The best has occurred! Becca has accepted the proposals of Thomas Bennet, the man I told you about in my previous letter who is the master of the estate to the east of ours.
Before you accuse him of being a fortune hunter, until today, the day he proposed to Becca,he was unaware of who we were or the wealth my William commands. In fact, even after the disclosure, he never asked about the extent of our wealth or the amount of Becca’s dowry.
When William told him after he had been accepted by my overjoyed daughter, Thomas told my husband that he cared not if Becca had nothing, and that, whatever it was, was to remain under her control.
Of course Becca will not hear of such a thing. She has insisted that the funds from her dowry be available to be used as Thomas sees fit.
Thomas is about one and one half years older than Will, and coincidentally, they met at Cambridge. Thomas was an unbeaten chess champion, and in the year they were at the university at the same time, Will challenged him and lost once or twice. I am sure when we all meet for the wedding, Will’s aim will be to see if he can beat his future brother at chess.
As you may correctly surmise, William had Thomas investigated, and other than the fact that his estate, Longbourn, is entailed to the male line, there was nothing negative to be discovered about him.
To make sure Becca will always have a home if, heaven forfend, Thomas passes and they have no son, we are gifting them Netherfield Park on their marriage. Thomas will manage it and if He blesses them with a second son, it will go to him.
I have never seen our girl so happy. They are the perfect match for one another, and Thomas,rather than being intimidated by Becca’s intellect, relishes in it. They share a love of books among other interests in common. How many men of theToncould you see being charmed by Becca’s abilities in Greek and Latin? Behind her back they would call her a bluestocking but still accept her, thanks to her connections and wealth.
Until now, I did not tell you that Thomas had been married—very briefly…The entrapment, her death after childbirth, and that there was no mourning for the woman was told in detail.
Becca is beyond pleased she is a mother to Jane, and William and I have accepted her as a granddaughter. As far as Becca is concerned, she is already the babe’s mama, and the ceremony will just make it legal. Connie is more than sanguine with the fact she will now be an aunt.
“It seems that we are to gain another niece and the boys, a cousin, this one younger than them,” Lord Matlock remarked before looking back at the pages in his hand.
As you know, Becca disdains London society, and thankfully for her (another area in which they are completely compatible), so does Thomas. That rules out a marriage in London; hence, we will soon be travelling to Hardwick Hall, where the wedding will be held. My next letter will give you details on the date of the wedding, but I would guess it will not be more than a month from now.
I must end this letter now as we are hosting the Bennets (my friend Beth and her son, soon to be my son) for a celebratory dinner this evening.
Yes, Sister dearest, I am beyond pleased because I see my Becca glowing with pleasure.
With all my sisterly regard,
Anna
“That is very convenient for us seeing that Hardwick Hall is only five miles to the southwest from Snowhaven,” Lord Matlock stated as he returned the letter to his wife. “Robert, Anne, and William will miss the wedding thanks to their visiting Glen Morgan Heights in Scotland.”
“I feel for Anne,” Lady Elaine said. “She so much wanted a second child, and it was another miscarriage. It is good Robert took her to his estate on the Highlands for Anne to recover and mourn her loss.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
A few days after the engagement, which was now common knowledge in the neighbourhood, during a visit the Devons were making to Longbourn, Becca and Bennet looked at a calendar and selected the final Wednesday in July for their wedding. It was exactly four weeks from the day they became engaged.
“Mama, Papa, and Mother, Thomas and I have decided we would like to marry on the eight and twentieth day of July. None of you object to that date, do you?” Becca enquired as Thomas stood next to her.
Devon looked at his wife, who nodded. “For our part, we have no issue with the date you and Bennet have chosen,” he stated.
“The same is true for me,” Beth agreed. “I know you two were speaking of the possibility of Janey travelling with us when we go north. My recommendation is that she remain here with Nurse, our staff, and servants. She will not be three months ofage yet, and I feel it is too early for such a long carriage ride for her.”
“I agree with Beth,” Mrs Devon revealed.
Becca and Bennet looked at one another and, as they were already able to do, communicated silently. “We will yield to our mothers’ wise counsel,” Bennet announced. “It will be hard to be away from her for some weeks, but at her age, I am sure she will never know whether or not she was in Derbyshire with us.”
“There will be many opportunities for her to travel when she is older,” Beth pointed out. “Anna, when will you, William, and your girls depart for the north? Or have you convinced Becca to go to London to purchase more clothing?”
“No, Mama has not managed to sway me on that, Mother,” Becca huffed. “I have more clothing than I will ever wear as it is. In future, if and when I need to add more garments, I will. Do not forget that other than an occasional visit to see you,” she said looking at her parents and Connie, “it will be very rare for Thomas and me to come to Town.”
“And besides, we will always stop on our way to and from London,” Devon promised, “and I trust you will spend summers with us at one of the estates. We will see each other enough that your coming to London is not imperative.”
“You will attend my coming-out ball, will you not?” Connie worried.
“Unless I am with child and close to my lying in, Thomas and Iwillbe there to welcome you into society,” Becca vowed. It had the desired effect, and Connie lit up with pleasure.
