Vol 2, Chapter 11
Darcy and Georgiana shared a coach with Bennet as the Darcy carriage followed behind.
Their first stop was Netherfield Park, and the Darcys arrived just in time to be caught up in the whirlwind of preparation for the betrothal ball that would be held on the coming Monday, which was two days before the wedding.
The bride’s grandmother was acting as hostess at Netherfield and was the driving force behind the organization of the ball, Lady Elaine, her daughter-in-law Jacqui, Lady Marie and Madeline Gardiner were her able and willing assistants.
With the whirlwind of activity, Darcy was happy to join the men who were planning to fill their days with things that would ensure they were as far from the mayhem as they could reasonably escape.
Andrew was absent when Darcy sought him out to tell him about Miss Bingley’s insane plan that had been thwarted. The gentlemen present informed Darcy that Andrew had ridden over to Longbourn to deliver the final copy of the marriage settlement.
Despite his absence, Darcy relayed the drama that had played out the previous day in London. “Even I did not imagine her quite so bad,” Richard shook his head. “And Mrs. Younge was the one who informed you? Wonders never cease.”
“Miss Bingley is where she belongs and will never be able to hurt anyone, other than herself, again,” Lord Matlock opined.
“What Miss Bingley wanted done is beyond insane!” Lord Jersey stated.
“From what Mrs. Younge told me, when Jane destroyed the harpy’s delusions so publicly, and having it end with multiple cuts direct, it pushed Miss Bingley over the edge of reason which led to her form such a maniacal plan,” Darcy related.
“With all of the guards my brother had hired, even had she found someone willing to commit mass murder for her, they would not have succeeded,” Viscount Westmore surmised. “However, it is preferable to have nipped it in the bud before that theory was tested.”
“William, you are in time for a hunt this afternoon. I warn you, if you stand around looking as if you are in want of an occupation, you will be ordered into the line and find yourself helping with the ball preparations. If we had generals as effective as Aunt Sarah, the war with the little tyrant would have been won years ago,” Richard quipped, his warning absolutely serious, as proven in the tone with which it was said.
“It is the hunt for me then,” Darcy decided.
“Good decision, Nephew,” Lord Matlock slapped him on the back. “What of Gigi?
“She was invited to join Elizabeth and Esther at Longbourn. When she is ready, I will escort her thither,” Darcy replied.
“As she is my ward too, I will join you on your mission to escort Gigi,” Richard volunteered. None doubted his ulterior motive for wanting to accompany his cousins, and Darcy only shot his cousin a wry look then beckoned him to come with, so they excused themselves to find Georgiana.
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Once he had washed off the dirt from travelling almost twenty miles that morning, the first thing Bennet did was address the family, including Andrew and Charlotte, about Miss Bingley’s insanity. “I knew she was bad, but I had not imagined her to be an insane criminal,” Jane shook her head.
“It was not a case of good or bad, Jane, it was insanity, pure and simple,” Bennet opined.
“By the time she decided on this course of action, I do not believe she had the capacity to distinguish right from wrong any longer. Doctor Bartholomew opined she had been living in a delusional world of her own making for so long that when she was confronted with a reality that did not match her delusions, something inside of her broke and she fully descended into her insanity.”
“At least she will be unable to cause any more mischief,” Tom stated. He had arrived home from Oxford a few days after the end of the school year.
“She will never see the outside of that institution again, at least not while still living,” Bennet stated categorically.
“William aided you in all of this?” Elizabeth asked softly.
“He accompanied Miss Bingley’s companion and had the idea of having her disclose her plan to a doctor. Now, unless there are more questions, Andrew, shall we?” Bennet stood.
“If this is about the settlement, then I would like to be party to the meeting, Papa,” Jane requested.
“I have no objection, do you Andrew?” Bennet asked.
“None, sir,” Andrew replied emphatically, his arm out for Jane so he could escort her to her father’s study.
As she watched them go, Elizabeth looked around again for Mr. Darcy and realized she missed seeing William.
Not just seeing him, but also being in his particular company, their conversations, his eyes speaking to her alone, their debates, all of it.
‘Oh my, am I falling in love with William?’ she asked herself.
As if the question had conjured the man, he, Gigi, and Richard were announced.
“You are all most welcome,” Priscilla intoned warmly. “Where is Ally?”
“She was tasked by her grandmother to help with decorating the ballroom before we departed,” Richard informed the Duchess.
His eyes had sought out Charlotte’s as soon as he entered the drawing room, and as he spoke their eyes locked on one another.
“She made the fatal error of making a comment about the decorations, and your mother happened to be within hearing when she did.”
“Yes, my mother can be quite focused when she takes on a task like this. You can be thankful she will not be weighing each attendant to decide whether or not to issue a voucher,” Priscilla quipped. When one’s mother was a patroness of Almack’s, she liked things just so.
“We must return to Netherfield in a little while,” Darcy announced, “as the men are having a hunting party this afternoon. I understand my uncle invited gentlemen from the neighbourhood to join us.”
“So this is how you men are escaping my mother’s pressing you into service to assist with preparing for the ball,” Priscilla laughed.
“I can neither confirm nor deny that conjecture,” Richard grinned.
“Elizabeth, you look well,” Darcy offered quietly as he sat down next to her.
“Thank you, William, you look well too,” Elizabeth smiled coyly.
“Will you dance at the ball?” William asked.
“I will. When Grandmama suggested a ball, at first Mama said no. Lady Rose opined that as it will be a month to the day since Uncle Sed passed, and he wanted us to celebrate life rather than to mourn death, she said he would have wholeheartedly approved of it, so it is as you see now,” Elizabeth explained.
“In that case, may I have the first set, if it is not already taken?” Darcy asked hopefully.
“It is yours, William,” Elizabeth blushed with pleasure.
“Is the supper set open?” He asked, his voice thick with emotion. His heart thudded when Elizabeth nodded. “Then I request that one as well.”
“I am happy to grant you the supper set, William,” Elizabeth responded softly.
Darcy decided not to push his luck with a third request for the final set.
The last thing he wanted to do was pressure her before she was ready to make what was tantamount to a public declaration.
For her part, Elizabeth was hoping he would ask for the final set, almost hinted her final too was still open, but understood why he did not.
“It pleases me to see you in half mourning, Charlotte,” Richard leaned in towards the lady he loved.
“No more than I am to be out of full mourning. Less than three weeks, and I will be done with the show of mourning him completely,” Charlotte said boldly, as she looked into Richard’s eyes.
Richard received her message with pleasure. “Am I correct that you will not attend the ball?” he asked, hoping he was wrong.
“I will attend,” Charlotte promised. “However, I will not be dancing.”
“It is better than I had originally hoped, so if you intend to be present for supper, may I claim a seat next to you for the meal?” Richard asked, his eyes locked on hers as it would show her friends and family she was choosing him to move on with.
“You may,” Charlotte responded with pleasure.
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“This is far too generous, Andrew. And you are also leaving my dowry under my control,” Jane remonstrated after she read the settlement, astonished he was settling one hundred thousand pounds on her.
“I suggest a compromise,” Bennet interjected between the two.
“The interest and dividends from the dowry will be between ten and twelve thousand pounds per annum. Jane’s pin money can be drawn from that amount; the rest can be used in any way you both see fit.
If Jane wants to add fifty thousand from her dowry to each of your daughters, and, or a second and third son’s legacy, I would not fight her on it if I were you.
Surely by now you know there is no winning against a determined Bennet woman? ” Bennet asked sardonically.
“It shall be as you say, as long as Jane agrees and understands I will not change the amount I am settling on her,” Andrew capitulated.
“Then I too agree,” Jane said with a sweet smile as she had gotten exactly what she had wanted. How Andrew loved this pillar of strength he was marrying in but a few days.
“Bennet, will you join us for the hunt?” Andrew verified.
“I think I will; we will leave the ladies to speak of fashion and lace,” Bennet grinned.
“Papa!” Jane admonished playfully.
“Let us go collect that wayward brother and cousin of mine,” Andrew stood.
“Give me half an hour to change,” Bennet requested.
“We will wait for you in the study,” Andrew suggested hopefully. He and Jane had managed to steal a rare moment of privacy since their betrothal, but far fewer than either wanted.
“Not a chance,” Bennet replied with a guffaw. “Good try though. I will join you, William, and Richard in the drawing room where you are going now.” Bennet shooed the couple out of his study before pulling the door shut.
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