Notes: Dear readers, please be respectful in your comments, otherwise I will start deleting them.
This is the second part of the previous chapter.
PPP
From the day Thomas and Elizabeth got married, they shared the same bedchamber, and the couple's love and affection for each other had only grown stronger over the years Every day, as they retired to bed, they would talk about their worries, plans and, above all, their daughters.
Ironically, the one Elizabeth was most worried about was Jane. She was concerned that Jane might not realize she was not the heiress of Longbourn, and urged her husband to talk with her, "Thomas, don't you think you should talk to Jane and clarify that she is not the heiress of Longbourn? You are aware Mr. Stevens stopped courting her when he learned her dowry was only 7,000 pounds."
Thomas nodded as he knew Elizabeth was correct and admitted, "Yes, I know you are correct. But I remind you that for years I have wanted to tell Jane that she is not my biological daughter." He sighed and added, "However, if she were intelligent and didn't listen to so much of the nonsense Mrs. Phillips says, she should have realized it!"
Elizabeth, who was protective of Jane, shook her head, "You are being unfair to Jane and making too many differences between her and our daughters. You should have added more money to her dowry, just as you are doing with our daughters, instead of using the interest from Fanny's settlement to pay for her upbringing."
"No, Elizabeth. I went above and beyond what any man would have done for her in my situation. Fortunately, my father had the foresight to break the entailment a few days before he passed away. Otherwise, she would have inherited Longbourn!"
Elizabeth sighed, "You know I would never have asked you to claim her as your daughter if Longbourn was still entailed."
He nodded. On the same day Fanny passed away, he and Elizabeth had a lengthy discussion about Jane's paternity and the entailment of Longbourn. Thomas ultimately decided to acknowledge Jane as his daughter because Elizabeth deeply cared for the girl, and he wanted to have a future with her more than anything else in the world. Few people knew that Longbourn was no longer entailed. Over the years, Thomas amended his will to ensure Longbourn was inherited by a Bennet by blood.
He replied, "I know, my love. But regarding Jane's dowry, Mr. Gardiner had the option to add more money to her dowry but opted to bequeathed his entire fortune to his son."
Elizabeth's nodded. Mr. Gardiner had passed away a few years prior, and to Mrs. Phillips' surprise and disappointment, he had left his small fortune to his son, leaving nothing for her.
After a long pause, Elizabeth added, "Jane is a sweet and kind girl, but she is easily influenced by her godmother. While she may not have the same level of intellectual curiosity as Elizabeth and Mary, you have not given her the attention she deserved." She kissed her husband gently and suggested, "I don't think you should tell her that you are not her real father. It could devastate her to learn that her mother was a woman of low morals, and you are not her biological father-"
"But it is the truth, my dear," Thomas interjected, "And the Phillipses are just as unscrupulous as Fanny."
"It does not matter, Thomas! Jane is not your real daughter, but she is not her mother!" She sighed, and added, "You only have to tell Jane that she is not the Heiress of Longbourn. You can tell her that Elizabeth is more suitable to be the future mistress of Longbourn, and you must make that clear to everyone."
Thomas sighed, he did not like arguing with his wife, but he knew she was right. He kissed her softly and replied, "You are correct, my love. I promise to talk to Jane soon."