Author's Note: As always, let me know what you think. Let me know if you see any errors or inconsistencies.
Chapter 4
Nearly a week after the evening at Lucas Lodge, Darcy received a response to the letter he had written to his father's friend. It had been sent to Pemberley first and had to be forwarded to him at Netherfield, causing the delay. At first, his steward had been uncertain about whether he should send it on, but after recalling that it was likely a personal matter, he decided to include it with that week's mail. He would have sent it sooner if he knew Darcy was awaiting this letter.
As soon as Darcy returned from his ride after speaking to Elizabeth about his memories of the fireworks and little Ellie, he saw the package of letters from Pemberley had arrived by that morning's post. Before even changing out of his riding clothing, he shuffled through the letters and was surprised to find the one he had been waiting for, along with a note of explanation for its delay.
Setting the rest of the post aside, he quickly opened the letter from Mr Elliot.
Darcy,
I was taken aback upon receiving your letter inquiring about the Tomlinson estate and its heiress. As you are aware, following your father's demise, you assumed the role of trustee for Miss Elizabeth Tomlinson, entrusted primarily with financial matters and estate management. Given the circumstances surrounding the passing of the Tomlinsons and your mother's illness at the time, the young girl could not join your family then, and I arranged for her to be placed in her uncle's care. That uncle passed away not long after she arrived, and she was placed with another uncle, the heir to the estate after his brother, who was married with two or three daughters at the time. I do commend your dedication to overseeing her investments and estate, resulting in their flourishing under your care.
Miss Tomlinson has recently celebrated her twentieth birthday, and with her approaching majority, it seems fitting to initiate her introduction to her inheritance. Oddly, her uncle has chosen not to reveal her true status as a heiress and treats her in a similar fashion to her cousins, perhaps to shield her from potential fortune seekers. Regardless, she is set to assume control of her inheritance next summer and deserves to be informed. Despite the lack of a societal debut and a proper season, she appears well-prepared, as indicated by her uncle's letters describing her involvement in estate management and assistance with his affairs.
Given your current presence in Hertfordshire, you may have already encountered Miss Tomlinson. It would be beneficial for you to assess her aptitude for managing her estate. If her guardian has not provided the claimed education, we must prepare to acquaint her with the necessary knowledge once she assumes control. I entrust you to collaborate on a plan to impart the required information, should that be the case.
Darcy nearly dropped the letter when Mr Elliott confirmed that Miss Tomlinson was in Hertfordshire. It must be her, as the only Elizabeth he had met was Elizabeth Bennet, and he recalled that she was 20 and her birthday was in August.
My involvement in her upbringing has been minimal due to assurances from her uncle regarding the agreed-upon allowance and training. However, recent doubts about Mr. Bennet's honesty and concerns raised by Edward Gardiner have prompted me to reconsider what I believed I knew about matters. I request your discreet investigation into Miss Tomlinson's upbringing, verifying her intelligence and accomplishments.
As her co-trustee, you possess complete authority to divulge any pertinent information using suitable means if you believe it to be necessary. Although her uncle was never designated as her legal guardian, your father assumed that role according to our late friend's will. However, in the wake of his passing, uncertainty clouds the current legal custodian. This issue, coupled with Miss Tomlinson's impending attainment of majority, necessitates our thorough investigation, particularly in light of her grandfather's desire for her to partake in a social season and the possibility of attracting a fitting suitor.
The terms of her grandfather's will ensure that her property and wealth remain under her control after she comes of age, with specific conditions in the event of an elopement. Both trustees' approval is mandated for her marriage, even after she turns twenty-one, securing her inheritance as her property, not her husband's.
Please keep me updated on any findings regarding Miss Tomlinson, and let me know if you deem my involvement necessary. My knowledge of the family she resides with is limited, and I regret my negligence in fulfilling my duties as her trustee. I placed too much reliance on her uncle's assurances without verifying their accuracy. I hope my shortcomings haven't adversely affected Miss Tomlinson.
Sincerely,
T. Elliott
The letter confirmed what Darcy believed—Miss Elizabeth Bennet was not, in fact, a Bennet but was Miss Elizabeth Tomlinson, an heiress in her own right. He knew beyond a doubt why he had always felt that Miss Elizabeth was so familiar to him—she was the picture of her grandmother as a young woman and retained much of the liveliness of her younger self. He had often viewed the portrait of the elder Mrs Tomlinson at the estate when he visited, as her likeness was prominently displayed above the fireplace in the study. She also bore a remarkable similarity to several other portraits in the gallery, which was likely why she did not resemble many of those in the family where she resided.
Memories of those two summers with little Ellie ran through his mind. He thought of how she had lived up to the promise of that first summer—she was as impertinent and lively now as she had been then. Ever since their first meeting at the assembly, Darcy had felt a powerful attraction to Elizabeth. Her family was beyond understanding, and the information he was learning made the situation far more difficult to understand. He wondered if Mr Bennet were to be trusted as he had often noticed Elizabeth's clothes were obviously less expensive and of a lower quality than Miss Bennet's gowns.
While Elizabeth appeared well educated, he knew from speaking to her that she had not had a governess past her twelfth year and that her education after that had been conducted rather informally. She seemed to have risen above that due to her own desire for knowledge, but it was obvious the other girls had not taken the same advantage. Admittedly, he had not observed the other girls as frequently, though he had noted the disparity between what the two eldest wore and Jane's apparent lack of accomplishments, that is, if Miss Bingley was to be believed. It was one of the points she liked to harp on when she spoke of the "rustics" she was being forced to tolerate in the country. If the family were receiving a stipend for Miss Elizabeth's care, as Elliott stated they were, it obviously was not being utilised on Elizabeth's behalf. Idly he wondered how it was being used, especially given what Mr Elliott said about doubting Mr Bennet's honesty in the matter of how the funds were spent.
After he contemplated what all he knew, he wrote a reply informing Mr Elliott of what he had already observed about their charge and expressed his concerns about what he had seen, confirming the trustee's fears about Bennet's trustworthiness. Since he had already met the lady before learning her identity through this letter, he had learned a great deal about both her and her family, and he agreed with the other trustee's opinion—the Bennet family's treatment of Elizabeth was hardly what it should have been.
Once again, Darcy deliberately sought Miss Elizabeth's company at Oakham Mount the next morning. When she arrived, he was waiting for her, having already dismounted and tied his horse at the base of the path.
"Miss Elizabeth," Darcy called as Elizabeth approached the spot where he stood waiting for her. "I received a letter yesterday and wanted to speak to you about what it contained."
"Of course, sir, I would be happy to help," she replied cheerfully. "What might I do for you?"
"This is perhaps an improper request, but I am wondering if there is a place we could go and speak where we would not be observed?" he asked.
"Mr Darcy," she exclaimed, alarmed by his apparent disregard for propriety in making such a request. "Are you absolutely certain of what you are asking?"
"I am," he affirmed. "I have a rather weighty matter to discuss, and it might require some time to address it properly. I would prefer our conversation remain private, away from prying eyes. I assure you, I mean you no harm."
Elizabeth gazed at him for a moment, but the sincerity in his eyes convinced her of his good intentions. She slowly nodded her consent and guided him down the path toward a secluded grove of trees, shielding them from unwanted attention. Over the weeks of their acquaintance, they had met on numerous occasions during her walks, and he had yet to demonstrate any threat. She felt secure in her choice to place her trust in him, even finding herself admiring him, though fully aware of the vast difference in their social status and the unlikelihood of him ever desiring anything more than friendship with her.
They were both quiet as they walked, and once they settled in the grove, he remained silent for several long moments. "Mr Darcy, I cannot stay here all morning and will need to return before too much longer. Please say what you need to say," she scolded lightly.
"I apologise, Miss Elizabeth; I am trying to decide the best way to approach this topic," he replied. "Please forgive me in advance; I do not mean to offend you with my questions, but I have a habit of saying things in a way that may sometimes be misunderstood."
Elizabeth once again eyed him warily. "I will try not to be offended and will ask for clarification if you word something in such a way that it does," she agreed.
Darcy began his tale: "Since my father passed away five years ago, in addition to the responsibility of my own estate, I have managed an estate as a trustee for a young lady who had not yet reached her majority. My responsibility, and my father's before mine, was to ensure the estate operated as it should and manage investments on her behalf," he began. "I have had no actual responsibility for the young lady in question, although apparently, my father was appointed her guardian when her grandparents passed away. At the time, my mother was very ill. Ellie was only five when her grandparents passed away, and my sister was not even one yet, and the idea of another child in the house was too much for him to deal with.
"Instead, her other trustee, Mr Elliott, conveyed her to her uncle's estate, where she has lived since. Mr Elliott was responsible for overseeing her care, although her uncle was responsible for ensuring she had the upbringing that was expected. His oversight has largely occurred through annual letters from her uncle that told of her health and care and updated him about her education and accomplishments. Mr Elliott's wife could have sponsored her for a season, but not long after she came to live with her uncle, Mrs Elliott became ill, and while she lingered for several years, she never recovered. Like my father, Mr Elliott struggled with depression for several years upon losing his wife and did not, perhaps, superintend her care as he should." He watched Elizabeth carefully to see how she reacted to this information.
Elizabeth merely nodded. "This is an interesting story, Mr Darcy, but how can I help you with it?"
"This other trustee has tasked me to learn what I can about this young woman because he believes her guardian is no longer being truthful with him about the young lady and her care. The young lady is unaware of her situation, believing herself to be the family's penniless relation. The family receives a quarterly stipend for her care, although when she comes of age next year, that stipend will stop, as she will come into her inheritance at that time. This inheritance includes an estate located near my own, as well as a rather large sum of money invested on her behalf," he stopped there for a second before speaking again, somewhat self-consciously. "In the last five years, I have been rather successful with my investments, and I have done well with hers, increasing the amount significantly. According to the terms of her grandfather's will, it will all remain with her, even after her marriage, as it is clearly outlined that her marriage settlements must state all she brings into the marriage will remain hers."
He stopped and drew a deep breath. "What I want to ask you is, when I acquaint her with this, what is the best way to go about it? If the other trustee is correct, her guardian has been misleading him about how the money has been spent on her behalf. He asked me to find out how she is being treated by the family who is caring for her; for example, are other family members receiving higher quality items, such as clothing and the like, while she might be seen wearing hand-me-downs or gowns that are lesser in quality than her sisters. How do her family members treat her? Her uncle claims she is well educated, although he claimed he had her educated at home with a governess, and she has been trained in estate management. He also praises her intelligence and quickness and states that she is the one in her family who makes an effort to visit tenants and care for their neighbours as needed. How can I confirm these claims without offending them? Is she treated as a valued family member who is paying for her own care or someone who is barely tolerated due to her penniless state?"
Elizabeth gasped lightly, recognising that many of these things he said described her treatment within her home. "Mr Darcy," she said quietly, "might I ask why you are telling me all this? It is beginning to feel that your stated purpose is not your only intention."
"I knew that you were clever, Miss Elizabeth, so your uncle was not mistaken in his description of you," he said softly, causing her to gasp lightly at the implication. "I believe, given what Mr Elliott has said, that you are the girl we have been discussing. He did not mention the guardian's surname, though he did mention the name of an uncle in London whom he had recently met. Knowing what I know about his occasional absent-mindedness, he assumed I knew the name already or simply forgot to mention it, especially as I wrote to him asking for more information about the girl since each time I encountered you, you brought her to my mind. I have already written to him again, asking for the specific information he neglected to include, such as the surname of the family raising her. Assuming I am correct and you are the lady in question, I mentioned your name and my observations of the family so far.
"It was in that meeting with the uncle that made Mr Elliott begin to wonder if this girl's uncle has been completely honest with him over the years, and if you are indeed who we are discussing, it appears to me as though he has good reason to question the veracity of the letters. According to the letters her guardian writes annually, his ward was given a governess for many years to assist with her education and has been regularly exposed to London society, visiting the theatre and the opera, along with the museums and other cultural attractions of that city. She has also been provided with masters to teach her languages and music. While she was not brought out in London, she is fully prepared to take her place in society when the time comes, according to her uncle.
"However, if you are, in fact, Miss Tomlinson and not Miss Elizabeth Bennet, I would guess that much of what has been written is untrue based on the conversations we have had. Am I right to suppose that your cousins, particularly Miss Bennet, receive higher quality gowns and other items than you do? I have yet to meet your uncle, but is it safe to assume that your relations spend more on their own children, particularly the eldest than on you? The guardians of the girl I am speaking of presently receive three hundred pounds each quarter to provide for their ward, half of which is supposed to be spent directly on her, with fifty pounds of that intended to be given to her directly each quarter as her pin money."
Elizabeth gasped at this number as she had often seen an entry for that amount each quarter day in the account books. Her uncle never told her where it came from when she asked, but she knew that the estate would not be nearly as profitable as it was without those funds. The estate itself had at one point brought in more than two thousand pounds per annum, but due to her uncle's indolence, it was now bringing in less than fifteen hundred. In the last few years, Elizabeth had begun taking steps to recover that lost amount but had been unsuccessful due to her uncle's unwillingness to try many of the ideas she suggested.
She had managed to achieve some success with changing the rotation of the crops, but that had required little effort from Mr Bennet to accomplish. The additional twelve hundred a year from that unexplained source paid for her father's books, much of Mrs Bennet's finery, and what Jane and Lydia received from their mother. Elizabeth received the same allowance as all her other sisters—fifty pounds per annum—but Mrs Bennet's generosity did not supplement what Elizabeth received. Mary and Kitty were similarly overlooked, though Elizabeth was given the least by her aunt and always with complaints about having to spend their money on a penniless relation. She had wondered about this and, knowing Mrs Bennet's shallow nature, assumed it was because she took after the Bennet family in appearance. Mrs Bennet complained about this fact often enough, going so far as to disparage Elizabeth's looks, especially in comparison to Jane or Lydia.
Mr Darcy was not finished with the story. He watched the emotions play across Elizabeth's face for a moment, and he saw the moment she realised the truth of it all. Sadness, anger, and resignation all warred within her. Finally, he saw her nod as though she had come to some kind of resolution, and then she looked up at him again, and he continued. "Since meeting you, I have observed a marked difference between your clothing and that of your elder cousin, except for that night at the assembly. You are everything lovely, Miss Elizabeth, but Miss Bingley has made several comments upon your clothing several times in my hearing. There is also the matter of how Mrs Bennet speaks of you in public. I have scarcely heard her say anything positive of you, and she frequently disparages you in company. Considering how she treats you in public, I suspect it is much worse in the privacy of your home. As Mr Bennet has not attended any of the events where I have met with you, I cannot be certain how he treats you within your family, but his lack of attendance indicates a lack of concern about the well-being of the family as a whole. I am sorry if this offends you, but it is what I have observed."
Elizabeth hung her head. "You are not wrong, Mr Darcy," she whispered. "I have often noted the difference in how I have been treated and assumed it was because I was, as you have said, merely a penniless relation relying on the kindness of my relations. Jane receives new dresses frequently, as does Lydia, but I typically am given Jane's dresses to make over. When I do receive new dresses, I am always directed to the cheaper fabrics and embellishments unless I am in London, where my aunt and uncle pay for clothing that is of a much higher quality. Mrs Bennet does not hide her displeasure when she sees what has been purchased for me there." She paused and took a deep breath.
"What other information makes you believe I was the woman in the letter?"
"Her name is Elizabeth, she is twenty, her birthday is in August, and she lives on an estate in Hertfordshire. There is also your uncanny resemblance to your grandmother—her portrait is in the study in Briarwood, and I have often sat in the study and admired it. Finally," Darcy said, "I cannot disregard your memories of 'Will' and 'Jon' and my own memories that were triggered when I met you. Since encountering you, I have dreamed often of little Ellie, the girl I knew at Briarwood and Pemberley all those years ago. I believe meeting you brought back memories I had almost forgotten, and the dreams you recounted are so similar to real experiences from those times."
"And the name of the uncle in London?" she pushed again, not reacting outwardly to his words, but she was glad she was sitting, as she felt herself grow weak as he had listed each item.
"Ahh, yes, he said he met a man named Edward Gardiner, who is the brother of the lady's aunt," Darcy replied softly.
Elizabeth gasped and felt tears prick her eyes. "I cannot believe it! You must be telling me the truth. Other than the portrait, which I cannot confirm because I have never seen it, all you have said has been true of me. And your face, though older, is so similar to the image I have of the 'Dearest Will' from my dreams."
"Ultimately, what does this all mean, Mr Darcy? Apparently, I will inherit an estate when I come of age in August, but until then, what difference does this make in my life? I suppose I can insist that I no longer be made to feel like I am a penniless relation, and I can know that I have contributed greatly to my care over the years. My aunt and uncle remain my guardians until I reach my majority, correct?"
He encouraged her to sit on a fallen log. He shrugged out of his great coat and laid it down so she could sit on it and then sat beside her. "I am uncertain, Miss Elizabeth," he replied. "You will be of age in August, though that is still ten months away, and you will eventually need to learn about your estate. However, neither I nor Mr Elliott can take you there without the presence of another woman for the sake of propriety. Of more immediate concern is the fact that your uncle has lied to the trustee and diverted your funds for his own use. That will need to be remedied, though I believe it best to wait to speak to Mr Elliott before we pursue that.
"You, of course, should be presented at court and be given a season in town. With your fortune, you will garner significant attention amongst the ton. Both trustees must approve your match, however, but as I stated before, your estate remains in your control even after marriage."
He stopped at her laugh. "Mr Darcy, I hardly think marriage is worth considering at this moment. The boys I have grown up with are now men, but I cannot imagine marrying any of them, and I doubt the men in the ton will overlook my lack of beauty, especially if they would not receive the estate and fortune themselves."
Darcy shook his head in wonder that such a lovely and enticing woman could think so little of her own beauty. "Miss Elizabeth, whoever said you lack beauty was dissembling. You are incredibly alluring."
Elizabeth gasped.
"Even without your fortune, you would be a great temptation for many men," he began earnestly, looking her directly in the eye. "In fact, since we began meeting at Oakham Mount, you drew me in with your intelligence, wit and beauty. You had already impressed me with your kindness that night at the assembly. I am dismayed you have not noticed that I have been informally courting you for some time now. I have been reluctant to formally ask you because I was concerned that not all was as it should be with the Bennets."
Elizabeth blushed at his compliments.
Darcy took her hand and continued. "As it turns out, now that I have discovered I am a trustee of your estate, I am uncertain I can even ask to court you as I wish. If you are willing to agree to a courtship, I must address matters with Mr Elliott to see what must be done."
"Mr Darcy," Elizabeth asked haltingly. "I must ask my question before I can answer yours. Although, it occurs to me that you have not actually asked a question, and I may be thinking too much …" she trailed off, realising that while he had mentioned courting her, he had not actually made the request.
He laughed. "Do not doubt it, Miss Elizabeth; nothing will prevent me from pursuing you. My delay is due solely to my not knowing how to ask for a courtship under the circumstances. I must first speak to Mr Elliott and perhaps consult with my uncle, but please, ask your question. I would prefer to discuss this with you openly. There is the matter of my trusteeship that must be dealt with as well."
"It is just that, well, you only mentioned wanting to court me after your discovery of my identity. I wonder if you would have courted me as the penniless orphan Elizabeth Bennet or whether I have only become acceptable to you now because I am this Miss Tomlinson. Regardless of my status or fortune, I will still be the same girl I am now," she said in a rush.
Again, he chuckled, a low, rich sound she suddenly found she adored. "Miss Elizabeth, I have wanted to court you for nearly the entirety of our acquaintance. Since that first night when you exhibited kindness toward me, you have intrigued me, and I have enjoyed our meetings and discussions at Oakham Mount very much. I feel that we have been getting to know each other already during these encounters. I assure you I would have made the request regardless of your fortune or lack of one. If you are worried about my interest, you have only to ask my sister or my cousin; I wrote to them frequently about my admiration for you since that first meeting. This letter from Mr Elliott was merely an impetus to speak more purposefully, especially because I fear losing you to another gentleman once you are introduced to the ton. and while I feel nearly certain that you are the woman described, I am still waiting for him to confirm the matter absolutely."
She sighed and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. Then drawing herself up, she spoke. "I ask again, sir, where do we go from here?"
Darcy smiled at her bravery in the face of what was undoubtedly a considerable shock. "First, Miss Elizabeth, I would like you to know that I admire you, and as I said earlier in this conversation, the more I know of you, the more I want to know. I am amazed at how well you are handling this information, and that speaks highly of you. Based on what I know of you now, I also think we would do well together, and I would like to see if you could feel the same way about me. Regardless, we will be tied together in some way for the next year as you learn about your inheritance and, eventually, when you come into it. I have run Briarwood along with my own estate these last five years, and I can start to teach you about running it as soon as you would like. And then, of course, I will be a near neighbour if you begin running your estate on your own after your majority.
"However, I do not know how to go about informing Mr and Mrs Bennet that I am one of the trustees of your estate and that I have told you about it," he exhaled deeply. "It seems to me that there is something deeper at work, and it seems best they do not know that you are aware."
"I agree with you," she sighed. "I think it is best we consult with Mr Elliott about what to do from here since there seem to be several issues that need to be dealt with before we speak to them further. You have revealed much today; perhaps we should both think about it and then speak further in the morning."