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“Let me summarise all this back to you to confirm I have the correct understanding. Making calls to acquaintances is significant and is normally done between 1.00 and 4.00 in the afternoon, despite them often being described as morning calls? And there is a time limit to these calls of 15 minutes and definitely no more than 20?”

“That is correct.”

“You make calls on a Monday and receive calls on a Tuesday, although for many women it is a task that consumes most of the week. Your friends know this routine and there is an intricate dance so that not everyone is out calling on the same day and therefore no one is at home.”

Lady Maria smiled. An intricate dance was a good way to describe it.

“And this is one of the ways society works. New acquaintances are introduced, existing relationships are maintained and there is the constant moving of people into different categories, particularly the change from acquaintance to friend, and the reverse. Married couples will occasionally visit together, although this is rarer.”

“You are correct so far.”

“This then frees up the mornings for occasions such as this, meeting friends, shopping, more personal time rather than being available to anyone who calls. So what about the theoretical young man from the ball this Friday?”

“Normally he would not call immediately because that is too gauche. If you catch the eye of a young man, then normally what would happen is that he would mention this to a female relative and she would investigate the young lady.”

Lady Maria knew she had made a mistake by Elizabeth’s face.

“Once again, I am nothing but a pretty thing to be displayed in the shop window, or in this case the dance floor.”

“I know that this is an issue that vexes you but it is the way society works. How else are you going to meet a gentleman, given all the restrictions placed upon women in our society? That is why balls and dances are so popular. It really is one of the few ways you can converse with a gentleman without censure. Remember the example you recounted to me about you and Mr. Darcy at the Netherfield Park ball?”

“I am sorry for snapping. I need to approach this with a more temperate attitude. Your mention of Mr. Darcy is the right example for me to focus on. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with him that evening.”

Lady Maria smiled, internally. Time to visit Lady Susan and confirm when Darcy was back in town.

“If I receive any visits from ladies then they will point blank ask about your dowry. What are you not telling me?”

Lady Maria knew many of Elizabeth’s quirks, especially her sighs. A sigh was an indication of something that she really did not want to discuss. Based on this heavy sigh, it was going to be significant.

“What are the words that are used to describe a lady’s dowry? What is the difference between modest, good, substantial, etc.?”

Lady Maria had to smile at Elizabeth’s stubborn efforts to keep the actual amount unknown.

“If a young lady had a dowry of less than £5,000 then I would describe it as modest, less than £1,000 would be described as negligible.”

She saw Elizabeth grimace momentarily.

“A good dowry for the daughter of a country gentleman would be between £5,000 and £15,000. Obviously, the latter is three times larger, so the context is the size of the estate. Some of my circle have used the rule of three times the annual income of the estate. But that is not universal.”

She could see Elizabeth’s lips moving, mumbling almost silently.

“A good dowry is a range either side of £10,000. A substantial dowry would be the same principle centred on £20,000 so from £15,000 to £25,000.”

“I see. And beyond that?”

Lady Maria was now looking at Elizabeth with a very calculating eye.

“Beyond substantial I have heard dowries described as impressive.”

There was a long awkward silence. Finally Elizabeth spoke.

“I will confess to a good dowry, bordering on substantial.”

Lady Maria did not question her protégé. But she was almost certain this was an understated amount. She had asked for the descriptor beyond substantial. How much had Sir Edward settled upon his niece? Only two people knew what comprised Elizabeth’s dowry. Elizabeth herself and her uncle. Neither his wife nor his son knew that she held one eighth of the capital of Gardiner Import/Export. Technically it was held in trust for her by her uncle, but it was in her name. For the year 1811 the business had returned £13,000 of which Elizabeth’s share was more than £1,600. It would take £40,000 in the Funds to generate such an income. As Elizabeth had discovered, an impressive amount.

She was also extremely aware of fortune hunters, it was why she never confessed the exact amount. Even letting it be known that she had a dowry of around £15,000 was dangerous.

“I would prefer for you to refrain from any reference to substantial. I will confess to a good dowry, in line with that expected from the second daughter of a modest estate. On top of everything else I have to deal with I do not want to become the target of fortune hunters. If any of them attempt a compromise then I will simply let them and then refuse to marry. That way I will be done with the entire process.”