Master of Longbourn Chapter 1 - Visit and Vexation, a pride and prejudice fanfic

Hi all

Here is my latest idea. Please let me know what you think.

As always, I appreciate constructive (polite) criticism.

I hope you enjoy.

Sydney

~MoL~

Visit and Vexation

1809

The Master of Longbourn, Mr Thomas Bennet was hiding in his library… again. This was a common occurrence due to the fact that he hated being the Master of Longbourn.

His life had started so very well. He was the second son of a landed gentleman. His brother was the heir to the estate, leaving Thomas Bennet to follow his dream of becoming a scholar.

After attending Harrow, he started his studies at Oxford at the tender age of seventeen. Not being interested in the debaucheries of many of his fellow students, Bennet applied himself to studying and as a consequence he breezed through his classes and graduated with honours.

His classics professor appreciated his diligence and on graduation he offered Bennet the position as his assistant. The young man was on his way to becoming a fully-fledged professor when tragedy struck at Longbourn.

Bennet had been pleased that his father had been able to see him complete his education as Henry Bennet passed away shortly after. Then, only four years later an epidemic of influenza had claimed his mother and his older brother.

Since the estate was entailed, Bennet could not sell it to continue in his preferred career. As the other potential heir was a thoroughly unpleasant man, Bennet's sense of duty was just enough to take on the family estate. So, instead of continuing his life at Oxford, he returned to Longbourn.

The following year, in a moment of weakness, Thomas Bennet married Frances Gardiner, the daughter of the local solicitor and the most beautiful girl in the area.

It did not take long for Bennet to regret his decision. While his wife was the epitome of physical perfection, her mind did not match her exterior. For a man who valued intelligent discourse, his marriage became hell. As a consequence, he withdrew further and further into his library.

To add insult to injury, instead of producing an heir for him to teach and continue the family tradition, Mrs Bennet presented him with five daughters. Once Bennet realised that Longbourn would eventually go to Horace Collins instead of his own offspring, the last shred of interest he had in managing the estate went by the wayside. While he did not deliberately sabotage the estate, he only did enough to ensure that he could live comfortably.

The only bright spark in his existence was his second daughter. His Elizabeth had inherited his own quickness of mind and love for learning. He set out to teach her all he could and to turn her into a carbon copy of himself… to the vexation of his wife.

~MoL~

In the slightly over one and twenty years of marriage, Mrs Bennet had lost very little of her beauty. Having produced five children had given her a somewhat more voluptuous figure, but otherwise she remained much as she used to be.

While she had not changed much physically, her temperament had taken a turn for the worse. She used to be a lively and cheerful young woman, but the entail had taken its toll on her nerves. She greatly worried about her future and that of her beloved daughters if anything should happen to Mr Bennet.

To ensure the security of her daughters, she was determined to see them safely married as early as possible. To that end she had insisted on each of her older daughters to come out into society at the age of fifteen to give them a greater chance to catch a husband. But the dearth of eligible gentlemen had prevented such a felicitous event from taking place.

Mrs Bennet was still pinning all her hopes on Jane, her most beautiful daughter, to make an advantageous match and save all of them from the hedgerows. Jane was her oldest daughter and would reach her majority in just six more months. Yet, despite her beauty, she still did not even have a suitor.

Elizabeth, at the age of eighteen was too much like her father to allow Mrs Bennet any hope of finding a husband for her. While there were some men, such as her husband, who liked their wives to be intelligent and educated, most men did not share that preference. But the main concern Mrs Bennet had about her second daughter was that Elizabeth copied much of her father's dismissive attitude towards not only her mother but most of their neighbours.

Mary, who was approaching her seventeenth birthday was going through a pedantic and religious phase. She was taking Reverend Fordyce's sermons too much to heart and eschewed vanity. She might have been a pretty girl but due to her dull dresses and severe hairstyle, she looked quite plain. Mrs Bennet could not help but point out, 'Mary, you will never catch a husband with your plain looks.' Feeling offended by her mother's words, made Mary even more determined to avoid, what she considered, excessive ornamentation.

Kitty had just turned fifteen and Mrs Bennet wanted her to come out but she worried that men would be put off due to her constant cough. She was pretty enough but a vigorous dance always caused her to be out of breath and wheezing. And to make matters worse, Kitty's liveliness always appeared forced. In the end she decided to wait in the hope that Kitty would grow out of her frailties.

At least Mrs Bennet had high hopes for her youngest daughter Lydia, who was much like herself at that age. She was a stout, well-grown girl with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance. Her mother was certain that her liveliness and beauty would stand her in good stead when she came out in two years.

Every day Mrs Bennet prayed that her husband would live long enough for all her daughters to be well settled before he left the earthly realm.

~MoL~

The harvest was about to begin and everyone at Longbourn made ready for the busiest time of the year.

It was the end of August when Mr Bennet, addressing his wife, announced at breakfast, 'I hope you have planned a good dinner, my dear, as we are to have a visitor.'

'I know of nobody who is planning to visit today. If Charlotte Lucas should join us for dinner, our normal fare is good enough for her.'

'It is not Charlotte Lucas who will join us today but a gentleman.'

'A gentleman? Do tell. Who is he? Do we know him?'

'It is a single gentleman whom I have never met before.'

'If you have not met him before, why would he come to dinner?'

'He is not only coming to dinner but will be staying for a sennight or two.'

'We are to have a houseguest and you are only telling me about it now? How could you! Who is it?' Mrs Bennet was exceedingly vexed and became shriller with every word.

'Our guest is my cousin, Mr Collins, who after my death may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.

'I cannot bear to hear that mentioned,' cried his wife. 'Please do not speak of that odious old man.'

'Ah, but you see, old Horace Collins died two years ago, and it is his son who wishes to extend an olive branch.'

'An olive branch you say? What could he possibly propose to make up for his taking away our home on your death?'

'Here is what he said.' Mr Bennet extracted a letter from his pocket and read it aloud.

'Dear Sir,

The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late father always gave me much uneasiness; and, since he has gone to his reward, I have frequently wished to heal the breach. But, for some time, I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing that you would consider it presumptuous of me to intrude upon your family.

My mind, however, is now made up on the subject; for, having received ordination, I have been so fortunate as to be granted the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to serve my parishioners. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence.

On these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are acceptable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. I cannot be other than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends.

If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, August 28th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday sennight following.

I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,

William Collins'

Mrs Bennet was partly mollified by the conciliatory tone of the letter. 'There is some sense in what he says about the girls and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him.'

'Though it is difficult,' said Jane, 'to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks is our due, the wish is certainly to his credit.'

'Well, I expect that we will find out once our peacemaking cousin arrives,' agreed Elizabeth.

~MoL~

Mr Collins was punctual, and at four o'clock he was welcomed by the family.

He was a tall young man of five and twenty, solidly built and although not particularly handsome, his looks were pleasant enough and he had a gentle demeanour. He greeted his hosts politely and complimented Mrs Bennet and her daughters on their beauty.

Mr Bennet eyed the visitor with some disfavour, as he had hoped to have some sport with the young man. He had expected Collins to be more like his father. The elder Collins, whom Bennet had met once, had been illiterate and miserly, and if young Collins had been like him, it would have given Bennet great pleasure to disconcert him.

Once Collins had washed off the dust of travel, he joined the family for tea, where he was pleased to answer many questions about his background. 'I was rather fortunate. I grew up at Hunsford, effectively in the shadow of Rosings Park, the estate of Sir Lewis de Bourgh. It was to everyone's great sorrow when he passed away a dozen years ago.'

'What happened to the estate?' Mrs Bennet was curious. 'Did he have a son to inherit?'

'No, he did not. His only child is Miss Anne de Bourgh, who will inherit when she turns five and twenty years old. Until then her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh administers the estate for her daughter.'

'A daughter was allowed to inherit? That is more like it.' Mrs Bennet nodded in satisfaction before she added. 'I cannot understand how any man can be so cruel as to prevent a daughter from inheriting.'

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, hearing her mother decry the entail yet again. Rather than listen to further complaints, she asked, 'How old is Miss de Bourgh?'

'She is three and twenty. Lady Catherine quite dotes on Miss de Bourgh. Unfortunately, the young lady's health is quite delicate due to an accident she had as a child.'

'What kind of an accident?' Jane is full of concern. Of the sisters she was blessed with not only the greatest beauty, but also the kindest heart. 'The poor girl must have been badly injured if it still affects her now.'

'She fell into a pond and very nearly drowned. Since then, Lady Catherine has always ensured that Miss de Bourgh was kept safe,' Collins explained carefully. In his opinion Lady Catherine took her care too far, not allowing her daughter to exert herself in the slightest.

'It seems that you know the family quite well. Are you and Miss de Bourgh close?' Mrs Bennet wanted to know. If Mr Collins was already attached in some way, it would be a great shame as an idea was forming in her mind. If he was unattached, perhaps she could interest him in one of her own daughters.

'I know the lady and she is all that is charming, but according to Lady Catherine, Miss de Bourgh is intended for her cousin, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire.'

'Ah, yes. I have heard that all the great families are great because they like to keep their fortune in the family,' opined Elizabeth dismissively.

'But how did you come to be awarded the living of Hunsford at such a young age? I understand that is quite unusual for someone wholly unconnected to a family who holds an advowson,' Mrs Bennet kept probing.

'As I said, I grew up at Hunsford. After I was ordained, I spent two years as the curate until the old rector retired. I was fortunate that I was allowed to step into his shoes.'

'I hope you wear the same size,' Lydia, who was getting bored by the discussion, muttered.

She had not meant to be overheard and was startled when Collins said with a suspicious twinkle in his eye, 'Mr Parkhurst has left behind very large shoes. I do not know if I will ever be able to fill them.'

To Collins' relief, Lydia's comment and his answer caused the conversation to take a different direction, preventing the family from delving too deeply into the reason for his preferment.

As he was weary from his travels, the family graciously allowed him to retire early. As he drifted off to sleep, his mind returned to the events which occurred seventeen years ago.

~MoL~