Chapter XXII
Longbourn, October 10, 1811
The full complement of Bennet women—Lydia had lately returned from Brighton, delivered by Colonel Forster on his way to the regiment's winter posting in Northamptonshire—had gathered in the parlor. Their heads were dipped low over a wide range of needlework projects, all destined for Mary's nuptials. The ladies had little time to turn Aunt Madelyn's gift of bolts of muslin and sarcenet into Mary's wedding regalia. The first banns had been called this past Sunday by Edward himself in Longbourn Chapel. Benton had thought to ask Mr. Anderton, the rector at St. Elizabeth's in Meryton, to switch pulpits with him for three weeks. However, Anderton, taking the waters in Bath, had delegated his Sabbath tasks to his curate. As Benton was unfamiliar with the latter, William Collins being a daily reminder of the type of individual who all-too-often entered the clergy, Mary's betrothed decided to handle the pleasant chore himself.
This oddity caused no end of titters from the younger ladies in the congregation, still smarting from the loss of one of the area's more handsome eligible gentlemen and one who had clearly floated to the heavens on the income from the Longbourn living. However, none of them begrudged their dear friend Mary Bennet her success; they would have had to contend with four outraged Bennet sisters if they had sought to imitate the older tabbies and bared their claws.
Lydia busied herself with the dress form, brought downstairs from one of the guest chambers that usually served as the ladies' workroom, and was pinning up her design based upon the fashions she had seen during her Brighton sojourn. However, she had been necessarily constrained by Mary's insistence that this creation has a life after the ceremony and wedding breakfast. The youngest Bennet was demonstrating an ingenuity beyond her years: the key evidence being when she interposed herself between Mrs. Bennet's middle daughter and the lady herself.
Both Mrs. Bennet and Mary were stubborn in their own way.
Fanny's efforts to convince Mr. Bennet that a sennight's trek to Town was required to purchase Mary's wedding clothes became a cause célèbre. The Master of Longbourn was on the brink of deciding in his wife's favor when a harried Edward Benton appeared before his work table pleading with Bennet to ease his beloved's fears that her mother was creating an unseemly spectacle. Mary had served Edward notice that if he did not discover a way to curb her Mrs. Bennet, she would simplify matters by calling off the wedding altogether. Bennet sacrificed his own peace of mind for his daughter's happiness; the proposed spending spree was scrapped.
While Mary professed satisfaction with the explanation that the horses would be needed on the estate, Mrs. Bennet was quite aggrieved and did not speak to anyone but Mrs. Hill for two days.
Into this breach stepped Miss Lydia. If there was one Bennet daughter who had her mother wrapped around her little finger, t'was Lydia.
The junior Miss Bennet managed the contretemps like she was Mr. Canning. Lydia balanced Mama's desires for a grand affair—ignoring the fact that her girl was becoming a preacher's wife and not a countess—and Mary's wishes for a solemn and simple, almost Dissenter-level, event which ignored the Bennet family's status in Meryton.
She offered a subdued application of lace to satisfy her mother while stitching the delicacy onto the gown in an easily-removable manner. Leaving undamaged swatches that Mary might choose to gift to her resourceful sister. Any flounces that made their way from sketch pad to form were likewise destined for Longbourn's stitchery remainder basket. As a result, Mary's dress could move from its original incarnation and become something suitable for an evening dinner at Lucas Lodge.
The other young ladies, excluding the bride herself, occupied themselves with a dozen tasks needed to support their sister in her upcoming happiness and their mother in her immediate distraction. Mrs. Bennet only had stood on the sidelines as other women shepherded their blushing daughters to the altar. Now, her excitement was unparalleled in anyone's experience and was punctuated by joyous bouts. No sooner would Jane be dispatched to the kitchen with another one of Mama's lists then Kitty would find herself forced to paw through back numbers of Papa's London Advertiser for the columns describing the wedding breakfast thrown by Lady Russell for Miss Elliot when she wed Mr. Musgrove last December. Mary was permitted a level of liberty as she was the source of her mother's new-found status as a lady with one daughter betrothed. The young lady patiently stitched handkerchiefs with pasqueflowers—her favorites and Hertfordshire's flower—intertwined with dog-rose for Edward's native Hampshire.i
However, Fanny Bennet was as wily as the Tyrant when it came to marshaling her scant resources. Lizzy was the one daughter never released from her sewing duties. That was not because of any disquiet Mrs. Bennet may have held against her daughter's consistent success in escaping being alone with Mr. Collins. On the contrary, for all of her hoydenish ways, Miss Elizabeth was the most talented seamstress and needlewoman at Longbourn. Her presence on every item of Mary's wedding clothes that would be seen by the public insured that seams would be straight and embroidery even.
Thus, work flew from beneath nimble fingers, and Mary's trunk slowly began to fill. Chatter amongst the young ladies was lively even though Lizzy's mind seemed elsewhere. Her mother frequently had to call her name two or three times before Elizabeth would bestir herself to reply. From time-to-time, Mr. Bennet would brave the maelstrom that Mrs. Bennet had created in the family parlor to speak with his second daughter. Those whispered exchanges lifted Lizzy's spirits, and, with brightened eyes, she would become more engaged with her siblings' projects.
While the ladies were occupied with wedding preparations, Mr. Bennet was engaged in pursuits more in line with his second daughter's musings. He was meeting with Sir Thaddeus Soames, a newly-minted baronet. Soames had made no secret of his anticipated elevation when he had first approached the company to factor labor for the Canal excavation and lining. His name had recently appeared in The Advertiser's columns trumpeting his confirmation by the Regent.
Hmmph…I wonder how many palms he had to grease to remove the stench of trade, nay, legal slavery, from his name.
Bennet had questions about Soames' activities relating to his expenses on the Canal project. While Gardiner had pronounced himself satisfied with the prices and completion deadlines, Bennet had found events of recent days and weeks to be most distasteful. He had never met the man, leaving the negotiations to his brother. Thus, Bennet wanted to take the measure of Soames. Too much money seemed to be flowing out for "expenses" and food per diems, and too little work was being accomplished.
Bennet had questions that were bound to discomfit Soames.
Hill had shown the man into the Longbourn bookroom in the late morning. Bennet had found that his temper could more easily be regulated before midday. He knew that after he had braced himself with regular applications of port—brandy was reserved for after-dinner—throughout his afternoon reading, he tended to react with…as the Royal Artillery put it…a short fuse. He knew that he needed to regulate his emotions this day for the subject matter would be anything but pleasant.
While not conventionally handsome, Soames did cut an impressive figure with a solidity that was not a tradesman's portliness restrained by bulging waistcoats, although it did appear that his recent successes had led to an improved diet. The man was tending toward fat, but not yet there. The baronet was long-of-body and short-of leg. Barrel-chested and on the tall side of average, Sir Thaddeus struck Bennet as a man in motion even when standing still. His eyes never rested, constantly flicking from here-to-there, from beneath a broad forehead and wavy brown hair. A scar whitely transected his right brow and testified to the netherworld that was his business. He appeared before Bennet wearing a royal blue topcoat with silver buttons. His rust-colored waistcoat was a bit garish to Bennet's tastes and flowed upward from cream pantaloons that disguised the heaviness of his rump and thighs.
His grip, though, was firm and dry. He was a confident businessman and unfearful of confrontation. Bennet knew he had to tread carefully especially on the subject of William Smith.
Motioning Soames into one of the leather armchairs turned to face his worktable, Bennet assumed the position of authority behind his desk.
Clearing his throat, he began, "Welcome to Longbourn, Sir Thaddeus. I must commend you upon your elevation. The government does not pass out preferments like faerie monarchs on the Twelfth Night. Your service must have been great, indeed: on the level of a brilliant frigate captain having bested the French and captured a treasure ship.
"I regret that I have not had the pleasure of meeting you until now. That I have not paid my respects before this day was unintentional, I assure you, and grew from my sense that Gardiner was more versed in modern business than I. Thus, I delegated the normal courtesies into his more than capable hands.
"I am, however, honored that you chose to meet with me today."
Soames' eyes flashed for he sensed that Bennet may have also seen himself as inhabiting a plane far above a man who earned his bread selling the labor of convicts to willing purchasers. However, as he now had climbed past the landowner in status, he chose to make his verbal cuts gentle while still firm.
He replied in a deep baritone that scratched of too many cigars and glasses of cheap gin, "Why no, Bennet, I did not find your failure to pay a call objectionable. I may call you Bennet, mayn't I?
"You are most correct that there were many gentlemen who supported my elevation with those who have the Regent's ear. But, how and why I received my coat of arms is neither here nor there.
"And, now, here I am, a baronet coming to the manor of his client at his behest when I could easily have demanded your attendance upon me at my new seat at Broad Oaks in Nottinghamshire."
Bennet grimly smiled at the veiled insults, so common amongst those who had recently risen in class. A tradesman's perceived inferiority frequently led to a paucity of manners. While Sir Thaddeus had not asserted outright that he had become a better man than Bennet by an act of His Royal Highness, his frequent use of the word "I" convinced the Master of Longbourn that decades would be required to smooth all the rough edges off of Thaddeus Soames.
Bennet continued the pas de deux and replied, "Oh, no doubt, society would not have blinked, Sir Thaddeus, had you called me north. Then, however, I would have been obliged to transport my solicitor and the enterprise's auditor alongside me rather than being able simply to refer to their reports here in the comfort of my library while closeted with you.
"However, if you would wish to reschedule our meeting, I am certain that the Earl of Matlock would be pleased to host us at his House in Town. His Lordship is one of the Canal's earliest shareholders and is a close acquaintance of Mr. Gardiner,"
The hammer of an Earl quickly established Bennet's connections as being superior enough to overcome any variance in status between him and a lowly baronet. Soames' attitude changed.
"I am certain that your concerns can be addressed in this forum, Mr. Bennet.
"Please tell me what is on your mind," Soames asked.
Bennet tented his fingers beneath his chin and stared over the top rim of his glasses at the man holding the government contract for the forty-man string encamped on the other side of the hedgerow border. How many others did Soames employ?
Bennet had never been an abolitionist of Wilberforce's stripe, but he was disgusted at the idea that one man could literally possess another. Slaves had never prospered in England. Now, men like Soames had found a way to turn the muscles of white convicts to their financial benefit. Bennet had become more ashamed of himself, Gardiner, and their other partners the more these wretches had been used and abused for their profit.
Yet, t'was not as if there was a surplus of labor. The demands of the Army in the struggle against Napoleon siphoned off the most desperate if not the strongest. Broad backs were needed as the nation's economy continued its transformation. Landlords in Ireland were nearly apoplectic each time canal companies advertised in Dublin for navvies. They needed to keep those hands down on the farm raising crops and paying rents.
Although more men and their families were being turned off the land by enclosures, men like Soames filled the immediate unskilled workingman deficit. However, as with any situation involving men and money, corruption was rife.
That is what Bennet needed to address. He, though, was determined to begin not with the worst allegations but rather the more mundane.
"The company auditor hired on by our solicitors, Wilson and Hunters of Lincoln's Inn, seems concerned about several recent claims for extraordinary expenses. I speak not of anything egregious, Sir Thaddeus. Instead, our man has pointed to modest variances beyond the five-and-ten per centum which you estimated prior to our engaging in a business relationship," Bennet said.
Noticing the man's deepening scowl, Bennet hastened to add, "I am not suggesting that these claims are fraudulent…oh no, not by any stretch, my good sir. Rather, we are seeing claims which almost appear as rounding errors.
"Here, please see this ledger," at which point he spun a book on the waxed desktop so that Soames could read it right-side-up but was forced to lean forward to apprehend where Bennet pointed.
The Managing Director of the Canal Company continued, "I will not task you with the mathematics, but suffice to say the cost you are expensing to us for these shoring timbers is about two per centum above that which would constitute an acceptable deviation based upon the figures you supplied last year."
Soames seemed to closely study the clerk's precise copperplate. He asked if Bennet had the original bill submitted by the lumber purveyor. Bennet smiled and played his part in the tableau. He handed the invoice over to the baronet who proceeded to study the sheet of paper.
Bennet kept his peace although he could almost quote word-for-word that which he expected Soames to say.
Sir Thaddeus straightened from his review and stated, "Yes. This is assuredly the work of one of our regular suppliers. I do realize that the bill is for two-and-ten above our quoted variance. However, I can assure you that there is nothing untoward at play here.
"In fact, I imagine that if you contact Dyson and Sons directly, you will receive a perfectly satisfactory explanation from the proprietor, Harry Dyson. He will likely point out that the recent naval building program is putting pressure upon every forest across the country. The price of seasoned wood rapidly increases every time a shipyard lays down another second-rate or frigate.
"I will, of course, ask my buyers about this issue, but I expect that they will reply exactly as I have just now."
Bennet chose to accept the proffered excuse, but did push back gently, "Yet, if the cost was to be more than anticipated, why did you not send us a revised estimate?"
Soames smiled broadly as if he was happy to expound on how he was actually helping the Canal Company, "Bennet, if we sent you a new cost each time we encountered an extraordinary circumstance—dredging out a canal is not an exact science as we cannot know what lies beneath the grass—you would be buried in paper. Even a vaunted businessman like Edward Gardiner would become distracted."
And, Bennet thought, an indolent rural gentleman would be bound for Bedlam.
Yet, Bennet schooled his features as he replied, "I have no doubt our war effort is playing havoc with timber rates. That is something with which every estate master is familiar given that we are enjoying a boost in grain prices thanks to the demands of our men in uniform.
"Really, a few pounds and pence one way or the other means little as long as we are receiving a fair price. My partners and shareholders do not expect to make money on the construction of the ditch. My worry was probably unreasonable, for I had heard that t'was a common practice for timber merchants to overcharge the end customer and allow the yard and the middleman to split the overage."
Now outrage colored Soames' mien and he hotly answered the accusation, "I can assure you that Thaddeus Soames would never countenance such sharpness in any business with which he was involved. My men know better than to act like they were representing some second-rate tradesman looking to make his fortune a farthing at a time!
"I vow that I plan to conduct a stringent investigation if only to ease my mind so that I may tell you with a clear conscience that my operation is honest from top to bottom!"
Bennet wryly mused, I must have poked something sore! His reaction reminds me of the Bard—the gentleman protests too much, methinks.ii Yet, he had accomplished the manipulation he desired.
Holding up his hands, Bennet made peace, "Please forgive my frank language, Sir Thaddeus. I beg you to remember that I am naught but a simple country gentleman. I assure you that I, in no manner, sought to impugn your reputation.
"That is why conferences such as this need to be conducted in private so that misunderstandings can be easily resolved and never see the light of day to the embarrassment of the parties involved!"
Bennet jumped up and stepped to his drinks tray. Soames accepted the offering of a glass of Longbourn's finest brandy and a cigar brought from Havana by one of Gardiner's vessels. He leaned back in his chair and relaxed. Bennet eschewed returning to his throne and rather pulled the other wingback from its place before the fire, using his foot to slide Lizzy's stool out of the way. This was intended to lull Soames into a companionable complacency.
After a few minutes of quaffing and puffing, Soames looked at Bennet and reopened the meeting, "So, Bennet, untaxed brandy and an exquisite cigar? If I did not know better, I would think you were easing your way to something distinctly more uncomfortable than a £2 overcharge."
Bennet silently steeled himself but laughed aloud, his mirth not reaching his eyes, "You are a reader of men, Sir Thaddeus. Remind me not to engage you in whist for any stakes greater than buttons.
"You are correct, sir. I do have another concern, and it rises not only from my station as one of the neighborhood's leading landowners but also from my official status, along with Sir William Lucas, as a magistrate.
"Rest assured that I am not suggesting that your men have bent the law.
"However…"
Sir Thaddeus interrupted, although not in choler, "There always is a 'however,' is there not?"
Bennet ruefully chuckled and continued, "However, this past Michaelmas brought a situation uncomfortably close to my home. Two of my daughters, accompanied by Reverend Benton and me, were traveling to where the convicts are domiciled, at a barn on the outer reaches of a neighboring estate.
"We came across a scene that was beyond our ken on any day: the Sabbath or otherwise. A young man, suspended from a tripod, was being flogged. Our visit was not unanticipated as Mr. Benton has tended to the prisoners' spiritual needs for months.
"When Benton sought to intervene, he, too, was struck down by one of your men."
Soames made to speak, but Bennet held up a hand forestalling the comment.
"I am not suggesting anything," he continued, "about how you discipline your laborers. You have every right to manage them as you will within the confines of human decency. I do not doubt that the fellow was being punished for a reason that dealt with the Canal's construction.
"However, having observed the shock on my daughters' faces when confronted with realities they never should have seen, I must question your warders' judgment. They clearly knew that, at the very least, Benton would be arriving to read the Sabbath liturgy. Why was it necessary for them to punish that boy at that time?
"You may recall that I purchased young Wilson's contract from you that very afternoon, Lord's Day or not."
Soames said in a neutral tone, "Yes, I fear I was off in Nottinghamshire. My man told me that you had called him from his dinner in Town to ride four hours to Meryton with Wilson's papers."
Bennet leaned forward, "I task you with this as a father and a magistrate. My girls were sorely upset. My middle daughter, Mary, became betrothed shortly thereafter to Mr. Benton. Her older sister, Miss Elizabeth, was stunned into silence, a condition which is contrary to her lively and impertinent nature.
"And, as a magistrate, I am concerned about the possibility that one of the convicts might die: not that we should concern ourselves with those who have intentionally cut themselves off from society. Rather, I abhor the idea that we would have to halt work on the Canal until the investigation and coroner's inquest are concluded."
Let him conclude that I am as greedy as he is.
"The other part of this concern is that I have heard that one of your felons effected a successful escape. The idea that a dangerous outlaw is wandering Meryton's lanes has inspired a new interest in locks and bolts throughout the town," Bennet finished.
Soames relaxed and replied, "I can ease your mind, Bennet. I have spoken with my men. They will be more circumspect in the administration of punishment. And, we are searching for the escapee. I doubt if he will lift his head up anywhere near here. My hunters are scouring high and low but are concentrating on the roads south toward Portsmouth and also up Liverpool-way. He likely is trying to get to a port to sign onto a ship, either merchant or naval, and get out of the country."
Ahhh…so he is convinced that Smith will never be seen again. I doubt if he has had a single man so much as checking behind Netherfield's woodpile. That is good. Soames' resources could complicate our efforts to understand Smith's situation.
Bennet made a show of looking skeptical and then allowed his features to relax.
Slapping his hands upon his knees, he hauled himself upright. After Soames had joined him, Bennet shook his hand and escorted him to the door.
Then he asked the question that was designed to soothe any suspicions in the breast of Thaddeus Soames, "Would you care to meet my family? All of my daughters and my lady wife are at home this afternoon. My only caution is that Mrs. Bennet will flutter and demand your marital status. We still have four unmarried young ladies, you know."
Soames sobered, "Ah, yes! The much bruited-about marriage mart. I fear, Bennet, that I am, at this moment, a widower. My wife succumbed to a fever over a year ago, leaving me with two little ones."
He produced a lacy handkerchief from his cuff and held it to his nose. Soames took a deep, perhaps restorative, sniff of whatever fragrance remained before continuing.
"My darling children remain at the estate under the care of their nurses, although I am considering hiring a governess to begin my son's education. The press of business, you know, keeps me from home more than I would desire."
Bennet rolled his mind's eye at Soames' display before thinking, Oh, I have no doubt that it is business that keeps you away from Nottinghamshire and the pleasures of fatherhood. Your diversion, though, may be less concerned with canal-building and more focused on Cyprian delights.
Bennet, though, held that cynical thought closely and replied, "How dolorous your news is. I fear Mrs. Bennet will be devastated, but even my wife will moderate her attacks when faced with a widower's armor.
"However, there is nothing for it, Sir Thaddeus. Into the belly of the beast we must march. You may be safe from the parson's trap, but the ladies are, none-the-less, in the midst of planning a wedding. You must prepare yourself for the ordeal by lace."
So saying Bennet opened the door and allowed the sound rising from across the front hall to wash into the room.
i County Flowers of the United Kingdom wiki/County_flowers_of_the_United_Kingdom
ii Hamlet Act III, Scene 2. Queen Gertrude actually says "The lady…"