Prologue #4
After he held him for a few minutes and had his fill of looking at his oldest son, he handed the sleeping babe back to his mother, who then passed their younger son to him. He moved the blanket aside to gaze on him as well. He counted ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes on each of his newborn sons.
“What should we name them, Thomas?” asked the beaming, albeit very sore, mother.
“If you are in agreement, Fanny, I suggest that we name the older twin Thomas Edward. My father was named Thomas. Edward is for our brother Gardiner. We should call him Tom, so he and I do not both respond when someone calls Thomas. For the younger son, I suggest James Oliver. James for your late father and Oliver for my late younger brother.”
“Oh Thomas, I think those are fine names for our sons. Tom sounds well, and I am sure Edward will be overjoyed as well.” Fanny nodded with a radiant smile as she looked from him down at their sons.
“Who should we ask to be their godparents?” Bennet looked at each son to make sure they were still there, then again met the eyes of his Fanny.
“I think we should ask Reggie, Elaine, and Edward to be Tom’s godparents; for James’s how about Frank, Hattie, and Maddie?” She offered.
“You could not have suggested better people, my love; I agree with you completely,” Bennet stated, marvelling at how they were again in perfect harmony.
Now the important decisions had been made, he was transfixed, staring at one of his sons as he was being fed by his mother. It was his heir, Tom; once he was sated, his mother began feeding his brother. Bennet held his heir proudly.
He held Tom over his shoulder and patted his back until he gave a soft burp. Then Bennet moved him to the crook of his arm; the baby squirmed and cooed as Bennet rubbed his tiny belly.
Once Fanny had fed his brother, Bennet replaced Tom in his cradle and picked up his second son, James, and did the same as he had with Tom. This time, the babe merely regarded his father with his bright blue eyes.
The older twin had Lizzy’s colouring—a darker complexion, a full head of dark hair, and blue eyes, although his eye colour might change. Like his older sister, he seemed to be very active.
The younger babe had Jane’s colouring. He had a tuft of blonde hair, not that there was much of it, and deep blue eyes. Even now as a newly born babe, Bennet imagined he seemed to possess her serenity as well, something that many of the Gardiners had.
Bennet’s heart swelled as he looked adoringly on his sons.
He envisioned all he would have to do to secure their futures and those of the rest of his family.
Longbourn was safe now. Due to the birth of an heir, his family had a future at his estate.
The timely answer to both of their prayers meant—in ten short years—the end of the dreaded entail.
The Bennet line at Longbourn would not end with him!
As he continued to lovingly look at his newborn sons, Thomas Bennet had an epiphany. That he must change hit him like a bolt of lightning. Not just a few changes would do; he would have to change many things, some small and some greater, equating to major changes in how he led his life.
He vowed to himself and to God Almighty, he would do everything in his power to improve his family’s fortunes and change his ways.
He would live up to the promises he made when he prayed for a son.
He would also live up to the vow he made to his late father-in-law when he was granted his wife’s hand.
He would no longer be indolent; he would no longer hide from Fanny in his study. His responsibilities and his duties as husband, father, and the head of the family would be paramount. He would work hard every day and do everything in his power to ensure a good life for his family.
On the morrow, he would contact his brother Edward about investing with him, as he had been begged to do years ago. Edward would help him to build wealth for his sons and to become the means of securing good men for his beloved daughters by ensuring they had reasonable dowries.
He would not squander the gift God had bestowed on them in answer to his prayers. He would again make the name Bennet an example to the neighbourhood, as it had been in the past. He would restore Longbourn to its former glory and realise the dreams he had once hoped to achieve.
Bennet turned to his wife, who was looking at him with all the love he had thought he had lost due to his treatment of her. He beamed at her and returned a look of pure adoration and love.
“My dear Fanny, look at what you have done. You have saved us from the entail and completed our family,” Bennet said with the deepest reverence and love.
He then reached over and began to drop kisses over her face.
“Fanny, how I love my beautiful, vivacious wife! You have done very well indeed. I am ashamed of the way I have treated you these last years, and I swear to you that I will become the man you deserve again, the one you married. I am so proud of you, my love, and I will endeavour to be a husband and father both you and my family will be proud of.”
“Thomas, I should apologise as well. Instead of using reason and trying to assist you, I chased you into your study with my nerves and nonsensical complaints. I am no longer that woman; I vow to be the best wife and mother in the future.” Both agreed each of them was at fault, then sealed their new understanding with kisses, vowing to look to the future, and not to the past.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The ever-present worry about the entail which had changed Fanny Bennet’s persona in many ways was gone in an instant. Her nightmare of being thrown out into the hedgerows by the Collinses and her concerns for the future had dissipated after the hours of intense labour that proved worth the pain.
The subject often spoken of in Sunday sermons, that many of life’s greatest trials bring the greatest rewards, proved true.
She would no longer be ashamed of failing in her duty to her husband and to Longbourn—the duty of providing an heir.
She felt a weight akin to a millstone tied around her neck lift, at long last, from her.
Fanny Bennet intended to keep the promises she made to God before He gifted her with the strength to birth her sons.
Her attacks of nerves would be a thing of the past, and the shouts of “Hill! My salts!” would never again be heard in the halls of Longbourn, unless a peer of the realm proposed to one of her girls, that is—but in that she would not be acting differently from any other woman.
Her gossiping days, her boastful ways, and her attempts to outdo her friends would set aside.
She would convince her older sister Hattie, now Mrs. Phillips, to stop gossiping as well.
She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the new understanding between herself and her husband would not be a fleeting fancy.
Their family and home were safe, and their future was bright. She was finally free to be the wife and mother she always wished to be, the one she knew she should be.
Fanny felt contentment that she had not experienced since her wedding day when all was new and possible.
She smiled warmly, knowing her family would be taking a new path, a path where they would all be happy.
She would no longer question her future.
She once again felt like the Fanny Gardiner who married her beloved Thomas Bennet.
Thomas Bennet grew even firmer in his resolve to become the best father, the best husband, and the best provider. He repeated his oath that he would do whatever he must to solve the problems caused by his indolence and self-imposed exile.
He vowed to make sure each and every day his Fanny would know he loved, respected, and appreciated her. He would cease making jokes at her expense; if they were to laugh, they would laugh together. Bennet’s bearing was stronger and more evident; there was no mistaking the resolve in his mien.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
With the passage of time subsequent to the birth of the twins, the Bennets’ friends and acquaintances living in and near Meryton were amazed by the obvious changes taking place in Longbourn’s family.
The most notable changes were in Thomas and Fanny Bennet.
Ever since they had been blessed with the twin boys, the most striking change was the glow of love and mutual respect emanating from them.
Many found themselves blushing when they were in the couple’s presence, as they were always whispering together and laughing.
Gone were Fanny’s gossiping and boastful ways—and no one ever heard her complain about her nerves again.
Thomas Bennet stopped making sport of his wife, as he had vowed he would. He ceased the sarcastic and sardonic comments made at the expense of his wife and his neighbours. He was no longer indolent or indifferent to the needs of his tenants.
Rather than burying himself in his study with his books and port, Bennet took an active role in managing his estate. He was often seen out and about in his fields, more so than many of the masters considered the best in Hertfordshire. Unbeknownst to Bennet, he soon became known as one of them.
To their very welcome surprise and comfort, he saw to his tenants’ needs. He offered immediate responses and aid to them when requested, as expected of an attentive estate owner.
Bennet worked assiduously to provide for his family. He interacted with his girls, assigning and helping them with small tasks appropriate for their age. Even in their early years, the boys were brought along with him when he rode out to check that the tenants’ concerns were being addressed.