“I do not know if I would have been able to exercise as much patience as you did.” Phillips shook his head. He knew his sister-in-law had been indulged and how selfish she could be, but he had not known that she was so very bad. “If I were in your place, I would have sent her to a cottage after a day or two of such behaviour.”
“My suspicion is that my mother and sister were aware that you were interested in Miss Morris. Knowing them, they decided they had to act to get that which Fanny decided she must have. Unfortunately, saying that my mother over-indulged Fanny is an understatement of rather epic proportions. My father used to attempt to say no to Fanny, but Mother would always overrule him.
“When you did not bend to her will, it was a great shock to my sister who was used to always getting whatever she desired.” Edward shook his head. How many times had he warned Father something like this would occur with Fanny one day?
“Your call today is greatly appreciated,” Bennet said as he inclined his head to the two men, not just men, but hisbrothers-in-law. He may be married to the last woman in the world to whom he wanted to be tied, but at least, he had gained two honourable men as brothers through marriage. “Would either of you like some port?”
Both men accepted. When they spoke they discovered they had more in common than not.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
In June of 1788, Fanny Bennet missed her courses. As pleased as she was that she could tell her husband this and have him cease his biweekly visits to her, she would not have been pleased to discover that of the two of them, he was far more relieved that he would not have to bed his wife for the better part of a year if she was in fact in the family way.
One of the only things they both agreed on was their happiness when Fanny missed her courses in July, and then August. In early September, she felt the quickening.
The Sunday after she felt the quickening, Bennet looked far happier to Mr Pierce, the man who Bennet’s father had awarded the living at St Hugh’s Church. He looked at his patron questioningly.
“It is certain my wife is with child,” Bennet stated so only the rector could hear. “My wife is using her beingenceinteas an excuse to remain at home. You will not hear me complain.”
“I will pray for a good outcome,” Pierce promised.
Bennet’s friend, William Lucas, spent some time speaking to him before he walked back to Longbourn. Lucas had been awarded the title of mayor of Meryton in September. It was a largely ceremonial role, but Lucas felt the compliment keenly.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The months passed by as they are wont to do. Until the middle of December 1788, there had been nothing of note. That was until Jane Lydia Gardiner was called home.
She had contracted what she had termed a ‘trifling cold’ which she refused to have the new apothecary and doctor in one person, Mr Jones, called to attend her. Within a fortnight thecoldhad become pneumonia. On the eighteenth day of December, she breathed her last.
Fanny was very melancholy, though not so much that her mother had passed away. Rather, it was because her mother had used her own pin money to supplement Fanny’s pitiful allowance and that she purchased clothing and fripperies for her youngest daughter. Hattie told her that she could not do the same because her husband had forbidden it. When those in the neighbourhood saw Fanny’s sadness they assumed it was because of the loss of her mother, when like most things, it was a purely selfish reason.
It was a few days before Christmas that a coach with royal livery made an unscheduled stop in Meryton. It was one of about twelve in the convoy which had members of the Royal Guard as outriders. The King and Queen of England were in the conveyance. As the mayor it fell to Lucas to welcome them, which he did with a flowery, compliment laden speech.
His Majesty had been so impressed, he had knighted the mayor on the spot. Mr William Lucas became Sir William Lucas while his wife was now Lady Lucas.
When Fanny Bennet heard that the former Mrs Lucas was now titled, she was not gracious about it, but being so close to her lying in, her opinions were not heard outside of Longbourn.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By early January, Fanny Bennet could not wait to getthe child in her belly out of it. The labour pains began during the night of the tenth day of January. For once she had a good reason to caterwaul, something she did almost from the first instant the pains became serious. Fanny was attended by both the local midwife, Mrs Loretta Sherman, and her sister. Though Hattie had never fallen with child, she wanted to support her younger sister.
Even though Hattie was not malicious like her late mother, and Fanny still was, the sisters shared some traits. Like Fanny, Hattie was flighty, a gossip, and not very intelligent. She was not forceful like her younger sister, so she was much quieter than Fanny.
At seven minutes past the hour of three in the morning of the eleventh day of January 1789, Mrs Sherman finally told Mrs Bennet to push.
A quarter of an hour later, the mewling of a newborn babe could be heard. “I want to see my son,” Fanny demanded after the afterbirth had been delivered, and she had been washed before being changed.
“Fanny, it is not a son, you have a daughter,” Hattie informed her sister.
Before Fanny could rail about the disobedient child not being born a son, Hattie handed her the swaddled bundle. There was a shock of golden-blonde hair, and the babe had the deepest blue eyes.
“She looks just like you when you were born,” Hattie cooed as she looked at her niece. “Have you a name?”
As soon as Hattie said the babe looked like her, Fanny’s pique evaporated. “She will be called Jane Frances, after her late grandmama and myself. How well that sounds,” Fanny preened.
“Do you not think you should confer with your husbandbefore you name your new daughter?” Hattie verified.
“Fathers have no use for daughters,” Fanny claimed. “He will not object.”
