Jane Bennet’s Hidden Inheritance: A Pride And Prejudice Variation – Rutter, Leslie

They were acting. And now, so was she. OceanofPDF.com Eleven Chapter 11 Mid-December 1811 The carriage rolled to a stop outside the printer’s shop in Cheapside. Jane stepped down first, followed by Elizabeth, then Darcy, and finally Bingley. The narrow street was loud with the clatter of carts and the shouts of street vendors. The air smelled of ink and coal smoke. Jane led the way down the alley to the shop. The printer looked up when they entered, and his expression shifted from curiosity to alarm when he recognized her.

“You,” he said. “I told you all I know.” Jane placed the pamphlet on the counter. “Then repeat it.” The printer glanced at Darcy and Bingley, then back at Jane. He swallowed. “Height slightly above average. Slim build. Dark coat, well-tailored. Educated voice. Pale tan kid-leather gloves. Paid with a single guinea—too much for the job.” “Is there anything else?” Jane asked. The printer hesitated, then nodded. “I kept a ledger. Nothing formal, just notes for myself.” He moved to a shelf and withdrew a small book bound in cheap brown leather.

He opened it and turned the pages until he found the entry. “Here,” he said, pointing. “Gentleman. Paid in gold. No name.” Beside the date, two letters were written: C—F. Jane leaned closer. “What does this mean?” “I heard him speak to someone outside the shop after he left,” the printer said. “The man addressed him, and I caught those initials.

I wrote them down in case there was trouble later.” Darcy stepped forward and studied the ledger. “In London, fashionable men with those initials are few.” Bingley’s jaw tightened. “Caulfield.” Darcy glanced at him. “It is a possibility. Not a certainty.” Elizabeth touched Jane’s arm. “You must verify the lead yourself.” Jane nodded. “We go to the Bingley townhouse.” By midday, the group arrived at Bingley’s London townhouse. The butler admitted them with polite wariness, his gaze moving between Jane and Bingley.

“Mr. Bingley,” Jane said quietly, “I must ask you to summon Mr. Caulfield and Miss Bingley.” Bingley did not hesitate. “Of course. Anything that assists the truth.” He instructed the butler, who bowed and withdrew. Within ten minutes, Caroline and Mr. Caulfield entered the main drawing room. Caroline’s expression was composed but tight.

Caulfield appeared curious, even amused. “Miss Bennet,” he said with a small bow. “What an unexpected gathering.” Jane did not return the pleasantry. She withdrew the pamphlet from her reticule and placed it on the table between them. “Did you commission this, Mr. Caulfield?” Caulfield glanced at the pamphlet, then back at her.

His smile did not waver. “I do not involve myself in anonymous publications, Miss Bennet. I have no interest in your affairs.”

First published by Leslie Rutter 2025 Copyright © 2025 by Leslie Rutter All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. This novel is entirely a work of fiction.

The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. Leslie Rutter asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. First edition This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy Find out more at reedsy.com OceanofPDF.com Contents 1. Chapter 1 2. Chapter 2 3. Chapter 3 4. Chapter 4 5. Chapter 5 6. Chapter 6 7. Chapter 7 8. Chapter 8 9.

Chapter 9 10. Chapter 10 11. Chapter 11 12. Chapter 12 13. Chapter 13 14. Chapter 14 15. Chapter 15 16. Chapter 16 17. Chapter 17 18. Chapter 18 19. Chapter 19 20. Chapter 20 21. Chapter 21 22. Chapter 22 23. Chapter 23 24. Chapter 24 25. Chapter 25 OceanofPDF.com One Chapter 1 Early October 1811 The afternoon light had begun its slow retreat across the floorboards of Mr. Bennet’s bedchamber when Jane slipped through the door.

He lay propped against a bank of pillows in his high-backed sickbed, positioned to face the window. His eyes were half-closed, his breathing thin and uneven. She moved to his side without speaking. There was nothing left to say that had not already been said in the weeks of his decline. Mrs. Hill appeared in the doorway, her face drawn with exhaustion. A young maid hovered behind her, clutching a basin. “Miss Bennet,” Mrs. Hill said quietly, “shall we—” “Thank you, Mrs. Hill,” Jane interrupted gently.

“I will sit with him now. You may go.” The housekeeper hesitated, then nodded. She and the maid withdrew, closing the door with care. Jane sat in the chair beside the bed. Her father’s chest rose and fell in shallow rhythm. His hand lay slack against the counterpane.

She did not take it —not yet. The clock on the mantel showed a quarter past four. A knock sounded from the corridor below. Jane heard the muffled exchange of voices, then footsteps ascending the stairs. Mrs. Hill appeared again, her expression cautious. “Forgive me, Miss Bennet, but there is a Mr. Weston from Meryton at the door. He insists he must speak with you directly.” Jane rose. “I will come down.” “He says it concerns your father,” Mrs. Hill added, her voice dropping. “He seems… unsettled.” Jane glanced back at the bed.

Mr. Bennet had not stirred. “I will return shortly,” she said. She descended the stairs and found Weston standing stiffly in the front hall, his hat clutched between his hands.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “Jane Bennet’s Hidden Inheritance: A Pride and Prejudice Variation” by Rutter, Leslie, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: c64db4d58cef70c4
• File Extension: .pdf
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• Title: Jane Bennet’s Hidden Inheritance: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
• Author: Rutter, Leslie
• Pages: 142
• Language: English (en)
• Digital Edition Created: 2026-03-06T20:10:23+00:00

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• Estimated Reading Time: 139.25 minutes
• Total Words: 27,851
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• Average Words per Page: 196.13
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Table of Contents

• Page 6: 1. Chapter 1
• Page 12: 2. Chapter 2
• Page 17: 3. Chapter 3
• Page 22: 4. Chapter 4
• Page 27: 5. Chapter 5
• Page 33: 6. Chapter 6
• Page 39: 7. Chapter 7
• Page 45: 8. Chapter 8
• Page 51: 9. Chapter 9
• Page 58: 10. Chapter 10
• Page 65: 11. Chapter 11
• Page 70: 12. Chapter 12
• Page 76: 13. Chapter 13
• Page 82: 14. Chapter 14
• Page 87: 15. Chapter 15
• Page 92: 16. Chapter 16
• Page 97: 17. Chapter 17
• Page 102: 18. Chapter 18
• Page 107: 19. Chapter 19
• Page 112: 20. Chapter 20
• Page 118: 21. Chapter 21
• Page 123: 22. Chapter 22
• Page 127: 23. Chapter 23
• Page 132: 24. Chapter 24
• Page 137: 25. Chapter 25

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