As soon as the door was closed, Lady Matlock looked at her eldest expectantly.
“Mother, I need to look through my late grandmother’s rings to see if one of them will suit Jane. On Saturday past, I begged Jane to marry me, and to my eternal happiness, she agreed and we are engaged,” Hilldale related.
Lady Matlock could no longer hold herself back. She took the few steps needed to arrive in front of her future daughter-in-law and pulled her into a warm hug. “Thank you for making my son believe in love once again. After what he experienced in London, I was afraid he would never find you,” Lady Matlock said softly next to Jane’s ear. “He is very lucky to have you accept him.”
“I hate to disagree, my Lady, but I am the fortunate one to be engaged to a good and honourable man like your son,” Jane returned.
That not one word about titles, connections, or wealth had crossed Miss Bennet’s lips, combined with the fact that neither Miss Bennet had been trying to discern the value of all they saw, told Lady Matlock that these women were exactly like Andrew had described in his letter announcing his courtship.
“None of this ‘my lady’ nonsense; you are to be my daughter. I will call you Jane, and you may call me Mother,” Lady Matlock decided.
Lord Matlock replaced his wife. “I would be honoured if you agree to refer to me as Father,”he said after he gave his daughter-to-be a gentle hug. “We are overjoyed to meet all of you.”
“We did not forget you who, one way or another, will be our niece. What is your preferred name?” Lady Matlock asked the younger Miss Bennet.
“You may call me Elizabeth or Lizzy, your Ladyship,” Elizabeth responded.
“You will call us Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie,” Lady Matlock instructed. “I have news for you. William and Gigi will arrive here in the morning on the morrow. They are not aware of your presence here, so it will be a surprise for them.”
Elizabeth could not have been happier that William would be present in just over a half a day’s time.
“Mother and Father, how far distant is St Mary’s Convent from Snowhaven?” Jane enquired. Mother and Father fit, as she used Mama and Papa for her parents. That way when they were all together there would be no confusion. “Our youngest sister is receiving an education there.”
As they knew why young ladies were sent to St Mary’s the Earl and Countess both raised their eyebrows in question.
“The youngest Bennet was put upon by that late seducer. She was one of four girls in the town, aged fourteen to fifteen. By His Grace, none of them have to carry a child,” Hilldale reported. “Richard and William assisted the families, and three of the girls were escorted to St Mary’s by Richard and some soldiers. Not a word of scandal was spread.”
“My niece and the other three girls were extremely fortunate,” Gardiner added. “My Lord and Lady, if that changes anything we will…” He stopped speaking when Lord Matlock raised his hand.
“Gardiner, first address me as Matlock and my wife as Lady Elaine; we are to be family, after all. As my niecewas almost ruined by that blackguard, it would be rather hypocritical of me to condemn your niece for being taken in by the same man who charmed Gigi.”
“That is almost word for word what I said when Jane told me before she agreed to the courtship,” Hilldale revealed.
Jane Bennet rose even higher than she already was in the estimation of her future parents-in-law. She had told Andrew that which might have ripped them asunder rather than hiding the facts until it was too late. She was certainly a diamond of the first water.
“It is less than ten miles from here, due east to the border of Nottinghamshire,” Matlock reported. “With William and Gigi arriving on the morrow, the next day may be a good one to go visit your youngest sister.”
“That sounds like a good suggestion,” Maddie agreed.
“Now, I am sure you would like to wash and change. The housekeeper will show you to your suites. Andrew, as you are engaged, you will be sleeping in the dower house,” Lady Matlock commanded.
As Hilldale had expected nothing less, he shrugged but did not complain.
The Gardiners and their two eldest nieces followed the kindly housekeeper to suites in the new wing, which they discovered were reserved for family.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Fanny and Bennet were entertaining Sir William and Lady Lucas in the drawing room when Hill entered with a letter. He handed it to his master.
“It is from Jane. The direction got smudged, so it took a little longer to reach us,” Bennet stated when he noted the date of posting was the previous Saturday. “It is addressed to both of us. Mrs Bennet, if you prefer, I will peruse it while you speak to our guests.”
“We can leave,” Sir William offered. He did not look at his wife, as he was aware she would want to remain to be the first to hear any news.
“There is no need, Sir William,” Fanny responded. “We can drink our tea while my husband sees what Jane has to tell us.” As much as the old Fanny would have boasted to one and all about Jane being courted by a viscount, she had not done so. In fact, other than the Phillipses—and Hattie had promised not to spread the news until she was told it was permissible—no one had been told.
As she poured the tea, Fanny did not miss the way her husband’s eyebrows shot up and almost disappeared into his hairline. Whatever it was, the news was not bad because Thomas did not look perturbed.
With Jane engaged, and the fact that a notice would appear in theTimes of Londonany day now, Bennet knew they could no longer keep the news to themselves.
