Chapter 49 Amusements #4
Peter looked away, clearly uncomfortable about the answer.
After a short pause, he said, "I think that was Lewis taking his own amusements when he arranged matters that way.
I am not certain that will was ever meant to stand.
Just as Lewis did not expect to die when he did, he also did not expect his cousin Clarence, the heir presumptive, to die just before him.
Those two were always poking, prodding and trying to get the better of one another.
Clarence had played a massive prank on Lewis just about the time he revised his will after Anne's birth, and I think the provisions reflect that.
Had Lewis lived long enough to know Clarence's wife was with child, he would have changed his will and arranged matters differently, giving Catherine less power over everyone's destiny. "
Bennet nodded agreement. "We are none of us perfect, Darcy, and I think we have all made mistakes of that type when we do not have the relevant facts in an important matter."
"Are you poking and prodding at me, sir?" Darcy asked teasingly. "We all know what I have done when I acted without learning the facts."
The other two laughed and Peter said, "Oh, Will, I cannot tell you how much I enjoy seeing you in such good humor."
Darcy winked at Bennet, who knew the reason for his ebullient mood and had not yet revealed it. "What can I say, Uncle? Longbourn is a magical place."
"It certainly seems to have a draw for bright young men," Bennet said.
"We have Sir Barnaby on his way to marry Jane.
Richard has already married his Charlotte.
Darcy, here, has come chasing his Miss Rose" Darcy rolled his eyes at Bennet, who winked as he continued.
"Mr. Bingley is visiting to court Mary, although Mrs. Bennet is not to know of that yet, and Sir Phillip has already formed an attraction to Kitty.
We must just hope no one comes calling yet for Lydia or Miss Darcy. "
"Definitely not!" exclaimed Darcy, chuckling as he did.
At the same time, his uncle said, "Sir Phillip and Kitty? Wait, did you say Mr. Bingley is courting Mary?"
"Yes, and yes," said Bennet. "Mr. Bingley, of course, is a settled thing.
He has already asked for the official courtship, but Mary sent word that she would like us to wait until her arrival on Thursday to tell her mother so that Fanny does not overwhelm her young man without Mary being there to deflect some of the attention.
Sir Phillip and I have spoken about his attention to Kitty and her response to it.
I have told him that if, by the time his visit is over, he wishes to ask for a courtship I will grant it, but only a courtship.
They are both too young to marry right away, so betrothal or marriage must wait at least a year and if he does anything that forces the issue, I will be most severe upon him.
He assured me he would treat my daughter with respect. "
"If Catherine hears word that a Bennet may one day become Mistress of Rosings Park, she will definitely have an apoplexy," Peter said. "Can you imagine her fury?"
"I can," Bennet said. "I also thought it amusing that although she would be called Lady de Bourgh instead of Lady Catherine, my daughter would still be Lady Katherine de Bourgh."
"A kinder, gentler version," said Darcy.
"Indeed," agreed Bennet.
"Well, then," Peter said, "now that I have safely delivered Georgiana to your care, I should plan on visiting Catherine tomorrow or the next day to see what I can do to neutralize her somewhat, as well as giving her the news of the deaths."
"Does it need to be in the next few days?
" Bennet asked. "Mr. and Mrs. Hanson will be arriving tomorrow, and you will probably want to speak with your niece first. Mary and the Gardiners will be here Thursday and Mrs. Bennet will be hosting a large dinner party on Friday.
Unless you think the secret is in imminent danger of getting to Lady Catherine, it might be wise to wait. "
"Anne is coming here too? That is excellent news. I will wait to speak with her, at least. Where are Richard and his new wife staying? I would like to speak with him as well, even if it is just briefly."
"They are at Darcy House," Darcy said. "I gave them the run of the place."
"Thank you," Peter said, "and thank you Bennet for standing in for me in the role of his father at Richard's wedding."
"It was more a case of Mrs. Bennet standing in as his mother, I would say. To help her accept the sudden wedding and not be upset that it might take away from Jane, he told her she was the closest thing he currently had to a mother. We heard no objections from her after that." Bennet chuckled.
"I will have to thank her this evening. After all, he wasn't exactly lying about that."
The three of them heard a great commotion in the corridor. "It seems the ladies are back," Bennet said. "Let us all go and hear the news of their shopping success."
"Yes," said Darcy. "I also want to introduce Georgiana to them before they discover her on her own in the music room. Then we can all hear about the amusements of the day."
In full agreement, all three men rose from their seats. Although normally he would have let the older men precede him, this time Darcy slipped out first, hoping to find Georgiana and help ease her into the new phase of her friendship with the Bennet sisters.