Chapter Fifty-Five
Mr. Bingley was afire to see his beloved Jane again, and Mr. Darcy had tucked Mr. Stanley’s letter in his coat pocket to show to Mr. Bennet. He told Georgiana that they were off to visit the Bennets, and the carriage was being harnessed so that she might join them.
But to his surprise, she reddened and murmured something about not feeling quite the thing today. “Are you ill, my dear?” he asked her, gently.
“No! No, not ill,” and she looked away, gently touching her abdomen.
Ah. Female things, he thought at once, and hastily said, “I understand, of course. Perhaps tomorrow.”
“Yes, perhaps,” she said.
“You should go upstairs and rest; perhaps Mrs. Hammond can make you a restorative tea.”
“I will certainly ask her,” Georgiana replied.
“Come, Darcy!” Mr. Bingley said, impatiently.
Mr. Darcy kissed his sister on the head and then followed Mr. Bingley to the carriage.
“Georgiana is not joining us?” Mr. Bingley asked.
“She is not feeling well,” Mr. Darcy said.
“I am sorry. Oh! What a lovely day it is! Perhaps we can walk again!”
“Or perhaps you and Miss Bennet can simply sit and coo together in the parlour,” Mr. Darcy said. “In any case, I need to speak with Mr. Bennet.”
“Oh? Is there news?”
“Very good news.” Mr. Darcy took Mr. Stanley’s letter from his pocket and handed it to Mr. Bingley.
“My God! So the entail has been broken all this time!” Mr. Bingley looked at Mr. Darcy in astonishment. “The Bennets have lived in fear all their lives for no reason!”
“Oh, there was a reason,” Mr. Darcy said, heavily. “The reason was simply greed. The Collins’ family wanted Longbourn, and were willing to perpetrate a fraud in order to get it.”
“Could William Collins go to prison for fraud?” Mr. Bingley wondered.
“Possibly; if he knew about the adoption, then yes.”
“It would be difficult to prove, I suppose.”
“It would. yes; I believe Mr. Bennet will be happy enough just to have the entail end. This news will change everything.”