She heard her father’s voice first. “Fanny will not allow her to stay any longer, not after Jane was injured again in her presence.”
“From what I heard you say, Elizabeth did not cause the injury. Both she and Jane insist it had been Jane's idea.”
“It does not matter whose idea it was. Fanny wants her gone. She refuses to let Jane to spend time with her and is constantly referring to her now as a changeling. She is making life intolerable here.”
“For God’s sake, are you unable to control your wife? I know she is difficult, but it is your place to resolve this.”
“Gardiner, I cannot be vigilant every second of the day. Things have deteriorated so much that I am afraid Fanny will actuallyinjure Elizabeth, as her anger has only worsened. I think she is expecting again, which is perhaps contributing to her uncertain emotional state,” Bennet replied tiredly.
"Bennet, just so we understand each other, if I take Elizabeth, it will be for good. She will not return to this house. I want it in writing,” Gardiner demanded
“Of course, whatever you say,” her father said. Elizabeth gasped at his easy acceptance, though she hid it well.
“I had my solicitor draft this agreement before I came. She will continue to receive one hundred pounds per annum in your lifetime. You owe it to her to give her at least that much.”
“I will do as you insist.”
“There is no going back on this once it is done.”
“Yes, yes, she is yours. Call her Elizabeth Gardiner if you like. Fanny would certainly prefer it.”
“Will you write to her?”
Nothing was said, and Elizabeth assumed her father had declined. He never wrote any letters that he did not absolutely have to.
“Sign the damned paper, Thomas. Elizabeth is now my daughter, not yours. You will never have a claim on her again. If she is not allowed here, then neither will I visit.”
“You will cut off your sister and her family?”
“You are allowing her to cast off her child. Elizabeth will not be welcomed back here; you have said as much. You cannot expect us to leave her in London to travel here. If you wish to send any of her sisters to London, you are welcome to do so. I will, ofcourse, not limit your ability to correspond with Elizabeth, but I will read any letters from you or your wife before giving them to Elizabeth.”
Bennet shrugged at this. It was unlikely he would expend the energy to write to Elizabeth once she left, but he might wish to one day. “I suppose you are correct that you could not leave her in town to come here. When will you be leaving?”
“As soon as Elizabeth is packed.”
With that, Elizabeth turned and ran toward her room, where Mrs. Hill was packing her things in a second trunk. Many things had already been packed, as Mrs. Bennet no longer wanted the two eldest girls to share a room and intended for Elizabeth to move into a small bedroom upstairs, near where the servants stayed.
“I am going to London to live with the Gardiners,” she informed the housekeeper when she entered the room.
“I know, Miss Lizzy.”
“Papa says I will not come back. Ever.”
“I know, dear.”
“Why does Mrs. Bennet hate me?”
Mrs. Hill shook her head. “I have never understood it, my dear. But you will be happy with the Gardiners. They are very good people. It will be better for you there.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Thank you, Mrs. Hill.”
It did not take much longer for the rest of Elizabeth’s things to be packed into two trunks. Mr. Hill carried them downstairs andhad them attached to the back of Mr. Gardiner’s carriage, and soon, the two were on their way south to London.
Chapter Two
SUMMER 1804
As Mr. Gardiner had promised when he took her from Longbourn, Elizabeth was treated as though she were the Gardiners' own daughter. Though Mrs. Gardiner was expecting her first child at the time, it did not change the fact that Elizabeth was now regarded as their eldest.
