Chapter 26

Two travelling coaches and a carriage departed an inn in Lancaster on the fourth day of travel since the departure from Meryton. The Bedford travelling equipage had the older generation, consisting of Bedford, Matlock, Holder, Darcy, and Bennet riding within. The second large conveyance carried the younger men, Sed, Jamie, Richard, William, Saul, and Philip. The carriage brought some of the men’s valets. Rather than each man bringing his own valet, between them, they shared the services of the four who accompanied them.

On this fourth day of travel, the conveyances followed the road which took them north past Morecambe Bay. At Farleton, they would turn northwest until they reached Sizergh where they would turn west until they arrived at Broughten-in-Furnace. Not long after their turn to the west they would enter the Lake District, and had it not been for the reason they were journeying into Lancashire, the men in the various equipages may have been more interested in the passing scenery. As this was the day they would arrive at their destination, all of the men were deep in thought.

Before and after the dinner at Netherfield Park, all of the families involved had agreed in principal that Saul Rhys-Davies and Philip Carrington were the sons of Fanny and Thomas Bennet. At the same time there was no dispute Elizabeth Bennet was the daughter of either Lady Rose Rhys-Davies or Lady Priscilla Carrington, although few doubted which of the latter two were her mother, they would not know for sure until the Browns were consulted.

All three families who had been affected by the switches of the babes agreed, although there would have to be public acknowledgement of the true parentage of the three, they would all be one large extended family who would never deny each other access to the daughter or son who they had believed was theirs.

They had discussed all contingencies, but in the end they all acknowledged until the midwife and her daughters were interviewed, nothing could be done publicly. When the conversation regarding who should go to Broughten-in-Furnace to see the Browns did not yield agreement on which three of four men should be included, it was decided all the men would travel and leave the next day which led to the large group soon to arrive.

Not long after the second rest break, they reached the road to River Leven which was the waterway at the southern end of Lake Windermere eventually flowing into Morecambe Bay. The final stop was at an inn in the town of Gawthwaite, only five miles from their destination. Once they departed the inn, it was barely a half hour until the lead coachman guided his team into Broughten-in-Furnace. Thanks to sending couriers ahead, the landlord of the Manor Arms Inn was waiting for his noble guests as they had taken all of the rooms at his establishment for at least five days.

As soon as they had washed and changed, the men led by the Duke of Bedford asked to meet with the landlord and his wife. The two had lived in the town since birth and were reputed to have vast knowledge of the town and its inhabitants.

Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy thought it rather strange their guests wanted to meet them in a private parlour, while demanding none of those employed at the inn approach the room. One did not question the way of the quality, especially when the order was issued by a duke. The Kennedys had raised eyebrows when they noted the footmen in the hallway guarding the door to the parlour. When they entered there was no missing how some men had been posted outside near the windows.

“Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy,” Bedford began, “we are seeking the midwife, Mrs. Brown, and her two daughters. It is most urgent we speak to them as soon as may be and also the fact we need to do so, must be kept in the strictest confidence.”

“Do you mean Mrs. Mary Brown, your Grace?” the landlady verified with a curtsey to the Duke.

“There is no need to curtsy or bow each time you speak to one of us,” Bedford informed the two. He turned to his one side. “Bennet, is that her name?”

“Yes, Mary is the midwife’s name, and from what Fanny told me the daughters are Jenny and Alice,” Bennet responded.

“Mrs. Brown did live here,” the landlord informed the men, “but she passed last month. However, her daughters now Mrs. Jenny Smith and Mrs. Alice Banks, do live in the town. They live in houses, one next to the other, on the outskirts of the town if you take the road heading west towards River Duddon. They both work as midwives in the town and surrounding area.”

Bedford requested and was provided a description of the houses. He gifted the Kennedys a couple of gold sovereigns for their assistance and their continued secrecy for the time being. The men did not want word to reach the Smiths and Banks before they did.

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Once their respective children had been fed and put to bed, as they did almost every evening, the Smiths and Banks sat down for dinner at the latter’s house. They were about to begin eating when there was a rather insistent knock on the door. Banks stood and made his way through the sitting room to open the door.

He was taken aback to see eleven men standing at his door. By the cut of their clothing, he had no doubt these were wealthy men. “Mr. Peter Banks?” Matlock verified.

“Aye, that is my name,” Banks replied circumspectly.

“We were at Collin and Jenny Smiths’ abode and the servant informed us we would find both Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Banks present,” Matlock responded.

By now the other three who had been at the table had made their way into the sitting room. There was no missing the way the pallor of the sisters turned white when they recognised some of the men from that fateful night at the Red Lion Inn in Meryton more than eighteen years past.

The sisters were certain if these men had sought them out, they were aware of what had occurred that night. For Alice Banks, her main concern was her husband and children. “Our husbands were not involved in what occurred at the inn in 1790. They did not meet us until our late mother moved us here so whatever is to happen to us, please hold them blameless.”

“Perhaps we should all sit and make introductions before we speak of such things,” Darcy suggested.

The room was a decent size, there were not enough seats for everyone so Banks and Smith collected the chairs from the dining parlour. Soon enough the introductions had been made. Jenny and Alice could not but stare from Bennet to his sons and back again.

Banks turned to his wife. “I assume I need to retrieve your mother’s letter in the safe.” Alice gave him a tight nod all the while second guessing the decision she and Jenny had made when their mother had passed away. In her mind’s eye she saw transportation, or worse.

Bennet looked to the other men who nodded. They had reached a decision before they arrived at the abode. “Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Banks, none of us, even the three fathers most affected by what occurred, have any intention of having either of you arrested and tried. You are both safe and there will be no retribution sought against you and yours. Our only interest is in knowing the truth of what occurred that night. Besides which, you two were young, around the age of ten if my information is accurate and we are sure you were following your mother’s directions. We already know the late Clem Collins threatened your mother with your lives if she did not do as he had ordered. We also know rather than commit murder, your mother swapped some of the babes.

The sisters almost fainted from the flood of relief they felt as they accepted they would not be ripped from their loving families and homes. Banks returned and handed the letter to his wife.

“When our late Mama knew she was not long for this world, she wrote this letter in early July. To our shame,” Alice indicated her older sister, “we used the loophole of not promising her when we would send it, and did not post the letter after she was gone, like she had charged us to do. We let cowardice and fear of being sundered from our families rule us.” She proffered the letter to Bennet. “I believe Mama’s letter will answer all of your questions.”

“Would you and your husbands agree to join us and travel to Meryton in order for our wives to ask what questions they will?” Holder enquired. He saw the trepidatious looks on all four. “We will make sure you are recompensed for lost wages and if you desire, your children may join you. All travel expenses will be paid by us.”

“May we speak in private, my Lord?” Smith requested. Holder extended his right hand, palm up to indicate his agreement. The four made their way into one of the bedchambers and closed the door.

“As much as I would like to know what this letter states,” Bennet held up the missive, “what say you if they agree to accompany us, regardless of how much we would prefer not to, we wait until we are with our wives and Lizzy before we read it?” None disagreed with him. Before he could say anything more, the two couples returned.

“Pete cannot leave his business for what would be at least ten days,” Alice reported, “Collin, however, is able to do so. Our husbands’ parents and siblings will assist with our children so Collin, Jenny, and I will travel with you.”

So agreed, it was decided the three would fit between the two coaches until Leicester and there an additional carriage would be rented. They would depart in the morning on the morrow.

On their return to the inn, Matlock informed the landlord of their accelerated departure. The man thought he would lose four days’ worth of money thanks to the members of the quality leaving earlier than planned. The Kennedys were surprised, and more than pleased, when they were paid for all five days on the morning prior to the departure.

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Five days after departing from Lancashire, an additional day’s travel thanks to a Sunday in the middle of the journey, the coaches and carriages arrived at Longbourn. One of the men who had been sent ahead to ensure rooms, and enough horses for swapping out the teams would be available at the inns to be frequented during the return journey, had been instructed to ride on and deliver messages to Netherfield Park and Longbourn informing the ladies when they would arrive back and where to meet them.

The arriving men led the two Smiths and Alice Banks into the drawing room. “Jenny and Alice, it has been some years since I have seen you,” Fanny said in welcome. “We have things to discuss, but before we speak to you, Mrs. Hill will show you to guest chambers so you may wash and then rest if you so desire.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Bennet,” Jenny Smith responded gratefully after introducing her husband.

Once the three had been led out of the drawing room and the door closed, the ladies looked at the men expectantly. It did not take long to relate what had occurred at the Banks’ house. “We have not read this letter yet,” Bennet held up the missive. “We decided the three mothers most affected by all of this should do so first. After, we will all take turns to read it.” Bennet handed the letter to Fanny who sat on a settee—Rose to her right and Cilla to her left.

Fanny looked to the lady either side of her; each gave a nod. She broke the seal on the letter and unfolded the pages. She held it a little in front of her so each lady would be able to read the words for herself.

4 July 1808

Brown Cottage

Broughten-in-Furnace, Lancashire

I write this knowing that I am not long for this world, and I feel the weight of the shame for waiting more than 18 years to admit to what is written within. I am aware that at least for one of the affected sets of parents this letter will offer no solace, only pain.

As hollow as it may sound to you who are reading this now, as much as I may not be worthy of receiving your pardons, I nevertheless beg for it. I was forced to choose between the welfare of your families and the lives of my daughters, and God forgive me, but I chose to do that which would protect my girls. In hindsight, I could have made better choices, but as much as I would like to, there is no way to go back and fix what I broke. Now when I look back on what occurred, I should have gone and sought protection from Mr. Bennet, but the fear of what those vile men would do to my girls drove all rational thoughts from my mind.

Mr. Clem Collins approached me in December 1786. He had learnt that Mrs. Bennet was with child. He and an associate of his, a Mr. Younge told me that I had to make sure if a Bennet son was born, he would not live. If I allowed a son to live, then my girls and I would be taken. He claimed we would all be raped, and eventually they would kill my girls slowly and make me watch before they ended my life. For my own life I did not care, but I could not allow such a thing to be done to my dear girls.

“Who knows how any of us would have acted in the same circumstances,” Rose noted. Fanny and Cilla nodded their understanding. The three turned their eyes back to the letter.

In order to gain their cooperation that night in March of 1790, I had to make my daughters aware of the threat to our lives. They followed my orders so it is me, and me alone, who is to blame for what occurred.

About 2 years ago I saw an article in the London papers which listed the hanging of a Clem Younge and his son Clay for murder and theft. Based on the descriptions of the older man, I was sure it was the one who had been with that despicable Mr. Collins when the threats were delivered to me. Not knowing if that man lived or not, and now having grandchildren as well, fear of retribution stayed my hand when I considered sending you the information contained in this letter.

You may consider it an attempt to clear my conscience to make this confession now when I am close to death’s door, and I suppose there is truth in that, but I could not go to the next world without telling all.

Even if Mr. Collins is alive, hopefully the information contained in this confession will have him arrested long before he can try to hunt for my girls and their families.

Thankfully, Mrs. Bennet did not fall in the family way until 1789. From the time I began to examine her my anxiety built, especially when about six months into her increasing I suspected she was carrying 2 and not 1 babe.

I knew not what I could do, as there were no circumstances under which I would murder any living person, never mind an innocent babe. When the note was received which told me the Duchess and the Countess would need to be attended at the Red Lion Inn, I saw it as divine providence that Mrs. Bennet began her labours on the same day.

I mixed tea with laudanum and instructed Jenny to offer some first to Lady Matlock, just before the first babe was born. Mrs. Bennet gave birth to a son first before either the Duchess or Countess bore their children. She fainted away from the effort without the aid of any tea and I had to push on her stomach to deliver the second son. At the same time, Jenny was assisting Lady Holder. She came in to inform me that lady was about to give birth. I wrapped the second Bennet son in swaddling and had Jenny hold him in an empty room while the Carrington babe was born.

It was a son, but his cries were very weak and he was taken home to God within minutes. At the time when I had Jenny switch the dead babe for the Bennet’s second son, I told myself I was saving Lady Holder heartache.

“Only to give it to me one hundred-fold now,” Cilla wailed as the tears for the babe she never knew existed streamed down her cheeks.

Rose saw the questioning looks from those in the room. “Philip is the Bennets’ second son,” she stated. Then with Fanny, with Elaine and Anne who had come to stand behind Cilla, began to rub her back, she soothed her sister. When Cilla’s sobs had subsided, Elaine and Anne returned to their seats and Fanny held up the missive once again.

I had Alice remove the first Bennet son born and hold him in the room where Jenny had held the second son. That way if Mrs. Bennet woke, Jenny would tell her the babe was being examined and cleaned up. Thankfully before Mrs. Bennet awoke, the Duchess of Bedford delivered a girl babe with a shock of dark hair. I administered the tea and we swapped the first Bennet son and the Duchess’s daughter.

When Lady Matlock woke, a little before Lady Holder and then the Duchess, she was told each of her sisters had delivered a son. The fact the mothers were sisters would aid in the deception as I was fairly certain the male babes would be identical, or close to it. I did notice the Bennet birthmark on both and hoped the boys’ new parents would not ask about that. Thankfully, before the three families departed the Red Lion Inn no comment was made regarding the marks.

The babe which did not live is buried in consecrated ground in the Meryton cemetery. His stone says ‘A. Brown’ as I could not allow him to rest in ground which was not hallowed. He was after all an innocent babe. We paid the curate at the time to conduct a secret burial service for him.

All I pray is that God will have mercy on my eternal soul. If I were alive to do so, I would throw myself on your mercy.

With more contrition than you can imagine,

Mary Brown

The three women, not blood relations, but bound by a sisterhood nevertheless, sat and hugged and cried together until they had banished their emotions—for now at least. The letter was handed to Saul, Philip, and Elizabeth who read it next.

After the two newly acknowledged Bennets and Rhys-Davies read the missive, they passed it on to the fathers and the rest in the room. Eventually it had been read by everyone.

It was quickly decided if it was needed, the questioning of Mrs. Brown’s daughters would be on the morrow when the hard conversations about the way forward would be had. No one had the emotional strength to think about anything else that day. Soon enough those residing at Netherfield Park were on their way.

One coach stopped at the Meryton cemetery behind St. Alfred’s church. Cilla, Holder, Jamey, Emily, and Sed went to visit the grave of the son and brother they had not known existed until earlier that day.