Chapter 44 Reports #2
"With Richard leaving and Mr. Bingley arriving and making his large, leased house available to the other guests, we will have room for a few more here.
I invited Sir Phillip and Mrs. de Bourgh to visit with us until shortly after the wedding.
That will take them away from any additional retaliation Lady Catherine wishes to make, will give the servant they have hired time to prepare the cottage for them and will allow me to question the young man directly on all he has learned of Collins the lesser. "
"Ah, that is an excellent idea," Richard said. "He is a reliable man, young though he may be, and his mother will get along very well with all the ladies who will be visiting here. I am certain Mrs. Bennet will appreciate her company."
"There will be more company as well," Mr. Bennet announced.
"I have also invited Mr. and Mrs. Hanson to join us for as long as they wish.
I expect they will come closer to the wedding being only newlywed themselves, but after Mr. Darcy told me how much Mrs. Hanson has longed to visit our family, I thought it only right to invite her. "
"Oh, yes," said Lizzy. "I have wanted to meet her for years."
"We also thought it would be better if she learned of the deaths of her grandfather and cousin in person," Bennet said.
"That was a good thought," Richard remarked. "Anne actually saw more of James than any of us, although they were not close at all. He frequently visited our aunt when his pockets were to let and would flatter and cajole her to gain whatever monetary rewards he could wring out of her."
Darcy nodded. "With our aunt so upset, it made sense for everyone who might be a target of her ire to be in one relatively well-protected place," he explained.
"In addition, we received a message from my footman regarding their errand to track Collins.
Polson reported they found the man exactly where Richard said he would be.
They worked together to convince him they had a friendly interest in his affairs and acted sympathetic when he became more worried as the evening went on with no sign of the man he was expecting to meet.
Of course, my men knew the reason for his absence, but Collins did not.
He was extremely agitated this morning, trying to decide whether to inform his 'patroness' that the contact was late.
Polson says they convinced him it was premature to report since there were any number of reasons why a man might be delayed especially when Collins told them the contact was bringing a woman with them.
It was easy to convince him that women are always late, untrue though that statement might be.
They will continue to do their best to keep Aunt Catherine from learning anything of what has gone on. "
Bennet added, "We left it to Richard's father how and when he wishes to notify Lady Catherine of what will probably be a significant loss to her.
She appeared to have a closer relationship with both her father and James than any other member of the family.
Grief along with all her current frustration could push her to even more overt acts of hostility. "
"That is a definite concern," Richard said. "I respected my grandfather and honored him as the head of the family, but we were never close in the way he was with James."
"Nor was I," agreed Darcy, "and Georgiana barely knew either of them.
I have asked my uncle to break the news to my sister if he is going to bring her with him.
If he cannot bring her due to his responsibilities, I have asked him to reply by express messenger and let me know so I can travel to Pemberley and tell her myself, as well as bring her back here to be with other young ladies who can support her in friendship no matter how deep or shallow her grief"
"Kitty and Lydia will stand by her no matter what," Lizzy said.
"While we worked on Charlotte's gown and bonnet, they could not stop talking about how much they were looking forward to having your sister visit.
I am also looking forward to meeting her and will treat her like another sister, just as I am sure Mary will.
I think she and Mrs. Hanson will also be happy of some time together. "
"I doubt Mrs. Hanson will mind if you refer to her as Anne," Darcy said with a chuckle. "She speaks of you and your sisters by name as if you had been the best of friends for years and will not be at all insulted if you do the same in return."
"The sad fact is, despite how little actual contact you have had over the years, the Bennet sisters might very well be the closest female friends Anne has ever had," Richard noted.
"She is close to Mrs. Jenkinson and Polly, her maid, but that is not the same as having a friend who is not at least partially reliant on you for her financial well-being. "
"Well, Anne will find she has a whole houseful of friends when she gets here, although because we are the only ones with whom she has exchanged a few letters, she may be most comfortable with Mary and me."
"Speaking of Mary," Bennet said, "Mr. Darcy has also sent a messenger to Mr. Bingley.
It seemed only fair to let his friend know into what kind of a hornet's nest he was about to step.
I included letters for both Gardiner and Mary that Mr. Darcy assures me his friend will deliver immediately and in person. "
"It would appear all the pieces are now coming together," Richard said. "Poor Aunt Catherine is nearly alone on the chessboard with only Collins the Confused to act out her will. On our side, we have pieces of every status and mode of agency for our defense."
"Do not discount your aunt so easily, Richard," Bennet warned. "She may have hidden pawns, and money can buy her more. We cannot say we are near checkmate yet."
Richard nodded acquiescence to Bennet's point.
"My delight at the upcoming wedding aside, I might almost be jealous that Charlotte and I will be moving away from the main defensive position.
If I did not recognize the possibilities of being free to outflank Aunt Catherine, I might try very hard to find another way to stay here in the midst of the action. "
Charlotte patted Richard's hand. "Just remember, dear, that action will be focused on Jane's wedding – a decidedly feminine focus."
He caught her hand in his and grinned. "Oh, there will be plenty of men around if the talk turns too much to lace. "Still, we will have Darcy House at our disposal for a few days. I suppose we can find a way to make do with my cousin's fine townhouse."
She rolled her eyes at him but did not pull her hand away, much to the amusement of the others. Bennet cleared his throat.
"Ahem, it sounds like we have our plans and have set the wheels in motion.
I would prefer it if we had Collins pinned down or incapacitated in some way, but he is at least being watched.
Unless Sir William comes for her, you may use my carriage to take Charlotte home this evening.
After years of carting around the six women in my family, I suspect it is less well-sprung than Mr. Darcy's and will thus be a better test of how well Charlotte will tolerate the much longer trip to London tomorrow. "
Lizzy sighed. "I suppose I should rejoin my sisters and let Mama know we are all attending a wedding tomorrow morning."
Bennet and Darcy looked at each other. "I think Mr. Darcy and I have business here in my study," Bennet said quickly. "I have no doubt we will hear your mother's reaction all the same."
"Not quite the same," muttered Richard good-naturedly as he took to his feet before offering Miss Lucas assistance to stand. "Cowards."
Lizzy stood as well. She offered Mr. Darcy a smile before walking over to give her father a kiss on the cheek. "Enjoy your chess game," she said as she headed out the door.