“No. My wife is under the impression she is due anything she wants simply because she wants it,” Sir Lewis averred.
“What about an asylum?” Bennet pushed.
“When she wants to be, she can be quite rational,” Sir Lewis told. “She is ignorant and uneducated, but as far as I know those are not reasons to consign one to an asylum.”
“Catherine is ignorant but she is cunning,” Darcy stated. “Unless we get her to confess, we will have no way of proving it was her doing.”
“My thoughts exactly. But that does not mean she should not feel some consequences of her actions,” Sir Lewis asserted.
“What do you intend?” Matlock queried.
“To remove her from Rosings Park and seriously curtail her access to funds,” Sir Lewis replied.
“Where will you send her?” Darcy enquired.
“It is for that reason I requested your presence here,” Sir Lewis looked from Matlock to Darcy. “I was thinking of sending her to my house in Bath. Do you think it is far enough? If it is not enough distance, Darcy, do you not have a satellite estate in Ireland?”
“Yes, it is west of Dublin, but I do not think it will be needed,” Darcy responded. “Bath is a two-day carriage ride from London, and not much closer to Rosings Park. In my opinion, as long as she is well guarded, that should be sufficient.
“I do have another reason, the main one actually, as to why I requested your presence,” Sir Lewis owned. His brothers looked at him with raised eyebrows. “If you two agree, would you go to Rosings Park to inform her of her impending move? If I see her so soon after her attempt on Anne’s and my lives, I will surely say, or do, something I would rather not.”
“I assume you will employ men to watch over her closely?” Bennet enquired.
“That is my intention. What think you all? I was considering twelve men. That way six will be guarding her at any time day or night,” Sir Lewis proposed. “It is a pity none of Catherine’s dowry remains. I would have given it to her victim’s family, but they will still receive money to live on. Much of it, two hundred and ninety pounds a quarter, will be from my wife’s reduced allowance. If she had sufficient funds to pay some scoundrel to do her dirty work, then I have been giving her too much.”
“I will go to my sister, but I would send a letter to show her you are still very much in the mortal world,” Matlock suggested.
“And I will join our brother,” Darcy stated.
“It will be done before you depart,” Sir Lewis agreed.
“If I may, this day is half over. Matlock and Darcy, please be our guests and then you will be refreshed to depart in the morning,” Bennet invited.
Both Darcy and Matlock accepted the offered hospitality. It was not only the possibility of challenging Bennet to a game of chess, but both men wanted to meet the girl who had been so brave.
“How long will you be with the Bennets?” Darcy enquired.
“A new wheel is being fabricated in Hatfield, that will take about a sennight to be ready,” Sir Lewis shared. “However, the man who can manufacture a new axle came from Hertford yester-morning. That will take between a fortnight to three weeks, so as long as Fanny and Bennet do not grow tired of us, we will be here until the coach is ready to be used again.”
“While you write your letter, de Bourgh, I will introduce my wife to your brothers,” Bennet stated.
Sir Lewis sat at the desk, pulling a fresh sheet of paper from the pile while Matlock and Darcy followed Bennet out of the study.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth, Anne, and their escorts arrived back at the stables while the Matlock coach was being pushed into the coach house.
“That is my Uncle Reggie’s…carriage,” Anne pointed to the Matlock coat of arms. “Papa told me he had written to…my two uncles and requested they….come see him at…your estate.”
“One of them is an earl, is he not?” Elizabeth verified, “and the other owns an estate in Derbyshire. I must ask him if his estate is close to Lambton.”
“Do you know someone who…lives in that town?” Anne queried.
“Yes, well she does not live there any longer,” Elizabeth stated, confusing Anne somewhat. “Mama’s brother is Uncle Edward, the one I told you lives in London.” Anne nodded she remembered. “His wife, Aunt Maddie grew up in Derbyshire in the town of Lambton. She always tells me Derbyshire is the best of all shires.”
“Uncle Reggie’s estate of…Snowhaven is in Derbyshire as…well, but I think it is close…to the town of Matlock,” Anne recalled. “Lizzy, I am sorry I could…not walk up to see the…summit of Oakham Mount.”
“Anne de Bourgh, do not dare apologise for something you cannot control. You did not choose to get ill or the restrictions you have to live with afterwards!” Elizabeth stood with arms akimbo glaring at her friend.
