Chapter 12 The Mistress of Longbourn #3
But that is not fair! My stomach writhed at the notion of Mrs. Collins relegated to a dreary boarding house, forsaken and forgotten by her friends.
“I think you ought to stay at Longbourn House.” I glanced at Fitzwilliam, who gave me a slight nod.
“Assuming there is no legal impediment, and the estate will become mine, you may remain for the foreseeable future. I hope to have children, but it may be five-and-twenty years before I have an heir old enough to manage Longbourn.”
She rubbed her temple. “Are you offering to hire me as a housekeeper or perhaps a caretaker?”
I pressed my mouth flat. “No, for I should not want to lower your standing.” I turned to Fitzwilliam. “What do you think? There must be a better way to handle the situation.”
He held his knuckles to his lips, as he often did in contemplation of a problem. “My understanding is that Mrs. Collins has long been making the decisions with regard to the estate.” His sight shifted to her. “Is that the case?”
“Yes, upon my marriage to Mr. Collins, I took the responsibility over from my mother-in-law. My husband never took an interest in estate matters.”
“Let us assume all goes as expected, and Mrs. Darcy takes ownership of the property. I propose we sign a lease agreement stipulating that you will run the estate in lieu of paying rent, and you will receive fifty percent of the net income. Over time, you will accumulate a modest fortune.”
I beamed at him. “That is a splendid idea!”
Mrs. Collins, though, shook her head, her brown eyes shiny. “That is exceedingly generous of you, and I wish I could accept. But I cannot remain in the neighbourhood. If I did so, I should be…shunned.”
That poor woman! “This fate cannot be inevitable, for that would be an outrage! You are innocent of any offence. Furthermore, many in your place would have burnt the diary and ensured no one ever learnt the revelations within. Instead, you proved yourself to be honest and noble.” I touched Fitzwilliam’s arm.
“You and I may be able to prevent the damage to Mrs. Collins’s reputation, may we not? ”
“Indeed, I believe we can.” He gave me a winsome smile, and it took all my powers of restraint to keep from kissing him. I settled for a subtle caress of his upper arm.
“Pray do not suppose that I am ungrateful.” Mrs. Collins’s voice cracked. “But I do not think there is any hope of keeping the sordid details of this scandal from being known.”
“No doubt that is true.” Due to the illicit nature of the late Mrs. Collins’s actions, the story would spread like a wildfire through the community.
“Whilst we remain in the area, my husband and I shall reveal the late Mrs. Collins’s crimes whilst we praise your integrity and declare you to be our friend.
I fancy others will follow our example. Your state of mourning limits our ability to appear with you in public for now, but we shall invite you to our home in town when you are able to accept. ”
“Yes, that sounds like an effective plan.” Fitzwilliam closed the journal and placed it on his lap. He gestured to Mrs. Collins. “If anyone casts aspersions against you within our hearing, we shall contradict them.”
“My goodness, I am speechless.” Her words came out in a whisper. “I should be honoured to accept your offer, and you both have my heartfelt thanks.”
“You are welcome.” I beheld Fitzwilliam in an admiring gaze. “And you ought to know that when he wishes to be, my husband can be a formidable object. I doubt any of your friends and neighbours will have the temerity to oppose him.”
Once ensconced within the privacy of the coach, I did not hesitate to reveal my thoughts to Fitzwilliam. “Bless me, what an astonishing visit! Mrs. Cooper’s murderer has been revealed, and my childhood home may be restored to me.”
“Indeed. Upon our return to Netherfield House, I have letters to write. I must notify Mr. Notley, the Bow Street runner, of the late Mrs. Collins’s confession.
Based on the journal and the written statement I received from the abigail, I shall direct my solicitor to initiate a lawsuit in your name claiming the rightful ownership of Longbourn. ”
I took in the staid state of his profile as he stared out of the window. “You appear a bit sombre. Do you doubt that we shall prevail in court?”
“No. I am indignant on your behalf. You have suffered the past mistreatment from Mr. Barton, and this business with Longbourn is yet another malfeasance perpetrated against you. You ought to have grown up secure in the knowledge that you had an estate to your name.”
“Pray do not be offended on my behalf. Even if granted the power to change the past, I should decline rather than risk altering the circumstances that brought you into my path. I could not be happier with my lot in life.”
He turned to scrutinise me. “Is that the truth?”
“Without a doubt. Have I ever given you any cause to think otherwise?”
“No. Still I…” He swallowed. “I love you so very much that I sometimes wonder whether I am seeing what I wish to see.”
“Nothing is clouding your vision, my dearest love.” I snuggled against Fitzwilliam.
His arm enclosed my shoulders, and I rested my head against him.
His familiar, enticing scent fed my senses, further elevating my joyous state.
“We may count upon your amiable friend Mr. Bingley to aid us in our contrivance for Mrs. Collins, for he is always eager to please. Miss Bingley, on the other hand, is disposed against her and may present an obstacle.”
“Leave Miss Bingley to me.”
“Oh?” I arched back to view him, raising an eyebrow. “Do you have a peculiar bond with her?”
“Not at all. Nevertheless, her fondness for my wealth, property, and position in society is excessive, and she covets the connexions I might provide her. Thus, my continued good opinion is essential to her, and she will not hesitate to do me this favour.”
With a giggle, I settled against him again. “Well, it will be diverting to witness Miss Bingley’s alteration from Mrs. Collins’s detractor to her fervent defender.”
“As you must know, I live to provide you amusement.” He lowered his head, leaving soft kisses on the side of my neck. The whole of me warmed, and a familiar longing stirred my pulse—one only he could satisfy.
In that moment, it occurred to me that Cassie’s advice with regard to Fitzwilliam, to ‘secure him as soon as may be’ had been sound; not for the reasons she cited but for the advantage of experiencing this particular form of pleasure weeks sooner.
Of course, back then I lacked the advantage of retrospect.
After all, how could anyone have predicted that the purchase of my beloved horse by an arrogant stranger would precipitate such a wondrous improvement to my life and lead to my current state of bliss?
The End