Lizzy embraced her very serious ten-year-old sister, “Mary, if you’re interested by it, I will not criticise your choice, but I hope we’ll have a good discourse and be able to dissect the sermons together. Reverend Fordyce may have had good intentions but his word is not the Holy Book and you must understand when he wrote the sermons and why. Did you know he wrote those sermons over ten years before his own marriage? And that he married his wife at the age of one and fifty? He was very old when he married a woman fourteen years his junior, Mary, and although there are some benefits to learn from the Sermons to Young Women, perhaps if men paid as much attention to Sermons to Young Men, we might find husbands of similar minds for ourselves.”
Mary smiled and headed inside the house to the drawing room with Jane.
William leaned over, “Did you truly read Fordyce’s Sermons, Lizzy? I did not guess you for such a topic of study.”
Lizzy hid her giggles, “Of course not, Will! I read the first page and the last and found it ridiculous. I thought I had hidden the book from Mary but I guess she found it.”
William snorted but composed himself and sat down to converse with the girls until Mr. Bennet arrived a few minutes later.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet embraced their second daughter and soon, Mr. Bennet left to the study to speak with William and Mrs. Bennet spoke merrily to inform Lizzy of the town gossips and the latest news of her brother’s new-born daughter.
~*~
Mr. Bennet shook the young man’s hand. “Thank you, William. The telescope is magnificent and you are very generous to my dear daughter. I wish you safe journey to Cambridge and I will be glad to see you again in December.”
“It is a pleasure, Mr. Bennet. I am only relieved that you do not mind that I obtain certain items for Lizzy. I know even my father would be hesitant if I had given a dagger or a compass or a telescope to my own sister but Lizzy is unique and I know what she enjoys. She would not be content if I purchased jewellery or ribbons as I do my sister.” William laughed. “If I had a brother, the items would be what I would purchase for him and they make Lizzy happy. With your approval, I have an idea on what to get her for Christmas.” He shared with him his plan.
Mr. Bennet chuckled, “Thank you, William. That is a considerate gift and I am grateful for your generosity. Although I could not deny Lizzy anything, it pleases me that you check with me on your gift ideas first. I know she will love it and the lessons to go along with it.”
William soon departed with a smile on his face and Lizzy waved avidly to bid her friend farewell. She knew the next months would pass quickly and she had many topics to study before Will’s return.
She told her father that she would visit with Charlotte Lucas at Lucas Lodge for a while and left to reunite with her nineteen-year-old friend. Lizzy hoped that nearly a year after her betrothed had died in a carriage accident, Charlotte was at last finding peace and looking to the future. Lizzy had promised that since she herself would never marry, Charlotte was always welcome to stay with her and they would take care of each other.
~*~
“I can hardly believe it, Charlotte! Papa wrote to me that Mr. Collins the senior passed and that young Mr. Collins would be residing with us between terms from Oxford but he wishes to court you?” Lizzy was flabbergasted. “Do you truly like him?”
Charlotte blushed, “He is only eighteen years old but he is going to become a man of the church and is in fact, already a landed gentleman. He is leasing out his father’s estate and your parents have been kind to insist that he will always have a place in your family’s home. He will be able to provide comfort and security and I could not ask for more, Eliza. I learned more about him when I saw him frequently back in March and we spent many days conversing during the summer. I believe he is the one for me.”
“Incredible!” Lizzy exclaimed. “Papa told me that if he chooses, he could be master of Longbourn as well. You could be mistress there!”
“Oh, dear Eliza,” Charlotte squeezed her hand, “I could never take place of your mother here. She is wonderful and I would not wish it. If my husband were to be a vicar with a lifetime appointment, I would be very happy being a vicar's wife. I like him very much, Lizzy.”
“I wish you all the happiness in the world, Charlotte.” Lizzy hugged her. “He still has many years of schooling left and is only eighteen now, but I hope you’ll be able to marry quickly.”
Charlotte laughed, “We would need to be in courtship for a while but with Mr. Bennet and my father’s approval, we could marry earlier and he could continue his schooling. The only question would be where I would live, since I cannot remain at home and I certainly could not live here.” They laughed. “His property is being leased and I would not have a place to reside.”
“Well, let’s have you go through the courtship first and we can iron out the details later.” Lizzy beamed. “I shall be most happy to gain you as my cousin, Charlotte! It’s
