Page 15 of The Scarred Duchess
Bennet stared at his man. “Alone?”
“She was never out of our sight, sir.”
Bennet nodded and retired to his study. A hint of rose and honeysuckle remained in the air.
“Franny, my one and only.” He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “Soon, my love, soon.”
He stopped as he spied the roll of parchment lying atop his desk, tied with a red bow. No card was evident. Sitting comfortably in his desk chair, he untied the ribbon. His smile was so broad it almost hurt. It did not surprise him that the map of the estate Franny had given him equalled the artistry of his secreted artillery atlas of the county.
CHAPTER NINE
February 1789, Longbourn
Bennet knocked on the mistress’s chambers door again. It opened to a smiling Mrs Hill.
“May I see…? Is the mistress prepared to receive me?”
“She is.” Mrs Hill stood to the side as he rushed to Franny. Sitting up in her bed, her sparkling eyes complemented her wide smile. Her arms held a wrapped bundle.
“Is all well?” he queried.
“More than well.”
He sat beside her and carefully pulled aside the swaddling. White silk strands covered the babe’s scalp. The soft halo of her hair reflected the pale light from the nearby tapers. Perfect, tiny butterfly lips pouted. Her rosy cheeks were the single spot of colour that complemented her ivory-white porcelain skin. The child was so pale she almost glowed.
Staring down, he cared not that a teartrailed down his cheek. His chest swelled with paternal pride. “She is an angel,” he whispered. He shifted the edge of the blanket.
“Never have I seen such beauty in one so young. It is a blessing, to be sure,” whispered Franny.
“What shall we call this miracle?”
“I looked at this little flower, a bud waiting to bloom, and named her accordingly.” He looked up at Franny as she spoke. “Daughter, this is your father. Thomas, this is our daughter, Miss Jane Lily Bennet.”
He held the offered bundle and stared in wonder at the baby girl, her serenity having permeated the suite. He leant forward and kissed Franny’s forehead.
“You have done very well, my dear. Very well, indeed.”
Mrs Goulding held a card party the week following Mrs Bennet’s churching. She had two purposes: bringing together the prominent families to nurture the county’s elite groupings and quelling the malicious gossip regarding the Longbourn mistress’s failure to birth the estate heir.
Mrs Goulding was excessively fond of Franny Bennet. She would not tolerate disharmony amongst their small group, especially the sour grapes the other matrons continued to taste from their daughters’ failure to secure the position as mistress of Longbourn. In her opinion, Hertfordshire represented the best small estate owners outside of town. She would allow none to disparage one of their own!
The evening began as all country gatherings do. The men and ladies informally separated to chat amongst themselves—the former discussed agricultural subjects, the latter the latest fashions. Before dinner was announced, the subject ofchildren arose. Mrs Goulding hoped against hope that the evening would remain genial. She was sorely disappointed.
“Mrs Bennet, it is so good to see you up and about, my dear,” cooed Mrs Harrington, eyeing her already small waist.
The rumours were that Mrs Bennet had not hired a wet nurse, instead choosing to perform the office herself. Though Mrs Goulding, as well as the other ladies, thought it unseemly, it did not appear to have done Mrs Bennet any harm.
“Thank you,” Mrs Bennet replied.
“I found it difficult to leave my house for several months after birthing my David,” declared Mrs Long.
“I would feel rather limited should I surrender the freedom my walks about the estate afford me,” Mrs Bennet replied, seemingly missing the underlying point of the verbal attack.
Does she miss it? Or choose to ignore it?Mrs Goulding wondered. Likely the latter. She is no fool.
“I agree with you, of course,” said Mrs Harrington. “Physical pursuits will allow you to re-engage and give your husband his much-needed heir.”
Mrs Bennet’s eyes went wide at the implied insult. Mrs Goulding had allowed the tête-à-tête to continue too long.
