The banished uncle expan.., p.1
The Banished Uncle: Expanded Edition, page 1
The Banished Uncle
Expanded Edition
A Pride and Prejudice Variation
By Laraba Kendig
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Epilogue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Sneak Peek of Peacocks of Pemberley
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Regency Romance Books by Laraba Kendig
Author Note for the Extended Edition
Laraba’s Regency Romance Newsletter
Sign up to get a FREE story just for members called A Busy and Blessed Day. You will also be among the first to hear when my next book is released, about special promotions, etc. Click here to get your free book.
Here is the link in case you need to manually type it in: www.subscribepage.com/s1p4z6
Chapter 1
December, 1811
Mr. Aaron Gardiner reined in his bay horse and leaned forward, relishing the warmth emanating from its great body. It was a December day in Hertfordshire, England, and after decades in India, he was not used to such cold.
His eyes roved slowly over the small town of Meryton. It was a pleasant scene, though a common enough one, with the white clapped church and the little shops, the cobbled streets wending their leisurely way between the timber framed houses, and the village square white with frost, presided over by graceful oak trees. There was nothing about Meryton itself to explain the rush of emotion in his heart, except that he been born and raised here, and he had been gone for more than twenty years.
“Are you well, Brother?”
Aaron smiled at his younger brother, Edward. “I am well enough. Meryton has not changed much in the last decades.”
“No,” Edward agreed fondly, “though that is, I believe, part of its charm. Are you cold?”
Aaron chuckled and gently spurred his horse forward. “I am. The climate of India has thinned my blood. Longbourn is not much farther, I believe?”
“A mile out of Meryton, yes. We should be there within the half hour.”
“Very well. We are close enough to our destination that I should practice the names of the family again. Our sister Frances was fortunate enough to win the favor of Mr. James Bennet, master of Longbourn, correct?”
“Yes,” Edward concurred.
“They have five daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Lydia, and ... and...”
“Catherine, though she is always called Kitty. She is the fourth daughter and Lydia the fifth.”
“You have told me that our sister Fanny is not particularly sensible,” Aaron stated.
Edward Gardiner heaved a deep, soulful sigh and said, “She is not. I know it has been decades since you have seen her, but in her youth, she was a tremendous beauty. I have no doubt that is what attracted Bennet to her, but they are not well matched.”
“Because he is a gentleman and she the daughter of a mere attorney?” Aaron demanded coldly.
“Of course not,” Edward protested. “You know that my dear wife herself is the granddaughter of a gentleman. No, they are not well suited because Bennet is extremely intelligent and Fanny is, regrettably, of a weak mind and illiberal understanding.”
Aaron glanced at his brother contritely and said, “I am sorry.”
“Not at all. I fully understand that given your difficult experiences with Viscount Grayson, you are sensitive to the pain of regrettable class distinctions.”
“I am indeed, but let us continue. Longbourn is entailed away from our nieces?”
“Yes, and our sister’s portion, while respectable enough, is not sufficient to supply the needs of six women if Bennet should die before his time. Fanny therefore spends most of her time worrying about her daughters’ prospects, which makes her a difficult companion. Sadly, Mr. Bennet chooses to hide in his library instead of taking her in hand, leaving the burden of her emotional outbursts on the eldest two Bennet girls, Jane and Elizabeth.”
“I do not believe you have described the appearances and personalities of our nieces in detail,” Aaron said.
“Jane is a stunning beauty, much like Fanny was in her youth,” Edward said fondly, “but our eldest niece combines beauty with a gentle and loving personality.”
“And yet she is not married?” Aaron asked.
“She is not. There is a dearth of eligible young men in the area due to the war, and she has very little in the way of a dowry. The marriage settlements provide a five thousand pound portion for Fanny, but that does not go far with five daughters and the loss of the estate to the male heir, a clergyman by the name of Collins, when Bennet dies.”
“What is the Longbourn income?”
“It is about two thousand pounds a year.”
Aaron Gardiner lifted an eyebrow and said, “That is a very reasonable sum. Surely Bennet has saved through the years for the care of his wife and daughters in the event of his death.”
Edward’s mouth formed a grim line and he said, “Regrettably, he has not, Aaron. Fanny loves to spend money and in the beginning, they naturally assumed they would birth a son to inherit. When they finally realized that the estate would be lost to Collins, they were both too set in their ways. Bennet has kept them out of debt, but nothing more. It is a difficult situation. Of course Mrs. Gardiner and I will assist to some degree if necessary, but we have four children and may have more. And you have four children of your own who are your responsibility, and you will need your savings to launch them into society.”
Aaron nodded at this but kept his own counsel. He was in a position to help his nieces a great deal more than his brother, but he was not certain he was willing to do so. He was a brother and uncle, but he was also a father and a business man and he would not throw money away foolishly.
“And what of the other girls?” he inquired.
Edward chuckled and declared, “They have a truly disparate range of personalities. Elizabeth is second to Jane in birth and beauty. Unlike Jane, who is serene and gentle, Elizabeth is extremely intelligent and has a satirical wit, much like her father. She is a delightful young woman, but not placid. Mary, the third, is the only daughter who did not inherit Fanny’s looks. She attempts to make up for it by reading dull sermons and practicing the pianoforte at all hours. Kitty and Lydia are unfortunately foolish and gauche girls, and are prone to chase after the officers of the militia regiment currently stationed in Meryton. Fanny does not see anything wrong with their poor behavior, and Bennet is too lazy to rein in their crass conduct. I regret being so negative, but I thought you should understand the situation as it is.
Aaron nodded thoughtfully, “I appreciate it, Brother, and I believe Longbourn is now in view.”
The mansion came into view and his mount sped up slightly, apparently sensing that the warmth of the stable and a bucket of oats were near.
It was a pleasant building, not ostentatious, but its grounds and stables were well kept up. Edward turned toward his brother and asked, “Are you ready to meet your sister after more than twenty years, Aaron?”
Aaron Gardiner nodded, his mind slipping back more than two decades to the last time he had been in his family home in Meryton.
“Yes, Edward, I am.”
/
Meryton
September 1785
“You will have to leave, Aaron.”
Aaron Gardiner stared blankly at his father, who was seated behind his simple wooden desk in his study, his wrinkled face downcast.
“Leave, sir?” he repeated in a hollow tone.
“Yes. I was visited by Viscount Grayson today. He is incandescent with rage over your, as he termed it, seduction of Miss Sophia.”
Aaron’s skin flushed red in outrage and he exclaimed, “I did not seduce her! How dare he say such a thing? I honorably asked for her hand in marriage!”
Mr. Gardiner stood up and stepped around the desk, lowering his right hand onto his elder son’s shoulder. “I know, my boy, I know. I truly have great sympathy for the passions of young love, but it was a foolish thing to do. You are the son of an attorney and she is the daughter of a viscount. You should have known Grayson would never permit her to marry you.”
“I am a clergyman, sir. That is an honorable profession.”
“And Miss Sophia is the daughter of a member of the aristocracy. You reached too high, Aaron.”
“I did not reach,” his son cried out passionately. “We fell in love. We have so much in common, Father! Our shared love of music brought us together as I taught her on the pianoforte, but
“Be that as it may, I must concern myself with my own daughters,” the elder Gardiner stated sadly. “Grayson has threatened to ruin their chances of good marriages if you do not leave the locale immediately. And believe me; he could do it, Aaron. He could, and he will.”
“I am serving as curate under the rector at Enford, sir, and have been promised the living when he retires, which will be very soon as his health is failing. Miss Sophia will soon be of age to marry without her father’s consent so...”
“Aaron,” his father interrupted, his chest heaving, “you know the power of Lord Grayson. My position as solicitor depends on the goodwill of the Viscount and his cronies. I cannot afford to have him as my enemy, Son. I am sorry, but you will have to leave Enton; indeed, you must leave Hertfordshire.”
His son gulped, his eyes wet. “For how long, sir?”
The gray-headed solicitor shook his head, “I do not know, Aaron. I have two thousand pounds available, and I will give you that money to allow you to get a good start wherever you settle, but it must be far away.”
“I cannot take that, Father. What of my sisters?”
“I have money set aside for the girls and Edward. Do not concern yourself for them. Take care of yourself, Aaron. Please know that I love you dearly and wish that there was another way.”
Tears filled the eyes of both father and son, and they embraced one another.
It was the last time that Aaron Gardiner ever saw his father.
Chapter 2
Longbourn
Aaron peered with interest at the mansion of Longbourn as his horse followed his brother Edward’s steed down the long main drive which led to the stables. His eyes wandered thoughtfully across the house, taking in the well-maintained red brick and the neat ivy climbing across it. Many of the several chimneys across the house, including the servants’ quarters, were trickling smoke into the thin, clear air. Apparently, the Bennets were not parsimonious with their wood.
Behind the house, the stables themselves were equally impressive. Modern and sturdy, with a plethora of grooms and boys milling about in the yard and visible through the warmly-glowing windows. A tall man stepped forward out of the throng, touching his forelock. “Mr. Gardiner,” he said respectfully.
“Jackson,” Edward greeted in return, dismounting and handing his horse off to the man before turning towards his brother. “Jackson, the stable master,” he introduced. “Jackson, this is my brother Aaron Gardiner.”
The stable master saluted again and took Aaron’s horse as well. “I’ll take care of ‘im, sir,” he promised, eyeing the gelding keenly. “We’ve combs and water and mash a-plenty.”
Aaron inclined his head and moved with Edward towards the house. The two brothers entered the mansion through the front door, where the butler greeted Edward Gardiner with obvious approval and Aaron, once his name was mentioned, with a flicker of surprise. The butler guided the two men down a corridor, opened the door to the drawing room, stepped within, and announced, “Mr. Edward Gardiner, Mr. Aaron Gardiner.”
Aaron followed his brother within and cast an expert eye around the chamber, which was lavishly inhabited by furniture, much of it in the Sheraton style. A moment later, his gaze shifted to the oldest of the three ladies seated on the couches near the crackling fire, and to his surprise, he found his throat clogged with emotion. When he had left England’s shores so many years ago, his sister Frances had been but fifteen years of age. Now she was a middle aged matron, the mother of five nearly grown daughters, but in that moment, he could see the little sister who had followed him around like a puppy when he was not yet out of his teens…
“Aaron!” Mrs. Bennet cried out, leaping to her feet, her blue eyes flared wide with incredulity. “It … it cannot be! Is it truly you?”
“It is,” he rasped through the tightness in his throat. “Oh, Fanny, it has been so long!”
Elizabeth Bennet had been enjoyably employed in reading a book from the circulating library when the door opened and her favorite uncle, Edward Gardiner, stepped into the room with an unknown man at his heels. Within a minute, the man was no longer unknown; he was, in fact, a long lost uncle, who had migrated to the ends of the earth decades previously.
“Oh Aaron! Aaron!” Mrs. Bennet shrieked. “Jane, Jane, I need my smelling salts. To think of seeing you again. Oh, Aaron! Where have you been all these years?”
Not surprisingly, the shrieking of the lady of the manor brought not just Mrs. Bennet’s personal maid, but the lady’s husband and three younger daughters as well. In the midst of the explanations and introductions, Elizabeth inspected her newly arrived uncle. The elder Mr. Gardiner was of average height and rather thin, with blue eyes like her mother and dark hair like her other Uncle Gardiner. His skin was darker than her own, no doubt due to exposure to the sun during his time of exile which, she now discovered, had been in India. His expression was friendly, his manners easygoing and pleasant, and his speech of interest.
She quite thought she would like her newfound uncle.
/
A Few Hours Later
“Are you quite certain you do not wish for me to come along, Aaron?” Mrs. Bennet asked worriedly. “Emma will be quite shocked, and perhaps if I were along, it would be easier for her.”
“I would like to see Emma as quickly as possible,” Aaron said with a smile, “and I know you need to prepare for the arrival of Edward’s family on the morrow. Do not be concerned, Sister.”
“Oh, very well,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Now mind you, we keep country hours, and I depend on your returning in good time for dinner!”
“We will, Mamma,” Elizabeth assured the lady of the house.
Kitty and Lydia erupted into the vestibule at this juncture, and Kitty cried out, “Mamma, tell Lydia to give me back my pink rosettes! They are mine, not hers!”
“I want them for my new hat, which I will wear with my new gown!” Lydia exclaimed. “You have not used them, after all…”
“They are mine!” Kitty shrieked. “It is not fair…”
“Lydia,” Jane said gently, “I have some yellow rosettes in my room that I would be glad to give you for your hat. Would they not look far better than pink given that your dress is green? What do you think, Mamma?”
“Oh yes, Lydia, yes! Pink rosettes would not match that green! It would look dreadful…”
In the midst of this discussion of dresses and millinery, Elizabeth, Mary, and Aaron Gardiner donned their outerwear, hurried out the front door, and climbed aboard the Bennet carriage.
Aaron could see that both Elizabeth and Mary were embarrassed by the scene he had just witnessed, which was no surprise; as Edward had warned, Lydia and Kitty were both rambunctious and ill-behaved, and Lydia in particular was selfish and greedy. However, there was nothing his nieces could do about that, so he made a point of introducing a neutral topic as the carriage turned onto the road that would lead to Meryton.
“I confess that it is surprising how little the countryside has changed since I last was here,” he said, gazing out the window.
“I fear it is not the most beautiful time of the year,” Elizabeth replied. “I prefer the other seasons more.”
“I like winter,” Mary said rather unexpectedly. “I like being indoors and enjoying warm fires and not being required to go out in company quite so often. I even like when we have snowstorms; it is so beautiful outside. “
“I was very much like you when I was younger, Elizabeth,” Aaron said, and then smiled at Mary. “But now, after decades in India, I find myself thoroughly in awe of chilly air, snowflakes and ice.”
“Oh, Uncle, please do tell us about your time in India!” Elizabeth requested. “I have read a little about tropical lands, but that is not quite the same as hearing from someone who has actually lived in such an exotic locale.”
Aaron responded with a few stories about life in India, though he largely confined himself to descriptions of the flora, fauna, and geography; his family situation was complex, and he was not yet ready to share all with his relations.
