Chapter 33 Anne #3
"If Richard and Uncle Peter have already looked into his background, I will accept their judgment on the matter.
You can count on me to deliver you to your wedding tomorrow.
At dinner I will state that it would be a drive that could change your life.
Your mother will think I intend to propose and will practically push us out the door. "
"If you take Polly with you for propriety's sake, I can claim an errand and will sneak Mrs. Jenkinson and whatever remains of your luggage away in Will's carriage," Richard offered. "We can meet you at the church where I claim the right to give you away - standing in for my father, of course."
"Of course," Anne laughed. "Although perhaps you and Will should both give me away. You can stand in for your father and Will can stand in for mine."
"I think we shall have to duel for the honor," Richard teased. "Such a pity it is not conker season. We must to check the nursery for other weapons tiddlywinks or marbles, perhaps. Last man standing wins."
"I doubt there is anything left in the nursery," Anne said. "You shall have to find another way to settle your differences. Just do not injure Will until we have taken our drive."
"As you wish, cousin," Richard said, bowing with exaggerated elegance. "The most important point is seeing you to safety."
"Speaking of safety, what have you learned about your mother's plans for the Bennet family?" Darcy asked.
Anne's smile immediately dropped away. "Mother was furious when she found out Jane is betrothed, and even more when she discovered the groom is Sir Barnaby Linton. She has sworn the marriage will not take place."
"That is what we expected, more or less," Richard said.
"Ah, but you remember that she has retained George Wickham on her payroll.
She learned about Will's search for a Miss Rose from him - I expect you to tell me all about her, by the way - and later he informed her of Jane's betrothal.
Mother arranged for him to go to Meryton as a member of a militia unit quartered there.
That cannot be good for any of the Bennets. "
"Wickham is in Meryton!" Richard exclaimed. "No, that is not good. Not good at all."
"But why would he leave his position in the law office, his whole career, to join the militia?" Darcy asked.
"I am certain Mother is paying him very well. On top of that, she finally managed to free up the living here at Hunsford and she has already offered it to Mr. Collins."
Richard shook his head, but Darcy was confused. "You mentioned him before. Who is Mr. Collins?"
"He is the heir presumptive to Longbourn," Richard explained.
"There is an entail on the estate requiring it to be passed down through the male line.
Since Mr. Bennet has had no sons, the next in line was a completely unpleasant cousin, Mr. Collins's father.
He recently passed on. Father learned many years ago that Aunt Catherine had contacted the elder Mr. Collins and paid him a stipend on condition his son thrived or at least stayed alive.
To put it mildly, the man was a brute. As the boy grew older, Aunt Catherine arranged for him to go to school and, eventually, to become a clergyman.
She had him posted as curate in a village near the Earl of Ferrell's estate where the consensus is that he is an unpleasant idiot.
If she is moving him to Hunsford, that means she is moving forward a plan for him.
The timing and his connection to the Bennets makes the move suspect. "
"I think I understand now. So, Wickham is spying for Aunt Catherine, but you seem to think he might take more active steps to stop Miss Bennet's wedding."
"I doubt she is paying him just to gather information.
Wickham was involved in several shady activities during your school days.
You just never saw it. I would not put much past him, so long as he feels he is being properly compensated.
I think we should plan to leave here tomorrow as soon as we get back from Anne's wedding. We are needed at Longbourn."
"Do you think Miss Bennet is currently the primary target?"
"No," Anne said flatly. "Mother does not want Jane to marry, but Lizzy is still her primary target. She wants Lizzy humbled, devastated and completely ruined and through her, the entire family."
"I will NOT allow it," Darcy insisted. "Whatever she has planned will fail."
"Why does it matter to you?" Anne asked.
Before Darcy could answer, Richard explained. "That Miss Rose you wanted to hear about. Well, it turns out her full name is Elizabeth Rose Bennet. Will met her, unintentionally and unknowingly insulted her and all her family while trying to impress her and has been searching for her ever since."
"Are you serious?" Anne asked, even as Darcy turned red with embarrassment. "Will and Lizzy? How wonderful!"
"He only has a chance to convince her he is a better man than he first appeared if we can stop whatever your mother has planned."
"I will find a way no matter what happens," Darcy insisted. He was still embarrassed, but he was also determined.