“Lizzy and I, with Darcy’s assistance, will work on restocking the library, and Mary, you will accompany us to Golden Square, where we will visit the store of John Broadwood and Sons, where you may select grand pianofortes. Well, one for here and one for the expanded music room we will have at Longbourn.” Bennet grinned as his daughters looked at him in shock. “Did I not mention Longbourn will be renovated and that your uncle Frank is negotiating to purchase Netherfield Park on my behalf so I may return all the land to Longbourn that William Bennet caused to be sold? The house at Netherfield Park will become our dower house. In the meanwhile, I am leasing it, so your sisters and Anna will be there while the renovations occur.”
Mary had been overjoyed when a music master had been employed to help her develop her talent on the pianoforte. Now, she would have excellent instruments on which to play. The once-forgotten middle Bennet sister’s confidence was growing daily, especially as Jane and Lizzy included her in their circle of friendship.
“How long will we be here before heading to Rosings Park?” Elizabeth asked.
“Some weeks,” Bennet responded. “Lord Hilldale is happy to supervise the running of that estate until then. There is much to do here in London, so we need some time. I will bemeeting with the solicitors to finalise everything, and I need much time with Gardiner to make sure he has the access that he needs to manage our money.”
The butler announced dinner, and Bennet led his wife into the dining parlour, his three eldest daughters following.
The meal was excellent, and they all had praise for the cook Maddie had found. That night, the exhausted Bennets went to bed rather early. For the first time since Lydia’s birth, the Bennet parents shared a bed.
Chapter 23
The day after they arrived in London, the five Bennets travelled to Holder House for tea.
Mr Fenster showed the callers to the main drawing room, where the Carringtons received them. As Hadlock was familiar with those his parents and sisters had not met, he made the introductions.
As soon as that was accomplished, Hadlock’s family expressed their unreserved approbation for the engagement between their son and Jane.
Fanny had already become close to the Earl and Countess of Matlock, so when she met the Earl and Countess of Holder, she was not in awe of them, even if their house on Park Lane was the largest London home Fanny had ever seen.
At the same time, Bennet had tempered his sardonic, and often sarcastic, sense of humour. He had far more to worry about now than seeking amusement in the world around him.
When congratulations for the betrothal had been given, Lady Edith asked her guests to be seated.
“It is because of me that Jane met Jamey,” Priscilla stated proudly.
“You mean because of your inattention, Cilla,” Emily teased her younger sister. As all present knew how the two met, Emily’s jest caused some polite laughing.
“Well, I for one will be forever grateful for Priscilla running into me,” Jane said.
Hearing what Jane said caused Priscilla to stick her tongue out at her older sister.
“Now girls, are you not supposed to act like ladies?” Lady Edith admonished lightly. She turned to Mary. “Miss Mary, Jane tells us that you are an accomplished pianist. My girls love music too. Perhaps you would agree to accompany them to the music room? Mrs Heally, Emily’s and Priscilla’s companion-governess, is there. You will all be summoned for tea.”
“Thank you, Your Ladyship. I would enjoy seeing the music room with Ladies Emily and Priscilla,” Mary responded.
“We will soon be family, so please address me as Aunt Edith, and you may use my daughters’ names without the honorifics,” she allowed. She looked at the other Bennets. “That goes for Miss Elizabeth as well. Mrs Bennet, please call me Edith, and my husband is Paul.”
“I thank you, Edith. I am Fanny, and my spouse is Thomas,” she replied gratefully.
The fathers were soon calling one another ‘Holder’ and ‘Bennet’. The latter was happy to discover that the former was a lover of books like he was. Bennet accepted Holder’s suggestion that they go explore the library until summoned for tea.
“Jane and Jamey, have you discussed a wedding date yet?” Lady Edith enquired once the two fathers had left the drawing room.
“We have not,” Hadlock admitted. “Perhaps if Lizzy joins us, we may go look at the calendar in Father’s study?”
“It would be my pleasure to act as your chaperone,” Elizabeth agreed.
As soon as the three younger adults left the room, Lady Edith turned to Fanny. “I want you to know that Paul and I will not demand a large society wedding in London. I am sure that you and Jane will want her to marry from Longbourn, as itshould be.”
Fanny had been ready to accept such a demand if it had been what the Carringtons wanted. Instead, she was relieved that they had no intention of taking from Jane the bride’s prerogative of chusing where she marries. Her two eldest daughters had told Fanny that Jamey’s family did not put on airs and graces. From what Fanny had seen so far, her daughters’ report had been accurate.
“I am certain that would be Jane’s preference. The only thing I need to speak to Thomas about are the renovations we are about to undertake at Longbourn. We will think about that once our children chuse a date, and I have spoken to Thomas about the schedule for the construction,” Fanny replied. “We have Rosings Park now as well, but Jane does not have any ties to that estate, so I doubt she would chuse Kent for her wedding. I am putting the cart before the horse. We need to hear from Jane and Jamey before I begin to worry.”
Lady Edith noticed that Fanny was very different from what Jane had described to Jamey. She suspected that the stability of never losing her home had calmed her significantly.
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