Notes: I am travelling again, and won't be able to post for a few days. This part is a bit repetitive, and maybe when I edit the story I'll delete it. There are only a few chapters left to reach the turning point of the story.
PPP
After Mrs. Phillips spoke with the Bennet sisters at the door, she went to Jane's room where she found her already awake. As she noticed Jane appeared sad and lost in thought, she asked her with concern, "Jane, are you feeling better?"
"Yes, aunt. I think I don't have a fever." Jane replied weakly trying to sound convincing, "Tomorrow, after breakfast, I will return to Longbourn."
"You know you can stay with us as long as you wish. You are like a daughter to us."
"Yes, I know. Thank you for everything you do for me." After hesitating for a few moments, Jane asked her. "Aunt, are you certain I am the true heiress of Longbourn?"
Surprised, Mrs. Phillips nodded and emphatically replied, "Yes, I am certain. You are Mr. Bennet's first-born-daughter and according to the entailment you are the rightful heir. I don't understand why you are asking me this question again?"
Jane sighed and responded, "Because my father has been spending several hours with Lizzy, teaching her how to run Longbourn. He also said being the eldest doesn't mean anything and I don't need to get involved in those tasks."
Mrs. Phillips shook her head and said with conviction, "I assure you that what your father is saying is not true. He is just trying to please my cousin showing his preference for your sister. My cousin has always been upset because you are the heir of Longbourn instead of her daughter Elizabeth." She looked Jane in the eye and added, "Don't worry Jane, your uncle and I are not going to let my cousin take away what is legally yours."
"Thank you, Aunt," she said appreciatively, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice. She sighed and added, "I know my father doesn't love me. It is like there has always been a distance between us. I also know my parents got married because they anticipated their vows."
Mrs. Phillips looks at Jane with concern and asked, "Who told you that?"
"I overheard some conversations and rumors over the years, and I know I was born seven months after they were married." She replied trying to hold back her tears.
Mrs. Phillips shook her head and said emphatically, "Jane, many children are born prematurely. Unfortunately, most do not survive. But you survived, and that is a miracle." She gently squeezed Jane's hand and added, "Your mother and father got married because they loved each other, and you were conceived in their wedding's night."
Unfortunately, Mrs. Phillips never wavered in her conviction that Jane was the rightful heiress of Longbourn. She did not consider the possibility that anyone else could have a legitimate claim to the estate.
She was aware that, in most cases, it was rare for the presumed heir and the current owner to agree to break an entailment, as it was often a costly and complicated process. Besides, Mrs. Phillips was convinced that Mr. Bennet Sr. had no reason to take such extreme actions to protect his legacy since he had passed away without knowing that Fanny was expecting a child from another man.
Furthermore, she was certain that her father – he was Mr. Bennet Sr's solicitor - had not been involved in any legal proceedings to break Longbourn's entailment. This only reinforced her belief that Jane was the true heiress. She did not consider the possibility that Mr. Bennet Sr. hired another solicitor because he did not trust her father and wanted to keep the changes in the entailment a secret from them and everyone else.