A Fork in the Road

Yes, yes, it is a new set of stories. While finding myself unable to do much else, I decided to go through my laptop files and get rid of anything not worth keeping. Instead I found tens of stories that I began, but never finished. Some were no more than titles while others were nearly fleshed out, but I lost interest or got distracted (Can you say "squirrel!"?). So instead of deleting them, I have tried my hand at reviving them and even (gasp) finishing them. The title of the series is also the title of the first story. It is not the most original, but I hope you can enjoy it anyway. Hopefully some of them will find a willing audience.

And since people will ask, my health is adequate, my imagination seems to be spinning, and my mind is working, at least for the moment. BTW, if someone likes an idea in any of my short stories and wishes to try their hand at improving/expanding on it, please just notify me by email. No promise on a reply, but you have my blessing.

A Fork in the Road

On a chill September morning, only a month after returning home to take over the estate he never wanted, Thomas Bennet stood on the drive of his property and surveyed his future. To the north lay Meryton, where there was an assembly that very night and where, if he wished, he could dance with the lovely Francine Gardiner. To the south lay London, where a friend had invited him to London where he could assuage his grief by taking in the entertainments or burying himself in the man's library. He does not realize it, but his decision would shape his future and the future of his family.

At the Meryton Assembly, 1788

Francine Gardiner, known to most as Fanny, stomped her slippered foot and demanded, "Where is he, Mother? He was supposed to be here an hour ago! What about our plan!?"

Agnes Gardiner hushed her daughter. Even in the powdering room there might be ears. She and her daughter had been scheming to marry Fanny to Thomas Bennet for two months, ever since Arthur Bennet and his eldest son William had perished in a carriage accident. When Mr. Gardiner had returned from Cambridge after informing Thomas Bennet of their deaths and his ascendency, they had begun planning. First Fanny would flirt, displaying her considerable assets to her greatest advantage to catch the young man's eye. Then, failing that, she would encourage certain liberties, sure to give him a taste of what he would gain with her as his bride. And failing those tactics, they would engineer a compromise.

Since the first two had thus far failed, mother and daughter had decided to exercise their third option that very night, in the sight of the entire community. Already other mothers with young daughters were eyeing the man, so there was no more time to wait... except that an hour had passed since the evening commenced and he still wasn't there!

Webster House, London, that same evening

Thomas had shared a quiet evening with his friend, Lord Webster. The rest of the family was in Town, but away at an event hosted by friends of the family. Thomas did not mind. He craved solitude. Ever since returning to his family estate there had been constant visitors, and endless stream it seemed. They were mostly fathers or mothers with daughters of marriageable age, or young widows seeing a second and more lucrative marriage.

Thomas was thirty! To be sure he knew that he needed to marry and beget an heir, but all that he truly wished to do is return to Cambridge and his work as a Fellow. That did not mean that he did not desire a wife. He had all of the same cravings as any man his age. He just wanted one that he could tolerate outside of the bedroom. A woman of intelligence and conversation and character.

Franklin had excused himself for the night, having an early appointment in the morning. Thomas, unable to sleep, left his guest room and found his way down the ornate stairs and to the promised library. He let himself in, surprised to find it well lit with a fire in the fireplace. Then he realized why when he saw a young woman curled into a seat by the fire and reading.

It took Thomas a minute or two to think properly. The woman had wavy, unbound raven hair and a trim figure, nothing like Fanny Bennet's voluptuous figure back in Meryton. She also had a pixie face and dark-lively eyes that looked up at him speculatively, then cleared. "Oh, you must be Franklin's friend Thomas. Forgive me, but we only just returned home and I could not sleep."

Thomas, enchanted, finally found his voice, "It is I who must apologize for intruding on your privacy..."

"Oh, not at all. This is the family library. Sometimes our entire lot used to find a favorite corner to read. The door is open and there is no impropriety. So please feel free to peruse the shelves. I will continue with my own entertainment. Forgive me, but there is nobody to introduce us. I am Grace Webster, Franklin's younger sister by five years."

Thomas knew from conversation with his friend that Grace was Franklin's half sister by his father's second marriage. The house, as she said, had once been full of life but most of the family, excepting Franklin, his step-mother Lady Jane, and this delightful young woman had moved away or passed away. Though he had known that Franklin's sister was in residence, he had not imagined encountering such an enticing picture.

As if to accentuate this image of the ideal in his mind, Thomas recognized the book in her hands. It was the Illiad, and unless he was mistaken it was in Greek. Franklin had told his friend that all of his family were well educated, but this was something more. Shaking himself from his thoughts, he began to peruse the shelves, unable to entirely forget the other person in her corner corner.

For her part, Grace found her eyes repeatedly wandering from her book to the handsome man scanning the shelves. He was tall, but not too tall. Well-formed, but not overly muscular. He had a kind face, one she suspected was more given to laughter than frowns. And his eyes had an intelligence and a light that made her like him immediately.

Thomas Bennet had only intended to remain in London for a week. The week became a fortnight, at which point he had been in Grace's company so often that he finally asked for a courtship. She happily agreed. After that Thomas returned to his estate, but each week he spent four days at home and three days back at Webster House, courting Grace under the careful observation of her mother or brother.

There was much anguish and cursing when Agnes and Francine read the wedding announcement in the London Times.

Lord Franklin Webster, Earl of Eastridge, is pleased to announce the engagement of his sister, Lady Grace Elizabeth Webster to Mr. Thomas Bennet, whose estate of Longbourn is found near Meryton, in the county Hertfordshire.

The wedding will be held at St. Paul's Cathedral on December 12th, this year of our Lord 1788.

The Gardiner ladies still schemed to effect a compromise, but Thomas Bennet wisely stayed far away from Fanny Gardiner. Not wishing to be too far removed from his bride, he installed himself at Whites for the first weeks of December.

Happy was the day that Thomas Bennet brought his bride home to Longbourn. Lady Grace had made one trip with her mother already and had set workmen to the task of making some small alterations. After all, it had been bachelor's quarters for thirteen years since the last Mrs. Bennet had passed. So when the happy returned from their wedding trip, they found everything to their satisfaction. Naturally, being newlyweds, the promptly set about the task of begetting heirs.

In the next two decades they had four children. Jane came first, a lovely and peaceful child. Elizabeth came next. There was little peaceful about her. She wanted to climb onto, over, through, or under everything and eventually she wanted to know everything. Henry was next. He was a large, sturdy boy from the beginning, a deep thinker and serious. Katherine Grace was last, as pretty as her sisters, but with an artistic bent. She adored her brother Henry and followed him everywhere until he was sent off to school. For a while she went into mourning, but eventually she learned to put her emotions into her art. People were asking to buy her paintings by the time she was twelve.

Grace's mother passed away five years after her marriage. Though she had made her home with her daughter and son-in-law at Longbourn, she had her own townhouse in a stylish neighborhood, which she willed to her daughter. She was the former earl's second wife, yet she had been a dear mother to both Franklin and Grace.

Lord Franklin Webster spoke to Thomas and Grace after the funeral, informing them that he was making their newborn son Henry his official heir, as he never intended to marry. With that in mind, in the following years he paid for the governess and best tutors for the Bennet children possible so that Henry would be prepared. He also eventually paid for Eton and was prepared to fund Henry's installment at Cambridge.

Though it was not fashionable to do so, Thomas Bennet and Lady Grace devoted hours each day to their children. It was a very rare occasion when other matters prevented at least one parent from sitting down and spending time with their progeny. They learned all of the basics and required skills for any noble or gentry, but they also became expert riders, swimmers, sailors (one of Lady Grace's favorite pastimes) and chess players.

Naturally the house was fully remodeled to become a more modern and respectable structure over time. The key feature of the house was not a ballroom, however, but a library.

With the dedicated efforts of Thomas Bennet and the loving support of Lady Grace the estate's two-thousand a year became three, then four, and finally nine-thousand a year once both Netherfield and Purvis Lodge were added to the estate. Though they maintained the home and tenant farms themselves, the two manors were improved and then leased until such time as the children might require them. And since Henry would have no need for any of these properties, they became the dowries for each of his sisters.

Meryton Assembly, 1811

Caroline Bingley looked on in alarm when the man she wished to marry, Fitzwilliam Darcy, smiled widely and kissed the hand of Miss Elizabeth Bennet! Then she turned to glare at her brother, who must have known and concealed the fact that the Bennets had their estate in this area!

She might have consoled herself that Miss Elizabeth's brother was the Viscount, but the boy was only eighteen! Caroline was hiding her true age, but there was only so much she could do. The boy would never look at her!

No introductions were needed for the Bennets, but the two Bennet seniors, Thomas Bennet and Lady Grace, were more than happy to perform the introductions to everyone else. Worse, Caroline had no interest in meeting these locals, but she could not very well ignore the daughter of an earl and mother of the next earl! So Caroline stood there with gritted teeth while she met an endless stream of mushrooms!

These introductions did have some advantage for others, since Caroline was too occupied to notice that Fitzwilliam Darcy took both of Miss Elizabeth Bennet's hands and lovingly raised them to his lips, "How have you been, Elizabeth?"

"Very lonely for my fiance, Fitzwilliam. But the wedding plans are going well and all is set for next week." Her eyes communicated her great desire to be kissed, a desire that Darcy shared. For the moment, however, they showed remarkable restraint.

"It seems impossible to believe, but Miss Bingley and her sister never saw the announcement of our engagement. I thought it might be fun to tell her tonight as we all travel back to Netherfield."

Elizabeth giggled, "Fun for whom? Do you have protection for your ears... and is Russell ready to stand guard at your door all week? I had rather you stayed at the inn than in the same house as Miss Bingley, even if Netherfield is my dowry. Should we tell her that... no, she would burn the place down out of spite."

"Will Lady Parkridge make it here in time?"

"No, I fear not. Jane and Malcolm are in Gibraltar. His duties as ambassador will most likely keep them away for at least another year."

"I am sorry. I know how close the two of you are. At least Henry will be allowed be there. Cambridge is more forgiving that Eaton on these matters. And Katherine as well. Now, for important matters. Is your dance card full?"

"Of course not. I saved two sets for you, the next and the last."

"Miss Eliza, I did not expect to see you here!" The discordant voice of Caroline Bingley intruded on their conversation.

Elizabeth turned an amused face to the woman dressed in orange, "That is strange, since I was born here and have lived here all of my life, excepting those times that we reside in our London townhouse. And how are you, Miss Bingley?" She could see the redhead grinding her teeth, but did not choose to point out how damaging that habit was.

Before Caroline could answer, Mr. Darcy coldly added, "And her name is "Miss Elizabeth Bennet, not Eliza."

Looking like she had been struck, Caroline's mouth opened and closed, but then she turned and walked away. Elizabeth grinned, "Did we just get the cut direct from Miss Bingley?"

Darcy frowned, then grinned, "I think that we did. We shall have to thank her later. Now, our dance?"

Thomas Bennet watched with all of a father's feelings of both pride and regret as his Elizabeth's choice for a husband led her through their first dance of the evening. In just a week he would give his daughter's hand to this man forever. He sighed, but his loving wife poked him in the side, "Cheer up, my love." Grace cajoled, "You are not losing Elizabeth, you are just gaining a very admirable son. Even Henry likes him."

Thomas scoffed, "Of course Henry likes him! He let him ride his prize stallion all summer at Pemberley!" It had come as a great surprise to Thomas when his son Henry had become Viscount, but not to Lady Grace. She had later explained, "I knew of my brother's... interests... long before and have always protected him. I even knew that he had a certain interest in you at one time, but as soon as you stepped into the library and stood there gawking at me I realized that Franklin has guessed wrong."

"I did not gawk. I admired. I appreciated."

Grace gently slapped his shoulder and teased, "You gawked, not that I did not appreciate it. I thought you were very handsome as well, and so I eased you out of your stupor and started a conversation. I was a very happy young woman that night when I retired to bed. I knew that I had found my match... though I did pity Franklin.

"So it came to me as no surprise when he finally admitted that he had no intention of marrying, and that our newborn son would be his heir. He was able to explain his decision away to an accident with a horse and most people still believe him. I suspect that once the war is finally over and the peace is in effect Franklin will make his escape on the continent and will leave the running of the Earldom to our Henry. I hope that he will be ready."

"With brothers-in-law like Marquis Holder and Mr. Darcy to support and advise him, he should be fine. Now, my beautiful wife, would you care to dance?"

"You know that it is not proper for men to dance with their wives at these affairs, Thomas," She answered with a grin, knowing full well his response.

"It was not proper for the daughter and sister of an earl to marry a simple gentleman farmer, but you did it. And now I wish to dance with the love of my life, and Society be damned."

Nobody in Meryton truly cared if Thomas Bennet danced with Lady Grace. After all, theirs was a love story for the ages. And if they had cared, it would not have mattered.

One week later, Thomas Bennet proudly walked his second daughter down the aisle of a fully restored Longbourn Church and placed Elizabeth's hand into the extended hand of Fitzwilliam Darcy. The tall man had barely seen the father, so fixated were his eyes upon the daughter. Thomas remembered looking at Grace in the precisely the same way, so he tried not to begrudge the young man his distraction. If this man loved his Lizzy even half as much as he love Grace, then she would be a happy woman.

The entire town seemed to be either in the church or standing outside of it that morning, though there were several people absent from the church that day. Caroline Bingley had refused to attend. In fact she had become so abusive in her speech that she had to be sent to Scarborough, lest she disgrace her family. William Collins, Thomas Bennet's cousin, did not come. He continued to insist that the birth of Lord Henry Bennet had somehow robbed him of his God-appointed birthright. And the former Fanny Gardiner did not attend.

Francine Haydon, formerly Bower, formerly Garter, nee Gardiner had never forgiven Thomas Bennet for not attending the assembly where he was supposed to be compromised. Nor would she forgive Lady Grace for taking what she had already decided was rightfully hers. She was eventually caught in a scandal with an officer named Lieutenant Garter. When she returned a year later, supposedly as a widow, she promptly latched onto a minor landowner named Bower. But when he discovered her in their marriage bed with Howard Haydon, he tossed her out and was able to eventually secure a divorce. Perhaps as penance, Francine's father forced her to marry that man she had dallied with, the local animal-dung collector.

After his favorite daughter and her husband boarded their carriage and left, the marriage breakfast carried on for another hours before the last guest departed. When Grace looked around for her husband, she found him standing at the end of his drive, looking both north and south. When Grace walked up behind him and hugged his broad back, he squeezed her slender arms with affection. Then he explained, "Many years ago I stood on this very spot, deciding if I should go north, to the assembly that night, or south, to visit Franklin in London. The truth was I just didn't feel like dancing, so I had my carriage driver take me south."

He turned in his beloved wife's arms until he was facing her, "It was the most important and the best decision that I ever made."

AN: Because readers are asking, I have not abandoned Grandma Bennet. I hit a snag that set me back at a time when my mind just couldn't handle the strain, so I had to step back. Now, while I am cleaning out the many little stories that I started over the years, I am also seeking to finish GB and several other chapter books.