Chapter VIII

E arly the following morning, Bennet departed his relations' house for his appointment with the bank. As his horses were resting from the previous day's exertions, Bennet had thought to hire a hackney to take him into the part of town where the bank was located, but his brother Gardiner would hear nothing of it.

? "It is because of the convenience of my warehouse nearby that I live in Gracechurch Street, Bennet," said Mr. Gardiner. "Today I have nothing scheduled other than work at my office, and as such, my carriage and horses are available. As they have not been out these past few days, it would be beneficial if you were to use them."

? "I mean to call at Darcy's house thereafter," said Bennet. "I sent him a note before I left yesterday to that effect."

? "That is no trouble," replied Gardiner, amused by Bennet's reluctance. "You mentioned as much last night if you recall."

? Convinced, Bennet thanked his brother, and soon he was on his way, the carriage driver, more familiar with London streets than Bennet's driver from Longbourn, weaving his expert way through the congested thoroughfares. Raised in the country near Nottingham, Bennet watched out the window as the carriage proceeded, reflecting on the similarities and differences between the two cities. London was the greater by far, the crowds they passed attesting to that fact. Where it lacked, he thought, was in a certain charm he had always attributed to the northern town. Then again, that was likely because of his familiarity with the scenes of his youth. This was not the first time Bennet had been in London, but the times had been so infrequent and the duration of his stay so short that it may as well have been.

? After perhaps half an hour of travel, the driver pulled the horses to a stop in front of a large stone edifice. The sign carved into the front of the fa?ade announced its identity to all who passed by, rising above several massive stone columns supporting the weight of the roof above. It was not the largest or most prestigious bank in London, nor was it one of those most of the quality would use, but for a man of Bennet's position in life, he supposed it was as good a location as any.

? When he entered, Bennet found the reception desk and informed them of his identity, and soon thereafter a runner guided him further into the building to the door of an office. The banker he was to meet was a man a little shorter than Bennet himself, his nondescript but pleasant face topped by a head of impeccably groomed dark hair, showing nary a hint of gray. The man's eyes were brown, keen and piercing, his air leading Bennet to believe he was yet a little young for his role, perhaps five and thirty. As he caught sight of Bennet, the man rose and greeted him, his manner friendly yet reserved, and introduced himself at once.

? "Mr. Bennet, thank you for joining me. I am Mr. Pritchard."

? "It is good to put a face to the name, sir," replied Bennet, accepting his hand and noting the man's firm grip.

? Mr. Pritchard invited him to sit and asked after his comfort, and when Bennet declined the offer of tea and other refreshments, they settled into the business that had brought him to London.

? "You mentioned a need to speak to me about the accounts," said Bennet, opening the discussion. "I hope I can find some answers, for the estate's ledgers are in a woeful state."

? "As to the expenditures of the estate," replied the banker, "I have some information, mostly records of any large transactions, though of course not all. Most gentlemen keep track of their expenditures as you suggest in a ledger. Mr. Collins was an elderly man, so it is possible his record keeping slipped as he aged."

? "That is what I understand," said Bennet with a nod. "Matters on a parish are simpler, for there are only a few servants to account for along with the household expenses. Of the greatest concern to me is the state of Longbourn's finances, for I made little sense of what the accounts contain."

? Mr. Pritchard nodded and produced a sheaf of papers, and after rummaging through them for a moment, plucked one out and offered it to Bennet. "This is a statement of Longbourn's accounts, a document I created anticipating this meeting."

? With a nod, Bennet took the page and glanced at it. Then his eyes widened, and he darted a look at the banker, wondering if it was at all correct.

? "This account balance shows over fifty thousand pounds, Mr. Pritchard," blurted Bennet, hearing the incredulity in his own voice.

? "It does," replied Mr. Pritchard. "And therein lies the difficulty, for I suspect there should be more—perhaps a substantial amount more."

? Unable to understand what the man was saying, Bennet stared at him, not knowing what he should say. Mr. Pritchard seemed to understand his dilemma, for he offered a smile and a nod.

? "As a parson, I can imagine you have never had access to wealth such as this represents. In truth, though I deal with accounts with that much deposited and more, I do not come from a wealthy family myself. Perhaps I should explain my meaning."

? "Please," said Bennet. "You are correct, that I have never been wealthy. I cannot help but wonder if this sum is accurate, for Longbourn does not even produce two thousand five hundred per annum. Considering the expenses of running an estate, how could Mr. Collins accumulate so much money?"

? Mr. Pritchard sat back in his chair and regarded Bennet, a faint hint of regret hovering about him. "I apologize, Mr. Bennet, for I am not conversant with the account except what I learned in the past five years since I attained my present position. My relative youth cannot have escaped your attention."

? "Not at all," said Bennet.

? "As I am new to the position, I cannot speak to how Mr. Collins did business when he was a younger man, and unfortunately, I received my promotion to this position when the previous manager, a Mr. Howard, passed of a sudden apoplexy. Since I became his account manager, I noted the amounts of Mr. Collins's deposits and fixed my attention on other, more pressing matters. It was not until the gentleman's passing that I looked more closely into the account.

? "In short," continued Mr. Pritchard, "Mr. Collins had few expenses, for his yearly deposits were substantial, some years as much as a quarter, or even a third of the estate's yearly income. While the total sum in the account seems excessive, remember that substantial yearly deposits will combine with interest to produce a handsome fortune."

? Distracted, Bennet nodded, considering the state in which they had found Longbourn when they arrived. The grounds, the interior of the house, dated and drab, and Mr. Collins's frugal life as the only resident of the property, all told the story of a man who had used very little of his wealth.

? "That makes sense, given what I have seen in the records," said Mr. Prichard when Bennet explained something of what they had found. "Yet, I am certain it is not what it should be.

? "When I received word of Mr. Collins's passing, I began an audit, knowing the new master—you—would require the details of your inheritance. As I inspected the records, however, I noticed anomalies. Mr. Collins, it seems, has always been a prudent man, for he had taken a portion of his profits and invested it, likely to provide for younger children."

? "He had only one son," said Bennet. "The younger Mr. Collins passed away himself many years ago."

? Mr. Pritchard nodded. "So I understand. There were many notes in the records. When it became clear Mr. Collins and his wife would produce no more children, he closed the account he had set aside for younger children and merged it back into the primary account. Then when his wife passed away, he did the same again."

? Bennet considered this and ventured: "Mr. Collins was the master of Longbourn for more than sixty-five years."

? "Allowing time for his initial investments to grow into the substantial balance that now exists," agreed Mr. Pritchard.

? "That is not all I discovered. The amounts of his deposits were consistent within a certain deviation to crop yields, inflationary pressures, the price and demand of grains, etc. Then about thirty years ago, that changed."

? "Thirty years ago was about the time of his son's passing," said Bennet, startled at what he was hearing.

? "Yes, it was," said Mr. Pritchard. "Again, I found a note to that effect. After his son's passing, the amounts he invested increased, by small amounts at first that became ever larger, until I believe he was depositing perhaps half of the estate's profits in any given year."

? "The housekeeper spoke of how he left many positions unfilled after his employees left or retired," said Bennet.

? "That makes sense," said Mr. Pritchard. "As his wife passed away soon after his son, he was alone at the estate, and as he had no one else to support, he took what he did not use for upkeep, the servants' wages and the like, and sent it to the bank."

? Privately, Bennet sensed something more than the banker was suggesting. The neglect on the estate was such that Bennet suspected his distant cousin had withdrawn much of the expenditures, though he could not fathom for what reason. There were, of course, certain expenses he could not avoid, but Bennet sensed that Mr. Collins had done his best to minimize those to whatever extent he could. Perhaps he had done it as his employees had retired or left their positions, but Bennet had also found evidence of neglect on the estate, faults with cottages, fields, fences, and so on that he had not bothered to repair when they had occurred.

? "However, about ten years ago, the amounts changed again," said Mr. Pritchard, drawing Bennet's attention back to the discussion. "Whereas the yearly deposits had stabilized to a typical amount with some variance, they began to decrease again."

? "What was the explanation?" asked Bennet.

? "There was none that I could find." Again, the banker appeared uncomfortable and perhaps even a little apologetic. "There was no record in the file of what had reduced the amount Mr. Collins was sending to the bank. I would have thought Mr. Howard would approach Mr. Collins about it, but if he did, there is no record of it or any response. Mr. Howard, in the last years of his life, was perhaps not... as sharp as he had been. That may explain it."

? Bennet nodded, knowing there was no reason to become annoyed with this man. "Then what happened?"

? "The amounts decreased until they were perhaps half of what they had been before," said Mr. Pritchard.

? "That makes little sense," said Bennet. "Collins in his dotage lived simply. He even slept in a cot in his study rather than attempt the stairs to his bedchamber."

? "Then it seems to me you have an embezzler, Mr. Bennet. I checked records of historical crop yields and the prices of grain when I discovered this, and I found no evidence of any significant reduction in recent years. In the years since the wars with France began, prices rose once again. I cannot say what other ventures Longbourn engages in, but as most estates—especially estates of a smaller variety—operate to a large extent on what the fields produce, I can tell you there is no reason for the estate's income to drop in the past ten years."

? "The steward," said Bennet, recalling that he had not liked Mr. Sykes the moment he had met him.

? "He would be the logical suspect," agreed Mr. Pritchard. "As the estate's steward, he would have access to the estate accounts and would collect the rents from the tenants. If Mr. Collins had grown forgetful or had lost command of his faculties, it would have been a simple matter for the steward to skim off the top of the amount he collected and keep it for himself. In the first years, he contented himself with a percentage, either amounting to a small reduction in the amount deposited or perhaps more if the amount Mr. Collins intended to deposit had increased; in recent years, he grew bolder, and the amounts dropped even more drastically."

? "Then it appears I must investigate," said Bennet, sitting back in his chair and sighing.

? "If you will allow me," said Mr. Pritchard, "I suspect the amount that was embezzled has grown to be a substantial sum in the years he has been doing it. Thus, he must have an account somewhere, though likely not at this bank. If you can find an account number and a bank name, provide it to me and I can initiate reclamation proceedings."

? "Very well," said Bennet with a nod. "I shall remain in contact with you."

? "Excellent, sir. Now, do you have any instructions for me in the matter of your finances? If you would like, I can speak of investments and other such offerings. Mr. Collins himself made use of such tools in the past, though in recent years everything has sat in the four percents."

? A notion came to Bennet, one that appealed to him. With the state in which they had found the property, he had not expected to be in a position where he would have such funds at his disposal. Now that he had them, there were several excellent uses to which he could put his newfound prosperity, such that if handled correctly, he could lay the groundwork for his family's future independence. Some of this he would need to discuss with Gardiner, for he might have another perspective and Bennet trusted his instincts. For now, however, he could make a start of it with the bank.

? "Yes, I have a few questions for you, Mr. Pritchard, and perhaps a few instructions. Here is what I would like to know..."

? When Bennet left the bank about an hour later, he had a better understanding of his financial position and the tools he could use to improve it even further. It was a day's work done well, and while his work was not complete, his confidence swelled, for their position was better than he had expected.

Darcy lived in one of the most impressive neighborhoods that Bennet had ever seen. The avenue was wide, lined with trees, and seemed to hold the tumult of the city away by the force of its stubborn peace. The houses along the street grew more impressive the further they proceeded, until they stopped at length in front of an imposing edifice, a stone building of three levels, with a large open portico in front of a curved drive.

? When the carriage came to a halt, Bennet stepped from the conveyance to see the master himself approaching with a wide grin and an outstretched hand. While Bennet was conversant enough with society to understand that many had called Darcy proud, aloof, or even haughty, he had been nothing other than welcoming and friendly to Bennet—Darcy's father had been more liable to hold himself aloof from those of Bennet's station, to own the truth.

? "Bennet," said Darcy, his grip on Bennet's hand the firmness of purpose and friendship, "how excellent it is to see you, my friend. Come, let us go to my study and speak."

? "Thank you, Darcy," said Bennet. "I hope all is well with you and your family."

? A shadow fell over Darcy, though he did not speak until they reached the sanctuary of his study. When they entered, Darcy asked after his comfort, then with glasses in hand he directed them to a pair of armchairs before the hearth, lit with a cheery blaze in deference to the chill of the spring day.

? "We are well enough, Bennet, I thank you for asking." Darcy paused, considering his words, then said: "My sister has suffered a... disappointment of late. I apologize for the poor timing as it will prevent me from joining you at your estate as I had promised."

? "That is no trouble, Darcy," replied Bennet, considering the man before him.

? The Darcy family was notorious for their insistence on maintaining their privacy, and even if Bennet possessed ten times the connection he claimed, he would not dream of prying into the other man's affairs. Even so, Darcy's words suggested something he would not wish to reach the ears of society rather than some girlish regret.

? "How is Miss Darcy?" asked Bennet with caution.

? Darcy sighed and shook his head. "Improving, but slowly. At present, she is staying with my aunt, Lady Susan Fitzwilliam. As her ladyship has two daughters, they are better positioned to raise my sister's spirits."

? "If raising her spirits is your aim, why do you not bring her to Longbourn?" asked Bennet. "If you recall, I have three daughters, all of whom would be pleased to assist in her recovery." Bennet winked at his friend, adding: "Lizzy by herself is nigh irresistible. I suspect she will have your sister laughing with abandon within a week of making her acquaintance."

? Darcy regarded him doubtfully. "Would it not be an imposition? You have just taken residence at your estate; there must be much to do."

? "What imposition do you call it?" asked Bennet, feeling more than a hint of amusement at his friend's reluctance. "You were to stay with us and provide guidance, and I mean to work you from morning until night."

? With a laugh, Darcy allowed it to be so.

? "My girls are now engaged in refreshing the sitting-room—the entire house requires new furnishings. What I learned at the bank today will allow them to redecorate to their heart's content. Such activities are of no concern, for I know they will be ecstatic to welcome your sister into their midst."

? Though Darcy appeared intrigued by Bennet's mention of his morning appointment, he focused on the subject at hand. "Very well. I shall present the scheme to my sister and inform you of her decision."

? "Excellent!" said Bennet. "I shall wait to hear from you. If it helps, I will instruct my daughters to draft letters to your sister imploring her to come to Hertfordshire." Bennet winked at him. "And I shall even declaim any suggestion that my motivations include the fear that I shall cock things up if you do not offer your guidance."

? This time Darcy laughed, drawing Bennet into his mirth. "No, I cannot imagine you wish me to take over the management of your property!"

? "Of course not!"

? Still chuckling, Darcy shook his head. "I must own, Bennet, that I am beyond shocked you acquired the estate again after so many years."

? "As was I," said Bennet quietly, sobering at the reminder of his recent good fortune.

? "Can you account for it at all?"

? Bennet shook his head and sighed. "No, I have no notion of how Mr. Collins came to leave me the property. While his son preceded him in death, he has cousins to whom he might have willed the estate had he chosen. Even if he did not favor them, he has a distant cousin in the solicitor in Meryton who would have jumped at the chance, and would have, no doubt, lorded his good fortune over me by letter."

? "These relations of yours sound like the worst sort of people."

? Bennet nodded, though he remained distracted. "Though I often preached the virtue of forgiveness, I have, at times, found it difficult to think of them in generous terms. In this, I found it easier than my father—he experienced the loss of our property, where I only had the stories of the event after the fact."

? "You mentioned you found something of interest in your meeting with your banker?" said Darcy.

? "I did," said Bennet. "That, at least, is easier to understand, though I still must unravel it."

? Interested to hear Darcy's opinion of what he had learned, Bennet related the matter in full to his friend. It was of little surprise, given Darcy's intelligence, that he saw the potential cause of the problem at once.

? "The steward," said he when Bennet ended his account. "He is the only one who would have access to the accounts and to the rents, which he would collect in his master's stead. Mr. Collins was an elderly man when he passed, was he not?"

? "Ninety years, or a little more," agreed Bennet. "An uncommonly long life for any man."

? Darcy nodded his agreement. "Then I suggest you investigate the steward."

? "I had already determined to do so. The man himself is a shifty sort, one who appears to believe himself entitled, yet is not eager to do the work the position entails."

? "It appears you have your man."

? For a time, they spoke of the estate, Bennet relating some of what he had seen, and listening to any advice Darcy saw fit to offer. From there, their conversation devolved into their recent doings, seasoned with Bennet's account of the neighborhood and what he had experienced so far. This last bit appeared to prick Darcy's interest.

? "The estate bordering on yours is empty?"

? "Netherfield Park," replied Bennet. "I know little of the details of the property, though Sir William, my neighbor, claims it is a sizeable estate. I can tell you it is my most extensive border, perhaps a little over two miles in length."

? "That is interesting, Bennet, for a friend of mine is looking for an estate to lease."

? "Depending on how much he wishes to spend, Netherfield might be worth his while."

? "It may be worth it at that," agreed Darcy. "I shall inform Bingley of the property and allow him to investigate."

? Bennet nodded. "Should he wish to stay a day or two, he will be more than welcome to join us at Longbourn."

? "Excellent, my friend."

? With that, Bennet rose to leave, farewelling him with all the affection of a man long known to him. Darcy again promised that he would inquire of his sister as to her willingness to join them in Hertfordshire, and Bennet once again jested of his daughters' willingness to persuade his sister themselves. With this banter and promises to meet again soon, Bennet excused himself and made his way back to Gardiner's carriage.

? The return journey to his brother's house he accomplished with little interest in his surroundings, for his thoughts ruled allowing for no outside focus. The genesis of Miss Darcy's disappointment he could not fathom, and he did not wish to speculate, knowing she deserved to maintain her privacy. Darcy's presence in Hertfordshire would be a boon, but as he had informed his daughters if his friend could not come, Bennet was certain he would muddle through. Yet Bennet hoped Darcy's sister would prove amenable, for he would enjoy Darcy's company, and Miss Darcy would benefit from his daughters' friendship.

? When he arrived back at Gardiner's house, a surprise awaited him. Gardiner had not yet returned from his warehouse, but Madeleine met him with a letter addressed to him in Lizzy's handwriting.

? "This arrived from Longbourn by express while you were away."

? Thanking her, Bennet opened the letter, and the contents shocked him even more.

? "What is it?" asked Mrs. Gardiner when she saw his expression. "I hope all is well at Longbourn."

? "All is very well, thank you," said Bennet absently, continuing to peruse what Lizzy had written to him. "All is better than I might have imagined, for this is the last piece of the puzzle for which I was searching."

? That evening when Gardiner returned, Bennet discussed the situation with his relations and listened to their opinions. The following morning, Bennet dispatched an urgent note to his banker requesting a meeting with him at once, attending him that afternoon when Mr. Pritchard opened his schedule. With the banker's assistance, Bennet acted on the information Lizzy had provided to him, such that they completed the business long before Bennet had considered possible. It was true he stayed in London longer than he had intended, but the resolution was more than worth it in the end.