Author's note: I truly appreciate all of the kind words I've received. Some of you have asked: yes, this is the story I had up before called "She Smiles Too Much." I took it down, as I explained in the introduction. But I really wanted to keep sharing it, as I always have with my other books. I've made a few changes, however, and this chapter is one of them. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 3

The Bennet family was all gathered at breakfast the following morning when the housekeeper brought to post to Mr. Bennet on a tray.

He shuffled through the envelopes, occasionally muttering to himself or quirking an eyebrow. At last, he set one down on the table next to his plate and handed the remaining ones back to the servant. "Will you place these on my desk, please, Hill?"

The woman nodded and bustled out of the room to do her master's bidding. Mr. Bennet then once again picked up the remaining letter and passed it down the table. "From your Aunt Gardiner, Lizzy."

"I wish someone would write me a letter!" cried Lydia petulantly.

"My aunt has written you several times, Lydia," Elizabeth reminded her youngest sister. "You never respond. If you wish to continue the correspondence, you need to write them back."

"Maybe I'll get a letter from one of the officers," Lydia sighed dreamily, which was immediately echoed by Kitty.

"Officers?" Mary stared blankly.

"Lord, Mary, do you ever listen?" Lydia said impatiently. "I told Mama all about it yesterday, and you were there in the room! The militia is coming to stay at Meryton for the winter!"

"Red coats as far as the eye can see," Kitty added with a giggle.

"Does this mean you've given up your pursuit of Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth asked with a smirk.

"Just because I have my mind set on one man doesn't mean I can't have my heart on another," Lydia said primly, sticking her nose in the air.

"How practical," Elizabeth replied dryly.

Mary began to lecture her younger sister on the third deadly sin, and Elizabeth quietly slipped away before she could be drawn into their argument. Once upstairs in the privacy of her room, she opened her letter from her aunt and began to read.

My dear niece,

I know it has been quite some time since I last wrote to you, and I beg you would forgive me the delay. Your cousin Mary just completed her tenth birthday, and I was quite consumed with making everything perfect for her. And little Philip is going through a phase where he cannot let me put him down from my arms.

Fortunately, I have still been able to attend to my duties for the Ladies' Aid Society for Bethlem. The asylum has been extremely difficult to work with, but I will not fail in persevering. Oh, Lizzy, it breaks my heart to see people like Jane in such dreadful conditions. Some days, I do not think I can bear it another minute.

I have been heartened, however, by reports coming from The Retreat in York. Mr. William Tuke has done some incredible things there. I know not many people think well of his efforts; indeed, most here in London speak of him with derision. But he has truly been able to create a remarkable place for those whose mental faculties aren't all they should be.

Next time you are in London, I would like you to come with me again to Bethlem. I know it was quite the ordeal for you when you first visited last time you were here, but I think important for us to remember just what it is we are fighting against. There is much to do, and we need the fire and energy a young person like yourself can bring. Besides, your presence was a great consolation to many of the idiots. They may not be able to speak or understand, but they recognized your kind smile, and it gave them comfort.

Of course, we will also enjoy many London delights as well. I am eager to take you to my new modiste. She is a miracle worker with some of the fabrics from your uncle's warehouses. I daresay I've never looked finer, even though I have given birth to four children!

Catherine begs to me remind you that she is now eight years old, and as such, she should be allowed to participate in your practice tea parties along with Mary. Edward also wishes to know if he can be included, being only seven. Don't worry - I will not make you have a young man to tea before the elder two can behave properly!

Please do make certain your father reads his letter from your uncle as soon as it arrives. There are items of business that need to be addressed, and your uncle cannot move forward without your father's permission.

But I must write no more. The children have been wanting me this half hour.

Yours with love,

Madeline Gardiner

Elizabeth looked up from her letter and sighed. The idea of returning to Bethlem made her shudder. She had visited only once, the year before, and she still had nightmares of what she had witnessed. Only in her sleep, it was Jane in chains and a straitjacket.

She shook off the memories; it had been three years, after all. She was much more mature now at twenty than she had been at seventeen, and she knew what to expect. Besides, her aunt's dedication to a cause that centered around a family member who was not even related by blood made her feel ashamed.

Nodding firmly to herself, Elizabeth resolved to also do better here at Hertfordshire. There were a few tenants of both Longbourn and Netherfield who had children born with certain difficulties. Mr. Bennet made an extra effort to keep rents low and gift baskets filled so the families could keep their children at home, rather than abandoning them to a workhouse or asylum.

Elizabeth put the letter away and absentmindedly made her way down the stairs to her father's bookroom. He bid her enter in response to her knock, and she poked her head in through the door.

"My aunt Gardiner wishes me to insist you read her husband's letter immediately."

Mr. Bennet looked up from his book and waved a hand at the desk. "You do it for me, Lizzy. Goodness knows you're better at this than I am."

She smiled at this rare bit of praise and sat down across from his desk. Opening the letter, she read,

Bennet,

I will not waste your time with pleasantries, as I know it will cause you to put this letter down before actually reading it in it's entirety. I shall leave that kind of communication to my wife and yours.

It is almost time for a renewal of the investment contracts. There is a new investment opportunity that has arisen, but I do not recommend it at this stage. With Jane having just reached her majority, and your age being what it is, I recommend you leave the money liquid and put it into the four percents.

Elizabeth looked sharply up from the paper. "Are you ill, Papa?"

"No, my dear, but as I am but a few years away from sixty, and the latest information says the average lifespan of our time is but sixty-four, it is probably best to be prepared."

The money you have been sending me each year now totals in excess of thirty thousand pounds. As agreed, Jane will have ten thousand as her dowry or to support her living, whichever may occur. The remaining will be divided amongst your girls as dowries or for their maintenance as well.

If you agree, I will begin immediately to sell your shares of investments and place them into the bank in your name. I strongly recommend you update your will to include these numbers, otherwise the heir that is coming to visit soon may try to claim them as part of the estate.

Respond to me immediately.

Please give Fanny and the girls my love.

Yours, etc.

Gardiner

Hands shaking, Elizabeth let the letter she held flutter down to the floor.

"Papa, how on earth did you… Why didn't you tell…"

He gave a wry smile. "Ever since Jane was born and the midwife urged me to get rid of her, I have set aside a small amount of money to bribe worthless young men to marry her. With each daughter, my hopes of a son to give her a home lessened. I have since done my best to send any extra money to your uncle to invest so all of you will be cared for."

"But then why have you not told Mama? You hear her complaints about the hedgerows!"

"And risk her hounding me to spend it until I give in? No, my Lizzy, I am aware enough of my faults to know that I wouldn't be able to stand against her haranguing."

Rather than disagree with her father, Elizabeth changed the subject to another part of the letter that worried her. "Your heir is coming to visit?"

"Ah, yes. I received a letter a month ago and finally responded when I wrote to your uncle to send the latest installment to invest. Mr. Collins, who may throw you all out of this home as soon as I am dead, has extended an olive branch towards us."

He laughed at Elizabeth's questioning expression. "Those are his words, my dear. Here, take a look."

She took the folded paper he had been using as a bookmark and began to read it. Upon completing it, she said, "Well, I do not think we can hope him to be a man of sense and intelligence."

"No, indeed. I greatly anticipate many hours of amusement at the man's expense. Now don't tell your mother. I wish to surprise her, and I do not want to hear her moan about his visit until it is absolutely necessary she be made aware."

Left with no choice but to obey her father, Elizabeth agreed and left the room, worry settling into her soul at the rapid changes coming all at once.