Chapter 32
Less than four and twenty hours after the meeting which stripped her of her perceived power and wealth, Lady Catherine de Bourgh commenced the journey which would transport her to her new home, where she would live out the rest of her life.
If her mind had not already snapped before she was deposed, she certainly exhibited the signs of a break from reality after that meeting. After she returned to her chambers, she seemed to be in a catatonic state, not speaking a word to anyone and silently complying with any instruction.
The Earl of Matlock felt sadness for what had to be done. Before she became consumed by wealth, control, and power, his sister had been a very different person. He had no doubt he had done the only thing he could under the circumstances.
Now that the unpleasantness had been dealt with, the children and young ladies were summoned. The carriages with Mrs. Annesley, the governesses, and the nursemaids arrived the day after Lady Catherine’s departure. Bingley rode alongside with the outriders.
With her parent’s permission, Lydia had accompanied the Gardiner and Bennet siblings, Tiffany, Maria, and Giana. When they entered the drawing room, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia all stopped in their tracks as they saw Lizzy and Jane sitting together and holding hands.
The five sisters born to Thomas and Fanny Bennet made their way to a parlour, by silent consent. First Elizabeth and then Jane told the other three all that had transpired, including Jane’s apologies and Lizzy’s forgiveness.
To say the younger three were happy to regain all of their sisters as part of the family would be an understatement.
“Mary, I understand that I need to wish you and Mr. Bingley happy,” Jane told Mary after hugs were exchanged and not a few tears had been shed.
“If your Mr. Bingley will hear it, I need to beg his pardon for my unconscionable behaviour the last time he saw me.”
“He went to talk to William, so I am sure by the time we join the others in the drawing room he will be aware of the changes you have made,” Mary reassured her eldest sister.
“Unless we have anything else to discuss, I would like to return to my husband,” Elizabeth stated.
Once the sisters returned to the drawing room, Jane was introduced to Tiffany and Georgiana. Jane made her apology to her future brother, who accepted graciously, granting his complete and unreserved pardon.
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The estate’s tenants could not have been happier.
The new master and mistress rolled back all of Lady Catherine’s nonsensical rules and as promised, did not raise their rents.
Instead, they gave the tenants one quarter rent-free and then reduced the rents by the percentage which had been promised.
They also stated they would not consider raising rents again for three years.
As happy as they were about the rents, they were even happier the former Mrs. Collins, now known as Miss Jane, was to remain at Rosings Park and would continue her visits to tenants and those who needed her assistance in the parish.
When word reached the community a schoolhouse would be built near the tenant cottages at Rosings Park, there were expressions of joy. It was not only the children who would benefit; evening classes for adults were planned as well.
For Jane, one question had been answered when her courses started on schedule.
It pleased her she would not have to notify the Bishop that a child would result from her annulled marriage.
Jane believed if she had been with child, none of the father’s guilt would fall upon the child, but she was happier knowing if she were ever to bear one, it would not be his.
Her sister and brother Darcy had volunteered to take Jane to London to acquire a new wardrobe, since she possessed almost nothing still serviceable. Jane thanked them sincerely but told them she preferred to make all of her purchases in Hunsford to support the local economy.
Elizabeth was impressed with her sister’s thoughtfulness; the local dressmaker, haberdashery, and cobbler all appreciated the increase in sales.
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As he had promised, the Bishop of Kent sent candidates for the vacant Hunsford living to meet with the new master and mistress of Rosings Park. One of the men he sent was one of his emissaries who investigated the late Mr. Collins.
He was a widower named Patrick Elliot, who had a three-year-old daughter, Grace. His wife had been taken by a virulent fever when Grace was but six months old, so the little girl had never known a mother.
Richard and Charlotte included Anne and Jane when they interviewed the candidates. All four agreed Mr. Elliot was the man for the job. He had left a good impression on the parishioners when he and his colleague met with each of them during their investigation.
It was decided he should conduct some services before they made a final decision, although the three other candidates were informed the living would not be offered to them.
Mr. Elliot presided over the services the Sunday prior to Easter, and there was no one attending who was unimpressed.
There was standing room only, no one fell asleep, and not one congregant left before the end of the service.
Elliot had heard talk of the Angel of Hunsford, the late parson’s wife, who was loved by the parishioners. He did not realise that she was Miss Jane, beautiful as an angel, who sat in on his interview as it was his colleague who had interviewed her during the investigation.
His presiding over the service, combined with the time he spent talking to each and every congregant who desired time with him afterward, was the last piece confirming he was the right man for the position.
It was after the services he realised that Miss Jane was the one who had done so much good in the parish and continued to do so as parishioner after parishioner sung her praises to him.
Mr. Elliot had been invited to a meal after church and was asked to accompany Mr. Fitzwilliam into his study first.
He was offered the living, and Elliot accepted it gratefully. When word spread throughout the area the man who had conducted Sunday services would become their new pastor, the neighbourhood celebrated. Finally, they would have a clergyman who acted like one.
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Bennet sat in his study reading, with a glass of port in hand, when the new butler handed him a note from Phillips, requesting his presence at his law office.
Bennet arrived at the designated time and Phillips told him to sit. “Your heir presumptive passed away.” Phillips reported.
“Is the entail broken?” Bennet verified.
“It is,” Phillips confirmed.
“That means my last will and testament will govern the disposition of the estate, does it not?” Bennet wanted to be sure.
“Correct, unless his widow births a son. In that case, the son would inherit. Absent a son, then your will governs,” Phillips explained.
“There is no need to notify my heir until she inherits?” Bennet checked.
“Although there is not a legal requirement, in my opinion, there is a moral one; however, it is your choice,” Phillips stated curtly.
“Thank you for your advice; I will consider it.” Bennet stood and left the office.
On his ride home he could not but be amused at the irony that unless Jane bore a son, within the next ten months, Longbourn would one day belong to the daughter his wife had banished from their home.
He did not feel quite so amused when he remembered it was his own weakness and indolence which allowed Lizzy to be cast out.
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Elliot moved into the parsonage the week before Easter. His daughter, Grace, became an instant favourite of the residents of the manor house and the parishioners. Grace and May Gardiner, four in a few months, were soon fast friends.
One day when the newly-installed rector of Hunsford collected his daughter from spending an afternoon with May, they were walking back to the parsonage when they came across Jane sitting on a bench in the formal gardens.
“Miss Jane,” Grace called as she ran to the pretty lady.
“Hello, Grace, are you taking your Papa home to the parsonage?” Jane asked.
“No silly pwetty lady, Papa is taking me back home,” Grace told Jane seriously with wide eyes.
Without asking, Grace climbed into Jane’s lap and got comfortable. “Please pardon my daughter’s forwardness, Miss Jane,” Elliot stated contritely.
“How could I be upset at such a darling child wanting to sit with me,” Jane replied sincerely. Having Grace in her lap just felt right.
“Come, Gracie, we must return home,” Elliot told his little girl. “It is time for your nap and I am sure we will see Miss Jane soon.”
Grace reluctantly climbed down from her comfortable seat. “Will you come visit me at the pawsonage soon, Miss Jane?” Grace asked hopefully.
“Soon, Miss Grace, I promise,” Jane replied as she gave the cute little girl a kiss on the cheek.
As he walked away with his daughter, Elliot turned and saw Miss Jane was watching him too.
He knew much of her story, as he had prepared the annulment documents for the Bishop.
Elliot was well aware why she had no need to wear black for the lecherous, blasphemous man she had married.
Since becoming pastor of the parish, Elliot had heard about Collins’s unwanted advances to some of the girls in his flock.
If the man was not already dead, Elliot would have happily dispatched him.
He was aware even with her marriage having been annulled, it was far too early to show an interest in Miss Jane. That she would be the ideal parson’s wife was not in question. His parishioners loved her and would do anything to protect her if needed.
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