“I will go see Fanny and then make my way to the Red Lion Inn. I am sure they will have rooms available,” Gardiner stated.
“You will be hosted here,” Bennet told him emphatically.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
It was after five in the morning when Fanny Bennet breathed her last. That night, while her brother Edward sat vigil for her, the young rector of the Longbourn church, Christopher Pierce, administered the last rite sacraments. She was in no shape to confess her sins, but Mr Pierce forgave her in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
The two Bennets and Edward Gardiner met in the study once Mr Blackwell took his leave. “Bennet, before you say it, I do not expect you to mourn Fanny. It would be a farce. Also, I am assuming you would prefer not to bury her with all of the Bennets who came before you, is that not so?” Edward stated firmly.
“I am glad we agree on my not mourning,” Bennet responded with relief. “If I were to mourn her, it would be ratherhypocritical of me. I am not pleased she lost her life, regardless of how much I disdained her. She did leave me with a priceless gift in the form of Jane. Although I am not sure I would welcome contact with your father or Miss Gardiner, however, as her uncle, you are welcome to spend time with Jane.”
“Thank you, Bennet, I appreciate that. I do understand your reluctance to have to be in my father’s and Hattie’s presence. I propose that Fanny be laid to rest next to my mother in the graveyard at St Alfred’s,” Edward suggested.
“Due to the higher temperatures during the day, we should see to her burial on the morrow, or at the latest the following day,” Beth opined.
“I will contact the rector at St Alfred’s. He is the one who christened all three of us Gardiner siblings. He presided over Mother being laid to rest, so it is only right he is the one who sends Fanny on her way to her eternal slumber. On behalf of my family, I thank you for your compassion in this. Given everything which Fanny did, you have been truly magnanimous.” Edward Gardiner looked at the Bennets as he said the last. He was fully cognisant of the fact that the Bennets did not stint on care for his late sister, right up until the moment that she breathed her last.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Everything was arranged with speed, and on Wednesday, the nineteenth day of May 1789, Fanny Gardiner Bennet was interred next to her mother at St Alfred’s Church in Meryton. No one questioned the fact that Thomas Bennet was not present, as the residents of the area all knew what had occurred in August of the previous year.
Edward Gardiner let it be known that the Bennets had his full support in their decision not to mourn his late sister. An hour after the funeral, Edward was on his way back to London.
As he was departing Meryton, Edward rode past some coaches heading into the town from the direction of London. He saw no crests on any of the carriages.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Welcome to Netherfield Park Your Gr…” Mrs Nichols, the housekeeper, stopped as she saw the raised eyebrows as she remembered the instructions she had received. “Please pardon me, welcome Mr and Mrs Devon, Miss Devon, and Miss Constance. The house is prepared per your instructions.”
Mr and Mrs Nichols, who had been installed as the butler and housekeeper were known to the family. They had been under butler and assistant housekeeper at Campton Place in Eastbourne, one of the Cavendishs’ many homes. On purchasing this estate, they had been promoted to the position they now held. They hoped their slip would be excused by the Duke and Duchess.
“It may take some getting used to, but please make sure that around the local servants we are the Devons. We are here to relax and be free of all of those who toady up to us for our rank and wealth,” Devonshire stated.
“We have had cards made up, which we will send around soon so we may begin to meet our neighbours. We understand the neighbouring estate is Longbourn?” Lady Georgiana, Mrs Devon verified. “It is our hope that our daughters can make some local friends.”
“The Bennets own Longbourn. You will hear this from many of your new neighbours…” Mrs Nichols told of the compromise, the birth of the daughter, and the death of Mrs Fanny Bennet. “It was Mr Edward Gardiner, the late Mrs Bennet’s brother, who let it be known that, with his full blessing, the Bennets will not mourn his sister.”
“Given what you told us, I can understand them not wanting to honour a woman who was so underhanded,” Lady Rebecca, Miss Devon, asserted.
“In that case, send our card to Longbourn; it will be good to meet the Bennets,” Mrs Devon instructed.
Chapter 3
Beth and Thomas Bennet were impressed that a card had arrived from the Devons just two days after they had taken up residence. Although they were not titled, they were sending cards to those they wanted to meet, which signified their level of society was higher than the landed gentry around Meryton.
Hence, it was on the final Friday of May that Bennet rode his stallion, Plato, to Netherfield Park to introduce himself to the owners of the estate. A groom took the horse, and Bennet climbed the broad stone steps to the veranda in front of the wide double doors. He turned and looked around the park, seeing gardeners busy at work in the formal gardens and other places in the larger park. What he saw was a sure sign that the new owners of the estate took pride in the land and would not allow it to go unattended. Given the previous master’s indolence and uncaring attitude towards his land and tenants, Bennet was sure Netherfield Park’s tenants would be much better off under the stewardship of the Devons.
One of the double doors opened before he was able to lift the knocker. “Welcome to Netherfield Park, Sir. I am Nichols the butler,” the man intoned.
Bennet handed over his card to the butler. After a footman in dark blue livery took his hat, crop, and gloves, he followed the retainer. The man stopped, and if memory servedBennet, they had arrived at the entrance to the largest of the drawing rooms.
“Mr Thomas Bennet of Longbourn,” Nichols announced.
Once the man had intoned his name, Bennet entered the drawing room to see a distinguished couple and two younger ladies standing waiting to meet him. He bowed, and three curtsies and a bow were returned.
“Welcome, Mr Bennet, I am Mr William Devon; this is my wife, Mrs Georgiana Devon, our eldest daughter, Miss Rebecca Devon, and our youngest, Miss Constance. We do have a son, but he is married and is occupied with his wife, so they were not able to join us,” Devon stated. “You may address me as Devon if you prefer.”
“And I am happy to have you use Bennet for me.” Bennet sat where his hostess indicated as everyone took their seats. “I see that Mrs Devon, Miss Devon, and Miss Constance look very much alike.” Miss Devon had caught his eye; he saw intelligence shining from her eyes, and it did not hurt that she was rather lovely.
