Love Among the Gifted - A Pride & Prejudice Alternative

Chapter Forty-Five

Thomas Bennet and William Wickham shared a fine brandy in a private room at the Superintendent's London club. The early summer sun shone through the high set windows, illuminating the bastion of masculine solidarity. Both men sat silently enjoying their libation as the discrete footman withdrew from the chamber. "I must tell you again how honored I was to be invited to the wedding," Wickham said. "If not for the aftermath of the LaFontaine matter, I would have certainly attended. How was it?"

"Much like any wedding, if one's daughter is not involved," Bennet replied. He sipped slowly as he let his mind wander back to the blessed event. "Darcy and Lizzy had wanted a simple ceremony, with a guestlist limited to family and close friends. But between Mrs. Bennet and Lady Catherine, the event grew to almost preposterous proportions. At least we were spared the outlandish officiating of my Cousin Collins through the fortuitous appearance of a Bishop from some remote branch of the Darcy genealogy."

"Perhaps it is just as well I did not make an appearance?"

"Perhaps. I am not too certain that my newest son is completely content with your continued consultation with his new bride. He might have had words with you."

"Then he is likely to be even less pleased when I offer her a permanent role in the Office. Hers is too precious a talent to waste in the wilds of Derbyshire."

"Do you think that wise?"

"Even worse, I wish to recruit Darcy as well. The Crown needs his service as something more than a mere magistrate."

Bennet contemplated his words for a moment. "That might just work. Individually they are formidable. Together they are nigh unstoppable. And together is likely the only way they will agree to such a proposal. But I hope you will not think less of me if I wish for them to refuse. They deserve some real peace and happiness."

After several more minutes of companionable silence, Whiskey asked, "Do you think she can?"

Bennet looked at his old university friend. Though it had been many years since their adventures together, the Master of Longbourn still understood the man's skewed thinking as well as anyone. To him the cryptic query was plain. Lizzy had managed to permanently and completely remove LaFontaine's gift, a feat unparalleled in the annals of British history. The question on many knowledgeable minds was if it was an inimitable conflation of situation, her own exceptional ability, and some element of synergy with LaFontaine's own unique gift or if she could replicate the feat on her own. Such a capability was world-shaking. If she were able to remove gifts, she could literally change the foundations of their society. "I don't know. To be honest, I hope not. It is too much responsibility for any person to bear. Too much power. Too much fear and enmity. I would certainly not wish it on my dear Lizzy."

Both men silently considered the even more frightening possibility. If Lizzy could take gifts away permanently, was it possible she could also instill them permanently where they never existed before? Could she make a null into a wilder? That was an even greater threat to the status quo and could set all the power of the Crown and the entire gifted society in deadly opposition to her. Bennet prayed that she would never seek to discover if this was within her means. It was too dangerous to know.

Given that dreadful possibility he refused to consider why she might have been spending so much time in company with Mary in the time between Purfleet and the wedding. He could only hope that it was merely an extended discussion of Ordinary politics and sharing of Lizzy's new contacts in London. He determined to have a cautionary talk with both of the girls. None of them could afford for Mary to begin displaying a gift, no matter the good intentions that might lie behind their hypothetical origin.