Chapter 7

L ieutenants Pratt and Miller stood before Colonel Forster’s desk as he took them to task first thing, the morning after the ball.

“Did you two think the Code of Conduct I had you sign did not apply to you?” Forster thundered. Knowing no answer was required, both officers gave a quick shake of their heads. “It was designed to head off the types of behaviour which cause towns to refuse to allow regiments of the militia to encamp nearby. How could you two behave in such an unbecoming manner?”

“Miss Lydia did encourage us…” Lieutenant Pratt began to say. He regretted his words as soon as he saw the fury on his Colonel’s face.

“She is fourteen years old while you are five and twenty!” Forster barked. “Not only that, none of the Miss Bennets signed the pledge to behave as gentlemen like you did. Now Longbourn has withdrawn any hospitality to my regiment, and as they are one of the leaders in the area, I would not be surprised if others follow suit.” Forster paused as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Please tell me neither of you have meddled with any young ladies hereabouts, either gently bred, merchants, or servants.”

“I am not like…” Lieutenant Miller began to say before he saw Pratt’s scowl and he closed his mouth.

“If there is one or more rotten apples in my barrel, I need to know,” Forster insisted as he came to stand inches from his sweating Lieutenants. “You had better be honest and tell me all. It will be the difference between being confined to your quarters or a lashing before being cashiered out of the regiment!”

The two Lieutenants looked at one another. Loyalty to a brother officer only went so far. “Like Miller, I have not meddled with any local young ladies or women,” Pratt assured his Colonel. “We have no proof, only the boasts of one man, and we know that men play up their conquests to increase their stature among their friends.”

“Who and what?” Forster demanded.

“Wickham has made claims, but as to the veracity, we know not. He never mentioned specifics so we know not who they are, if he has in fact bedded them.” Pratt looked at the floor.

The Colonel looked at Lieutenant Miller. “My information is the same as Pratt’s,” he informed his commanding officer.

Forster could see the men had been honest. “In that case, other than your duties, you are both confined to quarters for a fortnight. Any infraction will lead to the second of the two possible punishments I enumerated. You may both go,” Forster waved the Lieutenants away dismissively.

Both men snapped off smart salutes, did about turns and exited the Colonel’s office. On their way out of the office, they passed Captain Carter, the adjutant, who had been called in by the Colonel.

The two Lieutenants were fully cognisant they were getting off lightly. All they could hope was that Wickham would not be made aware who related his reputed activities to the commander of the regiment.

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

Even though all he wanted to do was sleep, William Collins found himself evicted from Longbourn even before he was able to break his fast. After speaking to Lizzy about what passed between his cousin and Mr Darcy coupled with Collins’s performance at the ball, Bennet was determined to rid his house of the man, and would not wait until his family was present.

The parson, acting in a most un-clergyman like manner, issued many threats as to what he would do the instant Bennet was dead. The latter only grinned at his bluster, knowing that even if James did not return and help to end the entail, his girls, and by extension his wife, would never have to worry about their futures.

Collins attempted to seek succour at Lucas Lodge, but for some reason the Lucases did not welcome him. He had no choice but to make for the Red Lion Inn from where he could catch the post to London and change for the one to Hunsford.

Bennet, who rose early regardless of when he went to bed, returned to his study and felt happy with his decision to remove Collins from his house. He worked on his ledgers until it was time to break his fast. When he joined his family, the three eldest were surprised to see neither Kitty nor Lydia. They were able to see from their parents’ mood, it was not the time for asking questions. They had no complaints as the meal had been much quieter and very peaceful with the two youngest Bennets absent.

An hour past the morning meal, Bennet summoned his daughters to meet him and his wife in the principal drawing room. Once the eldest three daughters were seated, Bennet sent Mr Hill and a footman to unlock the nursery door and have the two youngest Miss Bennets join them. While they waited for Kitty and Lydia, Bennet could see the enquiring looks from his daughters, not the least of whom was Lizzy.

“I do not intend to repeat myself, so we will wait until Kitty and Lydia arrive from the nursery,” Bennet stated firmly.

Their mother sat next to her husband quietly and nodded her agreement.

That her two youngest sisters had passed the night in the nursery led to myriad questions Elizabeth wanted to ask, but understanding her father was not in the mood to be gainsaid, she held her peace.

The sounds of Lydia’s screeching about the indignation of being locked in the nursery reached the ears of the five Bennets in the drawing room long before the brash girl stomped her way into the room. To Kitty’s credit she kept herself under regulation, realising it was not the time to be demanding.

“How could you allow that man to humiliate us at the ball…” Lydia began to scream at her mother. The last thing in the world Lydia expected was for her mother to stand and deliver a slap to her face. Her hand went to her cheek which was stinging, and she closed her mouth. Something was different with her mother; Lydia could not fathom what it was and did not like any changes which would reduce her ability to enjoy herself.

Although their cheeks were not stinging or turning red like Lydia’s, her four sisters were no less shocked by their mother’s actions. Until she had ordered Lydia to change before the ball, they had never seen their mother discipline her youngest daughter. Before her husband spoke, Mrs Bennet glared at Lydia and said, “ That man is your father!”

“Unless you need me to follow through with my threat to turn you over my knee, I suggest you and Kitty sit quietly there.” Bennet indicated a settee which was not in use. “Before I begin, there are some new house rules which are non-negotiable.” Bennet looked at his two youngest daughters pointedly, but also at the three eldest, pausing for the longest period when his gaze fell on his second child. There were five nods. “Good. Of late I have woken up to the fact I have not done my duty to all of you as my family for many years. I was not like I have been lately when I was younger. In fact, when I met, fell in love with, courted, and eventually proposed to your mother, I was anything but indolent. Yes, I loved the written word, but not to the exclusion of all else.

“What none of you other than your mother are aware of is that I have a younger brother, James.” Seeing that his daughters wanted to interject, Bennet raised his hand. “You have my word of honour, there will be time for you to ask as many questions as you desire, but I need to speak first.” There were five nods, albeit a very sullen one from a much subdued Lydia. “Until we fought over the love of the most beautiful woman in the area, James and I had been the best of friends; he is less than three years younger than me…” Bennet related all which led to his brother’s flight to the fledgling United States of America, also referred to as the former colonies. He told how his father had tried to reach out to James, the help Uncle Edward’s man had given in locating their uncle and the letter sent after the death of their grandparents. “At this point I need to explain something of my Grandfather Morris, who used to own Netherfield Park…” Bennet told his daughters about the history of Netherfield Park and their Morris great-grandparents. “Are there any questions up until now?”

“Netherfield Park belongs to your brother, our Uncle James?” Elizabeth verified.

“That is so,” Bennet confirmed.

“And Mama knew Uncle James was the heir to the estate, but did not tell him when he falsely accused her of being a fortune hunter?” Mary enquired.

“Yes, but my father and your Uncle Frank made me believe if I revealed what I knew, your Uncle James could have been disinherited, and I refused to take that chance,” Fanny explained.

Another one of Elizabeth’s preconceived notions about her mother’s inability to keep a confidence came crashing down. All she could do was shake her head.

“What happens to Netherfield Park if Uncle James never comes back to England?” Jane asked. She was motivated by concern for the uncle about whom none of them had known, much less met, and not who would be the heir to the neighbouring estate.

“I will answer that after I relate the next part of the tale. I admitted to your mother…” Bennet revealed his exchanging of letters with his cousin some months before his visit. He went on to explain how that had led to his writing a letter begging his brother to come to England, if only temporarily and of his knowledge of their uncle’s family. “There is more to tell, but not for this forum,” Bennet looked at his youngest daughters. Any further questions?”

“How sad that Uncle James’s wife passed away,” Elizabeth observed, “but we have three cousins…so that means that Mr Collins is not the heir presumptive. You said we have two male cousins.”

“Lizzy has identified the crux of the matter. If they come to England, my brother’s eldest is a son, who I believe will reach his majority in some months. At that point, my brother, his son, and I would be able to break the entail, thereby ensuring one as inept as Mr Collins never gains management over Longbourn and dominion over those who are dependent on her. I forgot managing an estate means looking after those whose livelihoods are tied to it. My late father taught me better, and to my shame, it took me far too long to wake up to that fact.”

“So all we can do is wait and see if Uncle James responds to your plea,” Jane articulated.

“Jane, to your question about his estate, I could have had him declared dead after we had no contact with him for seven years or more. Had I been of a grasping nature, I would not have asked Gardiner to have his man make enquiries about James. If I had taken that despicable step, I would be the owner of Netherfield Park. I could not, would not ever do that. I know James lives and until he decides otherwise, the estate is his,” Bennet revealed.

“Miss Bingley will die of surprise if she knows the estate her brother is leasing is owned by a Bennet,” Elizabeth smiled.

“Unless and until my brother returns, that knowledge will remain secret.” Bennet looked from daughter to daughter, stopping when his gaze met his two youngests’ eyes. “Anyone who speaks out of turn about this will lose their allowance for at least a year, and no Lydia, you will not be allowed to borrow from your sisters.”

There were five promises issued. Lydia loved to gossip, but she had a feeling her father meant every word he was saying.

“Now your mother and I need to address some family issues, and we will begin with Kitty and Lydia.” Bennet turned to his wife and gave her an affectionate look, “Fanny, please proceed.”

“First I need to beg all of your pardons. Just like your father mentioned your uncle’s leaving, and the years after as I had daughter after daughter, and no son, changed him, it changed me as well,” Fanny admitted. “I became someone who I did not recognise and did not know. I did something a parent should never do, and that was to choose favourites from among my daughters. I made my decisions based on who looked like me, and that was not right or fair. Lizzy and Mary, you are no less attractive than your sisters, you just favour the Bennets. Please pardon me for ever making you believe otherwise.” Fanny turned towards her husband. “Your father made the same mistake of choosing a favourite, and we have both pledged to change.” Bennet nodded his agreement as his wife faced her daughters once more. “Putting you out at fifteen, and in your case Lydia at fourteen, was a huge error.”

Lydia was about to disagree with her mother when she saw the look her father was directing at her. She was not happy about it, but she closed her mouth and, albeit petulantly, held her peace.

Fanny took a deep breath. “I did you a disservice by telling you all you needed was to catch a man as soon as may be. When I married your father I was only seventeen, but I was mature. Some of you,” Fanny looked at her two youngest daughters, “are not. Especially after last night, that was plainly evident. With the horrendous behaviour you two displayed, there is no choice but to put you back in.”

“ NOOOOOOOOO !” Lydia screamed for all she was worth. “You cannot do that, I will not allow you…” she closed her mouth with a clack and lost some of her colour as her mother stood, her arm pulled back.

Seeing her youngest had subsided, Fanny resumed her seat next to her husband.

Kitty did not react one way or the other. She had always known following Lydia was not a good idea, but it was the only way she felt she could garner attention from their mother. In addition, she did not want to be punished as Lydia had been.

“As much as your mother is taking blame on herself, most of it is mine,” Bennet insisted. “Had I performed my duties as head of this household, husband, and father, things would have been vastly different, and much better. I must beg your pardons for calling you two the silliest girls in the realm, while doing nothing to educate you. I should have done so. That being said, and as your mother said, since your performance at the ball yesternight, neither of you two,” Bennet looked from Kitty to Lydia, “are out. You will begin to wear clothing appropriate for young girls your ages, there will be no more flirting with any men, especially not officers, and you will be back in the nursery until you can prove you have earned the privilege of having your own bedchamber. I will be employing a governess who will also act as your companion, so you will gain the education gentleladies should have. Lydia, if you are thinking you will run away, one attempt will leave you locked in the nursery until you are eighteen at the very least.”

The surprise showed on Lydia’s face that her father had known exactly what she was thinking. She looked away, unable to meet her father’s eyes.

“Before we left the ball, I spoke to Colonel Forster who was livid at the behaviour of his officers. He is issuing instructions, more than likely as we speak, that no officer is allowed on this estate’s land. The one and only exception is an invitation in writing from me, and me alone,” Bennet revealed.

Through the fog which was in her brain thanks to her being in her cups the night before, Lydia thought about protesting, but after she saw the determination on both of her parents’ countenances, she said nothing. The sting from her cheek had lessened somewhat, but the reminder of what could happen was still there, and Lydia would not take that chance. She understood the days of manipulating her mother, and getting her own way in all things were in the past. She was sure she would find a way to see the officers, she just did not know how yet. No one would be allowed to curtail her fun!

“Unless you two have any more intelligent questions, Hill and a footman will escort you back to the nursery.” Bennet waited but neither Kitty nor Lydia asked anything. He rang for Hill and said nothing more until he heard the nursery door close, this time without Lydia’s whinging.

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

Once she understood Mr Darcy also needed to go to London, Miss Bingley had attempted to have her brother leave his carriage at Netherfield Park, but she had been informed, as Mr Darcy knew not when he would return, her brother needed his own conveyance. It meant she was stuck in this backwater without Mr Darcy.

There was the option of renting a carriage. Spending money for that would be well spent. Miss Bingley had noted Mr Darcy was much more standoffish than his wont when she broke her fast.

Surely he did not know she had tried to gain entrance into his suite after the ball. For some reason, she had found every key, except the ones which opened a door to his rooms, and she would not be seen dead in the servants’ hallways, so that was not an option.

She was sure once they were back in town, without any fine eyes to distract him, things with Mr Darcy would proceed anon. Hence, the idea formed in her head that she would definitely use her remaining allowance to rent a coach.

She needed to formulate a letter to Miss Bennet which she would have delivered by one of the footmen just before they departed. Convincing the Hursts to leave with her would be the easy part. She returned to her chambers after the two carriages had departed and handed her maid some banknotes with the instruction to rent a conveyance and have it collect them two days hence.

All would be as she planned, just as it should be.