Prologue

Posted on 2009-10-10

Matlock, Derbyshire, 17__

Richard Fitzwilliam was a man on a mission. He needed to gain the consent of his father, the Earl of Matlock, to wed the most beautiful, wittiest woman alive, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. His father, being ill, but in denial, was in his study, but propped in a huge throne-like chair, holding court with his brother the Viscount and Darcy. Richard came in and announced, "Father, I have come to tell you that I have asked and gained the hand of the most wonderful woman alive, Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"RICHARD FITZWILLIAM! YOU WILL NOT HAVE THAT -----" The Earl of Matlock let loose with an expletive describing the young lady in question. Richard's eyes narrowed and his fist clenched at his side, but both his brother the Viscount and his soon to be brother Darcy held him back. "Sir, were you in better health, I would call you out over your words" Richard said to the Earl, who was in fact dying and weak, although his voice was still as strong as ever. "Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a Lady, and she will be my wife and the mother of my children."
The Earl, weak and angered, stood to his full height and said, "You are cut off. Not a penny will I leave you and that trollop. We are not your family. You're brother will not help you as long as he is dependent on me. Darcy will not if he wants to marry Anne." Both Edwin Fitzwilliam, Viscount ________ and George Darcy looked at the Earl in shock and anger. Richard looked to them both; "Edwin, take care of Susan and little Arthur. George, take care of my sister." With that, he was gone, escorted from the premises by a footman, who did not look happy with his task.

Hertfordshire, 17__

Miss Elizabeth Bennet was sitting in her childhood room at Longbourn, the family estate, awaiting the decision of her father. In the past week, she had been made two offers of marriage. One she had accepted and one she had refused. Her father, of course, wanted her to accept the man she refused and refuse the man she accepted. But her heart was with her Dear Richard. He was such a good man, a man of the church. "Elizabeth, you WILL marry Mr. Collins. He has made you an offer and can support you. That Mr. Fitzwilliam's parent's will not approve and will most likely cut him off. You are not yet of age and will do what I say." Mr. Bennet had come to deliver the news in his usual brusque fashion, not being a very soft man. "But Papa, I am in love with Richard, not Mr. Collins!" Mr. Bennet turned red; "Richard? You call him by his Christian name, like some loose girl? And he pretends to be a man of the church? You can be sure once you are married his bishop will hear of this! You will marry in 3 weeks." With that the door was closed and Elizabeth heard the lock close behind her father. She sunk down on her bed and began to weep. If only Thomas were back from Cambridge… he would help her.

1 week later

Richard Fitzwilliam had been cast out of the living he had been promised by his father. Apparently his father had written to the bishop and accused him of all manner of things and he no longer had employment. Luckily Richard still had an inheritance from his mother, God rest her soul, and some savings from living alone; enough to enter into employment as a tradesman or to live comfortably for several years. He decided that it was time to go see Mr. Bennet about Miss Elizabeth, for he did not want her to think that he had been swayed by his father.

Upon entering Hertfordshire, he made his way to Longbourn, where he was shown into the Master's study. "Mr. Fitzwilliam, you have taken your time in returning. Is all well at Matlock?" Mr. Bennet asked in his sarcastic way. "As well as can be expected, sir, although, I will not be seeing much of my family for awhile." Richard replied in the same tone. Mr. Bennet decided that he should get to the point. "Elizabeth is to be married in two weeks to Mr. Collins. Banns have been published." Mr. Bennet turned away and did not see the anger on Richard's face. "Since I am the rejected suitor, Sir, I would like Miss Bennet to tell me this to my face, especially since she happily accepted me, only a fortnight ago." Mr. Bennet turned back to Richard and said, "This is my home and you are no longer welcome. Be Gone."

Richard turned and left, passing a young gentleman he had not yet met who was hurrying through the door. "Father, where is Lizzy and why is she marrying that odious man, in her letters I thought she hated him?" The young man blushed when he saw a stranger was at the house. "I'm sorry sir, Thomas Bennet" and he bowed. "Richard Fitzwilliam" and the two exchanged civilities; "Mr. Thomas, here is my card; I am staying at the Inn in Meryton." Richard rode back towards Meryton and Mr. Thomas Bennet went inside to find out what had happened while he was studying at Cambridge.

Later that evening, Mr. Thomas Bennet called at the Inn and explained that his sister was being forced into a marriage with their cousin Mr. Collins. Richard was angry. Since Elizabeth was 20, they would have to flee to Scotland for an elopement and it would be a scandal. "Mr. Bennet, would you serve a chaperone on a trip to Scotland for your sister and I? Your father will not listen to reason. I realize that my father's disapproval has consequence, but I will be but a tradesman, much like Mr. Collins. My brother and sister do not disapprove; they are just unable to act while my father lives. Our situation would have improved if we could have married without an elopement. As it stands, I think emigrating after we are married may be the best step, but we will have to consult with Elizabeth." Thomas Bennet looked at Richard in shock. "You are thinking of taking Lizzy out of the country? Surely it will not be so bad? As to your question of chaperonage, of course I will come; Lizzy does love you and has begged for my assistance."

Very early the next morning, Thomas Bennet, Elizabeth Bennet and Richard Fitzwilliam boarded a carriage bound for Scotland. Several days later Miss Elizabeth Bennet and the Hon. Mr. Richard Fitzwilliam were married.

The scandal that erupted was huge. The wedding of Lady Anne Fitzwilliam and Mr. George Darcy had to be postponed for 3 months and Lady Catherine de Bourgh wrote to her brother also disowning him from the family for marrying so low.

Mr. Bennet, Sr. declared that the name "Elizabeth" would never again be spoken in Longbourn as long as he lived. Mr. Bennet, did, however, forget to take legal recourse to disown his daughter.

It was decided between the Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam that for the sake of both family harmony and his new business, that they would immigrate to Canada.

Chapter One

St John's, Newfoundland Canada 1808

Mrs. Elizabeth Fitzwilliam looked around the drawing room with a sigh. She loved to have her family near her, but sometimes she really did miss her younger brother and she longed for all of her family. She had lost touch with him when the family had relocated from Quebec in the Year Three and although she had posted her direction to Longbourn, she still had not heard from him. She worried that something had happened to him or to his precious girls.

"Mama, why are you sighing? Are you sad?" Her little Anne asked her. "Don't be sad, Mama" Susan chimed in. Her two little angels were identical to the last freckle and their dispositions so good. "No Darlings, I'm not sad, just thinking of England". "Oh." They said. Her little girls, in fact all her children, knew that when she thought of England, she would get a little wistful. "Mama, Where are Papa, Thomas and Edwin?"
"You're brothers are at the warehouses with your father darling; they have a new merchant coming all the way from England. He will be at dinner tonight, so I'm afraid you will have to take yours upstairs with Nanny Bridget." The girls' eyes dimmed a little, but soon lit up; "From England, Mama! You can ask him to tell you all about it and then you won't be sad!"

"Thank you Darlings, now off to your lessons!"

That evening, the merchant from England, a Mr. Gardiner, joined Mr. Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, their two oldest sons, Thomas and Edwin, Mr. Fitzwilliam's business partner Mr. Daley and his daughter Margaret.

Mr. Gardiner proved to be an amiable gentleman who looked around and said "Mr. Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, and Mr. Daley, you have fine families. It makes me long for my own." Mrs. Fitzwilliam smiled "Mr. Gardiner, I thank you for the compliment on both my behalf and on dear Mr. Daley's, but you have only met a portion of us! For we have four more and Mr. Daley has three more at home!" Mr. Daley started laughing and said in his Irish brogue, "Indeed, I have been outdone by these nice English folks, but they had twins twice, so in my opinion, we are only even." The whole table began to laugh, but there was a touch of color on both Thomas and Edwin's faces. Mr. Gardiner looked over and said, "I take it you gentlemen are the first set of twins, then?" Thomas answered, "Yes, Sir, I cannot escape my fate, but unlike my beautiful sisters, at least we are not identical." He smirked. Mr. Gardiner laughed, but also blinked as the young man seemed very familiar at that moment.

"Mr. Gardiner, It has been many years since I was last in England, have you always lived in London, sir?" Mrs. Fitzwilliam asked. "No m'am, I went to London as a youth to make my fortune, but my father was a solicitor in Hertfordshire." "Really! I grew up in Hertfordshire. Not far from a little village called Meryton, do you know it?" Mrs. Fitzwilliam was hoping that he would say yes and she could hear some chance gossip about the Longs, the Gouldings, anything really. "Indeed, m'am. My brother Phillips is now the solicitor who took over my father's office. And my Brother Bennet's estate is not a mile away. It is called Longbourn, do you know it?"