Page 54 of Count the Cost (The Secrets of Elizabeth Bennet #2)

I t had been a very busy three weeks. Elizabeth had looked at three properties, all of which had the minimum requirements she had set Mr. Reed.

How he found so many and in such a short time, she did not know.

But she did know that she could not manage her business without him.

His assistance was invaluable. While all of the properties were excellent ones, she had fallen in love with Oakfield Park, a beautiful house built of honey-coloured stone within five acres of parkland.

Perhaps it was a little on the large side, but that was an improvement on the opposite option.

Moreover, the house was buried in countryside, with large, well-managed estates to look out on, which allowed delightful views from the large windows, and Elizabeth knew she could be happy there.

It was merely fifteen miles from her uncle’s warehouses, so she would be able to travel in and return on one day, if needed.

Perfect. And she had commissioned a sketch which she had tucked away carefully into the back of her journal to show Papa — and Charlotte.

But now, she was in the coach with her aunt and uncle and they were on their way to Christmas at Longbourn. She wondered whether it would feel like home again, as it had not on her last visit.

She smiled to herself. Mr. Darcy had looked quite discomfited at their theatricals.

Her uncle cleared his throat. “I was rather surprised at the size of the Christmas bonus you gave Mr. Reed, Lizzy. And telling him to take a holiday right up until after Twelfth Night! Do you not think it is rather over-generous?”

Elizabeth settled back on the seats. “How much has he earned me over the last year that no one else could do?” She shrugged a little. “I have this feeling that someone might wish to steal him for their own business. I am not inclined to allow him to be tempted.”

Aunt Gardiner laughed. “Pre-empting the possibility, my dear?”

“Very much so.” Elizabeth smiled over at her uncle. “Are you sorry you gave me the chance to employ him from you?”

“Not at all.” Uncle was blunt. “He was wasted in my employ. I would have lost him to an imaginative employer. I am glad it was you.”

She nodded. “To change the subject, Uncle, Aunt, may we talk about how to persuade Mama that my sisters need a governess? Papa will agree, I believe, but Mama will not be happy.”

An hour later, they entered into the noisy, chaotic household that had been her home.

The noisiest person was of course Mama, who hurled herself at her brother, exclaiming loudly of Jane’s betrothal, and how amiable and wealthy her future son-in-law was, before immediately going into a lament.

“But, brother! You must take Lizzy in hand for she listens to you. She refused Mr. Collins, brother. Refused him! When she might have made us secure forever.” She sobbed noisily into her handkerchief.

“Now, then, Fanny. You know very well they would not have suited each other at all,” Uncle said heartily.

“And we must not talk about it until after Christmas. You know that.” He patted her on the shoulder, rolling his eyes at Papa.

“Come along, sister, we can talk of it all later on. I want to see the decorations that you have put up. I always look forward to it, you know.” With a few more soothing words, he soon had everyone entering the house.

The first thing Elizabeth saw was a large kissing bough, a first for Longbourn, right over the doorway of the sitting room from the hall. She stopped, her eyes dancing.

“Why, Jane! You sly thing,” and she threw her arms around her dearest sister, who blushed, really blushed, and Elizabeth laughed delightedly. “If I had thought being betrothed would make you so brave, I might have arranged a kissing bough rather earlier!”

“Lizzy!” Jane tried to sound reproving, but her youngest sister was unrepentant.

“Mr. Bingley was here yesterday, Lizzy, and he blushed too! But I am sure the officers will not hesitate.” She preened rather, and Elizabeth looked at her in surprise.

“Well, Lydia, by saying that out loud, I am sure you will find Papa or one of your sisters out here chaperoning you at all risky moments.”

She felt, rather than saw, Lydia’s pout as she went through into the sitting room, and then turned to look daringly at her aunt and uncle, who stood back, before deciding to enter the room separately.

Elizabeth shook her head at them, pretending to be disappointed.

But she knew their marriage was happy — more than happy.

Even so — she shivered slightly — even with their example, she could not bear the thought of marriage.

For a female, there was the risk of losing herself, her own independence, and her own command over all aspects of her life. No, she could not see how it could be.

She hid her sudden sadness at the thought, and as soon as she could, Elizabeth excused herself to her own bedchamber, the one she’d had since she was a child, and sat on the bed to give herself a good talking-to.

I have a very good life. I can use all my talents and skills and now I can afford whatever I want that will make me happy. Security makes me happy.

I cannot buy happiness in marriage. That is a very great risk, and I long ago decided it was one that I would not take. Because it is irrevocable.

If I make a business mistake, I can put it behind me and find another way. If I choose to marry and the man is not what I think he is, there is no way out for me.

There was a quiet knock on the door. It was either Jane or their aunt.

“Come in.” Elizabeth arranged her features into happiness. She had acted all her life to keep her secrets, and she must continue thus until all her sisters were married and safe from the scandal of a sister being such an unorthodox businesswoman.

It was her sister. “Jane! You must come in and tell me how Mr. Bingley proposed to you. Was it terribly romantic?”

Dinner was as loud and uninhibited as she expected at Longbourn, but the food was as delicious as it always was.

Mama was known to be the best hostess for miles around.

She wastes so much money on dishes that are out of season, and to family members who would be equally satisfied with simpler fare.

I wonder if her — and Papa’s — extravagance had been saved for my sisters, how much they would each have?

She shrugged to herself and looked expressively across at her uncle. He gave her a tight smile, understanding of her expression. She wanted him to talk about a governess, as early in their stay as it was.

Uncle stared around the table, and within minutes, people’s voices began to quieten. Soon only Lydia was left, talking loudly to Kitty and, as usual, not listening to anything around her. But her uncle was patient, and after a few minutes Lydia’s voice petered out and she looked around.

“What?”

Papa chuckled, not very kindly, and shook his head, turning to his brother-in-law and raising his eyebrows.

Uncle Gardiner looked around everyone at the table before speaking.

“Thomas, Fanny, I wish to make a proposal for me to arrange for a governess who is also qualified to teach music. I hope we find someone who is skilled enough to teach Kitty and Lydia their accomplishments before they start searching in earnest for suitors, and who will also be able to help Mary improve on her excellent talent.”

He stopped as Mama and Lydia broke the shocked silence.

“My girls are the best girls you could want. They do not need a governess!”

“I certainly don’t need to learn more. I shall be married by the end of the summer, and to a handsome officer. I wanted to be the first of us to be married, even though I am the youngest.”

Elizabeth laughed. “You will have to hurry then, Jane will not be prepared to wait for you.”

Lydia scowled, and Papa shook his head, looking at Uncle Gardiner. “Do you not think it too late for the silliest girls in England?”

“Papa!” Both Jane and Elizabeth were shocked. Elizabeth continued. “It can never be too late. You buy books to continue studying and learning; how can you now say that it is too late for your daughters?”

Papa stared at her, the contradiction having never entered his head; but he recovered quickly enough. “You and I wish to continue learning, Lydia never wanted to.”

Elizabeth bit her tongue at her instinctive response — it would not do to make him angry. She turned to Mama.

“It would be very good if Uncle is offering to arrange it all. Just think, no other young ladies in Meryton have had the luxury of a governess before. It will make Kitty and Lydia quite the gentlewomen when they can mention their accomplishments to their suitors.”

Her mother stared at her, the thoughts going through her mind as obvious to Elizabeth as they were to her uncle who managed, to Elizabeth’s relief, to avoid rolling his eyes.

“Well, it is your money, Edward,” Papa said, reaching for his wine glass. He looked across at his wife.

“Well, Fanny? Do we have room to accommodate a governess?”

“Certainly we do,” Mama sounded vexed. “I think Lizzy made a very good observation, and I, for one, am in favour of it.”

“Then that is settled.” Uncle cast a sideways glance at Elizabeth, and Papa also gave her a sardonic look. He knew exactly who would be paying for this governess, but she also knew he would not let a hint of it reach his family.

“Well, I don’t agree and I won’t have a governess!” Lydia set her jaw in a scowl.

“Then you will return to the nursery and have a nursemaid.” Papa had heard enough. “The amount of money we will save on your reduced wardrobe will be quite amazing. I expect your sisters will be pleased with the extra divided between them.”

Elizabeth had never seen Lydia speechless for so long before.

And she was subdued for the rest of the meal to everyone’s relief.

Elizabeth considered Kitty thoughtfully.

Perhaps she needed to find out what Kitty thought of the matter.

Like the rest of the family, she had neglected her next youngest sister too much.