Charles
Jane read the letter twice more and then with a dreamy look on her countenance secreted the letter in her memory box before making her way back to the stillroom to rejoin Lizzy.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Come in, Fanny,” Bennet invited when his wife knocked on his study door.
“Thomas, did you already know that Edward owns Netherfield Park?” Fanny asked incredulously.
“Philips and I were aware Gardiner purchased it some five years ago, but we had both been sworn to secrecy,” Bennet explained.
“Even from your own wife?” Fanny had a look of being betrayed on her mien.
“Your brother and sister did not want their business spread far and wide to everyone in the area.”
At first, Fanny wanted to object and then she thought of how she used to be. Had she been aware Edward owned the property, shewouldhave joined Hattie in boasting of it to the whole of the neighbourhood. The truth was she used to live for gossip, something in which her sister still revelled.
Hattie Phillips could not understand why her younger sister no longer seemed interested in gossip.
Rather than be upset or angry, Fanny felt chagrined as she admitted her younger brother had a point in not sharing the information with his sisters. If he had wanted to keep his name from being known as the owner of the estate, he had no choice.
Fanny had not only ceased gossiping, but also no longer boasted about anything to her friends. She had to admit since she had stopped doing so, her interactions with them were much more pleasant. The only problem was Hattie still lived for gossip. She knew not how to curb her older sister’s penchant for tittle-tattle. In addition, was it even her place? Was it not up to Hattie’s husband? It was—if he ever chose to do something about it.
“When he moved his family to Portman Square, I suspected he was doing well, but not to this extent,” Fanny shared.
“Gardiner begged me to invest your portion with him when we first were married, and to add to it each year,” Bennet admitted to his wife. “I could not trouble myself. However, ten years ago, I moved your five thousand pounds to Gardiner so he would cease importuning me about it. If only I had done so when we married and then added to it each year as he suggested.”
“I assume Edward has increased the value of my dowry?”
“He has. Today it is worth over eleven thousand pounds,” Bennet revealed. “Other than your quarterly allowance, the rest of the dividends have been reinvested to help the principal grow. If I were to pass today, you would have an annual income above one thousand pounds.”
“So even without Mary marrying William, we would have been secure?” Fanny guessed.
“You have the right of it. But Fanny, I must admit one of my greatest financial failures to you. If I had given your dowry to Gardiner when we married almost four and twenty years ago and even added a small amount like five hundred pounds per annum, there would be over eighty thousand pounds available today. I am so ashamed. Our girls would have had dowries above ten thousand each—before receiving their share of your dowry when you pass—and you would have had the rest as long as you lived.”
“What have I heard Lizzy say about the past and our inability to change it?”
“You mean: Think only of the past as that remembrance gives you pleasure?”
“Yes, that is what she says. What is done is done. We both made many errors, but at least we have admitted that and are now able to move forward without repeating our past mistakes,” Fanny stated.
‘And I used to think her devoid of good sense,’ Bennet berated himself silently. ‘How much better our lives would have been had I woken up years earlier!’
“What you say has much merit to it and we will proceed thusly.” Bennet pulled his wife into a hug and kissed her gently on the lips causing her to blush like the Frances Gardiner of seventeen.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“William, do you think Mr. Bingley would think it an imposition if Tiff accompanies us to Hertfordshire?” Georgiana asked hopefully the evening before the departure.
She had returned to live at Darcy House the evening of Miss Bingley’s comeuppance in anticipation of accompanying her brother to Netherfield Park. Tiffany was as curious to meet these wonderous Bennet sisters as Giana was, hence, the request.
“No, he would not,” Bingley replied as he entered the music room. He had just arrived to see Darcy to confirm the travel arrangements for the morrow.
“Bingley, welcome,” Darcy shook his friend’s hand.
“Oh thank you, Mr. Bingley,” Georgiana enthused as she gave a curtsy. “Brother, may I inform Tiff, if Thompson accompanies me across the square?”
“You may. Wrap yourself well, it is cold out,” Darcy agreed.
