Chapter Seventy-Four
Despite all the activity at Longbourn, Mr. Bennet had diligently prepared for his court date.
He had the original entail documents, as well as copies of the baptism record for George Collins that Mr. Darcy had given him, just in case Mr. Jeffries did not appear.
He had his own baptism record and that of his father, establishing his own legitimacy.
Mr. Bennet thought about the court appearance almost constantly.
Would they succeed? Could the entail truly be ended?
Surely he could not be that fortunate; there was bound to be a problem, a difficulty of some sort that they had not anticipated.
But – if he was successful? If the entail really could be ended?
He had always thought of himself as a calm and rational man, but now he was entirely at the mercy of his hopes and fears.
He had asked Mr. Philips to accompany him to London. “We should get there a day early, just in case of any road accidents or carriage difficulties,” he told Mr. Philips. “Gardiner would put us up.”
“Does he know what is afoot?” Mr. Philips asked.
“Not yet; I will write him directly.”
Edward,
I hope this letter finds you and Madeleine well.
It has been an eventful several weeks here in Meryton, resulting in the discovery that Joshua Collins died without male heirs of the body, a situation which immediately broke the entail.
He hid the fact, however, by adopting a son, whom he named George Collins, and thus our current heir presumptive, William Collins is not a legitimate heir at all!
I have a court date set for the tenth of December to officially and legally end the entail. Philips and I plan to arrive the day before. Might you put us up for the night?
Thomas
The reply came the next day.
Thomas,
Madeleine and I would be delighted to have you and Philips as our guests on the ninth of December and, indeed, for as long afterwards as you might care to stay!
I am speechless with delight at the idea of the entail being broken, and Madeleine can scarce contain herself.
I look forward to hearing all the details!
Edward
Mr. Bennet had not heard anything from Mr. Collins; perhaps the man would not even appear! That would be the best possible thing, would it not? But perhaps there was some sort of proof that his father was, in fact, legitimate, and the whole thing would fall apart!
He groaned and let his head fall into his hands.