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“A lot will depend on the news from Guy’s. The biggest cause of death is infection. If Gardiner has survived this first day and night and there is no sign of infection then I will return to Longbourn on the morrow. Once Gardiner is back here then I will return with your mother, although we will likely only stay one night. As soon as he is able my brother Gardiner will need to speak to Philips about how to handle his business. Yesterday you said you would assist.”

The last was a statement yet Elizabeth could hear the question.

“I will go to the office tomorrow. I know Mr. Smith the chief clerk and will ask him to give me his assessment of the situation.”

Mr. Bennet nodded, but Elizabeth waited for the follow up questions.

“We have to talk about your situation Lizzie.”

It was Elizabeth’s turn to hold her breath.

“I am a gentleman and therefore you are the daughter of a gentleman. Your mother is the daughter of a solicitor, your grandfather the man your Uncle Philips took over from upon his death. A solicitor is not classed, by society, as a gentleman. I knew this when I married your mother, but as I had no expectation of inheriting Longbourn it did not matter to me. After the scarlet fever epidemic wiped out my family I was thrust unwillingly into the role of Master of Longbourn, a role you have ably assisted me in for the last six years. We will return to that issue anon. The gentry do not participate in trade. Which in our immediate circumstance means that you cannot participate in Gardiner’s business.”

He held up his hand to forestall his daughter’s interruption.

“I know you, your ability, your inclination and your heart. We both know that you will assist Gardiner in every way possible. Starting tomorrow when you meet Mr. Smith at your uncle’s office you should request to be known as Miss Gardiner, rather than Miss Bennet. In all correspondence with your mother and your two youngest sisters you should only record that you are helping in the house. I will leave it to your own discretion as to whether you inform Jane or Mary of the truth. This is important to your future, and to a degree the future of your sisters. It will limit your choices in the years to come if you have the ‘stench of trade’ upon you.”

“Really Papa! The stench of trade, is that what you think of Uncles Philips and Gardiner.”

“Of course not, I would hope you know me better than that.”

Elizabeth flushed at the rebuke and offered her apology.

“I understand Lizzie, I do. There was a reason I said such a pejorative phrase. Because that is how many people within the gentry think and treat people who work for a living. Most will not be so rude as to say it out loud, although a few do, but it colours their treatment of individuals and families. Even in sleepy quiet Meryton some members of the landowning families use the phrase. When Mr. Lucas was knighted and became Sir William Lucas he bought the small estate that is Lucas Lodge. Your mother has heard unkind comments about how they need to do more than buy an estate to escape the taint of trade. It is a deep grained prejudice.

“You know full well both of the following facts. Your mother is obsessed with marrying all five of you off as soon as possible. And the reason that she worries about this is because neither of your parents have done right by any of you when it comes to setting aside dowries. It is important that your generous and Christian gesture to the Gardiners does not add another layer of impediment to your future.”

Elizabeth inclined her head to acknowledge the request.

“What do you suggest?”

“Like I said, you are now Miss Gardiner. Your maternal grandfather was the only child in the family to survive to adulthood. We can invent a brother, your Uncle Gardiner’s own uncle, you are the grandchild of this fictitious brother. Nobody else is alive, you are a distant cousin rather than a niece. And why not use your middle name rather than your own; Miss Rose Gardiner.”

Elizabeth considered all this but then a thought struck her.

“You do not expect me to return to Longbourn?”

Her father reached over and grasped her hand.

“Do I hope that you return? Of course I do, with all my heart. But you are a very clever young woman with a huge heart. What can we offer you in Hertfordshire? A small confined society where you will never get the opportunity to spread your wings. These circumstances are tragic and I would not wish them upon my worst enemy but you will thrive here, as much as any woman can in our society.”

Elizabeth sat stunned at her father’s speech. But it felt right, in a way that she would be incapable of articulating.

“All I ask of you is that you continue to manage the ledgers for me. As an incentive I will send one of your sisters, for two weeks after the end of each quarter. It will most likely be Mary but I will try and pry Jane free from your mother’s grasp on occasion as well. If possible they will alternate visits. They will bring the ledgers for updating and bring back any instructions. Will you continue to do that for your family?”

It was only many quarters later that Elizabeth revisited this emotionally manipulative conversation but at the time she agreed without hesitation. She voiced a final thought and question.

“May I inquire when you considered all this? It does not seem the work of a moment.”

“During the carriage ride Lizzie. There was little conversation, understandably, so my mind replayed the events of the morning. It started with your determination to assist the Gardiners. From there the various threads swirled in my mind until they settled as I have discussed this morning. As we left Longbourn I had not thought of the topics of our discussion. But four hours let me piece it together within my own mind.”

Elizabeth nodded, thinking back over the conversation. There was nothing unknown, it was just the way her father had explained everything, and connected them. There musings were interrupted by the return of the Philips’.

“It is nothing short of a miracle!”

Aunt Philips had burst into the dining room and this was her first exclamation.

“Martha, calm yourself. Let me get you a cup of tea and we will explain to Bennet and Lizzie.”