Blurb: Mr. Bennet thinks he can predict Mr. Darcy’s behavior. But what if he’s wrong? A World of Trouble and Economy “And so, Darcy did every thing; made up the match, gave the money, paid the fellow's debts, and got him his commission! So much the better. It will save me a world of trouble and economy. Had it been your uncle's doing, I must and would have paid him; but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own way. I shall offer to pay him to-morrow; he will rant and storm about his love for you, and there will be an end of the matter.” ~*~ The Bennet family, along with their two guests Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, were just about to leave the breakfast table when Mr. Bennet asked for a moment of Mr. Darcy’s time in the library. As they crossed the hall together, Darcy asked, “May I inquire, sir? Is it your wish to discuss matters of a financial nature? I have brought the essential documents and left my portfolio in your butler’s care.’ “Yes. Yes. I suppose you had better bring it.” Settled at last in the library, with Mr. Bennet at his desk and Mr. Darcy across from him, Mr. Bennet began. “You have been very sly, Mr. Darcy, but I have learned the truth of Mr. and Mrs. Wickham’s marriage. It was you, not my brother Gardiner, who arranged and paid for it all!” “Yes, sir. You probably also know that I had hoped to keep that knowledge a secret, at least till a much longer time had passed, but Elizabeth discovered it while Mrs. Wickham was here and, I suppose, has now informed you.” “She did. And I wonder, Mr. Darcy, if you have presumed upon her gratitude in the matter. As you know, her acceptance of your proposal was a great surprise to me.” “You need not fear. Your daughter has thoroughly convinced me she was not guided by gratitude.” Mr. Bennet gave him a look, part stare, part glare. “Convinced? Thoroughly?” Mr. Darcy gave him a look, part smile, part smirk. “She is very persuasive.” After a time, stare and glare gave way to smile and smirk and Mr. Bennet, looking away with a clearing of his throat, said, “In such a case, I must and will pay you, as I would have Mr. Gardiner.” Mr. Darcy’s extended silence oppressed Mr. Bennet in equal degrees of anxiety and hope. Darcy spoke at last to say in a serious grave manner, “You are a gentleman. A gentleman’s duty and honor are good and precious things. As a gentleman myself, it would be dishonorable if I took those from you or treated them lightly by refusing your demand.” From his portfolio he produced a bundle of papers and placed one before Mr. Bennet. “As you can see here, the total is three thousand eight hundred forty pounds eleven and five pence.” Mr. Bennet, in a whisper, weakly echoed, “And five pence.” “His debts in Meryton you know, since it was you who gathered the accounts and sent them to Haggerston for payment. Colonel Forster did the same for the debts and debts of honor from Brighton. This bundle of papers holds the particulars of all these, in addition to expenses in London, the marriage license, his commission, Lydia’s settlement, and so forth. “Now, Mr. Bennet, we need only determine how the sum can be made. With three daughters married, there surely will be less need for visiting, going to dinner parties, going to balls. Bingley and I have talked of having Miss Catherine in our homes most of the time, so it will be like having four daughters gone and sending her pocket allowance will be your only expense in that quarter. Meryton and Lucas Lodge are an easy distance for walking. Even Netherfield, by way of fields, is merely three miles of brisk healthful exercise – on a dry day. In light of all this, you ought to sell your coach, keep the horses at the farm, and save the wages of a coachman and groom. “Let us think what else can be done… Well, Longbourn is a large manor house. You have more rooms than you use. Though the entail covers the estate and fixtures, may I assume all else – furniture, china, linens, and so forth – is your own property inherited or acquired?” A feeble, “Yes,” was the answer. “Good. Then the sale of superfluous furniture in unused rooms could supply a significant sum. And how many sets of china and silver does Mrs. Bennet truly require? In here too I see a fine large collection of books. Why there are some I would not mind having for Pemberley’s library! At auction, especially if held in town, they might bring unexpected rewards.” In a choked voice, a pale Mr. Bennet implored, “Would you not rather simply rant and storm about your love for my daughter and let that be an end of the matter?” “What? And sully your honor and duty as a gentleman? I cannot have that on my conscience. Besides, I do not rant. I am not a ranter.” While Mr. Bennet rubbed his temples and closed his eyes, Darcy continued. “I believe the measures we’ve spoken of thus far will easily raise a thousand pounds – more than a quarter of it all, sir! For the rest, given that you and Mrs. Bennet and Miss Mary will, for a time at least, assume a quieter and more retired style of living, your expenses will be lower too. Your ladies will need less in the way of fine clothes. Your household provisions and requirements will be reduced. It is likely you can release a few servants, having only the three of you spending your days and evenings in each other’s constant company in conversation or entertained at music by your daughter. “Why, you are likely to easily spare three hundred pounds a year at this rate. Think, sir, in merely a little less than ten years of this sort of peaceful compatible domestic life, the sum could be met!” Mr. Bennet, in one last desperate entreaty, cried, “What about storm, Mr. Darcy? Do you storm? Have you tried storming?“ Fin.https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122057#msg-122057Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:27:20 +0100 Phorum 5.2.22 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122323#msg-122323 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122323#msg-122323 Meg E Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 28 Aug 2016 02:26:31 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122171#msg-122171 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122171#msg-122171"I do not rant or storm, but nor do I dun my father-in-law. I hope you will forgive your newest son teasing you."]]> Sarah Waldock Derbyshire Writers' GuildTue, 16 Aug 2016 23:41:54 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122170#msg-122170 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122170#msg-122170 Sarah Waldock Derbyshire Writers' GuildTue, 16 Aug 2016 23:39:31 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122093#msg-122093 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122093#msg-122093 ShannaG Derbyshire Writers' GuildTue, 09 Aug 2016 22:17:29 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122088#msg-122088 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122088#msg-122088 Evans Derbyshire Writers' GuildTue, 09 Aug 2016 15:59:23 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122075#msg-122075 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122075#msg-122075 Linnea Eileen Derbyshire Writers' GuildMon, 08 Aug 2016 17:25:25 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122072#msg-122072 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122072#msg-122072 Bianca Derbyshire Writers' GuildMon, 08 Aug 2016 13:02:39 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122071#msg-122071 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122071#msg-122071 Bianca Derbyshire Writers' GuildMon, 08 Aug 2016 13:01:13 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122068#msg-122068 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122068#msg-122068 Lucie Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 07 Aug 2016 23:15:46 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122067#msg-122067 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122067#msg-122067 KateB Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 07 Aug 2016 22:55:40 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122066#msg-122066 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122066#msg-122066 Suzanne O Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 07 Aug 2016 22:48:17 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122065#msg-122065 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122065#msg-122065"Mr. Darcy gave him a look, part smile, part smirk. 'She is very persuasive.' "
might be a hint that this was a bit of a charade and that Lizzy had put him up to teasing her father.]]> CarrieAnn Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 07 Aug 2016 22:36:55 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122064#msg-122064 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122064#msg-122064 LisaY Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 07 Aug 2016 22:16:58 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122063#msg-122063 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122063#msg-122063 JanetR Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 07 Aug 2016 21:25:34 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122062#msg-122062 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122062#msg-122062 Alida Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 07 Aug 2016 20:47:45 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122059#msg-122059 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122059#msg-122059 Micha Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 07 Aug 2016 20:08:50 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122057#msg-122057 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,122057,122057#msg-122057
A World of Trouble and Economy

“And so, Darcy did every thing; made up the match, gave the money, paid the fellow's debts, and got him his commission! So much the better. It will save me a world of trouble and economy. Had it been your uncle's doing, I must and would have paid him; but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own way. I shall offer to pay him to-morrow; he will rant and storm about his love for you, and there will be an end of the matter.”

~*~

The Bennet family, along with their two guests Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, were just about to leave the breakfast table when Mr. Bennet asked for a moment of Mr. Darcy’s time in the library.

As they crossed the hall together, Darcy asked, “May I inquire, sir? Is it your wish to discuss matters of a financial nature? I have brought the essential documents and left my portfolio in your butler’s care.’

“Yes. Yes. I suppose you had better bring it.”

Settled at last in the library, with Mr. Bennet at his desk and Mr. Darcy across from him, Mr. Bennet began. “You have been very sly, Mr. Darcy, but I have learned the truth of Mr. and Mrs. Wickham’s marriage. It was you, not my brother Gardiner, who arranged and paid for it all!”

“Yes, sir. You probably also know that I had hoped to keep that knowledge a secret, at least till a much longer time had passed, but Elizabeth discovered it while Mrs. Wickham was here and, I suppose, has now informed you.”

“She did. And I wonder, Mr. Darcy, if you have presumed upon her gratitude in the matter. As you know, her acceptance of your proposal was a great surprise to me.”

“You need not fear. Your daughter has thoroughly convinced me she was not guided by gratitude.”

Mr. Bennet gave him a look, part stare, part glare. “Convinced? Thoroughly?”

Mr. Darcy gave him a look, part smile, part smirk. “She is very persuasive.”

After a time, stare and glare gave way to smile and smirk and Mr. Bennet, looking away with a clearing of his throat, said, “In such a case, I must and will pay you, as I would have Mr. Gardiner.”

Mr. Darcy’s extended silence oppressed Mr. Bennet in equal degrees of anxiety and hope.

Darcy spoke at last to say in a serious grave manner, “You are a gentleman. A gentleman’s duty and honor are good and precious things. As a gentleman myself, it would be dishonorable if I took those from you or treated them lightly by refusing your demand.”

From his portfolio he produced a bundle of papers and placed one before Mr. Bennet. “As you can see here, the total is three thousand eight hundred forty pounds eleven and five pence.”

Mr. Bennet, in a whisper, weakly echoed, “And five pence.”

“His debts in Meryton you know, since it was you who gathered the accounts and sent them to Haggerston for payment. Colonel Forster did the same for the debts and debts of honor from Brighton. This bundle of papers holds the particulars of all these, in addition to expenses in London, the marriage license, his commission, Lydia’s settlement, and so forth.

“Now, Mr. Bennet, we need only determine how the sum can be made. With three daughters married, there surely will be less need for visiting, going to dinner parties, going to balls. Bingley and I have talked of having Miss Catherine in our homes most of the time, so it will be like having four daughters gone and sending her pocket allowance will be your only expense in that quarter. Meryton and Lucas Lodge are an easy distance for walking. Even Netherfield, by way of fields, is merely three miles of brisk healthful exercise – on a dry day. In light of all this, you ought to sell your coach, keep the horses at the farm, and save the wages of a coachman and groom.

“Let us think what else can be done… Well, Longbourn is a large manor house. You have more rooms than you use. Though the entail covers the estate and fixtures, may I assume all else – furniture, china, linens, and so forth – is your own property inherited or acquired?”

A feeble, “Yes,” was the answer.

“Good. Then the sale of superfluous furniture in unused rooms could supply a significant sum. And how many sets of china and silver does Mrs. Bennet truly require? In here too I see a fine large collection of books. Why there are some I would not mind having for Pemberley’s library! At auction, especially if held in town, they might bring unexpected rewards.”

In a choked voice, a pale Mr. Bennet implored, “Would you not rather simply rant and storm about your love for my daughter and let that be an end of the matter?”

“What? And sully your honor and duty as a gentleman? I cannot have that on my conscience. Besides, I do not rant. I am not a ranter.”

While Mr. Bennet rubbed his temples and closed his eyes, Darcy continued.

“I believe the measures we’ve spoken of thus far will easily raise a thousand pounds – more than a quarter of it all, sir! For the rest, given that you and Mrs. Bennet and Miss Mary will, for a time at least, assume a quieter and more retired style of living, your expenses will be lower too. Your ladies will need less in the way of fine clothes. Your household provisions and requirements will be reduced. It is likely you can release a few servants, having only the three of you spending your days and evenings in each other’s constant company in conversation or entertained at music by your daughter.

“Why, you are likely to easily spare three hundred pounds a year at this rate. Think, sir, in merely a little less than ten years of this sort of peaceful compatible domestic life, the sum could be met!”

Mr. Bennet, in one last desperate entreaty, cried, “What about storm, Mr. Darcy? Do you storm? Have you tried storming?“


Fin.]]> JanetR Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 07 Aug 2016 16:23:05 +0100