To answer some question…
JDH – No research required. Bennet told Fanny that canon (church) law forbids them to marry. The Common Book of Prayer has a list of all the people who were not allowed to marry.
Lisa – In JA's story if Bennet had been more involved and had not allowed Lydia to go to Brighton, Darcy could not have been the shining hero coming to her rescue…
Sam – Lydia was about 8 and a right little Miss.
Guest – James is allowed to grow up with his loving family on his own future estate – which happens to be with his grandparents at Ashcroft. This would have happened even if Collins was not in the picture. As for Collins drawing a knife – he never got to use it, so, perhaps he could have argued that he just blustered in the heat of the moment. If no actual harm was done, a lot of families would have preferred to avoid the scandal of a trial.
Tnet – the fluff comes when the story starts properly. I had to arrange for the right character to be in play. If Henrietta had lived, she could have had several more kids which would get in the way…
~~PoP~~
Growing up
Her twelfth birthday was significant for Elizabeth for two reasons.
After months of pestering her father, he granted her wish and presented her with her own horse. And not just any horse, but a grey stallion. Admittedly, for a stallion he was quite gentle and had been trained by John Farrer, who was not only an expert on side-stepping problems but also at gently training horses. Elizabeth promptly named him Spirit.
The second reason was an interesting conversation with her father, who explained the entail and the steps he had taken to hopefully pass Longbourn to Elizabeth when she turned one and twenty and the entail ended.
'Is that why you have been teaching me about estate management, not just getting Grandmother Bennet to teach me about the duties of the mistress of an estate?'
Bennet smiled. 'I admire your perspicacity. Can you think of any other reason?'
'So that James and I do not come to blows because he is learning something which is being denied to me?'
'No, Lizzy. That had never even occurred to me.' Bennet sighed and looked just slightly embarrassed, although he tried to cover it up. 'I told you that I did not expect to inherit Longbourn and that I thoroughly enjoyed teaching at Oxford.'
'Y-e-s.'
'While I have learnt how to manage an estate, I still do not like it. I trained you in the hope that you would like to take over sooner rather than later.'
'You are not planning to return to Oxford?' cried Elizabeth in somewhat of a panic.
Bennet chuckled and patted her hand reassuringly. 'Nothing so drastic, my dear. I was simply hoping to have more time to spend with my books… if you are willing to try your wings.'
Elizabeth stared at her father in open mouthed amazement until he gently pushed her chin up. 'You want me to administer Longbourn,' she gasped at last.
'If you think you are ready for it. Of course, I will still be on hand to advise you if you feel the need for it.'
His daughter slumped back in her chair and thought about Bennet's offer. After a few minutes she asked, 'Can I think about this overnight?'
'Take as long as you like.'
That night Elizabeth spent many hours reviewing what she had learnt in the past eight years since she had come to live at Longbourn. In the morning she gave her answer. 'Yes!'
~PoP~
Over the next six years the tenants of Longbourn and the merchants of Meryton gradually became used to the change in management.
While several of the more traditional and hidebound men were only grudgingly cooperative, they did learn to cooperate.
In the early days, Elizabeth made a few mistakes but none of them were disastrous, and she learnt from each of them. She was ably assisted not only by her father but theit very capable steward, who had come to Longbourn courtesy of Ashcroft.
The most important lesson she learnt was when to use her natural charm to get her way rather than her sharp tongue.
Longbourn prospered and even increased its profits, which she used to improve the estate further. Amongst her improvements was the purchase of additional land adjoining Longbourn, mostly from Netherfield until the two estates were of virtually the same size.
~PoP~
As her eighteenth birthday was approaching, Lady Ashcroft was on hand to help Elizabeth to get ready for her coming out and her presentation to the Queen.
Elizabeth's response was not unexpected. 'I have no particular wish to find a husband. Why should I give up my life and become the property of some man?' Elizabeth protested. 'And even if I was interested in such a fate, I am still much too young.'
In view of her attitude, the family reached yet another compromise. Elizabeth would be presented at court early in the next season, attend a few balls and then she would be allowed to return home… in time for spring planting.
~PoP~
The presentation had gone well. Much to Elizabeth's relief but also chagrin, in the excitement caused by her grandmother over the occasion, she had forgotten that her twin would be presented at the same time. She did not have to endure the ceremony on her own.
Elizabeth had performed her curtsy and James had bowed. The Queen had commented on the fact that they were twins and had wished them good fortune. The Earl was pleased when the Queen acknowledged his heir by addressing James as Viscount Markwell. Afterwards they had exited, and Elizabeth was pleased that she had managed to do so gracefully and without tripping over her train.
Their first ball was at the residence of the Duke of Barrington, who was an old friend of her grandfather's as well as a distant cousin of the countess and he had been only too pleased to invite the whole family.
Elizabeth had danced the first set with her father, the second with her brother, while her grandfather and their host had each partnered her for one dance of the third set.
For the rest of the evening, she did not lack for partners but was glad to be able to leave. While some of the gentlemen had been quite pleasant, most had appeared to be rather mercenary. Although she had encountered one amusing situation in which the gentleman had been pleasant and only his mother had appeared avaricious.
Over the next fortnight they attended several other balls, confirming Elizabeth's opinion of the so-called gentlemen of the ton. The majority of them seemed to be interested in wealth and position, without the slightest concern for character and compatibility.
~PoP~
Lord Frederick Pemberton was getting desperate. He needed an heiress, or to be more specific he needed the dowry of an heiress.
His father had recently refused to cover his debts of honour and his creditors were getting most insistent. Just a week ago the Greek had sent some bullyboys to give him a rather painful reminder that he needed to pay.
For the past week Pemberton had been checking up on all the young ladies who were newly arrived in London for the season. He had narrowed his choices down to three and was delighted that one of them was attending the ball tonight.
Pemberton was rather pleased as this lady was a petite brunette who would not be able to resist… one way or another.
Three hours later, he was not only displeased, but he was getting downright incensed. Was it possible that Miss Bennet was avoiding him? She was never unattended. She did not take a single step without a companion. She had even sidestepped an introduction.
It seemed that charm was not going to win the day. Therefore, he would have to take more direct measures. Admittedly, that was an advantage as that would necessitate an expeditious marriage, making her funds promptly available to him.
As he was decided on a course of action, there was no point in shillyshallying.
He walked briskly towards her, at an angle and with enough momentum designed to cause a collision, which should entangle her quite satisfactorily. Even though he was pretending to look at something off to his left, he could see her out of the corner of his eye.
She was right in front of him.
Only one more step.
He reached out… and suddenly she was not there but something was impeding his right foot.
Before he knew what was happening, he measured his length upon the floor… the highly polished floor. Whereupon, due to his momentum, he slid several feet before coming to rest as his head impacted with a most inconveniently located pillar. Fortunately for Pemberton he had lost most of his momentum by that time, and while the impact hurt his head, it did not quite render him unconscious.
A moment later he wished he was unconscious as a young, female voice exclaimed, 'My dear sir, if you cannot hold your liquor, you should not drink when you are in public. It is most undignified to be falling down drunk,' Miss Bennet tutted. 'If my reflexes were less sharp, you could have put me into a most uncomfortable position. That simply will not do. I insist that you apologise this instant.'
Rather than face his audience, Pemberton took the cowards way out and pretended unconsciousness while several footmen picked him up and carried him out of the room and down a corridor.
The noise of the ball became fainter when he heard a door opening and he suddenly felt cool air on his face before he was unceremoniously dumped outside the back door.
On occasion someone wondered what happened to Lord Frederick Pemberton as he was never again seen in polite society.
~PoP~
Having to deal with Lord Pemberton was the last straw for Elizabeth. Since she had been warned about several of the more desperate men haunting the social functions in search of a bride, willing or not, Elizabeth had gone out of her way to avoid them. The previous night she had been extremely grateful for her training, but she was tired of always having to be on her guard. She wanted to go home.
'I can understand that most of the gentlemen wish to further their family's fortune, especially when they have none, but I will not remain and risk some unscrupulous scoundrel putting me in an untenable position. If I ever marry, it will be to a man of my choice. I refuse to have that choice taken away from me,' she stormed over breakfast at Ashworth House.
Asked why she was suddenly adamant about her refusal to attend any more balls, Elizabeth explained how she had had to sidestep that persistent Lord.
When James heard of the attempted compromise, he immediately wanted to go out to hunt down and skewer that scoundrel.
'Do not be such a fool,' admonished the Earl. 'Especially as there is no need for you to risk yourself. I have it on very good authority that the reason Pemberton is so desperate, is because some very dangerous people are baying for his blood in lieu of money. I would be surprised if he survives another fortnight.'
James allowed himself to be mollified, even though he was still grumbling. After all, he was having a wonderful time. He too had been forewarned about the pitfalls of the marriage mart and had it put about that he was much too young to marry and categorically refused to have his hand forced. That still did not deter some marriage minded young women, but unlike some young men, he thought it amusing how so many of the very young ladies were throwing themselves at him.
After some more discussion, it was agreed that James could stay in town with his grandparents, while Bennet would return to Longbourn with Elizabeth. She carried the day because her grandparents and her parents had married for affection and respect, and therefore they could not but agree with Elizabeth on her stance.
~PoP~
In June 1811, Elizabeth was in town again. This time it was to support Mary who was turning eighteen and it was her turn to be presented at court.
The stories Elizabeth had told had made Mary wish to avoid the business altogether, but her noble grandmother had insisted that it was necessary if she wished for a chance to marry as she desired.
'My dear girl,' the countess explained, 'if you wish to marry a minor gentleman, having been presented at court will not be a hindrance. But if you should fall in love with a titled gentleman, your presentation will work in your favour. It simply gives you more choices.'
Mary grudgingly agreed and the presentation went off without a problem, although Mary was grateful that it happened right at the end of the season, and she was not required to socialise in town.
Within days, the family returned to Longbourn.
~PoP~
They had stayed in town long enough for the Earl to have a private conversation with Bennet.
'As you know, James will be delighted to break the entail as soon as he turns one and twenty in November, which will allow you to pass Longbourn on to Elizabeth.'
'I knew, and I am exceedingly pleased to have a decent son who is not greedy,' Bennet agreed with a proud smile. 'I wish to thank you for raising him to be such a good man.'
'It was the least I could do, since you gave me the opportunity to raise my heir. But it made me think. James and Elizabeth are well taken care of… but what about young Mary?'
'Well, I thought to give her the legacy from my uncle and Henrietta's dowry, which have both been accumulating interest over the last twenty or so years.'
The Earl nodded and smiled. 'While that is commendable, my Mary and I discussed the issue and she agreed to a different solution. Your neighbour, Mr Morris is thinking of selling what is left of Netherfield, since it seems that Elizabeth is bent on purchasing the estate one field at a time. Instead, we thought to buy it for Mary.'
After a moment of stunned silence, Bennet chuckled. 'You are certainly an exception amongst your peers… providing such a generous future for your granddaughter. I thought that you were all about increasing your fortune to increase your power.'
Ashcroft shrugged but was pleased with the implied compliment. 'We have more than enough of both. We simply do not shout it from the rooftops.'
'A modest peer. Who would have thought that such a thing could exist.' Bennet grinned as he shook his head. 'But I suppose that I should have known. Henrietta and Patrick were two of the best people I have ever known. But to get back to the subject. I like the idea of Mary and Elizabeth being neighbours.'
'Good. It is settled then,' replied the Earl with a satisfied smile. 'I will arrange for the purchase, but until Mary is one and twenty, I think it best to lease the estate. It will give Elizabeth time to teach her sister.'
~PoP~
~~PoP~~
A Plethora of Peers (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2023