“It was only a matter of time before Miss Bingley caused her expulsion from society,” Lady Anne added as she arrived with her husband and son to convey thanks and farewells. “Sarah, it surprises me how she kept applying to you and the other patronesses regardless of how many times she had been refused.”
“Her pursuit of my person proves she is unable to take no for an answer when it is stated as clearly as can be,” William opined.
“Are you pained it cost you a friendship with Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth enquired concernedly. “I understand from your Fitzwilliam cousins it was a friendship of some years.”
Her worrying about others regardless of what was happening to her was one of the many things which attracted William to Lady Elizabeth. “My hope is he will mature and grow a spine. If that occurs, we may be friends again at some point.”
Within a few minutes, all the guests took their leave which left Elizabeth, her sisters and the Philipses to make for their bedchambers.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Even though he had volunteered to join them to journey into Hertfordshire, Edward Gardiner had been excused by all of his family members and told to remain in London with his wife and three children as they waited for the fourth to be born.
Rather than make for Longbourn, the coaches arrived at Lucas Lodge. Elizabeth, as did her sisters—all of whom had decided to follow Elizabeth’s lead regarding mourning Mr. Bennet, had no desire to see Mrs. Bennet as she was still living at the former Bennet estate. The four Lucases who were at home—Johnny had returned to Oxford where he was in is first year—were waiting for the travellers to alight.
“Eliza it is so good to see you back in the neighbourhood again,” Sir William enthused as he pulled her into a hug.
“Father,” Franklin chuckled, “do not squeeze all of Her Grace’s air out.”
“Franklin Lucas, you have known me from the time I was born, you will call me Eliza like the rest of your family does, or,” Elizabeth raised her nose with mock haughtier, “I will have you sent to the tower where you will lose your head.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Franklin teased playfully. “It is good to see you again,Eliza.”
“Sir William, would you object if we invite the new master of Longbourn to join us here?” Elizabeth requested. She had received an affirmative response via her uncle’s offices. “I am sure you know there is an objectionable person residing at Longbourn. One who I choose not to see.”
“Eliza, you are like a third daughter to me, so of course you may,” Sir William averred.
“Lotte where is thismythicalsuitor of yours?” Franklin jested with his sister who he had been missing.
“Lawrence Portnoy is no spectre,” Jane spoke up. “I would not be surprised if he asks for her hand soon.”
“Our Jane is being courted,” Lydia informed everyone as they entered the manor house. Lydia’s revelation caused her eldest sister to blush a deeper shade of scarlet.
Blessings from Lizzy and the uncles for the courtship had been granted without delay.
“Did Lord Hilldale finally get around to making it official?” Lady Lucas smiled.
“Yes, he did, at the theatre yester-evening,” Elizabeth related gleefully.
“How long do you think it will be before William Darcy has a question for you, sister dearest,” Jane responded with raised eyebrows.
“Jane Bennet!” Now it was Elizabeth’s turn to blush deeply. “May I sit and write a note to be sent to Longbourn? I need to inform the heir we are here.” Elizabeth changed the subject most decidedly. “What is he like?”
“He and his mother, Mrs. Ophelia Collins, who is the new mistress of the estate, much to Mrs. Bennet’s protests, seem like pleasant people,” Lady Lucas revealed. “He is not the most intelligent person you will meet, but his mother mitigates much of his silliness, and even better yet, will tolerate no nonsense from Mrs. Bennet. He also happens to be awed by titles.”
“In that case, I will invite both of them, not just Mr. Collins, to attend us here as soon as may be today, if that is convenient with you and Sir William,” Elizabeth responded.
“We have nothing we must do today,” Sir William confirmed after his wife nodded to him.
Elizabeth sat at Sir William’s desk to write the note. Seeing Charlotte’s father was about to leave the study, Elizabeth requested he remain. It took very little time to scribe the invitation. Sir William rang for the housekeeper and told her to send a groom with the note to Longbourn and that it should only be put into either Mr. Collins or his mother’s hands.
“You asked me to remain?” Sir William pointed out when the housekeeper was on her way to carry out his orders.
“Sir William, since that man’s death, I find I have more wealth than I know with what to do…” Elizabeth shared the essentials without giving specific amounts. “I tell you this not to boast, but so you will understand what I am about to offer will not in any way affect me or the following generations in the least. I have spoken to my uncles and if you agree, they do as well. It is my desire to dower Charlotte and Maria with five and twenty thousand pounds each. In addition, as he is a second son and must shift for himself, I will establish a legacy in the same amount for Johnny. As the heir, Franklin would receive ten thousand pounds.”
The normally garrulous Sir William had been robbed of the power of speech. On the one hand, he did not want Eliza to use her wealth on his family, but how could he refuse such a gift which would give his children choices like they had never had before, even with the small amount he had been earning from Gardiner.
Elizabeth hoped she had not insulted Sir William with her offer. She saw the emotions playing over his face. “Before you make your decision know that this money will not even come from the vast accounts in the banks. I am in the process of selling the ship building yards. After what I am giving to eachof my sisters for a dowry, and the total I would like to gift to your children, there will still be a significant portion of the money remaining which I will receive for the sale. In addition, I am sure you know the man who was my husband used his power and wealth to hurt others.” Sir William nodded it was so. “I am determined to do the exact opposite and this is but the beginning.”
