The Challenge of Entail by Jann Rowland

Author:Jann Rowland [Rowland, Jann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781989212066
Publisher: One Good Sonnet Publishing
Published: 2019-06-19T04:00:00+00:00

Miss Bingley waylaid Darcy and Bingley as soon as they entered the house. Her actions were little removed from the truth, though had he had spoken out loud, Darcy knew some might have protested it. In fact, when they climbed the stairs, dusty from the road and still smelling of horses, the way she appeared from a side door, Darcy had the impression of highwaymen, waiting in ambush for some unwary traveler.

“You will never guess what I have just learned, Brother,” said she, her manner all triumphant.

“It is likely I will not,” said Bingley, “but I believe I should like to divest myself of these clothes before you inform me.”

“The Bennets are connected to trade!” crowed the woman, taking no heed to his words. “I have had it from Miss Bennet’s own mouth. We already knew of the country attorney,” the woman spat the words with open contempt, “but this matter of the man of business they have successfully hidden until this moment.”

Bingley eyed his sister. “Miss Bennet visited Netherfield while we were on the estate?”

“No!” cried Miss Bingley, clearly frustrated. “I paid a visit to Longbourn and was entertained, if you may call it that, by the eldest sisters.” Miss Bingley paused to titter, her dark amusement was most unpleasant. “Then again, I suppose it is correct to say I was very entertained, indeed! Imagine! An uncle actively involved in trade and not even hiding the fact. Do you know Miss Elizabeth had the temerity to suggest my father may have been known to her odious uncle?”

“What of it?” asked Bingley. “While I am sorry to disappoint you, Caroline, I could not find the Bennets any less agreeable had they tradesman uncles enough to fill all the British Isles.”

Miss Bingley glared at her brother and then turned to Darcy. “What of you, Mr. Darcy. Are you able to countenance such unsuitable connections my brother seems to welcome?”

Darcy suppressed an ungentlemanly sigh, but before he could reply, her brother interjected. “I know not Darcy’s opinion—though I can guess—but you asked me, Caroline. Why you find the Bennets’ connections distasteful, I cannot imagine, if you only remember from whence our own fortune was derived. If you think of it, we still have some relations who manage their own businesses.”

“Distant relations,” spat Miss Bingley. “Those who are closer have all disavowed all association with such improper pursuits.”

It was an overstatement—of that much Darcy was aware. Though he was not at all acquainted with Bingley’s family, Bingley had informed him of them. His immediate uncles had profited from the sale of the family business such that they were no longer active participants, but many still kept interests in certain enterprises. Miss Bingley might be aghast to know it, but Darcy himself possessed many investments, for he was well aware the future wealth of the merchant class would outstrip that which the landed families had amassed.

“Be that as it may,” replied Bingley, declining to correct her, “I see no reason why the existence of an uncle in trade should affect our friendship with the Bennets.

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