Chapter Three: Mr. Bennet Comes to Town

Mr. Edward Gardiner smiled down at the letter he now held in his hands. It was a testament to it’s author. Short and rather abrupt, with a small amount of brashness that somehow managed not to offend. Thomas had been stubborn and alone for far too long. Edward was happy to see that his brother would not be wallowing in his own self pity for any longer, or at least not for long if the ladies of the ton, and his mother had anything to do with it. Henrietta Bennet had allowed Thomas his way before, she had allowed him to settle down with a country lass and it had ended in tragedy for all involved. No, He would not be allowed to be left to his own devices this time. Edward chuckled and called for his wife to come into the room.

She was close by as usual and she glided into the room with a grace that still brought a smile to Edward’s face. She was still as beautiful as the day that he had met her. Nothing had changed her in his eyes and he was sure nothing would. He could only hope that his brother would find such felicity in his next marriage.

“Yes my dear?” she asked with a smile seeming to know where his mind had taken him. She walked directly over to his side of the desk and sat on the arm of his chair.

He looked up at her at with an indulgent smile. It was moments like these that he was loath to let slip away, as he feared would become the case, if he was correct in assuming she was in fact increasing. They had been trying for so long, and he did not wish to build his hopes too soon. He sighed and put his fears aside for the moment. “We will be having company in a short while, my love. It appears as if your brother has decided to come to town for the season.” He indicated the letter on his desk.

Her eyebrows shot up into her hairline. It was very unlike her brother to visit town, let alone during this time. And he never visited. “Decided or was forced by Mother?”

Edward tried to hold back the bark of laughter unsuccessfully. “Go ahead, my love. You may read the letter.”

That was all that Madeline needed before she excitedly reached for the correspondence.

My Dear Brother, 

I hope that this letter finds you and your wife in good health. Those at Longbourn are all well, though I have more aches in my joints than I remember having in past seasons. A curse of having young children, I suppose. It probably comes as a surprise that I am writing. I know that I have not been the best correspondent, and for that I apologise. I fear I have much to apologise for, but it can only be done sufficiently in person. Mother insists that I have become too much of a recluse. It truly has been far too long since I’ve seen either you or my sister. Life here at Longbourn has not changed for the most part. You may tell Madeline that mother hired Ms. Hamilton as she suggested and the girls have taken to her quite well. 

The purpose for my letter is as follows. It is long past the time for me to find a new bride. The girls are in need of a permanent female influence on their lives and mother grows bored here in the country. Therefore, I have decided to relocate to London for the duration of the season. I have taken the liberty of sending word and having mother’s townhome opened and hope that you and Madeline will visit us when we arrive. I expect it to be in no more than a fortnight, before we reach town.

Regards 

Thomas Bennet ect.

Madeline couldn’t help but chuckle at her brother’s abruptness. She was happy to see that that much of his personality had not changed since they had last seen each other. It had indeed been a long time. Not since that first year after the death of his wife, had they been able to meet. She hoped beyond all hope that he was serious in moving on. She doubted however in his motives.

“Well what say you? Shall we make plans to call?” Her husband asked with a sly smile. He already knew the answer. It had broken her heart when her brother had pushed her away after Fannie's death. Madeline only nodded with a smile. Edward leaned up and kissed her on the cheek. She placed a hand on his face and touched her lips to his. When she left the study some time later he set to writing a response to Thomas.

It was two weeks later when the missive came to their home, informing them that the Bennet’s had arrived safely in London and that Thomas wished for them to call that day. It was just like him, to forget that they might have other plans. However, seeing as Madeline had kept their social agenda clear for just this reason they had no other engagements. So it was but just a few hours later that the Gardiners were admitted in the Bennet’s townhouse.

It was a beautiful place to be sure. The furniture was fine, and the decorations in the latest style but there was a warmness about the space that made it feel like a home and not merely a cold place to sleep, something that Edward had always loved about the house where he had first met his Madeline. The curtains were all pulled back to allow the afternoon sun to shine in and give the whole place a healthy glow. There was a small park just outside, that Madeline had told him was a favorite spot of hers and her brother’s while they were in town. Nathanial, their late father had always hated town, and made it a requirement to have a little bit of wilderness nearby.

They were shown into the morning room where they saw two little girls playing on the floor. They had not seen Jane since she was one and the last time they met Elizabeth she had still been but a babe. They were night and day, the two. Jane with her bright head of blonde hair and Elizabeth with dark curls that framed a still round face. The biggest difference was in Thomas however. Gone was her lively and young brother. In his place was a man that looked far above his years. He had a tiredness in his eyes that Madeleine had never seen before. His hair was graying around his temples and there were lines around his face that marked the passing of time. However, he was smiling and that was something Madeline always considered synonymous with her brother, smiles and laughter.

Their mother was seated in her favorite chair. She always looked at home in London. Though Maddie hadn’t seen her mother in quite a few years she had changed very little. Her hair, now gray and white with age, was still pulled up into the same style she had always worn. Her eyes lit up when they met her daughters and Madeline nearly cried then and there.

“Brother,” she said softly to gain his attention. His eyes turned in surprise to hers. He stood from his chair and in the next moment she was engulfed in his arms. “It has been too long, Thomas,” she chastised into his shoulder.

Thomas squeezed her tighter. “It has. I apologise, Maddie”

She could not be angry at him. Not anymore. Thomas released her and shook hands with Edward and then turned to make the introductions to the girls. Jane smiled shyly from under her lashes and held on to Elizabeth’s hand as if it were her lifeline. Elizabeth however stuck her little hand out after the introductions were made. Edward laughed as he shook the little girls’ hand. “Yes, yes they are lovely little girls. What about your darling mama?”

“I have missed you too, mother.” Madeline said going to kiss her mother’s cheeks as the girls giggled. Not long after the girls were ushered upstairs for afternoon lessons and the adults were left alone for afternoon tea.

“So brother,” Madeline hedged “are you going to tell me the real reason you’ve decided to come to town, or shall I pry it from mama?”

Thomas could not help but laugh. “Still haven’t changed at all have you, Maddie? Can you not control your wife, Edward?” The question would have been offensive if he had not been laughing through the entirety of the statement.

“Not at all,” Edward answered with a laugh of his own. “She’s been duced difficult to train.”

Madeline was not at all amused and neither was her mother. They both let it be known to both men in the room with nearly identical looks that had Edward and Thomas sobering with a cough.

After a few moments of silence Madeline asked again, “Well?”

Thomas concentrated on his tea cup. “If you do not explain, Thomas. I will.” His mother said with a resounding tone. Knowing that he would not get out of answering his younger sister’s questions, Thomas sighed. She was as stubborn as he when she set her mind to something. “It’s just time, Madeleine. Fannie's been gone for six years, quite nearly seven. The girls need a maternal influence in their lives.”

His mother made a humph from her chair. “And what precisely do you call my role in their lives Thomas Geoffrey Bennet?”

“I meant no offense, Mother. I know that you are wonderful with them but you miss your friends here. I know you still write but I knew that I was keeping you from where you truly wanted to be.”

“My darling boy. Why did you not say something sooner. I would have...”

Thomas interrupted his mother quickly, “You would have told me that you were exactly where you wanted to be. And you would have been lying to me, mother. Your home has always been here. The girls, they need a mother.”

“And what about you, Thomas? What do you need?” His mother asked slowly emphasizing nearly every word.

“Does it matter what I need?”

She sat her cup down on the saucer with a loud clank. “Yes, it does. And do not use that tone of voice with me.”

“I’m sorry mama,” Thomas sighed. “What I need is for my girls to be happy. For them to not feel as if they are missing something, for you to be happy once more. ”

It was Mrs. Bennet’s time to sigh, “Thomas, I was happy. I am happy. Do not delude yourself. At least admit that you need this as much as the girls. My dear, it is fine to not want to be alone any longer.”

Thomas really hadn’t thought about his feelings toward the situation. He had been thinking of this in only the aspects of how it would affect the girls’ lives, not his. Was he lonely? With a start he realised that the answer was yes.

“I suppose I am afraid.”

“Afraid of what?” Madeline asked for the first time in several minutes.

“Of making the same mistake. Do not misunderstand me, Fannie gave me the two most beautiful gifts in the world, but...”

“Well that’s quite simple, Thomas. We will simply not let you.” That made him laugh. He could only imagine his little sister and his mother interrogating every female in the ton, dismissing each one with indifference when they proved to be acting a part.

“Mama is right, Thomas. Though mother hasn’t been to town in a few seasons, I have. I kept in contact with mother’s old acquaintances, so it should not be difficult to get invitations to the parties. I remember they were all quite disappointed when you never came to town for a season. In fact Lady Newberry has already inquired about calling here again mama. I hope it is fine that I told her she could?”

“Of course, dear. I would love to see Evelyn once again and we do have quite a bit to sort out. Now Thomas, be a dear and show Edward to the study and discuss whatever it is men discuss. Madeline and I have business of our own to tend to.”

Thomas shook his head and drained the rest of the tea in his cup. “Well then brother, it looks as if we are being dismissed. Come and let me show you the rest of the house.” Edward looked at him in surprise. “Honestly, Edward. If you have not learned by now that once your wife sets her mind to something it shall not be changed. And I will tell you she is only surpassed in tenacity by her mother. We would be better off doing as they bid.”

Before too long it was time for the Gardeners to depart, however they left with a promise to dine tomorrow night. As they were saying their goodbyes the footman came in with the post. In it were several invitations including one to a ball at Almack's the following week. Madeline giggled at the look on her brother’s face. “The infamous marriage mart,” she laughed. “It seems as if the ton has heard of a new gentleman in town. Take care brother. If you thought Fannie's mother was bad, she has nothing on the mother’s of the ton.”

“Have you forgotten already? I have nothing to worry about.”

“Really? How so?”

“Because I have you, of course. Defender of my honor. I take such vows seriously, Madeline. One should always take one’s honor serious.”

“You are impossible. How I have missed you.”

“I promise never again, Maddie.”

“Till tomorrow brother.”

It was almost immediately after the carriage drove away that the questions started forming. He honestly had no clue what to expect. He assumed the marriage market had not changed much in his absence. It would be a gaggle of society mothers trying to land their daughters a rich husband. There would be an equal amount of gentlemen, who have few manors, and even fewer scruples. There would be shy fluttering of eyelashes, and discrete flirtations behind fans. It was all so tiring.

He was aware of his standing in such a lot. He was a moderately rich, landed gentleman, from an old but untitled family. His mother had connections in all of the right circles. Indeed, he would be quite a catch and there would be many out to catch him. Madeline was right. He would need to be on his guard. He could not fall prey to another fortune hunter. He needed an example for his girls. She needed to be refined, accomplished, but also intelligent and witty. First thing tomorrow he would need to go to the tailor. He had a ball to attend, and he intended to look his best.