Chapter 14

C harlotte Lucas was far more shaken by the conversation she had had at Longbourn than she had initially been willing to admit to herself. The sad truth was part of the reason she had accepted Mr Collins was she would be able to tell herself that she, plain, spinster Charlotte had not only been proposed to, but she had been chosen over one of the far prettier Bennet sisters.

Her triumph had been short lived. Mr Collins had misrepresented why he had not offered for one of his cousins. Rather than being his choice, she was his consolation. His being the heir to Longbourn would make up for that fact, so the slip Eliza had made about other possible heirs had troubled her greatly.

“How is your day, Mama?” Charlotte greeted as she entered her mother’s small, but private sitting room. “May I ask you some questions?”

“Sit, Charlotte. I have noted how pensive you have been since your visit to the Bennets’ home. Were they angry that Mr Collins chose you and not one of them?” Lady Lucas enquired.

“No, Mama. They were relieved he had never proposed to one of them…” Charlotte related what had occurred before Mr Collins had come calling. “It is my belief that he returned to Lucas Lodge and prostrated himself before us as he needed a wife, and I was the only one willing to accept him.”

“Well I never. What was Mr Bennet thinking forbidding Mr Collins to propose and casting him out of Longbourn? Does he not know how poor his widow and unmarried daughters will be when he goes to his eternal reward?” Lady Lucas shook her head. “I am sure Fanny Bennet is not sanguine about her husband running his heir off his estate.”

“That is one of the other things about which I needed to speak. Jane said something about none of them needing to marry for security, and Eliza let slip some such about another heir. Mama, know you of what they speak?”

“For the heir, they could refer to something connected to James Bennet. Have you heard talk of him?” Lady Lucas questioned. “As far as fortune goes, do you know who their great-grandparents were?”

Charlotte shook her head to both queries.

“Mr Bennet is the older of two brothers. His younger brother James fancied himself in love with the then Fanny Gardiner. When she chose his brother, he left after accusing her of being a fortune hunter, and has not been heard of since. He can be the only one who could supplant your fiancé,” Lady Lucas explained. “To the second question you asked, until you mentioned it, I had forgotten that the late Mrs Beth Bennet was the only child of the Morrises who owned Netherfield Park. When they passed, I believe she inherited it, and when she was called home, the estate must have devolved to the current Mr Bennet. That is why his younger brother had called Fanny mercenary. All I can surmise is that Mr Bennet revealed his ownership of Netherfield Park, and that one of his daughters, more than likely his favourite Eliza, is his heir.”

Charlotte was almost bowled off her feet. If this brother of Mr Bennet’s returned, and worse if he had a son, or more than one… It hit her then what Eliza had said: ‘ fourth in line !’ Did that mean the uncle had two sons? And why had Mrs Bennet always cried poverty when her husband went to his eternal reward? Was it possible Mr Bennet kept the knowledge from his wife as a joke? She immediately saw she could tell none of this to Mr Collins. In his mind he was far superior to the Bennets. To discover they were far wealthier than he would ever be, and that there may be another heir would make her betrothed very unhappy.

If what her mother conjectured was true about her friend being the heiress to Netherfield Park, Eliza would have her mother and unmarried sisters at her estate.

“Do you have any further questions?” Lady Lucas enquired, snapping Charlotte out of her thoughts.

“No, Mama, that is all.” Charlotte paused as she formed a thought. “Mama, may we keep this conversation only between us? We know nothing for certain, and the Bennet sisters may have misspoken.”

“I will not repeat it, even to your father,” Lady Lucas promised.

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

Bennet sat, his hands steepled, waiting for the younger man to speak.

“I seek your permission to request a formal courtship from Miss Bennet,” Bingley replied firmly. “If I felt she was ready to hear it, I would offer her my proposals. I love your eldest daughter. No, more than that. I am in love with her. I can never forgive my younger sister for hurting Jane…Miss Bennet.”

“You are speaking to the wrong one. I am sure you are aware Jane is of age. As such she does not need my permission,” Bennet responded.

“Aye, I do know that. However, as I am sure she would desire your blessing,” Bingley clarified, “and knowing Miss Bennet’s character, if you were dead set against me, I could not see her gainsaying you.”

Not too long ago, Bennet would have made sport with the man sitting opposite him and the effect on his daughter be damned. That was before he took charge of his family and himself. This man would do well for Jane. He was no immature puppy who would allow others to walk over him. Bingley had stood up to his sister’s manipulation. More than that, he had moved to clarify he was unaware of her perfidy as soon as he became aware of it.

“Before I bestow my blessing, there is one question I have.” Bingley inclined his head. “This break with Miss Bingley…is it permanent or if you marry, will my Jane have to contend with her in her own home?” Bennet asked pointedly.

“I only have one sister, Mrs Hurst, who was as disgusted with Miss Bingley’s actions as I was. Like me, her husband will not have the youngest Bingley in his home again,” Bingley assured the father of the woman he loved more than he had ever imagined possible. “There is no version of my future I can imagine without Miss Bennet in it.”

He could see the sincerity and strength oozing from the young man before him. Mr Bingley’s eyes looked directly at Bennet without looking away for an instant. As such, there was only one thing he could do. “Even if you need it not, you have my consent as well as my blessing, whether Jane accepts a courtship or an engagement,” Bennet declared. “Just make sure you always love and value my daughter and never allow me to repine my decision.”

Bingley stood and extended his hand to the man who he hoped would be his father-in-law in the not far distant future. “Are the ladies in the drawing room?” he enquired.

“They are, I will accompany you to tell Jane I have approved a private interview…that is what you desire, is it not?” Bennet ribbed.

“It most certainly is,” Bingley averred firmly.

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

“I will kill him! I intend to see him hung, drawn, and quartered. No, better yet, drawn before he is hung!” Colonel Fitzwilliam ranted after Colonel Forster told him how Wickham had tried to escape the consequences of his actions. As some of his anger bled from him, Fitzwilliam remembered something his friend had said. “You said the coward recanted as soon as Mr Bennet reminded him Darcy was related to an earl?”

Forster nodded and opined, “If I were to wager, I would put money on it being you of whom he is petrified,” Forster opined. “One instant he was full of bluster, and then he was telling us his claim was not true—at least as to his claims of a compromise. He did not retract what he said about an almost elopement. I gather you spent much time at Pemberley, Mr Darcy’s estate, when you were all younger?”

“Yes. I practically grew up there until I went to Eton. I think that bugger’s fear of me stems from a time I caught him about to play a prank on my cousin which could have resulted in serious injury for William. I thrashed him and warned him if he ran to my Uncle Darcy, I would tell him what his favourite was about to do, and after that I would find him and issue a beating twice as hard. He never went whinging. He claimed he slipped and rolled down a rocky hill.” Fitzwilliam got a feral grin. “The last time I had to warn him, I made him understand the next time would be the last time as he would not survive.”

“You would have enjoyed it when Mr Bennet tore verbal strips of flesh off the man.”

“I remember a letter from my cousin in which he said that Mr Bennet was, from his observations, indolent and uninterested in his family unless he was making sport of them. It does not seem to be true any longer.” Fitzwilliam saw Forster was about to interject. He raised his hand. “Yes, I know my cousin did not endear himself to the local gentry while he was last here. He is socially inept at times, but he is as honest and honourable a man as you will ever find. He is also the best friend a man could desire to have.”

“What do you want to do with the blackhearted reprobate? As far as I know he is still unconscious thanks to the flogging. Mr Jones, the doctor and apothecary, estimates it will be between a sennight and a fortnight before he may be moved.”

“I am not displeased he is finally experiencing the consequences of his actions. There is time, let me think on it, and see if I come up with something worse than debtor’s prison.” Fitzwilliam paused as he had a thought. “Would you show me to the Bennet estate and introduce me to Mr Bennet?”

“It will be a pleasure. No time like the present.” Colonel Forster stood and led his friend out of his office. “I will return in an hour or two,” he told Captain Carter.

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

When her father led Mr Bingley into the drawing room, there was no missing the way Jane lit up and glowed with pleasure as soon as his eyes locked on to hers. As was proper, Mr Bingley greeted the ladies, beginning with her mother. It did not upset her that he asked not after the missing Bennet sister.

“Jane, Mr Bingley has gained my permission, dependent on your agreement, to address you privately,” Bennet drawled as he looked from one member of the besotted couple to the other. “Do you agree to hear what he has to say?”

Elizabeth was sitting on the settee next to Jane and squeezed her hand in support. Janey deserved all of the happiness in the world, and she was sure Jane’s felicity lay with Mr Bingley.

“I would very much like to hear what Mr Bingley has to say,” Jane managed in a breathy voice as her heart sped up with excitement.

“You may use the front parlour, Jane dear,” Fanny said calmly.

For a moment Bingley was taken aback. His past experiences with Mrs Bennet before the ball had led him to believe that she would be engineering a way to leave them alone regardless of his intent, or at the very least making some vulgar effusion about his wealth. She did not. Like her daughters, including Miss Kitty, she was sitting calmly and demurely. That the brash, flirtatious Miss Lydia was not present was a pleasant occurrence.

“Papa, may we have an extended time, there is much about which we need to speak,” Jane’s eyes were raised in the direction of the nursery.

Bennet nodded his permission to discuss what Jane felt she needed to, and then added, “as long as the door is partially open, you may take the time you need. Away with you now.”

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

Bingley could not imagine what Miss Bennet wanted to say. Was it something connected to Caroline’s detestable letter? His question was answered soon after the door was set, about one quarter open.

“Mr Bingley, before you speak, there is something I must tell you, but I need your vow as a gentleman that whether you decide to withdraw or not, you will not repeat what I am about to share with another living soul,” Jane began. “If it was known, it could ruin all of us.”

“You have my word of honour that I will never repeat what you are about to tell me,” Bingley promised.

Jane nodded. She knew she could trust this man. After all, she already entrusted him with her heart. “What do you know of Mr Wickham who used to be the late Mr Darcy’s godson?” she asked, seemingly incongruently.

“I know Darcy hates him, and that he is a bad seed, although I am not aware of all of the details. As good a friend as he is, Darcy is very private with certain things. It is not that I have not earned his trust, I have. However, there are some areas of his life he shares with almost no one, other than his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who shares guardianship of Miss Darcy,” Bingley replied in a roundabout way.

“Unfortunately bad seed is one of that man’s better qualities,” Jane bit out.

It was new to see the lady he loved express anger. Until that moment she had always been serene, with a good word about everyone. Bingley raised his eyebrows, but said nothing to interrupt Miss Bennet.

“You may have noticed my two youngest sisters had an affinity for officers in scarlet coats.” Bingley allowed it to be so. “I would not be telling you anything you are not aware of by saying that my youngest sister knows nothing of decorum or how to behave like a lady.” Again Mr Bingley could not refute what Miss Bennet said. “You have seen some changes in my family, have you not?”

“I have. In your parents I have seen a marked change, and Miss Kitty is very different. Miss Mary seems to be far more outgoing since the ball when she danced almost every set.”

“I will discuss why soon, but some days before your ball, my father learnt some information which convinced him to leave his study and take charge of his estate and family. If I may quote from Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Yeoman’s Tale , ‘ for better than never is late; never to succeed would be too long a period .’ My father spoke to my mother, and as you can see, she is far calmer and more circumspect than she used to be. After their performance at your ball, he put Kitty and Lydia back in. Certain information came to light about Mr Wickham, and on hearing it, my youngest sister let something slip which she did not mean to do. She was seduced by him.

“She stupidly believed him when he told her that her virtue was intact, and that she could not become with child, because they were not married. We know not if there will be any consequences, so Father is sending her to a convent, which also has a school for wayward young ladies, the Sisters of the Eternal Hope in Westmorland. Once she has been educated, if she is not with child, she will eventually be allowed to return to Longbourn, if she is…” Jane paused as with everything Lydia had done, she still did not want to imagine her baby sister banished for all time. “…she will never be permitted to return. I tell you so if you feel you need to withdraw, you may do so now with your honour intact.”

“What type of cad would I be if I held something for which you are blameless against you, when I could just as easily be held responsible for my sister’s heinous actions? Miss Bennet, I love you more than anything I could ever imagine. I care not what your sister did, I care not that you are practically penniless, that your father’s estate is entailed, or that you have relatives in trade, like my father was. All I want is to be with you. I am willing to offer a courtship if you need time, but if you love me too and are ready…” Bingley stopped when Miss Bennet placed her finger on his lips. She was smiling, so that was a good sign.

“I must correct some misconceptions, and again. Although this is not scandalous, I ask for your promise of secrecy.”

Intrigued, Bingley made his vow.

“This story begins many years ago…” Jane told all and ended with the approximate current value of hers and her sisters’ dowries.

All Bingley could see at first was his cast-off sister having a grand tantrum upon learning that the Bennets owned Netherfield Park, and each Bennet daughter had more than double her own much boasted of dowry. He grinned widely. “Then that means if this uncle and his sons return to our shores and break the entail, Longbourn will never suffer under the stewardship of Mr Collins.”

Jane nodded with a beatific smile to match his grin.

“I cared not when I thought you were impecunious, it matters not that you are an heiress. Miss Bennet, you are too good to trifle with me. Tell me at once if you love me, as I love you deeply. Because if you do, I would like to ask you to be my wife.”

“Yes, Mr Bingley, I will be your wife,” Jane replied with her eyes ablaze with happiness.

“Then you love me?” Bingley verified as he stood, and gently pulled Miss Bennet, Jane, his fiancée, to a standing position.

“Does this provide your answer,” Jane enquired as she stood on her toes and pushed her lips against his. For some minutes their kisses got deeper and deeper. Eventually they stepped back one from the other.

“Yes, you have given me the perfect answer, Jane. I love you so. Before I forget, I have your father’s permission and blessing as long as you have agreed.”

“Do you have a middle name?” Jane enquired.

“Yes, it is Arthur for my late father, and yours is?”

“Clarissa for my late Great-grandmother Morris.”

“Well Jane Clarissa Bennet, should we go share our news with your family?” Jane nodded emphatically.

The expected announcement was made to wishes of felicity and welcomes for Bingley into the family. Just when the celebration was dying down, Hill announced Colonels Fitzwilliam and Forster.