UN: RowenaRavenclaw
Book (or series): Pride and Prejudice
DH: Charles Theodore Bingley (31)
DW: Jane Margaret (nee Bennet) Bingley (27)
DS: Francis Charles "Frank" Bingley (3)
DD: Flora Elizabeth
Shortly after Frank was born, Mr. and Mrs. Bingley moved to -----shire, a neighboring county of Derbyshire, for neither
his happy manners nor
her affectionate heart could withstand living so close to Mrs. Bennet for much longer. They took up residence at Norwell Abbey, within thirty miles of the Darcy family's Pemberley, granting the dearest wish of both sisters. Mrs. Bennet was distraught that the northern counties should steal nearly all of her daughters and all of her grandchildren. Especially because, if something were to happen to the Collinses, -- God forbid, of course -- then dear, darling, adorable Frank would inherit Longbourne.
Norwell suited the Bingleys quite well, though, and, while not meaning to hurt any one person, they were quite determined. They lived quite happily for the first three years, with frequent visits between the Bingleys and the Darcy family (their son, Bennet, was born just a month after Frank). And, of course, the Wickhams stayed at Norwell, sometimes so often and so long even Mr. Bingley made mention to Mr. Darcy of hinting that the Wickhams should leave.
After these first blissful years, during which Jane and Elizabeth's sister Kitty got married to the vicar of Pemberley, a Mr. Parker of little fortune, but of such happy manners as to be compared even to Bingley, Lydia showed up at Norwell without any warning. Traveling post, she was by no means alone, although a two-year-old son, three-year-old daughter, and an infant were hardly fit chaperones for one such as Mrs. Wickham.
The baby, it was revealed, was believed by Wickham not to have been his own and, enraged, he threw Lydia and the children out of their home. When questioned, Lydia did say that she had been bored while Wickham was off fighting and had flirted with other men.
"But, you know my temperament, Jane," Lydia beseeched her eldest sister. "It was all for a lark; I would never do what my dearest Wickham believes."
In this way was Norwell grown by three, for Lydia left for London the next day, expressing interest in pursuing the stage.
After the additions of Georgina, George, and Liddy, Jane announced that she was once again expecting. After a difficult lying-in, Jane gave forth a beautiful baby girl. Wanting to avoid the arguing that occurred after Frank was born, Charles left their daughter's Christian name up to his wife. Jane decided that she wanted to name their daughter after a flower, so as always to remind her of her sister Elizabeth, who loved nature. But, after much thought, Jane realized that she could not pick a favorite flower and, so, named their daughter after all the flowers. Thus, was Flora Elizabeth Bingley named.
She was declared "a dear, sweet girl," by her aunts Hurst and Bingley, though neither was happy about their niece's middle name. Her godparents were Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, Charles' brother and sister.
This message was edited 5/21/2010, 5:18 PM