Page 1 of Ever After End

PROLOGUE

L ondon - May, 1811

Elizabeth Bennet stood on the pavement in London and read the sign on the brick wall behind the man selling tickets on the street in Cheapside. “ The Third and Last Grand City Lottery of Freehold Houses . What is a lottery of freehold houses, Uncle?”

“It is a way for architects and home builders to make a great deal more profit than they would by selling a new house on the market,” Uncle Gardiner explained. “A freehold house means that you own not only the entire building, but also the land the building sits on. Ownership will never revert back to a landlord. Most freehold houses in London sell either at auction or by lottery. Think of it this way, Lizzy; you might never be able to buy a house, but perhaps you could afford to risk four pounds, yes? And even if you did not win the grand prize, which for this lottery is a brand new house and a sum of money, you might win something. There are many people willing to risk four pounds on such a chance. They will draw many prizes, because they will sell tens of thousands of tickets. Perhaps hundreds of thousands. If you won the smallest prize, it is still five hundred pounds. That is not a house, but it is still an incredible sum of money to many people. It does not say how much money comes with the house if you won the grand prize. What is the sum in question, sir?”

“‘Tis not fixed,” said the businessman behind the table. “‘Twill depend upon the number of tickets sold, a percentage of the profit. Not less than five thousand certainly. Perhaps as high as twenty or thirty, but there are no guarantees.”

“And is there a charitable endeavour attached?” asked Uncle Gardiner. Then he said to Elizabeth, “There is often a promise for a donation to a charity, to soothe the worries of those who feel that gambling is wicked.”

“Five percent of the profit will go to the parish schools in the east end, sir,” came the man’s reply.

“Do you think gambling is wrong, Uncle?” Elizabeth asked curiously.

“Well, Lizzy, there are different kinds of gambling, and in my opinion, they are each quite different in terms of good or wicked. Take the parish game night when you all purchase a game card and play housey-housey? 1 . You might win a prize, or you might not, but you had fun, and what was important was that funds were raised for the parish. That is not particularly wicked, in my opinion. Then there are my sister’s little card parties. People who are not poor or in need, betting a few pennies on a night of entertainment is also of little danger, though I do believe ladies should exert caution, particularly girls like Lydia and Kitty, who have limited pin money, and in my opinion, ought to be playing for buttons.”

Her uncle continued. “Then there are the rich or worse, not so rich men who go to gambling clubs or taverns, and wager large sums of money that they cannot afford to lose, some taking food from their childrens’ very mouths, others losing their daughters’ or wives’ dowries, some so bad they lose their estates, the very homes and lands their families have held for generations. That is certainly very wicked. This here is relatively innocuous in my opinion, as long as one is not spending funds they cannot afford to lose, or taking food from their children. When I sit down at a table to play cards with other men, I view it as an amusement rather than a way to win money. I decide before I begin how much I am willing to spend on that night’s entertainment, and when or if I lose that much, I stop. The key to everything is moderation, Lizzy. This is my opinion, though there are those who are very pious, who believe that all gambling is evil.”

“Well I certainly cannot afford to lose four pounds. Papa gave me funds to spend on clothes while I was here. He would not be pleased if I returned with a lottery ticket instead,” said Elizabeth.

“How much can you afford to spend?” her uncle asked curiously.

“Well…” Elizabeth said uncertainly. “Perhaps a pound? But that is not enough to buy a ticket.”

“You could buy a share of a ticket, and the prize would be split between you and another after you won, but instead, let us do this. If there was anyone who would benefit from owning a home and receiving a large cash prize, it would be you, Lizzy. You spend your pound, and I will pay for the rest of your ticket. It can be your birthday present.”

“Uncle, ‘tis too much!” Elizabeth objected as her uncle ignored her and purchased the ticket.

“Not at all, my dear. Now, here, keep this ticket safe in your reticule, and hide it when you get home. Then you may spend the next few weeks thinking about what you will do if you win. That is the best part of a lottery ticket.”

1 ? Housey-housey was the form of BINGO that was played in England as far back as 1700. It was invented in 16th century Italy.