Author's Note: let me know what you think about this meeting. Next up, Bennet goes to Netherfield.

Chapter 14

After the investigators confirmed Mr Collins had returned to Hunsford, Mr Elliott and Darcy made their way to Longbourn to pay a visit to Mr Bennet. Numerous discussions had taken place before and during their journey regarding how this meeting should proceed. Darcy had been advised to allow Mr Elliott to lead the way since he could maintain an impassive demeanour concerning Elizabeth, something Darcy would find challenging to achieve.

He had been unwilling to do so but recognised that his feelings for Elizabeth—which had only grown since her confession of love—would make it difficult for him not to react to Mr Bennet's plans.

When they arrived at Longbourn, they were escorted to Mr Bennet's study by Mrs Hill. Darcy surreptitiously handed a note to the housekeeper, requesting that she pack certain items to give to Mr Darcy and telling her of her newly realised situation. Elizabeth was unlikely to return, and while she had anticipated this when she left, she had not taken everything with her. After this meeting, it would become far more apparent to the Bennets that Elizabeth would not come back, and she wanted Mrs Hill to gather a couple of things she left behind before the other girls could claim them.

She had left little of worth at Longbourn; in truth, she owned few things of value, but she had left a couple of books and other small items that could easily be packed and placed in Elliott's carriage without anyone noticing.

Bennet received the two gentlemen with little ceremony. He was surprised that Mr Elliott would visit; he recognised that gentleman's name from their correspondence but was unfamiliar with the Darcy name, having completely forgotten how Elizabeth had travelled to London several weeks prior.

He greeted them with a sardonic tone. "Welcome, gentlemen," he began. "Mr Elliott, I know you from our correspondence these many years, but who is Mr Darcy? Is he our second trustee? Have the two of you come to sign the marriage contracts?"

"Yes, Mr Darcy is the second trustee, and we have come to discuss the marriage contracts, among other things," Mr Elliott stated. "First, I would like to discuss Miss Tomlinson. You have told me much about her in our letters, and I expect her to be a rational, exceptional woman from what you have described. You choose to educate her at home with a governess; is that correct? And she presently has a companion as is her due as a gentlewoman and an heiress?"

"Of course, she has had all those things," Mr Bennet claimed. "The only thing she has lacked is a season in London, but that is because she desires to marry my heir. Mr Collins is a rector in Hunsford, and the two have met several times and are quite determined to marry."

"Is that a fact?" Darcy said, struggling to keep his voice even. "Is she home now? Her agreement to the marriage is, of course, required for the marriage to proceed. We would like to meet with her and her intended before we sign anything."

Mr Bennet balanced. "Elizabeth is in London obtaining her trousseau, and her intended has returned to his rectory. He intends to remain there until Elizabeth reaches her majority, at which time he will resign and take up the management of Briarwood. As I wrote, he agreed to resign his claim to Longbourn since he will have Elizabeth's estate in its stead."

"He will not," Mr Elliot said. "You have obviously forgotten the stipulations of Mr Tomlinson's will. The estate will go to Elizabeth, not her husband, and her marriage contract must state that fact before it is turned over. The income from the estate remains under her control as well. Her husband receives nothing."

Mr Bennet spluttered. "What?" he cried.

"Those are the terms of the will," Elliott continued. "If she marries over the anvil, then the guardian—you—stops receiving any funds from the estate, and it is up to the trustees to decide what happens to the estate. No one person can approve her marriage; it requires at least two approvals to release her inheritance, although all three are preferable."

Mr Bennet was angry at these revelations and kept his composure, but it was a near thing. "So, will you approve the marriage?" he asked.

"Since your ward is in London and cannot be asked for her opinion, we must seek her out in Town to ask. We will return shortly, but I would like to see the marriage contract you have written to see if it contains those clauses about her inheritance," Mr Elliott replied. "I would also like to know the direction to where she is staying in town, as well as the name of her governess and companion. I would like to ask them about her education. I assume you provided masters for Miss Tomlinson as well."

"Of course," Mr Bennet said, thinking quickly about how to avoid giving the requested information. He needed to devise a reason why Lizzy did not have a companion with her if they visited her in Town or how to arrange one temporarily. However, convincing Elizabeth to lie about having a governess or a companion on a regular basis would be tricky and would not be able to occur in a letter.

"Her companion has taken a brief leave to tend to a sick relative, and she is staying with my wife's brother in London," Mr Bennet stated. "I would prefer you wait to visit her until she has returned home, which will be just before Christmas. Her wedding date is set for January, and we intended to have the banns read after Epiphany. I know Elizabeth would not like a delay, so you should visit again between Christmas and New Year. I will have to search to find the direction of her governess—it has been some years since we have had a reason to contact her.

"Why would she have not stayed on for your other daughters?" Darcy asked. "I understood that you had four, and the youngest is, what? Fourteen or fifteen?"

Mr Bennet started at this, wondering what all these men knew about him and his family. "Is it possible they know more than I have told them? Could they have had me investigated?" he thought, suddenly worried about what they might know.

"Lydia recently turned fifteen and is now considered 'out' in our local society. I realise it is not the 'done' thing in London, but here in our country town, it is not unusual," Mr Bennet explained.

"Surely Miss Tomlinson was not pushed out at fifteen," Mr Elliott asked. "The will stipulated she was to receive a London Season before reaching her majority to meet an eligible gentleman. She is a substantial heiress who deserves a chance to meet more men than she could have met here. No, you said she had not had a season, and I will insist upon it. You will need to write to her aunt to ask her to obtain appropriate clothing for her debut along with the funds needed. Her allowance is substantial, but even two hundred pounds a year is not enough to pay for the dresses she will need for her first Season."

Again, his visitors watched as Bennet blanched. "Two hundred pounds," he stuttered.

"Yes, the will stipulated that beginning at age fifteen, she would receive fifty pounds from each quarter's stipend as her allowance. Of course, that is in addition to her clothing allowance, which was also to be paid from that stipend. Mr. Darcy, you have a younger sister; what does she spend on clothing?"

"She is just fifteen and not yet out, but still, I spend at least one hundred pounds a year dressing her. Of course, she does not need finer gowns yet, but I expect to spend double that amount in the coming years," Darcy replied, as the two had planned. "I would estimate for a full season; I could expect to send at least two hundred pounds just to provide dresses for that. Since Miss Tomlinson is a substantial heiress, she needs clothes that reflect that."

"Why does she need a season at all?" Bennet demanded. "She is engaged and does not need to meet additional men?"

"She cannot be engaged, as she does not have the permission of all involved," Mr Elliott stated. "We will meet with her when we return to London to speak to her about these plans. Mr Darcy's aunt is the Countess of Matlock, and she can sponsor Miss Tomlinson. If, after she has had a Season, she still desires to marry your heir, then we can arrange a date in the summer for the marriage to take place. That is closer to her birthday anyway, and you said he did not want to forgo his living until after Elizabeth had inherited her estate."

At this point, Bennet was devastated and wondering how all his plans could have gone so wrong. Lizzy still believed she was a Bennet and did not know about her inheritance or her engagement. "How will she react to this news?" he thought as he considered what else to do. It was apparent these gentlemen would not relent in their intention to speak to Elizabeth, but he wanted to control the conversation.

Finally, he arrived at a plan. "Well, sirs, I will need to speak with my brother before I send you to his home to speak to Elizabeth. I will write to you in a week with their direction after I have had a chance to discuss matters with him."

It was evident that Mr Elliott was reluctant to agree, but eventually, he did so. "I expect a letter no later than a week from today, Bennet," Mr Elliott stated sternly. "I will not tolerate a delay in this. You have been Miss Tomlinson's guardian for fifteen years, and I look forward to hearing her confirm everything you have told me about her upbringing. I also expect you to have arranged for her clothing before our meeting with her."

Mr. Bennet readily concurred and hastened to guide the gentlemen out of his study. He was taken aback when they crossed paths with Jane during their exit, and it seemed as though she regarded the younger men with a hint of recognition. At that moment, a vague sense of familiarity also struck him about Mr. Darcy, but he could not quite pinpoint why. He resolved to inquire with Jane about it once they departed.

Once he saw the gentlemen gone, he sought out Jane to ask about him. He was surprised to learn that Mr Darcy had been in Hertfordshire for several weeks and was the one to escort Elizabeth to London.

The realisation hit him suddenly. "They know!" he nearly yelled, leaving Jane confused and unsettled. He rushed from the room and sent a servant to the stables to order his horse saddled. He changed into appropriate clothes for riding and went directly to Netherfield.