Romantic Fancies (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Prologue

Mr. Bennet sat back in his chair with a deep sigh.

He had gone through the numbers again and again, hoping to find errors in his calculations, but to no avail.

Poor weather conditions were part of the problem; the loss of two of his tenant families was another part.

And, of course, his own lack of control over the family spending habits had contributed as well.

The fact was that Longbourn was operating at a loss, and a significant one at that.

There were no savings to get the estate through the winter, and he could not possibly go to Henry Gardiner for a loan yet again.

Gardiner had already loaned Mr. Bennet money twice, and those loans had yet to be repaid.

In addition, the Gardiners had hosted Jane for the past month and planned to do so until Christmas.

And, of course, the man had his own family to feed.

There was only one thing to do.