“I am sure that Miss Bingley would be mortified if she knew that Lizzy was her landlady and that her oft boasted about dowry of twenty thousand pounds is a pittance to our girls,.” She sighed and turned to her husband and looked him in the eye, “I never have to worry about an insecure future again, do I Thomas? Our girls need only marry if they want to.” She held her breath.
“Yes, Fanny you are correct on all counts. I am so sorry and ashamed that I did not tell you years ago. You know that I still love you, but I have to admit that I did not show you the respect due to you as my wife. Never again,never again.” He sealed his oath with a kiss.
“You told me that we have a house in Town? Where is it, and can we go see it?” she was beginning to get excited at the prospect.
“It is called Bennet House and it is on Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, very close to Hyde Park, not ten minutes from Edward and Maddie’s home. I have asked Jane and Lizzy to have the butler and housekeeper open it and add all the servants needed to run the house. As soon as we go there, you will be able to make sure everything is to your liking and you may add or subtract to the servants as you see fit,” Bennet revealed.
His wife had a dreamy look as he surmised that she could imagine herself taking theTonby storm. “We have a very able housekeeper, Mrs Kerry O’Grady, and the butler is a Mr Humphrey Thatcher. Both served the previous owner and our daughters have confirmed that both are well worth keeping on. Lizzy told me that the housekeeper told her that the chef that used to serve there is not happy with his situation and had enquired if we needed his services. The girls hired him back as well as the lady that used to bake for the house.” He offered all he knew.
“You know Thomas, yes you should have told me long ago, however I believe that I can get used to this, when can we go to Town?” she challenged.
“I think that we should leave in a fortnight. It will give the senior staff time to employ the needed servants and bring the house up to a state that it is ready to inhabit as it has been unoccupied and empty for almost two years. Also, we can decide on the school for our youngest daughters, perhaps a separate school for each, and we can start to plan for the expansion of Longbourn’s manor house. If we wish to pursue expansion, we can find a builder and have him begin. You have no idea how fast work is done when money is no object,” he smiled indulgently.
Although it would take Fanny Bennet some time to fully forgive her husband, she had made a start, a big start. He had broken her trust and it would take a while to rebuild it. She owned to herself that he had made good on his promises thus far; she could see only honesty and openness in his countenance, and he had spoken to her with respect. She had detected none of the sportive and sarcastic irreverence or the caustic disdain that had marked their relationship up to this point. Yes, it was a good place to start again, and for the first time in many years since she had married the man that she truly loved, Fanny Bennet fully accepted that their future would be much better.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Louisa Hurst felt like she was living a nightmare. Her sister had ignored the facts again and after being told that she would not be allowed entrance to any home that Mr Darcy owned, she had persisted, trying to push her way into Darcy House, only to have the door shut in her face as she sat on the top step screeching for the amusement of the watching residents of the square. Why did she always defer to her younger sister? Why had she tied herself to Caroline in such a way so that with no doubt any disgrace that was visited on the harridan would be visited on her, and their family.
If only they had not lied and kept Charles away from Miss Jane Bennet. Knowing what she knew now, she acknowledged the connection they would have achieved, that all that their pretentious behaviour had never succeeded in gaining them: a direct connection to the first circles. Far from being penniless, Jane Bennet’s own wealth exceeded the Bingleys, and many more times over at that! Knowing her sister, Louisa was sure that after licking her wounds for some days, Caroline would again lie to herself, believe the lie, and attempt to go out into society again. They would be cut by all and Hurst would be most displeased, as his avenues for invitations to eat and drink with no expense to himself would all but dry up.
Mrs Hurst knew what the problem was: her over-indulged, selfish, and delusional sister Caroline, but what could she do? She had pledged to her Papa to look after her on his deathbed. She knew even though her family would soon be utterly ruined in society, that she would follow her sister Caroline like a sheep follows its shepherd.
Charles Bingley walked into the breakfast room and joined his pensive older sister, the sister who had become a de-facto mother after their own had passed. After helping himself to some breakfast from the offerings arrayed on the sideboard, he sat heavily, and after taking a large gulp of hot coffee, he looked at his sister as he thought back to his disastrous interview with the Bennet sisters yesterday.
Hat in hand, Bingley had knocked on the door of the impressive mansion named Gardiner House on Portman Square. He had handed the butler his card and asked if he may call on Miss Bennet. The butler had asked him to wait in the entrance hall. Bingley had stood there awed at the understated elegance in evidence with each new thing he espied. If he had any question about the veracity of the reported wealth of the family, they were driven away in that instant.
Mr Baire returned and asked Bingley to follow him. They walked up one flight of stairs and he was led into a drawing room that showed the same good taste as he had seen in the entryway. He saw one lady sitting with the Misses Bennet that he did not know. After observing the accepted greetings, Miss Elizabeth introduced their aunt, Mrs Madeline Gardiner. As hostess, she ordered tea which came with some pastries, cake, and fresh fruits.
After tea was complete, knowing that he would not be left alone without her companions, he cleared his throat and addressed the subject that hung-over room causing tension that was growing thicker by the moment.
“Miss Bennet you have my deepest apology. Until a few days ago I was unaware of your presence here in town. Due to being convinced that you did not reciprocate my feelings, I did not return to Hertfordshire, as I had said I would.” As the words left his mouth, he knew he had made a mistake. The usually serene Miss Bennet got a steely look in her eye and her companions looked on him with disdain.
“Are you a good Christian, Mr Bingley?” The question was delivered by Miss Bennet with utter coldness.
“O-o-of course I am, Miss Bennet. How could you question my devotion to Christianity?” he frowned, wondering how that tied in with his not returning to Netherfield Park.
“It is not your devotion to Christianity I question, Mr Bingley, but your knowledge of the bible. Do you remember that in more than one passage we are taught how God Almighty endowed us with free will?” she challenged.
“Y-yes, I am aware of that, Miss Bennet.” He flushed with shame but she did not let his eyes go.
“Then, Mr Bingley, can you explain how you were incapacitated, restrained, or physically unable to return to Hertfordshire to ascertain the truth of my feelings? Were you clapped in irons or locked in a gaol cell, Mr Bingley? What physical impediment was there that stopped you making said trip?” She waited.
The answer was in his expression long before his words were offered as Bingley was flummoxed. Who was this woman that showed the strength and an iron will that he now faced? Where was the serene, and as he had mistakenly thought, biddable Miss Jane Bennet?
“I was under no physical restriction, but I could not imagine that my sisters and Darcy were all wrong.” He was perceptibly sweating though it was cool, and he pulled at his collar that felt more and more tight on his throat.
“I am confused, Mr Bingley. At what point did Mr Darcy or your sisters acquire the ability to read my mind? With respect to your friend Mr Darcy, are you able to tell what he is thinking and feeling at any time, and if not, why?” she pushed him to answer truthfully in a way that would most illuminate his own wrongs.
“Darcy is reserved.” He purposefully ignored the other question, realising that any answer would have been nonsensical.
“As am I, Mr Bingley. If you had taken the trouble to ride three hours and approach me with your concerns, I would have been able to assuage them in an instant. At that point I loved you and your coming, especially in the face of negative advice from a trusted friend, coupled with the lies and machinations of your sisters, would have demonstrated your true love for me.
“Do not insult any of our intelligence to try and transfer responsibility to anyone but yourself. What I see is a weak, inconsistent, and irresolute man, one who allows his life to be directed by others and never troubles himself to make his own decisions so that he can shift the responsibility to others. I never could nor would I accept a man such as that, Mr Bingley. I demand, and I dare say deserve, true love, a love that you would want to defend with your very life, not give up and run with your tail between your legs like a chastised puppy.”
Miss Bennet caused Bingley to think of his thoughts from a day or two ago and he wondered if she also had the ability to read his mind. No, Jane Bennet was anything but biddable and possessed something that Bingley was missing, a strong backbone. And hers had to be made of something like granite or steel, as she was now officially the strongest person he knew, not just for a woman. Even Colonel Fitzwilliam could learn a thing or two from her, he was sure.
“I-I-I am sorry for taking so much of your time ladies. I can see that you have been long desiring my departure.” Bingley bowed to them and almost fled from the room.
