Page 72
The staff were pleased when they heard the news, even more so when told they would be having wine with their evening meal. There were many toasts to Sir Edward and the house was filled with laughter. Young Edward had been shocked but rallied quickly. Elizabeth could see him mentally practicing his title. He was caught by his father but both just laughed. His father did warn him that his social status would change and again, young Edward did not seem unhappy at the prospect.
--
“I would like to continue to maintain your ledgers for you Uncle Sir Edward.”
Her uncle obligingly laughed.
“Right then, you only had the chance to say that once, and it is now done with.”
“Only the third day and already worried about your dignity. Fine, spoil my fun. Going back to my request, what say you?”
“A compromise. I would like young Edward to make an attempt, in pencil, and then I would like you to review them, correcting any mistakes. If you explain them to me, I will sit with Edward and show him the errors.”
Despite a decade of experience and competence, they both knew that young Edward would not be the best of students if Elizabeth taught him herself. He was a kind young man, would always be her cousin, but he was staunch in his beliefs that women had no place in business. She nodded, it was best for all.
“Are you going to maintain Longbourn’s ledgers?”
“I had not thought about it. Do you really think father would have the gall to send Mary with the ledgers after all but banishing me?”
“What do you think?”
Mr. Bennet had not maintained the ledgers for more than 10 years. It was not a complicated task, it took patience and concentration, abilities Mr. Bennet had in abundance, just not with arithmetic.
“Probably not at first, but he may send them next month if he is struggling.”
“Mary could not assist him?”
“She understands when I explain them to her, but she just does not get it. I have sat with her, but it is like me with drawing. Arithmetic is not her strength.”
Elizabeth looked over at her uncle, her teeth gnawing at her bottom lip.
“May I ask you a personal question Uncle?”
“You may ask, although I may choose not to answer.”
“I do not need to know the amounts but did Aunt Madeline have a dowry?”
“What an interesting question. Yes she did, and I do not mind telling you that it was £2,500. What prompted this question.”
“Dowries for my sisters.”
Elizabeth watched as a myriad of emotions flashed across her uncle’s face.
“Explain to me please what you are thinking?”
“To be honest uncle, my thoughts are not particularly advanced. This will be more of a discussion rather than me answering questions. I have my stake in your business, held in trust by you. This gives me an income each year and I have been thinking about sharing my good fortune with my sisters.”
“Do you think they deserve such a generous gift?”
“This is why I am talking to you. Regardless of the outcome of this discussion I will set aside some money for Mary. But I have questions and doubts about the other three.”
“Share your doubts please.”
“My two youngest sisters have turned into, I am not sure what they have turned into, but I do not like it. But I am acutely aware that they have received no parenting on behaving appropriately. Jane, Mary and myself all spent time with you and Aunt Madeline when you only had young Edward. The teaching we received has stood us in good stead. And although the lengthy visits stopped as your family expanded, I was still fortunate to spend time every year until she was taken from us. Kitty and Lydia are suffering from lack of teaching and involvement from my parents. Yes, they are ill-mannered young women but it is not all their fault.”
“And Jane?”
Elizabeth sat in silence for several moments.
