Chapter 30

A t first Lady Catherine was not interested in her bumbling parson’s rambling about his inheritance being stolen from him, until she got it in her head that this was a way to circumvent her brother’s orders for her to not attempt to interfere in his son’s or Darcy’s decisions about who they chose to marry.

As much as she had worked on her weak sister to agree to a betrothal between Fitzwilliam and her daughter, Anne Darcy had never gratified her. When her sister had passed away, she had thought it would be her opportunity to work on the grieving Robert Darcy. She had opined grief was a plebian emotion and made those who mourned highly malleable. To Pemberley she had gone to offer to take over the mistress’s duties.

When she arrived, rather than a spineless man she had been met with anger. Robert Darcy had ordered her off his land as if she was some commoner and not his nearest relation. She had grasped the next opportunity she had seen when a little more than five years past Robert had passed away.

Again Lady Catherine hied to Pemberley, sure her nephew would not be able to resist the force of her will. The son had been as recalcitrant as the father, who had had the temerity to codify in his will that no engagement ever existed between his son and Anne de Bourgh. With her brother’s and sister-in-law’s support, the new master of Pemberley had sent her away with a flea in her ear.

She was not one to accept failure, so knowing Fitzwilliam Darcy was beyond her reach, she had focused her energy on having Anne wed to Richard Fitzwilliam. When her brother had unexpectedly arrived at Rosings Park, she had believed he was coming to gratify her.

How dare he accept the nothing daughter of her parson’s lowborn cousins as the future countess of Matlock! After Reggie’s visit she thought she had failed in marrying off Anne. This would mean her daughter would be able to claim ownership of Rosings Park, especially when her brother had sworn to enforce all provisions of the late Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s will. It was not to be borne. Her weak daughter would reach the age of five and twenty in a matter of a fortnight.

Now the fates had smiled on her. The older nephew had obliged her and died, meaning her brother and the rest of the family were in mourning at Snowhaven. She saw the path to gaining what she desired as a gift from God. She would use this theft of her dullard of a parson’s inheritance to her advantage.

Collins had been standing, hat in hand while he sweated nervously waiting for his patroness’s wise decision. He had remained silent because one never interrupted the great lady when she was cogitating.

“A great injustice has been done to you, and as such I will set it to rights. Have yourself and your wife ready to travel within the hour. I will collect you at the parsonage, and as you know, I do not like to be kept waiting,” Lady Catherine announced.

“Yes your beneficence, we will be ready. I knew how it would be. You could not be so wise for no reason. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Collins backed out of the drawing room bowing every few feet. He made his way across the park as quickly as he was able to carry his corpulent body. He was too busy imagining how his patroness would take his cousin and the imposter to task to think of the biting cold, or the fact that his sweat was freezing on him as he walked.

When he conveyed their imminent departure for Longbourn, Charlotte said not a word in protest. She was sure both Lady Catherine and her husband would never be gratified, but she did not object to being in the neighbourhood of her youth again.

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

During the separation of the sexes after the dinner the previous evening, a custom James had all but forgotten about, he had spoken to his soon to be nephew, the former colonel, about his desire to employ demobbed soldiers as footmen guards. Hilldale had said he would contact some of his previous brothers in arms who would know of good men.

James had renewed his acquaintanceship with both Phillips and Gardiner. He had made an appointment with the former, and the latter had accepted him as an investor. A few days after the wedding, in fact the day after Lizzy reached her majority; he and Henry would travel to London to convey the funds to Gardiner that he was to invest with him. Maria and Abe would be hosted with their cousins at Longbourn. It warmed his heart to see how close the cousins had become in such a short time, as if they had always known each other.

James was happy the Freemans had taken the open farm, and even though they had protested the one year free of rent as being far too generous, they had been grateful.

At that moment he and his children were preparing to depart for Longbourn. He would leave the three there while he returned to Meryton to meet with Phillips. Once he had laid out what he wanted in his will and for the entail which would be very similar to the one Thomas would institute on Longbourn, he would return to Longbourn for the rest of the day until after dinner.

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

With the morrow being the day they were to marry; Richard Fitzwilliam was on his way to spend the day with his beloved Mary. He and William, who was standing up for him, would reluctantly leave in the late afternoon as from then until Mary was walking up the aisle towards him he was embargoed from seeing her. Although William did not need to return to Purvis Lodge, and was permitted to remain until the Bingleys and Hursts returned, he had decided to accompany the groom so Richard would not be stewing and missing his beloved on his own.

Richard had dispatched a courier to Snowhaven with a note from himself telling of how much he missed his parents, and that he and Mary would travel north after the subdued wedding breakfast which would be attended by close family only. William had included a missive announcing his engagement to Elizabeth. A Darcy courier had been sent to London with an announcement for the papers.

The coach conveying Hilldale and the two Darcys had arrived at Longbourn before the family sat to break their fasts, as had been arranged before they departed Longbourn the previous evening. That dinner had celebrated two happy events, the marriage on the morrow and the fact that Lizzy and William were engaged.

Darcy could not wait to arrive at their destination. No matter how short the distance was, it was too long for him. He was craving the company of his Elizabeth. His sister was sitting next to Mrs Annesley on the forward facing bench, both ladies with smiles on their faces. Darcy was aware of what was the root of both smiles. The former could not stop smiling now that she would have five sisters, gain two additional brothers, and three cousins. The latter was overjoyed to spend more time in the company of her sister.

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

As much as Lady Catherine hated having horses not from her own noble stables pulling her coach, rather than a three or four hour break to rest the team, she condescended to use a team from the inn where they had taken a break. According to the peasant of a coachman of hers, they were about halfway to their destination.

Seeing that she needed Anne engaged as soon as may be, swapping the team had been expedient. As soon as she had run these Bennets off, she would make her way to Snowhaven to make sure her nephew married Anne as soon as possible. Lady Catherine and her daughter were seated on the plush forward-facing bench, while Mrs Jenkinson and the Collinses were sharing the rear-facing seat. The fact that due to her parson’s heft it would have been far better if one of the ladies shared the bench with the de Bourghs never entered Lady Catherine’s consciousness.

She sat and sneered at her parson who was shivering and sweating at the same time. He was a useful idiot. She cared not what happened between Collins and the master of the insignificant estate where they were headed, as long as she carried her point.

It was the middle of the afternoon when the de Bourgh coachman guided his team between Longbourn’s gate posts and along the gravel drive, still covered in a light dusting of snow from the exceptionally cold February, towards the manor house.

When they saw the coach, both Hilldale and Darcy groaned.

“What is it, or who is it?” asked Bennet who had been playing chess against James, enquired.

“Lady Catherine,” the cousins chorused.

“After what Father ordered her to do, or not to do, I cannot imagine why she is here. William and I will go meet her…” Hilldale stopped talking when Bennet shook his head.

“I am sure that simpleton Collins is connected to this. I ask that Mrs Doubtfire and Mrs Annesley escort Catherine, Giana, Abe, and Lydia to the schoolroom. Leave Fanny, Jane, Bingley, Lizzy, Mary, and me in the drawing room. The rest of you exit using that door,” Bennet pointed, “and take seats in the music parlour with the door partially open so you may hear what is being said in here. I want a groom sent to Meryton to summon Phillips.”

As soon as Bennet completed his speech, all those asked to vacate the drawing room did so. It was not long before screeching was heard from the entrance hall.

“Where is that jezebel, where is she?” Lady Catherine screeched.

Although he was not feeling well, Collins followed his patroness like a dog follows its master. Had he a tail, it would have been wagging. He was gleeful that his patroness would soon set everything to rights.

The two were followed by Miss de Bourgh, Mrs Collins, and Mrs Jenkinson. Charlotte could not believe a supposedly noble woman was behaving like a fishmonger’s wife in the market. She corrected herself, such a lady would carry herself with far more dignity and decorum than the way Lady Catherine was behaving.

“Please allow me to announce you, your Ladyship,” Hill intoned.

Lady Catherine attempted to push past the butler but found he would not be moved. “Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Miss de Bourgh, Mrs Collins, Mrs Jenkinson, and Mr Collins,” Hill said and then stepped back from blocking the door.

If he had not been feeling so poorly, Collins would have admonished the butler for his rudeness to his patroness.

“Which one of these, with no breeding or fashion, is Miss Mary Bennet,” Lady Catherine demanded.

“I am Miss Mary Bennet,” Mary owned.

“The rest of you will leave us. I must have a private word with this young lady,” Lady Catherine commanded imperiously.

“And just who do you think you are to burst into my house uninvited and order us around?” Bennet thundered.

Not being used to being challenged in this manner by anyone other than her brother, it took Lady Catherine a few seconds to recover. “Do you know who I am? I am a peer of the…” whatever response she had expected, it had not been the ripple of laughter in the room.

“You are a commoner who happens to have an honorary title because of an accident of birth. You are as much of a peer as I am. Regardless of your delusions of grandeur, you will not speak to any of my daughters on their own. You have no right to demand anything in my house, and if you cannot speak civilly, I will have you thrown out and seen off my property,” Bennet said with ice in his voice.

A shudder ran down her spine. As much as she hated to admit it, this man was not at all intimidated by her. Rather, Lady Catherine felt afraid of him as she was sure the threat was not an idle one. Before she could formulate a reply, her parson interjected.

“How dare you speak to my patroness in that fashion! You will obey her orders,” Collins screeched.

“Say another word and not only will I call you out, but I will have you arrested for trespassing, which I warned you of last time you were here. As I am sure my express to you motivated this fool’s errand, I will allow you to remain…for now,” Bennet bit out.

Collins shrunk back and felt rather faint. He needed to remain with his patroness, but his mouth would remain shut as he did not want to die. He remembered what he had been told regarding his cousin’s skill with weapons.

Seeing that she could not work on the young lady on her own, Lady Catherine decided there was nothing for it, she would have to do what she needed to with the five Bennets in the room. “Do you really think I would allow my nephew, descended from the noble Fitzwilliam line, to marry a lady of inferior birth, daughter to a father who is attempting to defraud his rightful heir of his property?” she began.

“Lizzy, please retrieve the family Bible,” Bennet requested and turned back to the termagant before him. “And how do you know what is or is not fact? This is the first time we have spoken, although you were too ill mannered to even allow introductions. I will correct that oversight. My wife and mistress of this estate, Mrs Frances Bennet, Mr and Mrs Bingley, my son-in-law and eldest daughter, the one bringing the bible is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and as you have ascertained, this is Miss Mary. Now please explain how you know anything about my family?”

She was flummoxed, how was it that this nobody country squire would not allow her to gain the upper hand? “I have it from Mr Collins’s own mouth and a man of God would not lie,” Lady Catherine blustered.

“Is that so.?” Bennet turned to his cousin. “Collins, why do you not explain to your patroness why you prevaricated to the Lucases regarding your reason for not offering for one of my daughters?” Bennet watched as his corpulent cousin became pallid and looked like he was about to faint away. “If you do not think what I am saying is factual, ask Mrs Collins. She is fully aware of her husband’s dissembling.”

This was not going the way Lady Catherine had known it should. Before she could say anything, the daughter who had been sent to retrieve the Bible returned. She was followed by an enormous footman who had the bible in his huge hands.

“Thank you, Johns.” Bennet opened the Bible. “Here are my parents,” he pointed, and here are the names of their two sons, the eldest, me, and the younger son, James. Anyone with half a brain can see that the ink is old and not added recently. Also, there are church records and the midwife’s records, not to mention, many in the area who have known my brother from birth. He has two sons, so your parson is not in the line of succession even for the month remaining before the entail is ended.”

“This brother and sons are imposters. My father never mentioned a brother,” Collins whined.

“James,” Bennet called.

A door opened and a man who anyone with eyes could see was closely related to Bennet stepped into the room. “Yes, Brother, you called?” James drawled. “Should I have Henry join us?” Bennet nodded. “Henry,” James turned towards the music parlour.

When the younger man entered the drawing room and stood alongside his father and uncle, there was no denying who he was. “You have seen there are no imposters, now return to your patroness’s carriage and wait there. I will not tolerate you in my house any longer,” Bennet told Collins firmly.

A defeated parson, his head down, sweat pouring off him, and feeling decidedly poorly trudged back to the conveyance in the drive.

Elizabeth seated herself next to Charlotte. “You are welcome to remain,” she whispered to her friend.

Lady Catherine, knowing her line of attack was useless, was scrambling to find another way to achieve her aims. Yes! The Bennets did not know about her old claims Fitzwilliam Darcy had been engaged to her daughter, so that would work if she changed the name to Richard Fitzwilliam.

“Even if you did not attempt to defraud my parson, your daughter cannot marry Lord Hilldale as he is engaged to my daughter, what say you now?” Lady Catherine crowed triumphantly. “They have been promised to one another for many years, a desire of his father and her mother, which I will not allow to be thwarted by a country nobody with no dowry. If Miss Mary recedes without argument, I will dower her with five thousand pounds.”

Lady Catherine’s mouth dropped open when she heard the derisive laughter.

“Even if we were mercenaries like you are, what would five thousand pounds mean to one whose dowry is close to fifty thousand pounds?” Bennet barked, “Not only that, but did you think the tired old lie you used to try to force Darcy, who is engaged to my Lizzy, by the way, will work now when it never worked before?”

“It is not a lie…” Lady Catherine attempted to prevaricate.

“Yes, Mother it is. I have never been engaged to either cousin, and neither do I desire to marry either of them, or anyone for that matter. You should know better than anyone else that I will not survive childbirth,” Anne stated.

That her compliant daughter had gainsaid her was a great shock. She needed to recover and achieve her aims. “Anne is but confused…” She froze when she heard the next voices.

“However, I am not,” Darcy snorted.

“Neither am I,” Hilldale added. “Bennet has the right of it. Did you honestly think your tired old lie would suddenly gain traction? My father will be very interested that you have disobeyed him.”

All of the colour drained from Lady Catherine’s face as she looked from one nephew to the other and back again.

“My future son-in-law, on the morrow in fact, showed me that rambling, ridiculous letter you posted to your brother. Do you think we do not know what your motivations are? You, Lady Catherine, are the worst kind of fortune hunter insofar as you are attempting to steal your daughter’s rightful inheritance from her,” Bennet drawled. “We have wasted enough time on you, I suggest you join that dullard in the coach and leave my property before I ask the magistrate to arrest you.”

“Miss de Bourgh, you are welcome to remain for the wedding on the morrow, you too, Charlotte,” Fanny invited, “and Miss de Bourgh’s companion of course. Charlotte, I assume you would like to call on Lucas Lodge?”

“Thank you Mrs Bennet, as long as we will not be an inconvenience,” Anne accepted gratefully.

“Yes, that is what I would like to do,” Charlotte responded.

“My children and I need to return to Netherfield Park. If you would permit it, we will convey you to Lucas Lodge, Mrs Collins,” James volunteered.

Charlotte accepted and after farewelling her friends, she was handed into the coach. James, Henry, Maria, and Abe followed her, and with Johns riding alongside, they departed.