He sighed resignedly. “In the end, I suspect Mrs Gardiner and Miss Lucas are more responsible for the current robust state of our family than I am. That is indisputable.”
“I prefer to think better of you. I cannot rationally say whether that is a logical assessment or my need to put away childish things. I suspect every adult can find a hundred things to complain about in their upbringing, but if you do not putthose grievances aside, you spend the rest of your life looking backward instead of forward.”
“Elizabeth, you are wiser than I am, and far more generous. I will make you one promise, though. I will do my best to guide my other two daughters.”
“Very well, but need I remind you there are4unwed daughters?”
“3 at the most, and God help any father who thinks he will navigate Elizabeth Bennet’s course in life.”
Mama Bear
Anxious to turn to another topic, and a little light-headed, Elizabeth resolved to get all the awkwardness with her father out of the way once and for all.
“Father, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course!”
Elizabeth took a deep breath. “You strongly suggested I am somewhat—or perhaps downright—manipulative.”
“Here we have a problem with language. The wordmanipulativeis considered derogatory, but it should not be.”
“How so? I have never heard it used any other way.”
Bennet took another careful sip of his brandy, which was decidedlynotFrench, and absolutelynotsmuggled.
“I do not know how much the word is used, but its general meaning applies to women who are forceful, but subtle about it. Apply the same quality to a man, and it is calledleadership. I am not one of those to whom the word is necessarily negative. I believe youare, in factsomething of, aleader. If some mean to call that manipulative, I suggest they are mostly trying to assuage their own deficiencies.”
“Their own deficiencies, eh? For example—entirely hypothetical, of course—a parent is supposed tomanipulatehis children, to make them good citizens by smoothing down their worst characteristics and teaching them to be better. Should one of these children chafe under the bit, and perhaps begin to lead better than he does, hemightbecome angry at being exposed or having his proper role usurped.”
Bennet leaned his head back and laughed as Elizabeth had not heard him laugh in years. He wiped his eyes with ahandkerchief, muttering,“Own deficiencies… own deficiencies, indeed.I must say, you are a treasure, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth chuckled with him. He was plainly not angry, and perhaps this newadultrelationship might begin better than expected.
“Now that we have that out of the way, let me ask another question. Was I the manipulee—is that even a word—instead of the manipulator? Did you guide this discussion towards a preordained goal?”
“A fair question… fair indeed! I confess IwishI had manipulated you, for it would give me a right to boast of my cleverness, even if only in my own head. Alas, it was an honest discussion. I had no notion where it would lead when it started, and the conclusion surprised me.”
Elizabeth nodded, slightly light-headed from the brandy.
“Are you sanguine about my efforts?”
“Of course! The results speak for themselves, though we might want to discuss what happensnext!”
“What happens next?”
Bennet chuckled, regarded his empty brandy glass wistfully, and set it on the desk.
“Mrs Jenkinson was more happenstance than design, but all great leaders depend on luck. The best of them make their own. Do you think she could teach your Miss de Bourgh a thing or two?”
“If she can teach Lydia, she could teach a mule. I see no reason Anne should be so difficult. She is not stupid.”
“Except that Miss de Bourgh hasalready hadthe woman in her house foryears, perhaps decades, yet she is unaccomplished.”
“That was because she did not try!”
“Very well, let us assume she is in a new situation, with a newfound burst of ambition. For the moment, let us hope for the best.”
Elizabeth nodded dubiously.
