Chapter 6
On Wednesday morning Thomas Bennet met his cousin William Collins in the chambers of his barristers and solicitors at the Court of Inns under the leadership and management of Sir Randolph Norman. His brother Phillips, a solicitor, covered all of his affairs in Hertfordshire.
After greetings were exchanged, Collins was read the document that he was about to sign and asked if he understood that the action that they were about to take was irrevocable.
Once the agreement was executed, he would have no further claim to Longbourn or anything related to the Bennets.
There was a clause that stipulated that if he, or anyone at his behest tried to challenge the agreement once it was duly executed that he would have to pay fifty thousand pounds in damages.
Two and one half times the amount that he was being paid for breaking the entail.
Collins blustered for a while, asked some ridiculous questions about clause eleven point ‘a’ of the articles of entailment and then after wasting a considerable amount of time, he signed.
After Bennet signed and the agreement was witnessed by two barristers and two solicitors, Collins was handed a bank draft and the entail on Longbourn was no more.
“Well Cousin, I trust that you will find a good vehicle to invest your twenty thousand pounds. I wish you and Mrs Collins all of the best and I hope that you get some comfort from knowing that you now have a nest egg.”
“I thank you for your condescension and generosity cousin. I will be careful with my wealth. Lady Catherine has condescended to take charge of my funds and invest them for me as she is all knowing about matters of business,” Collins replied after bowing ridiculously low.
“If you give her control of your twenty thousand you may as well throw it away. I know for a fact that she has almost bankrupted Rosings Park, your noble patroness is in fact a very bad business woman. I had Sir Rudolph investigate her after you would not stop mentioning her when you were at Longbourn. Take it from one who helped start the most valuable company in the Kingdom; if you allow Lady Catherine to get her hands on your money, it will be gone and lost to you. It is up to you cousin; it is after all your money.” Bennet advised, more for Charlotte’s sake than his cousin’s.
Collins, not known for his intelligence, left the offices as he muttered about his cousin not knowing what he was talking about and that his venerable and esteemed patroness knew all.
Bennet sent an express to Charlotte Collins to warn her in case she could manage her husband and save their money from disappearing at the hands of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At the Hurst townhouse the reverberations from Darcy’s visit had still not worn off.
Bingley, who had stopped communicating with his sisters, was at White’s with Hurst. Hurst was happy to go as long as Bingley was footing the bill.
The superior sisters were sitting in the drawing room, and as she was want to do, Caroline Bingley was unhearing anything that Darcy said the previous night that did not fit with the way that she decided that things should be.
“Come Louisa, let us go visit our good friend Miss Darcy,” Caroline pressed.
“Caroline, did you not hear what Mr Darcy told us last night? He said that we will never be allowed entry into any of his houses again,” Louisa frowned.
“Pish posh, Louisa, Mr Darcy will not bar the future mistress of Pemberley from his house. He said those vile things in a fit of pique over the fall of that Eliza and her fine eyes; he did not mean any of it. I will call for the carriage and you will see how it is when we get to Darcy House.” Caroline waved off Louisa’s concern.
Even though she knew better, Mrs Hurst placated her sister by allowing her to follow her delusion.
‘Is Caroline really this delusional? But what can we do, if we do not go along with her, life will not be worth living!’ Louisa rationalised to herself as she was donning her outerwear.
The carriage was called for and after dousing herself in too much pungent scent as she normally did, Miss Bingley joined her sister in the conveyance.
“I hope that you are correct Caroline; if we are seen to be turned away from Darcy House, it will not go well for us in society.” Louisa worried her hands as her concern deepened. Darcy had not looked as if he were merely venting.
“You worry too much Louisa. You will see, I always know best. We will be welcomed as we always are,” Caroline scoffed.
Louisa Hurst had a feeling that things were not going to go well, but she had never stood up to her younger and more demanding sister before, and she did not have it in her to start now.
As they pulled up to their destination, they saw Misses Jane and Elizabeth Bennet entering a magnificent townhouse opposite Darcy House on Grosvenor Square.
Louisa read the name plate on the gate of the townhouse they entered and saw it read ‘Bennet House.’ The little feeling that Louisa had felt before now grew into that which felt like the horses on the hunt running and jumping inside her stomach.
“Caroline, I think that we should go home. Did you see the Misses Bennet enter that townhouse opposite? It is named ‘Bennet House.’ I think that Mr Darcy meant every word that he said last night. I am afraid Caroline.” Louisa prayed that just this once Caroline would heed her.
“Louisa, stop this nonsense! Regardless of the name of the house, it just means that both Bennets are sluts and kept women. Now come on, let us go visit our friend.” Caroline demanded. The ladies alighted from the equipage.
Louisa Hurst was very nervous and worried as she saw a number of members of the Ton promenading around Grosvenor Square.
As they were starting to mount the stairs leading to the front door, Louisa saw a massive carriage stop in front of Bennet House.
It had the crest of the Duke of Bedford on the door, it was followed by a second, just as impressive, that sported the coat of arms of the Earl of Jersey. Louisa was almost apoplectic.
“Caroline I am not well; can we please go home?” Louisa begged, hoping to avert what she now knew to a certainty would be a disaster.
“Just sit in the carriage, you ninny, you can wait for me here.” Caroline Bingley turned and flounced up the stairs with her nose high in the air.
She knocked on the front door of Darcy House, which was then only partially opened by the Darcy butler.
When he saw the very woman his master had directed never to be admitted again, under any circumstances, he did not open the door all of the way.
“Open the door, you lowly servant! I am here to see my friend, Miss Darcy.” She shrieked with her annoying, high-pitched voice. Miss Bingley did not notice that some of the promenading couples had stopped to see what the disturbance was.
Mrs Hurst had, and tried to make herself invisible in the carriage.
“You are not permitted to enter this house, madam,” Killion said loud enough for the watching members of the Ton to hear.
“What? How dare you deny your future mistress entry to her house? I will sack you the day that I marry…” Whatever she intended to say next was lost as she fell back from the force of the front door when it was slammed shut while she had been trying to push her way inside.
She fell on her derrière and a wave of laughter and tittering was heard from the onlookers.
She got up with as much dignity as possible and stalked to the carriage where she joined her now crying sister as they were conveyed home at all possible speed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
In Bennet House, just across the square, the Misses Bennet had been informing the housekeeper, Mrs Kerry O’Grady, and the butler, Mr Humphrey Thatcher, that they were authorised to hire a full complement of staff, as the house would soon be occupied by the Bennets.
The Misses Bennet were known to the two senior staff and they had no doubts that the two daughters spoke with the full authority of the Master.
There was a knock at the door and Thatcher went to see who had arrived.
It was the expected couples. He led the four into the drawing room where Jane and Lizzy Bennet were awaiting them.
“Their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Bedford and the Earl and Countess of Jersey,” the butler announced.
“Aunt Rose, Uncle Haywood, Aunt Sarah, and Uncle Cyril you are all very welcome.” Elizabeth smiled warmly.
“Why thank you, goddaughter,” Lord Haywood Rhys-Davies said as he bent and kissed Lizzy on the cheek and then he kissed Jane, “It is good to see you niece. You both look very well.”
The Bennet girls were kissed by the other three godparents and everyone seated themselves. Mrs O’Grady brought in tea service. Jane poured as the acting hostess.
“We are very glad that your father has decided to stop hiding the truth about your family,” said Lady Sarah De Melville, Countess of Jersey. “I look forward to meeting my other nieces soon and spending more time with you all. Especially my goddaughter.” She smiled gently at Jane.
“Actually, Aunt Sarah, it was I who forced Papa’s hand, but it is done and done for the best. What happened was…
” Lizzy relayed a shortened version of the interactions between Darcy and herself, including the abominable proposal, and her setdown of him and his unexpected apology.
As she finished, rather than be upset, the four peers were smiling.
“Only our Lizzy could humble a man like Darcy. Well done goddaughter,” praised the Duchess.