‘Miss Bennet, being of age has signed the papers herself… after they were thoroughly vetted by Mr Gardiner.’
‘I see. What arrangements are you making about her dowry?’ Bennet asked in a casual tone of voice.
‘All of Miss Bennet’s possessions will remain in her control,’ Deveril replied just as blandly.
‘You are exceedingly generous. Most men would not be able to resist getting their hands on such a fortune as my daughter has.’
When Deveril looked only quizzical but did not respond, Bennet said, ‘My family claim that I am intelligent and yet they do not give me credit for working out where Henry Carleton’s fortune has gone. And while I hate doing the books,’ he gestured at the offending articles, ‘I have a very good head for numbers. My estimate is that Jane’s dowry is in the vicinity of one hundred thousand pounds. How close am I?’
‘Very,’ was all Deveril would say.
Bennet nodded with a satisfied smile. ‘Good. You might as well tell Gardiner that I worked it out years ago. But since my wife stopped squandering money on excessive lace, I always had more than enough money for books and port.’ He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. ‘Since you respect Jane enough to manage her own affairs, I suppose you will make a good enough husband for her. You have my blessing.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘You are welcome, and you may as well call me Bennet, Deveril. But I would like you to answer a question to satisfy my curiosity. Since you obviously spent time with my daughters, do you think Darcy and Lizzy will make a match?’
Deveril almost asked how Bennet could know about this since Darcy and Elizabeth started off badly, but then he remembered the comment about correspondence. ‘Quite likely, Bennet. And before you ask, I am not certain about Fitzwilliam and Mary. I thought so for a while, but lately he has pulled back.’
‘Do you think he was toying with my girl?’
‘No. I believe he has second thoughts because he does not wish to be a fortune hunter.’
‘It speaks well of him that he has scruples.’ Bennet shrugged. ‘I shall be interested to see which of the young men will be next to visit me.’
They talked for a few minutes more while Deveril finished the tea and sandwiches which Hill had provided, and Bennet discovered the current address of his daughters.
Soon Deveril was on his way back to London, thinking that the sisters might have to revise their opinion of their father.
~T~
As they had become closer, Darcy was pleased when Elizabeth agreed that he could accompany her on her early morning walks in Hyde Park, displacing his cousin who went back to exercising Thor.
Even though Darcy declared himself perfectly capable of protecting Elizabeth, Gardiner still insisted that Susan and John should accompany them. While the maid and footman trailed along behind the couple just out of earshot, Darcy and Elizabeth discussed a variety of subjects.
This particular morning Elizabeth mentioned her aunts and how fond she was of both despite their very different characters.
‘Aunt Phillips is such a dear. While she is unsophisticated, she has a most generous heart. It is tragic that she and Uncle Phillips were never blessed with children. I believe that she would have been a wonderful mother. Instead of her own children she spoiled my sisters and me quite shamelessly.’
‘You are fortunate indeed in your relations. My aunts are rather more formidable.’
‘Surely you have no issue with Lady Matlock,’ exclaimed Elizabeth. ‘I find her exceedingly pleasant and caring.’
‘That is true, but she can also be quite fearsome when crossed.’
Elizabeth gave a small chuckle. ‘According to Jane, she quite put the fear of god into Miss Bingley.’
A dimpled smile graced Darcy’s features as he said, ‘At least Aunt Matlock is selective in her advice and censure. My mother’s sister, Lady Catherine de Bourgh is an entirely different matter. She has an inflated opinion of her omniscience and insists on meddling in everyone’s lives.’
‘Lady Catherine de Bourgh is your aunt?’ exclaimed Elizabeth in horror.
‘You speak as if you had the misfortune to meet her.’
‘No, I have not met her, but our cousin Mr Collins holds the living at Hunsford and has been most vocal about the many sterling qualities of his revered patroness.’
‘Good heavens,’ exclaimed Darcy. ‘I had forgotten about that connection. I encountered him when I went to Longbourn to make my apologies, and he gave me directions to find your estate. He mentioned at the time that he was the heir,’ Darcy explained when he saw the confusion on Elizabeth’s face.
‘Yes, Mr Collins is indeed the heir presumptive, as our estate is entailed to heirs male. He had come to Longbourn on the advice of Lady Catherine to select a bride from amongst us sisters.’
