Chapter 16
Mr Bennet
Mr Bennet felt surprisingly happy.
He had been certain that he did not wish for Lizzy to marry so soon or to live so far away, but he felt much lighter than he had in years, having seen his future son’s provisions for his own wife and children, after he died.
He would have thought that he would have been in a towering rage after his daughter scolded him and gave an ultimatum, and his daughter’s suitor threatened and bribed him.
But instead he felt decidedly grateful that he did not have to make a decision.
The couple had well and truly forced his hand, but it took much less effort on his part to acquiesce with their forceful demands than it would have been to sit down with solicitors and hammer out a marriage settlement.
Bingley was as different from Darcy as chalk and cheese, and contemplating the younger man’s attentions to Jane made him feel restive and uncertain.
But, there again, Darcy’s incredible offer of a dowry to each of Mr Bennet’s daughters made things easier, because Jane would not necessarily have to marry for survival.
If Bingley abandoned her after giving her such notable attentions, the residents of Meryton would likely gossip about Jane for a while, but sending his eldest daughter north to Pemberley might be a viable solution to any whispers.
Mr Bennet would miss Darcy, of course. He would miss the chess games and the discussions with another bibliophile. He would miss the young man’s dry wit and his extensive knowledge.
Still, there was the promise of visiting Darcy and Lizzy and their libraries. “Any time,” Darcy had said.
Mr Bennet shambled into his library and opened the history of the Punic Wars.
Before long his usual cup of tea arrived, and not long after that, his warm, buttered roll was placed before him.
It took a little longer for the post, including The Times, to arrive at Longbourn, but he settled into the routine comforts of home with a feeling of enviable contentment.
The End