Page 1 of The Duke of Derby (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Brent Smith, formerly Captain Smith of the navy, entered his club in London, ready for a night of cards.

Having just left the navy with a great deal of prize money a month ago, he was not yet tired of the repetitive nature of life among London gentlemen.

When he looked toward the future, he could see that he would eventually tire of such an aimless life, but for now he was enjoying making new friends and gambling his nights away.

On this particular night, after a couple of hours of playing, one of his friends, who he simply knew as Bennet, stormed into the club and declared that he was doomed.

“If anyone has eight thousand pounds of ready cash, I will sell my estate for it,” he declared.

“If I can’t sell it tonight, my very life is forfeit. ”

Brent didn’t know much about Bennet’s estate, but he was nearly certain the place was worth at least twice that.

It was a risk, though. Even if the place was technically worth as much as he thought there was no telling what kind of state it was in, and eight thousand pounds was almost all the money he had.

Brent’s successful career in the Navy had been based on the fact that he could quickly assess a situation and make a swift decision. He also had learned to trust his gut, and his gut was telling him this was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

Bennet looked around the room, his face hopeful at first, though it gradually grew more and more despondent as no one spoke up. Finally, Brent stood up and said, “Let’s talk.” He requested a private room, and the two of them entered, shutting the door behind them.

“First, I wish to know why you are so desperate,” said Brent. “Gambling isn’t usually a life-threatening pastime unless you’ve been playing in the wrong places.”

Bennet’s face twisted in a grimace, and he looked away. “I suppose I have,” he said after nearly a minute of silence.

“So, you are in debt, and those you owe money to are threatening your life?” asked Brent.

Bennet just nodded. Then he said, “I can’t die. My sister is depending on me. We have no other family, just each other.”

Brent sighed. “How much is your debt? If I give you the amount you asked for, will there be anything left to live on?”

“I owe four thousand pounds,” said Bennet. “The remaining four should be enough to keep my sister and me comfortable enough.”

“It should be,” said Brent, “but only if you don’t gamble it away.

I will buy your estate for your asking price.

We can go to my bank first thing in the morning to make the sale.

However, you will sign a contract stating that you will never gamble for more than chicken stakes for the rest of your life. ”

“But that’s ridiculous!” cried Bennet. “What else is there to do?”

“I am certain you can find a hobby or even an occupation, but this is non-negotiable,” said Brent. “I will only buy your estate if you stop gambling.”

“Fine,” mumbled Bennet. “I am certain my bossy sister will have some ideas. Let’s make the contract.”

Longbourn turned out to be in reasonably good condition. There were only a few updates that were essential immediately, and Brent had enough money left to handle those. Once the rents started coming in, he was able to manage the other updates and repairs gradually.

Brent eventually married Bennet’s sister, who wasn’t, as Bennet had said, particularly bossy but who was particularly lovely. When he did so, he took the family name of Bennet, so that the land that had been theirs for generations could still be home to the Bennet family.

They had two lovely children, Patrick and Lydia Bennet. Lydia eventually married a man by the name of Collins and moved away, but Patrick married a local girl and settled down in the neighborhood.

No one but Brent’s wife knew that Brent had ever been anything other than a former Navy captain. As far as Brent was concerned, his family was dead, and he knew they assumed he was dead as well. Of course, he read about them in the newspaper, but he never contacted them again.

Brent Bennet lived a comfortable life with his wife at his estate, Longbourn, though his life was not as long as he would have liked. He passed away in his sleep just weeks after his grandson, Thomas Bennet, was born in 1764.