Our Lady of Longbourn
Chapter Five – She is Our Lady!
In the year of our Lord, 1788
Mrs. Maria Lucas plastered a smile on her face even as she fumed internally. Frances Gardiner deliberately added an extra bounce to her step as her father led her down the Isle past Maria and towards the handsome and wealthy... at least by Meryton standards... Mr. Thomas Bennet. For the moment she forced herself not to glance over at her own odd-looking husband. Mr. Lucas was a good man with a prosperous merchantile business. She and her friend/arch-rival had both competed for the man's attention, but she had won, giving her crowing rights.
Afterwards, Frances had even had a season in town... only to return unmarried while Maria gave birth to her dear little Charlotte and her little baby John. Frances, in her usual cruel manner, had made a point of dropping off-hand comments about the plainness of both babies. They both looked more like her father, a fact that made Maria grind her teeth in frustration. Still, she had married and her rival, though beautiful in face and figure, had not! Mrs. Lucas had wanted to point out that it was Frances' personality that lacked, but even she wouldn't go that far... and then Mr. Bennet showed up in town.
Old Jedediah Bennet had been curmudgeonly and withdrawn, so folks avoided the Longbourn estate. Young Thomas Bennet, his heir, was an Oxford graduate, had a sharp wit and a sharper intellect, and was very handsome. Worse still, he arrived unmarried. The natural result being that every woman's eye was on him... but he only had eyes for the blond-haired, blue-eyed Frances Bennet. Maria had watched in chagrin as her usually boisterous and irritating young rival became sweet, meek, and gentile as she tracked down her quarry.
Now the irritating chit was prancing down the isle, but not without a parting smirk at her bested rival.
In the year of our Lord, 1809
The wagon drivers delivered their loads to a grateful cadre of ship's doctors and sailors, waved at the press of reporters, and turned their wagons for home, but not before the mayor of Meryton received a summons to St. James Palace, along with his wife.
Three days later, the poor man resisted the urge to pull at his sweaty cravat as he delivered the speech his wife had written for him. It bothered him that Elizabeth Bennet received no mention in the speech, but he had seen that gleam in his wife's eyes before and he didn't wish to upset her. The rivalry between Mrs. Bennet and his own wife was often a source of amusement for him and Mr. Bennet, but there were times that is boiled over into something more scary. He suppressed a sigh, avoided the King and Queen's eyes, and proceeded with his speech.
oOoOOoOo
Eighteen year-old Elizabeth Bennet shook her head and ducked out of the room as her mother and newly christened Lady Lucas each tried to out-do the other with their claims. Naturally, Lady Lucas felt that she had the upper hand now that her husband had returned from his interview with the King with a knighthood. Fanny could only counter with her Jane's marriage to a wealthy and prominent sea captain. It rankled her whenever anyone mentioned Mr. Lucas' knighthood.
I am happy that my mother never realized that gathering those plants was my idea, Elizabeth thought. Truthfully it was Dr. Jones and everyone else who did the work. I am still amazed that so many joined in. I don't begrudge Sir William Lucas at all. What matters is that the medicines helped.
The Fleet was back in action. It would be impossible to measure how much of a contribution little Meryton had actually made, but the town had received the official "Gratitude of the King." The bronze plaque was currently resting safely in the town constable's office because there was no place to prominently mount it yet. The debates on the matter were endless. But the fleet was well, patrolling the channel and delivering troops to the Peninsula. The fight against Napoleon continued.
Captain Archer had been declared ready for service and promoted to Commodore. Elizabeth was happy for him, but sad for her sister
and their little Benjamin. As much as Elizabeth loved and respected her brother by marriage, she was personally resolved never to
marry a sailor.
Elizabeth saw the huge figure of her personal footman and grinned, "It is a beautiful day, Bosun. Why don't we make today into a survey day; see what is working and what needs to be repaired?"
"Aye, aye, Miss Bennet. The rig is ready and cleared for action. Right ye are that this be fine sailin' weather." Bosun Toliver didn't smile much… he claimed that it frightened people, but he did return her grin today.
"My, don't you sound nautical this morning," Elizabeth laughed as the big man handed her into the trap. Then her face turned more serious, "Are you truly happy with staying here while Commodore Archer sails off to parts unknown?"
Toliver grunted as he climbed in himself, "It be my choice, Lass. You have my word. This here leg don't support me the way I need it to on a rollin' deck in a storm. And that last battle wit that Froggies seventy-gun, when t' Captain calls fer boarders, I had t' stay behind… broke my heart, it did. Knew it was over then." He slapped the reins once and the trap lurched into motion.
Elizabeth let the silence linger, each with their thoughts, and then she said, "If you ever need to get away and smell the salt air, just ask. I know that the Commodore and Jane worry, but I've never been in any danger."
The bosun shook his head slightly. They had enjoyed this argument many times, "You 've never been in danger because you've got this old two-decker sailin' escort, Lass." He worried about the idea of Elizabeth being alone in a world of men. Elizabeth was long past the awkward stage now. She was beautiful, though not in the way that her eldest sister was. There was such an energy and vitality about her that her presence dominated any gathering. She was completely unaware of it, but the men of the area were certainly not.
They stopped at each of the tenants for Longbourn first, checking for any needs. There weren't any. Elizabeth was such a dedicated master that problems were usually solved before they became problematic. All but one of her tenant farmers on both estates had bought into her assertions about crop rotation and "scientific" farming. The resultant yields had told their own tale. The one tenant farmer who insisted on ignoring "that upstart chit" would just have to watch his neighbors enjoy the profits.
The trap rolled over a small hill and down into the river valley and Elizabeth immediately turned her eyes west to the two water-wheeled buildings at the water's edge. The grist mill had been there since she was a child, but now it belonged to her. When Roger the Miller died without children, his widow had paid Elizabeth a visit. By the end of the visit, the widow had the funds that she needed to retire to Bath and Elizabeth owned the mill. After a search that took longer than she'd anticipated, she was able to install a good man name Yargus to take over the mill.
The second structure was built as a partnership between Louis de Bossuet, a French émigré whose family, though never nobility, had possessed property that one of the revolutionaries had coveted. De Bossuet had been in his teens at the time, but he had been in training to take over his father's looms. Out of a very large generational family, only Louis, his mother, and two sisters escaped.
Elizabeth had met the sisters when they came to Longbourn looking for work as lady's maids. There were no positions available, but an assembly was on the horizon, so she commissioned the ladies to create dresses for her, her mother, and her sisters in order to help the impoverished family. Her mother, as usual, had been vociferously indignant… until the dresses were completed. The Bennet ladies were the belles of the assembly that day, and Elizabeth had an idea.
The returns from Netherfield Park for the two years previous to that had been excellent. Most of the monies not spent in repairs and improvements went into investment with Uncle Gardiner, but Elizabeth kept five hundred pounds back for unexpected necessities. Working with the Gardiners, who had a thriving fabric warehouse among their other enterprises, she set the de Bossuet sisters up in their own dress-making shop. The town's other dress maker was aging and without a daughter to take the reins. She lingered for another season, then happily sold her stock and trade to the sisters.
Despite the grumbles of some against foreigners, the ladies of Meryton and Hertfordshire began to appear in gowns that were of the latest French fashion… and they promenaded around the streets like peacocks. Then, one day, Marita, the eldest, decided to try her hand at opening a modiste shop in London. After the promising beginning of the first venture, Elizabeth and the Gardiners were happy to fund this second project. After one season Madame de Bossuet was already well known and in-demand.
So when Louis de Bossuet approached Elizabeth with his plans for a mechanized loom, powered by a waterwheel, Elizabeth had been quite willing to form a partnership. Since Louis' expertise was with the loom, she asked Mr. Yargus the miller to make a third in the deal. He was a gifted mechanic who understood the gears and mechanisms at an almost subconscious level. Together with de Bossuet, they had the second enterprise up and running smoothly within a year.
Elizabeth was still investigating the best sheep for her estates. She had purchased merinos, but these Spanish-bred sheep seemed to have issues in England's wet climate. The long, soft wool was unequaled, but poor health in the flock and wool-mold were becoming prohibitive. She had been reading about Romney Marsh Sheep, a long wool breed developed in Kent which did well in England. I'll purchase a starter-flock come next spring, but I need an experienced shepherd. Mr. Hadley wants to retire and his sons both followed the sound of gunfire.
She nodded and Toliver drove on. Their route had taken them near Meryton, so they passed through the town and Elizabeth greeted different people she knew as they turned towards Netherfield Park.
oOoOOoOo
"It ain't right, what the Mayor did," Alice Booth said as she watched Elizabeth's trap leave the town. "She's the one who done all the work. Twas our Lizzy who had the idee, an' who organized it an' all. Then the Mayor volunteers ta' drive a wagon an' next thing ya' know, he's 'Sir William Lucas'! It jes' ain't right."
Emma Taylor frowned in agreement, "They should'a made her a Countess at least, or maybe a Duchess. But she's still just plain Miss Bennet and that greedy Mrs. Lucas is called 'Lady'… I don' like it either, Alice."
Theirs were not the only grumbles in Meryton and beyond.
oOoOOoOo
It was both a poorly and well-kept secret that Elizabeth was the true owner of Netherfield Park. Mr. Nichols, the head-servant and butler, and his wife Mrs. Nichols, the housekeeper, along with several other key servants knew the truth. Lady Adele had spoken to them on her deathbed about keeping the secret, and they had. They had loved their mistress deeply, and they saw how much their lady cherished young Elizabeth. They were now just as loyal to her.
The tenants of the Netherfield estate knew. They had long since become used to Mr. Matthews and his little shadow. When "the Lady" passed and Elizabeth seemed to be making the decisions, it didn't take them long to figure out. Besides, it was she who regularly visited to ask after their families and fix any problems. They were happy to have her as master and more than willing to keep her secret.
After all, everybody knew about Mrs. Bennet. A more silly, greedy, and grasping woman there never was… until Mrs. Lucas went and stole Miss Elizabeth's credit and became Lady Lucas, that is. If the people of Meryton were offended, the servants and tenants of Longbourn and Netherfield were incensed.
And angry people who see injustice often have their own ways to express displeasure.
oOoOOoOo
Elizabeth was enjoying a rare moment alone while Toliver went into London with Mr. Matthews to collect a seed drill. She had promised her mother hen to stay close to home… and she meant to keep her promise… only, the girl who had walked most of the area consider everywhere close to home. Today, though, in an effort to comply with the letter of her promise, she chose to only walk two miles to Charlotte's new home.
Sir William Lucas and Lady Lucas, with their new elevation, had decided that it was time to leave aside their status as a merchant family and become landed gentry. With this in mind, they purchased the old Weybrook estate and rechristened it "Lucas Lodge." The estate boasted only eighteen hundred pounds per annum and the manor house was in disrepair, but the price had been right.
Elizabeth walked up to the open door to the sounds of hammering and sawing. She expected a warm welcome, but was surprised to encounter wary expressions and guarded looks from the family. Charlotte, having heard about her visitor, came around the corner and gave Elizabeth her first cheerful greeting. Still, there was something odd even in her friend's behavior.
Charlotte wiped her hands, pushed back her hair, and removed her apron. "Mama, I'm going to walk with Eliza for a little bit. I'll get back to work afterwards."
Lady Lucas only nodded, not directly meeting Elizabeth's eyes. Once the two dear friends were out, they walked in silence for several minutes. Finally, Elizabeth could take no more, "Charlotte, what is wrong?! Did I do something? Why is your family acting so odd?"
Her older friend seemed to ponder this question, and Elizabeth, for several long minutes before finally replying, "Everyone is angry at us, Eliza."
"Everyone? What for?"
"For what Mother and Father did… for taking the credit for what you did! Elizabeth, haven't you been paying attention? Everybody is mad at our family because Father was knighted instead of you."
"But, that's ridiculous. In the first place, a woman can't be knighted! Whoever heard of such a thing? And in the second place, everybody helped to collect the plants and make the medicines, including your entire family except for little Toby, your nephew… and he's only two!"
Charlotte grimace, "Elizabeth, I know that! And you know that! But that doesn't seem to matter to everyone else! They are all angry for you!... and they're taking it out on my family! Father actually had rotten tomatoes thrown at him! Madam de Bossuet refuses to make a dress for Mother and people are cutting her right in the street! Even my little brothers and sisters are being shunned!"
Just then, little Susan Lucas started to run by, crying her heart out. Charlotte stopped her and then gasped to see the front of the twelve-year old's dress black with ink. "Archie Long threw ink on me, Char! I thought that he liked me! " Then she pushed her sister away, glared at Elizabeth, and ran away wailing.
Elizabeth watched her go in shock, and then she turned back to her dearest friend, "I'll fix this, Charlotte. You have my word. It will stop today."
It took every ounce of self-control that Elizabeth had not to scream and rant at the people of Meryton. At moments like these she longed for dear Jane and her sweet peaceful presence that seemed to smooth over the harshest of bad feelings. Elizabeth didn't have her, but she did have others who she knew that she could rely on.
She began with Mary and Kitty. Over the past few years her next youngest sisters had been her allies or lieutenants on many projects. People had learned that their words were often her words, so they made able mouth pieces for her. "Mary, Kitty, I need you to talk to as many as you can. Please tell them how upset I am for what is happening to the Lucas family. Tell them I don't care about the knighthood. Tell them that I like Sir William Lucas and his family. Tell them how angry I am that Charlotte and her family are being abused." The two girls nodded and departed on their tasks.
Elizabeth addressed the servants of both estates next. She had long ago learned the power of the servant's network. Mr. Matthews, the Hills, and the Nichols were well-respected in their own circle, and they knew how to lay the law down with their own servants and how to spread Elizabeth's wishes to the rest of the town.
Next Elizabeth went to Madam de Bossuet, the modiste. A dressmaker's shop was the distribution point for gossip in a small town, and Lauretta de Bossuet loved to gossip. Elizabeth was thankful to find the lady alone, and she pled her case. She thanked the woman for worrying about her, but emphasized how dear the Lucas family, and especially Charlotte, was to her.
Her campaign worked, though everything was not resolved in one day as she had hoped. Soon people began to greet the family, if tentatively at first. Lady Lucas got the dress that she needed. Sir William Lucas had no more encounters with rotten fruit. Eventually Archie Long even gave Susan Lucas a handful of hand-picked wildflowers as an apology.
But the general feeling that Elizabeth Bennet had been wronged persisted. It was little Emily Jeffries who spoke the words that everyone else was feeling, "That one may be called Lady Lucas now, but Miss Lizzy will always be My Lady."
Out of the mouth of a nine year-old, words spoken in a fabric and ribbon store spread through the area like wildfire. While Elizabeth Bennet innocently went about her duties, she became "Our Lady" to all and sundry.
And thus was born Our Lady of Longbourn. Of course, nobody bothered to tell her.