Publisher's Synopsis
**There will be two books in this series, the second one will release within a month or two of the first. 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.**
The Earl and Countess of Matlock have lost two children before, in, or soon after childbirth (in the case of one) since the birth of their second son, Richard. There was a miscarriage between her first and second sons. 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 many hours in duration and Lady Elaine passed out before she was 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. There are some of the villains we expect from canon, and some we do not expect. This book covers the time period from Lizzy's birth until she is eighteen.
