The Colonel and the Heiress Chapter 2 - Cousins, a pride and prejudice fanfic

~~H~~

Cousins

April 1808

Mr Bennet was astonished at the unexpected arrival of his cousin and her young son when Hill conducted them to his library and announced, 'Mrs Farrington is here to see you.' As Hill was closing the door she gave the lady a searching look.

'Cousin Edith, what a surprise to see you. Not that I am not pleased to have you visit. What are you doing here? Is your husband with you?' Bennet said, peering past her shoulder to see if there were any other visitors.

'Good afternoon, Cousin Bennet. I am pleased to see you too.' Edith replied with a somewhat exasperated air. 'I am here because I grew weary of waiting for your response to my letters and those of our solicitors.'

Bennet ignored the implied complaint and shrugged. 'What can I say. Correspondence is something I prefer to avoid. But since you are here, let me introduce you to my wife and she can get you settled. We can talk once you have refreshed yourself.'

'Thank you, that would be most welcome.'

Bennet tilted his head and asked, 'since Hill announced you as Mrs Farrington, I presume that is how you wish to be known?'

Edith sighed. 'Yes, I would. Thank you for noticing.'

'You are welcome, and you can explain your reasons later.'

Edith nodded and relaxed fractionally. 'Thank you, Cousin.'

~~H~~

Mrs Bennet took one look at Mrs Farrington and hated her on sight. How dare the woman be even more beautiful than her oldest daughter Jane, who was eighteen and in need of a husband.

The only saving grace was that Mr Bennet's cousin was already married. She therefore managed to keep her tone civil as she escorted the visitor to the guest room and directed Mrs Hill to conduct the nurse and the child to the nursery.

Trying to discover more about their visitor, Mrs Bennet commented, 'you seem to be rather young to be a first cousin to my husband.'

'Grandfather Bennet married my grandmother rather late in life. She was his second wife, which is why my mother was only two years senior to her nephew, Thomas.'

Realisation struck Mrs Bennet. 'Your mother must have been Mr Bennet's Aunt Mary. I do remember him mentioning her but never had the opportunity to meet her or her mother.'

'Grandmother Bennet disliked travelling after she was injured in an accident shortly after the death of Uncle Henry and his family, and she was well settled with my parents in Warwickshire.'

'But now you are here…' Mrs Bennet said hoping to find out the reason for Mrs Farrington's visit.

'I came because I must discuss some family business with Cousin Bennet and our correspondence may have gone astray.'

Mrs Bennet forbore to mention that it was probably in a drawer of her husband's desk. Instead, she said, 'here we are. I hope you will be comfortable. Ring if you need anything.'

'Thank you. My maid will look after me quite well.'

~~H~~

Half an hour later, after a quick wash and changing her dress, Edith returned to Mr Bennet's library.

Bennet was sitting by the fire and a tea tray was on the table next to him. 'Please join me. I think that you could do with some refreshments,' he offered.

Once Edith had had her first sip of tea, she asked with some asperity, 'have you had a chance to find the correspondence, or would you like me to explain?'

'I thought I would leave it to you to tell me the news.'

'I am sorry to tell you that six months ago my husband passed away. I know that he used to be a good friend of yours.'

Bennet looked uncomfortable. 'You have my condolences. It must have been difficult to lose your husband.'

'The situation has been challenging. But since you avoid correspondence, you may not be aware that the Earl named you as guardian for our son if anything should happen to him.'

'Me? Whyever would he do that?'

'Have you forgotten that after his father died, he had no other relations. But since you were his friend as well as my cousin, he thought that you would be the most suitable person to watch over the next Earl.'

'You seem to be a very capable young woman, why did he not name you as your son's guardian?' Bennet asked, reluctant to take on any responsibility if he could avoid it.

'My husband had some very strong opinions about the abilities of ladies and their appropriate place in life,' Edith responded repressively.

Bennet noticed the angry look in her eyes and wondered at the cause. 'If he was such a misogynist, why did you marry him?'

'He was attentive and charming, and he hid that aspect of his personality rather well. I was also too young and overwhelmed by his attentions. I did not discover it until it was too late. At that time, we were already married, and my mother had just passed away.'

'Is that why you are not wearing mourning colours?'

'The husband I loved died within a year of our wedding. It took his body another six years to follow suit.'

Bennet stiffened and his eyes narrowed. 'How did Farrington die?'

'One afternoon, after walking with my son in the garden, as I came up the stairs with James in my arms, Farrington rushed to greet us, but in his hurry, he tripped and fell down the stairs. Being more concerned for our son, I could not spare a hand to stop his fall.' She gave him a sardonic smile. 'There were three witnesses if you are wondering.'

The last statement made Bennet release the breath he had not realised he was holding. 'I am sorry for your difficulties.' He did not mention to which ones he referred.

He pondered the news for a minute before he asked, 'what are your plans now?'

Edith sighed. 'Wentworth Hall is too large and too full of memories for me. You are the only family I have left in the world. I have thought about it and believe it will be best if I rent a house in this area. That way you may keep an eye on James with a minimum of effort on your behalf.'

'I do not know if there are any suitable houses for rent at present, but Purvis Lodge is for sale if you are in a position to purchase it,' Bennet offered the suggestion diffidently.

'I can afford to buy the house although I would want to inspect it first to see if it suitable.'

'Farrington left you well provided then?'

'He did, as did my mother. You need not concern yourself that we will be a financial burden to you. I may put Wentworth Hall up for lease to minimise the supervision it requires from me.'

'Have you considered selling it?'

'No, I have not because it is entailed to the title. James may wish to live there when he grows up. In the meantime, I prefer to live in a more manageable house.'

Bennet made a decision. 'You are of course welcome to stay here as long as you need to. If it is agreeable to you, I could accompany you in the morning to inspect Purvis Lodge.'

'That would be exceedingly satisfying. I thank you for your generosity.'

As Bennet opened his mouth to respond, there was a knock on the door. Instead of his intended response, Bennet called, 'enter.'

A young woman opened the door and stepped into the room. 'Ah, Lizzy. You are just the person I wanted to see. I would like you to meet my cousin, Mrs Edith Farrington. Cousin, this is my second daughter, Elizabeth.'

The ladies exchanged greetings and Bennet briefly explained the situation to his daughter finishing with, 'perhaps you would be so good as to show our cousin around and introduce her to your sisters?'

'I would be delighted. Mrs Farrington —.'

Edith smiled as she interrupted. 'Please, call me Edith, we are cousins after all, and I am not yet so ancient that family need to address me formally.'

'It will be my pleasure, Edith, and you must call me Elizabeth or Lizzy.' Elizabeth returned the smile. 'Since you were cooped up in a carriage all day, would you like a stroll in the garden first before it gets dark?'

'That would be delightful. Thank you, Lizzy.'

'I shall see you at dinner then,' Bennet called out as the ladies left his sanctuary.

After they left, Bennet sat back and considered all the things his cousin had not said. He wondered how bad a husband Farrington had turned out to be that his cousin showed not the slightest sorrow at his passing.

~~H~~

Elizabeth led the way into the garden and asked, 'would you like to stroll, or would you prefer a proper walk?'

Edith turned her face to the sun and took a deep breath. 'I would prefer a proper walk but at present I suspect I would not be able to keep up with you. I have not had much opportunity for walking in the past seven years.'

'But Papa said that you lived on an estate. Why would you not have had an opportunity to walk?'

'My husband did not wish me to leave the house unless he was with me,' Edith said negligently to hide the resentment she still felt.

'He must have been fiercely protective of you.'

'That is what he claimed. On those occasion, when he did escort me outside, he insisted that we should move at a ladylike stroll.'

'I would have hated that kind of life,' exclaimed Elizabeth in horror.

'Forgive me, Lizzy. I had not meant to mention any of this but having had to speak of my husband recalled these things to mind even though I spent the last several months trying to forget.'

'Yours was not a happy marriage?' Elizabeth asked.

'Initially it was happy. As for the rest, I have no wish to trouble you.'

Elizabeth sighed. 'Edith, if you need someone to speak to, I am not so unworldly as all that. Papa has allowed me to read anything I wished, and I am fully aware that not all people are good, even though Jane disagrees with me.'

'Jane is your older sister, is she not?'

'Yes, she is. She is the most beautiful person you could ever hope to meet, both in looks and spirit. She tries to think well of everyone.'

'Tell me of your sisters please,' asked Edith to change the subject as she started to walk along the path Elizabeth had chosen. 'Your father is not a very good correspondent and mother had quite lost touch with him over the years.'

'That sounds just like papa,' Elizabeth laughed. 'There are five of us. Jane is the oldest and will be eighteen in August and she is goodness personified. She is also the most beautiful. I am next and am about to turn sixteen. I am much more cynical, and Mama complains that I am much too bookish and have a conceited independence. I am also impertinent.' Elizabeth proved this by the unrepentant grin she sported.

'You do not seem particularly remorseful about your so-called faults.' Edith was intrigued by her young cousin who seemed quite mature for her age and yet still had a youthful enthusiasm.

'Papa encourages me because he thinks Mama's complaints to be amusing.'

Even though she did not comment, Edith could not help a look of displeasure crossing her features, which Elizabeth noticed.

'Please do not think too badly of him. Mama can be a trial with her constant complaints about her nerves.' Elizabeth sighed. 'I probably should not say this, but you are family. Mama has her favourites and if it were not for Papa…'

'It is not my place to judge. I have only really met Cousin Bennet today since I cannot count some vague memories which I have of him when I was but a small child.' Edith smiled to reassure her cousin. 'But you were telling me about your sisters.'

Elizabeth brightened again. 'Next to me in age is Mary. She is fourteen and has recently become enamoured with the sermons of Reverend Fordyce. When she is not reading sermons, she very diligently practices the pianoforte. Technically she is very good…'

'I hear a but in your voice.'

'I wish there was a music master in the area to help her play with more feeling.'

'Do you play?'

'Yes, I do, but I do not practice as much as I should. I prefer to go for long rambles rather than being stuck indoors.' She did not add that she also avoided her mother as much as possible.

'As it happens, I know how to play the pianoforte quite well. Perhaps you and Mary would like to visit once I have settled into my new home, and we could practice together.'

'That would be delightful… I think.' Elizabeth liked the easy way in which her cousin conversed with her but was uncertain if she would like practicing rather than walking.

Edith laughed when she noticed the hesitation and judged correctly. 'Perhaps you would not be averse to practice on rainy days?'

'I think that is a most excellent suggestion.'

'Do your youngest sisters play?'

'No, they do not. Catherine, or Kitty as we call her, recently turned twelve. She is rather shy and overlooked, which is why I believe she follows Lydia, who is not quite eleven and Mama's favourite.'

The tone of disgust in Elizabeth's voice caused Edith to suggest, 'are you trying not to say that Lydia is spoiled?'

'I am afraid so. I believe that Lydia is very much like Mama was at her age, both in looks and personality. Lydia takes shameless advantage of that fact and as a result is severely indulged.'

To change the subject, Edith asked, 'you said that you are almost sixteen. Are you looking forward to your coming out?'

'Not particularly, since Mama insisted that I had to come out last year.' At the surprised look Elizabeth received she explained. 'You do know that the estate is entailed to male heirs?' At Edith's nod, she added, 'since Mama had five daughters but no son, she is exceedingly nervous about losing her home to Mr Collins, who by all accounts is a thoroughly unpleasant man. She therefore wants all of us married as quickly as possible before Cousin Collins has the opportunity to throw us into the hedgerows.'

'Surely, Cousin Bennet is still hale and hearty. I cannot see him shuffling off this mortal coil any time soon.'

'Neither can I, but there is no reasoning with Mama when it comes to the entail.'

'Perhaps I can help. Let me think on it,' Edith said and shivered slightly. Looking up she suggested, 'I think we had better get back indoors since it is starting to get dark.'

~~H~~