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Once Mrs. Philips had sipped from a fresh cup of tea she smiled at the two Bennets.

“I believe my brother will live. He has survived the first day without infection. But it is more than that. Edward would have died, and quickly, if there had not been a military surgeon passing as the accident happened. It was he that tightened two belts on his legs to stem the flow of blood. Without that act he would have bled to death within minutes. He performed the amputations at the hospital, sadly he has much experience of the procedure, and Edward is now recovering.”

She paused and took another mouthful of tea. Her husband took up the tale.

“He is still unconscious but the attendants were optimistic he will survive. That being said, there will be a long recovery period. And of course he will need to become accustomed, if possible, to wooden legs.”

At that moment the family was just happy that the prognosis was hopeful. Elizabeth stood.

“I am going to tell the children the news. I will be careful not to give false hope. Eddie is going to attend the service with us.”

She stopped for a moment.

“I will ask him if he wishes to be known as Edward from now on. Sadly his childhood is over.”

“That is a good idea Lizzie. Edward Gardiner the younger will represent his father at the funeral and committal of his mother.”

An hour later young Edward Gardiner took his first steps as a man. He was still young, not yet grown into his body, but he walked behind his mother’s coffin, his two uncles each accompanying his aunt and cousin. The church was at least half full, the Gardiners both well-known and well liked. After the men had attended the burial the Gardiner townhouse ebbed and flowed for the next two hours as people came to pay their respects. By 3.00 in the afternoon the door was closed and the family could finally relax. Elizabeth and her aunt spent time with the younger children giving them an age appropriate version of the day’s events. Finally it was dinner time and young Edward joined them.

“You handled yourself well today Edward. How are you feeling?”

They watched the young man, barely into his teenage years, ponder his uncle’s question.

“I do not know.”

Nobody interrupted, they let him consider his feelings.

“Angry, numb, grateful, sad, parts of me feel all of that. But there is an understanding as well, how the future is going to play out. I recall the way other pupils, classmates of mine, have dealt with similar situations. Right now I am glad that you are here, and that so many people had nice things to say about Mama. At the same time I am angry at the accident, grateful that Papa has survived, and just.”

He paused.

“Part of me feels empty, numb like I said. Is this normal?”

Mr. Bennet patted him on the hand.

“That is a very articulate way of expressing your feelings. I do not know if it is normal but it is exactly how I felt when I received the news of the death of my family due to scarlet fever those many years ago. I too had no opportunity to say goodbye, the letter notifying me of their death arrived the morning after I first received the news that they were ill.”

“Does the feeling change?”

“Yes, it does. The next month will seem the longest, and will be toughest. But once you are back at school and distracted then the raw edges of your feelings and emotions will start to dull.”

The following morning Mr. Bennet returned to Longbourn, able to pass on the good news of the continued recovery of Mrs. Bennet’s brother. Mr. and Mrs. Philips crossed the Thames and spent part of the day with Mr. Gardiner. It was his sister that broke the news to him of the death of his wife. Elizabeth never asked about this day, the grief of her uncle was only ever known to his sister and her husband. Once her father had started back to Hertfordshire Elizabeth sent a note to the chief clerk at Gardiner Import/Export, a Mr. Smith, asking him to Gracechurch Street. He arrived immediately after lunch. They met in the parlour, a maid sitting beside the door, chaperoning but not eavesdropping.

“Thank you for coming today Mr. Smith. Were most of the staff able to attend the service yesterday?”

He nodded.

“Yes Miss. All the staff that knew Mrs. Gardiner were in attendance.”

“How can the family help in running the business until Mr. Gardiner is recovered enough to return to work?”

“Help?”

“When Mr. Gardiner returns here, I expect him to still need significant convalescent time. For example I have seen an injured sailor with one wooden leg but I have not seen anyone with two. Will Mr. Gardiner be able to walk? I am not asking you expecting you to answer, rather it is something that will have to be faced. If Mr. Gardiner is in hospital for the next two or three weeks and then housebound for the next two or three months, what becomes of the business?”

It was clear from Smith’s expression that he had not contemplated Mr. Gardiner being absent from the business for so long. She kept quiet and gave him a moment to gather his thoughts.

“It will be difficult.”