Author's Note: Please let me know if you see any inconsistencies or errors. I am trying to fix them as I go through, but I know I have missed a couple. Thanks so much, and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 15

After investigators confirmed that Mr Collins had returned to Hunsford, Mr Elliott and Darcy made their way to Hertfordshire to pay a visit to Mr Bennet. Numerous discussions had taken place before and during their journey regarding how this meeting should proceed. Once again, 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 given their relationship.

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

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 she pack certain items of Elizabeth's for them to take to her in London and telling her of her newly realised situation. It was very unlikely Elizabeth would ever return to Longbourn, and while she had anticipated this when she left, she had not taken everything with her. After this meeting, it would become more apparent to the Bennets Elizabeth would not return, and she wanted Mrs Hill to gather a couple of small 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 bother to visit; he recognised that gentleman's name from their correspondence over the years. However, he was unfamiliar with the Darcy name, having completely forgotten how Elizabeth had travelled to London several weeks prior and never bothering to learn about who Elizabeth's other trustee was.

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

Darcy's hackles rose upon hearing this, and Mr Elliott cleared his throat to signal to him to calm before speaking. "Yes, Mr Darcy is the second trustee, and we have come to discuss the marriage contracts, among other things. First, I would like to discuss several matters in regard to Miss Tomlinson. You have told me much about her in our letters, and I expect her to be a rather exceptional woman from what you have described over the years. 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 in her own right?"

"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 any documents related to any future marriage."

Mr Bennet demurred. "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 Elliott said. "You have obviously forgotten the stipulations of old 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.

Elliott continued as though Mr Bennet had not spoken. "Those are the terms of the will. If she marries over the anvil, then her uncle—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; both Darcy and I have to approve, and, of course, Miss Tomlinson herself must agree. No one can force another person to speak the vows, and if she marries without the approval of her trustees, the estate remains under our control until we decide to turn it over to her."

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

"Since Miss Tomlinson is in London and cannot be asked for her opinion, we must seek her out in Town to ask. We will return to Longbourn shortly once we have spoken with your niece, but I would like to see the marriage contract you have written to see if it contains those clauses regarding her inheritance. I would like to know the direction to where she is staying in town, as well as the names of her former governess and companion. I would like to inquire about her education. I assume you provided masters for Miss Tomlinson as well so she could learn a variety of accomplishments."

"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 for one temporarily who would claim to have been with her for several years. 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. "Unfortunately, her companion has taken a brief leave to tend to a sick relative, and Lizzy is staying with my wife's brother in London. 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 to 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."

Darcy could not hold back any longer. "Why would she have not stayed on for your other daughters? I understood that you had four, and the youngest is, what? Just 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," he 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 so she would be able to meet eligible gentlemen. 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 before she weds. You will need to write to her aunt to ask her to obtain appropriate clothing for her debut, along with forwarding the necessary funds. Her allowance is substantial, but even her two hundred pounds a year is not enough to pay for the dresses she will need for her first Season. No, you will need to send her the funds from her clothing allowance that you have been granted."

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

"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 the twelve hundred pound stipend you received annually. 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 at least 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 spend at a minimum of two hundred pounds just to provide appropriate clothing. Since Miss Tomlinson is a substantial heiress, she needs clothing that reflects her status."

Having recovered some composure, Mr Bennet attempted to make demands from the gentlemen. "Why does she need a season at all? She is engaged and does not need to meet additional men?"

"She cannot be engaged, as she does not have the permission required to be so," Mr Elliott stated calmly. "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's debut. 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 Miss Tomlinson had inherited."

At this point, Bennet was 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 to give you 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. I will not tolerate a delay in this. You have had Miss Tomlinson's care 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.