Chapter 5

Bingley was dejected. Never since his years at Cambridge, when several noblemen's sons made him their target, had he endured such humiliation.

Darcy intervened then, and Bingley trusted him ever since. Darcy always gave him excellent advice, and he had given him good advice in this situation as well. Bingley just did not think it would be enough this time.

"Oh, it's a disaster, isn't it?" he observed miserably, scrubbing his hand down his face as the carriage left Longbourn. "Should we go straight to Lilac Cottage, do you think?" he asked the party as a whole.

"I do not know what the point of that letter this morning was if you were only going to turn up there regardless of their wishes, Charles," noted Louisa Hurst testily.

"Yes, I know," sighed Bingley. He banged against the top of the carriage and when it stopped, informed the driver to proceed to Netherfield Park.

The moment the carriage stopped and the footman opened the door, Bingley bounded out of the carriage to see if there was a reply from Lilac Cottage, while the others waited in the carriage. He returned, tearing it open and reading the note in front of the open carriage door.

"It says that the ladies receive our sentiments and the kind gesture of the flowers with gratitude; however, Miss Bennet has yet to regain her equanimity after her trials. They travel to London tomorrow. Lady Astley and Miss Mary will remain at her home in Bruton Street for one week, during some point of which, Miss Bennet will permanently remove to reside with her aunt and uncle on Gracechurch Street near Cheapside. The ladies invite us to call upon them if we are in London," stated Bingley, who was feeling a myriad of emotions. Disappointment that he would not see Miss Bennet today, gratitude that he was being given another chance to make amends, and apprehension regarding Miss Bennet's reception of him in London.

"Lady Astley's house is in Bruton Street? What an address! I wonder if she is close to Lady B______?" exclaimed Mrs Hurst, referring to a dowager of the highest society who was well known for having named her eight children alphabetically.

"Raises even more questions about why she resides in a modest dower cottage in the country," grumbled Hurst. "Must not be nearly so reduced as Caroline wished to believe."

Darcy concurred with both statements. The Mayfair address was better than not only Darcy House on Curzon Street, which was also in Mayfair, but also Matlock House, home to his uncle the earl. He did not even know well most of the residents of Bruton Street. Many of them were of the very highest ranks of nobility.

"Nothing to do now but go back into the house then," said Hurst practically. "A quiet lunch will be just the thing after the morning we've had."

And it had been quite a difficult morning. They were turned away at Longbourn, even after the manservant delivered a letter to Mr Bennet that Bingley prepared before leaving for Longbourn. Mr Bennet sent the manservant back with the unopened letter and a message that if Mr Bingley disturbed Longbourn again he would set out his hounds.

They heard Mrs Bennet shrieking from the upper level of the house, but could not hear what she might be saying. The young ladies were not seen near the windows. Bingley was utterly humiliated, and Darcy was troubled. Bingley was trying to be an honourable gentleman, and Mr Bennet was being most ungentlemanly in his response.

The party dined quietly at lunch. It was decided that they would go to London in three days, two days after the party from Lilac Cottage, and then send their card to Lady Astley and the Miss Bennets.

"It may not be pleasant after all these events, but if you are to have any chance of returning to the neighbourhood successfully, Bingley, you should take your leave of the neighbours tomorrow," advised Darcy.

"What if word has already gotten about? What shall we say if someone says something?" inquired Bingley apprehensively.

"The truth, I should expect," said Darcy. "No point in trying to cover it up. Your sister attempted to make you unsuccessful in the neighbourhood in an immature attempt to force you back to town. After Miss Bingley's behaviour since the assembly, most should well believe it. Make it plain that you have begged the Bennets' pardon, and will call upon Miss Bennet in London to express your regrets. If you are sincere, it is possible some may sympathise and be forgiving. You need not call on everyone; the Lucas family and the Gouldings. Perhaps Mrs Long? Even though Mr and Mrs Phillips are relatives to the Bennets, you should call on them as well, to prove your good will. However, be careful not to volunteer information unnecessarily if the situation is not already known. If someone asks, then be direct about it. There is no need to start the village gossiping if Mrs Bennet or her daughters have not spread the tale yet. You are only going to London on business for an indeterminate time. You will return as soon as you are able, but your desire to take your leave of the neighbourhood should be your main topic of discussion, Bingley."

"That is sound advice, Charles," said Louisa. "I will go with you as well."

The party split up after lunch, Bingley to speak to the staff about the trip to London, Darcy and Mrs Hurst to arrange their packing with the servants, and Mr Hurst to nap in the library.

*****

When the next day dawned, the ladies of the dower house began their journey to London. Their ride in the carriage was mostly quiet, other than Diane's happy babbling. Jane finally softened to the child slightly, and she and Mary took turns telling the girl stories and playing games for her amusement. Beau travelled with his head upon Elizabeth's lap, as always.

Elizabeth gazed out the window as she considered Mr Darcy's request the day before. It was the first time since the loss of her husband that she had given a gentleman any encouragement, such as allowing herself to be introduced to a mother or sister, although no one else ever made such a wholesome request, including Sir Christopher, who had no living family when they wed, having lost them in an epidemic of influenza while he attended university. He was the third son of a gentleman from Kent, and his two older brothers perished along with his parents and three servants. Most gentlemen moved from introduction straight to proposal since she was widowed, and she was still unsure what this gentleman meant by such attentions.

Was the gentleman interested in her as a lady, or was he just taking the opportunity to introduce his sister to ladies he could trust? Mr Darcy was so reserved in his manner, she could not discern his intentions. Nor did she know whether she wanted him to pursue her, or if she would encourage him.

He was definitely the handsomest man of her acquaintance, and he was certainly no fortune hunter. She liked his reserve. He was proud, but not conceited in the same way as other gentlemen of the ton. There were no rumours about exploits with the demi monde or mistresses, unlike the sons of Lady B______ who lived across the street from her on Bruton Street or the C_____ clan whose men all had shocking nicknames and were honourable family men who were yet infamous for all manner of carousing when they were bachelors.

Not that she disapproved of those families. Indeed, the ladies were her particular friends and staunchest allies in the ton, and she liked all of the gentlemen in question, finding them each amusing and admirable in their way. Indeed she was involved with several business investments with one erudite gentleman of the C_____ family, and enjoyed a friendly competitiveness in horse breeding with another in Newmarket. She trusted them all and knew she was safe in their presence, rakish reputations be damned.

However, she preferred a gentleman who was rather less obvious, so to speak. A gentleman who had not made such a career of his exploits, one who felt less dangerous and more dignified. Perhaps a gentleman who, for all his reserve, might have the potential to be quite ruthless in the protection of his family, if necessary.

She thought back to Sir Christopher. He was completely different from what she required in a husband now, although her life was very different then. She had been successful in her investments when he proposed, but not so successful that she needed to hire extensive protection during her marriage, because her status as his wife protected her, and besides, few knew of her investments and business. Regardless, she kept the services of Miss Carmichael when they wed, for the exercise and enjoyment of training with her, as well as for protection about the city.

It was after her widowhood that she realised how vulnerable she was. By the end of her half-mourning, a half dozen gentlemen from Kent had attempted to intimidate her into marriage. Within six months after that, she escaped two kidnapping attempts in London, and the vast majority of the ton was only aware of the fortune left by her husband. Still being unofficially in mourning, she rarely went out to evening events, yet gentlemen still found countless opportunities to hound her. She realised that if her true wealth was ever widely known, she would have to leave the country altogether, unless she remarried first.

She wasn't even sure she wanted to be remarried. If the right gentleman were to make himself agreeable, she would consider it. However, it would solve her fear of being kidnapped into marriage. Nevertheless, she would not marry just for protection alone.

Elizabeth met Sir Christopher when she was in Hertfordshire for the summer in her twentieth year, while he was visiting a well regarded physician in the area. At the age of twenty-nine, Sir Christopher Astley had already distinguished himself in his field and in the ton, and was elevated by the Queen for his efforts after identifying the source of a terrifying epidemic in London and eradicating it. Mr Bennet watched quietly as Mrs Bennet tried unsuccessfully to transfer the gentleman's attentions to seventeen year old Jane, who was far too young and shy for the man.

It was no use anyway. Sir Christopher Astley had eyes for no one but Elizabeth. Mr Bennet bided his time. When the gentleman presented himself for her hand, Thomas Bennet assured him he was welcome to it. Under one condition. He would sign a private agreement with Mr Bennet, agreeing to turn Elizabeth's dowry over to Bennet as soon as it was rendered to him by Lord Hexham.

Sir Christopher had no need of the money. He would have been glad to marry Elizabeth without any dowry, but they had already discussed the situation that started when Mr Bennet married Lady Cristina, and the young man believed that Elizabeth had the right to decide if she wished her future husband to sign away her dowry, so he asked to think it over and left.

Elizabeth had another idea. The gentleman never returned to Longbourn. He left the neighbourhood the very next day without a word to anyone, leaving all of Meryton to pity Elizabeth for the gentleman's caprice. Elizabeth moped for a few weeks until it was time for her to return to the Gardiners' home in London at the end of summer. Mrs Gardiner helped this along by sending an express that the children all had summer colds, and asked if Elizabeth could return a few weeks early to help.

When Elizabeth returned to London, Sir Christopher had already visited Lord Hexham, carrying a letter to the earl from Elizabeth, and received his blessing for the marriage. A week after she arrived in London, an enormous caravan, including the Gardiner household, Lord Hexham and his family, Lady Rosemary, the earl's sister, Sir Christopher, and his closest friend Mr Roberts, left London on the Great North Road. After many days on the roads, they arrived at the very grand estate of Lord Hexham's cousin in the Highlands, where they were married in church, then enjoyed a lovely wedding breakfast without the need to call the banns or have the permission of Elizabeth's father.

Sir Christopher happily signed the most modern and liberal marriage settlement in history other than the Queen's. Elizabeth would retain complete and irrevocable control of her dowry, her personal properties, investments, and her person. She could live wherever she liked, could never be denied access to her children and must be consulted equally on all matters pertaining to her children's welfare.

Even Lord Hexham shook his head in wonder at all of the freedoms Sir Christopher had insisted be included. When he commented on it, Sir Christopher replied, "I need a partner, my lord. I have no use for a slave. If I wish for a companion who will obey my every word, I shall buy a hound."

When they returned to London and Lord Hexham placed the announcement of his niece's wedding in the papers, Thomas Bennet's fury was terrifying to behold. He had not planned to allow Elizabeth to stay in London for long on this visit. He only allowed her to go out of pity for his brother Gardiner's wife, who always seemed to be expecting and always had a house full of children with childhood illnesses.

When Sir Christopher first showed an interest in Lizzy, Bennet realised it was time to do something to protect his interest in her dowry. When Astley asked for her hand, Bennet gave him the opportunity to give the dowry up. When the man went away, Bennet began making arrangements with one of his tenant farmers. The man would marry Elizabeth after signing a document promising the whole of Elizabeth's dowry to Bennet. The man would receive three thousand pounds, which was more than he ever could have held at one time in his life, and he would have considered himself lucky.

But the chit was too intelligent for her own good, and outwitted him. Thomas Bennet bided his time again. He had four other daughters, all of them lovely, even the plainest one who hid behind spectacles she did not need. Eventually one of them would fall in love with a wealthy gentleman desperate enough to pay him for her hand, or perhaps he could persuade Elizabeth to pay him by interfering with her sisters' matches. He would get at least some of what he felt he was owed.

Once she lived in London with her husband, Elizabeth was able to socialise openly with her mother's family, and became quite popular in the ton, with her lively manners and lighthearted nature. She caught the attention of The Queen, who already was acquainted with her husband since his elevation, when she patented a new gadget that The Queen found to be charming and useful. They maintained a close friendship, for the young Queen had been expected to take on her duties at a very young age and was sadly lacking in truly authentic companions.

Diane was born a year after the Astley's wedding, and they were delirious with joy. Everything was so perfect. Sir Christopher had just begun a new physicians association, one that encouraged modern techniques, procedures, hygiene, and sterilisation, and discouraged dubious practices such as bloodletting and purging. He was working with his mentor to write new medical textbooks to be used in the medical colleges and worked with a set of Anglican Nuns to devise better nursing and midwifery practices. He had become incredibly wealthy in his own right, aside from the wealth he inherited from his father, before meeting Elizabeth, when he patented designs for several new medical instruments.

The couple's most happily shared interests were reading and horses. Sir Christopher was as horse mad as Elizabeth, and only owned the newest and best advancements in carriages. Unfortunately, like many gentlemen, he was partial to racing, his one weakness, and one afternoon a year after Diane's birth, he was killed in a phaeton accident in the park. Elizabeth was very adamant about safe carriage practices ever since, and refused to associate with men that she knew participated in carriage racing.

One might think Elizabeth would have eschewed horses after the incident, but instead it made her more aware of the injustices and unfairness to the beasts. Like most women of her time, horses had no control of what was done with them, and were usually mistreated and harmed. She mourned her husband deeply, but she didn't blame the animals. He chose to race, and caused the death of his animals as well as himself.

Elizabeth mourned her husband quietly, mostly at Windmere, the family estate he left their daughter in Kent. When her half-year of full mourning was complete, she removed herself to London, for the cold reception of the neighbourhood and in the village was unpleasant due to a local lady, whom she now knew to be Mr Darcy's aunt, who disapproved of her husband's elevation.

Elizabeth had no interest in the preservation of rank. She doubted the townspeople did either, but it seemed the locals were all used to giving the lady her way to make their lives easier. Since Elizabeth was the granddaughter of an earl, she did not take kindly to being treated like the local fallen woman.

She could have and probably should have stayed at Netherfield. When she met Sir Christopher, he was ostensibly visiting a local doctor from the area, but he was actually there to look over Netherfield, an estate he had quietly purchased, with the intention of having a second estate close to town. The purchase was kept quiet in order to preserve the man's peace in the area with the local matchmakers while he was visiting, since he was not yet ready to inhabit the place.

They had such hopes for Netherfield, Elizabeth mused, as the carriage rolled along its way to London, her hand absently stroking Beau's head. However, after their marriage they didn't use it. Elizabeth had friends in Meryton she would have loved to be close to, but Sir Christopher felt that the Bennets would make the situation too uncomfortable for them and for the neighbours.

As a result, Elizabeth eventually removed to town. Still wearing half-mourning, she expected that single gentlemen would take that as a signal not to pursue her, but it seemed like nothing would persuade the gentlemen of London that she was not interested. Indeed, some of the gentlemen became quite angry and aggressive, as if Elizabeth had stolen something that was rightfully theirs, by not encouraging their advances.

After some months and the two kidnapping attempts, Elizabeth spoke quietly with a general of the army while at a birthday event for The Queen at Buckingham House. She explained to him that her mistress of arms was quite good at her job, and her footmen were well trained, but she was still concerned for her safety, even though she paid her staff extremely well. The general suggested that she may find the best results from hiring all her male servants from decorated veterans who were coming home from service looking for work, and suggested that he send her one of his colonels, who would assess her house and situation and make recommendations of men he trusted.

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam presented himself at Astley House in Bruton Street the very next day. Elizabeth greeted him kindly, if not rather distantly. The mistress of arms (who had ever heard of such a thing) showed him the house, its perceived weak points, lists of the staff and their personal backgrounds, and made him aware of Lady Astley's travelling habits and other properties.

The colonel, extremely impressed by the mistress of arms and Lady Astley's efforts at security, could see now why the lady was so distant with him, and also why his general had strictly ordered him not to attempt to court the lady. She was besieged from all angles. Every single gentleman for miles was determined to wed her for her fortune, if not by wooing, then by force. He and his cousin were concerned about such dangers for their shared ward, his youngest cousin, and she only had thirty thousand pounds. A widow with her dowry intact in addition to fifty thousand pounds from her late husband, her own estate in the country, and a mansion in Mayfair, was enough to make even the most honourable bachelors salivate. Colonel Fitzwilliam sought to put her at ease by being strictly professional, yet still his gregarious self.

The lady had some good friends. The B______ family from across the street, and the C______ family were excellent connections. Connections for which his own mother, the Countess of Matlock, would sell her teeth. None of the gentlemen of those families would allow her to come to harm in their presence. Since they were not always in her presence, the lady must be able to count upon her own household and resources, rather than the protection of her friends.

He recommended that she slowly begin to replace all of her male staff with trained army veterans. Men who had served their country, and now struggled to help their families, and keep themselves fed. These men were accustomed to loyalty, honour, and duty. If she treated them well, and gave them good reason to be loyal, every one of them would stop at nothing to protect her. He also found her a personal steward. John Banks was his superior officer's batman in the field, and was injured fighting by the colonel's side.

Fitzwilliam explained to Elizabeth that the man may need to walk with a cane, but he could still ride when necessary, was extremely intelligent, and could be utterly ruthless in the protection of those he served. Banks' ability to blend in with many social ranks and converse easily with people of all sorts, as well as his shrewd and often cynical knowledge of human nature, made him indispensable to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth began the process of slowly finding alternative employment for the staff who would be replaced. Many of the ton would have turned their servants out without a second thought, but she was more considerate than that. It was another mark in her favour with the new servants coming in, to know that the lady took her responsibilities seriously, and that they would never be turned out for no reason, and with nowhere to go.

Fitzwilliam also suggested that Elizabeth make better use of her man of business, Mr Montague. The man was known to not only be a financial genius, but also a ruthless protector of the interests of his clients. He had contacts all over the city, all over the country, in other countries, in every industry and social sphere imaginable. Mr Montague could find out nearly anything and everything about anyone with astonishing speed.

So with the help of Colonel Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth's house was much safer. Mr Montague assisted her as she began investigating every person who passed through her life carefully. Before a gentleman even had time to call on her with flowers after being introduced, Elizabeth already had a file on the gentleman, as well as his estate, his fortune, his debts, and his habits, as well as everything he had ever done in his entire life. By doing so, she was able to know the worst of many wolves in sheep's clothing.

As Elizabeth continued her remembrances, the carriage entered the outskirts of London. Diane, who had crawled over to her for a nap, had her head on one side of her lap while Beau rested his head on the other. Jane had closed her eyes and laid her head back against the cushions as Mary watched out the window, wide eyed.

The months after Colonel Fitzwilliam helped her update her staff passed without too many incidents. There were gentlemen who pursued her for her fortune, and with the assistance of her loyal staff, she was able to keep the worst of them away. This year, Montague finally persuaded Elizabeth to allow Netherfield to be leased. She was not enamoured of the idea, for she still had friends in the area, and had not given up the idea of living there. The Bennets had not been able to keep her from retaining the friendship of those who had known her all her life. She corresponded with several ladies in the village, and she hoped to inhabit the estate one day, when the time was right.

She preferred to keep the property available, in case she needed to return to the area to assist her sisters. However, since no one would want to lease Windmere due to the local reputation cast on the house by its neighbour, and she did not need two country estates open to her, Montague prevailed in his persuasions, and she allowed the estate to be let to a young gentleman of good reputation a generation removed from trade, with the conditions that she not be named as the owner of the property to the tenant or the townspeople. Also, that Netherfield's generously appointed dower house must not be part of the lease, but left available to her in case her sisters needed it.

As Elizabeth expected, she regretted leasing out the property almost as soon as the papers were signed. She investigated the man and his family, and although his sister was known to be a shrew, there was nothing sordid known of them. When Diane fell ill with a childhood ailment not long after the property was let, her physician, a close family friend and the mentor to her late husband, recommended getting the child out of London for most of the summer or perhaps even longer.

Elizabeth could have gone back to Windmere, but found the idea distasteful. It was one thing when she was happily married with her husband in the house, or during her mourning, when she was not entertaining. But it was wearing to be part of a community that was not allowed to speak to her. She would have sold the place, but Diane was to inherit it on her twenty-fifth birthday or her marriage. Elizabeth was certain that by then, the troublesome neighbour would have passed on, and the neighbourhood would have forgotten the " unworthy " lady who was mistress of the estate before.

Netherfield would have been the ideal situation. For all the Bennet's unpleasantness, Elizabeth missed her friends in Meryton. For example, her best friend Charlotte was wasting away in Meryton. Even though Elizabeth had invited Charlotte to come and stay with her many times, Lady Lucas was afraid to allow it for fear that Mrs Bennet would take offence. Elizabeth understood Lady Lucas's concern, since Mrs Bennet had been her closest friend for years. However, Elizabeth could have had Charlotte married to a worthy gentleman years ago. If Elizabeth had taken up the mantle of mistress of Netherfield, Mrs Bennet would have to give way as the primary gentlewoman of the area for her titled stepdaughter, and stop many of her silly shenanigans.

However inconvenient, the estate was let, and would not be available for a year. The dower house was still hers to use, and though it might have been rather smaller than she would prefer, it was comfortable and respectable, and she would make use of it until the new tenant of Netherfield vacated the place.

Lady Astley and her child moved into the Netherfield dower house, known as Lilac Cottage, which Elizabeth paid an enormous sum to have renovated and updated quickly, and began to enjoy the comforts of being back in Meryton. The neighbourhood was mostly inviting. There were no invitations from Longbourn of course, but the rest of the neighbourhood would not have left her out of dinners and parties, so Elizabeth enjoyed the society of her youth while Diane's health thrived in the clean atmosphere of the country. Elizabeth decided that from then on, she would make every effort to keep the child in the country for the warmer months, perhaps only making short visits to the city when necessary in the summer, and only returning for longer stays in the winter.

The new tenant was rather exasperating. First, the gentleman took possession of the place just after the spring planting, and then did not take up residence or communicate with the steward all summer. Elizabeth was rather impatient with the situation. Why lease a property and not use it? The gentleman finally turned up just after the harvest, which Elizabeth managed with the steward, with a party of his family, and his friend from the north. He seemed an earnest young man, and Elizabeth did not dislike him, but he seemed rather flighty and immature to her. Perhaps it was just her widowed state. Since her husband passed, she viewed most young men, even those who were a little older than her, as young puppies. She certainly did not think much of his attempts to learn how to manage an estate, but otherwise she knew nothing unsavoury about him.

Mr Darcy was not a young puppy, she mused as the carriage passed through London, and the houses became larger and more beautiful and imposing. Mr Darcy had the presence of reliability and maturity, without the added obvious sort of experience that made her skin crawl. Elizabeth had no desire for a pox ridden husband.

As they neared Astley House, Elizabeth smiled as she watched Mary's eyes grow wider still. "Mary, I forgot this would likely be your first trip to London. What do you think so far?"

"When we first entered the city, I was rather frightened, in some locations," admitted Mary. "Then as the scenery began to look less dangerous, I have been quite astonished. The streets are so busy, and the homes are so grand. I have never seen so many people."

"Yes, the city has its pleasant and not so pleasant aspects, just as in the country," replied Elizabeth. "However, as the city is so large and there are so many people here, the disparity between pleasant and not so pleasant is exceedingly greater than in the country. You will need to be careful here, Mary. When you are with me or in our home you will be safe, however you cannot walk out to the shops or the park alone here. Always take Miss Carmichael, our mistress at arms with you, and at least two of our footmen."

"I was shocked to see you training out of doors with swords with Miss Carmichael yesterday, Lizzy. I was quite frightened by it," said Mary.

"I would not force you, Mary, but I would have you learn at least some basic self defence from Miss Carmichael. You need not train with swords unless you wish to, but there is a great deal a lady can learn about how to keep herself safe. This is strictly between us, but I must tell you that I am rather more wealthy than most people are aware of, and I am already pursued in the ton by people who have no idea of it. I have gone to great lengths to protect myself from being kidnapped into marriage since I lost my husband. I would like you to be able to defend yourself, just in case," said Elizabeth gently.

"I am not sure about swords, but I am willing to learn something from Miss Carmichael," replied Mary practically. "I was too young to remember her incident, but Mama and Lady Lucas have spoken of it many times, and I have seen her poor face. I would never want to suffer such an awful fate."

Elizabeth was sure Mrs Bennet had spoken of Miss Carmichael's assault many times. Elizabeth herself should never have learned of the incident, having only been eight years old when it happened, but she was made aware of all the distressing details by Mrs Bennet, who relished discussing it in great detail in her mean spirited fashion. It was because of women like Mrs Bennet that poor Miss Carmichael was turned out of her home. The ladies of her neighbourhood insisted that because she was no longer pure, her presence was detrimental to her younger sisters and the young ladies of the county. Her parents had no choice but to turn her out of their home or find their two younger daughters to be considered unmarriageable.

They could, however, have sent her away to family in another part of the country or at the very least, have found her a situation. Instead they turned her out with nothing rather than have her cause them any further expense. Elizabeth despised the custom of ruining and casting out of young women who were victims of evil men. She never followed it herself, and spoke to whomever she liked.

Elizabeth was rather notorious in the city, and regarded as highly eccentric, travelling about with an armed female guard with a disfigured face, and her tendency to discuss industry with forward thinking gentlemen and noblemen. She could get away with it due to her highly titled friends, and connection with The Queen. One would imagine her eccentric reputation and her disfigured armed guard might deter some suitors, but apparently her wealth was sufficient enough for most men to disregard such concerns.

Jane opened her eyes as the carriage pulled up before Astley House. "Lizzy, this cannot be your home. Your husband was only a physician, and in Meryton you only occupy a dower house! I always expected you to live in a neighbourhood like Aunt and Uncle Gardiner's!"

Elizabeth laughed. "Only a physician who was honoured by The Queen, Jane. Sir Christopher was already exceedingly wealthy when he was elevated by Her Majesty, already owning two estates by the time we were wed, and I have been very successful in my own business endeavours.

"In any case, sisters, now that we are here, I am exceedingly happy to welcome you both to Astley House," said Elizabeth as the ladies were greeted by her butler.