God Save the Queen!

Sometimes, life has other plans for us, and no matter what time we set aside to accomplish our ‘goals’ we just cannot make things work. After my fun little post about Jane Austen’s love for the monarchy last week (God Save the King!), I was going to do a parallel post about Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee from the perspective of an American and WWJhD (What Would Jane have Done).

However, life got in the way…and so instead, I am taking this title and flipping it to work with an oldie but goodie.  Our Queen is Lady Anne Darcy, whose character has been conveyed as both benevolent and abusive. However, in my story, ‘A Lie Universally Hidden,’ she was a doting mother who loved her children. The premise tells us there was proof Lady Anne Darcy had in fact wanted Fitzwilliam to marry Anne de Bourgh, or so we were led to believe by a dastardly character.

Here is the Prologue and 1st chapter of ‘A Lie Universally Hidden,’ (available on Amazon) where Lady Catherine is despicable, and our dear couple’s happily ever after progresses down a very bumpy road.

Prologue

Pemberley,

Derbyshire, 1794

“I would speak to you on an urgent matter. If you continue to persist with this charade, we must establish the future for Fitzwilliam and Anne.”

“My niece?”

“Yes, your niece. I want your assurance that Fitzwilliam will marry Anne when they come of age.”

Lady Anne sighed with both the exhaustion of her illness and the weight of her sister’s demands. Her light blue eyes flitted around the room endeavoring to memorize everything that mattered to her in the world: the picture of Fitzwilliam hanging above the fireplace; the miniature of her dear husband on her bedside table; the silver rattle for Georgiana on the dresser; the view of the grounds of Pemberley through the window. All this she absorbed as she listened to her sister’s prattling.

Edward Ferrars

“I want you to promise you will speak to him about his responsibility to the family, to Pemberley, and to Anne.”

“Catherine, Fitzwilliam is not yet twelve years old. He does not need to have it thrust on him by his dying mother that he should marry Anne. She is a fine girl but I want him to marry for love, not duty.”

“And what if he does love Anne? What then?” Lady Catherine asked indignantly.

“She is a dear girl, and I am sure she will make a wonderful wife. If that is Fitzwilliam’s wish, then that is what I wish for him.”

“And yet…?”

“And yet, I do not want the last moments with my son to be those of guilt. Please drop this. Allow me that.” She began to cough forcefully and her maid assisted her with a cup of water as her sister sat there unmoved.

When the fit was over, Lady Catherine said, “I see I cannot change your mind so I will move on to a different subject. My solicitor drew up these papers to ensure your inheritance from Father’s estate will pass in trust for Georgiana. Fitzwilliam will be provided for by the Darcy estate. You owe this to your daughter.”

“I believe my husband has taken care of this,” she replied weakly, reaching for the papers.

“No, he has not.” Lady Catherine placed a quill in her sister’s fingers instead of the papers. “Sign there at the bottom.”

She pointed to the lower portion of the paper as Lady Anne withdrew her hand. “I would rather George looked at these before I sign anything.”

Lady Catherine bristled. “Anne, do you not trust me? I am your sister. Everything I do is for your benefit. Allow me this final kindness for you. While you have time.”

A wave of uncertainty washed over her as Lady Anne Darcy, the mistress of the great estate of Pemberley, was once again reduced to a child by the mere tone of her older sister’s words. “Very well, Catherine.” She sighed and weakly scrawled her name across the paper. “Sister, I am tired. Please leave me to rest.”

Lady Catherine rose quickly. “Very well. Goodnight.”

“Please ask Hazel to come in?”

“Of course.”

Her breath shallow, Anne Darcy waited as her trusted maid returned.

“My lady?”

“Hazel. Please take a letter for me.”

“Of course, Your Ladyship.”

“Once I have signed it, place it on my writing desk.”

“Yes, my lady. How would you like me to begin?”

Lady Anne Darcy looked out the window feeling the regrets of a life unlived.  Tears welled in her eyes as she began. “My dearest Fitzwilliam…”

Chapter 1

Fitzwilliam Darcy looked out the window across the estate as the late afternoon summer sun began to descend behind the woods of Pemberley. Attempting to regulate his breathing, he gripped the windowsill to steady himself before turning to take in his surroundings. The golden light danced across the elegant room with the lavender walls complementing the darker plum of the canopy and drapes. The rich furniture brought in elements of nature, as did the painting of Pemberley’s gardens hanging above the settee.

Yet, no matter the beauty of the chamber itself, he could not escape the obvious. The long ignored scent of illness was now permeating the room of the only woman he had ever loved. He abandoned his post and walked tentatively over to where she lay. Her small frame seemed engulfed in the mahogany four-poster bed, the pillows and feather quilts swallowing her up. He gently sat down on the edge as she opened her eyes and slowly smiled at him.

“Fitzwilliam.”

“Yes, Mummy,” he said, trying to ignore the catch in his throat.

“Come closer, Son.” She tried to move the counterpane but in her weakened state was only able to rest her hand on the covers. “I would speak with you.” Her breathing was measured and she seemed determined to not allow the moment to pass before she imparted the words he needed to know.

Unable to speak, he anxiously leaned in closer fearing what she might say.

Lady Anne Darcy took a deep breath and began the speech he dreaded. “Wills, as much as you nor your father wish to acknowledge it, my days are coming to a close.”

“Mum—”

“Please—” A fit of coughing caused young Darcy to rush to the end table and pour her a glass of water. He gently held it to her lips.

“Drink.” His brown eyes took in her withered form. He realized her blue eyes, once filled with laughter, were now dull and tired. Her golden tresses, which before had shone like the sun, hung limply in a plait beside her. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, as she took a sip of the water through her parched lips.

He pulled the cup away and she smiled. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam. You have always been my joy.” She grimaced as he plumped her pillows and straightened the counterpane before she continued. “Some mothers never understood. ‘A child should be seen and not heard’ or ‘Nannies rear children, not mothers.’” She raised her hand with great will and touched his face. “They could not understand the love I feel for you, my sweet William. Since the moment you were placed in my arms, you have made me the happiest and proudest of mothers.” A tear escaped and streamed down her cheek. “Your goodness and honesty are such examples to others. I am grateful our little Georgie will be guided by you. You will grow strong as your father—to be the master of Pemberley. Always remember who you are—and the people who came before you.”

“Yes, Mummy.” He could not stop his own tears and lay down next to her.

“There, there, my sweet Wills. There is no shame in crying.” She ran her hands through his dark curls and wiped away his tears. “You know the love I have for you will not end in death. Know that I want you to be happy. Know whatever choices you make in life will be right for you. You have both duty to Pemberley and family. But, you also have a duty to yourself.” He lay there as she began to weakly sing their favorite song:

“The pale moon was rising above the green mountain,

The sun was declining beneath the blue sea;

When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain,

That stands in the beautiful Vale of Tralee…”

Her voice faded as she gently reached for his hand. “I love you, Fitzwilliam.”

“I love you, too.”

He snuggled closely to her until he could hear her heartbeat and the rasp of her breath. His heart was light in this almost perfect moment: to be alone with his mother before she left the Earth, drinking in her love and attention.

~*~

“Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy, sir, come at once. Lady Anne calls for you!”

George Darcy woke suddenly and rolled over in the darkness, struggling with the counterpane wrapped around his ankles. He heard the barking of his sister through the door leading to his wife’s chambers and was at once running toward the clamor. Lady Catherine was already there, berating his beloved to find the strength to pull through.

Anne’s eyes opened and closed slowly. “George, Fitzwilliam, Georgiana…”

“I am here, my love,” George said tenderly, pushing past his wife’s sister and placing a kiss on her wrist. “I am here.”

Fitzwilliam rushed into the room, knelt beside his father, and laid his head next to his mother’s small frame. “Mummy? Mummy, please stay. Please don’t die!” His sobs were muffled in the counterpane.

“Oh, George,” Anne said in a far-off whisper. “Tell Georgiana I loved her. Let her know of me—her mother—her guardian angel.”

“Anne, my bride. Do not leave us. Dr. Griggs is arriving from London. Wait for one more day and all will be well. Please, my love. Try.”

Lady Catherine was taken aback by the scene in the presence of the servants but held her tongue in respect of her brother and his impending grief. She turned her head to avoid the intimate exchange when she noticed a letter on her sister’s writing table addressed to “Fitzwilliam” and saw the wax pressed with Anne’s seal. Her curiosity piqued, she only wrestled with her conscience long enough to hear Fitzwilliam say, “Mummy, I will protect Georgie. I promise.”

As Lady Anne Darcy breathed her last, Lady Catherine thrust her sister’s final thoughts for her son into the sleeve of her own dressing gown. She pulled back her shoulders, raised her chin, and strode over to view her sister for the last time.

I certainly hope you enjoyed the beginning of my debut novel, back from 2016! That despicable Lady Catherine! How could she have done that to Lady Anne? Was it jealousy? Possibly. Let me know what you think of Lady Catherine’s actions in the comments.  We’ll have to wait and see what comes next!