Page 1 of Elizabeth’s Choice

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Chapter 1

The two gentlemen cheered with their glasses raised high in a private room at the gentlemen’s club as they laughed together, and one of them commented, “I cannot believe it, Benjamin! You will finally be part of the gentry after your immense success in trade, and I have you to thank for my good fortune as well. My father thought I should move my family back home with him due to my recent troubles, but I prefer to remain in Oxford and can also put something aside for my daughters now because of you.”

“I never thought I could achieve so much but only with your contribution and the other benefactors was I able to turn the speculation around to make an incredible profit. My children’s status will be raised, and they can marry well and their lives will be improved. My dear wife’s dream was for their future and to elevate their station, and now, they can achieve as much as any gentlemen and gentlewomen. My dear Clara had desired for our son to marry one of your daughters, and since they will soon be of equal station, you and I should arrange for their future together, Thomas!”

Thomas chuckled, “Mrs. Bingley was a wonderful woman and I do recall her insisting that our children would fall in love at first sight! I suppose it would not hurt to have them at least meet someday and perhaps they will decide for themselves if they choose each other. I only wish I had sons to offer for your daughters. Having only five daughters, I suppose your son can choose any of my five girls if he only wants one of them.”

Benjamin laughed as he enquired, “Your second, is she still enjoying life in breeches? You are truly raising her like a son, are you not?”

“Yes, my Lizzie is as impertinent as ever and rarely dons a dress except on Sundays. She demands to be called by her middle name Sabrina presently and refuses to learn to sew or play with dolls or to have any of the other enjoyments that ten-year-old girls should like, and she has insisted that I give her the education I would have given a son. She can ride a horse and shoot a pistol better than any grown man, knows how to review my ledgers, and she was the one who believed that your speculation would be a great success. She reads everything in sight and her latest obsession is with archery, but she has a natural gift for the sport and has begun to win several local competitions already. She is an obstinate hoyden and will not hear of being limited, simply because she is a girl of only ten years in age, and I have a feeling that if she were born a boy, she could have become a great general or perhaps as high as a prime minister. But as a girl, she will be placed into a cage and her spirit will likely wilt away and my heart will break for her if she does not find happiness. She is my favourite and I will be putting aside a good sum just for her. I hope my newfound fortune will help her to be independent and to find joy in her future,” Thomas responded but asked, “Do you truly think your son and one of my daughters would be well-matched? They have yet to meet due to the distance and you know I do not believe in love at first sight.”

“But you know I am a betting man and I would wager that my son and one of your daughters will get along well. And I truly wish for you and I to become related, since you have been like a brother to me for so many years. My children are in York most of the year, but you and I have known each other for ages and perhaps I can purchase a house near you to grow old together.” Benjamin continued with a gleam in his eye, “Let us make a pact. We shall have my son and your daughter meet by the Great London Fire Monument on the same date as today in five, no, how about ten years, at noon? That should give them plenty of time to make their choices, but if it is fate that our family be connected, my son will then be five and twenty, and your eldest will be two and twenty to fall in love with each other. If she is married by then, send the next unmarried daughter and I believe they will begin courtship. I will require my son to meet your daughter, but if he should be betrothed or married before then, or they meet and they do not like each other, I will owe you a hundred pounds. But if they meet and fall madly in love, you will owe me only ten pounds!”

“Always the gambling man,” Thomas laughed loudly. “Considering that you have made me so rich, I cannot refuse your request. My wife plans on having our girls out at fifteen each so I might have all of them married off in ten years and you will owe me!”

Just then, an older man walked into the room and exclaimed, “Who will be married off? One of your beautiful daughters, Bennet?”

Thomas replied, “Yes, my lord. Bingley has plans to match his son to one of my daughters and we are wagering if they will meet and marry in ten years.”

“Well, you must save one for my son! My eldest is already in courtship but my second will need a wife eventually and there are five daughters from Bennet’s side and two from Bingley’s side. Surely, there must be one from your seven daughters that my son can choose,” the nobleman declared.

“It seems there will only be six girls for your son to choose from, my lord,” Benjamin Bingley added as he laughed, “since Bennet’s second is a hoyden and is unlikely to marry.”

Thomas Bennet grinned and added, “She is ten and wears breeches to compete in archery and is here in town for several competitions even as we speak. Although the sport is gaining popularity amongst the ladies of the first circles, it is unlikely that she will be able to go too far as a girl and I will need to persuade her to find yet another hobby. She is a fearless little thing.”

“The countess and I would be happy to sponsor her and have her be accepted to whichever competitions she desires to attend,” the earl graciously offered. “I always wished for a daughter to dote on but as I only have two sons, I will do everything I can to encourage the young, head-strong girl to achieve her dreams, and perhaps your repayment will be one of your many daughters to become my son’s future bride! I would be pleased to gain one of them into the family.”

The men merrily discussed the success of their investments and how they could continue to increase their gains. With careful planning and using a notable amount of their past earnings for this recent venture, Bingley and Bennet had gained massive fortunes to become leisurely gentlemen, while Lord Matlock and his brother in Derbyshire each had enough wealth to purchase a small country.

~*~

The crowd gawked and whispered amongst themselves to watch the petite lad line up again with his archery bow as long as himself. The master of ceremony requested silence and the entire park became quiet, as the child lifted up the bow and aimed the arrow at the target butt located seventy yards away. The young archer concentrated by taking a few steady breaths for several seconds before releasing the string, and the observers gasped loudly as the arrow hit the target perfectly in the centre.

Cheers erupted for the participant who had won the tournament, achieving a feat that few grown men could accomplish. But there was absolute stillness that befell the competition again when the child jumped up and down in excitement and the cap fell off, exposing a wave of long, curly hair, revealing not a boy, but a girl of about ten years in age.

“Is that a girl? It is extraordinary!” One of the spectators remarked.

Another shouted, “What is the meaning of this deception? Who allowed this hoyden to compete against respectable gentlemen?”

“Why should she not be allowed to compete?” a woman in the crowd commented, “The Prince Regent sees nothing wrong with ladies enjoying the sport!”

Another exclamation could be heard, “She must be a savant to beat all those gentlemen at her age and deserves to be champion!”

As the murmurs grew, a well-dressed nobleman stepped forward and explained, “I am sponsoring this young lady who happens to prefer to dress more comfortably than to which you are accustomed. Does anyone take offence with it? Has there been a breach of rules? Is anyone contesting that the competition was not fairly won?”

People began nodding their heads and a consensus of agreement could be heard.

The nobleman continued, “As we have seen true talent and she has rightfully won, the prize will be awarded to Miss Fairfax! You shall see her again in the upcoming weeks and I expect she will win many competitions in the future!”

The young girl, who had been shyly hiding behind the nobleman, gladly received the small silver arrow from the man. She bowed gallantly and stated, “Thank you, my lord. I’m so thankful to you for sponsoring me,” and then ran off to her relative. “I won! I won! Look, Uncle Edward, is it not the shiniest arrow you ever saw? I didn’t think I would do so well, but this is my first win and all the practicing paid off! How much do you think this will fetch?”

Uncle Edward replied as he inspected the prize, which was a beautifully crafted arrow about the length of his finger, “Elizabeth Bennet, I am so proud of you for doing so well!”

“Shhhh! You must call me Sabrina Fairfax so that no one knows the family name. Mama will have an apoplexy if my true identity is revealed!” Lizzie pleaded.