Page 6 of Elizabeth is not a Bennet

Inside the Bennet Carriage

On the Way to London

The chill air had the hushed feel and sharp nip of early morning; even the creaking of the carriage seemed muted as it turned out onto the road. Longbourn receded into the distance behind them, while a few streaky clouds along the dawning horizon glowed gold and pink. It was a lovely sight, far fairer than the fields sprawling to either side of the road, now lying fallow for their winter repose, brown and dry stubble where weeks before had been lush harvests.

Elizabeth drew her woolen pelisse more firmly about herself. A warmed brick did its inadequate best to heat the interior of the carriage, but she still felt the chill. Across from her, Mr. Bennet huddled inside his thick wool overcoat, his eyes heavy and his face drooping and weary. Elizabeth sympathized with his obvious somnolence, but she was entirely too alert and nervous to likewise be sleepy. Her mind buzzed like a hornet’s nest stirred up.

It still stunned and, yes, upset her, that she was not even a distant relation to the Bennets. It also increased her gratitude even more; it was one thing to take in the child of a distant relative, but it was truly generous to care for a baby who was no relation at all and raise her as a daughter of the household. Mrs. Bennet, for all her flighty ways, had been as kind to Lizzy as a true mother, and Elizabeth would always be thankful for that.

She esteemed her adopted aunt very much, but she especially appreciated the company of Mrs. Gardiner, Mrs. Bennet’s sister-by-marriage, who lived in Cheapside. Mrs. Frances Bennet of Longbourn was a charitable woman but not at all an intellectual. Mrs. Gardiner, on the other hand, was well read and clever, and Elizabeth relished her visits to Gracechurch Street, along with the far ranging discussions with Mrs. Gardiner, whom she had believed to be another aunt. To discover that there was no family connection there, either, was unnerving.

She was comforted by the knowledge that she had, at least, not been a burden. She had never given much thought to her income of four hundred pounds a year. When she was fifteen, Mr. Bennet had explained that he kept two hundred for her expenses and upkeep and to pay various masters, and he had asked his brother-in-law Gardiner to invest the other two hundred. Elizabeth, mildly curious but content to let her uncles handle her affairs, had raised no objections to this scheme for her upkeep. Now though, she looked back on it in a different light, grateful once more for the Bennets’ integrity and kindness. How easy, and perhaps entirely reasonable, it would have been for them to claim the full four hundred every year!

She could not even think ill of Mr. Bennet for not telling her of the letter from her dying father. He had, she knew, been doing what he thought was right. But it still astonished her to know that somewhere she had a half-brother whom she had never met. She had never even heard about him – was it possible that his mother, written of in such disapproving terms, had not told him of his half-sister, either? Or did he know about his long lost older sister, and maybe even wonder about her at times?

Did he live in Scotland on the estate she had supposedly inherited? Or was he in Northumberland, in the house where she had been born? The whole thing was such a mystery! Perhaps the young solicitor, in going through his deceased father’s papers, had made a mistake. It may be that the estate had been sold, or mortgaged away, or left to her stepmother and half-brother. Surely, something would have been sent to Mr. Bennet before this? Certainly he would have heard of Ravenswood, given that he was her legal guardian?

“Are you well, Lizzy?”

Elizabeth looked at her Uncle Bennet and observed an expression of concern on his face. “Yes, well enough, thank you. ”

“You sighed rather heavily just now, and you seem upset.”

Elizabeth sighed again and said, “There are so many things I do not know. So many uncertainties. I thought I knew my place in the world, and within a mere few days, much of what I believed to be true turned out not to be true.”

Bennet leaned over to pat her knee and said, “Whatever else may or may not be true, Lizzy, I hope you know that I love you, and your Aunt Bennet loves you, and all your cousins love you. You will have a home at Longbourn for as long as I am alive.”

Tears formed in Elizabeth’s eyes and she said, “I am very grateful. I adore you all as well.”

Bennet nodded and said, “Now Lizzy, I beg you not to cry, as I cannot run away from your tears when in a moving carriage.”

This provoked a chuckle from his adopted niece, who quickly dried her eyes and said, “Very well, Uncle. What would you like to speak of?”

“Perhaps Mr. Darcy? He seems an interesting gentleman.”

“I agree! I would like to see his library at Pemberley. It sounds magnificent! ”

“It does, but I was thinking about the man himself. What are your impressions?”

Elizabeth scrunched her nose and said, “Well, he is tall and handsome, but more importantly, he is obviously intelligent and well read. He is not nearly as congenial as Mr. Bingley, but he is pleasant company.”

“So you like him?”

His adopted niece blinked. “Like him? I suppose I do well enough. Why?”

Bennet chuckled and said, “My dear, just because I do not speak of it often, I would be pleased if you and your cousins were all well settled. There are not many single gentlemen in our area, after all, and Mr. Darcy seems most eligible.”

“Eligible? My dear uncle, Mr. Darcy has an income of some ten thousand pounds per annum, and according to Miss Bingley, Pemberley rivals Chatworth! I am quite confident that I have no hope of marrying such a man.”

“Perhaps,” Bennet said agreeably. “At the very least, you can be sure that Mr. Darcy will not pursue you for your fortune. Even if you are merely friendly acquaintances, you can know that he is a safe man in company. ”

“I do not have a fortune,” Elizabeth protested. “Ten thousand pounds is a tidy sum, and I am very grateful for it, but it is not a fortune.”

“But ten thousand pounds is a small fortune, my dear, and you may also inherit an estate.”

“Yes, but as you said, the estate may be in shambles, or lost due to debt. I have no intention of counting my chickens, dear uncle.”

“That is wise, but Lizzy, you must realize that the young men of the area will find you an even more enticing prospect as a possible heiress to a Scottish estate.”

“But I have no plan to,” she started and then stopped herself and groaned. “My cousins will speak of it.”

“And your aunt, without a doubt.” Bennet said. “That is why I wish you had not told them of Ravenswood, though I understand you were explaining the need to journey to London.”

“I also wanted to assure them that I will care for them to the best of my ability,” Elizabeth said stoutly.

“Well, you are a very good girl, truly. Let us see what Mr. Appleton says and proceed from there. If it is true that there is no estate, I will ensure that such information is spread throughout Meryton and the environs.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

/

Lucas Lodge

The Next Night

Until Mr. Darcy entered the drawing room at Lucas Lodge and looked in vain for Miss Stowe’s bright hair among the cluster of ladies assembled, not a doubt of her being present had occurred to him. He had dressed with more than usual care, anxiously hopeful of pleasing the most fascinating woman he had met in his entire life.

“There are the Bennets!” Bingley exclaimed, and Darcy pivoted eagerly toward the corner of the room, only to be disappointed again. Yes, there was a bevy of fair-haired ladies, but no titian beauty among them.

“Ladies, gentlemen!” a familiar voice called out, “welcome to Lucas Lodge! ”

Darcy turned toward Sir William Lucas and bowed, and his host bowed low in return, and then rose again to display a beaming smile.

“Thank you for coming, all of you!” he said heartily. “It is a great pleasure to our little community to have such esteemed neighbors.”

This caused Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, both dressed with ostentatious elegance, to preen and Bingley said eagerly, “It is we who are greatly honored to be invited here tonight! You have made us so welcome.”

“Of course, Mr. Bingley, of course! Now, I daresay you have no particular interest in speaking to me, when there are lovely ladies in attendance, eh? I believe Lady Lucas has arranged an appetizing buffet in the dining room, and I beg you will partake at your pleasure.”

“Thank you,” Bingley said and promptly moved, not toward the dining room, but toward the Bennet ladies. Darcy tagged along with his friend, hopeful of finding out whether Miss Stowe was merely out of sight or, perhaps, would attend later in the evening. Even as the two gentlemen progressed across the polished floor, the two youngest Misses Bennet hurried away, and Darcy watched as they approached a cluster of red-coated officers who had just arrived .

“Miss Bennet!” Bingley said as soon as he reached the eldest Bennet daughter and bowed when the lady turned her glorious blue eyes on him. “Good evening.”

“Good evening, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy,” Miss Bennet said with a welcoming smile. “Will you not sit down and join our conversation?”

Bingley sat down next to Miss Bennet, and Darcy, after noting that Bingley’s sisters and brother-in-law had disappeared into the dining room, took a seat across from his friend, which put him next to Miss Mary Bennet.

“I hope you are well tonight?” Bingley asked eagerly.

“Yes, very well, thank you,” Miss Bennet agreed.

“Are your parents and Miss Stowe here as well?” Bingley asked to Darcy’s profound gratitude.

“My mother is speaking to Mrs. Long over there,” Miss Bennet said, gesturing toward a cluster of chairs near the fireplace. “My father and Elizabeth journeyed to London this morning; indeed, we would not have been able to attend tonight if the Lucases had not graciously offered to fetch us with their carriage.”

“You are blessed to have such helpful neighbors,” Bingley said heartily .

“Indeed we are,” Miss Bennet agreed. “The Lucases are wonderful friends to our family.”

At this moment, a young woman, whom Darcy vaguely recognized as the younger Miss Lucas, hurried up with flushed cheeks and wide eyes.

“Jane!” she cried out, “is it true what Lydia and Kitty said, that Elizabeth has inherited an estate in Scotland?”

Jane Bennet flushed pink and said in a deprecating tone, “No, Maria, it is not true.”

“But Lydia said...”

“The situation is uncertain at the moment,” Miss Bennet interrupted, “and in any case, she will not inherit anything until she attains her majority. Moreover, the whole thing may come to nothing. Now, my dear, I fear this is not the place to be discussing these matters.”

Miss Maria, apparently noticing only now that Darcy and Bingley were seated nearby, flushed bright red and, after opening and closing her mouth two times, turned toward Miss Mary and said breathlessly, “Mary, would you be willing to play on the pianoforte so that we may dance with the officers?”

“Of course,” the young woman said, rising to her feet and walking toward the pianoforte in the corner of the room. Darcy, looking at Miss Bennet, noticed that the lady’s color was heightened and was relieved when Bingley, always a gifted conversationalist, asked, “Miss Bennet, do you know of anyone who would have information about the state of the pheasant coveys on Netherfield land? My friend and I enjoy hunting, and I understand that the manor should provide good shooting, but we are not certain of the best locations.”

“Oh, I am certain my father can help when he returns,” Miss Bennet replied, “and Sir William enjoys shooting as well. Mr. Fernside, the owner of Netherfield Hall, used to boast of his birds.”

“Did he? So you know Mr. Fernside?”

“Oh yes, though the Fernsides left the area, oh, at least five years ago now. Mrs. Fernside was an only child and inherited an estate from her father near Bath, and they decided to move there for her health, which was rather uncertain…”

The conversation continued apace between Miss Bennet and Bingley, and a minute later, Miss Mary Bennet began playing the pianoforte with admirable skill. Darcy, whose own sister was a gifted musician, was certain that the Bennets employed an excellent music master for their daughters and, presumably, Miss Stowe.

Relieved from the necessity of conversation, Darcy watched as a number of ladies and officers gathered at one end of the drawing room and began dancing, while his mind focused on Miss Elizabeth Stowe, who, it seemed, might be the heiress to a Scottish estate.

Did it change anything for him if Miss Stowe was indeed a considerable heiress?

In some ways, no; he was incredibly wealthy in his own right. On the other hand, Miss Stowe, already apparently one of the better dowered women in the area, would become even more attractive to the local gentlemen if she was to inherit an estate.

He was not, of course, ready to make an offer of marriage. He barely knew Miss Stowe. But for the first time in his entire existence, he felt a strange twinge of anxiety that he might miss out on his perfect wife if he did not make a genuine effort to court the woman he admired.