Page 18 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

Edward and Madeleine exchanged a glance before he spoke again. “But did you mean to imply that Elizabeth’s being a gentleman’s daughter could raise our own position in society? Is it not more likely that we will lower hers? Being raised by a tradesman cannot help her prospects.”

“Do not concern yourself overmuch with the details. Know this: Elizabeth must marry a gentleman, not a tradesman, but do not encourage any matches until she is of age. You may tell her I expect nothing less than that she wed a gentleman I approve, but tell her nothing of her father or her fortune. All will come out on her twenty-first birthday.” Thomas looked at them both seriously.

“For now, though, if you are certain you can embrace Lizzy into your lives, then she will need masters to continue her education. Perhaps in a couple of years, if you are still uncomfortable with the idea, we can discuss hiring a companion to assist in her come-out.”

Gardiner and Madeleine exchanged yet another meaningful look before nodding to Thomas. They were ready to begin planning Lizzy’s future. A future in which she would continue to be protected from fortune hunters and the people responsible for her parents’ deaths.

Elizabeth had been in her bedchamber re-reading a favorite history of medieval times but grew restless. How long would her Uncle Bennet be occupied? Did it take so long to tell the Gardiners she would begin her lessons again? Should not Uncle Bennet include her in the conversation about her education, as he usually did? She went downstairs to invite herself into the discussion but halted with her hand raised to knock on the door to Uncle Gardiner’s study when she was stunned by what she overheard.

“Lizzy has been raised with Fanny’s never-ending diatribes about ‘Ollie the Farmer,’ when in reality, Lizzy’s father was a gentleman,” Uncle Bennet said.

“Was he?” Uncle Gardiner asked, clearly surprised.

“Yes, but he could not reveal himself—alas, I can tell you no more. Not now,” Uncle Bennet said, sounding frustrated. “When Lizzy is one-and-twenty, I will tell her all, and you will know, as well.”

“Her father could not make himself known to Elizabeth? So…she is his natural daughter,” Uncle Gardiner concluded.

Elizabeth retreated to her bedchamber as quickly as she could while remaining silent. She flung herself atop her bed and cried. Her father had not claimed her as his own, had not wanted her. She was the natural daughter of some uncaring, unscrupulous gentleman, a rake, perhaps. Had he taken advantage of her mother, or had she been willing in the affair, thinking he would marry her and then been disappointed?

Elizabeth wondered that Aunt Bennet had not treated her even more poorly than she already had. Perhaps she had only recently learned of her true parentage, and that was why she had been sent away, so she could not sully her cousins. What of the Gardiner girls, though? Aunt and Uncle Gardiner now knew of her shameful beginnings. Would they also insist Uncle Bennet take her away from here? She could not say she minded leaving London, but where else could she go?

Perhaps she had an Asbury relation still living. But was that “gentleman” the Asbury, or was the farmer the Asbury? She knew she was not a Bennet, but was she an Asbury? She would endeavor to find out somehow, though she could not bring herself to ask Uncle Bennet, not yet. For now, she would wear his and her mother’s name with honor and think less of her Asbury side. If only she could forget.

Chapter Ten

The next morning, Thomas was surprised by Lizzy’s lackluster reaction to the news that she would resume her studies soon. He confirmed the subjects she was most interested in and told her he would spend the day seeking teachers but needed to return to Longbourn the following afternoon. Fanny expected him home for Easter two days hence. If Lizzy had appeared unhappy before, she was now positively crestfallen.

“I am sorry, Lizzy,” he said. “I will finalize everything through correspondence.”

“Thank you, Uncle,” she said. “I know you must return to your family. Perhaps on your next visit, we will have more time together.”

Thomas was surprised she referred to her aunt and cousins as his family, when he thought she had always considered herself a part of it. She must not mean anything by it, and her sadness was to be expected, given how alone she had been lately.

“Of course,” he said. Hesitantly, he added, “It will likely be some time before I return. You know I spend little time in London. Your Aunt and Uncle Gardiner have told me they will be at home more often going forward. As you come to know them better, you will find comfort in your new situation.”

Lizzy nodded, but her eyes were downcast. Thomas excused himself to set about finding masters. They would surely cheer her.

Elizabeth knew it would take some time for Uncle Bennet to establish her education again in this new location but had hoped for an update by now. He had left more than a week before, yet she knew not whether she would meet any masters before the autumn. In the interim, she had continued to study the books she had brought with her. She also appreciated seeing Uncle Gardiner on two evenings since Uncle Bennet had returned to Longbourn. Aunt Gardiner was also home more this week. She had told Elizabeth she had obligations to fulfill but that quite soon she would be home most days. They had begun to speak of the dreary weather, the children, and her Bennet cousins. Throughout their stilted conversations, Elizabeth was ever conscious that her aunt must think her unfit to associate with her daughters, so she was surprised one morning for two reasons.

First, the rain had halted long enough to dry some of the puddles, and second, Aunt Gardiner had invited her to take the carriage to a park with her, the nursery maid, and the young girls. Eager to get outside, Elizabeth donned her outerwear long before the others were prepared to depart. Once they stepped out, Elizabeth tipped her face up to allow the faint sun to touch her skin.

With nothing but buildings nearby, the carriage deposited them at a small park some distance west of Gracechurch Street. Elizabeth would have preferred a brisk walk but was content to keep to the pace of the maid and her aunt, who carried the girls. Mandy and Bella were allowed to the ground to toddle about once they were within the fenced park and safely away from the busy roads, and then Elizabeth had no hope of exercise. Still, she would make what she could of the excursion. She surveyed her surroundings and took note of the types of trees, shrubs, and birds around her. If she could not exercise her body, she would consider this an opportunity for nature study, though even here the natural was limited.

“What do you consider so seriously, Elizabeth?” her aunt asked.

“Nothing of import, Aunt. I am merely cataloguing the flora and fauna here and comparing them with what I remember in Hertfordshire. Do you have need of me? Shall I help Joan watch over the girls, so you can rest on that bench?”

“Oh, no. No need.” Aunt Gardiner seemed flustered. “Carry on. We shall stay but a brief time due to the girls’ short attention spans, so you should continue your…studies.”

“Yes, Aunt.” Elizabeth turned away quickly to hide her dismay at even this small service to her cousins being rejected.

She had always strived to behave as a gentleman’s daughter, though she had thought her father was not one. Now she knew he was, but she could not admire him. Still, she would respect Uncle Bennet’s good name by being upright and respectable herself. Her hope to be an accomplished and educated woman took on new strength with her desire to bring no shame on her Bennet or Gardiner cousins. Perhaps then Aunt Gardiner would eventually come to trust her, although she would understand if she did not. She was grateful the lady had allowed her to live in her home at all once she knew of her disgraceful parentage.

That afternoon, while the children rested in the nursery and Aunt Gardiner was out, Elizabeth reclined on her bed and gazed at the miniature in her hand.

“Mama,” she whispered. “Who was Mr. Asbury? Was he my father, or was he the farmer who married you, Papa Oliver?”

She thought it likely Mr. Asbury was her father, and this was the reason Uncle Bennet had insisted upon secrecy. Elizabeth’s mind drifted to the time when her mother had been the age in the painting and what her life may have been like.