Chapter 9
However, unlike earlier pregnancies this one would have several complications. Meryton recently had a nasty outbreak, many had perished and the foundling school was overfilled. The previous boys and girls who graduate had all found positions (many filling vacancies left by the disease). But unable to turn any child away, the Bennets accepted far more than had graduated, leaving several rooms over capacity, and an extra storage room was converted into another dorm of sorts.
While many at Longbourn had been luckily spared of the disease (the scullery maid and two tenants had perished), Mrs. Bennet was unfortunate to catch the disease during her pregnancy. All four girls and their teachers were quickly packed off to London. The summer would prove trying, Mrs. Bennet was kept away from the rest of the house to prevent further spread. She was closely monitored by the local doctor and apothecary. Late June, Mrs. Bennet went into early labor, giving birth to Lydia Madeline Bennet. The young babe barely survived, the many around her doted on her and went to any length to keep the child alive. Mrs. Bennet survived the birth after several more weeks battling illness and exhaustion, but was declared unable to have another child. Longbourn was destined for William Collins
She was a well-loved child who basked in all the noises around her. Her sisters delighted in playing with her and dressing her up. Catherine, or Kitty as she was quickly dubbed, delighted in the babe. When out of lessons, all the girls could be found in the nursery attaching all manners of fripperies to their darling sister, often while reading stories or discussing recent lessons. Catherine and Lydia would end up learning French much faster than her older sisters, as they frequently would use the language in the nursery.
Mary had truly taken a shine to music, a subject that Mrs. Watkins was delighted to share with her. Soon the family began considering whether or not to purchase a harp so that she may learn. She also began to start her own studies of math and science. Mary found the subjects interesting, but she held little passion for them. As soon as classes were completed, she was back at her bench practicing some new piece. Mary also began formally learning French with her sisters.
Jane and Elizabeth continued to excel as math and science to the delight of their tutors. Both were also rapidly improving on more conventional skills. Mrs. Watkins and Mrs. Gilchrist started to introduce German in the school room alongside starting to work on improving French through reading literature and maybe a few scientific papers. The new pony was immediately a success, as both girls loved sitting so high and were thrilled at the opportunity to eventually explore beyond the immediate vicinity of Longbourn.
The surrounding community, especially tenants and tradesmen, grew to adore the Bennets. Fanny always stopped to talk to every tenant to make sure they needed nothing. Many applauded the family's willingness to take in foundlings. The foundlings of course raised one issue of feeding and clothing. While the children were receiving training, they needed food and clothes. So Fanny worked out a deal with the local butcher, baker, grocer, and tailor. With leftover food that was close to being unsellable, Fanny would purchase whatever was left at a discount, reducing end of day loss and the cost of food for the school. The tailor agreed to sell left over fabric cuttings that were too small to be used in another dress, also at discount. The young ladies in the school would stich the clothing for themselves and the boys. Next year would see the first group old enough to work leave the school. The Bennets were quickly finding themselves with much goodwill in the town.
Arrangements were made to spend the winter in town so that the girls may experience the masters and attend some of the local lectures and demonstrations. Of course, the gentlemen who frequented such lectures dismissed the two wide-eyed girls as ridiculous and attempted to facilitate their removal. But as the young girls were quiet and respectful, the coordinator allowed them to remain. After every lecture, Jane and Lizzy would sit and talk over everything they heard. It soon became a game of pass or fail, where the two girls would make predictions and write down what inventions would fail and what ideas would appear in the next magazine publication. At the end of the season, they handed their list to a laughing Uncle, telling him in the most serious voice that he must check each judgment and mail the list back on whether or not they were correct.
Deciding to do one better, Mr. Gardiner decided to use the girls list to select his next set of investments. He felt that he was arbitrarily picking them anyway, and his nieces had attended all the demonstrations and made a call on their opinion. Sharing this plan with his wife and Mr. Bennet, both thought it was foolish; but as none of them knew a better way to select where to invest, they quickly agreed it was no more foolish than any other man's method.
Of course, when the girls weren't offending men at lectures with their presence. They would join Mary for local master's to teach them to draw, dance, play piano, sing, and speak French and German. While the adults occasionally wondered at such a busy schedule, all three girls seemed to love it. When asked if they wanted to drop a subject, they would shake their head and look like the end of the world had come.
Upon returning to the routine at Longbourn, it was decided by the three girls that only French may be spoken in the nursery. For many months, conversation was stilted and awkward, with conversation quickly being taken out of the nursery so that English would be permitted again. Such a rule initially puzzled all who ventured near the nursery.
At the close of the year Fanny's account would increase to an impressive thirty-four thousand pounds. Her daughter's would certainly be well dowered, and have access to the first circles if they desired.
The girls remained in London through the following winter, enjoying a full year of masters and lectures. Jane and Elizabeth continued to produce pass and fail grades for every lecture they went to. Some of the girls first predictions were starting to come to fruition. As several of Mr. Gardiner's investments failed, many started to grow. At the end of the year he marked the first list handed to him with those that had already failed. To the surprise of all involved, the girls had done remarkably well. Though they missed some, they had by far beaten the average. Upon hearing of the results, Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner resolved to use this list to determine future investments. Indeed. As each new list was handed over, a new wave of investments were issued.
Fanny's account now held an incredible fifty thousand pounds. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner decided to buy out the remaining investors from the business at an increased price and purchase a new warehouse. Fanny now owned Luffenhall and half of Gardiner Imports. At twelve, Jane was well on her way to being an accomplished young lady who spoke proficient French and basic German, could handle herself in a saddle, play pianoforte, embroider, draw, perform far more than basic sums, and could hold her own in a discussion with any gentleman on science. At ten, Lizzy was not far behind Jane in accomplishments, adding only a starting understanding of Greek philosophers. At 7, Mary had taken up a love of poetry to round out her ability to speak proficient French, play the pianoforte, do basic sums, embroider, sit atop a saddle, and draw.
Over the next several years, the Bennets would continue to increase their wealth, education, and generosity. Upon Jane's entrance to society at 16, she was fluent in French, Italian, and German and was learning to read Greek and Latin. She understood more than most university educated men the subjects of math and science. Her embroidery was delicate, her piano playing was serene, her drawings not perfect but more than accomplished, her singing was gentle and soothing, and her harp was the cherry on top. Jane new the ins and outs of running an estate for both the master and mistress. Jane and Lizzy were often spotted atop their mares visiting tenants and surveying fields with both parents.
Fanny by this point owned Luffenhall and Wrest Park in the neighboring county of Bedfordshire and half of Gardiner Imports. Luffenhall now earned 9000 per annum and Gardiner Imports 12000 per annum. Wrest Park was in the middle of maintenance but brought in 6000 per annum (after all improvements were completed the estate was expected to bring in close to 12000 per annum). Fanny's savings account currently held 20,000 pounds. Her daughter's had been made aware of the state of their inheritance and the importance of no disclosing such details. Each would be taught to handle an estate of their own should the chose not to marry.
Lizzy's accomplishments closely mirrored Jane's and they were frequently found together discussing their passions. Mary continued to improve her music and could hold her own in the math and sciences, and her other accomplishments would closely mimic her older sisters. Kitty was developing into a precocious child, who loved anything she deemed artistic. While she was stuck in the school room with Lydia, the two learned their sums and basic science like Mary had. Their conventional accomplishments would also closely mirror their older sisters, though the two had a knack for languages (gained from listening to their older sisters converse in various languages). Kitty would excel at drawing and painting while Lydia adored fashion and design. The two were thick as thieves as they found their creative instincts often complemented the other.
As the girls were spent every winter in London, they soon established themselves at a modiste. Gardiner Imports had many lovely fabrics, so before their first appointment, Lydia and Kitty sketched out designs for every fabric they deemed "lovely" for each sister they felt it suited. When the 5 sisters appeared at the modiste with pre-cut bolts of fabric and original designs the proprietress was unsure if she should be offended or in awe over the design. Soon an arrangement was made that Lydia's designs would be purchased and Gardiner Imports became the only fabric dealer they purchased from. With the unique designs and fabrics, the modiste slowly became the talk of the Haute Ton. Lydia's sense of design became central in choosing what fabrics were most likely to sell, and her insistence on investing in indigo dye yielded a brilliant return on investment.
Out in society, Fanny Bennet hovered over her beloved daughters quickly dismissing many would be suitors as not kind enough, not intelligent enough, too far away, or any other list of defects. As one suitor wrote a poem dedicated to Jane, Fanny panicked and loudly proclaimed to the whole neighborhood, fearful that Jane may be taken in by the scoundrel. Many in the neighborhood took the proclamations as the matrons crowing at her daughter having a suitor of note. Soon the gentleman left town, and Jane was left to the ridicule of a supposedly broken heart. She honestly felt little for the gentleman, but the neighborhood assumed she was in love. Such would become the pattern of the next few years.
At nineteen, Jane had only improved her accomplishments. Her mother's savings account held forty thousand pounds. Wrest Park was in the last stages of improvements, it appeared the final income would be around eleven thousand per annum. Gardiner Imports returned a comfortable fifteen thousand per annum. And Fanny had recently acquired Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire, which was just starting to undergo improvements. In each of the counties they owned an estate, the Bennets had taken to establishing similar foundling schools.
Longbourn's foundling school had quickly expanded to allow local tenant children and trade children to attend classes in a renovated building in Meryton that had been recently purchased with Fanny's dowry. Local gentry wondered why she would spend the money to educate the poor when she was so worried about the future of her own daughters. Many assumed it was foolish giving on her part, though few argued with the results. Local servants and apprentices were often hired from the school. Upon graduation, each child was given twenty pounds to start their life.
The Bennets had discussed modeling the small schools in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire after Longbourn's by purchasing a shop in town for local children to join the foundlings in class.
Just after Jane turned twenty, Netherfield Park was let at last.
