Chapter 9 #2
“This is excellent news for your family, Gardiner,” Thomas said. “Congratulations on your success.” He looked to Madeleine, who understood his unspoken question.
“My own efforts have been less quantifiable,” she said.
“While I have made many acquaintances and a few friends, I no longer know what ‘social success’ means to me. I do not like being away from home so much or attending parties each evening, especially without Edward. I do not mind telling you I am with child again, so I had planned to limit my social activities soon. I suppose this has been one last push to do all I can for our position before I embrace a more home-bound lifestyle.”
“Having a third child does not mean we may no longer go out, my dear,” Gardiner argued.
“I know, and I will continue to be active in some of my charitable works, but I do not wish to go out so often, at least not for some time,” she replied.
“My daughters barely know me, and Thomas, I would welcome the opportunity to know Elizabeth better, but…in truth, I am intimidated by her. She is so much better informed than I am even at six-and-twenty. She is far more accomplished and well-read than I, and I fear I will disappoint her if she looks to me for any kind of guidance. She is a vibrant girl on the cusp of womanhood, and I have no experience raising girls past the age of three. I have not even managed to find a firm grip in London society, so how can I help her enter the throng?”
Thomas could not help but let a chuckle escape. “You will do well. She is a bright girl, but let this be a consolation. Do right by her, and she may yet help you rise in society.”
“What can you mean?” Madeleine asked.
“Lizzy has been raised with Fanny’s never-ending diatribes about ‘Ollie the Farmer,’ when in reality, Lizzy’s father was a gentleman,” Thomas confessed.
“Was he?” Gardiner asked in surprise.
“Yes, but he could not reveal himself—alas, I can tell you no more. Not now. When Lizzy is one-and-twenty, I will tell her all, and you will know, as well.” In keeping with Susannah’s request, he knew he could not yet tell anyone Oliver Rowe had been an earl, although he would have liked to unburden himself of the mystery and have no more secrets from his niece or his wife.
“Her father could not make himself known to Elizabeth? So…she is his natural daughter.”
Thomas startled at his brother-in-law’s mistaken assumption.
He shook his head but did not speak for a moment.
Given what they thought they knew of Lizzy’s background, he supposed it normal for Gardiner to reach the worst conclusion instead of guessing the confusing truth.
Others might not understand Thomas’s reasons for secrecy, but they had not spent time with Oliver and Susannah those last years.
Lizzy’s parents had been justified in their caution, and he would not betray the trust they had placed in him.
“No, she knew her true father, who was married to my sister. The secret is only that he was a gentleman…I wish I could explain.”
Thomas allowed the couple to digest what little he had said. Gardiner and his wife shared another look of confusion. Then Gardiner looked back to Thomas and rubbed his temple.
“That does make far more sense,” Gardiner finally said. “So, Ollie—”
“Oliver. Her father’s name was Oliver.”
Gardiner nodded.
“What do you mean, Edward?” his wife asked, and Gardiner reddened.
“Do not fear, Edward. It is right for Madeleine to know now,” Thomas said. “Lizzy’s father left her a hefty sum, which Edward has been helping me manage for the past fourteen years. You should know her education and gowns and any other personal expenses will not be a burden on you.”
“Your sister did not make the shameful match Fanny always claims, then?” Madeleine asked.
“Not at all,” Thomas said and swallowed, missing Susannah and Rowe with renewed intensity.
“Although his family did not support the match. The banns were read, and they married with my father’s consent.
It was done in Oliver’s parish in Lancashire, however, not Meryton, so Fanny assumed Susannah had run off and we had gone in search of her. ”
Thomas sighed. “Their union had nothing scandalous about it. My parents and I traveled with Susannah to her new parish, where we took in the seaside for two months before the nuptials. We attained a closer acquaintance with Oliver, and we were at the wedding. It was simple and full of love.”
Edward and Madeleine exchanged a glance before he spoke again. “But did you mean to imply that Elizabeth’s being a gentleman’s daughter could raise our own position in society? Is it not more likely that we will lower hers? Being raised by a tradesman cannot help her prospects.”
“Do not concern yourself overmuch with the details. Know this: Elizabeth must marry a gentleman, not a tradesman, but do not encourage any matches until she is of age. You may tell her I expect nothing less than that she wed a gentleman I approve, but tell her nothing of her father or her fortune. All will come out on her twenty-first birthday.” Thomas looked at them both seriously.
“For now, though, if you are certain you can embrace Lizzy into your lives, then she will need masters to continue her education. Perhaps in a couple of years, if you are still uncomfortable with the idea, we can discuss hiring a companion to assist in her come-out.”
Gardiner and Madeleine exchanged yet another meaningful look before nodding to Thomas. They were ready to begin planning Lizzy’s future. A future in which she would continue to be protected from fortune hunters and the people responsible for her parents’ deaths.
Elizabeth had been in her bedchamber re-reading a favorite history of medieval times but grew restless.
How long would her Uncle Bennet be occupied?
Did it take so long to tell the Gardiners she would begin her lessons again?
Should not Uncle Bennet include her in the conversation about her education, as he usually did?
She went downstairs to invite herself into the discussion but halted with her hand raised to knock on the door to Uncle Gardiner’s study when she was stunned by what she overheard.
“Lizzy has been raised with Fanny’s never-ending diatribes about ‘Ollie the Farmer,’ when in reality, Lizzy’s father was a gentleman,” Uncle Bennet said.
“Was he?” Uncle Gardiner asked, clearly surprised.
“Yes, but he could not reveal himself—alas, I can tell you no more. Not now,” Uncle Bennet said, sounding frustrated. “When Lizzy is one-and-twenty, I will tell her all, and you will know, as well.”
“Her father could not make himself known to Elizabeth? So…she is his natural daughter,” Uncle Gardiner concluded.
Elizabeth retreated to her bedchamber as quickly as she could while remaining silent.
She flung herself atop her bed and cried.
Her father had not claimed her as his own, had not wanted her.
She was the natural daughter of some uncaring, unscrupulous gentleman, a rake, perhaps.
Had he taken advantage of her mother, or had she been willing in the affair, thinking he would marry her and then been disappointed?
Elizabeth wondered that Aunt Bennet had not treated her even more poorly than she already had.
Perhaps she had only recently learned of her true parentage, and that was why she had been sent away, so she could not sully her cousins.
What of the Gardiner girls, though? Aunt and Uncle Gardiner now knew of her shameful beginnings.
Would they also insist Uncle Bennet take her away from here?
She could not say she minded leaving London, but where else could she go?
Perhaps she had an Asbury relation still living.
But was that “gentleman” the Asbury, or was the farmer the Asbury?
She knew she was not a Bennet, but was she an Asbury?
She would endeavor to find out somehow, though she could not bring herself to ask Uncle Bennet, not yet.
For now, she would wear his and her mother’s name with honor and think less of her Asbury side. If only she could forget.