December 1806
Towards the end of his year of mourning, five months after he entered the state of half mourning, Phillips arrived at Longbourn to speak to his former brother-in-law. That Gardiner was present as well was an added bonus.
The truth was that even though both Phillips’s and Bennet’s wives were no longer alive, the two men still saw one another as brothers-in-law. Although Phillips was an uncle to the Bennet sisters by marriage and not by blood, Phillips’s affection for his nieces had not died with his wife.
It was two days after the Lord’s birthday, a Saturday, when Phillips was shown into Bennet’s study where the latter and Gardiner were located, both with a warm glass of wassail.
“It is good to see you so soon again,” Bennet quipped as he indicated one of the chairs before his desk. “Was not the last two days with both of us, and your nieces and nephews not enough to have you hide at home and not return until there are less children at Longbourn?”
“You well know I love the children as if they were related to me by blood,” Phillips responded. “Hattie saw them as hers as well. Additionally, you know how much she wanted a child of her own.” He paused and cleared his throat as he looked for the right words. “Bennet, do you remember after the ridiculous letters from the last remaining Collins that you considered, briefly I believe, Miss Lucas as a potential bride?”
“I did. What of it?” Bennet wondered.
“My question is are you still considering her as a possible wife?” Phillips enquired.
It did not take a genius to understand that Phillips was interested in the lady and was making sure the field was clear. “Well, of late, I have been leaning in that direction. You know with my girls getting older, I am reevaluating my future…” At that point, Bennet could not stop the belly laugh from escaping as he ribbed Phillips.
Gardiner was laughing uproariously as well.
Understanding that Bennet had been jesting with him chased away most of the mix of disappointment and anger from Phillips’s face. He looked at Gardiner somewhat indignantly. “I know Bennet likes to make sport, butet tu, Brute?”
“Come now, Phillips,” Gardiner stated as he wiped the tears of mirth from his eyes. “Had you seen the look on your face, you would have laughed too. Besides, I said nothing, that was all our brother. It is obvious you are interested in Miss Lucas, so why not tell us about it.”
“Please pardon me, Phillips, but I could not ignore the chance for a little good-hearted sport when you made it so easy for me,” Bennet said contritely—well mostly. “Surely, you know me well enough to know that when I told you I had only thought in that direction for a minute, and then forgotten about it, that I would never try to court and marry Miss Lucas. I think she is three and twenty now, according to something I heard Jane and Lizzy say, so more than old enough if you pursue her, and she accepts you.
“It is understandable you would seek a new wife, unlike me, you do not have a gaggle of daughters at home. For me, it is not only my experience with my first wife which holds meback. I could never think of marrying a woman with whom my daughters might not get along.” Bennet raised his hand. “Yes, I know all of my daughters like Miss Lucas, but to go from friend to mother would be too much. If she marries you, she would technically not even be their aunt.”
“I accept.” A mollified Phillips replied. “As you both know, since I entered my half mourning, I began attending some small events at the homes of some of my friends. I do not need to tell you that the Lucases are prolific hosts. When in company together, I have had occasion to speak to Miss Lucas, though, at the time, not with an eye to the future. However, the more time I have been in her company, the more I realise how compatible we are. If I offer and she accepts me, with her, I would never feel alone, and who knows, He may bless us with a child or two.” He looked at both men. “Speaking to Bennet was one aim, but Gardiner, I want to know if you object to me pursuing another woman after I was married to your late sister.”
“You do not need it, but you have my blessing,” Bennet offered.
“The same for me,” Gardiner added. “Hattie did not have a selfish bone in her body, so I am sure she would not be unhappy if you marry again.”
“I will wait until after the year of mourning is complete in a little less than a month before I approach Miss Lucas to request permission to call on her.” After saying the last and with a great feeling of relief, Phillips shook his brothers’ hands and left the study with a spring in his step.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Rather than call on Miss Lucas on the twentieth of January, Phillips waited until the final day of the month, a Saturday.
His request to call on her was met with a qualified yes. Seeing his face fall, Charlotte explained, “Mr Phillips, without any other considerations, my reply would be in the affirmative. As you know, my best friends are Jane and Eliza, nieces of yours, so I must speak to them and make sure if we end up marrying, it will not come between us.”
As much as he preferred not to wait, Phillips understood Miss Lucas’s reasoning. “Please have your father send me a note after you have spoken to the Bennet sisters,” he requested.
Charlotte promised she would. She began the half mile walk to Longbourn. She hoped it would not come to that, but she would hate to be put in a position to chuse one or the other. As hard as it would be, she would have to think of her own future happiness, and Charlotte believed that with Mr Phillips she would have a secure and happy future. That he was close to or above forty summers did not discourage her at all.
On arriving at Longbourn, she was shown into the drawing room, where luck was with her because she found Jane and Eliza seated within.
“Welcome Charlotte; we did not expect you,” Jane stated. “However, you know you are welcome any time.”
“Am I wrong from your face that you want to ask us something? A thing you are worried we may not like?” Elizabeth guessed after reading Charlotte’s countenance. “You know you may speak to us about anything, even something like our Uncle Frank wanting to court you.”
“How did you know that?” Charlotte stared at her friend with open mouth. She knew Eliza was perceptive but this was beyond anything she had seen before.
Jane and Elizabeth giggled a little. “Lizzy is not a soothsayer. Papa told us to expect this; Uncle Frank spoke to him and Uncle Edward two days after Christmas. Papa did notwant us to be taken by surprise once he knew when our uncle would approach you.”
“Even were you not our best friend we would not try and stand in your way,” Elizabeth assured Charlotte. “The year of mourning has passed, and do not forget that Uncle Frank is not our uncle by blood, so you will not be our aunt, and if you marry him, I for one, will never call you Aunt Charlotte. You are only seven years older than me so you are not that old. Aunt Maddie is young as well, but she is six years older than you, and we never knew her as a friend before she married Uncle Edward.”
A wave of relief washed over Charlotte. She had thought this conversation would be awkward; however, it was anything but. Twenty minutes later, she was on her way back to Lucas Lodge.
