Vol 2, Chapter 16
No matter how much wealth and opulence the manor house at Longfield Meadows represented, the Bennets felt they were home when they arrived at Longbourn.
On their first visit after their elevation, after at first being nervous, their friends, neighbours, and tenants were pleased to see other than the titles, the Bennets were as they always had been.
Darcy intended to follow them to Hertfordshire in a few days after his solicitors delivered the final draft of the settlement.
He would arrive by the coming Saturday to join the family and his sister for Sunday services so he would have the pleasure, along with his betrothed, to hear the first banns read.
They would also be read in both Kympton and the church at Pemberley starting the same day.
As much as Elizabeth would have preferred that when he arrived, he would not be sleeping three miles distant, she knew come the first day of October they would never be required to sleep in separate bedchambers again, let alone separate houses!
As much as Elizabeth had grown to love her soon-to-be sister, Gigi, it was poor consolation that only one Darcy was living with them at Longbourn until their wedding.
Plans had been put in place for Gigi to be with Esther in Town after the wedding until the Darcys returned from their month-long wedding trip.
Their wedding night was planned to be spent at Darcy House before taking The Rose to the Kingdom of Portugal, the only country in the southern part of the continent not controlled by the little tyrant.
Elizabeth felt like a big piece of her heart was missing, and the hours of the day seemed interminable to her as she waited for her William to arrive and bring the part of her heart that resided with him back to her.
In order to keep as low a profile as possible, the Bennets had decided rather than the spectacle of shopping in London, they would do so from Meryton.
To achieve that aim, Madam Chambourg herself would be arriving the next day with two of her seamstresses.
In addition, one of Uncle Gardiner’s men had delivered every catalogue he could.
Gardiner would acquire anything Elizabeth chose after she had been measured by the modiste’s seamstresses.
The family wanted to purchase as much as possible from the merchants in Meryton so it would provide a boon to the local economy, which, if it were possible, would have the unintended consequence of increase the admiration of Bennets for the local populace.
If, after all of this, there were still items that Elizabeth required, she would be able to shop to her heart’s content in London once she returned after the wedding trip.
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“Bennet, you asked to see us,” Sir William said as he entered his friend’s study accompanied by his two eldest sons, Franklin and John. “Bennington,” he greeted his neighbour who was also present.
“Sir William,” Bennington inclined his head.
Once everyone was seated, Bennet looked at his friend and his sons.
“You know, even though your son-in-law would dispute this, I believe the breeding programme at Bennington Fields is one of the finest in the land, do you not?” All three Lucas men nodded.
Bennet had always admired the horseflesh from the programme, and it was the only place he purchased his horses.
“Bennington here wants to retire and has no heir and as there is no entail on the Fields, he may do with it what he will.”
“Bennet, please tell me you have not purchased it to add to Lucas Lodge! That is far too much, and I could never accept it from you no matter your argument,” Sir William stated firmly.
“Yes, I am the new owner, and no, I am not gifting it to you, so you may relax Lucas. The reason you are here is I have a business proposition for you.” Sir William visibly relaxed.
“Mr. Bennington has kindly agreed to remain for up to six months, if needed. What I propose is your sons take over the management of the Fields. They will learn all there is to learn from Bennington here, and in return for watching over my investment, and as incentive to see the place continues to thrive, you will receive half of the annual profit of the estate,” Bennet proposed.
Sir William looked at his two sons who both nodded. “This is a business arrangement for which we should be committed to Bedlam if we refused this opportunity.”
With that, Bennington stood. “I assume, your Grace, our business is concluded?” The Duke nodded and rose as he shook the man’s hand. Bennington farewelled the three Lucas men and then departed.
“You know adding four thousand pounds per annum will increase our income by a factor of three,” Sir William shook his head slowly in amazement. It seemed his friend was determined to help the Lucas family and was doing so in a way that could not be refused.
“I do know that,” Bennet returned. “In fairness to Franklin, as his sisters and brothers have each received an amount from us, I have purchased land adjacent to Lucas Lodge to be gifted to your son. Before you protest, Lucas, after the purchase, it leaves a little more than six thousand pounds. If I were the future master of Lucas Lodge, I might use that money to add some space to my family’s home, but that is just me,” Bennet grinned slyly.
When Bennet explained what tract of land he had gifted Franklin, it was rather obvious Lucas Lodge had just doubled in size.
“As I accepted your gifts to my other children, you knew full well I could not refuse this on Franklin’s behalf as it would be unfair to him.
You do too much for us, my friend, but on behalf of my eldest son, I accept with much gratitude and an entreaty.
It is enough, old friend. Like your life has been irrevocably changed, you have done the same for us,” Sir William stated, his voice gruff with emotion as he saw a future for his children he could never have imagined but a few short months previously.
“Your Grace,” Franklin Lucas stood and offered his hand which Bennet took without delay. “I thank you for my family and myself. I am sure you know horses are a passion for both John and me, even though we have not been able to afford the quality of horse raised at the Fields.”
“Why do you think the two of you were asked to join your father for this meeting?” Bennet asked easily.
“As far as affording the horses, one of the perks of managing the estate is you will only pay ten percent of the price of any animals you would like to acquire for yourselves.” Both Lucas sons had a look of unadulterated joy at the prospect of owning some of the horses that had once only seemed a dream.
“As long as you leave enough horses for sale,” Bennet ribbed.
Bennet produced a document that Phillips had drawn up to formalise the management agreement, which Bennet and all three Lucases signed. It was no oversight that Nick had been excluded. He loved the law and was determined to have a career as a solicitor or perhaps even a barrister one day.
After the two Lucas sons’ profuse and repeated thanks, they departed, leaving the old friends to a game of chess and some of Bennets fine port.
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As Charlotte’s and Richard’s carriage traversed Meryton on the way to her parent’s estate, Charlotte was a little nervous. This was the first time she had returned to the neighbourhood since her earlier departure and subsequent marriage.
Lady Lucas had told her daughter there had been little or no talk, especially as the knowledge Charlotte had the full support of the Duke and Duchess and their extended family, which now included several peers of the realm.
If that was not enough, the denizens of the areas were informed of the full support of Charlotte’s husband’s family, there inevitably were one or two comments made about the possibility of Charlotte being with child.
As she had just had her courses some days before they departed Town, and as much as she would have liked to attain the state of being with child already, Charlotte was as slender as she was the day she married her first husband.
Richard used his cane to strike the ceiling bringing their carriage to a halt.
“I find I would like to take my wife shopping in Meryton before we arrive at Lucas Lodge.” Richard knew Charlotte was concerned about the one or two biddies who had nothing better to do than speculate about her being with child from her previous marriage.
His strategic mind came up with the plan to be seen as soon as they arrived, so no one would think they were hiding.
As it was a fortnight or so from six months since Collins’s death, one look at his wife would kill any thought she had been with child when her late husband met his end.
“We do not need to, Richard; let them talk if they have nothing better to do,” Charlotte stated, forcing a brave smile for him.
“I desire some exercise, Wife; will you not join me? We do not want people to assume we are unhappy if I walk out on my own now, do we?” Richard waggled his eyebrows at his wife.
“When you put it like that, you silly man, then yes I will join you,” Charlotte beamed at her husband, her love of him having grown as only intimacy and happiness would allow.
Richard nodded once for the footman to place the step and open the door.
Richard stepped out, turned, and handed Charlotte out, and in full view of many in the Meryton main street, Richard kissed his wife’s hands languidly and then offered her his arm.
Charlotte wound her arm around her husband’s as they walked down the street, stopping in most stores, and making the odd purchase here and there.