Alias Thomas Bennet (28 page)

“I had not decided until just now whether to divulge my own identity to you when I unveiled your true identities and fortune. I could easily have kept it hidden for the rest of your lives.”

There was dead silence. Bennet regarded all in the room and wished he could know what was going through their minds. He saw from Darcy’s expression that his friend felt for his agony in wondering whether his revelation would be well received. Bingley looked flabbergasted, opened his mouth as if to say something, and then closed it again, appearing as if he was searching for an answer to a question that had not been spoken. But Bennet was most concerned about the reactions of his daughters. He looked to Jane. As far as he could tell, she was filled with bewilderment; she seemed unsure as to what she had just heard. Elizabeth was teary-eyed but obviously curious about the revelation. She was the first to respond and spoke with a clarity that surprised him.

“But why, Papa? Why would you hide who you are and have Mr. Darcy and his father manage your estate for nearly twenty years? Could you not have just married Mama and made her Lady Shelton?”

“This part of the story is difficult for me, my dears, so please be patient.” He sighed and wiped a tear from his face.

“I was in exile. I fought a duel and fled the country rather than be held up for a murder charge. The other duellist was the murderer of Lady Shelton.” Bennet’s mouth was in a grim line. Jane gasped and her tears flowed freely. He crossed the room, lowered himself beside her chair, and held her in his arms.

“He was a vicious man, Jane,” he said with passion as his daughter wept. “It is difficult for me to relate this to your gentle ears, but it must be said. His intrigues, all honoured with the title of seduction, had been extended to every county. He attacked both Lady Shelton and Mrs. Bennet, leaving Lady Shelton to die from her injuries, and your mother with painful memories. There is no one who deserves your hatred more than Lord Malcolm.”

With a fury that defied his character, Bingley spoke. “Am I clear that you killed the miscreant?”

Bennet nodded to affirm. “It was not my intent to do so; I merely wanted to injure him to show that there were consequences to such bad actions. But God help me, I have no remorse.”

Jane, still in her father’s arms, appeared to be in shock. Bennet decided to cease the ghastly recollection and speak of things more palatable to her tender sensibilities. He then described the true circumstances of his meeting the real Thomas Bennet on board the ship to Bermuda and their agreement to exchange identities, and that he and Mrs. Bennet enter into a marriage of convenience.

“Jane and Elizabeth, know that my marriage to Mrs. Bennet soon evolved into a love match, much like yours will be.

“Lizzy, you asked about your parents. I believe that you already know me, so there is little to tell there. I hope I have not disappointed you in your lives. You must know that I love you very much, as does the mother you have known since you were very small children.” Bennet’s voice broke, but he smiled.

“Lady Shelton was a very beautiful woman. She looked a great deal like both of you. Jane has her fair hair and blue eyes, and Lizzy, you resemble her in face and figure. In nature, you both also take traits from her. Just like you, she was intelligent beyond most women and always challenging me intellectually. She loved nature and rode almost every day. She was also confident and gregarious, the belle of the ball, always causing a stir wherever she went.

“Each one of you was anticipated with joy. She doted on you both; she said you were her little angels sent from heaven. She planned your come-outs while you were still small, imagining the lively parties you would attend and all the hearts you would break as men lined up to be your beaux. She would be very proud of the young women you have become.”

Jane’s breathing became more even as she returned her father’s smile. Shuddering, she wiped away her tears, and her father released her to continue his recitation.

“You have some connections that I would like you to meet. Jane’s godparents are Lord and Lady Matlock. Lady Matlock was your mother’s sister, and I intend to ask her to sponsor you in your introduction to higher society. As you all know, the Matlocks are Mr. Darcy’s uncle and aunt.

“Elizabeth, your godparents are both deceased. They were none other than Mr. Darcy’s parents.” Elizabeth’s eyes once again widened in surprise, and she looked to Darcy, whose smile showed that he shared in her joy at the connection.

Bennet spoke specifically to Darcy in a gentle voice. “I apologise to you, Fitzwilliam, in your good father’s stead. He never would have understood the reason I did not divulge the name of the guardian for my daughters and kept his and Lady Anne’s goddaughter away from their lives. It was hurtful to me also, but I had to do it to ensure my concealment.”

“I accept your apology on behalf of my father, Bennet,” was Darcy’s reply.

“You may have surmised that Mary is actually my stepdaughter, and that Catherine and Lydia are Mrs. Bennet’s and my birth children. But in my mind, as in Mrs. Bennet’s, all of you belong to both of us, no matter who your birth parents are.”

***

A short time later, Elizabeth was walking alone in the gardens, pondering her father’s words. She had left the gentlemen in the library while Jane was quietly talking to Mrs. Bennet in the drawing room. She was pensive, excited, confused, amused, agitated, and pleased all at once, in contrast to Jane, who had been quiet and contemplative and was likely pondering all aspects of the future with the clarity and common sense that were in her nature.

Elizabeth recalled her conversation with Jane and Mrs. Bennet immediately after her father’s news.

“When Jane and I received the fateful letters,” said she, “we had suspected that the meeting Papa called us home for had to do with Jane and Bingley’s marriage.”

Jane added her own recollections. “When Mr. Bingley paid me court, my father had hinted in his letters that Lizzy and I had better fortunes and connections, and I was relieved that we would have something to offer to our husbands.”

“And how do you feel now that you are newly privy to this information?” Mrs. Bennet asked.

“I am astounded at the events of the morning,” Elizabeth replied. “In fact, my mind dwells on one thing and then another.” Her countenance was full of energy as she continued.

“I must admit that I am very excited and proud that Jane and I are titled heiresses with exceptional benefits to bring to our marriages. Had anyone else even hinted that I would have such increased worth, I would have been suspicious of their motives at the very least and curious of the source of the ridiculous rumour.”

Jane smiled and nodded. “I wonder how we are going to absorb all we have heard?”

“It is all so surprising! Since I can remember, I have known that Jane and I were adopted, but it mattered not to either of us. We were given the Bennet name and felt as cherished as our sisters. We have never had want for comfort or love in our lives.”

“You offered great filial affection in return,” said Mrs. Bennet.

“We both love you and Papa very much, Mama,” Jane said tenderly, glancing at her sister.

Elizabeth nodded and commented, “But we were certain that our sisters’ portions would be higher than ours.”

“Yes, we had discussed it and feared that because we were wards, Lizzy and I would have no rights to your marriage settlements.”

“Your father and I thought it would be best not to divulge your fortunes and connections,” Mrs. Bennet said, “but we assumed you believed your shares would be the same value as your sisters. Oftentimes when I was alone, my conscience would chastise me for intentionally misleading my friends and perhaps causing you to worry that you would bring so little to your marriage, but Mr. Bennet assured me it was for the best.”

“Papa’s other information was also such a surprise!” Elizabeth said. “Even though it must be kept only to ourselves, we can secretly take pride that our birth father was the man who raised us. It was also good to know a bit about our birth mother, since I had always wondered about her.”

“But you never asked!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet, displaying some confusion. “Had I known you were curious, I would have had your father tell you about her. I would not be offended at your need to know.”

“But we did not want you to worry that we felt her more important than you,” said Elizabeth.

“You will always be our dearest Mama,” said Jane lovingly, “and we wanted you to know that.”

The three shared a tearful hug. At length, Mrs. Bennet suggested that each daughter take some time alone to work out her feelings.

“Thank you, Mama,” said Elizabeth. “I think a walk would suit me quite well under the circumstances. It will allow me to think about all I have learned today.” Mrs. Bennet and Jane expressed their agreement, and Elizabeth excused herself.

As she ambled around the grounds of her home, Elizabeth wished she could get a glimpse into the future, to see what it would hold for her. She was already happily engaged to her beloved Fitzwilliam and anticipated their union with delight. She had known she would have to adjust to a life of greater wealth as his wife, but she had no expectation of bringing more than a paltry sum to her husband. Until now, she had felt a small amount of unworthiness to have so little to offer when Fitzwilliam could have married a woman with better connections and fortune, but she had brushed that away with his repeated declarations of love.

She supposed that she ought to worry, as Jane did, about such changes, and for a moment, she felt agitated but then thought with amusement about how the Miss Bingleys and Lady Catherines of the world would receive her and Jane now that they were women of some consequence—in fact, of significantly higher standing than Miss Bingley and equal to Lady Catherine. She expected much more amiable acceptance from these ladies as well as from all others of her acquaintance, but hoped that she would not show excessive pride as she still considered herself Lizzy of Longbourn.

She heard a gentle voice behind her and found herself being pulled into the arms of her betrothed. Laughing, she turned, snatched up his hand, and hastily led him to a bench hidden from view of most of the windows of the house. Elizabeth was soon curled comfortably beside him; she relished the contact. She would have been happy to stay that way, but he lifted her chin with one finger, and Elizabeth closed her eyes to the touch. He lovingly held her face in his hands as he kissed her eyes, her temples, and finally pulled her closer to him and lightly touched his lips against hers.

They had not been able to find even a brief opportunity to be alone since Darcy proposed, but concealed in the garden, they were able to renew their passion. Elizabeth had not forgotten the deep kiss they shared that night; she relived that kiss every night in the privacy of her chambers and longed for the sensations within her body that his embrace had stimulated. Instinctively, she showed her intentions by running her tongue along the seam of his lips. Darcy deepened the kiss immediately. Her heart was racing as his hands moved along the curves of her body.

Even if Elizabeth had not been swept away with a profound sense of anticipation that was unfamiliar to her, she would never be able to sufficiently articulate what was happening to her body as it reacted to his attentions. As Darcy ran his lips along her jawline to her ear, she struggled to catch her breath and collect her wits, but it was in vain. The feel of his hot breath and soft lips on her sensitive skin resulted in a shudder running through her body, and a little choked moan came from her throat. Embarrassed by her reaction, she pulled back and covered her mouth with her hand, but it only made Darcy more amorous. He gently drew her hand away and returned his hungry lips to hers.

Some minutes later, he pulled away and just held her close to him. He tucked her head to his chest and, after a few moments, began to speak.

“Darling, I hope the news of this morning did not upset you,” he said hesitantly. She sensed his concern and wondered about it. She tried to reassure him that, although she had been surprised, she was not unhappy about the news.

“I admit I was not unaffected, but for the most part, it was pleasant to hear, was it not?”

“It was good news,” said Darcy.

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Are you discontent that I was aware of the particulars before you were?”

“Of course not, Fitzwilliam, how could I be?” she cried, and looked up at him. “You inherited this as one of your many responsibilities, and you could not have possibly known that Jane and I were the Shelton ladies. You said you did not even know who our guardian was or that our names had been changed.”

“You do not understand. Your father said that he was assured by me that I had
intended
to propose prior to knowing your situation. This was not the first time I heard it, my love. I knew all of it on the day of our betrothal. The solicitors and your father disclosed your identity
before
I proposed.”

“When you proposed, you already knew I was Lady Elizabeth and had a substantial fortune?” She pulled back, attempting to make eye contact, but he had bowed his head and looked embarrassed.

“I did.”

“Was that the reason for that nonsense about my family’s low connections and marrying below your station?” she asked. “Did you not say that you had to overcome your pride before you offered for me?”