foolish woman she must be. I cannot think of any mother who would treat their daughter in such a manner.” Rose added a finishing touch to Elizabeth, her garnet cross.

  Her eyes grew wide when she saw the necklace. “I thought I would never see this again.” “Mr Darcy had it repaired while in Liverpool, that is what Mrs Reynolds told me. She gave it to me just before you came up.”

  Tears were forming in Elizabeth’s eyes. “I have worn this necklace since I was a little girl. It has always been precious to me.”

  “Well, it is right nice, and seeing the joy in your eyes, I am pleased it is returned to you.” Rose said, finding the joy the young lady found in something so simple endeared her to the maid.

  ~~ ** ~~ As Elizabeth stepped out of her chambers, Darcy was walking nearby. “Miss Elizabeth, might I escort you down to dinner? It is easy to become lost in the house, until you are familiar with it.”

  Smiling, Elizabeth placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you, Mr Darcy.” Her hand reached up and lightly fingered the cherished necklace she wore. “And thank you, for the return of my cross. Papa gave it to me when I was a child. It broke my heart when it was snatched from me.”

  “When I saw it, it made it easier to find you. The man who had it was part of the highwaymen gang. He was able to tell us which direction those scoundrels took you and your maid.”

  “I rarely ever took it off, so I have felt quite lost without it. Papa told me, when he gave it to me, that it was meant for me.”

  “My cousin noticed the emblem etched into the back of the setting. It was the royal seal of Brunswick. I assume it was a piece from your mother.”

  Her cheeks flushed bright red. Darcy realized she must be uncomfortable with his knowing the truth of her birth. “Miss Elizabeth, you have nothing of which to be ashamed with me. To be honest, I am pleased that Mrs Bennet is not truly your mother. The woman is vulgar and cruel, not to mention, an idiot. Knowing she will never be able to cause you harm again brings me joy.”

  “It is difficult of which to speak, Mr Darcy. Especially to someone such as yourself. It would be simple enough for you, being of the upper circle of society, to refuse to have anything to do with me and my family.”

  “You had no choice as to whom your parents are, Miss Elizabeth. And, in all honesty, you are a member of royalty. That places you above the wealthy, untitled land owner, so far as society is concerned.” Darcy stated as he smiled.

  “I could never face society, not after all that has happened. I would be horrified to deal with all of it.” Elizabeth suddenly paled.

  “Though I am sure your mother’s family will wish for some sort of presentation, I believe they will allow you to make up your own mind as to your frequency in society.”

  “It is difficult for me to think of some unknown lady being my mother. Papa has sent to Mrs Hill, our housekeeper, asking for a box, which he has kept hidden all these years, to be sent here. He says there is a portrait of my mother. Constance, her name was Constance.”

  “Has he discussed her family with you? Do they wish to be a part of your life?” Darcy asked. “I have an aunt, Margaret, who is married and lives in Scotland. She writes to Papa every year, on my birthday, and he sends a reply. Papa says she will wish to know me better, as she has always wished to be a part of my life. He promised to tell me more of my mo
ther’s family while we are here. But it is difficult to think of all I will learn. I have cousins, aunts, and uncles whom I have never met, never even knew existed. But they know of me, and have cared for me from afar.”

  “You are welcome to invite any of your relations to come here, away from the rest of the world. Pemberley is located in such a way as to make it private.”

  “Your generosity has been tremendous, Mr Darcy. I am grateful for all you have done for my family.” “I must admit, Miss Elizabeth, I thought only of you. My only wish is to be of service to you, in your time of confusion.”

  Elizabeth was shocked at his confession. Fortunately, they had reached the dining room, where the rest of their party was waiting for them.

  The group dined quietly, as most of the party were fatigued from the journey. It was decided to end the evening early, just after dining, so everyone could have time to themselves and retire to their beds. There were no plans for the following day, as Darcy and Georgiana wished to allow their guests to have a relaxing day.

  ~~ ** ~~ As the sun began to rise, Elizabeth woke with the desire to start exploring the wonderful estate she was visiting. She dressed, with the assistance of Rose, and made her way downstairs. The smell coming from the kitchen was heavenly, and Elizabeth found herself drawn towards the breakfast room. There were rolls and preserves on the sideboard, the rolls still warm from baking. Elizabeth took two rolls with her, after cutting them open and smearing the berry preserves on the interior. She then gathered her delicious morsels and made her way outdoors.

  She was only planning to take a walk about the gardens, not being familiar with the area, but there seemed to be more areas beckoning her to come further and further away from the house. Finding the stream, Elizabeth took a seat on the side of an overturned tree and brought out her rolls. She had finished the first roll when she saw something moving in the bush nearby. For a moment, Elizabeth held her breath, not knowing what would come out from the lush green foliage.

  Suddenly, a dog jumped out of the bush. It was a beautiful dog, multicolored with long fur. The dog appeared to be one of the herding dogs which Elizabeth assumed were used to keep the sheep on the estate in line. Elizabeth had always been fond of dogs, though her father had never allowed their family to have a dog. Mr Bennet had always told his daughters that dogs were meant to work, and only working dogs were allowed to live at Longbourn.

  The dog watched Elizabeth carefully, cocking its head to the side, taking in everything she saw of the young lady. Finally, with a little coaxing, the dog moved forward, sniffing Elizabeth’s outstretched hand.

  “It is alright, girl. I will not harm you.” Elizabeth said as she encouraged the dog to come to her. Finally, Elizabeth held out a piece of roll to the dog. There was no need for further encouragement, as the dog instantly moved closer and took the offered treat.

  “There, now, I promised that you would not be harmed. What a pretty girl you are. And your fur is soft. Someone must take good care of you.” Elizabeth ran her fingers through the long fur. As she continued to pet the dog, Elizabeth felt a calming effect course through her. It gave her a sense of contentment she had not felt since her world became a chaotic mess. “What a sweet nature you have. I wish I knew your name. You are filled with love and compassion, I can sense how caring you are.”

  Elizabeth continued to break off small pieces of the roll and giving them to the dog, who, in return, licked any remaining preserves from Elizabeth’s fingertips. “Ah, so you like the sweets goodness. I must thank you for your kindness in cleaning my fingers.”

  For over half an hour, Elizabeth lost herself petting the dog, and discussing her tormented mind with her new friend. The dog placed her head on Elizabeth’s lap, soaking in the devotion she was receiving from the human.

  The sound of a horse could be heard riding towards the pair. The dog suddenly stood, and with a grumbled bark, left her new friend to return to the bush. Finally turning her full attention to the rider, Elizabeth realized the rider was none other than Mr Darcy.

  “Miss Elizabeth, you are awake early this morning. I would have thought you would sleep in today, after all the traveling you have done of late.”

  “I have always been an early riser, Mr Darcy. As soon as the sun comes up, it cries out to me to come outside.” Elizabeth smiled.

  “Did I see a dog with you as I rode up?”

  “Indeed you did. Is it one of your dogs?” Elizabeth asked. “No, I have never owned a dog such as that one. It looked like Old Jameson’s dog. She was devoted to her master until he died last autumn. Since then, she has kept her distance from people.”

  “She was timid at first, but quickly came to me and accepted my attention to her. Do you know her name?”

  Darcy thought for a few moments before he recalled the name. “I believe she is called Sadie. Mr Jameson’s wife was named Sadie, and she had died more than twenty years ago. I can remember his saying his life was empty since losing his beloved Sadie, so he decided to have another loving Sadie in his life. She worked the sheep with him.”

  “What sort of breed is she? I have never seen the likes.” “She is a collie. Mr Jameson’s brother lives in Scotland and he brought Jameson the dog when she was a pup. I love watching Sadie work the sheep. She runs faster than any other dog I have seen, and she is agile. She can actually cut one particular sheep from the fold upon command. Jameson never would tell me how he trained her, he claimed it was a secret and he could not tell it to anyone.” Darcy laughed at the memory.

  Elizabeth looked at the man as he took his seat beside her on the log. It amazed her to hear Darcy speaking so much, let alone his vast knowledge of his tenant and the tenant’s dog. She was impressed with the way he spoke, caring for the now deceased man and the dog which had been devoted to its master. This was not the Darcy she remembered.

  After a little more conversation, Darcy walked Elizabeth back to the house. Elizabeth decided then and there that she wished to know more of Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.

  ~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

  Chapter 11 The following day, Elizabeth repeated the journey to the fallen tree by the river. For the second day in a row, she was met there by Sadie. This time, Elizabeth came prepared. Elizabeth pulled from her pocket a cloth wrapped bundle. “Good morning, Miss Sadie. I hoped I would find you here again. I brought you a treat.” She opened the cloth to reveal some small pieces of meat alongside the rolls she brought for herself. Sadie came nearer, her tongue licked her mouth in anticipation.

  Elizabeth gave the dog a piece of meat, petting her head for a few moments before giving her some more. “Mr Darcy told me that your owner died. I am grieved by your loss. From what he has told me, you are as lost as I am in this confusing world. I am pleased you have chosen to introduce yourself to me.”

  She handed the dog another piece of meat, and then tore off a piece of the roll with preserves. It was difficult to say which of the treats Sadie preferred. She gladly accepted each morsel which was offered to her. It was not long before Sadie had nuzzled up next to Elizabeth’s leg, lovingly befriending the young lady.

  Sadie was a perfect friend, Elizabeth determined. She was a good listener, and she appeared to be fond of Elizabeth. And it would become a morning ritual for the two of them to meet in this location, sharing a bit of food before beginning the day. Elizabeth found it easier to speak of her feelings with Sadie. All of the fears she was attempting to hide from her family were easily shared with the beautiful collie. And Sadie seemed to find Elizabeth to be the perfect

  replacement for her lost owner.

  Several times over the following weeks, Darcy would come across Elizabeth and Sadie in their personal spot, so he decided to give them their time without interruption. It pleased him to see Elizabeth building a bond with the dog, and it appeared she was able to confide in Sadie in a way she could not with the people who cared for her.

  The week following the arrival of the Bennets and Mrs Gardiner at Pemberley was spent relaxing as muc
h as possible. Letters were written to many people, including to Elizabeth’s aunt in Scotland, and members of the royal family in Brunswick and to Princess Caroline.

  Darcy had a book of the royal families of Europe and was able to assist Mr Bennet in informing Elizabeth where she fit in the ranks of royalty. Though she was considered a minor member, she was still royalty. Elizabeth’s mother, Constance, had been the great granddaughter of Ferdinand Albert and Antoinette Amalie, the parents of Charles I, Duke of Brunswick. He was the father of Charles II, who was father of Princess Caroline. Charles I had siblings, one of which was Albert. Though Albert died young and before he was married, he had been in love and had anticipated his vows with his beloved Elizabeth. She died while giving birth to a son, James Albert, named for his late father. Orphaned, James was taken in as a ward by Charles I. James later married to Sophie, and remained close to Charles II, who had been his playmate and close friend as a child. James and Sophie had three daughters and a son, Margaret, Amalie, Constance, and Albert.

  Amalie had died as a child, which was devastating to the couple. Margaret had married and moved to Scotland, while Albert was living in Italy. James and Sophie had both taken ill during an epidemic, dying a few days apart, when Constance was in her early teens. Charles II and Princess Augusta saw to the care of the children, and were especially fond of Constance.

  When Constance died giving birth to Elizabeth, the family discussed the future of the newborn child. It was a difficult decision, but they felt it best for Elizabeth to have her remaining parent in her life. Margaret wrote to Mr Bennet, remembering the child of her dear sister and wishing to have some

  connection with the girl. But she honored Mr Bennet’s decision to keep the news from his daughter for the time being, not wishing to complicate Elizabeth’s life by telling her the truth.