Chapter 23

Frank Philips received the note from Mr. Nichols first thing on Wednesday morning. The note was of enough concern to send him in his gig, along with his head clerk, to Longbourn even before his family-in-law would have broken their fasts. He had received a missive requesting he come to see Bennet after eleven that morning, but this could not wait.

As was his wont, Bennet was already in his study when Philips and Wickham were shown in by Mr. Hill. “Philips, are we not to meet later? Is there a problem which brought you to Longbourn so early in the morning?” Bennet enquired. “You are both welcome of course.”

“Yes, unfortunately I have good reason to be here now. We have an issue at Netherfield Park which has triggered the clause in the lease regarding dishonourable behaviour while in residence,” Philips averred. He proffered his brother-in-law the note from Mr. Nichols. “Read this and you will understand.”

Bennet pushed his spectacles up his nose so they were positioned for him to read. The more he read the more his scowl deepened. “Not only did he do nothing to check his sister, but he was fully aware of what she intended to do, and attempted to assist her in her disgusting endeavour?” Bennet growled.

“Exactly,” Philips agreed.

“I very seriously doubt whether Mr. Bingley read what he was signing,” Wickham opined. “As we all know, that does not excuse him from the obligations to which he committed.”

“What young Wickham said is legally on point,” Philips stated with pride for his protégé.

“Then yes, I will be exercising my rights under the lease. Neither Fanny, my mother, nor I want one of such low moral fibre leasing our estate,” Bennet decided. “I assume you are on your way there from here?” Philips nodded it was so. “I am recovered so I will accompany you.”

“What of the other issue you wished to discuss?” Philips enquired.

“That will wait until we meet later, this needs to be seen to first,” Bennet responded.

While Philips and Wickham waited, Bennet instructed Hill to give orders for the carriage to be made ready and then made his way upstairs and had his valet assist him in changing to go out.

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

Bingley did not think things could get worse. He had lost the friendship of Fitzwilliam and Darcy along with the rest of their extended family, and if word of his and Caroline’s ill-advised actions became known in society, they would be irrevocably ruined.

He had sequestered himself in his chambers in order to not have to face his former friends. Regardless of his own errors, Bingley was hoping they would be packing to leave so he could forget the previous night ever happened. There was a knock on his chamber door, which Bingley reluctantly nodded for his valet to open. The butler was standing without. He handed the valet a note which he in turn placed in Bingley’s hand. It was short and to the point.

27 July 1808

Mr. Bingley:

Your landlord, my head clerk, and I await you in the library. You need to join us immediately.

F Philips ESQ

As much as he would have preferred to ignore the note, Bingley knew he could not. The butler and valet would surely report he had been handed the missive.

Less than ten minutes later, he entered the library. Aside from the three men he expected to see, the Hursts, a scowling Caroline, and the men he hoped he would be able to avoid were all present.

“Why have I been rousted from my bed so early in the morning?” Miss Bingley demanded as soon as she saw her brother enter the library.

“After your behaviour during the night, you have lost your right to do anything but sit with your mouth closed tight,” Bennet barked.

“Charles, say something!” Miss Bingley ordered.

“Miss Bingley, either control your mouth and wait until and unless you are addressed or I will have my footman,” Bennet cocked his head to Biggs who was standing just inside of the door, “bind and gag you.”

“Caroline, for once in your life follow directions,” Mrs. Hurst commanded.

Even in her deluded state of mind Miss Bingley could not miss the looks dripping with disdain aimed at her person by the target of her failed compromise, his family members, and everyone else present—except for Charles. That more than anything else stayed her tongue.

“Mr. Bingley, did you bother to read the entirety of the lease before you signed it?” Wickham asked as he held up a copy of the document.

“I assumed…” Bingley began weakly.

“Assumptions are very dangerous when you sign a legally binding document. Not only did you sign at the relevant places at the end of the lease, you signed every page indicating your agreement with all clauses contained therein,” George Wickham stated in a businesslike manner. “I direct you to clause fifteen, points one and two.”

Bingley was handed a copy of the lease opened to the relevant page. As he read he felt a growing sense of dread.

15.1 The lessee agrees to abide by the clauses pertaining to immoral behaviour which could call into question the respectability of the landlord, staff, servants, or any residents of the estate.

15.2 If the lessee violates 15.1, the lease will be terminated with immediate effect and all money paid for the lease, up to and including its end, will be forfeit and non-refundable. Any money owing for breakages or damage to the building and chattels will be paid at the time of vacating the premises. If the lessee defaults on these payments he will be transported to debtor’s prison until the debts are paid in full.

“As your landlord I am exercising my rights under the lease. You and your pretentious, delusional, harridan of a sister have two hours to vacate my property,” Bennet informed a reeling Bingley evenly. He handed the shocked man a page. “That document itemises everything your sister in one of her many childlike tantrums destroyed, commencing from the day you took up residence. You owe me an additional five hundred and seventy five pounds which, unless you would like to reside in Marshalsea, you will pay now.”

Jamey stood. “If you and Miss Bingley want to try your luck, go ahead, and return to London. I warn you unequivocally I will see, with the assistance of my mother and my two aunts, that your actions will be known far and wide in society.”

“It will be made known that all connection between any of us is broken, never to be restored,” William stated. “My good opinion once lost is lost forever.”

“You may write a bank draft payable to Mr. Thomas Bennet or we can arrange for your arrest and transfer to debtor’s prison,” Wickham stated. “If you choose to do the right thing, I will accompany you to the study.”

“Charles they cannot…” Miss Bingley closed her mouth in shock as her sister delivered a stinging slap to her cheek.

“Everything which is occurring is by your hand, coupled with Charles’s weakness and inability to stand up to you. If I were you two, I would leave the shores of England,” Louisa Hurst hissed at her younger sister. “Do not underestimate the power and influence of the families you have gone against. Even Harold and I will have to partake of your…”

“No one named Hurst will suffer for what the Bingleys have done,” Jamey vowed. “We,” he looked around the room at his family members, those by blood and those who were not, “will not allow any of your brother and sister’s foolishness to redound on you. The same will be true for those not here, especially our parents.”

Caroline Bingley sat with her mouth hanging open as she finally understood what her desire to marry a man who wanted nothing to do with her had purchased her—complete and utter ruination. She looked around for the first time allowing herself to see the looks of disgust and contempt directed at her. It finally hit her that, rather than admire her, the men whom she had desired to choose from as her possible husband found her contemptable.

How had everything gone so wrong? Had Mother not always told her she would get everything she wanted? Ruination was not something she desired, and one thing was clear as the nose on her face; she would never make a good marriage in England, even from one at or below the level of her brother-in-law. She stood with some semblance of calm. “I need to have my trunks packed,” Miss Bingley said to no one in particular.

On her way out of the library she passed her brother who was following the solicitor’s clerk and looking like a dog who had been severely kicked by its master. Without a word to Charles, Miss Bingley made all speed up the stairs and, for the next hour or so, was in her chambers directing her packing.

As he returned to the library, Wickham nodded towards Bennet and Philips indicating he had the draft in his pocket to cover the damages.

“Mr. Bingley, your time to vacate my estate is wasting away. I suggest you follow your younger sister’s example and go pack,” Bennet declared. “I had hoped you possessed more of a spine than the report we received about you indicated. Unfortunately, it was all too accurate. You need to grow up and become a man, but not here. Mr. Nichols has called for your coach already.”

Knowing that the time to plead his case, or make better decisions had passed, Bingley gave a half bow and followed his sister up the stairs to have his valet pack for him. Thankfully his house in Town, which he would give up, was leased so at most he would lose the rent for the remaining months he had paid for until the end of the lease, if the agent did not find another to purchase the remaining months.

An hour later, Mr. and Miss Bingley boarded the Bingley conveyance and departed the estate. Bingley instructed his coachman to drive to Sheffield. Once they arrived at his home in that city, he would have to decide what to do regarding his and his sister’s futures.

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

“We will vacate your estate,” Jamey offered not long after the Bingleys had departed.

“Do you not expect your sister and her family on Friday?” Bennet enquired. Jamey nodded. “And did you not send couriers to impress upon your parents that their presence is urgently needed here?” This time there were nods from three men. “In some way, we are all connected as family,” Bennet turned to the Hursts, “that includes you two who have been nothing but honourable and good in the face of your siblings perfidy.” Bennet placed a comforting hand on the Viscount’s shoulder. “You may remain here as long as you choose, and, no, we will not accept any payment from you to do so. You, your parents, and any other family members are welcome for as long as needs be. If they are needed, we have almost as many chambers at Longbourn so there will be no shortage of beds to rest heads on. Mrs. Hurst, I assume you will be able to fill the role of mistress until the other ladies begin to arrive?”

“I certainly am able to do so, if that is what is required,” Louisa Hurst enthused.

“Then it is settled.” Bennet turned and faced Saul and Philip. “I have a request of my sons. Would you be willing to join us at Longbourn at about three this afternoon?”

The brothers looked at one another and communicated silently as some sets of twins were able to do. “We will be happy to assist you with anything you need Mr. B…Father,” Saul averred for both.

Philips looked shocked and at that moment he knew what it was his brother-in-law desired to meet with him about later that morning.

“As you may remember, the former heir presumptive is to arrive at four this afternoon,” Bennet explained. “My aim is to kill his delusions as soon as may be, so he can be sent on his way without importuning any of us.” He looked at his brother-in-law. “As you may have guessed, this is what we need to speak of.”

“Bennet, if you do not mind the additional support, the rest of us are willing to accompany these two scamps,” Jamey offered.

The offer was accepted. Before he and Philips departed, Wickham handed the draft to Bennet. He told his friends he would see them at Longbourn later. Bennet followed the solicitors out of the house to his carriage. The two would accompany him back to Longbourn, where the gig was, so they could meet after everyone broke their fasts.

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

“Charles, we cannot remain in England,” Miss Bingley stated about an hour into their journey away from the scene of their ruination.

“I think that for once you have the right of it,” Bingley replied without emotion. “It would be easy to blame all of this on you and your unrealistic ambitions, but I am as complicit as you are. If I had acted like the head of the Bingley family instead of a spineless puppy, things would be very different now.” He sighed. “It is too late to change what was; all we can do is look forward and try to have as good a life as possible. To that end, yes, if we want to live without worrying who knows of our folly and the scandal, which will be known far and wide in polite society, we need to leave England’s shores, and I do not mean just as far as Ireland.”

“Are you speaking of the Americas?” Miss Bingley queried.

“No, I think we should go to New South Wales, in New Holland.”

“But is that not a home for criminals and deviants?”

“There are some of those, but they are not with the general population. Caroline, there are far more who are not criminals there, and our money would go much farther there than most places in the world.” Bingley had not exercised good judgment regarding his sister and his former friends, but he did have, and always had, a very good head for business and he could see the opportunities of that far off colony. “If you choose to remain in England and not join me, I will release your dowry to you and set you up in your own establishment.”

“I will inform you of my decision once I have thought on it,” Miss Bingley responded.

Brother and sister were lost in their own thoughts for some hours and when they did speak again after the second rest break, they did not discuss anything consequential.

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

After the morning meal, Philips and Wickham accompanied Bennet to his study. Bennet related how it had been discovered that he and Fanny had not one but two sons and that Lizzy was the daughter of either a duchess or a countess.

“I agree with what Mr. Fitzwilliam stated, we need to go to Broughten-in-Furnace in Lancashire and interview Mrs. Brown and her daughters. However, even without speaking to them, the fact your sons have the unique Bennet birthmark and bear such a striking resemblance to you, as you were at the same age would be enough, but we need to know how all of this came about.” He turned to his clerk. “As soon as we return to the offices, begin to draw up the documents for Bennet to sign to recognise his sons.” Wickham acknowledged the instruction with a nod.

“I assume I will need a new last will and testament,” Bennet drawled.

“As soon as we are sure which young man was born first, that will be a priority,” Philips agreed.

“Tell Hattie, but make sure the news is not disseminated until we meet with the group of parents who will arrive soon, and decisions are reached between us,” Bennet requested. “Also, it would be good if you arrived back here before Mr. Collins arrives.”

Philips agreed it would be so and not long after, he and Wickham mounted the gig and departed.

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

Two coaches arrived at Longbourn a little after three. “There is a trap stopped just outside of your gates, pulled over and seemingly waiting. The passenger is dressed in the garb of a clergyman,” Saul noted after greetings had been exchanged in the drawing room.

“I am sure it is my simpleton of a cousin,” Bennet shook his head. “The father was a violent bully, and from what we have been able to glean, a criminal. I have no doubt he beat his lessons into his son—one of them being about punctuality. After the letter which finally informed us of the father’s death, I had an investigation undertaken. Clem Collins was not a good man, in fact he was a criminal, and the only surprise was it had taken that long for one of his victims to kill him.”

“It seems like the son will be an interesting case study,” William suggested.

“We will see this specimen of humanity soon enough,” Elizabeth opined. “If I was a prognosticator,” she looked at the clock on the mantle dramatically, “I would say he will arrive here in thirty seven minutes.”

At exactly four o’clock, a trap was pulled to a halt in Longbourn’s drive.