Chapter 7
Hill assisted Bennet in completing his wardrobe for dinner at Haye-Park. His clothing was sombre, denoting his current state of mourning.
“Need we observe the proprieties, Hill? I have been absent fifteen years. What say you?”
Hill looked up to the ceiling for a few moments. “We can easily explain to those who question propriety that the estate requires a mistress. None shall challenge your actions.” Hill’s left eyebrow lifted. “Need they, Colonel?”
Bennet huffed. “No, I daresay they will not. Rather, I shall become the target of every local unmarried young lady seeking a match.”
Hill chuckled. “I shall ask Mrs Hill to detail the existing dangers by name.”
Bennet smiled. “Let us be vigilant. Did not Cervantes write, ‘Forewarned is forearmed’?”
“Indeed, he did, sir.”
Bennet followed the Haye-Park butler into the parlour, where several couples spoke in small groupings. His hostess approached. “How good of you to come, Mr Bennet.”
“Thank you, Mrs Goulding. I have looked forward to this invitation. How efficient of you to combine it with introductions.”
“Come, let me announce you. New friendships are to be had.”
Bennet met Lord Haversham, the Baron of St Albans, and the Harringtons from the Great House at Stoke.
When dinner was announced, Miss Gardiner appeared at Bennet’s side. She smiled and cocked one very elegant eyebrow. Bennet immediately offered his arm and escorted her into the dining room, discovering that, to his pleasure, he had been seated on Miss Gardiner’s left; to his left was Mrs Goulding. He tried not to ignore his hostess, but he was admittedly entranced by Miss Gardiner. Her easy laugh continued to draw his attention, as did her witty banter. A foot kicked him under the table. He then noticed others staring at him.
“Pardon my wool-gathering,” he admitted.
“How fares Longbourn?” asked Mr Goulding.
“Very well. Fortunately, a few of my cohorts have joined me to ease my transition to that of a landed gentleman.”
“Mr Bennet, it must be the landed portion of the transition, as I am sure the officer was already a gentleman,” teased Miss Gardiner.
Her father guffawed. Mrs Harrington sniffed. “For so young a person, you presume much to sketch one’s character after so short an acquaintance.”
“Miss Gardiner is merely separating the wheat from the chaff,” Mrs Goulding retorted.
A trait unique to her, thought Bennet.
The lady turned to her opposite-table neighbour. Bennet blinked. He suspected Mrs Harrington disapproved of Miss Gardiner, but to behave so rudely in the company of others was beyond good manners. He wondered if her censure stung Miss Gardiner and leant towards her, willing to offer solace if needed.
“I am gratified that your first impression of me is as favourable as mine is of you.”
Miss Gardiner’s eyes sparkled. “As am I.”
Bennet nodded and turned to his left. Mrs Goulding leant towards him. “I believe three months would be the proper duration to mourn your brother.”
Bennet gave her his full attention. “Madam?”
“The estate requires a mistress, does it not?” Her gaze was kind.
“Indeed, it does. It shall.” He sipped his wine as he considered her questions. He leant towards her. “You have an interest in the future Mrs Bennet?”
“I do.” She sipped her wine.
Bennet stared at her for a moment. “Does your interest have a name?”
“She does.”
Bennet inwardly chuckled. Mrs Goulding equalled General Foote when offering information. “Is she aware of your intentions?”
Mrs Goulding smiled. “She is not.” She then nodded once towards his right-side dining partner. He looked to his right and breathed deeply; Miss Gardiner was everything lovely.
Mrs Goulding turned to her dining partner to her left. Bennet nodded at Lord Haversham seated across from him and joined their conversation.
Two weeks later, Bennet bowed to Miss Gardiner upon entering the family parlour. He dined out often, unable to return his neighbours’ hospitality. He accepted the many invitations, noting that most, predictably, came from families with daughters of marriageable age.
In the parlour, Miss Gardiner displayed on the pianoforte. He sat rapt at the young lady’s talent. Shaking his head, he looked to Mr Gardiner, who was staring at him with a slight grin.
Time and tide wait for no man.Bennet prepared himself for a father’s interrogation. Once in his host’s study, Bennet wiped his forehead, which evoked a chuckle from Mr Gardiner, who stood up, walked to the sideboard, and poured two large whiskeys. Bennet lifted his eyebrows at the size of the drinks.
“Bennet, let us have a frank discussion. You are an eligible man, and you have an established estate. Although you are near long in the tooth, the Meryton matrons have not left you in peace.”
He laughed. “Aye, I am, and no, they have not.” He accepted his host’s offering.
Mr Gardiner sat in the chair opposite Bennet. “Why should you not have pleasurable companionship in your later years?”
“So, you would...approve if I were to spend time with Miss Gardiner?”
“I would. You two would rub along fairly well. Though she was not raised to it, she is clever enough to learn to manage your estate, and though I say it myself, I daresay you would not find another lady as beautiful.”
Bennet leant back in his chair and took a long pull from his glass. He allowed the alcohol to burn down his throat, then spoke from his heart.
“Mr Gardiner, I know the number of years between us may raise eyebrows, but I consider Miss Gardiner as handsome as her accomplishments.”
“We would not want to generate gossip about the shallowness of men and their predilection to have their heads turned by a pretty face alone.”
“It would go poorly for anyone to demean mine, current or future, I assure you.” Bennet was aware of the bite in his tone.
Mr Gardiner’s eyes widened. Palms up, he continued. “Let me speak to Franny later this evening and garner her thoughts on the match.” He stood. “A pre-emptive toast to your future comfort in your dotage.”
Bennet sputtered, then laughed from his belly. When he regained his composure, the two men enjoyed canvassing several subjects without diving too deeply into the drink.
“My dearest girl, sit with your Papa. I want to discuss a matter that has recently come to my attention.”
Franny wrapped a shawl about her shoulders and sat in her favourite chair—the one facing the fiery hearth, with a view towards the window. She shucked off her slippers and curled into the large frame of the wingback.
“Did you enjoy this evening’s dinner? Bennet certainly did.”
Franny smiled. “Did he, Papa?” Her attempt at coquetry seemed to have surprised her father.
He paused. “What, then, is your conclusion of the gentleman’s distraction?”
“Miss Harding would be appalled that a gentleman asked a lady her opinion so openly on such a subject.”
“Thankfully, Miss Harding is now Mrs Turnbull and well removed from such considerations.”
She chuckled; her father did as well.
“Papa, as you desire to inform me of Mr Bennet, I shall tell you I am quite open to hearing more of him.”
His eyebrows rose, his regular solemnity abandoned. “Truthfully, my dear?”
“Yes, Papa.” Franny eased back into the chair and said no more.
Her father cleared his throat. “Well, my dear, it would seem you have enchanted the former Colonel Bennet.”
“As he has me, Papa.”
“I will truly miss having you to myself. You have been the light that dispelled the darkness since your mother and sister left us.”
Franny reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “Have I encouraged Mr Bennet’s interest improperly? I did not intend to do so.”
“Not improperly, no. You are too well brought up for that. I have watched you grow into a beautiful and intelligent woman. You are kind and generous; you are the daughter all wish to have raised, but none will admit to such envy. You have never tried to look better than you are. In contrast, your contemporaries constantly hide their true natures behind behaviour and appearance that pleases them when it is in their best interest and displeases them when it is not.”
Franny groaned with mocking despair. “Mrs Goulding will never stop crowing her success in matchmaking to all of Meryton.”
“It is something of a triumph.” Her father grinned. “Yet you, my dear, will be mistress of Longbourn.”
A clink of a sherry glass to a whiskey tumbler sealed the agreement between father and daughter. He would inform Bennet in the morning that his interest was reciprocated and welcome.