Page 35

B ennet was doing what he liked best at Longbourn. He was in his study behind his desk, a book in one hand and a glass of port close to the other.

He heard a single knock on his door, and Hill opened it to reveal two men and his eldest daughter. One of the men he had never met; the other was his useless wife’s brother-in-law, Phillips.

“Why are you disturbing me?” Bennet whinged before Hill could announce his guests.

“Phillips, with what do you want to bother me now?” At least, Bennet did not see his other brother-in-law, Gardiner.

Even though he was not a gentleman and was in trade, he was rather intimidating.

He believed that of the two, Phillips was much easier to work on. “Why is Lizzy with you?”

“I need to introduce…” Phillips began, but the Duke gave a quick shake of his head.

“We have not met, Mr Bennet, but I am well known to most in your family. I am Archibald Chamberlain, and I am here to gain your permission to marry your eldest daughter, Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Hertfordshire revealed. He looked lovingly at his fiancée standing next to him, who returned the look.

“I knew that Jane Millar was making up tales out of whole cloth when she told me that my eldest was being courted by a duke. What man of that rank, or any rank, would want a silly girl for his wife? I knew the man was only dallying with her. For all of her intelligence, she is still a weak-minded girl when it comes to interactions with men,” Bennet stated with a satisfied look on his face.

“Besides which, she is too useful to me.” He looked at Phillips disdainfully.

“You and Gardiner may have tricked me into signing that contract, but I still have the right to disallow my daughters to marry. I will never allow Lizzy to stop assisting me. Well, at least until she reaches her majority.”

Elizabeth gasped, even though she thought she had been prepared for an acerbic response from her birth father. She knew he did not value her for herself, but to hear him speak of it as if she was not present, was hurtful and shocking.

The Duke did not miss the hurt on his beloved’s countenance. “Mr Bennet, swords or pistols?” Hertfordshire asked with a hard look on his countenance.

At first, Bennet did not understand what the man was doing. As soon as he understood he was being called out, he lost all of the colour in his face and began to shake with fear. He had been too interested in his own pursuits to learn manly arts like fencing and shooting.

“W-what d-d-did I d-d-do for y-you t-t-to c-c-c-call me out?” Bennet stammered.

“You questioned my honour when you claimed I have been dallying with Miss Bennet, whom you speak of as if she is not standing right here. Duelling may be frowned upon, and the laws for murder applied to the winner if he fells his opponent, but there are certain advantages to being a duke.” Hertfordshire glared at Bennet.

Never had Bennet felt such abject fear. It was then what the man said sunk in. A duke ! “You only mentioned your name,” Bennet managed.

“For once, Mr Bennet, Miss Millar did not lie,” Elizabeth spat out with disdain.

“Yes, and that is my name, except there is more. I am Lord Archibald Winston Chamberlain, the Duke of Hertfordshire and Marquess of Hertford. Now when will we meet, and do you have anyone willing to stand second for you?” Hertfordshire demanded.

“Please, Your Grace, it was a poor attempt at humour; I was not calling your honour into question. I am sorry I spoke so of Lizzy,” Bennet prevaricated.

Hertfordshire shook his head. The description of the man opposite as a coward had been very apt.

As soon as he had become interested in Elizabeth as a possible partner, the Duke had had Bennet investigated.

He had more than enough information at his fingertips to force the man’s cooperation.

It was knowledge he would use if he had no other choice.

“As you are nothing to me, Mr Bennet, I would ask you to cease calling me Lizzy. You have not earned that right,” Elizabeth demanded.

Stopping him from responding to his eldest’s edict, the Duke spoke again.

“Before we continue, there is something we need to discuss,” Hertfordshire stated.

Without invitation, he sat down on one of the two chairs before Bennet’s desk.

Phillips took the other one, and Lizzy sat on the settee between the windows.

“Did you know that Miss Millar and her mother attempted to murder your eldest daughter this morning?” He looked to where his fiancée sat.

Bennet looked genuinely shocked. Hertfordshire told all, ending with Mrs Bennet’s death.

He did not miss the happiness which flashed in Bennet’s eyes at learning his wife was no more, and he would never have to see Miss Millar again.

“I do understand that you do not prefer the company of women.” The Duke sat back and interlaced his fingers across his muscled chest.

Bennet looked everywhere except at the two men across from him. He had not been at Cambridge for years; it was impossible that his affair was known about. “I know not of what you speak,” he dissembled. He had not thought of his special friend from Ireland, Ian McKellen, in many years.

“Truly, Mr Bennet? It is of no importance at this moment; we will revisit the subject if need be.” The Duke paused.

“You know it can be argued that you are culpable for the actions of your late wife and her daughter.” He raised his hand to stem the protest forming on the man’s lips.

“There is no doubt that you are responsible for your late wife’s actions.

It was your duty to correct her. A good and legal argument can be made that because Miss Millar was allowed to live here without her mother, you were her de facto guardian.

So yes, you could be held liable for what she attempted as well. ”

“If I were you, Mr Bennet,” Elizabeth added, “I would listen to what His Grace has to say next.”

“What do you want from me?” Bennet asked as all the fight went out of him.

“I have a document for you to sign, but before you do, you will read every word. I will not have you claiming you did not know what you were signing.” Hertfordshire nodded, and Phillips slid the paper over to Bennet.

Bennet picked it up and with no little trepidation, began to read.

I, Thomas Bennet of sound mind, master of the estate of Longbourn in Hertfordshire, do declare and agree to the following completely and I understand this contract is irrevocable:

I understand that if I attempt to challenge this agreement once I have signed it and it comes into effect, I will be transported to Van Diemen’s Land where I will be branded and then serve 14 years of hard labour.

Lord Archibald Winston Chamberlain, the Duke of Hertfordshire, Marquess of Hertford, is immediately designated as the guardian of my daughters Mary Eloise Bennet, Catherine Jane Bennet, and Lydia Hattie Bennet, with Edward Elias Gardiner and Frank James Phillips being co-guardians.

I cede my right to permit or deny the marriage of my three younger daughters to their three co-guardians. In the case of my eldest daughter Elizabeth Rose Bennet, either Edward Elias Gardiner or Frank James Phillips, my brothers-in-law may permit her marriage before she is 21 years of age.

In return for the following, I will give up any rights I have as the lifetime tenant to the estate of Longbourn:

An annual stipend of ?400.00 to be divided and paid each quarter day.

A professorship at Cambridge University

Remove any books desired from the study at Longbourn. Provenance of said books to be transferred to the ownership of Thomas Bennet.

A house near the university will be purchased. Thomas Bennet will have lifetime rights to live there with no rent. A cook, manservant, housekeeper, and maid of all work will be paid by the owner of the house.

I understand that I am to have no contact with any of the four girls I sired. If I attempt this, directly or indirectly, I will be in default of this agreement and be transported.

Dated: 15th day of April in the year of our Lord 1807

Below the date were places for the principals’ and witness’s signatures.

Also, there was an additional place for him to sign that he had read and understood everything.

At first, Bennet was about to complain about the stipend, which would only give him one hundred pounds per quarter.

As soon as he read about no rent and not paying for servants, his protest died in his throat.

He was giving up his rights to his daughters, even his supremely intelligent eldest one, but it was giving him his heart’s desire.

He would be back at Cambridge, and other than servants, nary a woman in his orbit.

It was the easiest thing for him to sign, including the four additional copies Phillips placed in front of him.

“Write your initials next to each clause on each copy; I want there to be no doubt you read this,” Phillips instructed.

Bennet complied happily. “What of the estate? Does that mean it will go to those illiterate Collinses?” he enquired. “They know far less about estate management than even I did before Lizzy…Miss Bennet began to assist.”

“Do not concern yourself about Longbourn; it is no longer anything you need to think on,” Hertfordshire averred.

“Here is one copy for your records. We will instruct the Hills to have your belongings packed. That includes the books you want, but only books; everything else is to be left in the study,” Phillips related.

“The estate’s carriage and a cart will convey you and your belongings to your new abode on the coming Monday.

The driver will be given the direction of the house. ”

Elizabeth felt a weight lift from her shoulders when Mr Bennet signed the document which freed her from his control forevermore. Not only that, but it removed the only impediment to her being able to marry her Archy.