A Royal Bennet (6 page)

“My goodness. Were either of you injured?” Mrs
Barkow asked, looking over the young lady, trying to
determine if she was speaking the truth of the
situation.

Elizabeth smiled. “Fortunately, we are unharmed.
The man in charge told the others they would fetch a
higher price if we were unharmed and untouched. I
am concerned that the men will attempt to locate us.
Can you keep our whereabouts secret? The men do
not know our names, they only know our
descriptions. My name is Elizabeth Bennet. My father
owns an estate in Hertfordshire, near Meryton.”

“I have a cousin who lives near Meryton. She
works for a Mrs Goulding of Haye Park.”

Elizabeth was excited. “What is her name?”
“Bertha Wallace. She is the…”

“Cook for the Gouldings. I know her. Her lemon
tarts are famous in our neighborhood.” Elizabeth
smiled at the memory of eating said tarts.

Mrs Barkow knew the young lady was genuine
from that statement. She knew her cousin’s lemon
tarts had won the lady a prize at a fair in the
neighborhood where she lived. “Miss Bennet, I will do
what I can to assist you. I will see that trays are
brought up to your rooms, so you will not run the risk
of being seen by anyone. As for your stay, the coins
you have will do for the time being. We will not evict
you, I will not allow it. You may stay here until your
relations come to collect you. The relations who will
come, are they also named Bennet?”

“It would most likely be Gardiner. My father’s
health would most likely prevent his coming. My
uncle is Mr Edward Gardiner.”

“Very good. Now, scoot up the stairs and into your
rooms. Is there anything else you need? Some
clothing or something to read?” Mrs Barkow was
searching her mind for some way to assist the young
lady.

“I would not wish to put you to further trouble,
Mrs Barkow. You have been far kinder than I could
have expected. With just Lucy and myself being in the
room, we can wash our clothing and hang it by the
fireplace to dry. Once my family arrives, we will be
able to obtain more clothing.”

“Well, if there is anything you need, please let me
know.”

 

~~ ** ~~

Darcy and Richard were standing next to their
horses, having just stopped at an inn to rest their
mounts. “Richard, what was all that talk of the
necklace being from someone of the royal family? I
know it belonged to Miss Elizabeth, I saw her wear it
constantly.”

“I am telling you that the etching on the back of
the setting is that of the royal family of Brunswick. I
have seen the emblem on Princess Augusta’s
belongings, and she is married to the Duke of
Brunswick. Princess Caroline has also had the
emblem on items. If Miss Elizabeth has this emblem
on the necklace, she must be part of the royal family.”

“But her father is a country squire, with a small
estate in Hertfordshire. Elizabeth has a twin sister,
and the sister did not wear a necklace such as this.
Why would only one of the sisters be given a piece of
jewelry with a royal emblem, and the other did not?”

“You do not know that the sister does not have
such a piece, do you? Perhaps the sister does not
wish to wear her jewelry. But I can tell you for
certain, that piece belongs to a royal family member.”

So many thoughts raced through Darcy’s mind.
How can this be? How can Elizabeth have jewelry from
a royal family? She is not royal, for if she were, she
would not be living at Longbourn. Look at the way the
Bennet family lives. No, if they were royals, they would
not live in such a manner as they did in Hertfordshire.
Could the necklace have been presented to Mr Bennet
as some sort of reward for service to the crown? But it
was from Brunswick. Had Mr Bennet traveled to the
continent, and performed some sort of service to the
royal family?

All of this does not matter, all that matters is that
Elizabeth is found. He could not think of what those
men would do to her, it was far too painful a thought.

Darcy reached inside his coat pocket and pulled
out the handkerchief which had been Elizabeth’s. He
held it tightly in his hand, praying that he would find
Elizabeth, and that he would have a chance to tell her
how he truly felt for her.

~~ ** ~~

Elizabeth was trying to put her feelings in order.
The past week had been a jumble of emotions which
she had not been able to sort through, as there were
so many new emotions piled up on top of the previous
ones.

Starting with the day she made a hasty departure
from London, Elizabeth looked over each event.
Seeing Darcy at the park, seeing the men who were
attempting to rob him, and helping him to his home
was strange for her. She remembered the feelings
which coursed through her at his touch, with his arm
over her shoulder, and leaning against her small body.
The memory sent tingling fire throughout her body.
She prayed he was well and that the injuries he had
received were minor. But she also felt the same as
when she spoke to the butler. Mr Darcy would not
wish to find her. He did not like her. Elizabeth was
positive of that. And he would, most likely, be
embarrassed that, of all the people in London,
Elizabeth Bennet had been the one person to come to
his aid.

Her mind continued to return to what the butler
told her. He spoke highly of his employer, but was
that due to his being paid by the Darcy family? Did he
speak his true feelings towards the family or did he
say what was expected of him?

Elizabeth looked at Lucy, who was curled up on
the bed. The poor maid was so filled with fear, she
literally could not function. It was all Elizabeth could
do to coax her to take any nourishment or drink
anything. This was another reason she prayed the
men did not find them, for Lucy was in no condition to
walk, let alone run, to escape anyone. Sitting on the
side of the bed, Elizabeth spoke softly as she caressed
Lucy’s hair. Whenever Elizabeth had been sad or ill,
Jane had done such to her and it was always soothing.

As she attempted to keep Lucy calm, Elizabeth
prayed that her aunt and uncle would be able to come
soon. Though Mrs Barkow had promised to assist
them, who knew for certain what was to come.

~~ ** ~~

Mr Bennet rarely left his home, and it had been
over ten years since he had last traveled further than
ten miles. But after the Gardiners stopped there on
their way north, explaining the express they had
received from Darcy explaining the abduction, Mr
Bennet could not imagine staying home while his
beloved daughter was in danger. The Gardiner
children had been left in Town with their nanny and
the housekeeper, leaving room for Mr Bennet to share
the carriage with them. It was clear to see the pain
the gentleman had as the carriage traveled along.
Each bump was like a needle being thrust into his
back.

“What did Mr Darcy say in his letter? It amazes
me that the letter was from him. When he was in the
neighborhood last autumn, he rarely even spoke.”

“Mr Darcy stated that the post carriage was
robbed, and, when the men found very little to steal,
they took Elizabeth and our young maid, Lucy. There
was talk of the men taking them to sell to a ship for
Antigua. The elderly lady who had been on the
carriage with them stated that she had heard that
information as the men prepared to leave. Mr Darcy
and his cousin were to leave his home of Pemberley,
taking with them some of his men, to search for Lizzy
and Lucy. They planned to head for Liverpool, and if
they cannot find them there, they would determine a
new destination.” Mr Gardiner stated.

“Mr and Miss Darcy came to our house and were
sad that Lizzy had already left for Lambton.” Mrs
Gardiner said. “It is my opinion Mr Darcy is in love
with our Lizzy.”

“But he declared her not handsome enough to
tempt him even to dance. Elizabeth heard him declare
those very words at the assembly.” Mr Bennet shook
his head. “How could he change his opinion so
easily?”

“From what I know of the family, Mr Darcy is
much like his father. Mr Gerald Darcy was very shy
when he was in large groups or with people who are
unknown to him. The son is similar, according to
what my friend has written to me. He is well known
in Lambton, but everyone is aware of the shy nature
of both he and his sister.”

“And you believe he cares for Lizzy?”

 

“Yes, I do.” Mrs Gardiner stated. “When do you
plan to tell Lizzy the truth?”

 

Mr Bennet looked carefully at his sister in law.
“What do you mean?”

“I mean the truth of her birth? Do you not feel it
would be wise for her to know the truth? She should
know who her mother was.”

“What do you know of Lizzy’s mother?” Mr Bennet
looked between the married couple.

Mr Gardiner looked at his wife as he spoke.
“Helen knows of Elizabeth being the natural child of
yours and a young lady with whom you were in love.
She is aware of the circumstances of your marriage,
and how it came about. I have told her no more of the
situation.”

Mrs Gardiner gave her husband a curious look.
“What more is there to know? Who was Elizabeth’s
mother?”

“Her mother was the cousin of Princess Caroline,
the niece of the Duke of Brunswick.” Mr Bennet
glanced out the window of the carriage at the
memories of his beloved Constance. “Lizzy is the very
image of her mother.”

“Thomas, I have always been angry with Fanny for
having behaved in such a manner, forcing you into
marriage. It was wrong. She was aware of your heart
belonging to another.”

“I cannot forgive her for her behavior. Though I
will never regret my daughters, I often wonder what
would have happened if I had been allowed to marry
Constance. Would she have lived longer, been able to
watch her daughter grow? I know she was devastated
when she learned I had to marry Fanny, and, from
what I was told, she never truly recovered her spirits.
If we had married, she would not have become
melancholy. Fanny has always disliked Lizzy, and I
can understand her reason, but she brought the
situation upon herself by tearing her gown as she did,
having witnesses say how I had supposedly
compromised her.”

“And I have told her so many times. Lizzy is a
wonderful girl, and she needed a mother. She has
never known the truth, how can she be blamed for
what happened?” Mr Gardiner shook his head as he
spoke.

“Will you tell Lizzy the truth?” Mrs Gardiner asked
again. “Will you tell Elizabeth that she was dearly
loved by her real mother, rather than thinking she
was despised by the only mother she knows?”

“I do not know.” Mr Bennet answered, his gaze
still locked on the scenery passing them by. “I just do
not know. I am surprised she has never learned the
truth before this. Fanny has slipped in her words
several times in the past few months, when she is
furious with Lizzy.”

“I was afraid of her behaving in such a manner.”
Mr Gardiner said. “I have warned her several times to
keep her tongue in check.”

“I will ask you to keep secret Constance’s
connection to the royal family. Fanny is unaware of
the connection, and I would hate to think what
notions would leap into her mind. She is also
unaware of the fact that there is a bank account set up
for Lizzy by Constance’s uncle. There are also family
pieces of jewelry held for Lizzy. The garnet necklace
had been her mother’s. As Constance wore it almost
every day, it pleases me to see Lizzy do the same.”

“But Lizzy is unaware of all of this. Do you not see
that it would be better for her to know the truth?
Would her mother’s relations be willing to claim the
relationship? Would they welcome Lizzy as a part of
their family?”

“Helen, I know they would. I received a letter,
around a year ago, from Charles, Duke of Brunswick,
asking if they could meet Elizabeth. I wrote back to
inform them of my daughter being unaware of her
parentage and I feared, at that time, how she would
react. Perhaps it was more how I would react that has
kept me silent for so long.”

Mr Gardiner nodded his head. “I know it will be
difficult, but Lizzy knows how dearly loved she is. So
long as you reassure her of your love, I am certain she
can work through everything else.”

“Let us pray we find her first. It will not matter
who her mother is if she is sold into slavery in some
country half a world away.”
~~ ** ~~

“I insist we search the area again.” Caspen howled
at the other men. He looked to the floor in the corner
of the shack, where the lifeless body of the young
man, who had been given the task of guarding the
ladies, lay. “And the body needs to be removed.
Dump it in some back alley. Those chits could not
have gotten far, they had no funds or anything of
value, other than their bodies, to pay for anything.”

“We searched all over, but there be no sign of
them. What if they went to one of the churches?
Them types would help two lost ladies.” One of the
men suggested.

“Then we need to speak with the clergymen in the
area. I doubt they got very far. That young one was
not in the best of shape. She is scared outta her wits.”

The men left the shack and began their search
again. They searched each of the churches and any
shelters which were taking in homeless women and
children. Caspen even searched some of the brothels
in the area, though he did not expect the dark haired
lady to sink to such a level and the younger one would
be unable to do anything.

The men then began searching all the hospitals
and clinics in the area. It was a futile effort. There
were so many people found in all these areas,
requiring some sort of assistance due to
circumstances of poverty or ill health, but none were
the ladies for whom they were looking.