Jane's Estate (The Bennets' Fortune #1)

Chapter 1

From her earliest memories, Jane Bennet had been taught one thing by her mother. Technically, she had been taught many things, such as reading, arithmetic, accounts, sewing, and embroidery, but it was all in service to the one thing that was of the utmost importance.

Jane must enhance her natural beauty as much as possible and marry a man who was well off enough that he could take care of her family should her father unexpectedly pass away at an early age.

Jane didn’t really understand this until she was in her early teen years, but she was a kind person and a good daughter, and she truly tried to do as her mother asked.

She spent a great deal of time working on her clothing, embroidering ribbons, and adjusting the fit to enhance her figure as much as possible without making her gowns too revealing. She learned as many fashionable ways to style her hair as she could find.

Jane even went so far as to consult the local apothecary about a recipe for facial cream that would help maintain her complexion. He gave her the recipe, but at the same time told her firmly that she had no need for such a thing. Despite his warning, obedient Jane made the cream and applied it diligently every morning and night.

Jane’s favorite person in the world was her next younger sister, Elizabeth, who was two years younger. Though she eventually had three additional sisters, Elizabeth was by far the easiest to talk to and the most fun to be around.

When they were children, Elizabeth was an instigator, always leading Jane into adventures. As they entered adulthood, and Jane began to attend local social events, Elizabeth gave Jane courage to face the responsibility her mother had placed on her shoulders.

There were three additional sisters in the Bennet family, but they were so much younger than Jane that she thought of them as children who needed her help rather than playmates and friends. They were Mary, who was four years younger than Jane, Kitty who was a year behind Mary, and Lydia who was two further years behind.

When Jane was ten years old, something occurred that changed her life forever. Mrs. Bennet’s brother, Mr. Edward Gardiner, had been in London for most of Jane’s life as he owned a warehouse in Cheapside. By the time Jane turned ten years old, he had become successful enough that he could afford a wife.

In 1799, Uncle Gardiner married Madeleine Brooks who was also a tradesman’s daughter. Although her family had originally come from Derbyshire, they had been established in London for five years or more.

Aunt Gardiner took an immediate liking for her new nieces, especially the older two. At the time of her marriage, she was only eighteen years old, making her a mere eight years older than Jane. As Jane approached the age of her coming out, Aunt Gardiner became a role model for the young lady, and she taught Jane many manners and standards of behavior that her mother had neglected to mention.

Thus, Jane’s behavior in society was very different from her mother’s. She was universally polite and kind. She knew when to hold her tongue and what subjects were not suitable for which company. Even though she did occasionally flirt, at the behest of her mother, she was very gentle and subtle with it.

At age sixteen, while visiting Aunt Gardiner in London, Jane managed to attract the attention of an older gentleman. He was in his mid-thirties. As he had recently become rather successful in his business, he was looking for a wife so that he could have sons to carry on his legacy.

He called on her and brought her flowers and small gifts. He even wrote a poem for her. Yet, just as he was on the cusp of proposing, he stopped appearing at Uncle Gardiner’s home. When she next heard of him, he was engaged to another lady who was seven years older than Jane.

A similar thing happened twice when she was seventeen, once in London and once in their hometown of Meryton. Each time, Jane had been certain she would finally be able to fulfill her mother’s greatest desire, but before that happened, the man in question found a different lady to marry.

Early in the year 1807, just after she turned eighteen years of age, Jane had yet another suitor. He was a pleasant young man who leased a nearby manor house named Netherfield.

The young man who leased it was a businessman from London by the name of Mr. Thompson. He was reasonably well off, but he had decided to spend the winter in the country, because he was tired of the crowds in the city.

Mr. Thompson got along well with all his neighbors, and he made many friends, but much of his time and thought was taken up with courting Jane, who was quickly on her way to falling in love with him. For Jane, it was a delightful time, for despite her previous courtships, she had never experienced falling in love.

That winter, however, tragedy struck. A flu epidemic swept through the country. It was so virulent that death claimed almost a tenth of its victims. The young man at Netherfield was felled by this vicious enemy. As were Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.

At first, the Bennet sisters were simply overwhelmed by their grief at their parents’ death as well as the enormous amount of illness and suffering surrounding them. Much of the work of notifying relatives and taking care of legal and financial matters fell upon the shoulders of Aunt and Uncle Phillips.

Mrs. Phillips was Mrs. Bennet’s sister, and Mr. Phillips was one of two solicitors in Meryton. He had handled all of Mr. Bennet’s legal matters since before Mr. Bennet married and was very familiar with Mr. Bennet’s will.

The estate of Longbourn where the Bennet family lived had an entail on it, established by Mr. Bennet’s great-grandfather. According to the entail Longbourn could not be broken up and sold, nor could it be mortgaged. Additionally, it could only be inherited by male heirs of the family, though they did not have to be descended from the male line.

The only known male member of the Bennet family was a man named Mr. Collins, who Mr. Bennet had always claimed was an intemperate and illiterate man. His last known address was in Kent, though no one knew how he supported himself.

Mr. Phillips sent several letters to Mr. Collins, but the letters were returned citing that the recipient did not accept them. After three attempts, he sent an express, hoping that a letter delivered in person would be accepted. This time he got an answer.

Mr. Collins and Mr. Collins’ son had died the previous year from smallpox.

Mr. Phillips hired an investigator from London to search for any unknown male descendants of the Bennet family, but after three months it was determined that none existed. Thus, the entail on Longbourn was ended.

When Mr. Bennet made his will, the entail hung heavy over his head, and he was reluctant to include any provisions for what would take place should it end before he died. Mr. Phillips, however, was an excellent solicitor who made a habit of legally covering all eventualities, and he convinced Mr. Bennet to name an heir.

Bennet did name an heir, and at the behest of Mr. Phillips also named a guardian of said heir should they be underage. The guardian was originally intended to be Mr. Phillips, but he declined. Instead, the guardian named in the will was Mr. Gardiner. Mr. Phillips did accept the position of backup guardian should Mr. Gardiner not be available.

The heir of Longbourn was Jane Bennet.