~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
In the library, some men were speaking while others played chess. Bennet was playing against Wendell. He found they were evenly matched. Thinking of Lizzy’s ability at the game made Bennet grin. “Just wait until you play against Lizzy. It has been a few years since I have been able to win against her with any regularity,” he stated as he tipped his king.
“I look forward to playing against Ellie,” Wendell returned. “Bennet, you agree that at some point the fact that Ellie has been discovered and reunited with us will become known in society, do you not?”
“I do. Why do you bring this up?” Bennet queried.
“We,” Wendell indicated his son, brother-in-law, and eldest nephew, “were discussing the potential danger to Ellie when it becomes known she is recovered. The bastard, or bastards, who took Ellie may see her as a threat. I doubt the responsible party would think logically that a child of less than three would have no memory of the occurrences after more than seventeen years.”
“I had not considered that. What do you suggest?” Bennet enquired.
“Matlock had a suggestion, thanks to Richard…” Wendell related what had been discussed about employing former soldiers, marines, and sailors as guards and outriders. “We would be more than willing to pay for the additional men…” He stopped speaking when Bennet held up his hand.
“The suggestion is a good one. As much as I appreciate your offer, I am more than able to pay the wages of as many men as we think are needed,” Bennet responded.
“I did not mean to imply otherwise,” Wendell clarified. “It is an unexpected expense caused by the connection to our family. That, and that alone, was the genesis of my volunteering to pay the wages of the additional men. It does not take a soothsayer to see that your estate is prosperous, and that does not take into account your second estate.”
Bennet inclined his head to Wendell. “In that case, I thank you, but politely refuse your generous offer.”
“I would suggest you employ a dozen added men,” Matlock proposed.
“Where do I locate such men?” Bennet wondered.
“Richard,” Matlock summoned his son. “Bennet needs twelve men like the ones you have at Rosings Park and assisted, your uncle, Andrew, William, and me in employing.”
“It is always a pleasure to assist soldiers in finding employment and earning good wages, for a fair master. I will send a note to my friend in London who is a former colonel, by the name of Christopher Brandon, and there will be men here for you to speak to by Thursday,” Richard agreed.
“That will be good, thank you,” Bennet responded.
Richard, with Bennet’s permission, used the interleading door to the study and wrote a note to his friend, which was handed to one of the Matlock couriers to take to London.
Hill entered the library to inform the men it was time for dinner.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
All of the Bennet children who were at home were present for the meal. Lydia, the most exuberant of the Bennet offspring, thankfully, had learnt to regulate her liveliness in no small part thanks to Miss Weasley’s education before she became a companion. The new governess, a Mrs Josephine Frost, concentrated on Lydia knowing when it was and when it was not acceptable to allow her excess energy free rein.
Besides being strong enough to regulate Lydia, Mrs Frost was as proficient in the lessons the children needed as Miss Weasley had been.
As it was a practice observed by all of the families represented among the guests, no one thought it extraordinary that the four younger children—three Bennets and a Darcy—ate their meal with the adults.
Fanny sat at her normal place at the one end of the table opposite Thomas. Seating was informal, this night. Joseph sat to her right, and Lizzy sat on his other side. Cilla sat next to Lizzy; Reggie—as Fanny had been invited to call the Earl—was to her left. Thomas had Elaine on one side of him and Catherine on the other.
Jane and David were, as to be expected, seated one next to the other; Emily and Andrew were opposite them, and the rest seated where they chose.
Between removes, Giana leant over to Richard who was seated next to her on one side, Mary was on her other. “Richard, will you and William allow me to remain at Longbourn? With her parents’ permission, Mary has invited me to reside here with her.”
“William and I will discuss this after dinner, and one of us will let you know,” Richard responded. “Is there space for Mrs Annesley?”
“There is,” Georgiana replied as she nodded at the same time. “If you allow me to reside with the Bennets, I will share a suite with Mary, while Mrs Annesley will be in the next-doorbedchamber.”
“All right, Sprite. I will discuss your request with William and let you know as soon as we have decided,” Richard stated.
Darcy was sitting next to his aunt by marriage. She was too busy speaking to Ellie, but he did not object. He made sure he could see Ellie in his peripheral vision during the whole of the meal. It was not easy to have a discussion with her across Aunt Cilla, and if not anything else, he had good manners; hence, he was content to listen to the conversation between mother, father, and daughter.
Wendell was still feeling the thrill of Ellie calling him Father for the first time. Like Cilla, he understood that Bennet was Papa to her, and he did not object to that. He was fully cognisant that the wrong way to earn Ellie’s love was to try and distance her from the Bennets.
“Father, did Mother tell you about the ball?” Elizabeth repeated.
