Alias Thomas Bennet
Read Alias Thomas Bennet Online
Authors: Suzan Lauder
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Alias Thomas Bennet
Copyright © 2013 by Suzan Lauder
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any format whatsoever. For information: P.O. Box 34, Oysterville WA 98641
ISBN: 978-1-936009-29-9
Cover design by Janet Taylor
Graphic design by Ellen Pickels
Content
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 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.
Acknowledgments
If you asked my mom what this section of the book would look like, she’d laugh and say something that included the phrase “motor mouth.” And with that in mind, I sheepishly thought, well, I’ll just write a brief list and be done with it. However, back in the days when I was seduced by the world of the high-powered businesswoman, I wrote a lot of legal-ish things, and was warned not to write lists because, if you left something out, you were apt to be screwed. But those were the practical days, and whimsy and gratitude make me want to commit those ideas to fertilizer.
So here’s the short list of those who deserve a novel’s worth of accolades: the beta team of Louise, Beth, Karin, IslandGirl and Cassandra who helped me pull out the fiancés and parasols in the serial publication of the original story; my first real fangirl team, the Chat Chits, who are truly the best cheerleading squad ever; the professionals at Meryton Press and especially my editor, Gail Warner, whose words always seem to have a hug in them; the dedicated readers at A Happy Assembly, whose enthusiasm made me so proud of this story that I became willing to share it with more than the online, Jane Austen fan fiction community; and of course, Jane Austen herself, whose snarkiness changed my life.
My most heartfelt thanks go out to my men: my husband, who encouraged me through something he couldn’t always understand but sensed was good for me, and my fuzzy-headed little boys, who always seem to be curled up around me and the laptop.
But more than all that, rather than give thanks to those who made the book possible, in an absurd way, I’d like to do the opposite and thank Alias Thomas Bennet. This book gave me my life back.
Dedication
To my husband,
who is more like Lord Shelton than Mr. Darcy.
Prologue
July 1782
Gloucestershire
The dust cloud could be seen from some distance, a single disruption in the sweeping view from the garden. As it approached the house, the young man drew it to the attention of his companions. Rising to see where it was headed, the two men realised it was likely an express rider to their home and wondered what could be so urgent.
The family was sitting in the shade in respite from the unbearable heat wave and dry spell that had persisted for weeks. The master made to ready himself for company as he had removed his coat and neck cloth some hours earlier. The younger man touched his father’s arm to halt his preparations and politely offered to greet the courier and collect the missive. The gentleman smiled and granted permission to his son, followed by an admonition from his mother to heed the horse’s hooves lest he be endangered. The young man rolled his eyes. He was taller than his father, but sometimes she still treated him like a child.
He walked slowly to meet the rider. The incessant energy from the sun beating down upon him was almost overwhelming, and he pitied the poor rider his hours in the unrelenting heat. As he waited at the gate, the messenger dismounted and handed over the express post. The young man gave instructions to the groom to care for the horse and directed the courier towards the kitchen for some much-needed refreshment. Then he returned to the shade and passed the missive to his father.
“Pray, what news do we have that is so urgent?” the lady of the house asked of her husband as she saw his grave expression upon reading the letter. His pallor despite the heat told her the news was not good.
“It is from a Mr. Storey in Bristol. There has been a dreadful carriage accident, mayhap involving highwaymen. We must go thither at once. It was bad—very bad. Edward was grievously hurt. Rose did not survive.”
“Oh, dear God, what about little Fanny?” his wife gasped through her tears.
“She is well, and with the nurse and Mrs. Storey at the house. Mr. Storey writes that Edward asks for us to send help to Bristol post-haste. The note does not indicate the nature of his injuries, only that they are grave. He is under the care of a doctor, and I expect a long recovery period. My dear, you and I must go to attend my cousin and little Fanny.”
“Father, will I be accompanying you and Mama?” asked Thomas Bennet.
“No, son, we may be a long while, and you are to Cambridge in a fortnight. This will not be a pleasant visit. Mary dear, please see to the packing, and I’ll go about readying the carriage.”
Chapter 1:
We meet our protagonists in the Bennet family.
September 1811
Longbourn, Hertfordshire
“Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bennet! Netherfield Park has been let at last!”
Thomas Bennet stood from behind his desk, excused himself from the meeting with his steward, and calmly went in the direction of his wife’s voice. He found her in the hall as the footman took her bonnet and cloak.
His wife was still quite beautiful for seven-and-thirty years. Although it was true she had taken on the more buxom figure of a woman who had borne children and her fair skin was now flushed in her excited state, she had a surprisingly youthful appearance. Her golden tresses held only one or two white hairs, and her vanity about her looks showed in the way she rarely wore a cap and took great delight in dresses that complimented her complexion.
He smiled as he saw her glowing face and gently placed her hand on his arm.
“Come, my darling. Let us sit so you can calm yourself and catch your breath. Then you can tell me your news.” He walked her into the parlour and seated himself next to her on the divan.
“Oh, Thomas, my dear, a single, rich man has taken Netherfield Park. I must rework the girls’ gowns to make them more fashionable and write to Madeleine and ask her to send some dress lengths of my brother’s finest silks! I must have the girls fitted with new slippers! I must discuss a meal with at least two courses with cook! I must . . . ” Mrs. Bennet chattered on in excitement.