A Child for Elizabeth by Carrie Mollenkopf

Author:Carrie Mollenkopf [Mollenkopf, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-18T04:00:00+00:00

~Sixteen~

The identity of the father of Rosamund’s baby was also on the mind of another interested person. Peter Endicott had hired investigators to observe his daughter’s progress. Knowing that Rosamund would be in the care of his sister had made the decision to allow Darcy to take her away easier. Although he harbored no attachment for Maura, he firmly believed that she would do her best to ensure a healthy delivery. He needed an heir badly. With each passing year, the effects of his indulgences became more apparent. Time was running out, but who he chose to bestow the title of Lord Upton was going to be on his terms. He would not have the child of some field hand take his family’s legacy. Not that it was likely. Since his daughter had become of age, he had dismissed any and all young men that could tempt a naïve girl. Now, there was hardly a man at Upton Chase that was less than fifty years of age. But yet, just as his sister had so many years ago, Rosamund had managed to disgrace the family once again. Sighing heavily, Peter Endicott rubbed his rheumy eyes and downed the last of his brandy. Women had a habit of bringing out the worst in him, but he would have the upper hand in the end. After all, who would dare question a peer of the realm? Any number of stories could be created to explain the sudden arrival of an infant. Eventually, people forgot and accepted what was readily before them without question. Money had a way of silencing even the most self-righteous. Now, as he awaited the arrival of those to whom money was all that mattered, the particulars of his plan needed a bit of ironing out. With a few months to spare, he wanted no detail left unconsidered. Peter Endicott, the seventeenth Earl of Upton, would have his grandson.

*****

As Peter Endicott planned his future, Elizabeth and Georgiana Darcy attempted to do the same for their new charges. With the repairs to the dower house nearly complete, they had engaged a housekeeper, a cook and a maid, but as of yet, there had been no replies to their advertisements for teachers. Of students, that had been easier than expected. It was difficult for orphaned young women to obtain respectable positions. The poor houses were also filled with prospective candidates, more than they could ever manage. As a result, they had been forced to create a selection process, one for which they both felt badly.

“There are so many that can be helped, but we can only accommodate twelve,” Georgiana lamented as they sorted through a pile of recommendations. Of those, most had come from poor families with too many children and it had taken great pains to choose from them. For every girl selected, three others were discarded. Most due to youth of age or ill health, but it was a tragedy nonetheless.

“Yes, Reverend Munson has overwhelmed us in his attempts,” Elizabeth concurred, almost wishing they had not included the ancient vicar of Lambton.

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