“What are the chances?” Anne asked as they walked toward home.“Not only the times that we know of that there has been contact or almost meetings, the Bingleys are Bennet tenants, and Lizzy has been playing chess with her father via the post for a long time now!”
“It is fate, Anne,” George opined.“God works in mysterious ways.”
“As long as my…eh hmm… our Lizzy does not get hurt,” William added. He was glad that it was dark to cover his embarrassment at the slip, not catching the knowing look his parents shared.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Perry and Lady Rose arrived at Gardiner House before ten, after the note that they received requesting that they both attend the Bennets. After greetings, Jane explained why they had requested the meeting.“Papa has decided…” she started.
“With some prodding from his family,” Bennet interjected.
“Well, perhaps a little suggestion was made, possibly,” Jane allowed with raised eyebrows,“that it is time for the Bennets to purchase a townhouse…”
Lady Rose smiled and finished Jane’s thought for her,“You would like to know if my townhouse on Grosvenor Square is truly for sale?”
“Yes, Lady Rose,” Bennet responded,“Jane informed us that she believed you and Perry had discussed selling it.”
“Jane was correct, and if you want it after you see it, it is yours,” Lady Rose agreed.
“Thank you. Mayhap we will have time to view the house after we meet with our new family today,” Bennet returned.
“With all the revelations yesterday, did you inform Mama that we have chosen a date for the wedding, Papa?” Jane asked.
“You did mention a date, did you not? I am sorry, Janey, with everything that happened, my brain is a little addled, so I forgot; what date have you and Perry chosen?” Bennet asked, somewhat embarrassed that he had allowed something that important to slip his mind.
“We chose Monday, the sixteenth day of January, Papa, as you stipulated that I must be eighteen before we marry. On that day, I will be older than eighteen,” Jane challenged her father.
“I did say that, did I not? I have no objection to that date, do you, Tammy?” he asked his wife before giving final approval.
“No Thomas, I see no impediment to that date. Where do you want to marry from?” Tammy asked, knowing that with Perry’s standing in society, he may want to marry from Town.
“Wherever my betrothed wants to marry will be perfect for me. So long as I am marrying Jane, I care not where,” Perry gave his betrothed a look that reflected how besotted he was.
“I have always dreamt of marrying from Longbourn,” Jane offered her preference.
“Then it is settled, we will marry from your home, my beloved fiancée,” Perry said as he lifted her hands and kissed them. Just then the butler handed his master the morning papers.
Gardiner opened the paper and found the announcement of the engagement of the Duke of Bedford to Miss Jane Bennet of Longbourn. Lady Rose let a girl-like giggle escape.“My son does not let the grass grow under his feet, does he?” Bennet relayed how his soon to be son-in-law had the announcement ready in his pocket when he came to propose.
“Speaking of which, do you have time to discuss the settlement before the Fitzwilliams and Darcys arrive?” Perry asked, withdrawing a document from his pocket.“I would like Jane to be included if it is all the same to you, Bennet.”
“Why am I not surprised that you arrived armed with a draft settlement? No, I have no objection to Jane being present. In fact, I was about to say that I would like my wife with me as well,” Bennet responded and the four of them adjourned to Gardiner’s study.
Before Perry could open the document, Bennet held up his hand to gain the attention of the other three.“Tammy knows this, but Jane has a dowry that now stands at fifty thousand pounds thanks to my brother Gardiner, and she is also the owner of Netherfield Park.”
“Papa, that is far too much! I thought my dowry was half that amount. You did not give me Lizzy’s portion as well, did you? What about Netherfield for William or John?” Jane was concerned that she was getting too much to the detriment of her siblings.
“Your concern is admirable, but allthreeof my daughters have a similar amount. They all started at the point you mentioned, but your uncle has done very well for us. As far as Netherfield goes, do not forget that your brothers are determined to forge their own paths. William will be ordained in a few short years and John would like to become a barrister. James has Longbourn and Tom Bennington Fields, so that only leaves Netherfield. As my oldest daughter, it is yours,” Bennet laid out his reasoning, to which his wife had long agreed.“Both William and John have a legacy of twenty thousand pounds, well, that was what it was when I established it, though I am sure it too has grown, thanks to Edward.”
Perry placed the document into Bennet’s hands. As Bennet read, he let out a low whistle.“I knew you were wealthy, but I had no idea of the extent.”
“It is not something we flaunt,” Perry responded matter-of-factually.“With the two hundred and fifty thousand pounds I am settling on Jane, I have no need for her money or property. The final draft will state that whatever she brings to the marriage will remain under her sole control. There will be large portions settled on each daughter, and if we have more than one son, each will have an estate not part of the ducal entail and a large legacy as well.”
“Papa, I want you to sell Netherfield,” Jane was adamant.“I am sure that after so many years living as tenants, that the Bingleys would love to purchase it; I know they have been looking for an estate to purchase. I want none of the proceeds of the sale, whatever it is. I want it split between William, John, and Kitty.” Jane had hardened in both tone and resolution, which told her parents that she was firm in her decision and would not be dissuaded.
“That is very generous of you, my daughter,” Tammy was not surprised by Jane’s generosity to her siblings but touched, nonetheless.
“My dowry will be under my control, will it not?” Jane confirmed. Both Perry and her father nodded.“Then I want all the money from my dowry donated to Mama’s charitable foundation.”
