I had raised the subject of buying his stake in the business a few times, and he had always been intransigent in his refusal to consider selling.
That changed recently when he came to me and enquired whether I was still interested in the purchase. As much as I was, I did not want him to see too much hunger in my eyes. You may be asking: how is it I have the funds to do this?
Do you recall I told you that my father gifted me with a legacy in the amount of £10,000? You will also remember I told you about investment opportunities, ones Mr Bingley was not willing to make. Well, I invested my legacy, spreading it over four separate investments. They all came in and I nearly quadrupled my money. Rather than rest on my laurels, I invested more than half again, and again I had picked well. Over the last 4 years, I have accumulated more than enough to purchase Bingley’s business.
The reason Mr Bingley is selling now is that his wife and youngest daughter (who is not 7 yet) are adamant he should leave trade and return to Scarborough. He is not willing to leave the business world altogether, so he will join his brother in thefamily shipbuilding business he helped to found. With his own funds and what I paid him, he will have more than enough to buy an estate. (He will leave that up to his son, who he will have educated as a gentleman.)
I will name the new concern ‘Gardiner and Associates’ even though it is only me. I am confident I can make this so much more than just importing and exporting and turn profits many times those which were earned under Bingley.
I am willing to sell you a quarter ownership stake (as a silent partner.) If you are interested, let me know, and we will arrive at an amount with which we are both able to live.
Please give my love to my niece and regards to your mother, wife, and other children.
Gardiner
“What think you, Becca?” Bennet queried.
“I think we should speak to Edward and see if we have enough ready capital to purchase a stake in his company. Like you and I are facile with languages and academic subjects, Edward is gifted in seeing potential in investments.” Becca was positive that if they did not have enough funds available, her father would loan them what was needed. She did not say that to Thomas because she was well aware that he was not comfortable with her father assisting them financially after, as he termed it, Papa had already done so much. In addition to everything else, he had dowered each of their daughters with five and twenty thousand pounds. Besides, if Papa added funds, they would pay him more than his capital from the dividends they would earn from Edward.
“I agree, I will write to him and tell him we are interested,” Bennet stated.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Over the years, the secret of who the Devons were had been well protected, but that all changed when, in the autumn of 1796, Their Majesties were on the way back to Buckingham House to prepare for the upcoming little season. They decided to break their journey in Meryton, and when Mr William Lucas, the current mayor of the town, heard about the royals being present, he made a flowery and very complimentary speech before the King and Queen.
The Sovereign was so flattered that he knighted the man on the spot, which made him Sir William Lucas.
Becca and her four eldest children had taken tea in the confectionery shop found on Meryton’s Main Street. Had Becca been aware of who was present, she would have walked in the opposite direction, but she was not paying attention as she was cleaning the last few remnants of a messy treat off Lizzy’s face when she heard the last voice she would have expected outside of one of the royal palaces.
“Lady Rebecca Cavendish, how is it we see you here?” the Queen enquired. “Of course, we heard you married a local gentleman. Are these your children?”
“All but one, Your Majesty,” Becca responded as she sank into a curtsy. Henry gave a bow, and Jane and Lizzy gave creditable curtsies, but poor Mary who at three was rather shy, hid behind her Mama’s skirts. “Our youngest is at home as he is but one.”
There was no mistaking the mouths hanging open of those Meryton residents who had been watching the now Sir William deliver his speech. Not only did the Queen seem to knowMrs Bennet, but she addressed her with a title and used the name Cavendish. Not a few were able to puzzle out that Mr and Mrs Devon were in fact the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
“Are Their Graces still in the country?” King George III asked.
“They were, Your Majesty,” Becca curtsied to the King. “They are on their way to Town and will arrive to visit us in a day or two.” As much as she hated the whole town discovering the truth of her family’s rank, she could do nothing but reply to the King and Queen with complete frankness.
For a moment, Sarah Lucas, now Lady Lucas, had thought she would be the highest-ranked woman in the area. She now realised that was not to be. Mrs Bennet, no, Lady Rebecca was the daughter of a duke. She, like the others in the crowd, wanted to know why subterfuge had been employed. “Lady Rebecca, why did you not tell us who you and your parents really are?” Lady Lucas queried bitterly. Neither she nor her husband missed the distaste on Their Majesties’ countenances at her outburst.
At that moment the Queen understood that this had been the place where the Cavindishes came to escape all of the fawning, pomp, and circumstance of theTon, and she had inadvertently unmasked her. “Lady Rebecca, tellMrsLucas and the rest here why you and your family kept your rank hidden in this hamlet,” she commanded.
With profound gratitude, Becca explained that it was never done to play the locals for fools, but it was so that they would be able to have some normalcy in their lives. She told them that was why she and Mr Bennet very seldom spent time in London.
By the time the reasons had been explained, most in the crowd were nodding their understanding, and Sarah Lucas learnt that nobility was far more than a title.
The Queen leaned over and spoke to the King so only he could hear her. “We issue a royal command that unless the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, or any of their family members, give permission for their true rank to be revealed, all of you will hold that information in confidence,” His Majesty decreed.
There were bows and curtsies from all who were watching in awe.
Becca looked at the Queen, who understood the lady wanted to speak to her. She inclined her head, and Becca approached and spoke very quietly to Her Majesty. The Queen nodded and then spoke to her husband insotto voce.
William Lucas could not believe that he had been knighted and then, thanks to his wife’s bitterness, lost his knighthood moments later. He saw the King was about to address him. He prepared himself for the bad news he believed was about to be shared with him.
“Thanks to Lady Rebecca’s magnanimous request, your knighthood stands, Sir William.” His Majesty turned to Lady Lucas. “We suggest you think before you speak in future.”
The crowd was dismissed with a reminder not to reveal who the Devons were. Once they were alone, the Queen asked to be introduced to the Bennet children. It was no surprise to Becca that Lizzy was not awed by the royals, and they were charmed by her impertinence.
