Om Lady Beth Fitzwilliam - Omnibus Edition
**Warning: There are brief descriptions of domestic violence and one scene of actual violence between father and son. Please be aware of this in case you do not want to read a book that contains such. It IS NOT a theme central to the story and does not directly affect any of our main characters.** Part 1: The Earl and Countess of Matlock have lost three children before, in, or soon after childbirth (in the case of one) since the birth of their second son, Richard. Lady Matlock is once again expecting and the Earl knows that she will not survive another dead child as each time her recovery has been longer and her depression deeper.
The Bennets of Longbourn are blessed with their second daughter who Mrs. Frances Bennet is convinced will be the son who will eventually end the entail. In her disappointment that she is not a son, Fanny demands that her daughter be sent to a tenant who has recently had her own son. In order to placate his wife, Mr. Thomas Bennet agrees fully believing his wife will relent within a day or two.
Lord and Lady Matlock were visiting her childhood estate, in Bedfordshire, as Lady Elaine's mother is on her deathbed. Shortly after the death, the couple moves to an inn where Lady Elaine goes into labour.
She gives birth to another stillborn daughter on the same day Fanny Bennet delivers Elizabeth. Her labour was a many hours in duration and Lady Elaine passed out before she is told her daughter is not living.
Lord Matlock goes for a ride to think of how he is to tell his beloved wife, knowing that this could well be the end of her as she would not recover from losing a fourth baby. He finds himself near a tenant cottage on Longbourn's land, and sees a lady walking in front of her home with a newborn in arms.
In the first part of our story we examine how the kidnapping changes all of those affected by it. How will the Bennets react? How will Fanny overcome the guilt of her daughter's kidnapping? How will their extended family react? Will Fanny be blamed?
We also see the effects on the Fitzwilliam and Darcy families when Lady Elizabeth Tiffany Fitzwilliam, called Beth, is introduced into their lives. She effects the de Bourghs, in unexpected ways as well. Part 2: The Bennets finally learn where their daughter had been for the last 18 years. We see their reactions which range from extreme anger to joy.
As would be expected, Bennet wants Lord Matlock's head on a pike and wants to charge in 'guns blazing' given that he has not seen his daughter for so many years. His family agree that he has every right to be furious with the man who kidnapped his newborn daughter. What will they tell him, if anything, to calm his ire?
For Fanny Bennet it would be the first time she had ever seen the daughter she bore. Will she finally get to wrap her arms around her? What of Bennet, will he blow up Beth's life or will he take her well-being into account? Will he show restraint or will he call Matlock out? What will the first meeting between Lady Beth and her birth family be like and under what circumstances will it occur?
How will the Fitzwilliams and Darcys react when they discover the truth of what the Earl of Matlock has done? Will the discovery come before or after Beth and William are married. If not, what will happen to ODC?
Will George Wickham finally take his revenge and if so what form will it take and against whom will he strike? Does he finally get his just desserts, and if so, from whose perspective are those desserts just? Will he be able to strike out at Beth fulfilling the bitter Anne de Bourgh's dying wishes?
All of the above questions and many more will be answered as the story of Lady Beth Fitzwilliam concludes.
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