Chapter 29

A s had been scheduled, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley arrived at Gardiner House on Tuesday morning to return Miss Bennet's call. On their arrival, they had looked at one another and smiled.

"If Charles had known the truth of the Bennets' connections, he would have been far more interested in them," Mrs. Hurst stated as they waited for the footman to open the carriage door.

"Had I still been under Charles's influence, I may have fawned over them for the same reason," Miss Bingley owned. "I certainly would not have been sanguine with Miss Mary being engaged to Mr. Fitzwilliam."

"Forget about what was, look to the future," Mrs. Hurst advised. "You are fabulously wealthy and if you do not find a man you desire to marry, you have no need to enter the married state. You are not the same as you were when our brother was manipulating you."

Soon the sisters were being led through the tastefully decorated home by the butler. He entered a drawing room, announced them, and then stood back. There was one lady and a younger girl the sisters did not know. Mrs. Bennet introduced them to Mrs. Gardiner and her eldest daughter.

While the Bingley sisters spoke to the Bennet sisters, Madeline ordered tea and refreshments. It was while the ladies were enjoying their tea and pastries when Lord Westmore and Mr. Fitzwilliam had been announced.

Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley were not surprised to see Mr. Fitzwilliam, especially after the engagement notice had been in the papers some days back, but they could not account for the Viscount's presence. That was until they saw the way Miss Bennet glowed on his entry and that he had eyes for no one other than her. After greeting the others in the room and requesting an introduction to themselves, he sat himself next to Miss Bennet. It was obvious they were in, at the very least, an unofficial courtship. Not that she needed it, it was added proof to Miss Bingley that fortune, social position, and connections was no guarantee of felicity.

By the time the Bingley sisters took their leave, they were on familiar name terms with the Bennets sisters.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Due to his wife writing to let him know that their eldest daughter had a suitor, Bennet joined his family on Tuesday afternoon. As soon as Cilla was made aware her husband was coming to London, she had sent a note to the Countess of Jersey who had gladly extended the invitation for the ball to include Mr. Bennet.

On Wednesday morning, Bennet met with Gardiner to review his investment portfolio, including being a silent partner in the upcoming venture in the east. At the same time, mainly for Mary's benefit, his wife and daughter were collected by Fitzwilliam and Lady Elaine to take them to Berkeley Square so that they could tour Fitzwilliam House.

"Cilla, do you think you will all be recovered from the ball to join us for a family dinner at Matlock House on the morrow?" Lady Elaine invited. "The Gardiners have been invited as well and some of our friends, who are embarking on a voyage half way around the world in February, will be with us."

"We will be well revived by dinner time, so yes, we will be happy to join you and your friends," Priscilla accepted.

"You will meet my sister-in-law, Catherine and her daughter, Anne," Lady Elaine revealed. "Catherine is bringing Anne to London for a new wardrobe and will arrive at Matlock House on Thursday morning. She had been invited to the ball but with Anne being of a sickly constitution, Catherine demurred."

"We have heard about Lady Catherine from Richard, as well as my husband's cousin, Mr. Collins who is the rector at Hunsford. It will be good to meet her and Miss de Bourgh," Priscilla responded.

"Should I mention to Jane that the De Melvilles will be in attendance?" Lady Elaine asked conspiratorially. "I spoke to Sarah, Lady Jersey, and she is more than pleased a woman has at last captured Wes's attention. She had begun to despair her son would ever express interest in a woman. He has had no enthusiasm for the insipid debutantes who enter the marriage mart each year."

"Even believing Jane has no dowry, Lord and Lady Jersey are sanguine with Jane as a possible wife for their son?" Priscilla enquired.

"Sarah and Cyril, Lord and Lady Jersey, want their children to be happy, which is why as long as the woman Wes chooses is a gentlewoman, they will not object. They will support him if it is his own choice and not some huntress who has entrapped him," Lady Elaine averred. "They are among a slowly growing number of parents within the first circles who will not foist an arranged marriage on their children, for no other reason than to increase their connections and wealth. It did not hurt that Reggie and I have described your family in extremely positive terms, without ever speaking of your wealth or the properties you own."

"Thank you, Elaine," Priscilla squeezed her friend's hand.

"That is our house," Richard pointed across the square as the coachman guided the conveyance into Berkeley Square. As part of his desire for a true partner Richard had emphasised the word ‘our' with intent.

Mary looked at the five story house faced with red bricks similar to the other homes around the square. As the coach was brought to a halt, she noticed a couple, not very young, while not too old either, was standing on the small veranda just outside of the open front door of the house. She assumed they were the butler and housekeeper.

"Mr. and Mrs. Oddsley, the senior staff," Richard confirmed Mary's supposition.

Richard was first out so he could hand out the ladies. First, he turned to the butler and housekeeper. "Oddsley, Mrs. Oddsley, it is too cold for you to await us outside, please re-enter the house and wait in the entrance hall," Richard commanded.

With a bow and curtsey the two gratefully complied. Starting with his mother, Richard assisted the ladies out of the coach. Lady Elaine stepped back and allowed Richard to lead his fiancée into the house ahead of herself.

Waiting in the entrance hall were not only the butler and housekeeper, but two neat lines of servants as well. The females were in neatly laundered black and white outfits while the men were all dressed in livery. Richard waited until the four ladies who had entered the house behind him and Mary were now standing next to him and his fiancée. "It is my pleasure to introduce your future mistress, Miss Mary Bennet, to you." With that said, he looked to the butler and housekeeper and nodded to them. Efficiently they dispatched the servants back to their stations.

"Mrs. Oddsley, will you accompany us?" Mary asked, "You have been here for some years, have you not?"

"Aye, Miss Bennet, I have," the housekeeper averred.

"In that case, if I may, I will rely on your unparalleled experience with this house so you may point things out to me I may otherwise miss," Mary stated genuinely.

With that one sentence Mary charmed the housekeeper.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

On returning from Fitzwilliam House, Jane who had not thought she would see Lord Westmore until the ball, was beyond pleased to see him sitting with Papa and Uncles Edward and Reggie in the drawing room awaiting them.

"Miss Bennet, I have permission from your father to address you privately, if that meets with your approval," Westmore stated after he had greeted the returning ladies.

Elizabeth and Mary gave their older sister knowing looks as Jane blushed with joy. "I will be happy to hear what you have to say," Jane averred excitedly.

"The green parlour is ready," Gardiner told his wife, "and Jane's maid is seated in the hall outside of it."

"Westmore, you know my restrictions on time and the door, do you not?" Bennet reminded the younger man. Rank was unimportant as long as he knew his daughter's reputation would be guarded.

"Aye, Sir," Westmore acknowledged. He led Miss Bennet to the mentioned parlour, decorated mainly in shades of green which gave it its name. The maid was in position and Westmore did not miss the hulking footman a few yards distant in the hallway. It was the one named Johns he thought.

He handed Miss Bennet onto the settee and then closed the door as much as Mr. Bennet had permitted. "Miss Bennet, or may I call you Jane?" Jane nodded while her cheeks pinked considerably. "If it was just that I am a selfish man who wanted a reason to be able to dance two sets with you tonight, that would not be reason enough for the request I am about to make.

"Since that first day I met you, not many days past, I have felt my attraction to you grow. That I have tender feelings for you already is not a question, however, I will not claim feelings I do not yet have. As of this moment, I am not in love with you, but I feel it is just over the horizon. As such, I would like us to get to know one another better in the framework of an official courtship. Jane Bennet will you grant me a courtship?"

"You are too honourable to claim feelings you do not yet possess. Like you, I believe it will not be long before I am in love with you. Also like you, I already hold you in tender regard," Jane began to reply. "At first my logical mind balked at the notion of a connection made with the speed ours was formed. However, I am too wise to overlook a gift from God. We were both in the right place at the right time. In short, I would like nothing more than to be courted by you Lord Westmore."

"In private, please call me Wesley, or Wes."

"Wes. Does this mean that we may dance a second set together?"

"Pending your father's…"

"Father's and Mother's," Jane interjected.

"Both of their permissions. If it is yes, will you open the ball with me please, Jane?"

All Jane could do was nod as Wes took her hands, gently turned them over to expose the wrist on each. He then bestowed a lingering kiss above the pulse in each wrist. Jane felt like she wanted to swoon. Her heart sped up like a herd of galloping horses while at the same time she felt light headed from pleasure as his lips burned her wrists with the promise of passion to come.

"I think I need to speak to your parents before that mountain of a man comes to eject me from this parlour," Westmore stated reluctantly.

"Brian Johns is very gentle…unless you anger him," Jane smiled.

The two made their way back to the drawing room. Jane floated to her seat while Westmore approached the Bennet parents. "I understand from Ja…Miss Bennet I need to speak to bo th of you," Westmore said to the two senior Bennets.

Bennet looked at his friend. "You and Cilla may use my study," Gardiner allowed.

With the door closed, Westmore asked permission to court Jane. "Before we answer your question, are you aware Jane was born to my first wife, the daughter of a country solicitor?" Bennet challenged.

"Yes, Miss Bennet was forthright about that. It is an advantage as I will be connected to Gardiner with a familial bond," Westmore averred confidently.

"And the fact she is rumoured to have a dowry of one or two thousand pounds is not a deterrent to you?" Priscilla asked.

"Not at all. I need no more money, we have more than enough already." It was not a boast, merely a statement of fact. "Before you mention connections, although it is not important to me, your family is connected to the Fitzwilliams, and more importantly, the Gardiners." He paused as he gathered his thoughts. "If I did not have deep feelings for Miss Bennet I would not be here. I, and for that matter so does she, believe it will not be long before we are in love. I already respect her and her abilities. If Miss Bennet eventually accepts me, I care not if you keep her dowry and give it to her sisters."

"Lizzy and Mary have no need for more money; I said rumoured . Our daughters have more than thirty thousand pounds each," Bennet stated trying to keep the grin from his face. He saw the incredulous look similar to that on Fitzwilliam's face when they had this same discussion. Bennet and Cilla gave a brief description of their property and income. "It is always good to know a suitor is not interested in one of our daughters for pecuniary advantage."

"What my husband forgot to say is that we approve of your courtship of our Jane and you have our blessing as well," Priscilla added .

"Thank you Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bennet…" He stopped when he saw Jane's father raise his hand.

"Address me as Bennet. If at some point you are accepted by Jane as her fiancé, then my wife will inform you what form of address she prefers," Bennet stated.

"Miss Bennet's protection and happiness will always be my first priority." The silly grin on Westmore's face said it all. "Your daughter is a diamond of the first water."

"Come, we need to make an announcement," Bennet said as he stood.

"Bennet, will you object if my father makes an announcement regarding the courtship before supper tonight, unless you would prefer to make it yourself?" Westmore enquired. "It will still many of the wagging tongues when I dance the first and supper sets with your eldest daughter."

"Your father may have that pleasure ," Bennet decided.

The three returned to the drawing room where Bennet reported that Jane and Westmore were in an official courtship.

Before he departed, the Viscount addressed Mrs. Gardiner. "If Miss Gardiner would like to meet my sister this evening, my mother has issued an invitation for her to join us at Jersey House. Alli had been feeling under the weather, which is why she had not accompanied me to your home yet. If Miss Gardiner and Alli get along, your daughter is invited to remain until the morrow, if not, it is only a short ride from Grosvenor Square to your home."

"I am sure Lilly would love to come, but I will speak with her after you depart. Congratulations, you could not be courting a better woman than Jane," Madeline said with conviction.

"Of that I have no doubt." Westmore bowed to Mrs. Gardiner.

Thereafter he took his leave of the rest of the family, leaving the last and longest farewell for the lady he was courting.

When Maddie spoke to Lilly, the latter had agreed with alacrity to meet Lady Alicia at Jersey House. Lilly was looking forward to possibly making a new friend, but she also hoped they would be able to see all the ball gowns and jewels from the stairs.