Chapter Seventy-Seven
The Gardiners were delighted to see Mr. Bennet and Mr. Philips.
“Lord above, Thomas, you really think you can bring an end to this terrible entail?!” Mr. Gardiner exclaimed, once everyone was seated in the drawing room.
“It seems very likely, Edward, from what I understand of the law.”
“This will be a great blessing to your family, Thomas. Who will become your heir, then?”
“Perhaps Jane,” Mr. Bennet said.
“Or perhaps Mary,” Mrs. Gardiner interjected, gently.
To her surprise, Mr. Bennet shook his head. “No, not Mary.”
***
The Matlocks were not nearly as pleased to see Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins.
The Earl wasted no time in pulling Lady Catherine aside and explaining that Darcy had already asked him to speak to the judges of the Court of Chancery regarding this case on behalf of Mr. Bennet. “It will look quite odd that I am hosting the opposing party in my own home!” he said, aggrieved.
Lady Catherine shrugged. “I cannot imagine that anyone will notice or care,” she said. “And, in any case, I have nowhere else to stay. I could hardly ask Darcy, as he is advising Mr. Bennet, and you know that my own townhouse is rented out.”
Lady Eleanor waved her husband away and took her sister by marriage and the quivering parson to their rooms.