Prologue #2
“You belong to your husband now,” Gardiner reminded his youngest. “You remember your vow of obedience, do you not? You are to be at Longbourn within the hour, and he will not send the carriage for you. I will take you in the gig, but we need to leave soon.”
Fanny was reeling. Nothing was like she imagined it would be. This was all Hattie’s fault! She should have known it was a bad idea.
The fact that even if her sister had advised Fanny against compromising Mr Bennet, she would not have paid any heed, was neither here nor there. She ignored that inconvenient truth as Fanny looked to lay blame everywhere except where it belonged: with herself.
While Fanny collected the few items not already moved to Longbourn, the two Gardiner men and the Phillipses returned to the enlarged room.
It was empty except for a manservant and a maid who were starting to clear all of the practically untouched food.
Gardiner was certain that the talk of a compromise had been confirmed.
It would make living in Meryton that much harder.
“This,” Phillips indicated the empty room with his hand, “is the price of you assisting Fanny in her dishonourable endeavour. Had you not felt the quickening a sennight past, I would have ordered you out of my house.”
The depth of her mistake hit Hattie like a runaway cart.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Until she walked into Longbourn’s manor house, Fanny had tried to tell herself things would not be as bad as her father and Edward made them out to be. That hope proved fruitless in short order. On entering her new home, Mr Bennet introduced her to the Hills, the butler and housekeeper.
“Mrs Hill has filled many of the functions of the estate’s mistress since my mother joined my father in heaven.
She will continue to do so. You are not to interfere with her duties or make any demands on the staff and servants here.
You will not have your own maid. Rather, one of the upstairs maids will assist you if and when she has time.
If you cannot live by these and other rules in this house, I will be more than happy to move you into a pensioner’s cottage,” Bennet stated in monotone. “Do you understand me?”
All Fanny could do was to nod. Now, too late, she realised that compromising Mr Bennet was not a good decision.
The housekeeper led the master’s new wife to the second floor, where the guest chambers were located. She opened a door revealing a bedchamber where the lady’s trunks, which had arrived during the wedding, were located. Without a word, Mrs Hill took her leave.
Fanny understood that the unpacking of her trunks would be for her to do without assistance. The chamber was not enormous, but neither was it very small. The bed was a four-poster, and the mattress and pillows were all soft.
At least, her husband was not forcing her to sleep on the floor. Suddenly, it hit her that this level of comfort was as much for him as for herself.
Hattie explained what Fanny was to expect in the marriage bed and how painful the first time would be and just unpleasant thereafter.
‘Will my husband come to me to consummate the marriage?’ Fanny asked herself silently.
The truth was that she knew nothing about the schedule of meals in the house or if she would be welcome at the table.
Surely, her husband was not so very cruel that he would deny her permission to eat in the dining parlour?
As the trunks would not unpack themselves, Fanny set about doing so.
She did not do it with good cheer. This was supposed to be the work of servants while she rested at leisure.
Was that not what the life of a gentlewoman was?
At the same time, she did not want her husband to see that she was affected by his draconian measures.
It took her close to two hours to unpack. Thankfully, there was more than enough space for all of her clothing. When all was done, Fanny rang. When the housekeeper arrived after some minutes, she saw the empty trunks and left.
It was not much longer until two footmen came and removed the trunks, which Fanny was told would be stored in the attics.
“Mrs Bennet, if you will follow me, I will show you the ground level where the drawing room and parlours are,” Mrs Hill requested.
She led the way down two flights of stairs to the ground level.
“The master’s study is down that hallway.
” Mrs Hill pointed as she spoke. “The dining parlour is that door to the left, and the kitchens, scullery, and the rest is behind it. To the right is the main drawing room.”
They passed the main drawing room that Fanny had thought they would enter.
“Next to the drawing room is a music room. The late Mrs Bennet used to play the pianoforte and harp. Now then, we come to two smaller parlours. The master said you may chuse one of them for your own use. Any redecorating needs to be discussed with the master,” Mrs Hill related.
Fanny opened first one door and then the other. They were much of a sameness, about the same size and with similar furnishings. She chose the one on the same side of the house as the drawing room.
“The midday meal will be served in the dining parlour in a half hour. Dinner is at six,” Mrs Hill reported before withdrawing.
As much as she wanted to order tea, Fanny did not in order to save herself the humiliation. She guessed that Mrs Hill would refuse as it was so close to the time for the meal.
She looked about the room, thinking about how she would like to update the space. It was her parlour so it should reflect her character, which meant lots of lace. Fanny would speak to Mr Bennet about what she wanted to do. Surely he would not deny her that too?
Upon entering the dining parlour just before the time for the meal—Fanny found she was very hungry because she had not eaten a bite of food at the wedding breakfast, the one she had demanded her father provide.
Mr Bennet was seated at the head of the table, so Fanny made her way to the opposite end where the mistress would sit.
“No, Mrs Bennet, you will not sit where my mother and mistresses before her sat. You may take any of the middle seats on either side of the table,” Bennet instructed emotionlessly.
“Why do you keep humiliating me?” Fanny questioned.
“Mrs Bennet, unless you were blind and insensible, you were fully aware that I had no interest in you. Nevertheless, you persisted until you forced my hand. Because you entrapped me, I had some specific terms encoded in the marriage contract. Do you need me to read them to you?”
“No,” Fanny responded petulantly. “Father told me about your cruel clauses.”
“And you think it is less cruel for me to have to spend the rest of my life, ‘til death do us part, with a woman I disdain? One I would have never chosen to marry?” Bennet shot back. “Your father could have refused to sign the marriage articles, but it seems his need to be rid of you was greater.”
“What do you know?” Fanny spat back. She realised this man had her comfort in his hands, so she needed to calm down. “I beg your pardon.”
“Mrs Hill told me you chose the west parlour.” Bennet stopped talking as the food was placed on the table. Some nice crusty bread, butter, cold roast ham, beef, leafy greens, mustard from Dijon, and cheese. “Help yourself, Mrs Bennet.”
Seeing that she was so hungry, Fanny said nothing of the simplicity of the meal.
She cut some bread and slathered butter on the pieces, took slices of both meats, and cut some cheese.
She watched as her husband dipped his knife in the orange paste, something Fanny had never eaten before, and put it on a slice of bread instead of butter.
He placed a slice of roast beef on top of the paste, a slice of ham, some leafy greens and then another slice of bread, making a sandwich.
From what she could see, he was enjoying it immensely.
At least, Mr Bennet did not hurry her through her meal. When she was sated and had enjoyed some of the lemonade which had been placed on the table while they ate, Fanny sat and waited.
“If you have had enough, please join me in my study; I have items we need to discuss,” Bennet stated as he pushed his chair back and stood.
Fanny understood that even though it had been couched as a request, it was not. She followed her husband out of the dining parlour, past the stairs, and then down the hallway Mrs Hill had indicated earlier. She stepped into the study while her husband stood to the side and allowed her to pass.
The room was far larger than the office in her father’s house.
Every space which was not used for the fireplace or two windows which reached up from behind a settee to just below the ceiling was covered by bookcases, and none of them were empty.
Her husband indicated one of the two armchairs in front of his desk.
Once she was seated, he closed the door and took a seat behind the wide desk.
“There are some things we need to discuss,” Bennet began.
“Regardless of how we got here, we are married now. You are aware that you are not the woman I would have chosen for myself, and I am sure you have discovered I am not the man you wanted. Let us not belabour that point; it is what it is. Even though I cannot love you, I will keep myself only unto you, and I expect the same from you.” There was no missing her outraged look.
Bennet proceeded before she could say anything.
“I am not saying you would do that anymore than you are saying it of me. However, I would be remiss if I were not clear, so there are no misunderstandings.”
It seemed that Fanny understood as she nodded her head.
“Good. As we both know where we stand, whether we want it or not, we must consummate this marriage. Did your father mention the entail to heirs male on Longbourn?” He watched as his wife shook her head and looked worried.
“Do you understand what that is?” Bennet saw his wife shake her head again.
“There are many kinds of entails. The one on Longbourn prohibits the master from selling all or part of the estate’s land.
Also, it states that only a male who is directly related to my great-great-grandfather may inherit the estate.
I have a cousin, Clem Collins, who, if I pass away with no son, will become the master here.
He would be in his rights to throw you and any unmarried daughters out of this house. ”
“Are you telling me if we have no son and you pass away, I can be thrown into the hedgerows to starve?” Fanny shrieked shrilly.
“In short, yes. Except you are being overdramatic. Surely your father told you that in the event of my death, if certain conditions are met, your dowry of five thousand pounds becomes yours, or at least the annual interest of two hundred pounds does. If your father is still living, he will assist you, and do not forget your sister…” There was no mistaking the moue of distaste when Bennet mentioned his sister-in-law.
“… also lives in Meryton, so you will not have to live in the Hedgerows.” He did not mention Edward Gardiner because he knew that man felt nothing but disgust for the actions of his family.
Although Fanny did not reply, a great flutter of nervous worry was born in her chest. She could not be easy until she bore a son and heir.
“In order to begin to have a family, I will come to you one hour after dinner this evening. Does that suit?” Bennet did not miss the tight nod from his wife.
“As it is urgent that we have a son, I will visit you most nights, except for when you have your monthly indisposition. I will stop coming as soon as it is confirmed you are with child.” He knew that marital relations were not supposed to be discussed so coldly.
His late parents had had a love match, and as far as Bennet had been able to tell, they would never have discussed things in this manner.
“I would like to redecorate the parlour I have chosen,” Fanny stated to change the subject to one less distasteful to her.
“Why? Is the carpet or paper worn? Is the furniture in a state of disrepair?”
“Well, no, but it does not suit me; I prefer…” Fanny closed her mouth when her husband raised his hand.
“No, Mrs Bennet, I will not spend money because of a whim. As you admitted, all is in good repair, and allow me to warn you, damage anything to attempt to gain what you desire, and not only will I not gratify you, but you will lose the privilege of using that, or any parlour. If you want to call on friends or your family, you may walk; it is one mile to Meryton. If the carriage is making a trip into the town, you are welcome to ride along. You may only invite visitors here if I have approved of them ahead of time. Your sister and father will not ever be welcome at my estate. Is there anything else?”
Fanny shook her head. She wanted to scream at the man, but she knew it would gain her nothing. She stood and flounced out of the study.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
An hour after dinner, her husband came to her for the first time. It was just as unpleasant as Hattie had said it would be. Fanny was very pleased when the act was over.
As the months marched by, as impatient as she was to become with child, so far each month Fanny had had her courses.
She spent time with her father occasionally and her sister as much as she was able. Fanny was envious. Hattie was large with child, and she was not. She offered up prayers to God that Hattie would not have a son before her. She was not used to her sister besting her in anything.
In the afternoon of the final day of October, Hattie Phillips’s labours began.
Fanny was with her sister at just after two in the morning on the first day of November when, the midwife panicked as she discovered the babe had not turned.
It was not something she was experienced with, and there was no doctor or apothecary in Meryton.
Less than two hours later, mother and babe, a male, were no longer alive.
As much as Fanny wanted, no needed, a son, seeing the child-birthing process which had ended with Hattie and her son losing their lives made her very scared of what might happen to her when it was her time to deliver a babe.
Regardless of her apprehension, Fanny missed her courses in December, then again in January 1789.
Much to her relief, her husband ceased his visits to her at night.
Towards the end of March, Fanny felt the quickening.
She prayed for two things: it was a male child, and she would survive the travails of childbirth.