Chapter 11
“No, William, you may not go directly to Netherfield Park,” Clem Collins told his son good-naturedly.
“You have been ready to jump off the bench and run since we departed Hunsford. I know you are keen to see Caroline again, but we need to greet the cousins first. What will the Bennets think if we arrive and you are absent?”
“Son, as soon as we greet the Bennets and tell them your betrothed is resident at Netherfield Park, I am certain that Fanny will send a note inviting them to call. You will see her today or in the morning at the latest,” Ophelia Collins opined.
“I know it is not good manners for you to arrive without me, but it has been six weeks since I have seen Caroline. Letters are not enough,” William Collins replied.
“William, we are almost there; the carriage just entered Meryton. You know it is only a mile from here,” Collins reminded his son.
As they did each year, the Bennets sent one of their carriages to Hunsford to transport the Collinses, and allowed them to use it when their cousins returned to their home in Kent.
“I wonder how Lizzy will amaze us with her abilities and intelligence this year,” Ophelia mused.
Since Lizzy had learnt chess when she was six, other than the first few games she ever played, she had been nigh on unbeatable.
The other four Bennet children were all proficient at the game, but it seemed like the middle Bennet sibling was always a half a dozen moves ahead of any opponent she played.
“The three Fitzwilliam and the two Darcy men consider themselves rather formidable at the game. It would be interesting to see how long it would take Lizzy to beat each of them,” Collins wondered.
Before his wife or son responded, the carriage turned past the open gates of the estate and onto the drive, which was just more than a mile, through the large park to reach the mansion.
It was well known in the family that, aside from saving for the children’s futures, Bennet and Fanny had renovated the house, more than doubling the size, some six years past. An expanded library and a ballroom had been added to the impressive manor house.
As they approached, Collins noticed that some of the ivy which had been removed during the renovations was growing back in various places on the walls.
He noted that just like Fanny, Bennet, and their five children did each time his family arrived, they were standing in front of the front door under the expanded portico.
Never before had Fanny and Bennet been dreading the arrival of their cousins like they did at that moment.
They could see that Lizzy was also apprehensive, but not nearly as much as they were.
After the revelations the day subsequent to her turning sixteen, Lizzy had wanted to bring Jane into the circle of those who were aware of the truth, but she had agreed not to when Bennet and Fanny had begged her to wait until after they spoke to Clem and William Collins.
Because of their request to Lizzy, there could be no more procrastination.
As Bennet stood waiting for the coachman to bring the pair of horses and the carriage to a halt, the voice of his conscience told him that rather than being selfish, he should have made enquiries after reading the newspaper in 1799.
Fanny had never felt so nervous before in her life.
She could swear that she felt shuddering, flutterings, and palpitations as she waited to greet the cousins.
Fanny knew that the feelings were all contrived in her mind.
As much as it would kill her to lose Lizzy, since telling her daughter the truth of how she joined the family and Thomas casting doubt on her long-held belief that she had saved Lizzy from monstrous parents, she had asked herself how she would feel if one of her children had been taken and someone hid the fact the child had been discovered and was hale and healthy.
She could not allow another parent to suffer so, regardless of how much it would cost her if her favourite daughter left Longbourn.
She knew that her thoughts were premature. It was why they would seek counsel from Cousin Clem. Fanny was sure, or at least she hoped, he would give them good advice without condemning them for what they had done in keeping Lizzy with them and never seeking her birthparents.
“Welcome Cousins,” Bennet managed evenly when the three Collinses had alighted. “Mother and Penelope are waiting for you in the drawing room. I assume you would like to wash and change first?”
“I believe that is what we will do, thank you, Bennet,” Collins responded as he shook his cousin’s hand.
“You are in the same suites you were last summer,” Fanny sang.
Collins and Ophelia entered the house and handed their light outerwear to Hill and a footman who stood ready to receive the items. The youngest Collins hung back a little.
He approached his cousin’s wife before she re-entered the house. “Cousin Fanny, you are aware I am engaged, are you not?” William Collins asked.
“Indeed, we heard that good news,” Fanny replied.
“My affianced and her family have leased Netherfield Park. In fact, they arrived yester-afternoon,” William Collins reported.
“And as you and your family know them, would you like me to send a note to ask them to join us here?” Fanny verified. She did not miss the very keen nodding of William’s head. “I will write an invitation and have a footman ride and deliver it. What are the family names, and how many are they?”
The youngest Collins provided the information with alacrity.
As she promised she would, Fanny made her way to the study, where she scribed the note inviting the Bingleys and Hursts to tea that afternoon. She rang for Hill and instructed that one of the footmen ride and deliver it to Netherfield Park as soon as may be.
Bennet entered the study just as his wife was asking the butler to have her missive delivered.
“Fanny, what say you that we speak to our cousins after dinner if those residing at Jane’s estate accept your invitation?
It is not procrastination; rather, I would prefer not to possibly upset our daughters and son with guests here,” he suggested.
Seeing that she too did not object to deferring the difficult conversation, Fanny agreed with her husband’s suggestion.
By the time the three Collinses arrived in the drawing room to greet Aunt Beth, as she was called by them, and Penelope Bennet, the footman returned with an acceptance from those at Netherfield Park and a note saying they would arrive in an hour.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
All Caroline was thinking about was seeing William again, which chased any thoughts of the young lady who looked so much like Lady Amelia Osborne from her mind.
As far as Caroline was concerned, they could not depart Netherfield Park fast enough.
It was only three miles, but to her it felt like the coach was travelling at a snail’s pace.
It was not, of course; it was just that she was impatient to see William again after six long weeks apart.
Yes, they wrote to one another freely, but that did not replace being in her betrothed’s company.
In a relatively short time—to anyone other than Caroline—the Bingley coach made the turn past Longbourn’s gates.
When they had come to view Netherfield Park, Phillips had told Bingley and Hurst that the Bennet estate was the largest in the area.
They did not realise how big it was until they judged that it was more than a mile from the gates until the manor house—which was easily double the size of the one at Bingley’s leased estate—came into view.
As the coach came to a halt under the portico, Caroline saw two huge footmen waiting to place the step and open the door.
It was upon seeing them that she was reminded of the young lady she had noticed who looked so much like the Dowager Duchess of Leeds.
Could it be that she was wrong and had not seen her as well as Caroline had thought she had?
Seeing William waiting to welcome them, thoughts of the duchess and her lost daughter fled from Caroline’s head again.
When the door was opened, Hurst alighted and then handed out his wife. Next, it was Bingley’s turn, and he assisted his younger sister to step out of the conveyance.
William Collins had to restrain himself from pulling Caroline into a hug. He regulated himself and greeted the Hursts and Bingley before his attention shifted to his beloved. “Caroline, how I have been in anticipation of seeing you. It has been a very long six weeks.”
“I could not agree more, William,” Miss Bingley responded with a blush.
“As much as you two would like to think you are alone, do you not think it is time to introduce us to our hosts?” Bingley reminded his sister’s affianced.
“Ahem, yes, please follow me to the drawing room. Mr Hill and a footman will take your outerwear,” William Collins stated as he fought to stop the tips of his ears from turning red.
The Collins son led the Hursts and Bingleys into a large drawing room.
It had a bank of windows which looked out onto the expansive park.
It was elegantly furnished; everything was meant for living in and not for show.
Ophelia and Collins greeted the arriving guests, especially their soon-to-be daughter.
“Bennet, may I introduce my family-to-be?” Collins requested.
Seeing an inclined head, he began. “Bennets, I present Mr and Mrs Hurst, Mr Bingley, and William’s betrothed, Miss Bingley.
Hursts and Bingleys, it is my pleasure to introduce my family, Mr and Mrs Bennet, the Dowager Mrs Bennet, Mrs Henry Bennet, Miss Bennet, Master Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, and Miss Kitty. ”