Page 3

“Lizzie, why are you here? What is the matter? Is there a problem at Longbourn? Is Mr. Bennet well?”

Elizabeth ignored the barrage of questions from her aunt, that she was the sister of Elizabeth’s own mother was not in doubt.

“Uncle Philips, I have need of your professional expertise. May we talk in your office?”

Leaving her Aunt Martha squawking away in her parlour Elizabeth followed Paul Philips downstairs to his office. She closed the door behind her.

“I am worried Lizzie, what is the matter?”

The tale only took two minutes to tell. There was little other than being suddenly awakened, Hurst making a scene on the floor, the gathering of all the witnesses and then the devastating verbal attack from the harpy herself.

“This is terrible. Oh Lizzie!”

As an initial response, it was finally too much for Elizabeth. All the panic, all the worry, it all burst forth. She wept and once started could not stop her tears. Her uncle’s handkerchief was clean and dry but as soaked as her own by the time she could get her tears under control.

“How bad is it?”

“About as bad as it could be.”

“Even although what the harpy said was nothing but a lie? Can I not sue her for slander?”

Paul Philips did not want to be the one to shatter the illusions of his niece but he knew the law. There was no point in making false promises.

“No. I am sorry to be the one that has to tell you this, but the whole incident is going to be trouble.”

“Why?”

“A man was in your bedroom at whatever hour of the early morning.”

Elizabeth was on her feet incandescent with rage.

“How is that my fault? I came upstairs with my sister before 11.00pm. That fat lout was fast asleep on one of the couches. I locked my door, and left the key in the lock, just as I had been taught.”

“It does not matter Elizabeth. While the provision of the law is equal, the application is not. A man is innocent until proved guilty. In situations such as this, where there is no crime but an incriminating scene, the woman is guilty until proved innocent. And the words of Caroline Bingley, false thought they may be, will be all round the neighbourhood within the day.”

Paul Philips stood and took his niece in his arms.

“Lizzie, I know that this is grossly unfair, and I do believe you, have no doubt about that. You are an intelligent young woman so I am not sugar coating this. It will be seen as the scandal of the year.”

Her anger had ebbed away, Elizabeth was numb.

“I have lived here all my life; these benighted knaves have been here a month and yet everyone will believe a fat drunken oaf and a vicious harpy over me?”

“He is a gentleman, and you were observed by two other gentlemen, one of some consequence. Even if Mr. Darcy defended you, there will still be some who will think the worst.”

Neither of them said anything but the two married Gardiner sisters, Mrs. Philips and Mrs. Bennet, sprang to mind. But they were not the only people happy to think the worst in their small town.

Chapter 2

Paul Philips could not stop his wife from accompanying him and Elizabeth to Longbourn. Elizabeth watched as his ineffectual flutterings were ignored and Martha Philips invited herself along.

“There is not space I will walk.”

For the short journey to Longbourn there was space, the Bennet sisters had often crammed into the little buggy for the quick trip back to the manor.

“Lizzie, there is plenty of space.”

She ignored her aunt and just strode off. It wasn’t ideal but she was in no hurry to return to Longbourn. Her mother’s reaction was going to be. She shook her head, words failed her.