A/N: And now, for an update on what Lizzy's been doing at Longbourn, and a little peek into the life of Jane. I hope you enjoy it, and I want to thank you all for your wonderful and supportive comments. You guys are my favorite part of every week.

Chapter 8: Octo

20 November, 1805
Gardiner Shipping Company Headquarters, Cheapside

Lizzy settled down into the chair opposite Uncle Gardiner's fine oak desk in his well-appointed, yet slightly paperwork cluttered office. She loved coming to her uncle's warehouse. It always seemed so exciting, full of adventure and history. There was no end to the beautiful things in her uncle's place of work, things that had given her hours of entertainment when she had been younger. Now, however, though she still took time to admire her uncle's office and the new curios that he might have, she had other things to do whenever she visited him in Cheapside.

Uncle Gardiner settled into his chair behind the desk, sorting through paperwork to find the things they needed for their meeting. "Well, Lizzy," he said, still sifting through papers, "I'm pleased to say that your investment has done very well."

After Lizzy's initial act as the 'emissary' for her father in matters of estate management, she had begun to pick up more and more tasks on the estate over time. Longbourn had blossomed under her attentive hand, guided by Mr. Morris and Great Aunt Phoebe when needed. There had been resulting profits, of course, but Lizzy knew well that any profit exceeding Longbourn's usual two thousand pounds would vanish almost immediately if either of her parents had known about it.

She had decided then and there, staring at the ledger she had been faithfully keeping to track Longbourn's income, far away in Netherfield away from her father's half-hearted account keeping, that she could not allow the money to be squandered. While still in the early stages of recovery for an estate that had once produced six thousand pounds and now only produced a third of that, Lizzy had known to be cautious with her profits.

Hence, she had written to Uncle Gardiner and asked Great Aunt Phoebe for advice. Uncle Gardiner, though shocked at his niece's letter and beyond pleased at her brilliance and tenacity, had suggested securing dowries for her and her sisters, either through putting her profits into the four percents or into an investment. Great Aunt Phoebe had told Lizzy about her many years of investing with Uncle Gardiner, and after looking over her uncle's suggestions for other investments, Lizzy had felt she had done her due diligence before turning towards the decision she knew she was going to make all along; investing with her Uncle Gardiner.

That first investment of five hundred pounds had more than tripled now, and suddenly Lizzy was starting to think about investments she could make on Longbourn land with the profits that had continued to collect in her ledger.

Finding the stack of papers he sought, Uncle Gardiner handed them to Lizzy. "The original investment of five hundred pounds, after this last journey, stands at two thousand seven hundred and one pounds."

Not too bad at all for just over three years, he thought to himself. Aloud, he continued, "The last of the ships you invested in, the Sheldrake, is set to dock any day now, so it will take a few days after she docks to account what she has brought back into your profits."

Looking over the papers, Lizzy mused, "You are a wonder, Uncle."

He chuckled. "Not at all, my dear, not at all." Shuffling the papers together, he eyed Lizzy, noting her quiet frown and somewhat reserved posture. "What is it, Lizzy?"

Blinking, she looked up at him. "Hm? What?"

Leaving the papers on his desk, Uncle Gardiner leaned back in his chair, lifting a fond brow. "Come now, my dear. You can tell me."

Lizzy sighed, looking back down at her hands. "Oh, uncle...I am worried about Sophie."

"Miss Ephrussi?" he clarified, frowning. He had met the Ephrussi's many times, more than enough to have gotten over the shock over being asked to drop their titles and call them instead 'Mr.' and 'Miss'; he was quite fond of the way they, like their aunt the Lady Pembroke, had taken the Bennet girls under their wing. He knew that following the sudden death of their mother, the princess had been called back to Russia, the first true separation of brother and sister their entire lives.

"Yes," Lizzy bit at her lower lip, her concern clear on her face. "She has been in Russia almost a year now, since last December, and we have only had one or two letters from her. In her letters...she sounds nothing like herself, Uncle. I wish I could somehow comfort her. I cannot help feeling there is more to what she says."

Uncle Gardiner sat back in his chair, thinking. The dowager and his darling wife Madelaine had become good friends over the years. He and Maddie were the first ones she had talked to about hiring staff to protect herself and Noah from her estranged eldest son, and then later they were the first ones she had told about seeking to do the same to protect Lizzy and her sisters from Mrs. Bennet. Beyond that, there were certain things Maddie had hinted at Lady Pembroke saying about her cousin and his position in the Russian political sphere that had struck him as enlightening.

While not a member of the first circles in England or Russia, Edward Gardiner was a man who knew how politics worked, and what a dangerous game they could be, even with the best of intentions. Though he himself retained no doubts that Prince Sergei was a fine, upstanding man who he would be proud to be connected to however tangentially, even heroes made enemies eventually, and those who played the shadowy games necessary in a place like the Kremlin made enemies much faster than most, and much deadlier ones at that.

Sighing, he met Lizzy's eye. "The only thing you can do, I'm afraid, is to assure her that you are still her friend. No matter what is happening to her, that you are there to listen to her."

Resigned, Lizzy shrugged. "I suppose. I truly wish I could be with her. I know Ni- ahem, Mr. Ephrussi feels the same. I could see how much he missed her when I saw him over Easter."

For a moment, Uncle Gardiner smiled at his niece. It was no end of amusing to him that his nieces had grown up calling royalty by their first names and vice versa, but more so that his grasping sister Fanny had been given no influence or manner with which to abuse such a relationship. There were many traits of Lady Pembroke that he found fascinating, and her cleverness, so like Lizzy's and Lyddie's, that she used to assure such ease between his nieces and their royal friends was certainly one of them.

He sobered, however, thinking about Prince Nikolai. He had also seen the young man at Easter early that year, though only briefly as he and Maddie had been visiting at Longbourn for most of their time in Meryton over the celebration of the Lord's resurrection. The prince did, in his opinion, look somewhat lost without his sister. It had always been clear to anyone who knew either of them that both brother and sister greatly valued family, and for the prince to have lost his mother and be separated from his sister within a single month?

That thought hung in the air for a moment, both uncle and niece silently wishing they could help the somber prince feel more at home, more at ease without his sister in England.

"All will be well, Lizzy," Uncle Gardiner finally said softly. "You must believe that."

"Yes," Lizzy said, then straightened and nodded decisively. "Yes, you are right." She waved a hand, reaching into her reticule to pull out a small slip of paper. "And regardless, I wanted to get your opinion on a few changes I have been thinking about making to Longbourn."

There were certain fields that could not be used for farming on Longbourn land, being too rocky, too wet, or simply too farmed out from earlier years of negligence. However, she had been reading about land being used in more modern ways, for things such as brickmaking or mills, and with both the profits from her investment with Uncle Gardiner as well as the profits from increased crop production after she had switched to crop rotation methods, plus the goat livestock on Oakham mount that was healthier than ever thanks to Sir Lucas...it might actually be possible.

The three fields she had in mind for use were actually fields she did not realize were part of Longbourn, they had been left so unattended. Sir Lucas and Great Aunt Phoebe had been the ones to alert her that they actually belonged to Longbourn, and not Lucas Lodge or Netherfield as her father had told her they did.

Looking back at her uncle, Lizzy assured him, "This does not mean that I am withdrawing my investment, uncle, only that I am now considering the use of the profits in a different manner than reinvestment."

Hiding a smile behind his hand, Edward Gardiner allowed himself a moment of silent awe, accompanied by an equally silent prayer. Brother Bennet, you have no idea how lucky the Lord made you the day he gave you your five daughters, and Lizzy in particular.

"Well then," he said, leaning forward over his desk, ready to hear her next scheme, "please tell me all of the particulars involved."

06 May, 1806
Lucas Lodge

Three of the Bennet sisters were visiting Charlotte and Maria Lucas; Jane, Lizzy, and Lydia. Mary was home nursing Kitty, who had taken a small chill the day before when caught outside in a sudden rain, and none of the sisters wished her to risk her health.

While both Mary and Kitty were missed, the women were a happy group in the tastefully appointed parlor, where Lady Lucas' friendship with Great Aunt Phoebe had done much to shape the newly landed gentry's style of decor over the years. Lizzy, Charlotte, and Jane were happily discussing a book they had all read, and Maria and Lydia were ensconced near the pianoforte gently playing a few harmonies and giggling together.

Unbeknownst to them, the Lucas carriage had crossed onto the lane approaching Lucas Lodge carrying John, who was coming home from Cambridge, and a friend of his he had met through his school friends.

As all mothers with a daughter of marriageable age, Lady Lucas knew immediately of the impending approach, and at that moment she flew into the parlor, chattering, "Oh, girls, be ready! He will be here in just a moment and I wish you all to be prepared to meet him!"

All of the girls fell silent, confused.

Charlotte stood, asking her mother, "Who are we to meet, Mama? I know that John is coming home today, but whom are you speaking of?"

Lady Lucas was the only one who noticed Lydia perk up slightly at the mention of John, but she let it pass without comment.

"Oh, Charlotte," Lady Lucas sighed happily, cupping her daughter's face. Charlotte was not an ugly girl, far from it. However, she was not a great beauty like the Bennet girls, and while she would have been considered 'pretty' in the company of many, when in the company of the Bennets, almost everyone thought Charlotte plain by comparison. Not her mother though, who loved her children dearly. "He is a friend of your brothers, a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy on the Camilla, and he is on the continent on leave for the summer. Your brother has arranged for him to stay at Lucas Lodge and promises he is everything an officer and a gentleman should be. Oh, what a husband he could make one of you girls."

Unable to resist the urge to tease, Lizzy grinned and said, "And does this groom-to-be know of the impending wedding?"

The others laughed, including Lady Lucas, who wagged her finger at Lizzy. "One of these days someone just may catch your eye, Miss Lizzy, and then we will all repeat the things you have teased us with over the years."

Again, there was laughter in the room, and that was how the men found them, led into the room by Mr. Wynne, the Lucases butler.

The ladies all stood, stifling giggles behind hands, and Mr. Wynne announced, "Mr. Lucas and Lieutenant Ross have arrived, ma'am."

John was grinning broadly. "It is good to see that my absence has not been mourned, Mama."

Lady Lucas pretended to scowl, then came forward to embrace her son. "Do not tease me so, John, you know how much we miss you while you are away at school."

"Or do the dozens of letters a month not reach you?" Charlotte teased her twin before also going to embrace him, Maria darting forward, laughing, to join them.

John closed his eyes for a moment and hugged his beloved girls back tightly. He adored his mother and his sisters, and there was nothing as comforting to him as a letter from home while he was at school. Though he teased, he knew that Charlotte had been miserable when he had first left for Eton, and though they both were familiar with the separation by now, it did not always make it easy when you were so used to having your closest sibling always near, only for that to change.

Finally releasing them, John said, "I am grateful for all of your letters, however, it is good to be back home and to see all of you again." He looked over at the Bennet sisters, still smiling, and bowed very properly. "Miss Bennet, Miss Lizzy, Miss Lydia. A pleasure to see you all again as well."

John stepped back, and the women's attention turned to Lieutenant Ross, who had thus far been silent. Sensing his mother's eagerness to make the acquaintance of his friend, John obliged. Gesturing to the officer, John said, "Lieutenant Ross, my mother Lady Lucas, my sisters Charlotte and Maria, Miss Jane Bennet, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and Miss Lydia Bennet of Longbourn."

As they were introduced, each of them curtsied to the officer, who bowed respectfully in return. Both Charlotte and Jane held back a soft sigh as they looked at the tall, handsome officer. The sunlight coming in from the window of the parlor picked out copper strands in his dark hair, warmed the rich tree bark brown of his eyes, and his uniform certainly did nothing to diminish his appearance.

Andrew Ross, after being given his commission in the Royal Navy with Hurst's help, had excelled in service. He'd been injured in a storm off of the coast three months ago and had been sent back to England to heal. Nikolai had insisted on hosting Andrew in Cambridge for his recuperation, which had been wonderful for Andrew and Seamus, and Andrew had consequently been introduced to and become great friends with all of Nikolai's friends, and John Lucas in particular.

While on leave for the next two months before being transferred to a new ship, both John and Noah had offered to host Andrew in Meryton, and Andrew had happily accepted John's offer, since it meant that he would still be in close proximity to his brother for a little longer when Nikolai left Cambridge for Netherfield, and John had offered first.

"It is a pleasure to meet all of you," Lieutenant Ross said in his thick Scottish burr.

There was a soft clatter as Jane dropped the book she had been holding. "Oh dear," she whispered, blushing furiously.

Before anyone could do or say anything, Lieutenant Ross stepped forward, bent down to retrieve the novel, and offered it back to Jane.

"Thank you," Jane whispered, reaching out to take the book back, and, completely on accident, their fingers brushed. Breath freezing in her chest, Jane's eyes flew up to meet the Lieutenant's.

Lieutenant Ross looked back, momentarily getting lost in beautiful sapphire eyes, and bowed again, replying only slightly softer than before, "Of course."

Clapping her hands, Lady Lucas took charge for the rest of the Bennet's visit. There was much joy in sharing stories of Meryton's happenings with John and the Lieutenant and in both men sharing stories of Cambridge and highly sanitized tales of ship life with the women.

Through it all, Jane's heart thudded whenever she heard a thick Scottish burr. She tried to brush it away, but she kept thinking about that warm touch of ungloved fingers accidentally brushing up against her own ungloved fingers. Ever since her coming out at sixteen last year, there had been suitors, even in the small area of Meryton. Usually, they were scared off by Mrs. Bennet's mercenary behavior, or Mr. Bennet's lethal wit, or even by Jane herself. None of them had managed to interest her for longer than a momentary thrill of her first hint of courting. Never had any acquaintance made her feel like this.

It was ridiculous, of course, as she did not know this man. She strove to put it out of her mind and focus on the conversation and not on the handsomeness of his smile, the commanding but attentive manners he used.

Lieutenant Ross's eyes always sought out the source whenever there was a gentle laugh. He had not intended to come to Meryton for any other reason than to spend time with his friends in the area of England they loved more than any other, to take his mind off of his still-healing body and his impending return to war. One look into those sapphire eyes, and he found himself feeling things he had never dreamed. A wife and home had never been within reach before, but now, as a Naval officer...it was possible. He knew in his heart just by looking at her that she was beyond him socially, and he doubted that such a gentle, golden creature of sunlight would look fondly on a rough sailor exiled from his home. But oh, when she laughed, he could not ignore it.

Charlotte, sitting slightly off to one side of the main hub of conversation, watched the two glance at the other when they thought no one could see. Whatever private hope she had held when her mother had announced their guest, or when she had been introduced to him, she held close to her heart for just a moment and then released them. She glanced over at Lizzy and tried not to smile while thinking about what scrutiny any real suitor of Jane's would endure at the hands of the other Bennet sisters.

15 May, 1806
Netherfield

Pausing at the door of Great Aunt Phoebe's office, Lizzy knocked just as she and her sisters had been taught, waiting for the soft call of 'Enter' before she went inside.

From her seat behind the desk, Great Aunt Phoebe looked up from where she, Uncle Gardiner, and Uncle Phillips had been studying a sheath of documents, meeting Lizzy's eyes over the rims of her eyeglasses and smiled. "Dearest, right on schedule as always."

Lizzy smiled in return, and immediately went over to kiss Great Aunt Phoebe's cheek, returning her uncle's fond greetings before all of them settled down into their usual positions for when they held these conferences.

Ever since Lizzy had taken over the running of Longbourn, there had been a standing appointment every season where she, Great Aunt Phoebe, and her uncles would sit and go over her upcoming plans for Longbourn. They offered advice, support, and in the current case, legal work. The ideas Lizzy had brought to her Uncle Gardiner last winter were being finalized, and they were just waiting on one more person.

Settling into her seat, Lizzy asked, "Is Sir Lucas not here?"

"He will be along shortly, my dear," Uncle Phillips said, rifling through some of his papers, but taking the time to wink at Lizzy. "He does have a guest he has been keen on showing off to the neighborhood, so we must forgive him any tardiness."

Lizzy grimaced slightly. She liked Lieutenant Ross a great deal, and Noah, John, and Nikolai had all assured her that he was the best of men, but Jane was her sister, and Lizzy was protective of her sisters. Lydia was worse than she was, having no intention of losing a sister to marriage until she was at least twelve, but that was a battle for Jane to fight. And besides, they were not even formally courting, so there was nothing to worry about, really.

"I must say," Uncle Gardiner said, "I have greatly enjoyed working with my brother Phillips and Lady Pembroke, putting all of the paperwork for these plans together."

With the correct papers finally secured, Uncle Phillips looked over at Lizzy and winked, eyes twinkling merrily in a way entirely unlike her father.

Lizzy smiled back. "You know that I would do anything to aid in your amusement, Uncles."

"And is that the only reason you are so determined to see these plans through?" Uncle Gardiner teased with a raised brow.

He expected a very playful, teasing reply, so he was surprised when the smile on Lizzy's face faded. "Uncle, you know as well as I do that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have not saved a single pence for the futures of my sisters and me, or even for Mrs. Bennet."

Uncle Gardiner looked over at Uncle Phillips. Ever since Lyddie's injury at Fanny's hands, none of his nieces had called Fanny or Thomas 'Mama' or 'Papa' in private, as they had used to. Instead, it was only ever Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and neither uncle nor aunt condemned them for it.

"I know, child," Uncle Gardiner replied quietly, no trace of the teasing countenance left.

Still frowning, Lizzy continued, "If left alone, none of my sisters or I would even have a fifty-pound dowry to boast of. I do not wish for us to rival the wealth of the crown, uncle, just enough to be...safe."

"Elizabeth," Uncle Gardiner rose, coming around the desk to sit by niece. He took her hand and brushed a thumb over the worried lines in her forehead. "I know why you are doing all of this. I admire you for it, my dear. You have no fear of reproach from me, your Uncle Phillips, or your aunts."

Great Aunt Phoebe and Uncle Phillips both voiced their agreement.

That got Lizzy to lift her head, and she asked, surprised "Even Aunt Phillips?"

"Even Aunt Phillips," Uncle Phillips replied seriously. He had known both of the Gardiner sisters all of their lives, and while Fanny was everything grasping and occasionally cruel, Roberta was different. Never, in his opinion, had there ever been a more understanding soul. It was how Fanny had controlled her all these years, to his great regret.

He had married Roberta because he loved her and adored her, had stayed in Meryton to grant Roberta's wish that she remain in close proximity to Fanny. Neither of them had ever imagined that things would unfold the way they had. Though there were things he regretted, he would never regret being close to his nieces, and he would never dream of reproaching Lizzy for her attempts to secure a future for herself and her sisters, and he knew Roberta, his brother Gardiner, and Lady Pembroke all felt the same.

Lizzy looked carefully between them all for another moment longer, as if to check that they meant what they said, and then finally she relaxed and nodded. "Thank you," she said softly. Taking a deep breath, she tried to bring back the easy air of before. "Well. No time like the present to go over all of this, then."

Reassured that she was feeling better, Uncle Gardiner made his way back to his original seat beside Lady Pembroke's desk. "Let us begin. I do hope that Sir Lucas manages to-"

There was a polite knock on the door.

Great Aunt Phoebe called for them to enter, and Mrs. Nicholls opened the door to usher in Sir Lucas, already brimming with apologies for his tardiness. "I was showing my son and Lieutenant Ross the changes we've made to the land in preparation for this jointure, and simply forget the time."

They all smiled and easily forgave him as he shook Uncle Gardiner and Uncle Phillips's hands, bowing over Lady Pembroke and Lizzy's. He sat down next to Uncle Phillips and asked, "So, where are we?"

Shifting slightly in her seat, Lizzy said, "We have not yet begun, but if you would like, we can start with the jointure."

Nodding, Uncle Phillips began, "As you know, there is a stretch of land between Lucas Lodge and Longbourn that neither I nor my colleagues can verify the exact property lines of. In the fire that took my brother Bennet's elder brother and family, there were many records destroyed, one of which being the detailing of the property line." Everyone in the room nodded, and Uncle Phillips continued, "And upon the verbal agreement arrived at by Sir Lucas and Miss Elizabeth, I have been working to complete the legal paperwork for a joint venture between Longbourn and Lucas Lodge on that land that will enable both parties to profit from it."

He handed copies of the paperwork out to all of them, saying, "Each party of this contract, Sir Lucas and resulting heirs through Lucas Lodge, Miss Elizabeth through any future heirs, and Lady Pembroke through her heir, will receive an equal share of profits in the stables."

There was silence as everyone took the time to read through the meticulous legal work.

After discovering the problem with land ownership identity, Lizzy had at first struggled with what to do. Then, she had taken a chance and asked Great Aunt Phoebe and her Uncle Phillips to arrange a meeting with Sir Lucas at Netherfield. The knight had been curious about the purpose of his being there but was both shocked and intrigued to be presented with the issue. It had been Sir Lucas to propose the idea for using the land for livestock, specifically for horses.

Lucas Lodge would never produce the same quality of crops that Netherfield or Longbourn did, due to the majority of Lucas Lodge tenant farmlands being rockier, with many more hills than its neighboring estates. However, under the advice of Lady Pembroke, Mr. Lucas had taken the proceeds of his 1802 bumper crop (which had been much more than he'd expected to earn from crops that year, thanks to Lizzy's intervention), and put it all towards starting a horse ranch.

While true, crops would never be as plentiful at Lucas Lodge as they were elsewhere at estates in Meryton, the lands were still fertile and more than able to serve for livestock. Their fledgling herd was a fine one, if somewhat small, and quickly outgrowing the resources and stables allotted to them where the stables were currently located.

Sir Lucas lacked the immediate funds to expand, as well as the land with which to do so, which was where Lizzy and Lady Pembroke came in.

After completing his perusal of the legal document, Sir Lucas clapped Uncle Phillips on the back. "A fine job, man. Certainly a masterpiece."

Uncle Phillips did not reply, but he did straighten up slightly in pride. He had taken great care in using legal language that protected all three of the parties involved and was indeed very proud of his work.

Great Aunt Phoebe hummed in agreement. "It certainly is at that. I find no fault with this document."

"Nor I," Lizzy said, excitement bubbling through her.

"Nor I," Uncle Gardiner agreed.

"Well then," Sir Lucas beamed broadly, visions of implementations and improvements already filling his mind, now eager to begin the work. "Let us sign and begin."

One by one, Great Aunt Phoebe, Sir Lucas, and Uncle Gardiner acting as proxy for Lizzy all signed in a long process of careful penmanship through the large stack of papers. When it was done, the men shook hands and congratulated each other and the ladies.

With his part in the proceedings finished, Sir Lucas stood to leave. "Miss Elizabeth, I look forward to our appointment next week to talk about the next steps." Smiling down at her in a proud, paternal way, he said, "I am very honored to be trusted with your partnership in this."

Lizzy swallowed against the lump in her throat. Women were not permitted, socially, to own businesses, to direct the operations of a business or an estate, and yet that was what she truly loved to do. She had taken Great Aunt Phoebe's advice those years ago, and made this the study closest to her heart, one that she loved and was good at. She knew that nowhere else would she have been so supported by men for daring to venture out from what was considered 'ladylike'. A bluestocking would be the least of things someone would call her.

And yet these men praised her for it, and supported her silent directions, guided her, carried out her directions eagerly, happily.

"Thank you, Sir Lucas," she replied, slightly teary-eyed. "I feel just the same as you do."

Her Uncles and Great Aunt Phoebe looked on, smiling.

With a low, deep bow of honor and gratitude to Lizzy alone, which she returned with a curtsy of equal emotion, Sir Lucas gave his last goodbyes and thanks, and then took his leave.

The four of them left, however, were still not done. Again looking through his papers, Uncle Phillips asked, "Should we talk about the mill next or the brickworks?"

One large field at the edge of Longbourn which had been purchased by Lizzy's late uncle, the previous master of Longbourn, was not suitable for farming but Lizzy had identified as the perfect place for a brickworks. There was another field that was perfect for a sawmill, and another that she had selected as the location for a grist mill.

Construction on the first of these projects, the brickworks, would not begin for another year. However, Lizzy had never been one to let work sit undone if she could complete it, and so she and her uncles and Great Aunt Phoebe had already begun the work.

As they settled in to discuss the brickworks plans, Lizzy silently wondered to herself if this was even an improvement she should be making to Longbourn. Neither she nor any of her sisters would inherit their home, as Mr. Collins, a cousin they had never met, was the heir presumptive. Uncle Phillips and Uncle Gardiner had made no secret to her that entailments were far out of fashion and even considered outdated, but that did not change that only her father could attempt to overturn the entailment, and he had never lifted a finger to do so, nor was he ever likely to.

No, she told herself firmly. It was not a mistake to invest in the land even if she and her sisters did not inherit it. If nothing else, it was a way to secure the future of her family, and to give back to the land and community that she loved so much.

Shaking those thoughts away, Lizzy focused back on what her guardians were saying.

A/N: Sooooooo surprise! I've played with a few different things like timing and ages in this story, so just to clarify, Charlotte and John are twins, with Charlotte having been born just a few minutes before her brother, and at this point in the story they are both eighteen. Maria is a year older than Lydia, so she is eleven. Also, yes Sir Lucas absolutely wanted to go full St. James tackiness, but you know Great Aunt Phoebe would have very gently guided him away from that. I can't blame him though, as a friend of mine recently showed me pictures of how she wants to do a full princess-themed bedroom (she called it Royalcore?) and I'm in love. Also, as far as Lydia goes, you will soon see why she is so excited about John being back in next week's chapter.

Lizzy making legal and financial decisions: The real-life application of this as it pertains to historical fact is somewhat cloudy due to the lack of experts on Regency law that I could get in contact with and their conflicting answers, but I'm going to go ahead and say that no, this would not have been very likely to be possible for Lizzy to do at the time, even through proxy. Thankfully, this is historical fiction and not non-fiction.