Chapter 26 #2
“I knew it was a mistake to take the girl in,” Mr Bennet snarled.
The vehemence of the declaration unsettled Hurst more than the sentiment itself.
From all he had gathered, Bennet had borne some measure of affection for his niece; yet the bitterness in his tone suggested a history Hurst did not presume to understand.
He had scarcely a moment to dwell upon it before Mr Collins burst forth.
“Mr Bennet, you and I must immediately set out in pursuit of your daughters and assist the nephews of my noble patroness in securing their recovery,” Mr Collins declared, stepping forward with an air of inflated resolve.
Hurst had encountered the gentleman but once, and their conversation had been brief; yet even that limited acquaintance had not prepared him for such a declaration.
“Although early after my arrival here, Mrs Bennet advised me against paying particular attention to your eldest daughter on the grounds that she was under the influence of another gentleman’s attentions—attentions which I confess I have never personally witnessed, as the gentleman in question was obliged to depart suddenly for London on business—the present calamity alters these considerations.
Miss Bennet’s reputation, I fear, must suffer dreadfully from these events.
As your cousin and the future heir to Longbourn, it becomes my solemn duty to safeguard not only her honour but that of her sisters.
I therefore feel compelled—indeed, morally compelled—to offer her the protection of my name in marriage. ”
Hurst regarded the man in silence. The speech had been delivered with such earnest gravity that it laid bare the full extent of Mr Collins’s self-importance.
That the proposal had been conceived, announced, and morally justified within the span of a single breath struck Hurst as a feat of remarkable efficiency.
The gentleman’s eagerness to assist in the search might prove useful; yet the conclusions he had drawn were decidedly premature.
Miss Bennet’s reputation was not necessarily endangered—particularly if the young ladies were recovered swiftly and since they were together, it made the likelihood of their reputation being affected smaller—and there existed, at present, no immediate necessity for such a dramatic offer.
Even so, Hurst did not consider his presence necessary as the men debated what to do next.
His obligation had been discharged and now his responsibility lay elsewhere: he must inform Mr Grant—Lord Granfield—of what had transpired without delay.
That gentleman would judge what measures were to be taken.
Bennet and his cousin were at liberty to determine their own course.
“If you will excuse me,” he said evenly, “I must go to Millwood Cottage. I wished only to inform you of what has been discovered. What you choose to do with that information rests entirely with you.”
That said, Hurst took his leave. Within minutes he had remounted his horse—which had been waiting in the stable yard—and set off towards Millwood Cottage. The ride afforded him little satisfaction; he had delivered unpleasant intelligence once already and must now repeat it.
Upon his arrival at Millwood, he was admitted at once and shown into Lord Granfield’s study.
The earl stood near the hearth when Hurst entered, his expression expectant but guarded. “Well? Has there been any word of what has happened?”
Hurst related what the coachman had told Colonel Fitzwilliam, as well as Darcy’s and the colonel’s plans for recovering the ladies. Only then did he recount what had transpired at Longbourn.
A muscle tightened along the earl’s jaw.
“What did you say was Bennet’s response to this information?” Lord Granfield asked, his gaze sharpening.
“He was displeased, to say the least,” Hurst replied. “He demanded to know whether Wickham was truly capable of such conduct. When informed of the scheme, he… expressed regret that Miss Elizabeth had ever been taken into his household. It appears he blames her for the misunderstanding.”
The earl went very still. “He blames Elizabeth for what has occurred?”
“I believe his words were spoken in anger,” Hurst said evenly. “Still, it was evident he considers Miss Elizabeth responsible—despite the fact that she was the intended victim of this scheme.”
Silence settled heavily between them before the earl asked, “What of that fool Collins?”
Hurst allowed himself the faintest exhale. “Mr Collins seized upon the occasion to declare that Miss Jane Bennet’s reputation must be irreparably damaged and that, as heir to Longbourn, it was his solemn duty to preserve it—by offering her marriage.”
Lord Granfield did not immediately speak; he merely raised one brow. Hurst inclined his head in confirmation.
The earl turned slightly away, staring into the fire. “Fools and opportunists,” he muttered.
Hurst did not disagree. “Mr Bennet did not appear inclined to entertain the suggestion. His chief concern lay in the practicality of the search. He questioned how many men could afford to leave their work for a prolonged pursuit northward.”
“And you?”
“I advised that Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are already in pursuit. The local men may search the nearer villages, should the carriage have been obliged to stop. Mr Collins did propose that he and Mr Bennet join the search themselves, an impulse I suspect was less strategic than self-satisfying.”
Lord Granfield inclined his head once, absorbing the report.
“The man would create a scandal before he resolved a difficulty,” he said coolly.
“It is fortunate that Wickham carried off both Miss Jane and Miss Mary Bennet. Their being together affords them some protection from malicious conjecture. Still, I would have been amused to see that fool Collins attempting to race off in search of them.”
He turned from the fire then, the slight smile that remark had earned quickly vanishing.
“If circumstances require it, I shall make myself known to Mr Collins and remind him of the realities of rank. Since he holds Lady Catherine in such reverence—and she possesses only a courtesy title—I imagine he will prove far more accommodating in the presence of an actual peer.”
Hurst did not doubt it.
“My men will keep Elizabeth and Miss Darcy at Netherfield until I arrive there or one of the other gentlemen returns,” Lord Granfield said after several moments of thought.
“Since we do not know when that will be, I shall ride over with you and escort them back myself. I have already sent several men ahead to aid in the search, and bringing Elizabeth and Miss Darcy back to Millwood will free two more to assist.”
As they made their way towards the door, Hurst could see the earl’s mind remained engaged with the matter. After a moment, Granfield spoke again.
“If need be, I will supplement the young ladies’ dowries to ensure no shadow clings to their names—particularly as the villain’s target was my granddaughter. Whatever else may transpire, there will be whispers.”
He paused briefly, looking away as though considering his next words.
“Fortunes have a way of silencing speculation. Elizabeth would not wish to see her cousin condemned to marriage with a fool, and if I can prevent such a match, I shall. Once she is married to Darcy, we may take the Bennet girls to London and introduce them to eligible gentlemen there. A change of circumstances may improve their prospects.”
His jaw tightened further. “I will do what I can to amend the situation, but the scheme was Wickham’s.
Had Bennet shown better judgement, however, his daughters might now be in a far stronger position should they be required to marry.
Still, I had hoped to see Wickham neutralised long before now; I shall have to write to the War Office again. ”