AN: Hi loyal readers! I went to the beach this weekend and ended up very behind. I made some minor updates to everything fixing spelling errors and reorganizing chapters and I changed the years around in the story because I made initially made Lydia too young, so everything should be updated. No plot changes. I still need a beta if you are interested PM me! Alex questions will be addressed somewhat.
-T
Netherfield Park
December 20th 1810
"Miss Jane, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, Miss Lucinda and Miss Julia come downstairs please you are needed in the drawing room." Marie said as she knocked on the door. The girls were all in Jane's room talking before dinner.
Julia opened the door and asked "Are we in trouble?"
"Julie I am sure that I would be the only one to be in such trouble, so your worries are in vain." Replied her older cousin Lizzy
"No, Miss Julia you are not in trouble your parents have news they be wantin' to share." Marie replied
The ladies filed down the stairs and into the drawing room where Edward and Sophia Gardiner were waiting on them.
"Girls, sit down please, we have some news." Said Mrs. Gardiner
"Is everyone alright?" Jane inquired
"Yes everyone is fine.' Replied Sophia and she turned to her husband "Do you want to tell them or should I?"
"Oh just tell us!" exclaimed Mary
"Alright I shall do it, girls I have inherited a tea business, from a distant cousin on my mother's side. I am now a gentleman, and cannot keep the business so I must sell it. My cousin's solicitor is aware of this, and has arranged for meetings with potential buyers in the area. So, I have to go and meet the buyers, and sell the business" said Edward
"Oh father, you have gone on business venture before for weeks at a time and have not made a special announcement like this. I dare say we will be fine for a month or two without your company." Lucinda said
"Oh did I not mention, that the business is in India? I have made a blunder. He turned to Sophia "Maybe, I should have let you tell it."
"So you will travel to India by yourself?" asked Lizzy
"No, I will go with him" said Sophia
"Where will we go?" asked Julia
"Well Lucinda and Julia will go with my Aunt and Uncle Harrington. While Jane, Lizzy and Mary will go to Longbourn." replied Mr. Gardiner
"So you're leaving us and splitting us up?" Mary asked softly
"Longbourn cannot house your father, Fanny and her girls and Jane, Lizzy and Mary. And we cannot impose all of you on my Aunt and Uncle for such a long period of time." countered Mr. Gardiner
"How long will you be gone?" asked Jane
"A little over a twelvemonth we should be back, no later than the New Year." Replied Mr. Gardiner
"When do we leave?" asked Lizzy
"After Christmas" replied their Aunt
Dinner was a somber affair. No one was really talking with the vast presence of the unknown consuming everyone's mind.
The girls went upstairs and gathered in Jane's room once again and laid out in a circle with their heads in the middle in silence trying to enjoy what was sure to be one of their last nights together.
"Why can we not stay here while mamma and papa go to India?" Julia asked
"As young unmarried ladies, we have to have male protection unfortunately." Mary answered
"What is going to happen with Netherfield?" Julie asked
"I heard them talking about letting it, and going to Barham Court or Town for your Season." Lucinda said.
"I do not want to go and live my Aunt Bennett and our cousins. They are silly girls who don't think about the consequences of anything." Declared Mary
"We have to make the best of it Mary. I won't be so bad." Jane said as she tried to comfort Mary
"It easy for you to say Jane, they do not call you plain and tease you."
"Mary, all will be right you will have Jane and I by your side. I am sure papa will not let them get away with their teasing." Lizzy responded.
That night the girls all stayed in Jane's room and fell asleep all squeezed together in Jane's bed. The next fortnight went by quickly with the girls spending as much time together as possible, but soon it was Christmas Eve and the Bennet girls were packing their items for their return to Longbourn.
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Longbourn
December 25th 1810
The Gardiner Carriage arrived at Longbourn at 3 O'clock precisely. A few footmen along with Mr. Benet were outside waiting when they arrived. Lizzy was the first out of the carriage and hugged her father. Shortly she was followed by Jane, Mary and the Gardiners.
Mr. Bennet said to Lizzy "I see you still have a habit of rushing out of carriages."
"I do but I wait for the footman to open the door and do not run into housekeepers now." Teased Lizzy
"I dare say I am happy to hear that, for I am quite sure that reading is not a punishment for you any longer." retorted Mr. Bennet
They all followed Mr. Bennet inside to the drawing room for refreshments and the girls were shown to their rooms by Mrs. Hill.
"Miss Jane is the oldest so she has her own room on the left. Miss Lizzy and Miss Mary are going to share and in the room across the hall." Mrs. Hill said
"Oh good, all of Aunt Bennet's favorites in one room." Mary sarcastically said
Lizzy nudged her. The girls picked their side of the room, and place their personal items in their room for dinner, and went back downstairs. When they emerged their Aunt and cousins Bennett had arrived.
"The Lucases invited us to a dinner party in a fortnight. They are trying to outdo the party I had a Sen 'night ago I am sure." Said Mrs. Bennett
"Well I need a new dress, for everything I own now is practically medieval." Replied Lydia
"Lydia you do NOT need a new dress unless you can pay for it with your pin money." Replied Mr. Bennet
Lydia pouted "But my father would have let me get a new one."
Mr. Bennet glared at Lydia and she finally relented and said. "I can re-trim my old gown and make it suitable."
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Dinner went by in an amiable silence from one end to the other with the Gardiners in the middle. The Bennet conversations were vastly different than the Bennett conversations. The Bennets were talking of books and politics while the Bennetts talked of lace, balls and fashion from Paris. After dinner men went to the study.
"How is everything with Fanny, Kitty and Lydia since they are finished morning for Walter?"
"Things have been going better than expected. The just try to overspend and get out of hand a little."
"Will you be getting a governess?"
"Probably a companion, since the girls are all here now."
"Do you have any recommendations?"
"No, but I shall have Edith send you some. Where are the Dovers?"
"Marianne wasn't feeling well, so they decided not to travel."
"Where is Adam?"
"He went straight to my cousin's home in Rutland since we are to follow shortly."
"How has it been since Betty moved to Brighton?"
"Much more pleasant."
"I need to give you something before we leave."
Edward hands Robert a documents. Robert unrolls it and read in Big Bold Letters "THE LAST WILL AND TESTEMENT" Robert opens his mouth to speak but Edward cuts him off.
"It is just in case. Send all letters for us to the Cheapside house in town for our butler Mr. Stone will have an itinerary and a list of our updated locations to forward correspondence."
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Lydia and Kitty stared at Jane, Lizzy and Mary's dresses even though they were simple the quality of their dresses could not be denied
"Aunt Gardiner? Did you get all your nieces new dresses except for me and Kitty?" Asked Lydia
Sophia knew that Lydia was trying to still get a new dress. She did not want to be inferior to her sister or her cousins in any way. She was too much like her mother.
"Yes they are very fine but they were a gift from the girl's grandparents when we visited my cousin in Rutland."
Lydia pouted. She thought she had figured out how to get a new dress and was sorely disappointed.
Mrs. Bennett the replied "Oh you have to take Lydia and Kitty to visit with your cousin, so that she can introduce them to rich men and get a husband. I'm sure they will be lively company for Your Ladyship."
"Exton Hall is quite large but we couldn't possibly impose so many guest on my dear Edith." Sophia replied.
"Well Jane, Lizzy and Mary do not need to go. They have already been once and failed to attract a husband. Kitty and Lydia need to go for I am sure they will not fail."
Lizzy and Mary were hiding their smirks behind their fans and trying not to laugh. Jane was distraught that her aunt could speak so carelessly.
"If Edith ever extends an invitation to your girls I will let you know." Sophia retorted
Just then the men returned to the drawing room and the family broke up into groups to play cards, read or talk, until the hour grew late and everyone retired. When early morning came the Gardiners broke their fast with Robert, Jane, Lizzy and Mary, who saw them off to start their journey north to Rutland and then Liverpool, where they would set sail for India for the next 4-6 months.
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Netherfield Park
September 15th 1811
"Come Mary. It is not much farther I promise." Lizzy said to her little sister
Mary huffed. A morning walk on her birthday was not the ideal day she had planned.
"Do you need a rest?" inquired Jane
"I can walk the remainder." responded Mary
Soon the girls had reached their destination.
"Netherfield? I thought you said this was a surprise for my gift?"
"It is." Replied Lizzy
Mrs. White the housekeeper for Netherfield let the girls in. There is tea and cakes waiting for you ladies in the drawing room. Mr. Bingley will be coming at 3 O'clock to show his friend around the property, so you girls best be gone by 2.
"Thank you Mrs. White" said the three girls in unison
"Come now let us eat our refreshments, and then we will give you your gift."
The girls sat and talk for an hour and enjoyed the time they got to spend with each other without being interrupted by their Aunt or cousins.
Jane said eyeing the clock "We should move upstairs to do the gift exchange, Mr. Bingley will be here in a few hours."
"Jane it is only 11. We still have plenty of time before Mr. Bingley arrives." Lizzy said
"I know but they are not supposed to know that we are related to the Gardiners, father does not want them to know, so they will not try to curry favor with us, because Father is acting as landlord until Uncle returns. If they catch us here we will have no choice but to tell him." Jane replied
"Fine, let us go." Lizzy replied
Mary followed Jane and Lizzy into Mary's old room that had the Yellow Lily Landscape. Jane pulled out the locket with the matching Yellow Lily Landscape for Mary. Mary took the locket and turned it over to read the back My Devoted Daughter. Mary opened the Locket and found a watch on the right and another inscribing on the left that read: To Mary, with Love Mamma.
"There is a letter from Mamma too. We will let you read it alone." Said Jane as her and Lizzy left the room.
Jane and Lizzy decided to both visit their chambers at Netherfield one last time before the new tenants moved in. Jane went into the Rose room and Lizzy went into the Lavender room. While in the Lavender room Lizzy dove onto the bed. Her locket came off and she could hear loud male voices from downstairs.
"Mrs. White! I beg your pardon of arriving so early but business in London was able to be solved much quicker than expected. This is my friend William Darcy." Mr. Darcy bowed to the housekeeper
"Mr. Bingley it I not trouble at all. Mr. Darcy a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh I see you have refreshments prepared for us. Is someone else here?" Mr. Bingley asked while eyeing the used teacups in the drawing room."
"Oh Mr. Gardiner's brother and steward came by to check on the estate to make sure everything was in working order for your arrival in a fortnight, they left not fifteen minutes ago." Lied Mrs. White
Mr. Darcy eyed the housekeeper curiously because there were three cups, but only two men mentioned, but kept his thoughts to himself.
Meanwhile, Jane and Mary went into the Lavender room to get Lizzy, so they could leave. Lizzy was searching the floor by the bed trying to find her locket.
"I lost my locket." Lizzy silently whined
"We have to go Lizzy, Mrs. White can search for you locket later, we cannot be seen." Jane whispered pulling Lizzy into the servants' hallways down to the kitchen to escape out of the back door to freedom from the unexpected guests.
Just as the girls arrived home a down pour of rain fell from the sky.
"That was awfully close." said Mary
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The two men had been there for an hour or so, getting Mrs. White to pull household books and the estate books, until Bingley's stomach had start to rumble.
"Darcy, I dare say we will not be making it back to London tonight. Mrs. White will we be able to stay here tonight?" Bingley said looking at the rainy landscape outside.
"I don't have any rooms prepared, the Crown Inn should have vacancies for you both." Replied Mrs. White who lied again because she was still fearful that the girls were upstairs.
"That is quite alright, we can stay at the Inn for tonight. Right Darcy?"
"I suppose." Responded Darcy
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Darcy and Bingley arrived at the Crown Inn and were immediately greeted by the Hodges. Mr. Hodges showed the two men to their rooms and ordered a hot Bath for their guests. After bathing and changing out of their wet clothing Darcy and Bingley went down to the dining area to get supper. They were just one of three guests staying at the Crown Inn, the dining area was very empty.
"So what brings you gentlemen to Meryton?" inquired Mr. Hodges
"I am going to be letting Netherfield." Said Bingley
"Ahh yes, such a lovely property." replied Mr. Hodges
"What do you know of Netherfield?" Asked Darcy
"Tis' a good property the gent who owns it went to India with his wife and sent his kids to live with relatives." Answered Mr. Hodges
"Oh pray tell do you know much about the area and the people living here?" asked Bingley
"Not very much. We moved here and took over the Inn about six months ago." Responded Mr. Hodges
"I saw a house on my way to Netherfield and I wonder if he could give me some insight on what to farm here in Hertfordshire." Said Bingley
"Ahh that is Longbourn the property is next to yours. It is owned by a Mr. Bennet. Although, he might not be the best person to ask, for he is a recluse alcoholic and has a gambling problem since his wife and son died in a carriage accident years ago. He lost his other two properties to gambling. Longbourn is all he has to support his five daughters." Said Mr. Hodges
Mrs. Hodges overheard their conversation and walked over and said "Mr. Hodges you are worse than Mrs. Phillips with your gossiping. " She turned to Darcy and Bingley and said "None of what he told you is true. Mr. Bennet lost one house in a fire. The second house was taken from him and given to his wife's cousin because it was his wife's and had an entail on it just like Longbourn." She turned back to face her husband and continued. "His wife is still alive dear, you met Fanny. His son is alive and lives with relatives up North. And he only has two daughters!"
"Is Longbourn a good property?" asked Darcy
"I believe it takes in, about 2000 a year." replied Mr. Hodges
The men finished their dinner and decided to retire, so they could get an early start to London in the morning. Before going to their individual rooms Bingley asked Darcy "What did you make of this Mr. Bennet? Should I meet with him and get his advice?"
"Bingley, you can met with him on a social call and determine if he is someone who has good judgement. We ride to London at first light. Good night" Darcy replied.
AN: An image of what the size and shape of design somewhat of the girls lockets look like is in my profile. The colors and flowers vary from girl to girl. What did you think of the gossip from the innkeepers?
