Chapter 7

R egardless of how much Bennet preferred to defer reading his cousin's inanities, even though he had considered not doing so before Mr. Fitzwilliam came to call, he chose not to procrastinate.

Before the family vacated the table in the dining parlour after breaking their fasts, Bennet turned to his wife. "Cilla dear, will you join me in the study so we may peruse the pearls of wisdom in the letter I mentioned before our dinner yester-evening?"

"Of course I will," Priscilla sang warmly as she took her husband's offered arm.

As much as Bennet wished the letter would have disappeared, it still lay in the middle of his desk where he had left it the previous day. He picked it up and then guided his wife to the settee which was placed between the two windows looking out onto the park.

He looked at Cilla who nodded she was ready, so Bennet broke the seal. He held the letter at a distance so they could both read it with ease.

15 October 1810

The parsonage, Hunsford (adjacent to the great estate of Rosings Park)

Kent

Dear Sir,

The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and ever since I had the misfortune of his being called home to God, I have frequently wished to heal the breach, but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.

"He writes as if this is the first letter he had posted to you," Priscilla observed.

"To be fair, in the previous letters he only discussed his so called ‘inheritance'. Never before did he mention healing the rift between the families," Bennet averred.

Priscilla allowed it was technically correct, so they returned their eyes to the page.

My mind, however, is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination this year, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Mr. Richard Fitzwilliam. Well to be honest, I was preferred to the living by the magnificent Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of the honourable knight, Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence selected me as the ideal candidate to occupy the valuable rectory of this parish. It has been my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship and her nephew, who is the master of the great estate, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England.

"How on earth was Lady de Bourgh allowed to appoint your cousin? Could this be why Mr. Fitzwilliam desires to meet with you?" Cilla wondered. "If his sermons are as ridiculous as the prose in his letters, I feel pity for his congregants."

"It could be what he wishes to discuss, but I am not sure what I can say to assist him," Bennet responded, "I have no authority over Mr. Collins. I cannot but agree with you regarding his sermons." Both shaking their heads, they returned to the letter .

As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive-branch.

I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends, but of this hereafter.

"Thomas, we have to find a way to make sure he understands the nature of the entail. And it will be over my dead body if his so called amends are his intentions to marry one of my daughters. The angels will play the seven trumpets before I would ever allow a man such as this to marry one of my girls!"

"Calm yourself Cilla. Do you really think I would allow the man to propose to one of our girls, never mind marry them?"

"No, you are too good of a husband and father to permit such a travesty." Cilla kissed her husband. Once a few kisses had been given and received, they began to read again.

If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Friday the 26th day of this month, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday sennight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Mr. Fitzwilliam and Lady Catherine are far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday. To whit, Mr. Fitzwilliam was so thoughtful he employed a clergyman as my curate. Hence, he is engaged to do the duty of the day on the Sundays I miss.

I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend ,

William Collins

"Thomas, you must immediately write to this simpleton and refuse your permission for him to invite himself to our home," Cilla insisted.

"That is one possibility, however, I think we could take a different path and make sure we kill his delusions once and for all," Bennet suggested. Seeing Cilla's quizzical look, Bennet continued. "If we allow him to arrive at Longbourn, he will be able to see my face when I leave him no doubt he is not allowed to importune our girls at all. As he is to arrive on a Friday, I will call our sons home for an extended weekend. Henry and Tommy will be able to depart their respective schools that morning and reach home before the time my cousin lists for his arrival. They will return to school on Monday. That way the boys will miss the minimum lessons possible. If seeing our actual heirs will not be enough, I will make sure Philips will be present with the documents pertaining to the actual entail. If I need to, I will tie him to a chair until he is able to understand the facts."

Her husband's words cause Cilla deep cogitation. Her desire to never have the man near her daughters warred with the chance to finally set him straight. In the end, the latter won out. "I agree, but as soon as he understands all, he is to leave. Also, if he attempts to importune any of our daughters, I want him evicted."

"Agreed," Bennet averred succinctly.

While his wife left the study, Bennet wrote letters to his sons. One Bennet conveyance would arrive at Eton by Thursday evening and another at Cambridge for an early Friday morning return to Longbourn.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

A few minutes before the time Bennet had told Mr. Fitzwilliam to arrive, the man was shown into his study.

When Richard arrived at Longbourn, it took him no time at all to see this was not the estate of an impecunious gentleman. He could only shake his head that William would not question the drivel put forth by Mr. and Miss Bingley. If that were not enough, as he followed the butler to the study, he saw a family portrait. He recognised Mr. Bennet, assumed the lady sitting next to him was Mrs. Bennet, and the three younger ladies the daughters he had heard of, but he could not miss two young men. One looked much like his father and the other favoured his mother. So much for the Bennets' estate being entailed away.

"Good morning, Mr. Fitzwilliam," Bennet welcomed as he gave a half bow before he retook his seat behind his desk.

"And to you, Mr. Bennet," Richard returned as he bowed to his host. He sat in one of the chairs Mr. Bennet indicated before his desk.

"Coffee or tea?" Bennet enquired.

"I have had two cups of coffee already, so if it is all the same to you, tea please," Richard averred.

Bennet pulled a bellpull which rang somewhere summoning Mrs. Hill. Soon enough the housekeeper appeared. "A tray with tea and some of cooks delectable shortbread biscuits please Mrs. Hill." The housekeeper bobbed a curtsey and was on her way to fulfil the master's order.

"I have a feeling you want to discuss my cousin who seems to have found his way into holding the living under your gift at Hunsford," Bennet stated.

Richard's eyebrows shot up. "How do you know that?" he asked in wonder. Was this man clairvoyant?

"No big trick. Read this letter and you will understand how I came by my seemingly magical insight," Bennet responded. He handed his guest his cousin's letter.

Before Richard completed his reading, there was a knock at the door and the housekeeper pushed the door open for a maid who was carrying the tea tray. It was placed on the desk and with both of them curtsying, they left the study, the housekeeper pulling the door closed behind her.

Each man poured his tea in the way he preferred it and helped himself to two pieces of shortbread. Richard took a bite of the biscuit and had to admit that even in Scotland he had never tasted such a delectable version of the treat. Once the tea was drunk, and the refreshments eaten, Bennet rang for his housekeeper again and soon the tray was cleared away leaving the two men alone in the study.

First Richard finished the letter Bennet had handed him. Had he not been familiar with the lack of intelligence and good sense Collins possessed, he would have thought that the letter had been written as a jest.

"When he asked me for time away, I gave it to him gladly. He never mentioned where he wanted to go to. The parishioners are much happier when Mr. Collins is not present." Richard cogitated for a moment. "Are you telling me the man does not know you have sons?" he questioned incredulously.

"Either he is unaware, or he is wilfully blind," Bennet averred. "That does not even take into account the entail is not in favour of heirs male. My wife and I have decided to allow him to arrive so we may end his pretentions. We would never allow him to ally himself to one of our girls driven by his delusions regarding the estate. But that is not what you came to see me about, is it?"

"It is not. As a courtesy to you, I wanted to relate the truth of his situation. As he correctly hinted at, I was not the one to prefer him to the living, as was my right…" Richard articulated all for Bennet.

When the man opposite him was done with his recitation, all Bennet could do was expel a deep breath. "You intend to have the Bishop remove him before Easter of next year? "

"Indeed I do. I cannot inflict him on the parishioners any longer. In addition, it is unfair to Mr. Albert Travis to bear the title of curate when he is the vicar in everything but name," Richard explained, "as it is, I make sure he is paid far more than a curate is normally remunerated."

"Collins may be motivated to offer his olive-branch as regardless of his seemingly ignoring the facts, he, at least on some level, is aware and is coming to see if I have one foot in the grave." Bennet gave a wry grin. "He is in for a great shock; my boys will be home before the parson arrives here."

"You may have the right of it. I am pleased you are aware his motives may not be as pure as he tried to intimate in the letter you allowed me to read," Richard opined.

"I thank you for sharing with me what his future likely portends. He may be more desperate than I had thought so I will make sure he is watched at all times for the short time he will be a guest with us," Bennet stated firmly.

"Are you aware, that the residents of Netherfield Park believe your estate is entailed to a male, and they do not know you have sons," Richard informed his host.

"Given what we know of Mr. and Miss Bingley, we will not correct their perceptions. As it is, my eldest daughter is not enamoured with his attentions, and my next youngest was insulted by the friend who is resident with the Bingleys."

"Do you perchance refer to a man named Darcy?" Richard enquired.

"The same. Lizzy says he was greatly perturbed at the assembly and was being importuned by his friend, but she and we do not excuse his words. He has had many chances to apologise and has not. You saw how he slunk away from me at the dinner yester-night."

"I will drag him here by his ear if needed…" Richard ceased speaking when Mr. Bennet raised his hand.

"From what I can discern, he is not a young pup who is wet behind the ears any longer. It is not for you to correct behaviour his parents have not. Also, if he is to apologise, it must be sincere and not forced by another."

Richard explained that his cousin was eight and twenty and had lost both his parents. "His behaviour at times is an aberration from what his parents taught him. I am not at liberty to explain the circumstances, but Miss Elizabeth was accurate when she surmised my cousin was weighed down by worries, which as you said, does not forgive bad behaviour."

Bennet could tell the man before him was a man of honour. Even though, based on his being addressed as ‘the honourable,' he was the son of a peer, he did not think himself above those who were merely members of the gentry. "Would you like to meet my wife and daughters? They are in the drawing room."

"Mr. Bennet, it would be an honour and a pleasure to meet your ladies." Richard inclined his head.

"Please address me as Bennet."

"And me as Fitzwilliam."

Bennet led the way to the east drawing room which received the morning sun, such as it was at the time of the year. When the two men entered the four ladies all stood. Bennet introduced his wife and daughters to the visitor. Bows and curtsies were exchanged.

Mrs. Bennet ordered tea and Richard sat near the three sisters. Seldom had he seen such an array of beauty, but it was not long before he was able to tell they were all so much more than pretty faces.

After the tea, he had a chance to converse with all three which gave him a window into each of their characters. Miss Bennet was more soft spoken than her younger sisters and he could see why Bingley was drooling over her. He could not but respect the fact she had no interest in the man. He could tell she was very serene, too much so to attract him, no matter her beauty.

From what he had seen so far, this estate earned multiples of the rumoured two thousand per annum. Had Bingley known, his chase of Miss Bennet would have been relentless, although, he also wanted a lady who would help him advance in society. It was at that moment Bennets words about his knowing about Bingley's character entered Richard's consciousness. How is it the man had foreknowledge of what Bingley was about? That would indicate an investigation, but why would the Bennets do that? It was not a question he would divine the answer to now.

Miss Elizabeth was as quick as a whip and displayed a broad intelligence. He could tell she was a fun loving, vivacious woman. As beautiful as she too was—she had the most enchanting emerald-green eyes he had ever seen—she would run rings about him. When he shared his familial relationship with Darcy, Miss Elizabeth turned to him, one eyebrow arched.

"So, you find us tolerable enough to speak to and do not think you will gift us too much consequence ," Elizabeth teased.

As Bennet had told him the gist of William's slight, he understood why Miss Elizabeth emphasised the words she did. "Please allow me to apologise on behalf of my cousin…" Like her father had in the study, Miss Elizabeth raised her hand to stop him.

"If and when Mr. Darcy is gentleman enough to make his amends, allow him to do so," Elizabeth stated. "You have nothing for which to apologise."

He had inclined his head. He thought his cousin a great fool. If he had not opened his mouth to insult her and had made an effort to know her family, he would have discovered she could be exactly the woman who, in disposition and talents, would most suit him. ‘ William you are at times a horse's arse ,' Richard thought to himself. He turned back to speak to Miss Mary .

Miss Mary was a mixture of her two older sisters. She was no less pretty than either of them, and while she was intelligent, she was more serious than Miss Elizabeth, while being more open and easier to read than Miss Bennet. The more he spoke to Miss Mary, the more intrigued Richard became. He was gratified when Mrs. Bennet issued an invitation for him to join the family for dinner on the morrow. It would allow him to speak to Miss Mary more.

Richard remained at Longbourn for another hour before his horse was called for and after farewelling the family, and sincerely thanking them for the hospitality they had shown him, he mounted Invictus and began the three mile ride back to Netherfield Park.

He would honour Bennet's request not to share anything he had learnt with the Bingleys, and by extension, his cousin—no matter how much he wanted to issue a set down for William's behaviour.