Chapter 12
As had been planned, Lydia left Longbourn the next morning with Colonel Fitzwilliam and the Derbyshire Militia soldiers as escorts.
When she had been farewelled by her parents and sisters, Lydia had not dared look them in their eyes to see the condemnation she felt she rightly deserved. There had not been any words of reproach, only wishes that all would be well.
Mary had not attempted to deliver any of her quotations from the Bible or Fordyce’s Sermons.
In a way, Lydia may have felt better had her family berated her.
Gone was the brash, flirtatious, devil-may-care girl who had inhabited Lydia’s body until recently. There were no illusions left about how badly she had behaved and that she was now reaping the consequences of her bad behaviour and even worse choices.
Lydia was finally willing to admit that Mama had never told her to give away her virtue before marriage—flirt, yes, a kiss on the cheek, but not that; never that.
Finally being honest with herself, Lydia owned that it was hubris which made her ignore all the facts and reasons that no one else wanted to have anything to do with the late seducer.
That, combined with her dream to experience as many firsts as possible before her sisters did, contributed to her downfall.
She was finally able to see that her sisters had never been jealous of her, but the opposite had been true. Lydia had felt envy that her sisters, especially Jane and Lizzy, were so much more popular in the neighbourhood than she was.
And what had her hubris purchased her? Depending on what occurred and whether she was with child, this could be the final time she would see her family and Longbourn. For once, Lydia prayed in earnest as she admitted her sins to God and begged Him to help her.
As the ride to Hatfield was only a little less than two hours, there had been no rest break between Longbourn and that town.
When the carriage and the outriders arrived, Hannah and Emma were waiting with the former’s father. Mr Sawyer did not speak to anyone as they waited while the horses were rested. Before Hannah boarded, he told her that he loved her and hoped to see her back home after her schooling.
Emma was already in the conveyance with Lydia, holding one another’s hands. Hannah boarded, followed by the maid. Once the door was securely closed and the footman in his place, Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded to the coachman.
The farther they got from Meryton, the more trepidation the girls felt. All they could do was hope and pray that they were not in the family way.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The first Tuesday in May, a fortnight after the meeting with Phillips, the latter called at Longbourn.
“I just heard back from the court today. The entail is at an end, and they accepted that there are no other eligible male heirs after you,” Phillips reported. “The new deed is being issued, and it should arrive here in the next sennight or so.”
“So, it is time to write to Collins, is it not?” Bennet verified.
“It is,” Phillips confirmed. “I will draft the letter as soon as I return to my office. Do you wish to write something to include with it?”
“No, I will allow all communication between us to lapse. After the way he behaved in Hunsford towards my daughter, I have no desire to maintain a connection between us,” Bennet replied.
“Lizzy told us how he attempted to make her feel regret for her decision to refuse him, all in front of his wife, mind you, which she found cruel and humiliating to her best friend.” Bennet paused as he thought of something.
He continued, “After the possessive way he behaved when he was here, coupled with his excessive pride that he would be a landowner one day, I do not expect he will take the news very well. I am sure he will claim he is being cheated out of his due.”
“It matters not what he claims. If he finds a barrister foolish enough to represent him at the Court of Chancery, he and his barrister will be laughed out of the court. I am sending him a copy of the court’s decision, and unless a barrister only wants to bleed Collins of his money, no one will represent him in an obviously lost cause,” Phillips opined.
“I do feel sorry for his wife if part of her decision to marry him was based on her belief that she would be the mistress of this estate one day,” Bennet mused.
“Although, Lizzy has told me that Longbourn was not what guided Mrs Collins’s ultimate choice.
Lizzy says that her friend just wanted her own home, to no longer be a burden to her parents, and to marry someone who was not vicious.
That simpleton is a sycophant, so I hope for Mrs Collins’s sake he does not take his disappointed hopes out on her. ”
“Based on what you told me of the late Clem Collins, I cannot predict how the son will react. We can only hope he will not harm his wife,” Phillips stated concernedly.
“It would not help to write to Mrs Collins via Sir William and Lady Lucas first and warn her. Lady Lucas would spread the news before I am ready to make it public. From what Lizzy told me, Collins reads any post addressed to his wife before he allows her to do so,” Bennet revealed.
“I think that is part of his belief that the female mind is vastly less superior to that of men, so he must make sure there is nothing which will upset his wife’s delicate sensibilities.
He does not see the contradiction in the way he reveres his patroness and her word.
Speaking of that lady, I am positive she will be Collins’s first stop after he reads the missive.
I think he believes she will be able to override the court. ”
Phillips shook his head. “If he does so, he will discover how little power the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh has.” He paused for a moment. “We can only pray that Mrs Collins will be well when her husband receives my epistle.” He raised his eyes to the heavens.
“You will send the letter and proof by express, will you not?” Bennet queried.
“Indeed, I want the missive and the copies of the supporting evidence to reach him as soon as may be. Why do you ask?” Phillips wondered.
“Send me a message once the rider is away with what you are sending. At that point, I will go speak to Sir William and warn him what is about to occur. I am not sure if he will be able to assist his daughter, but I am sure he will want to know before he hears the neighbourhood gossip,” Bennet opined.
After promising to do so, Phillips took his leave.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“It is hard to believe that this is the same house you left in January and I in March. Papa is engaged with his wife and family; Mama is so different now that the sword of Damocles of the entail does not hang over her head any longer,” Elizabeth observed.
She and Jane were seated in the small east parlour opposite the music room.
“None of this would have happened without you beginning to see the world as it is.”
“As much as I appreciate your saying that, it is not entirely true,” Jane asserted.
“Granted, at one point in time Papa would have dragged it out for maximum entertainment, but he would have eventually informed us about the end of the entail. Mama would have then relaxed as she has now. That, Lizzy dear, has nought to do with me. All I can really take credit for are the changes I have made to my own character. I did not help anyone by walking through life in a stupor and ignoring reality, least of all myself. Lydia allowing that miscreant to ruin her was not the fault of anyone but herself. All we can pray for now is that our youngest sister will begin to behave like a true lady.”
“I am also asking Him to not force Lyddie to carry that criminal’s babe,” Elizabeth added. “I suppose if there are any children born of Hannah, Emma, or Lyddie, the only positive in that terrible situation would be that the child or children will never have the misfortune of knowing that monster.”
“It seems you regret your former opinions of Mr Wickham,” Jane teased.
“Jane, you are wicked! Do not remind me of what I said then! In such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable. This is the last time I want to remember that I was ever fooled into thinking that man was good and honest.”
“What do you feel about Mr Darcy now? It seems your opinion of him has risen somewhat.”
“This event with Lydia, I believe, has finally cost me Mr Darcy’s good opinion.
I was just beginning to hold him in tender regard when this debacle with Lydia and the late libertine came to light.
” A few tears involuntarily rolled down Elizabeth’s cheek.
“I am afraid I will never see him again.” Elizabeth’s eyes dropped to look at the floor.
“Lizzy, why do you think that? Do not forget that misunderstandings have plagued your interactions with each other.”
“Oh, Jane, I saw his face when it was revealed what Lydia had done; his look was of disgust mingled with horror. He could not leave our company fast enough, congratulating himself, I am sure, at his well-timed escape.” More tears rolled down Elizabeth’s cheeks.
“And who could blame him? Who would want to connect themselves with a family so disgraced?”
“You insist on continuing to make a cake of yourself by jumping to conclusions and turning your opinions into facts! Lizzy, dearest sister, tell me, how many of your assumptions about Mr Darcy have been correct?”
Elizabeth looked away. “None,” she said barely above a whisper.
“Exactly! Then why do you think that this time your assumptions are correct? Did you ask him why he felt he needed to leave right away? I am sure it had nothing to do with him doing his duty and knowing that with the warming temperatures, he needed to transport the remains to Derbyshire as soon as may be. Rather, I am sure that your wild guesses must be correct.”
“But his face…” Elizabeth tried.