Chapter 32 #2
As the service at St Alfred’s in Meryton began later, George Wickham was not out and about to see the coaches pass the church.
The coat of arms on one of them was well known to him.
Instead, as it was a command directly from Colonel Forster that his officers and soldiers attend church each Sunday, and he had no way to slip away, Wickham sat in the pew, next to Captain Carter, and made like he was interested in the sermon so as to not run afoul of the captain.
In two more days, the full body of the regiment would arrive in Meryton.
Then, he would be free to gain intelligence on the Bennets, especially about the woman whom he was to be paid for ending her time in the mortal world.
Also, Wickham would begin finding chits he could bed before he had to escape from the area.
He patted his jacket where his leverage, first wrapped in oilskin, was sewn into the lining on the inside.
That, combined with the body of the woman Collins wanted killed, would gain him every penny the idiot owned.
He had charmed a serving wench who was good with a needle and thread to help him make it secure.
She worked in a taproom in Reading he had frequented with Denny and Saunderson.
Thinking of those two gullible fools and how much money he would borrow from them before he took his leave helped Wickham to ignore the droning parson as he delivered his sermon.
On the completion of the church service, Captain Carter led the officers and soldiers to the Red Lion Inn where he had organised for all of them to enjoy an after-church meal in a large part of the public dining area which had been cordoned off for their use.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Not long after the militia members sat down to their meals at the Red Lion Inn, those from Netherfield Park who had attended St Hugh’s had completed their own meals.
As he had the previous week, Mr Pierce found much pleasure in spending time with Miss Bingley. He did not think she was indifferent to him, but it was all too new. The last thing he wanted to do was for her to feel any sort of pressure.
After all, it had taken him some years after his wife’s passing before he had been open to even thinking about the possibility of marrying again. If he did make that decision, he would need to canvas the opinions of his daughter, son, and their spouses before he thought of approaching Miss Bingley.
He did not need their permission, but he certainly would like to have their blessings.
For her part, Hildebrand was feeling an attraction to a man for the first time since her heart had been broken when she was eighteen. She had been very much in love with John Bandiworth, and he had seemed to return her regard.
That is when he had caught the eye of Miss Phillipa Lauden.
She and Hildebrand had been rivals so the dastardly girl had decided she needed to steal John away.
To that end, she had used her wiles to tempt him away, and the young man of four and twenty had not been able to resist her.
Losing John had hardened Hildebrand’s heart to romance, which had led to her being a maiden spinster as she approached her sixth decade.
Feeling anything romantic for a man had been a great shock for Hildebrand, who had convinced herself she would eventually be called home without ever knowing the true love of a man.
Finding she had these emotions at this stage of her life was very confusing.
All she knew was that the more time she spent in Mr Pierce’s company, the more she wanted to be around him.
She was not sure if she was seeking that which was not there with Mr Pierce. All she could do was guard her heart. At the same time, she would be waiting and seeing if he ever spoke on the subject of a shared future, something she was hoping that he would.
While Hildebrand and Mr Pierce were contemplating a possible future together, the three youngest girls, with Mrs Annesley watching over them, made for the music room after inviting anyone who desired to join them there.
They were pleased when Aunt Elaine, Uncle Reggie, Marie, Andrew, Anne, and Mrs Jenkinson accepted the invitation.
It was better than sitting and watching the members of the three besotted couples making mooncalf eyes at one another.
After dinner the previous night, Mary had played the pianoforte.
Lady Matlock had been greatly impressed that her future daughter-in-law was a virtuoso on the instrument.
She had not been surprised when Anna shared that the Bennet sisters were taught by the same music master as she was and the same one who had taught Marie, who was a very good harpist. Even without the fact that Mary had been the catalyst for Richard’s resignation from the army, Lady Matlock believed that Mary and Richard were very well paired.
The Countess also saw that William had found his perfect match in Lizzy.
William was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit Lizzy.
His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would answer all her wishes as Lady Matlock understood them.
It was a union that would be to the advantage of both.
By Lizzy’s ease, intelligence, and liveliness, William’s mind would be softened, and his manners improved.
From his judgement, information, and practical knowledge of the world, she would benefit as well.
Before they left the drawing room, she had looked at William and Lizzy.
She knew William had been worried that their emotions were unequal.
From what the Countess had observed, that was not the case.
In the drawing room, the object of Lady Matlock’s rumination brought her head closer to her suitor’s.
“On the morrow, at ten, Jane, Mary, and I are going to see Mrs Charlotte Phillips, our uncle’s wife and a very good friend of ours.
You may have heard talk about her delivering a baby girl? ” Elizabeth verified.
“Although I knew not the particulars, I have heard talk of that,” Darcy confirmed.
“It will be less than a sennight since she delivered her newest, and this will be the first time we are able to visit with her,” Elizabeth explained.
“Given the fact she is newly delivered of her babe, we will not remain above a half hour. If you want, you and others could ride into Meryton and meet us after our call. That way, we can act as your guides and show you the town.”
“That is a good idea, Elizabeth,” Darcy agreed. “I am sure most of those in residence here would like to explore Meryton. We shall plan to arrive half after the hour and meet you…where?”
“Near the Phillipses house. You cannot miss it because the law offices are below the residence. There is a large sign above the door announcing the ‘Law Offices of Frank Phillips’; it is very easy to see,” Elizabeth related.
A little later, the men were playing billiards while the ladies discussed dresses and lace, all things from which most men ran.
When Darcy mentioned the tentative plan for Monday, there was general agreement.
If any of the ladies wished it, they were welcome to join them, including the three younger girls.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
William Collins was impatient to be on his way so that he could see his plan completed with success. As much as he enjoyed the fare and the chamber at the Crown and Garter Inn, he did not want to be here any longer than necessary.
On Friday afternoon, a note had arrived from Mr Simonds telling him that his man had communicated that all was well.
The draft had been verified, and he would arrive with the funds by Saturday evening.
Due to that, Collins had an appointment with the manager as soon as the bank opened on Monday morning.
He had rented another carriage from a different coachman. It had not been surprising that the rate was the same as the first one he had rented. What he did not know was that the first coachman had spread word that Collins was easy to work on.
His belongings would be secured to the conveyance by the time the bank opened. As soon as he had his money, he would board the carriage, and they would be off. It was just more than fifty miles and the coachman had assured him they would arrive at the Blue Bull Inn in Hatfield before nightfall.
That night, Collins had trouble falling asleep thanks to the anticipation of the next part of his brilliant plan being put into action.