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“Tell her the complication, please,” Mr Bennet said, and the atmosphere became a bit more…strained.

Mr Gardiner sighed. “The thousand pounds is yours outright, with which you may do as you please. In order for you to receive the balance of the bequest, however, you must live on the property for no less than eleven months of the year. After ten years of proven residence, the house and land become yours. The annual two hundred and fifty pounds continues until your death, although only as long as you inhabit the home for the requisite number of months each year.”

Elizabeth swallowed. A house, an income…it was unbelievable. But the property was in Sheffield, which might as well have been on the moon, it was so unknown and such a distance from her home and family. Eleven months of annual residence, realistically, meant only one visit home per year. She knew absolutely no one in Sheffield, or anywhere near Sheffield. Her twenty-first birthday had taken place but one week previous; she could hardly live alone, and none of her sisters were old enough to be acceptable chaperons.

“It is…beyond generous,” she said, her voice choked. “But it seems to me that in exchange for five or six shillings, it is far too much. Papa, do not you agree that accepting the thousand pounds is more than enough, and I ought to refuse all the rest?”

Mrs Philips squeaked a protest, and Mr Gardiner opened his mouth, probably to add his own, but her father held up one hand. It was a few moments before he spoke, however, as if he were having difficulty forming words.

“My girl,” he said at last, his voice gruff, “I did not raise you to be stupid.”

“Oh, but…but how? I cannot live there alone!”

“Your aunt Philips has agreed to accompany you for the first few months,” Mr Gardiner said, glancing at his elder sister. “You know our Begonia; within a fortnight, she will know everyone worth knowing, and have the life histories of each. She will find a suitable companion for you from her new acquaintances, someone who can also act as a housekeeper and whom you agree is acceptable.”

“You know I will do it,” echoed Aunt Philips. “I expect it will be rather easy for me.”

This was true. Aunt Philips was not precisely an ideal chaperon, in that she was hardly the type to concern herself with the proprieties to any great extent. But she was protective, sociable, and friendly, and would find someone agreeable and competent if such a person existed anywhere near Sheffield. Most importantly, she would listen to Elizabeth, and take her wishes into consideration.

Mr Bennet cleared his throat. “Mr Barnes has assured us that the property is truly habitable and appropriate. If you will move into the property straight away, he has agreed that the two hundred and fifty pounds shall be made available to you at once, without delay, in order that any immediate necessary expenses might be covered without dipping into the thousand pounds—leaving that sum to earn interest and be available in the event of any emergency. Evidently, there is a couple caretaking the place already, living in the coach house. The man acts as both gardener and coachman, and his wife is reportedly an excellent cook. If all is fitting, you and Begonia might take occupancy immediately.”

Elizabeth wanted to protest—why the hurry? Did her father fear Mr Darcy might change his mind? “Jane, perhaps you, too, would come with us?”

Her sister opened her mouth to answer, but it was Mrs Gardiner who spoke, very gently. “Our dear Jane had a caller yesterday. Mr Bingley has apparently only just discovered she was in town. This morning, flowers were delivered to her. From him.”

Jane blushed.

Selfishly, Elizabeth was not quite as excited for her sister as she might once have been. Someday, someday soon, she was certain that she would be thrilled at this opportunity for a home of her own, a life of her own, and be overjoyed for Jane’s apparent forthcoming happiness. It was only in her present benumbed state that it felt like banishment. “Are you certain this is what I should do?” she asked them all, almost wishing for a different answer than she knew would be given.

“If it were not, I promise I would fight it with every ounce of my being,” Mr Bennet said and, standing abruptly, strode from the room without another word.

Mr Darcy’s gibe echoed in her head. ‘Your family’s future is a sinking ship…’ It seemed that her father was not entirely indifferent to that pitiless future drowning which her would-be suitor had foretold.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

WHOLLY OVERPOWERED BY THE SIGHT

It was a temptation to insist that she ought to wait, and travel later—perhaps after her aunt Philips had confirmed that the house was suitable. But that would be unfair to her aunt, who was already giving up a great deal of her own time to see this adventure through. Mrs Philips was eager to leave at once to fulfil her duties in the matter. Besides, delaying the inevitable felt like cowardice, and for Elizabeth to live for weeks or even months with this change hanging over her head seemed unbearable. Furthermore, she had not been home in several weeks. To go home to Longbourn and settle in, and then try to separate again—well, it would make everything harder. And, finally, a tendril of feeling was beginning to sprout. It was not yet anticipation; but should her aunt be the one to pick out new curtains, new rugs, new furnishings as might be needed? Their tastes were nowhere near identical.

They set out Thursday, early in the morning, and made good time in good weather, reaching Grantham by sunset. By rising early, they reached Sheffield by mid-afternoon, and their postilion was able to find the house easily by following Mr Barnes’s concise directions.

“It is lovely, Lizzy,” Mrs Philips said with enthusiasm. “See all the flowers! It shows uncommonly well!”

Elizabeth swallowed back the tears of tension that had plagued her since rising that morning, only to be required to prevent tears of relief. The house truly appeared delightful, at least from the outside—certainly not Netherfield-sized, nor even Longbourn. Yet, its proportions were pleasing, with red-brick charm and simple stone lintels framing a door painted a bright, welcoming shade of blue. The modest drive’s neat sweep was edged with blooming daffodils.

Mr and Mrs Hawthorne, the caretakers, walked out to greet them. Mr Hawthorne had little to say beyond a polite greeting. Mrs Hawthorne was more loquacious.

“Welcome to Meadowbrook House, ma’am! We are so happy to see it opened and the holland covers removed! I just know you will be happy here,” she enthused. Probably quite naturally, she addressed Mrs Philips, plainly believing she was the newest resident.

“Oh, not me,” Mrs Philips replied cheerfully. “Allow me to present my niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who shall henceforth reside at Meadowbrook as its mistress.”

To her credit, only by the slight widening of her eyes did Mrs Hawthorne show her surprise at Elizabeth’s youth. “How wonderful to meet you, my dear. Might I show you about? Mr Hawthorne takes care of everything outside, and will see to the unloading of your trunks, whilst I have been taking care of what is inside. For the future, I believe my talents are best used in the kitchen, as you can tell from my figure.” She chuckled, patting her belly, and Elizabeth liked her immediately. Perhaps she was not so refined as the servants at Netherfield, nor so formal as Mrs Hill, but there was a twinkle in her eye and a kindness in her voice that was reassuring when one was ‘a stranger in a strange land’.

“Thank you,” Elizabeth said. “Ought we to stay at The George tonight? We were not sure you would be prepared for us.”

“I took the liberty of having my niece, Lucy, on hand, as Mr Barnes sent word you’d be arriving any day now. She can do for you, until you hire your own people. We already had the mattresses aired, the beds readied, and food and coal brought in. But of course, if you want to hire your help first, I can provide you names of likely candidates, as you will know best who will suit.”

“I am sure that Lucy will do admirably, until such time as my aunt and I find who we need,” Elizabeth said.