Louisa, Bingley, and Bennet made for the study.
Bingley sat behind the desk while the other two took chairs opposite him. “I assume you two do not want a long engagement?” he verified.
The engaged couple looked at one another.
“The sooner we marry the better,” Louisa said. “I have never cared for the comments of others; I will not begin now.”
“If we have the banns called, we will be able to marry after the third of November when the final one will be read,” Bennet revealed after looking at a calendar on the desk. “If we chuse to forgo the banns, I will acquire a common licence from Mr Pierce, the rector of St Hugh’s Church in the Longbourn Village. I leave it to Louisa to decide.”
“I like the idea of a license, so you cannot change your mind,” Louisa teased. “If you agree, we can marry on the final Friday of October.”
“Then, it is agreed,” Bennet stated.
“What of the settlement?” Bingley questioned. “Lulu has a rather substantial dowry. She had five and twenty thousand, but when Caroline lost her reason and was committed to Bedlam, the fifteen thousand Caroline had as her dowry, became Lulu’s.”
Neither Bingley sibling commented on the irony of the fact that Louisa now had the very thing Caroline haddemanded for herself.
“Thomas, I have heard that your daughters only have two thousand pounds each. Unless you object, I would like five thousand pounds to go to each of them,” Louisa related.
Bennet grinned and shook his head. “My daughters do not need that. The amount you mentioned is what is known publicly to ward off fortune hunters. The truth iseachof my girls has close to thirty thousand pounds as a dowry,” he revealed. “I would prefer the money remain under Lulu’s control for her to use at her discretion.”
“I want it to be used to the advantage of our family,” Louisa insisted, “as I hope we will be partners…” She watched her affianced nod his agreement. “Then we will make decisions about the money together.”
“Who will draw up the settlement?” Bingley enquired.
“Phillips. He is a more than competent solicitor and has done everything I have needed for many years.” Bennet turned to his betrothed. “Have you met his wife Charlotte yet? She is Jane and Lizzy’s best friend and, I believe, very close to her lying-in with her second child.”
“I have not met her, but I have heard how fondly all of your daughters speak of her, not just Jane and Lizzy,” Louisa replied.
“I will visit Phillips later today. As soon as he has a draft for me, we will go over it together, and yes, Lulu, that means you too. As you said, we will be partners in all things,” Bennet insisted.
Louisa could not have been happier, and Bingley was overjoyed to see his sister so very content.
Chapter 25
Bennet was not alone when he departed Netherfield Park. He sent his own carriage home, hence, instead, he rode in the Bingley coach with the three Bingleys, while the two Darcys, Fitzwilliam, and Mrs Annesley rode in the Darcy conveyance following behind them. With it being a little earlier than calling hours, Bennet had encouraged the residents to accompany him back to Longbourn. His aim was, of course, that Lulu be with him when he told his daughters of the success of his visit.
The fact that he was relatively sure that the three men were interested in his three eldest daughters as more than friends was an added bonus.
As they travelled through Meryton, none in the coaches noticed—and if they had they would not have cared—Mrs Kingston and her eldest daughter exiting the dressmaker’s shop.
“Why do those rich men never call at Kingston Hall?” Florinda Kingston, the eldest of the three daughters whinged when she saw the conveyances make the turn towards Longbourn.
“That is because the Bennet chits are free with their favours,” Mrs Drusilla Kingston spat out nastily.
“Those are my nieces you are slandering Mrs Kingston,” Phillips barked. “I think I should report what you said to Mr Bennet and help him bring suit against you and your husband for slander.”
Mrs Kingston looked at the growing crowd, none of them friendly to her and felt very nervous. “I meant nothing by it, I misspoke,” she dissembled.
“If I hear anything slanderous from you, Miss Kingston, Miss Lucinda, or Miss Anastasia, I will bring suit against you and your husband. I will not stop until you lose Kingston Hall. There will be no further warnings,” Phillips stated firmly with many witnesses present.
Without another word, Mrs Kingston practically dragged her eldest to their carriage. She ordered her coachman to return them to their estate. “Mother, why did you apologise? You always tell us that the Bennet sisters are harlots?” Florinda asked once they were out of Meryton. “What did Mr Phillips mean that he can take Kingston Hall from us?”
“We may never again say anything like that where we may be heard. I will tell your sisters as well. Now be silent until we arrive home,” Drusilla Kingston commanded.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the time the coaches came to a halt in the drive at Longbourn, Bennet was in great anticipation of sharing his good news with his daughters. Bingley alighted first and handed out his aunt before Bennet did so and handed out his Lulu.
