Author's Note:
Hi, guys! I know it's been a long time, but my muse has gone on holidays, so this chapter took a very long time to write. I followed your suggestions about Colonel Kelly and changed Miss Bingley's destiny since I hadn't written it yet. Like many of you, I still wanted her to suffer a little, so I hope you are satisfied with the result.
Your reviews mean you're still reading and I'm not just talking to myself here, so please, let me know what you think.
Stay safe!
Jen
"Two months with my family and a newborn babe! You must be insane! It is very fortunate that I love you so dearly that I will not send you to Bedlam!"
"Quite fortunate indeed," he smiled and kissed her. "Think about it this way—both our children shall be constantly entertained and shall be easier for their parents to get accustomed to the new addition."
"Or we shall lose our minds."
"That is a possibility," he conceded and received another kiss from his laughing wife.
59.
"Ben! Be careful with your cousin!" Elizabeth warned her son as she watched Charlie fall on his bottom when Bennet tugged on his arm to run faster across the grounds.
"We are playing, Mama!" her son replied, helping his cousin stand up.
"I know, but remember he is younger than you."
"Charlie is well, Lizzy," Jane said, resting her hand on her sister's arm as they sat on a blanket in the garden, watching their children play. "He stumbles sometimes when he runs, but it is clear he looks up to Ben."
"And Bennet adores him," Elizabeth said. "He is always asking when Charlie will visit or asking us to take him to Budleigh House."
"And soon Matt shall join them."
They laughed when they saw their husbands take their children in their arms and throw them up in the air, catching them and eliciting squeals and fits of laughter from the boys.
"Are you well, Lizzy?" Jane suddenly asked.
"I am perfectly fine," Elizabeth replied, peeking at a sleeping Matthew in his moses basket.
"It has only been a week."
"But Dr. Johnson said I could leave my bed and even the house if I stayed close."
"I only worry for you, Lizzy. I confess that for a moment I was frightened when Matt was born."
"So was I," Elizabeth said. "It seemed to last longer but Dr. Johnson said that no two births are identical."
"I am so glad you are all right," Jane said, reaching out to hold her sister's hand. "And that you had such a handsome little gentleman."
They both smiled as they turned to the youngest Darcy, who was still napping placidly.
"Will you still return to Budleigh House tomorrow?"
"Yes, I believe we must."
Before Elizabeth could ask her meaning, they were joined by their husbands.
"Darcy!" Bingley said as he approached them. "Can you believe these beautiful ladies are here all by themselves? Should we not approach them and introduce ourselves?"
Fitzwilliam chuckled and replied: "I do not know, Bingley. They look too refined and alluring to be interested in such old men as we are."
"Speak for yourself, man!" his friend exclaimed and then pretended to whisper. "Perhaps they might settle for less than they deserve."
"Stop such nonsense, you two," Elizabeth chuckled.
Both men sat next to their wives and watched as their boys played under the protective gaze of their nursemaids.
"Those two have more energy than Darcy and I can amass in a year!" Bingley said.
"And it is worse when they are together," Fitzwilliam agreed and wrapped his arm around Elizabeth's waist as she leaned slightly on his chest.
Bingley took advantage of the fact that the couples were alone and also moved closer to his wife, taking her hand. He looked at Jane with a question in his eyes and when she nodded, he turned to his brother and sister.
"I received a letter from Hurst a few days ago," Bingley said.
"How is he and Mrs. and Miss Hurst?" Elizabeth asked politely.
"They are all perfectly well, but they had shocking news for us."
"Good or bad?" Fitzwilliam asked.
"Well, both, I suppose."
"Do not keep us in suspense, Bingley! What happened?"
"You know Caroline was not happy about her prospective marriage to Colonel Kelly. She was growing quite desperate and well, she..."
"Charles?" Elizabeth said gently, trying to encourage him.
"This is mortifying for me, but you are my family and you shall hear about this soon either way," he sighed. "She tried to compromise Lord Hamilton."
Elizabeth gasped and tried to compose herself quickly for her brother's sake.
"I suppose we should not be so shocked," Fitzwilliam argued, "after she tried to compromise me even after I had married."
"It does make more sense to compromise a bachelor, but that cannot be a happy union," Jane commented with a blush.
"I do not think that happiness in marriage was what my sister was seeking."
"You said that she tried to compromise him, did she not succeed?"
"No," Bingley replied with a slight smile. "Not with Lord Hamilton in any case, but she did compromise Mr. Tacker."
"I do not know a Mr. Tacker," Fitzwilliam said.
"I am not surprised you do not know him. He is a tradesman."
Elizabeth almost laughed at the irony, but since it was uncharitable to laugh at another's misfortune—no matter how deserving it may be—she managed to stop herself just in time.
"Do many people know?" her husband asked.
"Everyone attending the ball knew of it in a matter of half an hour! She made it quite public deliberately, but her intended goal did not take the bait."
"And how did Mr. Tacker take his place?"
"I think quite deliberately, too," Bingley replied. "I do not know how Mr. Tacker was invited to the ball. He was believed to be a wealthy tradesman, but when Hurst spoke to him, he found that Mr. Tacker's business was not going well and he had a few debts to pay. Caroline's dowry of £20,000 is highly convenient for him."
"Will she marry him?" Elizabeth asked.
"She does not have any other option. Everybody knows she was found in the arms of Mr. Tacker and she will be ruined if she does not."
"Is he irresponsible with money or were his debts caused by bad investments?" Fitzwilliam asked.
"I think it was a series of bad investments, so hopefully, he shall be able to recover with Caroline's dowry, which I believe was his intent."
"When shall the wedding be?" Elizabeth asked.
"Three weeks from now," Jane replied. "As soon as the banns are called."
"Will you attend?" Fitzwilliam asked.
"I was not. I have not forgiven her for what she did the last time she was here, " Bingley said, looking at his wife. "But Jane has convinced me that her marriage is scandalous enough as it is. Her family must be there to show we give our approval or there will be more speculation."
"All shall be forgotten and forgiven with their marriage, my love," Jane said. "We need not add to the gossip."
"Where does Mr. Tacker live?" Elizabeth asked.
Bingley smiled for the first time since they started the conversation. "Gracechurch Street."
Fitzwilliam opened the door to the library and was unsurprised to find his father-in-law sitting on the most comfortable armchair in the room. He was, however, surprised to see his first-born son sleeping placidly on his lap.
Mr. Bennet looked at his son-in-law as he entered. "I hope you do not mind I kidnapped him from his nurse."
Fitzwilliam shook his head with a smile and joked: "One never knows where that little rascal is, but he is rarely with his nurse."
The old man chuckled. "He wanted to read with me, but nap time approached and he was out before we had read more than two pages."
"Do you want me to take him to the nursery?"
"Not yet if you do not mind. Lizzy would often fall asleep on my lap when we read together. It has been many years since I had the privilege of holding a sleeping child."
"It is quite comforting," Fitzwilliam agreed and could not help but smile at the way Bennet's cheek was pressed against his grandpapa's chest, lips slightly opened as a bit of drool gathered at the corner of his mouth. "Although I am afraid your waistcoat shall be drenched by the end of the nap."
Mr. Bennet smiled briefly before he sighed. "There comes a day in the life of every father when your children deem themselves too old to sit on your lap or to be carried in your arms. It is the natural order of things, of course, but it is a sad day for a father."
"I hope it shall be many years from now."
"Yes," his father replied and was silent and thoughtful for a few minutes. "There is something I should like to discuss with you."
"Of course."
"Now that Mr. Collins has passed, I have spoken with my solicitor and we are currently looking for possible heirs to Longbourn."
"Is there any candidate that comes to mind? Elizabeth never mentioned other men in your side of the family."
"We found that there is a third cousin of mine who emigrated to America before my marriage. I have never had contact with him. I do not know whether he lives or not or whether he has any children."
"I assume your solicitor will contact him."
"He will, but it shall take some time to find him and receive his reply. Until then, we thought it would be a good idea to search for others who might be in line to inherit Longbourn. You have better connections and probably a better solicitor than I do. Could you speak with your solicitor in my stead?"
"I can do better than that, I can take you with me to London to speak to him, perhaps on your way back to Longbourn."
"Oh, I thought you send him a letter. You have a newborn here."
"Yes, but according to Dr. Johnson, both Elizabeth and Matthew are out of danger. Still, I shall try to be gone for a short period of time."
Mr. Bennet smiled. "Shall Lizzy not hate me for taking you away?"
"Elizabeth will understand, I am sure. She loves Longbourn."
"Yes, she does," Mr. Bennet sighed. "I have laughed at the entail for many years, but I confess to you that I loathe the idea that my home, which has been the Bennet estate for so long, shall go to an unknown distant cousin. It should belong to my children."
"Perhaps it shall not come to that. What will happen if this cousin of yours has died without heirs?"
"We would have to find another male heir and if we cannot find one, then... then the entail would be broken and I could divide it among my children."
"With five daughters, the only way you could do that is selling the property altogether."
"I know. It shall be lost to the family either way, but selling would allow me to provide dowries for my unmarried daughters and gifts for the married ones. I have the feeling that Lydia, more than anyone, shall need it."
"She is well, sir."
"I suspect that you send her money."
"Rarely," Fitzwilliam shrugged. "Tightening Wickham's rein is more effective."
They heard a moaning sound as Bennet stretched and yawned.
"Papa?" he mumbled when his green, sleepy eyes spied his father in the library. "I was reading with Grandpapa Bennet."
"I see you were," Fitzwilliam smiled. "Come, let us find your nurse."
Bennet raised his arms to be picked up and then rested his head on his father's shoulder to continue his nap.
"I shall write to my solicitor today and I will speak to Elizabeth about going with you."
"Thank you, Son," Mr. Bennet nodded.
"You are welcome. I shall leave you to read in peace."
I do not own any Pride and Prejudice properties, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.
Characters and situations, created by Jane Austen, are taken from Pride and Prejudice and from the Pride and Prejudice (1995) adaptation created by Simon Langton and distributed by BBC.
This story is released under the GPL/CC BY: verbatim copying and distribution of this entire work are permitted worldwide, without royalty, in any medium, provided attribution is preserved.
