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“Should you continue to neglect your duty to your family, I will inform the headman at Oxford of your dishonorable behavior and have you sent down in disgrace. With your brother gone, you must return home to marry and learn how to properly care for Longbourn and her people.” Confident in the power of his position and the logic behind his reasoning, Reginald Bennet felt assured that his grandson would comply.

He did not have many more years in him, and he needed to see to his beloved Longbourn.

This conflict had to happen. There seemed to be no other way.

“You may choose to force my hand, but you will find, sir, that you will not truly get your way. If you take away my happiness, I will strike at yours. I care not for this plot of dirt or her people. If you require me to marry, I shall choose a woman who will pollute the shades of the home you cherish.” And with that, Thomas Bennet turned and exited the room, going off in search of such a woman.

Catherine Bennet had often worried about the bitter attitude of her second grandson, especially after his parents passed.

She gave voice to her apprehension. “Reggie, are you certain that this is the wisest course of action? He could do a lot of damage to Longbourn, including selling it when you are gone. Besides, what might happen to whatever poor girl he gets involved in this feud?”

“You always worry too much, Cathy,” Reginald replied with a tired sigh.

“He is an intelligent young man. He will quickly realize that his future will serve him better with a respectable wife by his side, and a well-run estate. I will prevent him from being able to squander Longbourn by tying it up with an entailment until it passes to his heir. Thomas will come to realize the wisdom of the situation and Longbourn will see multiple generations of thriving Bennet ownership.” Determination emanated from his grim smile, and he was confident that he would set things to rights even after losing his oldest grandson.

Catherine, however, did not smile, for she lacked confidence in Reggie’s assurance.

Perhaps she worried for nothing, but she had seen the look in Thomas’s eyes.

He was intent on a destructive rebellion.

She could only hope her inclination was wrong.

Meanwhile, Thomas stomped around the village of his youth.

He would find a girl ignorant of the requirements that came with managing an estate.

Someone with a splendid figure and an empty head.

Someone like that girl laughing too loudly outside the milliners.

He studied her for a few moments. Indeed, that loud vulgar girl as the mistress of Longbourn would be the perfect revenge on his grandfather.

He was able to deceive Fanny with his honeyed words, leading her to believe he loved her.

He doted on the girl with extravagant gestures.

Thomas and Fanny’s courtship was the talk of the town, and everyone was keenly watching every moment.

His only obstacle was Fanny’s father; the man never seemed to trust his smiles and compliments.

But Mr. Gardiner’s distrust was overcome by the power of the town’s gossip.

Thomas made sure that his attention had been so marked that it would ruin her reputation if they did not marry, and did not care if anyone was happy about it.

The only saving grace that Fanny had in this skewed alliance was the settlement her solicitor father insisted upon.

Anthony Gardiner suspected his daughter’s suitor’s disingenuous, self-gratifying attitude might turn dark with time.

He did what he could to shield his daughter financially.

He stipulated that Mr. Bennet would set aside a considerable amount of pin money for his daughter.

It would also continue to increase upon the birth of every future grandchild.

In his loving way, her father was trying to prepare his daughter for the harsher times that would come.

Harsher times that were quick to appear.

Sadly, Reginald lived long enough to realize that his plan of coercing his grandson had been flawed.

Thomas had malice in his heart, and it seemed virtually certain that Longbourn would fall into a decline.

At the time of his death, shortly after the birth of his great-granddaughter Jane, Reggie had become well acquainted with regret.