Page 98

“He was not executed as far as I know. The title passed to his brother on his death, and he was her grandfather. The current Earl has a reputation as a learned man, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.”

“She resides with an aunt here in town so that makes sense.”

“Is she a good match?”

Lady Matlock considered the question carefully.

“It will be interesting to discover the amount of her dowry. I will allow that it is not a bad match, whether it is a good match? It is too soon to tell.”

“The early part of the evening was rather full of surprises, was it not?”

“I was very pleasantly surprised to have Richard recite my teachings of 15 years ago back to me. It was interesting to hear him consider her unsuitable.”

“You are upset at his honesty?”

“Not at all. I wonder whether he was accurate?”

The Earl sat up straighter and looked at his wife.

“You think her suitable?”

“Let me answer your question with one of my own. This is just hypothetical, I do not know the exact amount of her dowry. Suppose she had a dowry of £20,000. She is the daughter of a gentleman, related to a Baronet, very good friends with Lady Maria Leonard and through her Richwood, and on more than passing acquaintance with the Duke of Desmond. Maria told me he has granted her permission to call him Lord Roderick in private. Could Richard do better?”

“What of the family?”

Lady Matlock grimaced.

“Taken firmly in hand, sent off to strict schools, never allowed in London. Every family has those it keeps at a safe distance.”

The Earl knew of whom his wife spoke. It was his turn to grimace.

“Would Maria tell you her dowry?”

“She told me it was ‘good’, perhaps closer to £15 than £10,000.”

“A little light, but not insurmountable. Are you going to push a match?”

“I do not think I will be that plain spoken. I will let him know that we do not oppose it and see what he does. I confess her temper worries me.”

“It was a remarkable story, I was surprised that Darcy told it in front of his sister. I have never met either Bingley or his sister, but her reputation proceeds her.”

“Miss Bennet’s words?”

“Intemperate, but just about justified. I wish to meet her, perhaps goad her a little.”

Lady Matlock knew he was teasing but responded anyway.

“What was it that Richard called Andrew?”

“That you would think such a thing of your husband.”

They both chuckled and retired for the night.

--

The following morning Georgiana plucked up the courage to continue to ask her brother questions.

“Are you upset with me for talking of Miss Elizabeth with our family? Oh, should I call her Miss Bennet?”