3. Engagements and Windfalls

Our Lady of Longbourn

Lizzie gradually takes over the running of Longbourn after becoming aware of her father's neglect... with impacts far greater than she could have ever imagined.

Chapter Three – Engagements and Windfalls

In the year of our Lord, 1806

Sixteen year-old Lizzy stood beside her favorite uncle and watched gleefully as sailors and dock workers swarmed over the three ships of Mr. Gardiner's trading flotilla. Their return had taken longer than predicted, long enough that some investors had begun to assume that all three vessels were lost. Instead, they arrived low in the water with holds full of rich cargo.

"Well, my dear niece, after examining the manifests, I believe that we shall all be quite pleased. We will not know for certain until all of the goods are sold, but my man made several very lucrative deals… and your own investment will more than double. Coupled with the increases from your other investments and the continued prosperity of Longbourn, you should be very pleased."

Lizzy nodded, her expression turning serious, "Yes, Uncle, I am pleased. Though if my mother ever hears of this, she'll have spent it within a week. She complains so about our lack of dowries, but she refuses to curb her spending. I had to visit all of the merchants in Meryton and ask them to put a limit on our credit. If I hadn't managed to drag Father along, they might have refused."

Uncle Gardiner shook his head ruefully, "I'm sorry that your parents are behaving thus, Lizzy. Please don't allow yourself to become bitter."

Lizzy tried not to, but it was difficult, especially with her mother. Mr. Meriwether had been discovered by a carter on the way to London on the same day he was placed beside the road. The kind man had hauled him to the next small town and left him with the local doctor. Meriwether had lingered for almost two weeks before expiring.

It was over a month later that news of the "accident" reached Mrs. Bennet's ears. After much wailing and weeping and salts, she wrote to demand Jane and Kitty's return home. Kitty had been enjoying her time with her little cousins, but she obeyed. Jane refused. The sweet, compliant Jane of the past had fled. She was still a kind and sweet young lady, but her eyes had been opened to the evils in the world. Nor could she forget that it was her mother's relentless pushing that had placed her in such a dangerous position in the first place. Thankfully, Father had supported her decision.

There was no peace in Longbourn for months, until Mrs. Gardiner resolved the matter by writing to Longbourn and mentioning all of the attention that Jane was receiving from the men of London. From that point on Mrs. Bennet wrote Jane regularly with advice on how to "catch" a man. After reading the first missive, Jane consigned it and the rest to the fire.

"Have you considered what you will do with your investments?" Uncle Gardiner prompted to turn his niece's musings to a more positive matter. "You could reinvest in another venture like this one."

"I thought about it, Uncle. With Jane being seventeen, almost eighteen, I fear that she may need a dowry soon. That means that I can't tie everything up in a venture that will have no result for almost two years, even if it is the most profitable choice," Lizzy pondered for another minute, and then said, "I will reinvest the original five-hundred in another cargo. The one-thousand from this venture I will add to the other twelve-hundred invested in local ventures. That leaves two-hundred pounds to purchase livestock."

"Livestock?" Uncle Gardiner prompted.

"Yes, did you know that we own most of Oakham mount and it just sits empty and unused? It is useless for crops, but it is grassy. It would be perfect to run sheep. You told me that the fur trade was falling off with all of the wars, but wool prices are rising. I read about merinos and also this new breed from Kent called romneys. They both have finer wool that is becoming very popular."

"It seems like you've really thought this through. I will take care of investing your money as you chose. If you need help with the sheep, let me know."

"Thank you, Uncle… now… how is Jane really?"

"She is fully recovered physically, and she seems her old self, but she shies away from all men except for me. Give her time, Lizzy."

Lizzy sighed, "I hope that she finds a man she can love and trust. Kitty is fine too, though her finger will never bend fully. She had nightmares when she first returned home, but Mary and I helped her. She used to be close to Lydia, but she spends most of her time with me now."

"Does she still worry about Mr. Meriwether?"

"Not that she mentions. I think that she was young enough that she doesn't realize that her blow is what eventually killed him. I'm glad of that, at least."

"Oh, by the way, we will have a guest to dinner tonight."

"Who?"

"Captain Archer. He was the captain of the little task force that happened upon our ships when the pirates tried to seize them. Thankfully they arrived before the pirates were successful, or the cargo and ships would have become prizes. Captain Archer seems a very good man and very highly placed. I was pleased when he agreed to come to dinner."

oOoOOoOo

"… so the Hawkwing turned and took the weather gauge. The second pirate, in the brigantine, tried to follow, but a shot from our sloop, Targus, took down his main mast. From there, it only required two more barrages before all three pirates lowered their colors," Captain Archer grinned a boyishly handsome smile and returned the condiments that he had used to illustrate the battle back into their places.

"A prodigious battle!" Mr. Gardiner agreed. "And enough prize money that I needn't feel guilty that my ships were not added to your coffers." Archer laughed. Some captains might have taken offense at that statement, but Archer had already proven himself to be an amiable and easygoing man.

Lizzy noticed the difference between this man and Meriwether. Both were dashingly handsome, though Meriwether seemed soft in comparison. Both were tall, though Archer was much broader than Meriwether had been. And both were amiable, but Archer had none of the falseness and oily quality of Lady Adele's nephew. Also, while Meriwether had been a gentleman with little responsibility and no industry, Captain Archer had already reached the rank of post-captain and had his own command.

Lizzy was impressed, though not at a romantic level. She had noticed that Captain Archer had difficulty keeping his gaze away from Jane. She couldn't blame him, but worried for her sister. Glancing over, however, she saw none of the cringing withdrawal that had characterized Jane in the past year. Perhaps?

oOoOOoOo

Lizzy departed for Longbourn two days later. As Jane watched her sister's carriage turn a corner and disappear, she sighed. A tug on her hand caught her attention and she smiled down at little Emmie. "Cousin Jane, would you take us to the park?" Jane saw Emmie's two brothers poking their heads around a door and knew that the little three-year-old had been sent as the emmisary.

She knelt down so that she could meet the little girl's large, hopeful eyes, "Well, cousin, we are supposed to start lessons..." she paused long enough to make the girl worry, then continued, "But I don't feel like lessons yet either. Let's get you all bundled up and we can go to the park for an hour."

Emmy, James, and John all cheered and danced while she tried to get coats on them. Mrs. Gardiner, walking into the room, simply shook her head, knowing that Lizzy's departure had unsettled life in the household enough that a trip to the park was probably necessary. Still, she couldn't resist saying,"You're too easy on them, dear. They know just how to get what they want." Jane only smiled.

The day was fine and the walk to the park was quite pleasant. A footman was always dispatched to accompany the party, so Jane felt secure. Once there, she took a seat and let her little cousins run, "Just don't stray too far, dears." She sat back and smiled, absorbing the sun and not noticing anyone but the children. The sun shone on her golden hair and illuminated her beautiful face... and for just a little while she felt safe.

Unfortunately, Men had noticed Jane on her previous excursions to the park. Few had seen a woman so beautiful. Not all had the best intentions. One, in particular, Nathanial Dryer, had begun to make plans.

Little Julia called for Simon the footman to help her with something by the water. When Dryer, who had been lingering nearby, saw the footman leaving Jane alone, he headed to the bench.

"Well, what a nice bit of fluff to find all alone in the park. It seems that it is my lucky day," Dryer sneered.

"Please go away, sir," Jane responded, her usual fears rising to the surface. "You have no business speaking to a lady without proper introductions." Despite her urge to flee, she felt her body collapsing into itself.

"Oh, I intend to introduce myself to you, pretty lady… I am looking forward to it." If he was going to say more, it never came out. A powerful hand clamped around the back of the man's neck. In fact, the huge hand completely immobilized the man, to the point that he couldn't even find the will to speak.

"Don't kill him, Bosun," a familiar voice said calmly, but with ice in his tone. "Whatever he deserves, we are bound by the rules of society. Miss Bennet, are you all right?"

Jane looked up to discover Captain Archer looking at her solicitously. "He… he… and I couldn't…"

The previous day Captain Archer had met with Mr. Gardiner at his place of business. He requested permission to call on Jane. Edward explained to the captain about the abortive assault. "She was not compromised, Captain, but it has caused her to fear men. I will allow you to call, but you must be careful not to push her or intimidate her in any way. A successful suit may take you longer than you have before your next set of orders."

"Actually, Sir, I've been assigned to a task for Admiralty House for at least the next six months. With your permission, may I call tomorrow?"

Mr. Gardiner had noticed the man's interest in Jane, so he had made inquiries about the man. Everything that he learned was good. "You have my blessing… and God speed in securing Jane's."

As they looked at each other now, Captain Stephen Archer knew that he would work to win Miss Bennet's heart no matter how long it would take. "Miss Bennet, you are safe now. The large gent with me is my bosun, Bosun Jeremiah Toliver. Bosun, this is Miss Jane Bennet.

"Pleased to meet you, Ma'am," Toliver answered in a deep, but pleasant voice. "Beg'n yer pardon, Sur, but with yer permission, I'll take care of this'n and let yer visit."

The captain nodded his assent and turned back to Jane, "He'll send this scum off and make sure that the man never bothers you again, Miss Bennet." As Bosun Toliver dragged the man away, the footman and the Gardiner children ran up to investigate. The children remembered Captain Archer and swarmed around him. Oddly, the chaos restored Jane's self-control.

"Thank you, Captain Archer. You could not have arrived at a better moment," Jane smiled and the poor captain's heart raced. He took a seat beside Jane at her invitation. They talked while the children continued to play. When it was time to head back to the Gardiner home, Jane willingly placed her hand in Archer's arm. It was the first time she had voluntarily touched any man since that day.

Calls became a courtship, and by the end of the summer the good captain was certain. He knelt before Jane at the very same bench one fine morning and asked her to make him the happiest of men… and Jane happily answered "Yes!"

oOoOOoOo

Lady Adele sent for Lizzy only a week after the news of the Jane's engagement had reached her, but before the Captain could ride to Longbourn to secure Mr. Bennet's blessing. After her nephew's attack on the Bennet girls, the kind lady had seemed to wither. She was in her late sixties, but until that day she had been energetic and spry.

Lizzy arrived by horseback in time for tea. She had become an even more regular visitor in the past year. She had not been able to forget or forgive her mother's part in Jane's attack. She remembered Aunt and Uncle Gardiner's admonitions about bitterness, but the feelings remained. Lady Adele, though more of a grandmother figure, filled the role that Mrs. Bennet had long since relinquished. Lizzy loved her more than anyone and she hated to see how frail the elderly woman was becoming.

Lady Adele waited for Lizzy to pour the tea. She had been subtly guiding the fascinating young girl for years, molding her into a graceful and polished young woman. Adele never objected to the more masculine roles that Lizzy had taken on. She had been quite the rebel against fashion herself as a younger woman. But she did wish to guarantee that Lizzie also had the necessary skills to interact with women and not be embarrassed… especially since she had a plan for the girl.

"Elizabeth, I want to speak with you on a serious subject," Lady Adele had taken to always addressing her young friend as "Elizabeth," stating that it was a respectable lady's name.

"What subject, Lady Adelle?"

"My family… or rather, that of my late husband. I am sorry to tell you that Mr. Meriwether's behavior should not have been a surprise to me." She paused, took a deep breath, and continued. "I was the second daughter of a very noble, respectable, and wealthy family. Netherfield Park was my dowry. As I've told you before, it has been in my family for generations, but because it isn't in a fashionable part of the country, it was basically abandoned.

"My husband's family was also wealthy and well-known, but not well respected. The men of the family were notable rakes and gamblers and who knows what else. My husband's father was the worst of the lot in his generation. He had two children, my husband and his sister… who married Mr. Meriwether Sr.. My husband had already developed his own bad reputation, so when my husband first proposed, I rejected his suit."

She took a sip, raising and lowering her cup with trembling hands, "Elizabeth, I know that what I'm about to tell you shouldn't be heard by delicate ears. I also know that you are mature beyond your years and you have had your eyes opened to the evils of this world. Lizzy nodded, waiting tensely for Lady Adele to continue.

"Mr. George Fitzhugh didn't take my rejection well. He pretended to be saddened, but then he began scheming to catch me alone. One day, when I was resting by my favorite pond after a long horse ride, he came upon me… and imposed himself on me." Lizzy left her seat to sit beside Adele and take her frail hand. "After that, my father had to give his consent. Fitzhugh wanted me because I was beautiful in my youth, but also because his gambling debts were prohibitive and he wanted my dowry.

"Thankfully, though he did sell off two parcels of Netherfield Land, he died in a duel before he could sell the entire estate. Suddenly I was a widow at twenty-two, possessed of my own estate and several of his properties. His brother-in-law tried to seize the whole, but the two hadn't liked each other and Fitzhugh's will prevented the grab. I sold the other properties, repurchased the two lots sold by my husband, and invested the rest."

Lady Adele sighed and squeezed Lizzy's hand, "Elizabeth, as I said, the poisonous taint that made Mr. Meriwether the way that he was has followed multiple generations. It obviously passed through Fitzhough's sister, since her son acted just like her father and brother… and Mr. Meriwether was only the oldest of three brothers. I do not want either of the other two to inherit Netherfield Park… which is why I want you to buy it."

Lizzy rocked back in shock, "Lady Adele… Netherfield Park must be worth at least thirty-thousand pounds! I've saved up and invested, but that all only amounts to about eighteen-hundred pounds. Now that Jane is engaged, I intended to add one-thousand pounds to her dowry…"

Lady Adele retrieved Lizzy's hand and squeezed it, "I know how much Netherfield Park is worth. And I don't intend for you to pay anywhere near that much. But I am old enough that I can't will it to you either. You see, my solicitor warned me that the Meriwether's might successfully challenge my will by saying that my mental faculties were impaired. So I cannot just give it to you in my will, no matter how dearly I wish to.

"But what you don't know is that I have been paying off my nephew's debts, both with merchants and debts of honor. I am ashamed to know how much he imposed on my neighbors… but it laid the foundation for what I wish to accomplish: You are a child in the eyes of the law, but your Uncle Gardiner is your trusted supporter. If I sell the rights to Netherfield to the both of you to pay off a debt, then my husband's family will have no grounds to protest… especially if the debt was incurred by their son.

"But he didn't owe me or my uncle any debt."

"It doesn't matter. Working with my solicitor, I've kept the record of all of the other debts vague. I've also had him investigate Meriwether's London debts. I intend to pay those off as well. When I am done, the people who are owed will be paid, but there will be nothing left for the rest of the Meriwethers." Lady Adele's eyes turned cold, "If I had just willed my savings to that lot, they would never have paid one farthing of their debts. In this way honorable merchants receive what is rightfully theirs and I do nothing to advance a family that is a scourge on England… and my dear Elizabeth… the closest thing that I've ever had to a daughter… will receive my beloved Netherfield Park."

Lizzy hugged the elderly lady carefully, but with a heart full of love. She didn't need to express her feelings; they both knew. Finally, she said, "I will send a letter to Uncle Gardiner right away.

oOoOOoOo

When Captain Archer rode to Hertfordshire two days later, Mr. Gardiner accompanied him. While the captain met with Mr. Bennet about the settlement, Mr. Gardiner sat down with Lady Adele and her trusted solicitor.

Mr. Bennet was shocked when his little Lizzy informed him that she had accrued one thousand pounds to add to Jane's dowry. He was even more surprised when Captain Stephen Archer informed him that he and Jane had agreed to refuse the money, "Miss Elizabeth didn't know it, Mr. Bennet, but my Jane has been watching her sister for a while now. She believes that, in Elizabeth's hands, that money will continue to grow and be a benefit to your family. Jane did have one condition: her mother can never know. She held Miss Elizabeth on the night that your wife spent all the profits. She doesn't intend for it to happen again."

Thomas Bennet felt ashamed at the reminder of that incident, but it passed quickly. He then read the settlement papers and looked up at his future son-in-law in shock. "You are from those Archers. I had no idea."

"And we intend to keep it that way. My brother is dead, but he left a son, so there is little chance of my inheriting the title. I am earning my way in the world on my own merit, even if I do have the one small estate. The rest that you see there is prize money… I have had a very successful Navy career."

The settlements were signed and the men shook hands. Then Captain Archer brought up another subject, "Mr. Bennet, after what happened to her, my Jane is deeply concerned about her sister's habits. Miss Elizabeth moves about your estate and beyond regularly, often alone. We spoke about this and reached an agreement, if you will also consent."

Mr. Bennet raised an eyebrow and waited. Stephen Archer continued, "I have a four-wheel trap that my sister used before she married. It is light, safe, and only requires one horse to pull it. I will provide both horse and trap, but it must be for Miss Elizabeth's use. Additionally, I have asked my man, Bosun Toliver to relocate and act as your daughter's footman. I will continue to pay him, but his responsibilities will be to protect Miss Elizabeth and help her when he can. He is an older man, nearing fifty, so people will not automatically assume impropriety when they are seen together."

After pondering this for a moment, Thomas Bennet agreed, "I would like to meet the man first." Toliver had taken up station outside. When he was called, he filled the doorway and the room seemed to shrink when he stepped in. Mr. Bennet asked several questions before he declared himself satisfied. He had occasionally worried about his Lizzy himself, but not enough to take action. He didn't mind having the responsibility taken out of his hands.

oOoOOoOo

At Netherfield Park, a deal was quickly struck. Mr. Gardiner, with his keen business sense, was able to work with the solicitor, Mr. Paul Westerfield, to carefully word the documents to best suit Lady Adele's requirements. Westerfield and Gardiner began a friendship that day that lasted for many years. Westerfield also consented to take on Miss Elizabeth Bennet as a client and to always protect her interests.

At the end of the negotiations, Lizzy handed over a check for five-hundred pounds, less than one-one-hundredth of Netherfield Estate's true value… Lizzy had underestimated the estate's value by thirty thousand pounds.

Lady Adele would continue to live on the estate until her death. She sadly informed Lizzy and the men that, according to the doctors, her end would come all too soon. She allowed Lizzy to cry in her arms for a few minutes, but then was back to business: For the remainder of her time, Lady Adele and Mrs. Nichols, the housekeeper, would train Lizzy on being Mistress Netherfield. Mr. Matthews would continue his work as well, training her to be the Master of the estate.

"Elizabeth," Lady Adele said with a smile, "You are the both Master and Mistress of your own estate now… therefore you are much too important to be 'Lizzy' any longer. From this point forward, you should be rightfully addressed as Elizabeth."

All profits above and beyond the day-to-day needs of the estate would now belong to Elizabeth Bennet, to use or invest as she chose. Under Mr. Matthews able management, the estate brought in four-thousand and five-hundred a year.

All agreed that this transaction must be kept secret until Lizzy's twenty-first birthday. Until then, on paper, the estate belonged to Mr. Gardiner. For her own assurance, Lady Adele insisted on a carefully worded document that would prevent the estate from falling out of Elizabeth's hands should something happen to Mr. Gardiner.

When all was done, the group enjoyed a light afternoon tea. Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Westerfield headed directly for London. Elizabeth walked home where the newly landed gentlewoman and endured a scolding from her mother over some imagined slight.