Chapter Text
Timeline
1743 Earl of Matlock Mathew Fitzwilliam (Darcy's uncle) born
1750 Lady Cathrine de Bough (Fitzwilliam) born
1751 George Darcy born
1757 Anne Darcy (Fitzwilliam) born
1764 Matlock (21) is compromised and marries
1765 Thomas Bennet born
1766 Matlock's father dies and he becomes Earl
1766 Viscount Henry Fitzwilliam born
1777 George (26) marries Anne (20) Darcy
1778 Earl of Matlock (35) remmaries in a love match to his sister Anne's companion
1778 Lady Cathrine (28) marries Sir Lewis De Bough
1781 Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam born
1782 Henry and Thomas meet at school and become friends
1783 Fitzwilliam Darcy born
1785Anne de Bough is born
1789 Thomas (23) marries Fanny Gardiner
1789 Jane Bennet is born
1791 Elizabeth Bennet is born
1795 Georgiana Darcy is born
1798 Anne Darcy dies
1804 Elizabeth and Anne meet
1805 George Darcy dies and Fitzwilliam Darcy (22) becomes Master of Pemberley
1811 Darcy and Bingley arrive in Hetfordshire
Current ages
Earl of Matlock 68
Lady Cathrine 60
Viscount Henry 45
Thomas Bennet 46
Col. Richard Fitzwilliam 30
Fitzwilliam Darcy 28
Anne De Bough 26
Charles Bingley 24
Jane Bennet 22
Elizabeth Bennet 20
Georgiana 16
Prolong
1766
James,
It seems you are to wish me well. My heir is born. I am proud to report that he looks nothing like my wife's family. On that note I must disclose that the Countess did not survive. Andrew and his wife are to stand as godparents, as you suggested to heal the rift between us. With my not so esteemed wife gone, I find my resentment of Andrew gone. I have always known and accepted that he was not a willing participant in the compromise. You have oft pointed this out to me, but I could not move past what I saw as his betrayal. Now with the toxic prescence of Millicient gone I see more clearly. She was his sister and his family honor demanded he stand by her. He confessed to me last night that it was not until reccenlty that he learned she had staged the entire thing and nothing about it was accidental. With my father's death last month and her in her confinement she did not get to enjoy her ill gotten title of Countess.
With a sigh Matthew Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Matlock, put his pen down. The anger he had felt for the past two years no longer festered inside him now that his freedom had been restored. His father had pressed him to consider Lady Millicent Marston, the daughter of an Earl and sister of his good friend, Andrew. She was titled and wealthy, exactly what his parents required in a union.
Knowing his father favored a union between them Millicent saw her chance. He knew her character from his friend Andrew, she was shallow and self absorbed, intetested in only marrying into a Earldom or higher. At her come out there were no eligible dukes available so she set her sights on him. After one meeting with her, he knew he could never consider her for his bride. Fate in the form of a compromise had other ideas and he found himself shackled to the shallow miss.
Matlock, a dutiful son, had attempted to make a marriage with his wife work but her character was vicious. His wife delighted in malicious gossip and inuedndo. His parents and his now 16 year old sister Catherine valued a title over character. His father had reminded his son repeatedly that as the daughter of an Earl and now the wife of a future Earl she was entitled to her enjoyments due to her connections. His father had stressed that her attitude was understandable due to her superior position and as long as she caused no scandals, her husband need not be bothered. His father had advised him to get an heir and spare while his viscountess retained her bit of beauty. Once he had these he need not see his wife more then a few times a month.
Despite the strife witnessed in his marriage, his sister Catharine, as she prepared for her come out, bragged how she would marry a man with a title. Her brother had married a daughter of an Earl, she saw no reason to allow him to outdo her. Catherine resented that her brother would be the one to inherit the Earldom and was determined that she would never settle for a mere mister. She had been instilled with her parents ideals and Matthew feared they would only make her unhappy. His youngest sister, Anne, was 7 and a sweet child. Without the influences of his parents he hoped she would value character over title. He promised himself as he finished his letter that as the new head of the house of Matlock, character would triumph over shallow values such as title and wealth. His son, Henry, and his younger sister, Anne, would not marry unhappily as he had. They would learn to value what really mattered, character.
1777
“I am proud of you Anne. George is a good man,” Matlock said smiling at his sister as he prepared to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day.
“He is. Perhaps now that I am to be married you will seek your own happiness. Regina no longer has an obligation to me. I know you care for her brother, do not let her slip away.”
“I do not intend to Anne. Over the past four years I have come to know her well. I plan to offer for Mrs. Preston today.”
“Without a courtship?”
“Just what do you think I have been doing these past four years? Surely she knows my character by now and knows she has nothing to fear from me.”
“You are the best of brothers. Regina does trust you Matthew, you understand how difficult her first marriage was.”
“Her husband was a brute forced on her by her father,” Matlock hissed. “Her father had an obligation to protect her, and he thrust her into hell. If either lived, I would call them out. Even if she cannot bring herself to enter the married state again I will see her protected and taken care of, Anne. I love her, as George loves you. I could not have parted with you to someone unworthy.”
“I am glad. Both you and Regina's experiences in marriage have served as lessons for me. While I regret the abuse Regina suffered and the circumstances of your marriage, I am grateful.”
“Father, Aunt Anne,” young Henry, now 13, called out as he approached the pair. “It is time.”
With a beaming smile Mathew Fitzwilliam, Earl of Matlock, walked his sister, Anne Fitzwilliam, down the aisle where her groom, George Darcy, awaited her.
1781
James,
I must trouble you for congratulations. My dear wife has presented me with a son. Both are doing well. Henry is thrilled that Regina survived the birth considering his own mother did not. He considers Regina to be his true mother he told me. I am glad of that. Next year he will be off to school. He is looking forward to it. Regina is reluctant to send him, she wants to keep him home where she can fuss over him. My boy explained that he wants to go to school, how he likes learning. He confided to me that he hopes with the new baby present, his mother will fuss less over him, having another child to occupy her. I laughed and told him that as she considers Henry her eldest son she will fuss over him his entire life, even as she fusses over our new son Richard. She will naturally entreat you to take care of my son while he is there next year. Henry is a born scholar so I'm sure you shall enjoy his presence.
Your friend,
Matlock
1782
Father,
Assure mother that I am well. Your old friend has ensured I have everything I need. He has even introduced me to my best friend. His name is Thomas Bennet and I am sure we will be friends forever. We are both excited to learn.
Chuckling Matlock looked up from his son's letter that contained all his excitement about school and his roommate. He was pleased James had found such a compatible roommate for his son. Thomas Bennet was the son of a gentleman, not a peer, but James understood Matlock did not care about titles when it came to his son's friends.