fortune

Yes, that is why I believe that the 30,000 pounds is Georgina's entire fortune in black and white, and as I said in an earlier post, under the old English common law, a woman's fortune was her dowry. (I think it was different in France where a specific sum would be set aside for her dowry). If it was through her father's will, it did not matter that she was only a child when he died, he would have made proper provision for her future. Some wills even provided for the future provision of as yet unborn grandchildren.

Her mother was the daughter of an earl, but it did not mean that Lady Anne Darcy had a large fortune or dowry. The fact that she married slightly lower might mean that she did not, that a rich but untitled gentleman might be happy to marry an earl's daughter with little fortune. Lady Cat also appeared to be rich through her late husband, and spoke of the de Bourgh fortune, not the Fitzwilliam fortune. Col Fitz, the nephew of Lady Anne and Lady Cat, did not have a large fortune.

Bingley's sisters and Crawford's sister also had their fortunes in black and white, not dependent on their brothers' power or good will or generosity. The Dashwood sisters had to be left to their brother's generosity because most of the family fortune was entailed or secured to him, and his greedy wife prevented him from giving a penny to them.