by Suzan Lauder
Thus, the marriage settlements for Jane and Elizabeth had been adjusted to secretly share the unentailed Shelton fortune, other than that from Lady Shelton’s marriage settlements, with Kitty and Lydia. Thomas and Fanny agreed to the scheme because, by then, any disapprobation by the ton would have little effect on the families; it would allow all the Bennet girls to have similar fortunes and for Kitty and Lydia to lay claim to their titles.
Thomas and Fanny decided to remain at Longbourn, where they could weather any awe, interest and eventual teasing of their neighbours once they found out his real identity and had to call Fanny, Lady Shelton. The Bingleys were to take their place at Shelton Manor. Both Thomas and Fanny were relieved that, even though they might have to wait several years, there would come a point where they would be able to live quietly in their home county, with perhaps a bit more notoriety than before, and to be able to freely travel to Derbyshire to see their grandchildren.
When little Thomas was born, the plans had been adjusted once again. All involved agreed that, until he became of age, the Bingleys would live at Shelton Manor and manage the estate on behalf of young Thomas, Viscount Westley, the heir of the Earl of Shelton. They would also purchase a property of their own that they could pass on to little Charles.
The groom, Mr. Henry Lucas, was surprisingly calm. After a formal courtship of nearly three years, Mary’s wedding to the young law clerk was long anticipated. He and Mary were also privy to the secret plans. The wedding settlements drawn up by Mr. Philips contained a generous sum, and upon her parents’ deaths, the expected Gloucestershire properties and Longbourn would become Mary’s since she would always be known as the only child of the real Thomas Bennet.
One young lady was conspicuously absent from the wedding. A few questioned this, but a worthy excuse was made; it was too far a distance to travel for a woman in service.
Maria Lucas had left Meryton shortly after her decision to betray her amour, once she realized the villainy of George Wickham. It seemed incredible that a family in Ireland was desperate for a nanny and Maria was summoned there post-haste. She had no chance to say farewell, and it was surprising that such a young and poorly educated woman could have achieved such a position. The not-so-discreet speculation that she was in a family way and had no choice but to move a great distance away was not incorrect, but there was no way to verify it. Though it was fine entertainment for a while, the gossip about her absence from the neighbourhood had been long since abandoned.
The Bennets would not be part of such discussions, but Thomas and Fanny were satisfied that Maria had been taught a hard but appropriate lesson for her part in Wickham’s crimes. Just like Bennet, Maria had good reason to worry about Wickham’s evil tendencies towards revenge, and she was relieved to know that he had been transported and indentured in America for the rest of his life. She was safe from any repercussions related to her aid in his downfall.
Another woman had made a different choice regarding her role in the kidnapping scheme, and her brave actions did not go unrewarded. Mrs. Bertha Younge’s life improved without Wickham. A generous “contribution” for her help in capturing Wickham allowed her to purchase a boarding house of better repute than the one she had worked in before. She was forever grateful to Darcy for giving her another chance.
Wickham himself was not so fortunate. Darcy’s prediction was correct, and Wickham’s assertions that Bennet was Lord Shelton were ignored. His duplicity was well known at Bow Street, so no one gave credence to his words. In addition, the men who were incarcerated alongside Wickham were well acquainted with his reputation and took no stock in Wickham’s sad story; rather, he was assaulted for crimes against these very criminals.
His life did not extend to the day of Mary Bennet’s wedding. George Wickham continued his immoral lifestyle in America and was sent to prison where he died of mysterious circumstances rumoured to concern the past cuckolding of one of the ruffians in gaol with him.
The happiness of Thomas Bennet, his wife, and his daughters could have been distinctly different had he not taken a ship and made a pact to abandon his life as the Earl of Shelton. That decision affected his family more than he could know—they all could claim a superior quality of life than if he had been a different sort of man.
Finis
Author’s Note
Thomas Bennet (Lord Shelton) was never meant to be the hero of this story. It was supposed to be about Darcy and Elizabeth, just like most Pride and Prejudice fan fiction. The plot twist was intended to show how their lives would have been changed if Mr. Bennet did not have all the faults portrayed in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
But sometime during the writing of this story, Lord Shelton became the hero, and I fell in love with him, as well as his strong and loving wife, Fanny. I hope you did too.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1: We meet our protagonists in the Bennet family.
Chapter 2: Fresh blood at the Meryton assembly, and Darcy is an ass.
Chapter 3: Mr. Bingley and his friends meet the neighbours, and Mr. Bingley becomes smitten.
Chapter 4: Darcy attends the Lucas soiree and engages in a war of wits with Miss Elizabeth.
Chapter 5: The lovely and proper Bennet sisters meet the charming and rakish Mr. Wickham.
Chapter 6: Mrs. Philips gossips, and Miss Bingley assumes too much.
Chapter 7: In which Mr. Bennet seeks to know Mr. Darcy’s intentions towards his daughter.
Chapter 8: Thomas Bennet and Mr. Miles meet whilst on a long trip.
Chapter 9: An agreement that would change his life.
Chapter 10: Lydia wants to go to a ball, and the Netherfield party leaves for Town.
Chapter 11: Lady Catherine interrogates Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and a romance is rekindled.
Chapter 12: Mr. Wickham’s creditors become vocal, and he identifies his new adversary.
Chapter 13: Elizabeth sojourns in Kent and cannot have been always at Longbourn.
Chapter 14: Bingley is betrothed, and Darcy is chagrined.
Chapter 15: During which the reader is subjected to a totally saccharine non-canon version of the Hunsford proposal.
Chapter 16: Bennet recalls his past and gives his consent.
Chapter 17: Thomas Bennet reveals their fortune to the Ladies Jane and Elizabeth.
Chapter 18: Bennet discovers some eavesdropping and remembers young love.
Chapter 19: Wicked schemes and a night at the opera.
Chapter 20: Maria Lucas confesses to what she has overheard.
Chapter 21: A carriage ride home from the ball.
Chapter 22: Bennet goes to London to search for Wickham, and his identity is revealed.
Chapter 23: Lady Catherine has her say, while causing a great delay.
Chapter 24: Lady Elizabeth’s courage rises with every attempt to intimidate her.
Chapter 25: Our heroes catch a cad and finally bring him to justice.
Chapter 26: Longbourn’s true heir is discovered.
Chapter 27: A double wedding takes place.
Epilogue: A third wedding.
Author’s Note