Chapter 1

‘Mr. Collins will turn us out before Mr. Bennet is cold in his grave, and if you are not kind to us, brother, I do not know what we shall do.’

Elizabeth Bennet sat with the rest of the family in stunned silence, the dreadful news just imparted by her father still echoing round the family parlour. Every Christmas for as long as she could remember, within hours of the Gardiner family arriving her mother had spouted the same phrase. Every year it was the same sentence, the same worry. Elizabeth wondered if her mother had it written down somewhere so that she could practice in advance for her annual recitation.

Never had it occurred to anyone in either family that it would be Mrs. Gardiner that would die first, and that the same accident would have Mr. Gardiner fighting for his life. The Gardiners were an oasis of calm and stability in Elizabeth’s life. Her aunt might have imparted the same instruction and advice as her mother but it was measured and helpful, not fraught with shrieks and attacks of ‘nerves’. Elizabeth knew that over the last five years she had placed her Aunt Madeline on somewhat of a pedestal. And now she was gone. Elizabeth’s memories of her Uncle Gardiner were split between work and home. When he was working he was in his office or his warehouses. Elizabeth had accompanied him there many times. It was down at the docks and he had counselled her repeatedly about the dangers there with so much cargo being unloaded from ships, and goods being transported to and between warehouses. He took her, and his own, safety very seriously. And yet for all these precautions the accident had happened on a random street in London. Two carts brushed against each other, a frayed rope snapped and a tun of wine had been displaced. Madeline Gardener had been killed instantly and Edward Gardener’s legs had been crushed from above the knees.

She paused her introspection and returned her attention to the dining room, looking around surveying the occupants. Her two youngest sisters were stunned into silence and they were sitting there as if unsure how to act or react. As she watched them the hysterical wailing of their mother gave them their own cues and they too burst into excessive grief. Looking at her mother for once Elizabeth was filled with sympathy for the woman. The whole house was no stranger to her ‘nerves’, and the caterwauling that accompanied their near daily onset. But this was different. This was her younger brother, fighting for his life at only 33 years of age, his wife dead at 31. For once lamentations were to be expected. Jane was attending their mother, the tracks of tears on her cheeks testament to her own grief. But they all knew that Jane was the only person in the house that could calm their mother.

Looking over at her father he was slumped in a chair, the letter from London still held limply in his hand. Elizabeth loved her father, she loved both her parents but her father most of all. She knew this was exactly the kind of circumstance that he was poor at dealing with. Loving him did not make her blind to his faults. A third son, not expecting to inherit, he had been happy in academia until a scarlet fever outbreak in Hertfordshire wiped out his parents, together with both his brothers and their families. So in addition to dealing with the loss of his entire family he had been thrust into the unexpected, and ultimately unwelcome, position of Master of the Longbourn Estate.

It was after her 10 th birthday that Jane had quietly explained to Elizabeth the background to how their father inherited Longbourn. Jane’s own questions had been brushed aside by their parents but she had asked her aunt and uncle when visiting them in London. When it was explained to her, and she in turn had explained it to Elizabeth, neither of them understood why it was something that was not discussed at home.

But Elizabeth thought about this background and overlaid it on her own observations of her father. It was clear that Thomas Bennet was a reluctant landowner and that his true love were the Classics. He spoke both Latin and Greek and his library contained many volumes both translated and in the original. Elizabeth herself could read most of the Latin texts but had only a smattering of Greek. Where Elizabeth excelled was in arithmetic. From the age of 10 she had kept the ledgers for the estate and over the last six years she had learned all the intricacies of estate management, or at least as much as she was able to as a young woman who never left her father’s library. Longbourn did not have a steward and her father was frustratingly inconsistent, and on many occasions downright indolent, about managing the estate.

However much her father annoyed her with his attitude Elizabeth knew that she was circumscribed in what she could achieve herself. She knew the tenant farmers, she knew their families, but any attempt to direct them would be met with instant derision and probably outright hostility. Longbourn returned just over ￡2,100 per annum but Elizabeth was convinced that with proper oversight it should be close to ￡3,300. Such a sum would allow her father to start to lay aside money for the dowries of his daughters. Sadly it was one more thing that her father had neglected.

Which brought her back to their current situation. Elizabeth’s aptitude with Longbourn’s ledgers and finance generally had come to the attention of her uncle. For the last four years she had spent three weeks every quarter with the Gardiners. Oftentimes it extended to a full month. Elizabeth had been delighted to spend so much time with her aunt and uncle and assist them with their growing family. But what delighted her most of all was spending time with her uncle at his office. She would sit and review all his ledgers, and invariably found small errors. Over the years her uncle got her more involved in the paperwork of his business. She reviewed manifests for him, sat with him while he explained contracts to her and, most memorably, she had discovered a fraud. It had cost her uncle a small amount of money but it had the potential to have ruined him, if left unchecked.

Elizabeth remembered how pleased and relieved both her Uncle Edward and Aunt Madeline had been that day. Suddenly the death of her aunt and her uncle’s life hanging in the balance finally sank in and the tears flowed. Her grief was quiet but no less heartfelt than that of her mother. The kind woman who understood and indulged her favourite niece was gone forever. She closed her eyes and let the feelings of emptiness wash over her. She had no idea how much time passed but eventually she became aware of an arm around her shoulders and a small hand in her own.

“Lizzie, are you okay?”

Her sister Mary held her as she calmed herself, the tears finally drying.

“Thank you, Mary. I just realised that I will never see Aunt Madeline again. I needed that release of grief but I am better now.”

Her small cathartic moment could not have been for long as everyone was still in the same places. But then the terrified lamentations of her mother every Christmas returned to her memories. ‘If you are not kind to us brother, I do not know what we shall do’. The Gardiner family had been torn asunder and someone had to do something. Years later Mary would proclaim that Elizabeth had an epiphany. She took a deep breath and sat up straighter.

“Papa, may I see the letter please?”

Wordlessly he passed the pages over. She scanned them quickly noting that there was a short note from a doctor and a longer letter from the Gardiner’s solicitor. The doctor’s note was hurried and nothing more than a bare recitation of the facts. Aunt Gardiner had died instantly while Uncle Gardiner’s legs had been crushed. The bleeding had been stemmed sufficiently to save his life but immediately upon arrival at the hospital both legs had been amputated above the knee. If there was no infection then he should recover.

The letter from the solicitor was surprisingly heartfelt. The tone at the start tried to remain impersonal but by the end you could tell that the solicitor was also a friend of Mr. Gardiner. He requested urgent assistance to deal with not just the Gardiner children but also the business; Gardiner Import/Export. The final paragraph emphasised the urgent need to bury Mrs. Gardiner due to the heat of the summer. It needed to be said, but it was still stark to read it on the letter. Elizabeth took charge and rang the bell.

“Mrs. Hill, we have received dreadful news from London. Mrs. Bennet’s brother, my Uncle Gardiner, has been dreadfully injured in an accident in town. His wife was killed in the same accident. Please have one of the grooms saddle Daisy for me. I need to go to Meryton immediately. I presume that my Aunt and Uncle Philips have been told but I do not know for sure. This is not something that I wish to assign to a groom.”

“At once Miss Elizabeth. My condolences on the family’s loss.”

Mrs. Hill knew their mother better than anyone and would speak to her later when she was calmer. In the meantime she left to deal with Elizabeth’s instructions.

“Lizzy, you mean to go to Meryton now?”

“Yes Mary. I am almost certain that the Philips will have also received notification but we cannot be sure. I will go and see them immediately and I am positive they will return with me. We need to figure out who needs to get ready to go to London tomorrow.”

“All of us? We are seven plus the Philips’ so there will be nine of us.”

Elizabeth nodded, the logistics of them all going to London intruding on her thoughts.

“I doubt it will be anything like that many. Most probably four, at most five.”

Elizabeth made to leave the room but suddenly stopped.

“Black dye.”

Mary grasped what she meant.

“Come, we will find Mrs. Hill and see if she has any laid away.”

Mrs. Hill had anticipated them and was supervising the two scullery maids as they carried sealed barrels from the back of a storeroom.

“Oh excellent Mrs. Hill. Mary, while I am in Meryton could you select a dress for each of us to be dyed?”

“Of course Lizzie.”

With a quick embrace they parted and Elizabeth mounted Daisy and headed the one mile into Meryton. She disliked riding but knew the essentials. There was no time to be wasted over her preferences. She was nearing the outskirts of the small town when she spotted the Philips’ carriage heading towards her. She turned Daisy around and waited for the carriage to pull alongside. Her Aunt Martha was sobbing quietly into a handkerchief so it was her Uncle Paul that spoke as they returned to Longbourn.

“It was good of you to come and check that we had received the news. Thank you, Lizzie. How is everyone?”

Elizabeth pursed her lips ruefully.

“As expected. Mama is.”

Elizabeth stopped.

“She is shattered. She has worried about Papa dying and our future for years. But she always assumed Uncle Edward would be there. That he is so grievously injured and Aunt Madeline is dead. Well, her grief is deep.”

Her aunt had said nothing so far but Elizabeth could see her nodding behind the handkerchief. It was only a few minutes before they were at Longbourn and Elizabeth led the Philips into the parlour.

“Oh Martha, our poor dear Edward, and Madeline dead as well.”

The arrival of her sister gave fresh voice to Mrs. Bennet’s grief and set off her two youngest daughters as well. Aunt Philips’ arrival did allow Jane to slip away and she and Elizabeth embraced in the hall. Their twin questions of ‘how are you?’ were said over each other. Even at this time of sadness it generated a small smile. Elizabeth indicated that Jane go first.

“I had just managed to get Mama to calm down when Aunt Philips arrived. Kitty and Lydia are following her example.”

Elizabeth nodded.

“When Papa first read the news they did not seem to know how to act. When Mama started wailing they followed her example. The four of them will calm down eventually I am sure.”

Jane nodded.

“How are you Lizzie? And where is Mary?”

“I am doing as well as can be expected, trying to keep busy. Mary is with Mrs. Hill identifying dresses for us all that can be dyed. If we can get them dyed before dinner then they should be able to be worn tomorrow.”

“Thank you for getting that started. I will go and help Mary and Mrs. Hill.”

The parlour door opened and Mr. Bennet and Mr. Philips left the room, the latter closing the door behind them.

“Lizzie, can you join us in my study please.”

With a squeeze of their hands Jane and Elizabeth separated. She followed her father and uncle to the study. It was also his library, or his ‘bookroom’, or the estate office, depending on the occasion. Once her father was sitting behind his desk she returned the two letters, laying them flat on the surface.

“Did you receive the same letters as we did Paul?”

Elizabeth watched as her Uncle Paul produced his letters. It took only a cursory glance to see that the letter from the solicitor was identical.

“There is a lot that we need to do, and we do not have much, if any, time. It is the summer and Madeline needs to be buried as quickly as possible. Thomas, do you have black suit?”

“Er, yes I do.”

“Good, so do I. Once this meeting is over I suggest that you head to London immediately to deal with the identification and the undertaker. If we can get that dealt with late this evening then Madeline can be buried tomorrow.”

Thomas Bennet was nodding absent-mindedly.

“Uncle Philips may I make a suggestion?”

“Of course you can Lizzie.”

“I think that you, Aunt Philips, Papa and myself should leave as soon as possible for London.”

Both men started to speak but Elizabeth held up her hand.

“Please let me finish and explain then you may say your piece. There are at least four separate things that need to be dealt with. Foremost of them is dealing with the Gardiner children. Their mother is dead and their father is fighting for his life. I believe Jane is needed here to help with Mama so I propose that I move to Gracechurch Street immediately and help with the children until we are more certain of my Uncle’s recovery. Aunt Philips can go to the hospital and sit with Uncle Gardiner, she is his sister and can up and leave Meryton more easily than Mama. While she is with her brother the two of you can deal with the undertaker and organise the funeral. Papa, you can then return to Longbourn and let Mama know how Uncle Gardiner is recovering. The final thing that needs to be dealt with is the business. I have worked with Uncle Gardiner for four years and can make sure that nothing changes until he recovers. I know I will have no authority but I am the family member most known to his clerks.”

Paul Philips and Thomas Bennet looked at each other, trying to keep their faces expressionless.

“When did you think of all this Lizzie?”

Her father’s question was valid and Elizabeth was not going to dissemble.

“When you first announced the shocking news the thing that sprang into my mind immediately was Mama’s exhortation to Uncle Gardiner every Christmas. She was relying on family to save us. Now the Gardiner family is in desperate need of help. And I am going to do everything that I can to help. I am 16 years old, and last night the most important thing I had to look forward to was coming out at the Michaelmas Assembly in Meryton. Now that seems impossibly trivial compared to the assisting the Gardiners.”

Once again, the two men were stunned into silence but Elizabeth could see that her words had made an impact on both men. Her uncle nodded decisively.

“All of what you have said makes sense. Bennet, you and I will talk to our wives and tell them the plan. Martha and I will return home and quickly pack. We both have mourning clothes so we should not take long. Once we leave you should pack as well.”

Philips was looking at Mr. Bennet who nodded.

“I will.”

“Lizzie, I think you should pack as you normally do when you visit for a month. We do not know how long you will have to remain at Gracechurch Street. We need to leave as soon as possible so let us all do our part.”

Thomas Bennet followed Paul Philips out of the study to return to their wives in the parlour. Elizabeth did not want to be dragged into any arguments and retreated to her room, stopping only to request that a trunk be brought up. Jane found her looking through all her belongings.

“Lizzie, are you going to London?”

Elizabeth pulled Jane over to the window bench seat and they sat, hands clasped lightly together.

“Jane, I told Papa that I am going to move to Gracechurch Street to help with the family. Edward is older and will be better able to cope, to understand. But the younger three are only seven, six and three. They will need a lot of love and support.”

Jane gnawed her bottom lip before looking Elizabeth in the eye.

“Do you think Uncle Gardiner will recover?”

The question that no one was able to answer.

“I can only pray that he does. It is in God’s hands now. But I am going to plan and assume that he will.”

“Yes, we must all pray for him. What can I do?”

“I am going to leave Sarah alone to let her pack for me. I will just get in the way otherwise. Can you instruct Mr. Hill to pack for father please? He may have started but Papa is still in a daze. I am going to go and talk to Mama.”

“Do you think she will object?”

“Papa had given his permission but I still wish to talk to her. It is her brother after all.”

As they stood Jane pulled Elizabeth into a hug, holding it for longer than normal. As they left Elizabeth’s room they saw Mr. Hill, their father’s valet, carrying a valise into their father’s bed chamber.

“Come, I will accompany you to speak to Mama.”

They returned to the parlour and found Mrs. Bennet surrounded by her three youngest daughters.

“Mama, I would like to speak to you before I leave for London.”

Mrs. Bennet was uncharacteristically quiet and merely nodded her head.

“Papa informed you that I would be accompanying him and the Philips this afternoon?”

“Yes, he did. Thank you, Lizzie.”

Those last three words told all five children how much this had affected Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth was very rarely thanked or praised.

“I will be staying at Gracechurch Street until Uncle Gardiner is recovered and able to return home. We will then reconsider what needs to be done. I will write regularly and as soon as Uncle Gardiner is home then you will be able to visit, okay?”

Mrs. Bennet nodded, her tears no longer flowing.

“I have told Martha to tell Edward that he is in my prayers, and I ask that you do as well please.”

“I will Mama. Our prayers will be heard and he will be home soon.”

This last was nothing more than deep faith but needed to be said nonetheless.

90 minutes later the four travellers were on their way.

--

The Bennet carriage pulled up outside the Gardiner townhouse on Gracechurch Street in the early evening. To find what felt like half the street inside. Everyone was well-meaning but it was utterly chaotic. Mr. Bennet retreated, this situation was not his forte, and Mrs. Philips demonstrated that she was the sister of Mrs. Bennet and started to make a scene. It was left to Mr. Philips and Elizabeth to make sense of everything.

“Can I have everyone’s attention please. Everyone. Please!”

The last was said in a loud voice and Elizabeth could tell that a piercing whistle was next.

“Thank you. Mr. Bennet and I need to make arrangements with the undertaker. Can someone please give me his address?”

A card was passed over to Mr. Philips.

“Excellent. My wife and niece will see to the children. I thank you all most sincerely for your care this day while we travelled. Given the season the funeral will be tomorrow. Details will be posted on the parish noticeboard and you are all welcome to attend.”

It only took one or two couples to start to leave before the crowd departed. Mr. Philips and Elizabeth thanked everyone as they left. Once the front door was closed, if only briefly, Philips turned to his niece.

“I am sorry to abandon you with your Aunt but your father and I need to make the arrangements for Madeline.”

“Do not worry, I know that this needs to be done immediately. I will have cook prepare soup and a cold repast for when you return.”

Mr. Philips squeezed her shoulder before dragooning his brother-in-law into accompanying him to the undertakers. Elizabeth straightened her back and squeezed her eyes closed for a moment, preparing herself for the task ahead.

The Gardiner children.