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E lizabeth was still in shock after seeing the new Hertfordshire House in Russell Square, London.

She had been less awed when meeting her soon-to-be cousins, John and Georgiana Russell, the current Duke and Duchess of Bedford, than she had been when they toured the mansion of which she would be mistress when they were in London.

In addition to Chamberlain House, which Charlotte and Anthony would use, her fiancé had three other houses in London. If that were not enough, he owned several more in other cities!

The tour had been extensive, and other than the colour of the paper in her bedchamber, Elizabeth had asked for no changes.

Just when she had regained her equilibrium after viewing the house, Archy had called at Gardiner House in the company of his solicitor to review the marriage settlement with her and Uncle Edward.

Mr Marylebone was introduced to Miss Bennet and Mr Gardiner, and then the four sat around a table in one corner of the study. The latter two were handed copies to peruse.

“I notice there is a space left open for Elizabeth’s dowry. It is ten thousand pounds,” Gardiner stated.

“Gardiner, I need to say something, and I do not want it to sound arrogant or condescending; it is not meant as such at all,” Hertfordshire began.

“I am well aware that you dowered both Lizzy and Mary. Has Lizzy not told you that I plan to dower all three of her sisters? Hence, I would suggest you keep your funds and add them to your other daughters’ fortunes. ”

“No, she had not mentioned that,” Gardiner stated as he looked at his niece questioningly.

“Sorry, Uncle Edward, I did not feel it was my place to tell you,” Elizabeth explained. “The truth is, so much has occurred since Archy told me, that I have not thought about it.”

“I have set aside fifty thousand pounds for each of them, and in addition, Mary will have Longbourn,” Hertfordshire revealed.

“But Archy, you laid out five and twenty thousand pounds to end the entail on the estate; surely then Mary should have that much less? In fact, you could cut all of the dowries in half. It is so much money! I know you have said you are wealthy, but really? That much?” Elizabeth felt uncomfortable with her Archy giving so much money to her family.

“Lizzy, read the rest of the page. It stipulates how much Hertfordshire is settling on you, and also his wealth and income sources,” Gardiner suggested.

Elizabeth did as her uncle suggested. Her mouth fell open.

He was settling two hundred and fifty thousand pounds on her.

Before she could protest it was far too much, her eyes alighted on the section which enumerated his income and wealth.

He had not overstated it when he said he was richer than Croesus!

The income from the nine estates—Netherfield Park was removed as it would soon belong to Charlotte and Anthony—was seventy thousand pounds per annum.

From his business interests, which were extensive, and investments, he earned more than one hundred thousand pounds each year.

There were also several million pounds between the investments and funds, more than one million in liquid funds across six banks, and then there was an exorbitant quantity of jewels, gold, and silver.

If they had daughters, each one would be dowered with one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, and if there was more than one son, or beyond, an estate would be provided plus eighty thousand pounds.

She still thought it was far too much, but his accounts reflected the balances after the money for her sisters and herself.

As such, the argument that he could not afford it was moot.

After seeing all she just read, she would seem missish if she tried to complain about the amounts.

Besides, it was not her place to complain if Archy wanted to make sure her sisters would always have security.

All she could do was to be grateful that this wonderful man was determined to protect her and her sisters.

Gardiner had been aware Hertfordshire was wealthy, but he had not imagined it was close to the numbers he saw before him.

“In light of this, I will do as you suggest and add the money we had set aside for Lizzy and Mary to Lilly and May’s dowries.

” He paused. “You know that Phillips has set up dowries for Cathy and Lydia, do you not?”

“When I see him, I will suggest he direct those funds elsewhere,” Hertfordshire stated.

“Archy, what is this codicil you are adding to the settlement? It says it will be added to your will as well?” Elizabeth asked. “Am I and my sisters not already more than adequately protected?”

“Especially for ladies in our society, thanks to them being treated like chattel, there can never be enough protections set up. Let us read through the clauses in the special codicil, and afterwards we may discuss them,” Hertfordshire suggested.

So agreed, Elizabeth and her uncle read the relevant pages.

Addendum to the marriage contract between Lord Archibald Winston Chamberlain, the Duke of Hertfordshire and Marquess of Hertford and Miss Elizabeth Rose Bennet of Longbourn, Purvis Lodge, and Gardiner House, Portman Square, London.

Elizabeth looked up. “It is the second time I have heard the second title used. How is it there is a second one?”

“The title resides with me, soon to be us, until we have a son, and then he will become the Marquess of Hertford. If we have no children, and Anthony ascends to the dukedom, he will hold both until he has a son,” Hertfordshire explained.

Elizabeth nodded and looked at the document once again.

The terms hereunder are binding, and no person can challenge them or attempt to dissolve any or all of them. They are irrevocable if the groom listed above is no longer alive.

The entail on the Longbourn Estate in Hertfordshire has been broken.

It is agreed that the estate will be the property of Miss Mary Eloise Bennet, in addition to her dowry.

Until she is 25, it will be administered by her guardians: the Duke of Hertfordshire, Mr Edward Gardiner, and Mr Frank Phillips.

Either Catherine Jane Bennet or Lydia Hattie Bennet may be nominated the heir to the estate in certain circumstances.

His Grace hereby agrees to protect the new Duchess’s sisters until they marry, or he is unable to do so for any reason.

As Mr. Thomas Bennet has signed the irrevocable agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit A, permitting his eldest daughter, Miss Elizabeth Rose Bennet, to marry the Duke of Hertfordshire, while at the same time revoking his parental rights in connection to Miss Mary Eloise Bennet, Miss Catherine Jane Bennet, and Miss Lydia Hattie Bennet (hereinafter “the Bennet Sisters”), making the Duke of Hertfordshire their primary guardian in conjunction with Messrs Edward Gardiner and Frank Phillips.

In the event the Duke predeceases the other two guardians, the above-mentioned secondary guardians will share the duties of primary guardian until the Bennet Sisters either marry or attain their majorities.

Per the agreement that Mr. Thomas Bennet signed, Exhibit A, he has no claim over any of the dowries, land, or anything else settled on the Bennet Sisters.

If the Duke predeceases his then Duchess, who will be Her Grace, Lady Elizabeth Rose Chamberlain, Duchess of Hertfordshire, and Marchioness of Hertford Heights, she will become the sole beneficiary of all of the Duke’s unentailed houses, estates, business interests, and fortune.

The only estate and income thereof which is entailed to the dukedom is Falconwood, which is in both Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

Likewise, the new Hertfordshire House is the only house in London, or any other city, that is tied to the dukedom.

In the case the eventuality in clause v. above comes to pass before the Duchess attains the age of 21, Mr. Edward Gardiner of London and Mr. Frank Philips of Meryton will be the Duchess’s guardians until such time as she either remarries or reaches her majority, whichever occurs first.

Clause v. is held inviolate and supersedes any last Will and Testament of Lord Archibald Winston Chamberlain, the Duke of Hertfordshire, and Marquess of Hertford Heights even if said will is dated after the day the marriage settlement was signed. This protects against forged wills.

In the event His Grace is no longer alive, and Her Grace is, if she is forced to marry against her own free will for any reason, her new husband will have no access to any wealth or properties.

Her Grace is hereby given permission to never satisfy an attempted compromise.

The same permission is extended to my other three wards, Mary Eloise Bennet, Catherine Jane Bennet, and Lydia Hattie Bennet.

If a son is born before or after the Duke’s death, he would inherit all entailed property, funds in the amount of ?1,000,000, plus whatever Her Grace conveys him from the unentailed properties and fortune.

If a daughter and no son is born and the Duke is not living to produce a male heir, as laid out in the patents of the dukedom, the title will be bestowed on said daughter’s first-born male child. A daughter of the Duke’s body would take precedence over the current heir presumptive.

If no children are born and the Duke is no longer living then his nephew, Anthony Barrington, son of the Duke’s sister, Lady Leticia Barrington, will ascend to the dukedom and lay claim to all property entailed to the Hertfordshire dukedom plus the sum mentioned in clause ix.

The Duke could see a protest forming on his beloved’s lips, and he was sure he knew why. He took her hands across the table and rubbed them gently. “Do you remember we discussed that the truth is that unless there is some tragedy, I will predecease you?” he reminded her gently.

Elizabeth nodded as her eyes moistened.