Updated chapters 2-4 a little and working through some additional updates.

A/N - A big thanks to my beta reader Ann (goclimbatree) for reading through and helping me fix errors and ensuring clarity.

Let me know if you continue to see any issues with consistency, language/usage, or just too much information. This story will be published on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited at some point once it is finished (new target: September 10?).

Chapter 21

Once the harvest was complete, the Darcys hosted a harvest celebration for the tenants and staff of Pemberley. Elizabeth had met many of the tenants since arriving at Pemberley in June, but there were still a few families she had yet to meet. Her sisters helped with the plans, and many proclaimed it the best celebration since Lady Anne passed. The celebrations had been muted since her death, but Elizabeth, aided by her sisters and Mrs Reynolds, brought back several of her predecessor's traditions.

A picnic on the lawn featured various delicacies from Pemberley's kitchens that many of the tenants would not normally be able to try, including fruits from Pemberley's own hothouses. Georgiana and Mary arranged games for the children, something that had not been done since George Darcy's death, and the families on Pemberley were thrilled with its addition this year. Baskets loaded with provisions and little items for the children were handed to each family during the day, and the Darcys spoke to the heads of each family during the time allotted for the picnic. The easy smile on the master's face was a welcome sign of good things to come and the tenants were pleased to see their master so happy.

That evening, on a makeshift dance floor, the tenants and Pemberley's staff danced, and for the first time in many years, Mr and Mrs Darcy led off the dancing. At the end of the dance, when the master gently kissed his wife and then subtly caressed her stomach, those who noticed wondered if the heir to Pemberley was on his way. A cheer went up, celebrating the master and mistress after the kiss, and it seemed the future of Pemberley would be secure for another generation.

A sennight after this, the three Darcys and two Bennets boarded carriages to travel south. They travelled together until the last day, when Georgiana and Mary continued on to London, and the Darcys and Jane Bennet travelled to Briarwood, a small manor house to the south of Meryton that Darcy had leased for a month so they would have a place to stay while they dealt with the Bennet family.

Upon their arrival at Briarwood, the Darcys were greeted by the small staff hired by the solicitor who arranged the lease. Elizabeth had suggested Darcy use her uncle, but Darcy preferred hiring a different solicitor in the hope they would surprise the Bennets when they arrived at Longbourn. After giving it only a moment's thought, Elizabeth agreed that it would be best if no one at Longbourn knew precisely when they would arrive.

Their plan nearly succeeded. The Bennets were aware of the general date of their arrival because Jane posted to her mother a few days before they left, stating they would travel soon. Therefore, although their arrival at Longbourn the following day was not quite the surprise they hoped it would be, it was sufficiently unexpected that they were able to discover the estate was being well maintained, and an early morning ride with Mr Todd, allowed Darcy to speak with the steward before they visited Longbourn.

At Elizabeth's request, Mrs Hill did not announce them. Elizabeth and Darcy made their way to Mr Bennet's study, and when Darcy knocked on the door, Bennet immediately responded to enter. Bennet was surprised when his daughter and son entered the room, and a flicker of trepidation crossed his face.

"Darcy, Elizabeth," Mr Bennet said as he stood. "I did not expect you today, as I expected a letter to inform me of your arrival date. Are you staying with us at Longbourn?" He motioned for his visitors to sit when he returned to his seat behind his desk. "You found me working on estate business this morning. The harvest is done, and I have collected the rents and am recording our profits now. I believe we will be able to make a payment of about one hundred pounds this quarter."

Darcy raised his eyebrow at his father-in-law. "That is half of the amount we agreed you would pay."

Mr Bennet scoffed. "As if I had a choice," he complained. "Nonetheless, it is all I can afford. I was forced to pay for several dresses my wife purchased and the books you had Phillips confiscate. I would have let Mrs Hill go after she boxed up my books, but she informed me you would not allow this." His tone was hard and obviously frustrated.

Elizabeth stifled a laugh at her father's childlike complaints. When he mentioned his new books being confiscated by his brother-in-law, his countenance resembled Lydia's when she was in a snit—like a recalcitrant child whose prized toy was taken away from him.

Darcy took a breath before he spoke. "Because of your and Mrs Bennet's expenditures on books and dresses and your failure to communicate with me as agreed, I have decided to amend our agreement. You will now repay 1000 pounds per annum instead of the 800 pounds we originally required. I am feeding and housing two of your daughters, not including my wife, and Lydia will be departing with us to go to school. My aunt has arranged her entry into a school for difficult girls not far from Bromley on the way to Kent. It is far enough from any town that Lydia will not be able to run away, and she will be carefully watched."

"What?" Bennet nearly roared. "You will take charge of another of my children? Why must Lydia go to school? You have already employed a governess for the little good she is doing."

"If the governess is not having the effect she should, it is because my sister is spoiled and foolish, her mother encourages her poor behaviour, and you do nothing to correct either of them. Lydia is no longer out and should not have been at the assembly where she nearly ruined herself and the family with Benjamin Lucas. Neither of them is old enough to marry. By rights, my husband should call your loan due and throw you into prison when you cannot pay him back," Elizabeth angrily told her father.

Darcy reached over to Elizabeth and placed his hand over hers. She nodded to her husband and took several deep breaths to calm herself. "You have violated our agreement multiple times, and it is time to rewrite it. However, sir, if you violate these stipulations again, I will encourage my husband to send you to debtors' prison, where you will remain until the income from the estate repays my husband. Now, please join us in the drawing room so we might discuss this situation you have created as a family. You will, in front of me and my husband, explain all of what has occurred to my mother and sisters and accept your role in creating this mess."

Mr Bennet blanched, and Elizabeth shook her head at his obvious cowardice. His pallor confirmed he had not told her mother the truth of the situation.

Mrs Bennet was asking Jane about the house party at Pemberley and the gentlemen she met while the Darcys spoke with Mr Bennet. Jane's answers were not as forthcoming as Mrs Bennet would have liked, and her questions became abrasive, as the matron could not understand how, with so many eligible gentlemen present, Jane had not left engaged to one of them.

"Mama, I scarcely knew the gentlemen, and they did not appear to be interested in me. The more I see of high society, or at least those with whom the Darcys associate, the less I feel I would desire to marry a gentleman of that society," Jane said quietly. "I was very uneasy among Mr Darcy's friends."

"Nonsense, Jane," Mrs Bennet sneered, shocked by what her most beautiful daughter said. "Most men want a beautiful wife, and you are far more beautiful than Elizabeth and look who she managed to capture. With your beauty, you will capture a man worth far …" Mrs Bennet trailed off as the door opened fully and a furious-looking Darcy stepped into the room.

"Madam," Darcy began sternly. "I have had quite enough of your belittling my wife. Elizabeth is very beautiful; in fact, she is the loveliest woman I have ever known. You would be wise to never disparage her again, especially not in front of me or her sisters, or I will ensure you and your husband face consequences for your behaviour. As to your claim that beauty is all men desire in a wife, while it may be true in a few instances, most men want a wife with whom they can converse and who can aid them in their duties. A man who chooses a wife based solely on her appearance is a fool." He looked pointedly at his father-in-law as he said this.

"Clearly, you would say that, as you have married Lizzy. She is nothing to my Jane," Mrs Bennet retorted waspishly, not appreciating being told what she could or could not do within her own home..

Darcy was livid, and never before had he been so close to striking a woman. "Madam, I suggest you hold your tongue," Darcy bit out. "Mr Bennet, restrain your wife before we leave here permanently and call your debts immediately. I will not tolerate any abuse of my wife."

"Mrs Bennet, as our son quite literally holds our future in his hands, you should stop speaking now. It has been suggested more than once that I should restrict or withhold your pin money for this type of behaviour, and I will do so until your behaviour improves," Mr Bennet snapped. "Mr Darcy has something of import to say, and you will restrain yourself until he is finished." Mrs Bennet huffed at the reprimand, but she said nothing else.

"Actually, Mr Bennet, it is your story to tell, but my wife and I will contribute when your story falls short," Darcy directed, fixing a hard glare on his father-in-law.

Mr Bennet scowled but began the tale of his family's near ruin. The rest of the family listened quietly, afraid to speak after the unusual reprimand from the patriarch, and only Elizabeth and Darcy appeared undisturbed when Mr Bennet concluded his speech. Even Jane was upset, as she had not heard all of the story, particularly the threat against her own person.

"So, had Mr Darcy not agreed to pay my debt, the ruffians would have taken one of my daughters as payment," Bennet concluded. "They had heard of Jane's beauty and hoped to take her, but they would have taken any of my daughters had Jane not been available."

Mrs Bennet stared at the Darcys, clearly unhappy. "If Mr Darcy gave you the money, why are you being required to retrench? He is rich and can afford to give you the money," she asked.

"Because I have enough experience with gamblers and wastrels to know they become worse if they are not required to face the consequences of their actions. Had I merely given Mr Bennet the money to pay his debt, he would have no incentive to stop. By requiring him to repay the loan, he does not have funds with which to gamble, nor is he given a reprieve without it costing him anything," Darcy reproached.

Elizabeth immediately supported her husband. "We require changes at Longbourn so my sisters will have opportunities they do not currently have," she snapped. "My husband hired a governess for my sisters, sent my father advice on increasing Longbourn's income, and paid your debts in town. My father was required to inform you and my sisters of his debt and the reasons behind it, send updates on Longbourn every other week, ensure my youngest sisters receive the education they are lacking, and retrench to pay back the loan to my husband in the prescribed time. However, instead of being willing to be educated as she should, one of my sisters nearly ruined herself at an assembly she had no business attending, wearing a dress that was charged to my husband without his permission. My father rarely sends an update, barely takes an interest in the estate, although that seems to be improving since we confiscated his new books, and has allowed my mother to send multiple letters abusing me while my husband helps my family instead of leaving them to their ruin. Tell me, madam, would you prefer your husband be dragged to Marshalsea for a debt he cannot pay or for one of your children to be traded for a horrific future none of us can even imagine?"

Elizabeth took a breath to calm herself before she continued. "As of today, all of this ends. Lydia is going to school — William's aunt has arranged for her to be admitted to one that specialises in helping 'troubled girls'. We will take her there in a few days when we leave for London." She held up her hand to stop the protests forming on the lips of her mother and sister. "Papa has already agreed. Kitty will remain here with the governess, as Mrs Martin says she is doing well and will do better without Lydia here to distract her. Papa, I believe, finally understands what is expected and will retrench, especially as he will no longer have the care of four of his daughters since Mary and Jane will remain with us for the present. When Kitty is ready, we will invite her to London to participate in at least part of a season, but only when Mrs Martin feels she is ready, not anyone else."

She paused, ignoring the exclamation from her youngest sister, before she turned to look directly at her mother and continued. "Mrs Bennet, you will not write another letter to me, and if you write my sisters, I will not read their letters or hear any messages to me. If you ever decide to apologise for your treatment of me, send word through Papa, as he will read your letter before it is sent and will enclose it within his own. I will have no further communication with you until you apologise sufficiently."

Mrs Bennet sat for several minutes without saying a word. "I do not understand," she said finally.

"I think it is best you retire to your room for now, Mrs Bennet," her husband said in as gentle a voice as she had ever heard from him. "I will speak with you later."

Quietly, Mrs Bennet did exactly as her husband suggested, not taking leave of anyone in the room.

Copyright 2023 Melissa Anne