October 20, 1811

Whatever ill will and mistrust Emma placed in Simon, she gladly welcomed the news of her stepson calling upon Marina Rowley. She even walked him to the door. " Surely she has forgotten about Lucas Lodge. My nerves can not tolerate the displeasure of knowing that you allow 50,000 pounds to escape you," She tried to look faint and succeeded in only appearing constipated.

Jane and Elizabeth stood behind their mother waiting for the moment Mrs. Bennet vacated to the drawing room. " Mama, Simon does not need to woo Miss Rowley anymore than she wishes to be wooed. If she wished to be wooed, she would have danced," Elizabeth said directly, consequently upsetting her mother.

" What lady does not wish to be married?"

The absurdity of the idea aided Mrs. Bennet in maintaining a resemblance of propriety when in truth more than one lady in their acquaintance, such as Miss Mary King and Penelope Harrington refused to marry to maintain full control of their wealth. Harriet Harrington wished to marry, and her dowry of 8,000 pounds permitted her the ability to live comfortably on 400 per annum if she did not marry before the shelf age.

Jane put a hand on her mother's shoulder. " Mama, those who can keep their own house do not need to marry. Simon is only calling upon Miss Rowley to admire her. Compared to her cousin, she is the fairer," The lie easily convinced her mother.

" Jane," Elizabeth ventured. " Are you suggesting that Miss Bingley lacks beauty?" The short lived teasing quickly reverted to the subject of soreness within Longbourn. " Lydia will be happy to know that she will not need to keep to her room,"

Simon dictated to the entire family that Lydia would answer to him, and when Simon was not able to oversee her, she would be in the company of Elizabeth or Jane. She was not out and would not be out till the age of 18. Of course Lydia burst into tears and started demanding justice. She pleaded to her mother, who cried with her, and then her father who told her to stop embarrassing the family. Since a days ago, Lydia refused to be in the same room as him. Out of spite, he spent the entire first day in the house moving from various room to various room to draw her out of her spiteful mood.

He needed relief so to please everyone but Lydia, he announced he would call upon Miss Rowley, the source of her no longer being out. " I did not punish her at the supper, Lizzy," He grabbed his top hat from the coat rack. " I merely reduced the likelihood of Lydia's reputation being ruined. She can not be out, mother," He looked his stepmother directly in the eye.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Emma Bennet started to cry again. She kept murmuring Lydia's name over and over until Jane promised her it would end well. Elizabeth settled in the drawing room with needlepoint to entertain the distraught woman. Mary and Kitty's entrance added to the silence while Jane tended both the sullen Lydia their distressed mother with idle conversation.

A lot played on Simon's mind as he traveled the three miles by carriage. One could not blame him for pressuring his father into controlling Lydia, although his mother certainly considered him an enemy for daring to control his sister's inappropriate behavior. The talk with Miss Rowley enlightened him. A complete stranger noticed the way he acted, the way his entire family acted. She did not condemn them and complimented him. How could he refuse his interest in understanding her better while harboring an infatuation he wanted no one to be aware?

Naturally Elizabeth approved and Jane disapproved, each for their own reasons. To withdraw one's child being 'out' signified a scandal or hinted at an impropriety that took place. Jane hardly wanted Lydia to suffer at home while the others were able to enjoy a ball or assembly. Elizabeth complimented him on his backbone and shared something even more interesting – that the Bingleys wealth was not the only connection to be exploited. The Rowleys were connected to the Darcys and the Darcys were one of the 400 most wealthy families all of England.

50,000 pounds could do a great deal for ones estate. He could purchase acrage enough to earn at least 1,000 per annum, if he even secured that much wealth.

Using the dowry for purchasing land did not set well with Simon. It violated his sense of fair treatment of women, and after witnessing his parents poor marriage, he wanted his wife's respect and adoration. He did not want her nerves as a companion, not even in humor deflecting an awful truth.

Charles Bingley welcomed him to the study first, questioning him about his motives and his youngest sister's sudden removal from society. He conjured up a half-truth that minimally embarrassed his family while avoiding the full embarrassment that would have otherwise ruined them. " I wish you luck in persuading my cousin to dance at the Netherfield Ball,"

" She has an injured ankle, Mr. Bingley. I would no more expect her to dance than my mother to become more subdued," Simon studied his counterpart and decided the young man did not fit into Hertfordshire. He was too worldly, too soft. " I believe she could help me better guide Lydia, which is why I require her good opinion,"

" She certainly has opinions," Mr. Bingley agreed showing Simon to the music room where Marina played on the pianoforte. Simon guessed it to be an original composition at the experimental parts played over and over with little changes. " Marina, Mr. Bennet is here to call upon you,"

The woman turned around and smiled at both of them. " Mr. Bennet, do approach. I am simply fine tuning a piece I've been working on for over a year. I was going to exhibit at the Netherfield ball," She made a note on parchment and used a cane to stand. Charles motioned her to stay seated as Simon admired her tenacity to propriety.

" It is a beautiful piece," Longbourn lacked amusement. " I would have your brother ensure that another composer does not claim credit for it,"

" I intend to. Silas and I are both intending for the income to be added to an estate trust, so that only I would have access to it. How may I help you today, Mr. Bennet? Miss Lydia has not run off with a soldier yet, has she? If so, I would recommend immediately circulating rumors of her running off to Gretna Green or another border village or town. It would best protect your family,"

" She is in my care now, Miss Marina, which is why I am here. You are a lady of great standing and have been granted a superior education. I am not asking you to be a governess, but you could help me find a governess for her-"

" Mr. Bennet, I know no one to recommend," She wondered if this was the sole reason for his visit. " Miss Chambers is of course my trusted Lady Maid. Until she marries, in which case I would keep her on as housekeeper. She is a formidable woman in her own right, and I trust her,"

He nodded, amazed by the way her eye color shifted. The confidence she displayed astounded him. " I must say that you are a surprise within a surprise, Miss Marina. When I first met you, I hoped for a dance. I still hold out hope for a dance," Charles dutifully read a book in the corner, quite content to stay out of the loaded conversation.

A blush colored her cheeks. " I sincerely hope that my ankle is heeled by Netherfield ball, but perhaps you would be extended an invitation by my cousin and we could remedy the insult,"

" I don't call it an insult, but a missed opportunity,"

" To a missed opportunity," Marina echoed, casting a long glance toward Charles, who only shook his head. " As for Lydia's manners, I can not improve them without being your wife. To act as a governess would lower me in standing I am not yet ready to sacrifice,"

" I understand," He allowed himself to breathe, the small possibility that she permitted him the hope leaving him speechless. The resuming of music eased the awkwardness and transitioned into what he wanted to say first. " Thank you,"

She just nodded. " I will speak to Miss Chambers and see if she knows of a suitable governess," They spoke for another half hour over coffee and tea before Simon excused himself.

Charles closed his book. " He admires you, and values your good opinion," The door to the music room was closed, giving them the privacy they needed. " If he offers, I would not refuse," His ready smile turned genuine as he opened his book again.

" Charles, if Mr. Bennet were to use my full 50,000 pounds to purchase a fine house and acreage, he would collect about 1,500 pounds per annum. Mr. Robinson is expected to earn less than Mr. Bennet and far too shy. Mr. Goulding values the connections more than he values me. Is it wrong for me to choose Mr. Bennet simply because I want a man who I can esteem?"

" I am quite recovered, Marina, from my broken heart. I should have made an offer to her before the season ended, but it is my fault."

" No, Caroline is partly to blame," Marina used the cane to limp across the music room. She winced as the weight shifted on and off her ankle repeatedly. " I believe she had a talk with the lady which caused her to turn your attentions away,"

Watching Marina fall onto the settee, Charles started to put the events together. " Is 4,000 pounds too little a dowry?"

" By no means is it too little. No dowry is too little, and 4,000 pounds is not miniscule by most means. Even if you were to put 1,000 per annum away while leasing a home like this for the rest of your life, you could accrue a respectable dowry for any daughters that might be born. Caroline wanted you to marry Georgiana but my brother earned her affections first. Miss Stone and Miss Gray rejected you because you were not a peer. Caroline reaches,"

" But you do not?"

" I acknowledge that wealth is necessary to be happy, but excessive wealth grants nothing more than a cushion between poverty and wealth when the economy suffers. I would be very happy with Mr. Bennet should he offer. I can not say that Silas would approve of him but Silas earns only 2,000 more per annum than Mr. Bennet would should he inherit Longbourn and not use my dowry to purchase additional estates,"

The cousins fell silent. Charles placed a kiss to Marina's forehead and returned to the library to go over the ledger with his steward. Caroline joined Marina in the music room, eventually by Louisa. The sisters started to tease Marina about her infatuation. Marina ignored them knowing that Charles would soon put Caroline in her own place, and if Louisa was involved, both ladies would be punished appropriately.

" Mr. Goulding never made you blush as much as Mr. Bennet. Are you able to survive on 2,000 per annum once he inherits?" Charles returned by now and remained suspiciously silent, having experienced on surviving with only 300 per annum before he inherited 100,000.

" I do not know what you mean," Seating herself at the card table, Marina realized she desired to know Mr. Simon Bennet better. " You are simply envious, Caroline,"

Mr. Darcy's appearance silenced the entire room. Charles closely observed his sister clamor over herself to curtsy. Marina remained seated, keeping her cane close by. Mr. Darcy strolled across the room, bowed to the ladies, and handed over a letter to Marina. " I am pleased to see you well, Miss Rowley. No need to curtsy, as your ankle is clearly hurt," He nodded to Caroline and then turned to Charles. " I am ahead of Mr. Barnard Colborne, who is a day behind."

" Mr. Colborne of the Colbornes of Lindsey?" Marina inquired most carefully. " The Colbornes that are nearly as wealthy as yourself?"

Mr. Darcy nodded.

" Caroline, he must be visiting to offer to you. No man of that character would be willing to offer to me, the daughter of a gambler who sold half of our family's wealth just to cover his bad debts?"

" Why not?" Caroline challenged bitterly. Her eyes never left Marina, the competitive edge coming alive once more. " You are an attractive lady with a sizable dowry. Why should he not take an interest, even if your father is responsible for the family's loss of wealth?"

Charles cleared his throat. Louisa started to apologize for Caroline to Mr. Darcy, completely ignoring Marina within the apology. Grabbing her cane, Marina Rowley exited the room without an excuse, and Mr. Darcy agreed with Charles. Something needed to be done about Caroline Bingley before she insulted the wrong person.