But it was Mrs. Gardiner who spoke. “The scarlet fever claimed James and Joan first, and then my poor little Jasper. Edward was so ill for so long before he succumbed. He changed his will, leaving the bulk of his fortune to Julia and I, and the business to my nephew, Mr. Franklin. He also set aside a small sum to be added to the money that was put aside for you girls by your grandfather.”
Mrs. Bennet sat up straighter. “What money? Mr. Bennet, you never told me there was any money from my father, besides my five thousand pounds. What is this about?”
Mr. Bennet rubbed at his temples and sighed. “I never much cared for your father, Fanny, though he has done more for our girls than I was ever able to. When Mary was born, you had already lost two boys, and we had only the three girls. He attempted to advise me against trying for any further children, though we… love one another too much.”
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged a look of mortification before turning their attention back to their father, who gave them a guilty smile.
“Your grandfather set aside funds for each of you, and for Mary – five thousand apiece. There was a fourth account established with five thousand pounds for you, my dear wife, and any additional children. He also funded the purchase of a parcel of land that added eight hundred pounds of revenue to Longbourn every year, with the stipulation that from my profits, fifty pounds be added to each of my three daughters’ portions each year, and the other six hundred and fifty to the funds set aside for my wife and other children. After twenty years of interest….”
Mrs. Bennet clapped her hands. “It must be a mighty fortune!”
Elizabeth attempted the math in her head, but she could hardly guess what this meant. Mrs. Gardiner cleared her throat. “With only one surviving child and a well-connected wife, my late husband generously added to those funds. Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary each have twenty thousand in the four percents, and the sum to be shared by Fanny and the younger girls is the same. There are stipulations, of course….”
“My girls have proper dowries!” Mrs. Bennet squealed and flapped her hands about. “But what about Kitty and Lydia – are they to share? Why do they not have twenty thousand apiece?”
“The idea was that that funds would remain in the four percents for several more years, until they are wed,” Mr. Phillips said. “Then, the sum shall be greater.”
Mrs. Bennet ignored him and continued to accost her husband. “And why did you never tell Jane? Mr. Bingley would not have gone away! And perhaps even that pompous Mr. Darcy might have fancied one of the girls! And Lizzy, your Mr. Wickham would not have chased after that insipid little Miss King – but he is to return, I hear! It is a fine thing you did not accept Mr. Collins, I daresay, for then you must go into mourning!”
Jane stood up and rested a hand on her mother’s arm. “Mamma, think of what you are saying. You would not wish Mr. Bingley or any other man to want me only for my fortune, surely. Nor for Lizzy to be pursued for anything other than true love.”
“And why should I not? You might have been married already, Jane! But your wicked father wished to keep it all a secret, some horrid lark of his, and now you are practically a spinster with your fortune and inheritance! Oh, but you must go to London! That is how we will find you a grand match.Madeline, can you not take the girls back to London with you? We will find matches for all of them!”
“You will do no such thing,” Mr. Bennet groaned. “Fanny, is it not enough that you and our girls will not be in the hedgerows?”
Mrs. Bennet looked at them all as if everybody but herself had run mad. “They might have had husbands!”
Elizabeth shared a look of mortification with Jane. She hardly knew what to think of the news of their fortune, but she certainly had very decided opinions about using her new wealth to catch a man. “Mamma, I have no wish to make myself bait for a fortune hunter.”
“Nor I,” Jane shyly agreed.
“And I am afraid a visit to London is quite impossible at present,” Mrs. Gardiner said apologetically. “I am hoping to sell the house on Gracechurch Street in the new year. There are too many painful memories, and Julia’s health is not what it once was. We wish for country air, or perhaps a cottage by the seaside.”
Mrs. Bennet hurled herself backward in her chair and cried out for her smelling salts. “You are all most perversely determined to deny me any satisfaction in this happy news! Well, if you will not hear me out, I shall go and share the good news at Purvis Lodge.”
Despite his threats, Mr. Bennet could not deter his wife from her mission, and perhaps he took pity on his daughters, who wished their mother anywhere else as they pondered his revelation.
When Mrs. Bennet had gone, Mr. Bennet and Mr. Phillips retreated to the study for more brandy. Left with their aunt, Jane and Elizabeth stared at one another in amazement.
“I wonder if itwouldhave made a difference with Mr. Bingley,” Jane said in a choked voice. She gave a little sob and then fled the room.
Chapter Two
Hertfordshire
Mrs. Jennings hosted a dinner party for the Dashwoods and Bennets at Purvis Lodge on Christmas Eve. They dined at an early hour, and after the meal several other local families and officers joined them for cards and dancing.
Marianne did not believe for an instant that Elizabeth was truly so indifferent to Lieutenant Wickham – not until she actually saw them together. Elizabeth was the picture of nonchalance, and Marianne was appalled. Mr. Wickham was one of the handsomest men Marianne had ever seen, just as Elizabeth had once claimed in one of her letters, and Elizabeth looked utterly bored in his company.
Marianne moved that way, relishing her own curiosity, and she was introduced to the dashing officer. “My friend has just been regaling me with the tale of his narrow escape from Miss King’s irate uncle in Liverpool,” Elizabeth drawled. “It is shocking that he actually fired his pistol at you, sir – imagine what he might have done if his niece had twice the fortune.”
Marianne began to understand Elizabeth’s insouciance. She had heard from Mrs. Jennings of Elizabeth and her sisters’ secret inheritance, and it seemed her cousin now considered her charming beau a fortune hunter. Marianne studied the pair for any sign of true attraction between them. “I am surprised you are not dancing,” she said.
“I may stand up with you or Elinor, in a little while,” Elizabeth said with a shrug.
“Miss Elizabeth is determined to break my heart,” Mr. Wickham said, resting a hand on his chest. “She has been kinder to you, Miss Marianne, though I cannot blame her, for you radiate lively charm.”
Marianne smiled. After so many weeks of weeping for Willoughby, Mrs. Jennings had said that Marianne would lose her looks, which her vanity could not abide. “It is Christmas Eve – we ought to all be in good cheer!”
