Page 22 of The Colonel's Ungovernable Governess
“Most assuredly, Colonel,” the woman responded. “Lady Victoria and I were just taking up our needlepoint, and Lord Vincent was asked to spend time in reading.”
The boy stood tentatively. “Have I . . . displeased you . . . sir?”
“Lord, no. Mr. Darcy and I thought we might share something with you. It is time you begin your instruction on becoming the next earl. And you will be reading history.”
“Truly, sir?” the boy asked, looking about for something to hold in his hands. “Is it not . . . too soon?”
“Actually, someone should have addressed it previously. My cousin has suggested it would be best if you begin with a knowledge of the Jennings family history in this country. When you are old enough to be called before the House of Lords, you will likely be asked such questions. Even if you are not, you should be made aware of your ancestral line. Once you do, you will better understand the pride with which those of the aristocracy speak of their roots.”
Miss Lambert said, “How grand, Vincent. If I am hearing the colonel correctly, you possess an exemplary lineage.”
Edward chuckled, “There were a few scoundrels. What good is it to have ancestors without a colorful history? Come along, Vincent, Mr. Darcy has discovered some gigantic book, just like those my cousin and you adore, that deals with lineage and the sort. You will provide me a gentle jab in my side if my eyes glaze over.”
The boy looked to him as if Edward had a tick in his head, but he fell in step beside him. “Will I truly . . . be required . . . to know this . . . to be an earl?”
Edward paused to look down upon the child. Your man-of-business with legal matters will prepare your written request to assume the earldom, but you will eventually be called before the Lords, and they will ask many questions of your claim to the title. You will be expected to prove you are your father’s heir and he had the right to the earldom.”
“What of . . . Uncle Philip?” the boy asked, indicating he had heard of his uncle’s desire to displace him.
“Although I have not looked at the letters patent, which are documents used to create peerages, to the specifics of your earldom, they are generally legal documents which express who may inherit. For example, the Matlock earldom includes limitations to ‘heirs of the male body.’ That means onlylineal, as in yourlineage, which Darcy will explain more in a few minutes, descendants of the original peer may succeed to the peerage. You will be asked to prove that you are the rightful descendant of the First Earl Babcock, just as I might be asked to prove I am a rightful descendant of the First Earl Matlock, if something occurred to both my father and my brother.”
“Could you be . . . Lord Matlock?” the boy asked in obvious concern.
“Those of us who are part of the peerage must always be aware of such matters. None of us are invincible. A man might fall from his horse or his carriage might overturn. Only God knows how long our days will be numbered. Such is the reason your mother brought you to William’s Wood. If something occurs to bring you harm, then your Uncle Philip will be asked to prove himself the next heir. Until you marry and produce a son of your own, your uncle is your heir. With Mrs. Darcy’s father, he had no sons, so a cousin is his heir. Does that make any sense?” he asked.
“I will be . . . expected to . . . produce an . . . heir?” the child said in wonder.
“We all must marry eventually,” he told the child. “I know it must surely sound quite daunting to you. Trust me. It sounds equally daunting to me, and I am more than twenty years your senior.”
“You are . . . to marry, sir?” the boy asked.
“So says my father,” he told the child. “But we should not keep Darcy waiting longer. My cousin is quite excited by what he wishes to share with you.”
As they walked, the child asked, “When will I . . . be called . . . to the Lords?”
“Not before your guardian, which is my brother, makes an official request. As it stands now, my brother and father would make the request for you. You will be considered the ‘remainder’ until you may assume the title. You are ‘remaining’ in place until it is your time to serve, which is customarily when you reach your majority. You will be the earl for all practical purposes, but it will not be official until you go before the Lords.”
“Then I am . . . the earl . . . now?” the boy asked.
“Yes. You will serve with your guardians to aid you. Those guardians are my brother, my father, and your mother. A male child is presented two males and one female guardian. It would be reversed for your sisters—two females and one male. Your guardians will assist you with the oversight of the estate and other such legal points.”
The child nodded his understanding, but Edward noted a shift in the boy’s shoulders as if the lad prepared for this new reality. Edward was beginning to think the child was not so unable to understand things, but rather no one had cared to speak to him of his responsibilities. Surely the boy was a bit eccentric, but the same could be said of Darcy and even of him. Every human likes his own way best.
“Ah!” Darcy said when they entered the library. “I am glad Miss Lambert could spare you.”
Edward laughed. “I warned you Mr. Darcy would already have found several large books for you.”
“Nonsense,” Darcy declared with a grin. “Lord Vincent and I understand each other. Am I correct, boy?”
“Yes, sir.”
Though the boy agreed, he still appeared tentative. He sat on the chair to which Darcy had gestured. “There are many books that keep records of each peerage. They tell of when the peerages were created. If they became extant. Whether they changed names as additional peerages came under the same family crest. My own family and that of the colonel’s can trace their beginnings in what is known as theDoomsday Book. It is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of King William, the Conqueror. It is called ‘Doomsday’ because its decisions were unalterable.”
“Just as Lord Lindale is . . . part of the Matlock . . . earldom?” the boy asked.
“Exactly,” Darcy confirmed. “So let us first look at the meaning of your name and names you recognize.” He glanced to Edward. “My cousin’s surname is easy. ‘Fitz’ comes the French wordfiz, which means ‘son.’ So the first Fitzwilliams in England were so called because they were the sons of a man called ‘William.’”
The boy smiled upon Edward. “The colonel’s father is not a ‘William.’”
