Chapter 31 #2
“In that case, we will accept your gift gratefully,” Charlotte stood and pulled Anne into a hug. “What are your plans? It goes without saying this will be your home as it has always been.”
“All I want is to live what is left of my life in peace, surrounded by those I love,” Anne said. “Do not tell my other cousins, but Richard was always my favourite, so living with the two of you in the house will always be entertaining.”
“You will come to Town with us, will you not?” Richard queried.
“Yes, I would like that. Lady Catherine never took me to Town; she told me I was betrothed to William, so there was no need,” Anne informed them.
“It is sad she never understood no one believed in the betrothal but herself and Aunt Anne. They both had the talent of hearing only that which they wished to hear—my mother still does.”
“Do you know what Jane intends to do now?” Charlotte asked.
“I do not, but I intend to talk to her about it after we have dealt with Lady Catherine,” Anne stated.
Both Richard and Charlotte hugged Anne and then the three went to join the meeting with the ex-mistress of the estate.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Before the Bishop and his two clergymen departed after breaking their fasts, Lord Matlock requested an audience. He explained his family’s request that in light of Collins’s heresy and excommunication, the marriage of William and Jane Collins be annulled.
It was an easy decision for the Bishop. As the late Mr. Collins had been convicted of heresy in absentia and then excommunicated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, he could not have married with the sanction of the Church of England.
One of the clergymen accompanying the Bishop, Patrick Elliot, prepared the necessary documents; after reviewing them, the Bishop signed them and affixed his seal.
There would be no need to mourn a man so wholly unconnected with her. The marriage between Jane and the disgraced parson had never taken place in the eyes of the church, regardless of consummation.
The only complication would be if Jane were with child. The Bishop instructed that he was to be notified if that happenstance became a reality.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Lady Catherine was led into the drawing room, the first thing she noticed was her throne was no longer there; it had been replaced by an ordinary armchair. “Where is my chair?” she demanded with a screech.
“Sit, Catherine,” Lord Matlock ordered as he pointed at the chair in the centre of the room.
Lady Catherine sniffed disdainfully and made her way to the seat he indicated. She was about to sit when she saw Darcy sitting next to the hussy she noticed the day before. They were sitting far too close to one another for her tastes.
She raised her cane. “How dare you take liberties with my daughter’s intended!” Lady Catherine screeched as she started to bring her cane down to strike the strumpet.
Her cane was wrenched from her hand by the largest footman Lady Catherine had ever beheld. “How dare you attempt to strike my wife!” Darcy retorted angrily.
“Wife!” the virago yelled. “I will have it annulled; you are betrothed to Anne.”
“William, did you not just spend three weeks on your wedding trip with my new cousin?” Anne asked mischievously.
“Why yes, Cousin Anne,” Elizabeth responded, “you have the right of it.”
“Lady Catherine, I was never betrothed to my cousin. As you well know, I could never give him an heir as I have never had my courses. William, did you propose to me when I was unaware that you had?” Anne asked cheerily.
Lady Catherine sat, her mouth flapping open and closed as the conversation went on as if she were not in the room.
“No, Anne, I have only proposed to one woman, and that is my wife, Elizabeth Darcy,” Darcy confirmed.
Lord Matlock held up his hand to forestall the vitriol and profanity that was about to issue from his sister’s mouth. “Enough. We all know the only reason you pushed your fantasy after our sister passed away was your attempt to hold onto Anne’s inheritance.”
“Rosings is mine…” Lady Catherine began to say.
“No, Lady Catherine, it is mine, and has been mine since I turned three and twenty, as well you know. I am asserting my rights now and you are no longer mistress here,” Anne stated.
“I will never marry and certainly could not bear a child, so I am turning the estate over to Richard and Charlotte as of today, and there is nothing you can do about it.”
Lady Catherine saw her world start to come crashing down around her ears.
“We have recovered all of the funds you stole and hid in the not-so-secret place in your bedchamber. We also recovered Anne’s jewels you attempted to pilfer,” Lord Matlock told his sister.
“You should have been moved to the dower house on Anne’s twenty-third birthday, but that is no longer an option. ”
“What is to become of me?” Lady Catherine asked, the fight going out of her.
“You could be charged with theft. Given the value of the jewels and the amount of money involved, you would be hung, or you will be placed in an institution and live out the rest of your days in relative comfort.” Lord Matlock offered his sister a choice.
It was no real choice. She chose the latter, not the former. “Where will I be housed?” Lady Catherine asked before she was led out of the room.
“The institution is situated in what used to be an estate in the Scottish Highlands. It is more than twenty miles from the nearest neighbours.” Lord Matlock watched as his sister was led away, her back hunched and shoulders slumped in defeat.
“That went more smoothly than I thought it would, based on what you had told us about your sister,” Sir William observed.
“If she had struck our daughter…” Gardiner let his words hang in the air.
“I have never struck a woman, but I am not sure if I would have been able to restrain myself had she touched my wife,” Darcy stated.
“Luckily, thanks to Johns, we will never have to find out, my love,” Elizabeth stated as she gave her husband a peck on the cheek.
Anne stood. “Rosings is yours, Richard and Charlotte,” she said simply. “Your first task will be to set things to rights with the tenants. It is amazing we did not lose all of them due to Lady Catherine’s mismanagement.”
“We will try and do you proud, Anne,” Richard stated, his voice gruff with emotion.
“William and Lizzy, I would like to talk to Jane soon; will you please join me?” Anne requested. They agreed to meet in a half hour.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Even though she knew she had been forgiven, Jane could not stop the feeling of trepidation when Lizzy and her husband joined Anne and her in the parlour. Seeing the smiles on her sister's and brother-in-law’s faces, Jane felt a bit more relaxed.
When asked if she was aware what had happened with Mrs. Bennet, Jane shared that her father had sent her an express with the information. Elizabeth filled in the rest of the story, and Jane could only shake her head.
“Jane, we come bearing good news,” Elizabeth stated after the subject of Mrs. Bennet had been canvassed. “Before he departed, the Bishop granted you an annulment, so you are free and need not mourn that despicable man.”
“As you are no longer a Collins, what will you go by?” Darcy asked.
“Miss Jane is good enough,” Jane decided.
“If you discover you are with child, then the Bishop will need to be notified,” Elizabeth explained.
“Jane, what are your plans now?” Anne asked.
“It is my intention to seek a position in Hunsford so I may continue my work within the parish, at the very least until a new pastor is installed. If he does not have a wife then I will continue,” Jane stated adamantly.
“My father and mother, Uncle Edward and Aunt Maddie, want you to know you have a home at Netherfield Park if you want it,” Elizabeth told her surprised sister.
“Or with us at Pemberley,” Darcy added.
“I appreciate your offers, but I do not wish to abandon the people I have grown to love so much,” Jane informed the other three.
“May I propose a compromise?” Anne interjected. Jane nodded.
“You would agree with me you would be able to continue your work no matter where you live in the neighbourhood, would you not?” Anne asked.
“Yes, that is true,” Jane agreed.
“Then, as a favour to me, you will live with us at Rosings and be given the resources you need to continue you work without self-deprivation and sacrificing your own comfort,” Anne told an amazed Jane.
“Has Charlotte agreed to this?” Jane asked softly.
“She most certainly has.” Jane heard Charlotte’s voice from behind her. “Jane, you will be welcome here for as long as you choose to remain.”
“William and I will give you one hundred pounds a quarter in pin money,” Elizabeth arched her eyebrows to stem Jane’s objections. “That money is for you, not to be given away. You will have a further two hundred pounds per month to use as you see fit for those in need.”
“With such a sum, I can start a school,” Jane replied excitedly.
Accord was reached. Jane would be given the suite next to Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson. She agreed she would visit Netherfield Park and Pemberley on occasion. “We,” Elizabeth indicated the other four in the parlour, “are extremely proud of you Jane.”