“Do you think that she will treat us as if we are socially below her?” Cara asked softly.
“From what Tammy has described as Lady Elizabeth’s character, I do not believe so,” Lady Lucas smiled gently at the girl.“Add to that what the Bingleys have said of her over the years, I imagine she is a little like Jane, very pleasant as long as you do not anger her.”
“Our Janey is going to be a Duchess!” Mandy added dreamily.
“Yes, that good news was almost lost in the revelation of finding Elizabeth and poor Mr Bingley’s death,” Jenny Goulding pointed out.
“Will the Bingleys be able to attend her wedding?” Mandy asked.
“Attending the church ceremony will be perfectly acceptable, but they will not attend the wedding breakfast.” Her mother explained.
Franklin Lucas was sitting off in the corner scheming. He had lost his prize; for that is how he saw Jane and her dowry, and exactly the cause of why she would have never accepted him. Now, however, there was another Bennet daughter—not only rich, but rich and titled too. Yes, he deserved such a wife. He knew that she was not yet sixteen, but as far as he was concerned, she was old enough—even if he had to compromise her.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On turning off the road toward Netherfield, the black banner on the gatepost was flapping in the breeze as the convoy from Longbourn made its way to the house. The doors were adorned with black wreathes, and all male servants wore black armbands. When the estate was sold, the servants were given the option to remain with the Bingleys or take a post at one of the Bennet estates, and in a singular voice, every single one had elected to stay as Bingley employees. Once a certain daughter—who was nevermore mentioned—had left the house, it had been as pleasant as could be working for the Bingleys.
The ladies had come without the men, except of course Biggs, Johns, four footmen guards, and four outriders. With the exceptions of Georgiana and Kitty, all of the women residing at Longbourn had come, and Charlotte Pierce had accompanied them for the journey. Elizabeth liked the older woman instantly, and it seemed the admiration was mutual so by the time they arrived at their destination they were using each other’s familiar name, though for some reason Charlotte called Elizabeth‘Eliza’, to which she did not object. It felt exactly right when Mrs Pierce used that appellation. Jane, Charlotte, and Elizabeth went to the parlour where Louisa was sitting with her daughter, Mary.
The rest of the ladies were shown into the drawing room where they joined ladies from the neighbourhood who had come to express their sympathies. The only three neighbourhood ladies who knew the true connection to Lady Elizabeth had honoured the request to not share the information. They were disappointed that the very lady in question did not join them but understood that she, Jane, and Charlotte were sitting with Mrs Hurst as they were friends of long-standing.
William had ridden to Netherfield earlier to be with Charles, and they were in the study, going over records.“I am his sole heir, Darcy,” Bingley frowned as he stared at the copy of his father’s will he had removed from the safe.“How am I to do this? I know what I donotknow, and I currently donot know anythingabout managing an estate.”
“Well then you are in luck, my friend, because I do,” Will told him. It was not a boast, just the truth.“My father has been training me since I was out of leading strings, and not only that but Uncle Bennet is your neighbour who, until your father purchased Netherfield, successfully managed this and two larger estates!”
“I know that you know how; how does it help me learn how to do this in a few days’time? It is impossible for anyone, except possibly Lizzy to learn all of it so fast.” Charles smiled thinly when Will guffawed.
“On the supposition that you would need some help, I have permission from my father to stay for as long as you need me after the funeral. I will teach you like my father taught me,” Will stated with a grin.
“As long as youteachme and not just do it. In the past, I have deferred to you and others, and I know that is not the way one should live their life. If I am to learn, I must make the decisions. Advice will be good and appreciated, as would helping me see more options or parts of something difficult, but not more than that,” Charles insisted.
“That is the only way you will learn, my friend,” Will agreed.
Just as tea was being served, the four ladies left the parlour and entered the drawing room. The three ladies who knew who Elizabeth was, had to fight to keep from rushing her to hug her and proclaim to all who she was. They and the rest of the ladies thought that Jane Bennet was the prettiest young lady that they had ever seen, until the raven-haired beauty with her shining hazel eyes with the flecks of green and gold walked into the room.
Elaine then introduced her daughter to the ladies. Some of them remarked how similar her colouring was to that of young Kitty Bennet except for the eyes, for Kitty had her mother’s eyes. The ladies had been talking and condoling for a while when the men arrived, and with them came Franklin Lucas.
He congratulated himself on his choice once he saw the most beautiful woman that his eyes had ever beheld. He watched her subtlety, or at least he thought that he was being subtle. Four men took note of his inappropriate interest in Elizabeth, four men who one did not want to run afoul of, and a fifth, more dangerous than the others would be arriving in a few days. It was not only her relatives that noticed the interest from the Lucas heir, but Elizabeth herself.
She felt a chill run down her spine and moved to be as far away from the man as possible. He would have made a move to get closer to her, but she sat between Andrew and Will. When Franklin looked at his chosen target again, he was met by a stare from Will Darcy that left him no doubt that his interest had been detected and was not welcome. He noticed too that the Earl was looking at him in the same way, as was Mr Bennet and the man he now knew was Mr Darcy. He turned away, deciding that he would have to be a lot more careful until he had affected the compromise.
When Sir William was preparing to depart, he was asked to join Bennet in Bingley’s study. When he entered, he was met by not only Bennet, but Mr Darcy, his heir, and the Earl of Matlock.“How may I be of service?” the ebullient man asked.
“Lucas, I hate to raise this with you but all of us here,” Bennet indicated the three men standing with him,“noticed Franklin paying Lady Elizabeth a lot of inappropriate attention, so much so that it made her feel very uncomfortable.”
“Franklin is a good boy, he would never harm Lady Elizabeth or anyone else,” Sir William defended his heir.
“Be that as it may,” Andrew said,“my sister is not yet out and will not be for another two years. Please make sure that your son knows that he is to keep his distance from her.”
“Bennet, she is your daughter, you know my son would never…” he started, but Bennet cut him off.
“I would hope that too, Lucas, but I saw the way that your son was leering at Elizabeth today. The Earl here is her legal guardian, but were he not, I would be asking you the same thing. If Franklin has no intentions toward her then he will have no objection to maintaining his distance,” Bennet stated reasonably.
“I will talk to him,” the now sullen man acquiesced, gave a curt bow, and left the office.
“In all of the years I have known him, I have never seen him vexed before,” Bennet told the others.
“When she walks or rides, I will make sure that Aggie is always with her and that Biggs and Johns are aware of this potential threat,” Andrew stated.
