Chapter Forty-Three
Mr. Darcy received a package from his solicitor containing the agreement for Mr. Bennet to sell Longbourn to Mr. Darcy for the princely sum of one guinea; also enclosed was a letter.
Mr. Darcy,
I understand completely. I have enclosed the document which will be the initial step in this maneuver; you and Mr. Bennet must sign all three copies in the presence of a notary and return them to me.
I have an investigator looking into the legality of Mr. William Collins’ claim to the estate, but it is rather difficult without more information. It would be helpful if we knew what city or even county he was born in.
Your servant,
Mr. Albion Stanley
Mr. Darcy cursed himself for his stupidity; did he expect Stanley to search the baptism records of every church in England? Of course more information was needed!
He immediately wrote to his aunt.
Dear Aunt Catherine,
I have received no reply to my last letter to you, and am concerned that you might not be in agreement with my proposed actions on behalf of Mr. Bennet.
I can understand if you are rather shocked, as respect for our inheritance laws is bred into us, but I must believe that respect for our land must be considered a higher good.
In the hope that you might be persuaded to work with me, rather than against me, I must ask you to discover where Mr. Collins was born and perhaps even where his father was born.
I am, quite obviously, searching for any irregularities in his claim to Longbourn.
I beg you not to alert him to my activities.
Your loving nephew,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Mr. Darcy resolved to ride over to Longbourn that very afternoon.
His plan suffered some amendment, though, for as soon as Mr. Bingley understood that he intended to visit Mr. Bennet, he insisted upon accompanying him.
Then Georgiana got wind of the plan, and she announced that she would accompany them as well.
The quick horseback ride Mr. Darcy had envisioned became a journey requiring a carriage, but eventually they arrived at Longbourn.
Mary and Georgiana went at once to the piano, and Mr. Bingley settled himself beside Miss Bennet on the sofa that had, somehow, become “their” sofa.
Mr. Darcy asked Elizabeth if her father was home, and she replied that he was likely in his study. “Is this to do with the matter we discussed a few days ago?” she asked.
“It is,” he said, gravely. “Do you think your father will want you to be part of the discussion?"
She shrugged. “I will not go into his study unless he calls for me to do so.” There was a tightness in her voice that puzzled him. She was not easy with her father, that much was plain. “But I will take you there.”
She led him to the study door, knocked on it, heard him say, “Enter,” and then left Mr. Darcy to do so.
Mr. Bennet rose to his feet. “Mr. Darcy,” he said. “It is good to see you. Sit, please.”
Mr. Darcy did so. He produced the package that his solicitor had sent, and handed it to Mr. Bennet to read.
“I see,” Mr. Bennet said. “Well, my brother by marriage is a notary as well as a solicitor, and he can be depended upon to keep silent, so we can go to his office. As for the matter of Mr. Collins’ history…
” Mr. Bennet closed his eyes and steepled his hands, thinking.
“I know that my grandfather’s second son, Joshua, went to Birmingham.
But what happened after that, I have no idea.
Wait, I recall George Collins saying that he had come some hundred miles to demand his rights.
But he could have come from anywhere! Why are you investigating his birth? Do you think something might be amiss?”
“One never knows,” Mr. Darcy said, shrugging.
“One hundred miles…yes, that could be Birmingham. I have written to my Aunt Catherine, asking her to try to get some information from Mr. Collins. If she does not do so, I can ask Georgiana to write to her cousin, Anne, and ask her what she might be able to find out.”
“I am sorry to put you in such a position with your relatives, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet said, ruefully.
“No, no, do not apologise. I would never be easy, knowing that a man such as Mr. Collins was bankrupting Longbourn. Let us go to your brother. It is Mr. Philips, is it not? The man who arranged Bingley’s lease?”
“Yes, exactly. It is not far.”
***
A quarter of an hour later, the two men were ushered into Mr. Philips’ office. He was shown the papers, and then he turned to Mr. Bennet in some alarm. “Are you mad, Bennet? You cannot sell Longbourn; it is entailed!”
Mr. Darcy smiled. “We understand that, of course, Mr. Philips.”
“Well, then, why on earth – oh, I see.” Mr. Philips, who had risen from his chair in indignation, sat back down. “You are executing a common recovery.”
“Precisely; I am delighted to know that you are familiar with it,” Mr. Darcy said.
“I have heard of it, but have never been party to one. It will become illegal one day, Mr. Darcy.”
“I am certain that you are right, Mr. Philips, but that day is not today. I have met Mr. Bennet’s heir presumptive, and he is not fit to own an estate.”
“Why not our brother, Mr. Gardiner, as the third party?” Mr. Philips demanded of Mr. Bennet.
Mr. Bennet replied, quietly, “Mr. Darcy is the nephew of the Earl of Matlock. He has a good deal of influence and no need whatever for my small estate.”
“I see.” Mr. Philips stared at Mr. Darcy for a long minute. Then he sighed and said, “Very well; I will notarise your signatures.”
Once that was done, Mr. Darcy gathered up the papers; he and Mr. Bennet returned to Longbourn, where they found Mr. Bingley deep in discussion with Miss Bennet, and Georgiana in equally deep discussion with Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy finally managed to pry his friend away from Miss Bennet, though he could not miss the looks of longing the two exchanged.
He also managed to persuade his sister away from Miss Elizabeth, though he rather feared he himself might have cast some longing glances her way. She did not return them.
Once he was back at Netherfield, he packaged up the signed and notarised documents and enclosed a note to Mr. Stanley, saying that he was doing what he could to get more information as to Mr. Collins’ birthplace, and sent the package off to London with a messenger.