Author's note: I appreciate all the comments, thank you so much!
One thing that drives me a bit crazy about FFN is I can't reply directly to comments - it just has me send a PM to that person. Someone made a really lovely, sweet comment that went into a lot of detail about what farming is like in Europe. I really appreciated that they took so much time and energy into going into detail about it. I sent them a PM, but then I thought some of you might be interested in the research about the history, so here is what I sent them:
Hi! Thanks so much for leaving your comment! I'm with you; I don't like when regency fiction blows things over. I also really appreciated your detailed feedback! I did quite a bit of research into what was going on during this time period so I could make things as accurate as possible (while allowing for some creativity to move the story along).
You're exactly right, in most cases they would have a lot of stores. I live in ranching country in Texas. :) However, there is a lot in combination with this that made things difficult. This story is taking place AFTER the really bad winter and really bad summer, and it goes into the second bad winter. So they had used a lot of their stores to get through the previous winter and this bad summer already. Most of their stores would be depleted, and now nothing was coming in to replenish those.
Also, the decade or so leading up to this time already had poor harvests each year because of a series of smaller volcanic eruptions. This time period in history is known as the "Little Ice Age," which had several decades of difficult winters and poor harvests. Mount Tambora was just the final, culminating event that triggered a severe food shortage.
The Year Without Summer is actually the 6th-deadliest disaster in Great Britain and Ireland. You might appreciate the paper "Situating 1816, the 'year without summer', in the UK" by Lucy Veale and Georgina H Endfield.
Also, this was in the middle of the Napoleonic Wars, which meant that food was pretty scarce across Europe due to laborers being recruited into fighting.
Winter wheat, depending on the variety, is harvested at different times. Some varieties in the spring, some in the summer. In modern times, Russian wheat starts being harvested in June, but when Russian wheat was introduced to the United States in late 1800s by Russian Mennonite immigrants, it was harvested in the spring.
As for fuel, this was a unique time period. It was in the middle of the Industrial Revolution, so they were in the processing of switching from wood to coal as a way to fuel their stoves. However, they had not yet increased the coal production, and wood was scarce because there was a tremendous shortage and they were already important it from Denmark.
I hope that helps address some of your concerns! :)
Okay, now on to the story!
Chapter 8
Jane's hope that Mr. Gardiner's response to Mr. Bennet would soon arrive proved to be fulfilled the very next day. Upon awakening, the family all gathered in the breakfast room after enjoying a lie-in to recover from the late night at the assembly.
"Lydia, would you please pass down some eggs?" Mr. Bennet asked.
The youngest Bennet daughter gave the scrambled eggs to her Uncle Phillips, who sent it down to his brother-in-law by way of Mary. Due to the close quarters and even closer family relations, formal seating arrangements were disregarded in the mornings.
The door opened, and Hill entered the room, carrying the mail on a tray. She held it out to Mr. Bennet, who took several letters off the top. "Thank you, Hill," he said.
He looked through them, passing two on to his wife and another to Elizabeth. Then he said, "Ah, there is a letter here from your Uncle Gardiner. I wonder that he didn't send it express. It appears to be quite weighty; I believe I shall save it for Sunday, when I can read it at my leisure after church."
"Papa!" cried Lydia in indignation, as several others gasped.
Elizabeth, who alone had seen the twinkle in her father's eye before he spoke, said dryly, "Perhaps, Papa, you should wait until the following Sunday. After all, this Sunday is the curate's turn to speak, and as we all know, he can take quite a long time."
Mr. Bennet laughed uproariously and said, "Very well done, my Lizzy. I shall not tease you all any further. Allow me to read it now to myself, then I shall share it with all of you."
The breakfast room was unusually quiet as Mr. Bennet read his letter. Only the sounds of chewing food and forks scraping plates were heard, other than the occasional chuckle from Mr. Bennet. At length, he said, "Here, Lizzy, you can read it aloud."
The letter was passed down the table to Elizabeth, who scanned the letter before sharing it with everyone.
October 10, 1805
My dear Brother Bennet,
I must admit to some surprise upon receiving your letter. I was unaware of the difficulties from the harvest, but since reading your missive, I have heard similar reports from other acquaintances.
The fact that you stirred yourself enough to send your worries via express, as well as discovering all of England's crops are in similar straits as your own, have caused me no little amount of trepidation.
I apologize for the delay in response, but I wished to gather as much data as I could before writing to you.
Elizabeth's idea for using rice to thicken food such as stews is an excellent one. Unfortunately, distance is not our friend in this situation. It would take many months to place an order for rice and for it to arrive.
Here Elizabeth paused a collective groan of dismay rose up from among those at the table. She raised her eyebrows and waited for the murmuring to die away before continuing to read.
As I began to research both your reports and rice itself, one of my employees told me that his mother-in-law is from Portugal and had mentioned in passing one Christmas that rice was grown in near her village there. Rice was a part of her daily diet.
I had not heard of rice being grown in that country before, but much to my surprise, there are a few locations that do! It is harvested in September and October, so there will be plenty now to order. I have taken the liberty of placing a rather large order, using the funds I usually use for silk. If the reports I have received about the current state of things are true, there will be little use for silk for quite some time.
The rice should arrive at the end of November at the latest. I know you have my sister Phillips staying with you, as well as your own family. I asked my employee to discover how much rice his mother-in-law ate on a regular basis and used that to calculate how much rice all of us would need to last the winter and into the spring. We can always place another order if needed.
Rice from Portugal is surprisingly inexpensive compared to rice from China. I do not know why the English do not use Portuguese rice more regularly, but perhaps it is because we British are reluctant to change anything.
Due to the lower cost, I was able to purchase about ten times the amount of rice you and your tenants would need. My hope is that you can trade the rice to your tenants for other food items they may have that you don't. Even if they cannot trade, however, I know you will not allow anyone to starve.
The remainder of the rice I plan to sell here in London. I suspect it will be quite a profitable venture for me, especially since this Portuguese rice is already much cheaper than the current price of wheat for some reason. I will not raise prices more than necessary, however. I have a feeling that London will be a very different place by the time this is all over, and I do not wish to one of the many who I know will take advantage of the situation at the expense of those who are desperate.
This brings me to the next part of this letter. I have a request which I hope you will be willing to accept. I am sincerely concerned for the welfare of my wife and our four children here in London. If things become desperate, there may be rioting and looting. At the very least, the neighbors will constantly be asking my wife for provisions once people know I have food to sell.
I must remain in London to oversee things, but I would like to send Madeline and the children to you at Longbourn. In return for the expense of housing them, I will provide you with the rice you need for your family. You will need to purchase the tenants' rice at cost, but the cost of the rice will be in exchange for the cost of fuel and other food for my family.
I know it will be quite snug, but as you have some rooms available since the girls are sharing (bravo, Lizzy!), there should be room for them.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you can host Madeline and the children. If so, I will send them in our carriage in two weeks. There is no need to send anything express, as having the availability of rice from Portugal makes time a little less of a concern.
You do need to respond promptly, however, so I can make as many arrangements as needed for my family and household. Knowing your indolent nature and lack of desire to read letters - "Hah! How well he knows me!" exclaimed Mr. Bennet - I have asked Madeline to also write to Lizzy and have her urge you read and respond to this letter.
Yours,
Edward Gardiner
Elizabeth folded the letter and placed it down at her table. She - along with the rest of those at the breakfast table - looked at Mr. Bennet expectantly.
The gentleman focused his eyes on his plate, cut a piece of ham, lifted it to his mouth, and began to chew. After swallowing, he looked up and said, "While I appreciate your admiration of my masticating skills, I think you all would be better served taking bites of your own food rather than watching me with mine."
The entire table burst into laughter, including Mrs. Bennet, whose laugh had a slight rusty quality to it.
"What a good joke, Papa!" Lydia exclaimed, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Now that you have polished your wit on us, Papa, perhaps you might tell us what you have determined to do?" Elizabeth said after allowing everyone a few moments to settle down.
Mr. Bennet looked around the crowded breakfast room and sighed. "It would not be easy to add five more people to our already full household, especially when four of them are young children who may not do well with being kept inside due to poor weather."
Mrs. Phillips looked stricken. "You would deny our family shelter?"
"Certainly not!" Mr. Bennet declared hotly. "I simply wish to point out the challenges that will accompany the situation. I want us all to be in agreement and know what we are getting ourselves into."
"I think we should do it," Mr. Phillips said firmly. "Family is family, after all."
"It would be nice to have children around the house," Mrs. Bennet said wistfully. "I often miss those days when my children would laugh and play."
"Miss those days? Mama, Lizzy still climbs trees and Lydia is constantly laughing!" Mary said teasingly.
Everyone gaped at Mary in surprise. "Why, Elizabeth, when did you start to wear Mary's clothing?" Mr. Bennet said.
Mary blushed, and Elizabeth spoke up in defense of her sister. "Bravo, Mary! I think you characterized Lydia and myself perfectly."
Mary smiled her thanks at Elizabeth, who continued by saying, "I agree, Papa, that we should have my Aunt Gardiner and her children come, and not only for sentimental reasons. It will help decrease the overall cost by having discounted rice, there will be more bodies to do work and keep warm, and as Mama rightly pointed out, having young children will bring us cheer. Besides, I do not think any of us would feel right having our young cousins potentially in harm's way in London."
"Surely people would not be so bad as to harm them?" Jane protested.
"I'm afraid, Jane, that desperate people can do quite a bit of harm, even to children," Mr. Bennet informed his gentlest daughter.
A tear slipped down Jane's cheek, and Elizabeth reached over and clasped her hand under the table. "We will not allow anyone to cause harm here in Meryton, because we will do all we can to keep people from becoming that desperate."
"How can we do that?" Lydia asked. "We cannot afford to feed the entire village."
Elizabeth sighed. "No, we can't. But I am sure there are things we can do help them help themselves this winter."
"Before we discuss the entire village," Mr. Bennet interjected, "we should make sure we come to a determination about having Mrs. Gardiner and her children here. All in agreement?"
A flurry of hands shot up in the air.
"Anyone oppose the idea?"
The room sat still.
"Very well, then," said Mr. Bennet. "I will write to my brother Gardiner today and send it tomorrow."
"And I will make certain you do," Elizabeth said. "After all, I believe it is what this letter from my aunt will charge me to do."
Mr. Bennet smiled and said, "Very well, Lizzy."
Having finished his breakfast during the conversation, Mr. Bennet lifted himself from his chair. "I will be in my study the majority of the day, looking over the finances and figures. If any of you have any ideas for how to make this winter less of a hardship, please come share them with me."
He left the room, and Mr. Phillip soon followed. As long as the weather held and did not make the roads impassable, he planned to travel to Meryton each day in order to work from his offices.
Mrs. Bennet, whose energies had not entirely recovered since her malaise, excused herself to her rooms, along with Mrs. Phillips. The two sisters had become nearly inseparable since the elder had come to care for the younger.
Elizabeth looked around at the other three remaining people at the table. "Well, Sisters, what plans do you have for today?"
"I was going to play on the pianoforte," Mary said. "I have neglected my practice lately, and last night Mr. Goulding mentioned he looked forward to the next dinner party when we are out of mourning so he could hear my newest songs I've learned." She flushed as she said this last bit, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.
"That's wonderful, Mary," Jane said kindly. "It appears Mr. Goulding is quite taken with you."
Mary looked up hopefully. "Do you really think so? I didn't dare to presume… that is, you are all much prettier than I… and -"
"Nonsense," Elizabeth said firmly. "While it's true that none of us will ever be Jane's equal in beauty - "
"Lizzy!" Jane protested.
Elizabeth ignored her sister and continued speaking. " - you have your own unique beauty. When combined with your talents and personality, it is little wonder that you have attracted the attentions of a young man who seems suited to yourself."
"But Jane, as eldest, I should defer to you," Mary said, turning to her eldest sister.
"No, Mary," said Jane gently. "Mr. Goulding would not suit me. He is too serious; I need someone more like Lizzy to help me laugh."
"Besides, we should marry for love, not for accident of birth order," Elizabeth said.
"Well, I plan to fall in love with a rich officer," said Lydia airily, tossing her head and batting her eyes.
Elizabeth rolled her own. "Usually those two are mutually exclusive."
"What?" asked Lydia, halting her flirtations and looking at Elizabeth in confusion.
"A soldier's pay is not very much," Elizabeth informed her youngest sister. "A man who is wealthy enough to support us in the style that we wish is unlikely to be in uniform unless he has a strong desire to serve his country. While all men of a certain age are required to make themselves available for service, the truth is that many of them can pay another to serve in his place. Additionally, those who wish to serve and make a generous income will have purchased a highly-ranked commission and mostly likely desire to be overseas in the battles with General Wellington, not guarding us in Hertfordshire against the French!
Lydia's eyes widened. "But I thought an officer in the militia was required to own land in order to attain his rank?"
Elizabeth sighed. "While that may be true, it is almost impossible to find enough of those men. If it is their father who owns the land, instead of the young man himself, then the amount of land has to be double. But the problem is that there simply aren't enough young men of property willing to serve, so those requirements are often ignored in order to fill the officers' ranks, especially the lower ranks like that of lieutenant."
Lydia stuck out her bottom lip in a pout, forcefully reminding Elizabeth just how young her sister really was. "Besides," she added gently, "you are only just fifteen years of age. You would not wish to be a matron just yet! You should enjoy as much dancing and flirting now while you can, before you are saddled with the responsibilities of childcare and running a household."
"I suppose so," Lydia said, sighing dramatically. "But you have quite broken my heart. I was determined to marry this winter when the militia came to Meryton."
"What's this?" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Honestly, Lizzy, don't you listen to a word anyone says?" Lydia said indignantly. "It was all the talk at the assembly last night!"
Mary sniffed. "There are more important things to do than gossip."
"Not at an assembly there isn't," retorted Lydia, "especially when you are left sitting with Aunt Phillips to keep her from ruining Jane's chances with Mr. Bingley."
Jane blushed furiously and opened her mouth to protest, but Lydia rambled on over her. "I heard there is to be a regiment coming to Meryton to quarter for the winter."
Elizabeth and Mary exchanged troubled glances. "Resources will already be scarce," Mary said. "How can we support an entire barracks of officers and soldiers?"
"And how will the shopkeepers survive if the soldiers leave before settling their bills?" Elizabeth asked darkly.
"Surely an officer in His Majesty's army would not behave so dishonorably!" cried Jane.
"Some might, and others might do more," Elizabeth said seriously, "like leaving a young lady in a delicate condition without the protection of his name."
Jane and Lydia gasped in unison. "I cannot believe it," Jane said.
"Charlotte told me it happened several times when the militia quartered here before," replied Elizabeth. "It is very easy for a young woman's head to be turned by a handsome uniform and handsomer words."
"But a woman's reputation is just as brittle as it is beautiful," Mary cautioned. "It is highly valuable and easily broken, so we cannot be too careful in how be behave around those of the opposite sex."
Lydia nodded. "Then I will just have to dance and flirt, but only in public."
Elizabeth laughed, "Exactly. There is no reason you cannot enjoy yourself when you are in the company of your sisters. But do not ever allow a young man, any young man, to persuade you into being alone with him."
"Now that you all have finished lecturing me, what will you be doing today?" Lydia asked, changing the subject with a wink.
Jane smiled. "I was going to ask if you wished to help me begin preparing the rooms for Aunt Gardiner and her children. Since I am in Elizabeth's room, mine would be perfect for them. The bed would not be large enough for all the family, but we could ask Mr. Hill to help move your bed into my room. If push them next to one another, they can all keep each other warm at night."
"That's brilliant, Jane!" exclaimed Elizabeth.
"I would be delighted to help," Lydia said. "Perhaps I will be able to find some of my old toys that we can place in the bedroom for them. We could then use my empty bedroom as a place for them to run about when it is too cold to go outside."
"I had not thought of that," Jane mused, "but it is an excellent idea."
With that, Elizabeth's three sisters bustled out of the room off to their respective self-appointed tasks. She smiled fondly after them as she drank the last of her tea, then said in a high-pitched voice, "Well, Elizabeth, what you planned today?"
Giggling, Elizabeth playfully answered herself in her regular voice. "Why, thank you so kindly for asking. I will be visiting the tenants, trying to convince them into setting up an inventory of who has what supplies for the winter they would be willing to trade in exchange for rice."
In the same high-pitched tone, Elizabeth continued her conversation with herself. "Make sure to stay warm! It would be terrible if you were to freeze out there on your own."
Elizabeth nodded to herself and giggled again, then headed up the stairs for warmer clothes. Freezing to death sounds like a terrible way to die, she thought.