Free Alias Thomas Bennet by Suzan Lauder

not be exposed by embellished accusations that bear no resemblance to the truth.
    “Regarding the alleged misdeeds attributed to Mr. Darcy, I do not believe these stories are ours to relate as we know not the full details. Even though Mr. Darcy does not share a close association with many of the people of Meryton, he has too much to recommend him and seems too much of a gentleman to behave as a villain. I will apprise Mr. Darcy of the accusations and give him the opportunity to respond.
    “Lizzy, it would be helpful if you were with me for that discussion as you heard the full accusation, and no doubt it will be of benefit to Mr. Darcy to hear Mr. Wickham’s actual words and not my interpretation of them.”

Chapter 6:
Mrs. Philips gossips, and Miss Bingley assumes too much.
    21 November 1811
Longbourn, Hertfordshire
    Mr. and Miss Bingley arrived to personally deliver invitations to the Netherfield ball for the Bennet family. Being sensible to the compliment and an exceptionally attentive hostess, Mrs. Bennet invited them to stay for refreshments, and they agreed to linger only a short time as they had other calls to make.
    Miss Bingley was seated with Mrs. Bennet and her sister, who had also come to call. Since Bingley was deep in discussion with Jane and Elizabeth, Mary was practising on the pianoforte in the music room, and the younger girls had walked out to visit Maria Lucas, Caroline thought it an appropriate opportunity to question her hostess in an effort to find out more about Jane’s fortune.
    “Mrs. Bennet, I understand that Longbourn is entailed to the male line.”
    “That is quite true, Miss Bingley. Mr. Bennet and I had so hoped for a son to inherit, but we have only five daughters. However, Longbourn is not the only estate Mr. Bennet has inherited, and the other property may be passed through the female line.”
    “Another estate? Pray, Mrs. Bennet, is it comparable to the beauties of Longbourn?”
    “Oh, the property in Gloucestershire is much smaller. We currently let the lands to a fine young fellow, the eldest of a neighbouring estate. The property also includes a dower house, which we have let to a widow and her three unmarried daughters. It has its own beauty, but when Mr. Bennet inherited Longbourn, we chose to relocate here for the convenience to Town. Our decision was rewarded with many blissful years in Hertfordshire. I could not find a happier place to live.”
    Miss Bingley was impressed; it looked like Jane Bennet had more to offer than the small portion rumoured in Meryton. Mrs. Bennet was asked a question on another topic by Mr. Bingley and moved across the room to attend to him and her two eldest daughters. Miss Bingley continued her line of questioning regarding Jane’s fortune with Mrs. Philips.
    “So with such an estate, Miss Bennet has much to recommend herself in addition to her fortune,” she said quietly.
    “Oh, Miss Bingley, it seems you are not aware of the Bennets’ situation,” Mrs. Philips said in a similarly hushed voice. “As much as many would assume Jane and Elizabeth are their own children, they were not born to Mrs. Bennet. They came to the Bennets as wards when they were but babes. I will relate to you the circumstances of their coming to be within our family.” Mrs. Philips, being an agreeable woman who delighted in superior company, was pleased with such an opportunity to have the undivided attention of Miss Bingley.
    The Bennets preferred their privacy to remain so and were disgusted with people who revelled in spreading rumours, and Mrs. Philips was one of those people. For that reason, she was privy only to the limited information that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had chosen to disclose. Mrs. Philips was a dedicated gossip and had no qualms about repeating this tale. She whispered it often and had taken the initiative to embroider it somewhat.
    “Jane and Elizabeth’s young father lost his dear wife very shortly after she gave birth to Lizzy, and he was also