Page 55 of Count the Cost (The Secrets of Elizabeth Bennet #2)
T he next morning, Christmas Eve, Elizabeth strolled in the gardens with Papa.
The festive bustle of Longbourn had settled a little, and Elizabeth had finally found a moment to speak with the one person at Longbourn whose opinion she valued most.
They were both wrapped up warmly against the cold, Papa very reluctantly, but Elizabeth did not want to be overheard.
She told him of Oakfield Park, and described it as best she could. “I will hide the sketch in the ledger in your library, Papa, for you to see when you are alone, although there is nothing on there to identify it or link it with me.” She hesitated.
“I know you gave me your blessing for it when I was here in November; are you still happy for it, now that I have found somewhere?”
Her father looked sad. “I am sad that you can no longer stay here, Lizzy, of course. And I will miss you.” He straightened.
“But of course I will not withdraw my consent. I understand it is necessary — and I am glad that your uncle will be near in case of an urgent need to protect you in some way. Now, tell me how you intend to keep your secrets until your sisters are married, and hide away from society, and also protect your respectability, all at once.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I have a plan, Papa, as you know. It has not changed much.”
I do wish more men could be as open to liberty and independence for women in the same way as Papa. But perhaps it is a different sort of love.
That evening Elizabeth closeted herself with Charlotte and Aunt Gardiner in her bedroom.
She smiled round at them; each had their hot chocolate steaming in front of them and the plate of pastries temptingly within reach.
“Well, Eliza,” Charlotte teased. “I have waited long enough. You have been quietly excited and obviously longing to get me alone since you first arrived. Tell me all.”
Elizabeth sat on her bed, and bounced a little. “I’m sorry you had to wait so long to know why I put you off Mr. Collins with such vague speculations. The truth was that I had to say something to prevent you marrying the man and still keep my secret because it was not yet at the point I could say.”
“And you are still not saying,” her friend said tartly, and Aunt Gardiner chuckled.
“You are very good for our Lizzy, Miss Lucas.”
“I still don’t know what is being suggested.” Charlotte was amused, but also a little impatient. “I know Mr. Gardiner is keeping the family occupied downstairs to prevent Lydia sneaking up to listen at the door, but it won’t be long until she is, so I think you had better be brief.”
Aunt Gardiner nodded. “I agree, Lizzy. It is time.”
Elizabeth drew a deep breath. “Charlotte, I have a certain amount of money which has enabled me to take a country house in Kent. It is a lovely house, in five acres of parkland, and only fifteen miles from town so that I can go there often if I need to.” She saw Charlotte’s puzzlement and hurried on.
“But, while Longbourn is too noisy for me to be content here any longer, I cannot presume on my aunt and uncle to accommodate me in their home with their growing family.” She smiled affectionately over at her aunt.
“So I decided I wanted my own home. I want to invite you, as my dearest friend, to come and live with me as my friend. Permanently. It will give you your own home, and your own independence away from your family. And you will be able to help me, as I will be busy with other matters which I cannot tell you about, and I want you to act as the mistress of the house.”
She stopped talking to see what questions would come to Charlotte’s mind first. Her friend’s brow was furrowed. “I love the idea, Eliza, but how can it be permanent? If you got married, and gave up the house, then I would have to return home.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I would never want to remove your independence unless you chose it. While we haven’t finalised everything, my uncle and I will tie the arrangement up so that you will always have an income that will allow you to have your own home, unfettered.
” She nudged the plate of pastries closer to her friend.
“And you have always known that I do not intend ever to marry.”
Charlotte snorted. “You have no idea what you will want when you are a little older, I am sure you will see that in the next few years. However, I am intrigued with the idea you have suggested, and if your uncle and you can show me exactly how this arrangement would work, I will need to get it verified somehow. But what will I tell my family?”
Aunt Gardiner broke in. “The contract will be written up by our London solicitors, Miss Lucas. You are going as Lizzy’s friend, not in service. And you will always be a friend of the Gardiners, too, for all you are doing for her.”
Elizabeth nodded. “As for your father, we can discuss that later. Look, here’s a sketch of the house I had commissioned so I could show you and Papa.
” She got up quietly and went to the door, opening it suddenly.
Thankfully, there was still no one listening.
She shut the door with a smile, as Charlotte looked at the sketch and gasped.
“It is enormous!”
Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder at the sketch. “It’s not really. The depth is not as great as Longbourn, so it needed to be longer. There are not so many rooms.”
“Is it bigger than Lucas Lodge?”
“I think so. But I took the house mostly for the privacy of the park and it being close to town. We can close off part of it if we don’t need it all.” Elizabeth was pleased. Charlotte seemed more interested now she had seen the sketch.
“Regardless, we have probably been up here long enough.” Aunt Gardiner looked at them both with affection. “I was wondering if you’d like to come back to town with Lizzy after Christmas and stay with us while you decide if this is what you want. It will be easier to plan for you, then.”
With that all agreed, Charlotte tucked her arm into Elizabeth’s. “If I can be made secure, then I am well decided, Eliza,” she whispered.