Lord Matlock’s expression softened considerably.
“And you have my full consent, Elizabeth. Indeed, after everything you have both been through, I should think my nephew has earned it.”
That almost made her laugh despite herself.
Darcy smiled; a real smile, unguarded and rare.
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
And it was at precisely that moment that the garden door opened and Mr. Bennet approached.
“Mr. Darcy.” Mr. Bennet’s voice carried across the garden with the pleasant firmness of a man who had evidently been observing matters from the window. “I believe I made myself clear regarding your presence at Longbourn.”
“You were,” Darcy replied. He did not release Elizabeth’s hands. “I find I am no longer particularly concerned by your opinion on the matter.”
“You are upon my property, sir, and I will thank you to—”
“Mr. Bennet,” Lord Matlock said calmly, stepping forward, “Mr. Darcy’s presence upon your property is the least material matter presently before us. I am Henry Fitzwilliam, Earl of Matlock, and Miss Bennet’s lawful guardian.”
“I was informed by the late Lord Ashcombe that no alteration had ever taken place regarding Miss Bennet’s guardianship. Since the payments continued to arrive regularly enough afterward, I saw no reason to suppose otherwise.”
“My brother-in-law was not always reliable where his own interests were concerned,” Lord Matlock said evenly. “The will has now been recovered from Chancery.”
He drew out the document.
“Stephen Trevelyan removed Miss Bennet from your guardianship many years ago. Upon his death, her care passed jointly to Lord Ashcombe and myself. Miss Bennet is therefore entirely free to leave Longbourn whenever she chooses.”
Mr. Bennet took the document without speaking.
But before he could begin reading, the remaining members of the Bennet family emerged onto the terrace, Mrs. Bennet's voice already carrying ahead of her—
"Where has that well dressed gentleman gone? He was speaking of estates only a moment ago." She rallied without pausing. "Because we are the ones who raised that girl. Twenty years we kept her, clothed her, fed her, and not a word of thanks from anyone. If there is an estate or money to be had, this family ought to see something for the trouble. And as for you,"she said, turning to Lady Matlock with the reckless momentum of a woman who has been building to this for twenty years, "if you are part of that woman's family, no doubt you are here to steal what little remains to us, just as she did. I could never understand how my husband's brother could choose that plain faced bluestocking woman, and I will not stand here and be told her child has an inheritance while we are left with nothing. Again."
“Mrs. Bennet.” Lady Matlock's voice was not loud. It did not need to be. “Margaret Trevelyan Bennet was my niece. She was the daughter of my sister, who was one of the finest women I have ever known. I will ask you not to speak of her again in that manner in my presence.”
“Mrs. Bennet,” Lord Matlock said evenly, “Stephen Trevelyan provided quarterly funds for Miss Bennet’s maintenance from his own personal accounts for twenty years.”
“Quarterly funds?” Mrs. Bennet turned immediately toward her husband. “What quarterly funds?”
“I never troubled you with estate matters,” Mr. Bennet replied.
“Mama,” said Lydia, “there was always money in Papa’s drawer. The ledger said Elizabeth dower fund. I never understood what it meant, only that there was generally more to be had whenever I wanted ribbons.”
Mr. Bennet looked at Lydia. Something seemed to occur to him all at once.
“Mr. Bennet,” said Mrs. Bennet, “you had funds in a drawer and never spoke of them?”
“When you exceeded your allowance, Mrs. Bennet, where did you imagine the money originated?”
“I never thought about it.”
“Clearly,” said Mary.
“Is that how you afforded all those rare books?” she added after a moment. “And the port?”
“Which means,” Lord Matlock said, “that none of it was going where it ought.”
“Since it was Trevelyan’s money and not Elizabeth’s,” Mr. Bennet said at last, “I fail to see that it signifies very much.”
