The Learned Men of Longbourn

When Mrs. Fanny Bennet passed within months of delivering her second daughter, Elizabeth, Thomas Bennet felt no great need to seek out another wife. Of course with two young daughters and an estate to manage he could not easily resume his career at Cambridge either. Instead, over time, he invited his retired colleagues from academia to make long and extended stays on the property. For Elizabeth this meant that she had not one, but many of the greatest minds within reach. And since they were mostly teachers by nature, she, and to a lesser extent Jane, received a university-level education par excellence.

Longbourn, 1791

Mr. Jones stepped out of the mistress' room with a downcast expression to find Thomas Bennet pacing in the hall. The master of the house stopped pacing upon seeing Jones, but then one look at the man's face made his own fall. "She is gone then?"

"I am afraid so," the apothecary who served as the local physician did not elaborate. He had already described the problem in detail. There was no need to explain that the man's wife had essentially bled out. "How fares your new daughter?"

This brought a slight smile back to Thomas Bennet's face, "She fares very well indeed. Already there is a look of intelligence in her eyes far beyond her days. She is much like my mother in appearance and those eyes."

Mr. Jones, who had known the elder Mrs. Bennet, could not but agree though it was still early days. He also knew that all good parents believed their children to be remarkable from an early age, yet in this case he too had noted that spark that denoted a higher awareness than most newborns displayed. It would be good if it was so for Thomas Bennet's sake, since it would aid him in recovering from his current loss.

"I am glad to hear it. And Mrs. Fulton will make a good wet nurse for the babe. Tell me, will you bring little Jane home or leave her in her aunt's care for now?"

"I think she will remain with Agnes for now. Fanny's sister will take this loss as hard or perhaps even harder than I, and the presence of a child will help. Besides, I will be busy for a time arranging for a funeral and such. It is a shame that Edward is somewhere across the globe plying his trade. He was not so close to Fanny but might still take this loss hard after losing both father and mother so suddenly."

"We shall keep him in our prayers. If it suits you, my next stop will be at the Meryton parsonage to notify Mr. Paisley?"

"That would be appreciated, Mr. Jones. And thank you."

Over the following years much changed at Longbourn. Agnes Phillips, Fanny's sister, had at first dreaded the day that she would see another woman installed at Longbourn in her sister's position, but she need not have worried. Thomas Bennet had no desire to be trapped in another marriage. Very few knew that his marriage to Fanny was entirely due to her own compromise scheme and only later backed by her father. Their subsequent marriage was not an entirely happy one, though he did his duty to produce an heir.

Now widowed, Thomas Bennet was no longer concerned about producing an heir to stay off the entail. The truth was that he had never wanted to be the Master of Longbourn, having been all his life drawn toward academia. He had a physical interest in the female of the species, but not so much that he wished to be married again. Given a choice, without daughters to care for, he would have turned the estate over to the much-despised cousin Collins and returned to Cambridge.

Instead he did something entirely unexpected: he began to invite his old colleagues to visit him and stay as long as they might wish. The great universities of Oxford and Cambridge were not entirely or even remotely immune to political intrigue. As Thomas and many of his peers had been openly supportive of the reforms of the previous decade, many now found their tenures slipping from their fingers. Many stayed and held on, while others chose other pursuits. Some, quite a few in fact, made a visit to their old friend at Longbourn and found the quiet of the country to be quite hospitable.

Longbourn Village, which had sprung up over centuries around the manor, had become mostly abandoned as the market town of Meryton became predominant in the area. When they wished to, Thomas allowed some of his academic colleagues to take up residence. As they spent their own funds to restore whichever home or shop they occupied, the village actually made a resurgence. And since so many well-educated and active minds were gathered in one area, it naturally followed that other improvements were made.

Perhaps the greatest example of this for the coffers of Longbourn was when Paul Saunderson, once one of the strongest voices supporting the application of the four-course agricultural method, established himself in the village and mostly took over the agricultural concerns of the estate. Not only did he revive and modernize Longbourn's agriculture, but some of his students followed him and joined in the effort. Within three years of the man's arrival Longbourn was boasting an annual income of three-thousand and still rising.

Another guest who proved fortuitous for Thomas Bennet's two daughters was a professor who taught the concepts of economics and investment. Bennet, who had always been slightly in awe of the older gentleman, made little protest when the man demanded that his deceased wife's five-thousand pounds be properly invested to build a future for her surviving daughters. This growth was slower but it compounded such that by the time Jane Bennet, the eldest, came of age she had a dowry of fifteen thousand. Elizabeth, the younger, would eventually have even more.

In such an academic and accomplished gathering there were also those who were willing to teach the two lovely little girls instruments, singing, dancing, drawing, and other more social pursuits. It fell to Agnes to teach sewing and embroidery of course. Jane excelled at both, but Elizabeth fared much better with sewing than embroidery.

The presence of so many well-known minds also resulted in the occasional visits of former and hopeful students, some of these quite notable themselves. One of these was Jeffery Jamison, a baron in his own right and a viscount as his father's heir. He came to siphon Mr. Bennet's mind in the area of the classics and another retired man's mind on the subject of history. While there he met and promptly fell in love with the beautiful Jane Bennet, then eighteen years of age. His brief intended stay stretched from several weeks to four months, at which point he departed with his beautiful blushing bride.

Even Charlotte Lucas, who some deemed unmarriageable due to her unfortunate resemblance to her father rather than her mother, found a husband among the younger middle-aged academicians, an archaeologist by the name of Pendergast. For a while they remained in Longbourn Village but then departed for other parts of the world to seek out ruins.

Certainly the person who benefited the most from the presence of so many great minds was Elizabeth Bennet. Her father had not been wrong when he declared that there was something more than mildly intelligent in those infant eyes. Elizabeth was born inquisitive and this part of her character only grew over time. She wanted to know everything about everything, and with so many and varied experts available, the growing girl never lacked for mentors. By the time she was ten she read and spoke six languages. By the time she was fifteen she was more widely read and knowledgeable than almost any male of five years her senior.

There was a certain measure of despair on her Aunt Agnes' part in this. She feared that her youngest Bennet niece was destined to become a bluestocking and an unmarriageable spinster. "Men do not like to be with a woman who is smarter than them, Lizzie! I fear greatly for your future, no matter how pretty you are."

And Elizabeth was pretty. Not as pretty as Jane, of course, but very few ever were. Still, with her sister married and removed from the county, many agreed that the younger Bennet was the prettiest girl in the surrounding area. She played and she sang quite well, though her embroidery and her drawing were execrable. She managed the house and the tenant families quite well, though most agreed that she was entirely too involved in the running of the estate. And every young man in the area seemed to agree that no matter how pretty and womanly she might be, they feared engaging the girl in any debate!

Enter Fitzwilliam Darcy...

Darcy had been essentially nothing more than an interested observer as his friend Charles Bingley signed the papers to lease Netherfield Park. That was until Mr. Phillips, the solicitor handling the estate, mentioned Longbourn Village and the collection of academicians. Darcy had heard of the location from several friends at Cambridge but had not known the exact location. Now there was nothing to it but that he must pay the place a visit.

Charles Bingley, though a more recent graduate of Cambridge, was far less academically inclined. Still, he was grateful for his friend's support on this venture and therefore willing to pay the man back by lingering in the area a day longer. Besides, he had no great enthusiasm for returning to Hurst's house where he would have to endure his youngest sister's daily complaints.

The two men were shocked when only a quarter mile from the village when there was a whooshing sound and a long, arrow-like object surged out of the small village center and high into the sky. Several young men and boys on horseback were whooping as they rode their mounts in the direction that the object had traveled. Darcy, who had seen something similar before in London, turned to reassure his friend, "That was a sky-rocket! It looks as if Congreve or one of his many adherents is paying a visit. Let us go and see!"

The men rode up to and then past a stately old manor to enter the village. There in the center was a platform where a very recognizable Congreve and two other men were speaking with a strikingly pretty young woman. At first impression Darcy thought the lady to be a sort of follower, but as he dismounted and approached he was impressed with her questions on the equations for distance, weight, and trajectory, along with variables such as wind and weather.

As the young lady scribbled what appeared to be a computational table on a notebook, Congreve looked up and grinned, "Mr. Darcy! It has been some time since I saw you and your father in London! How is he?"

Darcy's smile faded and he answered honestly, "Passed on this five years, I'm afraid."

The man appeared aggrieved at his mistake, "I am sorry! He was a good man and supportive of my experiments. Since we met I've spent most of my time sequestered with the Army or Navy, so have lost touch with happenings. Are you well?" The young lady had looked up from her scribbling to also regard this new arrival with the finest eyes Darcy could ever remember seeing.

Darcy forgave the man easily and allowed a little smile, "I am. I see that your work has progressed. The lady was asking after your ability to direct the path of your sky rockets. How has that effort progressed?"

Congreve grimaced, "Still not as well as I might have wished. As you see," he pointed to another rocket waiting to be launched, "The fins are slightly angled, much like on an arrow, to spin the rocket and aid greatly in maintaining a straighter flight, but the vagaries of the air, wind, and weather still play too much of a part. Oh, allow me to make introductions!"

For the next few minutes introductions were made all around. Darcy was greatly impressed with the number of notable names from various papers he had read, yet he was still quite captivated with the pretty and obviously learned Miss Bennet. Charles, of course, had immediately gravitated to the only pretty woman in the vicinity, but his conversation was unequal to holding her attention. She was still focused primarily on gleaning more knowledge on the rockets, though Darcy flattered himself that her eyes would drift to him quite often.

Over the course of the following hours Darcy spoke with many of the academicians, learning more about the nature and history of the place. For a while his attention was also drawn to Miss Bennet, but a child ran up to inform her of a problem with one of the tenants and she soon rode away to tend to them. Charles Bingley, less interested, had excused himself at one point and had removed to Meryton, where he could meet and come to know less intellectual types.

The two dined at the inn that night and made their return trip on the following morning. Darcy, craving other company, departed earlier than planned to visit his sister in Ramsgate and thereby was able to intervene much sooner, before Georgiana could commit to an action that would taint her place in Society.

It was a much more relaxed Mr. Darcy who joined his friend again at Netherfield at Michaelmas. Caroline Bingley, Charles Bingley's difficult sister, saw his mood as propitious for her own future happiness. That was until the Meryton Assembly, where Mr. Darcy immediately made his way over to a certain man and his daughter.

Elizabeth Bennet had never forgotten the tall, dark, and very handsome Mr. Darcy who had paid a visit to the village at the same time as Mr. Congreve and his rockets. Unlike his friend, Mr. Bingley, who had seemed a little put off by her intelligence, Mr. Darcy had conversed with her as an intellectual equal.

There was no doubt that they were unequal in Society's eyes, however... a matter for which she was well aware. After she had returned from helping a tenant farmer's wife with a small injury she had returned, hoping to see more of the attractive man, but he had already departed. She had tried to seek information on the young man in a subtle way, but none of her father's peers were fooled. They told her of his good character and intelligence, but also of his great estate, vast wealth, and stellar connections. She had tried to forget him after that, but found the effort impossible. Now he was standing in front of her and asking for a set on her dance card!

Elizabeth, who could not ever remember being tongue-tied in her life, was now struggling to find the simple words to consent. Thankfully her father, amused, broke the tension and teased her back to her senses. The gave Mr. Darcy a crooked smile as she presented her dance card, "My apologies, Mr. Darcy. I was momentarily lost in thought." She ignored her father's soft chuckle and resisted the urge to elbow him.

Darcy was actually quite gratified with her reaction and not a little relieved. After all, it had been him struggling to find the right words to speak in their last conversation. After their set Darcy lingered with Elizabeth and continued their conversation, despite Caroline Bingley's rather pointed and insulting attempts to separate them. Elizabeth displayed amazing tolerance and kindness, in Darcy's opinion, when she used her intelligence to flay the intruder in such a way that the annoying woman never understood. Even then she was never cruel... and Darcy surmised that with her prodigious intelligence she could have done much worse.

Other matrons and young ladies were angry at Mr. Darcy that night, but it wasn't due to any insulting behavior on his part but rather his definite fixation on "that bluestocking Miss Bennet!" They usually liked her very much but that night they thought they might begin to hate her.

In the following weeks Darcy spent more time at Longbourn and Longbourn village then at Netherfield, though he did spend the mornings educating his friend on estate management. With one of the top experts in that field also at the village some of that education came from there instead. In fact Paul Saunderson sent some of his students that direction to aid their young neighbor. Several took an interest in the pretty and well-dowered, Miss Bingley, though for all but one the interest was very brief. Matthew Kent, a recent graduate, was more persistent, even relentless.

Caroline was oddly flattered by the young and strapping man's interest, though she had no true intention of allowing the suit of a farmer... That was until another let it slip in conversation that Matthew was the second son of a baron and would soon own an estate of his own. A discrete letter sent to "a friend" in London revealed that the Baron was in ill health and his eldest son was off on the Peninsula fighting. Of course Caroline was not aware that she had lately offended the very friend providing the information. What was not said was that Matthew, being the son of a mistress, would never inherit and had only gained the poor estate he had because his brother did not want it.

Darcy had never intended to bring his sister Georgiana to the area because he did not want her under the same room as Miss Bingley. When Elizabeth learned of the girl and their shared interests she immediately extended an invitation for Georgiana to stay at Longbourn. "With my sister Jane gone off to live with Lord Jamison and my best friend wed to Mr. Pendergast, I am quite bereft of female company. Please do send for her? If she is willing I promise to keep her well-entertained."

Georgiana, having had her summer cut short by the intrusion of George Wickham and the schemes of Mrs. Younge, was quite happy to leave her uncle's town home and remove to Longbourn. The earl and his wife had an arranged marriage and despised each other, so her stays there were usually uncomfortable. And she never wanted to stay under her other aunt's roof! Lady Catherine de Bourgh was a frightening woman to the shy young girl.

Darcy was gratified to see that his sister and Elizabeth got on instantly, as if they had always been the best of friends. It was promising for his own hopes and intentions.

In November another less favorable intrusion came in the form of Mr. Collins, the parson of Hunsford and the toadie for the Darcy's aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh! He had come to survey his future property and to choose a wife from among his cousin's two beautiful daughters. He had never heard that the eldest was now a baroness and a courtesy viscountess, nor was he pleased to discover that the remaining daughter was being actively courted. But when he discovered the identity of said suitor, he thought his problems were solved. "Mr. Darcy cannot be courting you, my dear cousin, because he is engaged to Lady Catherine's superior daughter, Anne de Bourgh!"

Georgiana, being nearby, immediately disputed that rumor as the lie it was. Having not had any experience that might have stolen her confidence, she was more than ready to confront the man. He immediately began to correct her as the foolish child she must be... right up until he learned her identity. Then he vacillated between presenting his patroness' higher knowledge on such matters and complimenting the girl from such an exalted family.

Darcy arrived in the middle of all this and finally had to drag the man by his collar away from his sister and his woman. "Mr. Collins, I do not know what my aunt has said, but let me state this clearly once and for all: I am not engaged to my cousin nor will I ever be engaged to my cousin. She does not want it and neither do I. It is a dream and delusion of Lady Catherine, and nothing more. Additionally, you will keep your presence away from Miss Elizabeth Bennet, as we are courting and I fully intent to ask her to be my wife as soon as I believe that she would be receptive to the idea."

Neither man had realized that Elizabeth and Georgiana had followed them out of the house, so they were both surprised when Elizabeth spoke up, "Mr. Darcy, I think that you can take it as a given that I am very receptive to the idea." She smiled beatifically, "In fact I had not known you very long at all before I realized that you were the only man I will ever be prevailed upon to marry."

Collins was opening and closing his mouth like a fish as Darcy, seizing the day, immediately expressed his proposal in an appropriately loverly way. She accepted with joy and her new sister squealed in happiness beside her.

Then, predicting the parson's next probable actions, Darcy turned to face the man, "When you send your express to my aunt, be sure that to inform her of the happy part you played in bringing about this early engagement, because you may be certain that I will. Elizabeth and I will always be grateful for what you've done... though I am not certain my aunt will see it in the same light."

The three left Mr. Collins standing outside of Longbourn, his mouth still hanging open. It is important for the reader to note that it was some weeks later when Lady Catherine finally learned of the engagement from Darcy's own hand... though he might have hinted at a different wedding venue so that she would not arrive in state to halt the match. The Bishop of Darcy's usual church in London was quite startled when the woman stormed in to put a stop to a wedding that was not taking place. Collins received a very long harangue for not informing her ladyship, but then he would have also received one for facilitating the match. He felt quite abused about the entire matter, but somewhat relieved to finally realize that a living, once given, cannot be removed except by the Church.

It is reasonable to write that very few young women were ever married with so many "uncles" in attendance. Almost every man who resided in Longbourn Village regarded Elizabeth as almost a daughter, except perhaps for the younger ones who might have liked to choose her for themselves. The wedding had to be held outdoors just to accommodate everyone who wished to attend.

As this story is supposed to be about the Learned Men of Longbourn, the rest of their history should be noted here: In a surprising twist of fate for Thomas Bennet, one of his academic friends hosted his recently widowed sister not six months after Elizabeth left with her husband. Thomas, shockingly lonely for female company, visited her often. It was a surprise to nobody when he asked for her hand and she accepted.

What was a surprise was that Eleanor, at the age of five and thirty, conceived within a month of their wedding and gave Thomas the first of two boys, thus preserving Longbourn and Longbourn Village for at least the next generation. Today, more than a century later, a college exists on the very spot where the estate and village once stood. Although it has never risen to the prominence of the great universities, many a young man or woman has considered it one of the finest small learning institutions in all of Great Britain.

There is no record of William Collins extant, so this writer is unable to provide further information on that front.

Of the families of Jane, Elizabeth, their brothers, and Georgiana, however, there is much history. Although many of the men and later women did attend Oxford or Cambridge, those who didn't and who still sought higher education mostly named Longbourn College as their Alma Mater.

And because I know that someone is certain to ask, I will provide one more history: Caroline Bingley was wed soon after the Darcy's to Matthew Kent. He used her twenty-thousand to greatly improve his estate. Being a student of Saunderson, he used the four-course system of planting to great effect and improved his income even more. Caroline had hoped that her time at the estate was only temporary, until her father-in-law and brother-in-law croaked, but neither happened. It was only after a few months that she learned that Matthew and his father were completely estranged.

… oh yes... and Matthew absolutely hated London and the Ton!

To give her credit, Caroline did eventually settle down to living on the estate, right up until she ran away with a distinguished rake who promised her London and left her destitute in a boarding house in Leeds. She was welcomed back by her husband but had to strive for years to earn any trust from him or their children.