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He looked at Elizabeth and she nodded.

“Bennet left the next day and the Philips returned a week after the accident, which was three days ago. You have told your parents that you are staying at Gracechurch Street for the foreseeable future. And they have agreed to this.”

Another look seeking confirmation and another nod in response.

“Michael does not understand what has happened and although he has been told his mother is dead he is too young to process this. Rebecca and Angela have also been told and in your words ‘understand but do not really understand how things will change’. Finally Edward has had to grow up in a hurry and has been a help around the house, particularly in entertaining the children.”

“He is sad but classmates and other pupils at his school have faced similar adversity. He is modelling his behaviour on those examples. I will escort him here tomorrow morning but will then step out for half an hour and let the two of you reconnect. You will have privacy for your grief and Edward will be more likely to share his thoughts and be open to answering your questions if I am not here.”

Elizabeth’s hand was patted in acknowledgment of her comments, and of the plan.

“The house is running smoothly. The housekeeper and the cook know what they are doing, as does the children’s nurse. Perhaps the best thing I can say about myself is that I know what I do not know, and am not afraid of asking and learning from Mrs. Brewer.”

“You are understating your own contribution I am sure but I know you, and so we will move past that. The final thing I want to confirm is what is happening at the business. You spoke to Mr. Smith seven days ago?”

Elizabeth paused and checked the dates in her head.

“No it was the day after the funeral, so eight days ago.”

Mr. Gardiner nodded but Elizabeth could see the faraway look in his eyes and so waited for him to think about everything she had told him, and how this would impact his business. His sigh was not a good sign.

“Lizzie, I am going to have to explain to you about my business. In fact it does not apply to just my business but to all the trading and import/export businesses.”

She waited as Mr. Gardiner winced in pain before resettling.

“Owners do not trust their employees with financial information. Knowing some of that information is inevitable as part of their job but it is minimised as much as possible.”

“Why?”

“Hold your questions please Lizzie, I will explain.”

“People are always looking for an advantage. If I am successful then someone else is not, and they may try to find out or even steal the information they need to compete with me. And that includes bribing or even suborning my staff.”

Elizabeth thought about Mr. Smith.

“James Smith is an excellent clerk and I was happy to promote him to chief clerk. But that does not mean that I trust him with the detailed financial information of the business. He has a rough idea, but not the detail.”

Mr. Gardiner looked over fondly at his niece and smiled at her.

“Why do you think I encouraged you to ask questions when you were so young. I am not an ogre of a mill owner from the north employing children. That you excelled at arithmetic was a boon to me. It aided me immeasurably and every subsequent quarter you have grasped more aspects and have helped me with both contracts and reviewing manifests. You did not realise that I was sharing information with you that I do not share with anyone else.”

He looked searchingly at her to the extent that Elizabeth flushed under the scrutiny.

“Would you be prepared to go to my office for me, both to pass on instructions and to gather any documents I need?”

Elizabeth smiled widely.

“Yes, Uncle. Of course I would be prepared to do that for you. I must admit even before I left Longbourn I presumed that I would need to assist you until you made a recovery. I did not realise that certain information was so closely controlled.”

“Will you bring writing supplies tomorrow please? Once I have spoken to Edward then I will write some notes of instruction and explain about the information I would like you to gather.”

Elizabeth’s smile was wide and genuine. She had the chance to really assist her uncle.

Chapter 3

The middle month of the summer flew by. Every single day seemed to have tens of things for Elizabeth to learn, with the knowledge that there would be a completely new list the next day. There were issues to be resolved on a near daily basis but Gardiner Import/Export stabilised, the outcome that they all dreamed about. In amongst the hard work there were moments of levity, not least the conversation with Elizabeth’s uncle and cousin about her name, and the concerns of her father. Her uncle understood at once, although it took his son quite a while longer.

“Edward, think of cousin Lizzie having two identities. At home she is Miss Elizabeth Bennet but when she is down at the office or at the warehouse she is Miss Rose Gardiner.”