“Does our Brother Gardiner know you are selling Lizzy for your and Fanny’s comfort?” Philips interrogated.
“Not yet, soon…” Bennet began.
“You can be sure I will be sending an express to Edward and Maddie this very day,” Philips insisted.
Bennet would have preferred to have more time before another disapproving brother remonstrated with him, but the settlement would be signed in the next hour or two so there would be nothing anyone could do to stop things. Not thatGardiner would have been able to even before the documents were signed.
Philips had had some reservations about the wording of some of the outside of the norm items which had been incorporated in the settlement, especially the additional document Bennet would have to sign. However, his disgust with his brother-in-law was so great he decided to hold his peace. If Bennet wanted to accept the terms as they had been laid out, then so be it.
The duke was settling two hundred thousand pounds on Lizzy, but what would that be worth if she was suffering in an unhappy marriage. Philips had never been more disgusted with his Bennet brother and sister.
An hour later, the settlement was signed. Also, an express rider was well on his way to London.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“I cannot believe they would do this!” Gardiner exclaimed when he read the express from Philips.
“Edward, what is it?” Maddie enquired worriedly.
“We leave for Longbourn at first light,” Gardiner told his wife as he handed her the page.
“Yes, indeed we do,” Maddie agreed with a moue of distaste aimed at the Bennet parents.
Chapter 7
Sleep would not claim Elizabeth that night. Knowing Jane would wake if she were not still, she lay without moving for as long as she was able before she slipped out of the bed she shared with her dearest sister. Once she had wrapped her robe tightly around her, Elizabeth sat in the window seat, allowing the curtains to fall behind her back.
‘It was my choice to protect Janey so I can never allow myself to resent her for the fact I will have to marry the brute on the thirtieth day of April,’ Elizabeth thought to herself as she looked out of her window onto the park which was bathed in moonlight from an almost full moon and very few clouds blocking the light. She looked wistfully at the ancient oak in the middle of the park. Although the branches hid it, she knew the swing was hanging there, the one she and her sisters had enjoyed so much over the years, and now in less than a fortnight she would not see it again.
Elizabeth had no expectation the old man would ever allow her tolowerherself to visit Longbourn once she was married to him. How she hated the fact one of the vows she would recite on that terrible day was to obey him.
At least she had gained a small concession in return for consenting to marry him, he agreed to have the wedding at the end of the month. He had wanted it in a few days and she had wanted to delay it as long as possible. Almost a fortnight was better than days, but all it did was delay the inevitable.
‘I can only pray I bear him a son as soon as possible because then at least he will not need to come to me any longer.’ That thought made her think of the speech her mother gave her that evening.
Not long after she had joined Jane in their chamber for the night, Mrs. Bennet had called her to attend her in her bedchamber. She had explained what happened between a man and woman on their wedding night and thereafter. From books she had seen in Mr. Bennet’s study and living on a working farm having seen animals mate, Elizabeth already understood the mechanics of the act.
There was no doubt in Elizabeth’s mind about the glee with which Mrs. Bennet explained the pain which would be felt the first time, and more than likely thereafter as well. She was told to lie still and submit to her husband whenever he chose to claim his rights.
Only once she did her duty and became with child would her husband cease coming to her.
She resolved that each time he came to her, she would keep her eyes shut tight, she had no desire to see more of the disgusting man than she had already seen. It was a strong motivation to want to be in the family way as soon as may be so she would be able to be free of his attentions.
‘Sisters I still have, but I am an orphan. Those who did not protect me from my awful fate cannot be bestowed with the honour of being called parents. I have been sold into slavery!’
With this last thought the tears began to fall once again. Elizabeth had thought she had cried all of her tears earlier and there were none left, evidently there was an endless supply. Even though she made no noise, her body was wracked with sobs.
Her life as she had known it to that point, was over.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Gardiner carriage had barely stopped in front of Longbourn’s manor house when the door burst open and an infuriated Edward Gardiner shot out.
Hill did not miss the thunderous look on Mr. Gardiner’s countenance so he stood back wordlessly to give the master’s brother-in-law a clear entrance to the house. The Hills and all of the servants were beyond disgusted with the master and mistress for selling Miss Lizzy to an old man, regardless of the fact he was a duke. It seemed Mr. Gardiner shared their opinion of the matter.
Gardiner pushed the study door open with such great force it crashed against the bookcase behind it causing books to rain down from the shelves.
Bennet had been sitting with a book and some port, as was his wont, when the door flew open. It caused him to start, spilling his port over the front of his coat, waistcoat, shirt, and cravat.
