Chapter 41 Resolution
"What do you think?" Darcy asked his cousin after they had all settled into the carriage for the return to Longbourn, "Will he do as he says?"
"He had better," Richard replied. "I have contacts in the war office who can make life hot for Colonel Forster, militia or not."
"So long as Wickham is not freed to menace my girls again, I am satisfied," Bennet said. He had just taken the remaining dose from the medicine vial and was braced into the corner, head back and eyes closed as he concentrated on remaining as still as possible.
"What about Collins?" Darcy asked.
Richard gave them an evil grin. "I may have used a little more of that excessive force Colonel Forster was going on about in order to get some answers during the cart ride to the camp.
The cart is probably already back at Longbourn, by the way.
I knew I could catch a ride back with Sir William after meeting with Forster, or I could walk if I had to. "
"Collins?" Darcy asked again.
"Ah, yes, Collins. Our least favorite clergyman is staying at an inn about 10 miles down the road.
It seems Wickham had his horse tethered in the walnut grove and had walked to the point where he lay in wait to intercept Miss Elizabeth.
We will have to rescue the horse when we get back.
We cannot just leave him out there. After all, Uncle George provided him with a far finer animal than Wickham ever deserved.
Anyway, the plan was to drag Miss Elizabeth to the horse.
He would tie her up and ride with her over the fields to where he had a closed carriage that he had hired waiting.
Mr. Bennet, I sent one of your men off to meet up with the driver of the carriage and get all the information needed to find him again during the court martial investigation.
The fact that Wickham hired the carriage will weigh heavily against him even if there is no proof of criminal intent or likelihood Wickham planned to desert. "
"Yes, it certainly shows he did not expect Lizzy to go willingly," Mr. Bennet said wearily.
"No," Richard agreed, "Nor would she. Knocking her out was the only way Wickham was going to succeed in carrying her off.
Once he did, however, the plan was to deliver her to Collins to be his bride - after Collins ruined her, claiming she had run off for immoral purposes, that is.
The idea was to first ruin the family name and prevent the wedding between Sir Barnaby and your oldest daughter.
Aunt Catherine wanted to make all the girls unmarriageable and drag your family name through the mud.
Then Collins would claim his bride and keep her as basically a servant at Hunsford under the direct control of my aunt. "
"What can we do about this Collins person?" Sir William asked.
"I have not figured that out yet," Richard said. "He has, as of yet, committed no crime, although he would have given the chance. That limits our options, although personally, I would not mind dropping him in a rose bush as well."
"Or using some other form of excessive force," Darcy added.
"Hmm, yes," Richard said. "There are so many possibilities, none of them legal.
I wonder if we could manage to deliver him to a press gang.
I know they do not take landlubbers by choice, no matter what the rumors say, but if I claimed to be sent from Aunt Catherine with new orders and dragged him off to one of the ports, I might be able get rid of him that way. "
"He is the heir to Longbourn," Bennet said softly. "We cannot do anything that looks like we are removing him to prevent him from inheriting. It could go poorly for the estate and my family if we did."
"Blast!" Richard said "I had forgotten that detail. No press gang, then. He would be food for the sharks before the first week at sea was up."
"There is also the problem of Aunt Catherine," Darcy said. Richard and Bennet both groaned.
"Later," said Bennet. "While I am satisfied that I came on this excursion, it is taking its toll, as is the medicine to help dull the pain. We have dealt with the most pressing problem today. I must defer further planning for when I have recovered somewhat."
"Very well, sir," Richard said. "Although that will not stop me from considering solutions while I go out and find that horse."
"Good idea," Bennet agreed. "You can stable it with my horses for the night, although I doubt you will be able to keep it for the long term."
Richard shrugged. "Spoils of war," he said mischievously.
"Richard," chided Bennet, "appearances?"
"Oh, I suppose you are correct," Richard replied with feigned reluctance. He winked at Darcy and Sir William, who both sat on the opposite bench.
Clearly, he was teasing in an attempt to distract Bennet from the pain of the ride, but Darcy could also tell it was not working very well. Richard must have realized that as well. He turned his attention to Sir William.
"How is Miss Lucas in truth? I know you explained in only the most general terms to Colonel Forster."
Sir William repeated the assessment Mr. Jones had provided regarding the injuries to both ladies. Richard was clearly relieved, just as Darcy had been, to hear that matters were not so bad as he had feared.
"Miss Elizabeth will hate not being able to speak freely for a time," Richard observed.
"At least she is still able to breathe freely," said Darcy. "I only had a brief experience when you had me in that choke hold. I still found it frightening, despite knowing you were not trying to hurt me, and it was only meant for show."
"Be sure you tell her about that experience when you discuss our little interview with Colonel Forster," Bennet said. His eyes had remained closed for most of the trip, but he had obviously paid attention to the conversation.
"If I ever get the chance to converse with her, I shall tell her," Darcy said, a little dispiritedly.
"Your chance will come," Bennet said simply.
Nodding even though he knew Bennet could not see him, Darcy fell silent.
Sir William took advantage of the remainder of the trip to ask Richard questions about his return from the continent and his future plans.
Richard was obviously trying to keep his answers vague, but Darcy could see it was hard work deflecting Sir William's interest. There was no doubt Miss Lucas's father knew and approved of Richard's affection for her.
On their arrival at Longbourn, Richard and Darcy worked together to help Bennet gently down from the carriage and into the house.
It seemed Mrs. Bennet, or one of her daughters on her behalf, had been watching for their return.
As soon as they entered, she came to the door of the parlor and asked solicitously after Mr. Bennet.
"I will be fine, my dear," he said, "although I think I shall forgo coming down for dinner this evening. These two strong young men will help me up to my room and then Mr. Hill can help me into my bed. You can have a small tray sent up for me."
"Well, if you are certain," she said. "Perhaps Lizzy can join you for dinner. I told her not to come down either. You know how she is. If she is in company, she will talk."
Darcy thought that was more of a self-description from the Bennet matron, but he said nothing. While he would have been unlikely to have conversed with Miss Elizabeth during or after dinner because of her injury and the company, he still felt sorry he would not be able to see her.
"I am just going up to check on my Charlotte," Sir William told Mrs. Bennet. "I will not stay long."
"Oh, you just stay as long as you wish, Sir William," she said pleasantly.
"Although I think Charlotte may be sleeping now.
When Jane checked on her earlier, Charlotte said she thought she might nod off for a bit.
I sent a servant with the cart over to the Lodge for some of her clothes and they arrived a little while ago along with a note from Lady Lucas.
She would have come herself, but you had the carriage. "
"I am certain she will come tomorrow," Sir William said. "For now, though, I need to go check on my girl." He added softly to Richard, "And if she is awake, I will pass on your regards." With a sly wink, he took the stairs ahead of Bennet, knowing his friend's ascent would be slow.
"Well, once you are settled, Mr. Bennet, just send the Colonel and Mr. Darcy down to keep us company. It is not often I have such handsome young men in my parlor."
"I am sorry to disappoint you, Mrs. Bennet," said Richard. "My cousin and I have another errand we must run before dinner. When we come back, however, we will chat with you for a time."
Mrs. Bennet disappeared back into the room, talking happily about how delighted she was to have handsome guests. Darcy heard the younger sisters giggle a little at their mother's comments and realized he still needed to get a message to his uncle about bringing Georgiana for a visit.
"Clever man," whispered Bennet as they began the slow trek up the stairs. "Although I imagine if you had not already had the errand with the horse, you would have thought of something else."
"I love your wife like an aunt, Mr. Bennet – far better than my own aunt, in fact – but a little bit of her conversation goes a long way," Richard whispered back.
"Well, thank you for including me in your errand," Darcy told him. "I am not certain how I would manage sitting with a roomful of women alone."
"I did not want to subject them to your Darcy stare of disdain," Richard joked quietly. "You know you take on the look of a gargoyle when you become uncomfortable in company."
"That is why I usually take you or Bingley along," Darcy replied.
"I am looking forward to meeting this Mr. Bingley," Bennet said, and then winced as he stepped wrong, jarring his shoulder.
"You will like him, Mr. Bennet," Richard said, helping him ease his way to the next step. "And you will have hours of fun teasing him. He is so good-natured it is hard to believe he even has a temper sometimes."