When the three cousins enquired, they were informed the search had begun about a day after the vicar left the great house. His housekeeper had assumed he had remained at the mansion due to the weather. Mr Whitlow, a representative of the bishop of Kent arrived to demand Mr Collins accompany him to the manor house. Mr Whitlow departed and Mr Collins followed soon thereafter. A day later, when the housekeeper had sent the parsonage’s manservant to the great house to seek Mr Collins, it had been determined that the rector was missing.
A search had been conducted for two days with no results so far. Due to the nature of the precipitation, there were no foot prints to follow. The cousins split up to ride in the groves. Each one had a pistol which he would shoot into the air if he discovered something.
As he was passing the path leading to the glade, on a whim, Darcy stopped his horse, dismounted and loosely tied the mount to a low hanging branch. He walked to the glade, and was about to return to his horse when he noticed the strange shape on one of the benches covered with the snow and crusted in sleet. What he discovered caused him to fire his shot into the air. It was not many minutes before his cousins found him.
“How do you think the poor wretch ended up here?” the Colonel whistled when he saw the frozen body.
“There is no way of knowing,” Lord Hilldale mused. “At least, he will not have the ignominy of being defrocked and excommunicated. Due to his end, the case will be quietly closed.”
Not too long after, some of the other men who had been searching reached them, and after issuing instructions to move the frozen corpse to the undertaker in Hunsford, the cousins mounted their horses and made for the stables.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
It was obvious to Lord Matlock what was left of the person his sister used to be was gone. By the time he had made his way up to see her, after talking to Anne, he had found her almost catatonic. Once his sons and nephew reported that which the earl had suspected, he told them of the state in which he had discovered their aunt. “The woman who refused to be gainsaid is no more. I think that she had so convinced herself of all of the nonsense she told herself, that as soon as she realised it was not so, she was unable to reconcile herself to reality.”
“What will you do with her, father? Surely not an asylum?” Lord Hilldale asked.
“No, Andrew, you know me better than that. As much as Cathy made it hard to like her, through her invention of the phantom engagement, her interfering ways, all of it, I never stopped loving my older sister,” Lord Matlock explained. “As such, I will have her moved to the dower house at Snowhaven, where she will be looked after at all times. Regardless of how annoyed your mother and aunt became thanks to Cathy’s interference; she would agree with me without hesitation.”
“At least, that way our aunt will end her days being well cared for in a place where she grew up,” Darcy remarked.
“What of Anne and Rosings Park?” the Colonel enquired. “Did she not allow Aunt Cat to have the illusion of being in charge to relieve the burden from herself? How will she manage it all now?”
“Is that not a question you should ask me, Cousin?” Anne asked. She had seeming to be invisible down to a science. “I have a plan, and it involves you resigning from the army.”
“What have I to do with this?” the Colonel questioned.
“Everything. Both Andrew and William have estates so that only leaves you without one. Before you ask, I am the last one in the de Bourgh line, so, no, there is no other,” Anne related. “Under the terms of Father’s will, while I live, I am not allowed to transfer the estate to another, but I am allowed to bequeath it to whomever I choose.”
“I still do not understand,” the Colonel puzzled.
“It is simple. As you correctly asserted, this is far too much for me to run, even had I the desire to do so, which I do not. You are the heir presumptive of this estate, and when in a few short years,” Anne raised her head seeing the protest forming on her three cousins’ lips. “Regardless of how my mother attempted to keep the truth from me, I am fully aware I have a weak heart. As I was saying, Richard, you will be the master here. De Bourgh house is in your name already as there was no restriction on it. As long as I have the funds I need when and if I need them, the de Bourgh fortune is yours as well. If—when—you marry, your wife will be the mistress even if I am still living.”
“But Anne…” the Colonel began to object.
“No, Richard. You will not allow your foolish pride stop you from doing your duty to me,” Anne insisted.
“My duty? My duty is to King and country,” the Colonel asserted.
“Need I remind you of the vow you made when you were thirteen and I was nine? The one when you swore to do whatever you needed to do to help me when I asked?” Anneplayed her trump card.
“I do. My word is my word,” the soon-to-be former Colonel capitulated. “I will resign and sell my commission.”
“Good, now go find yourself a wife,” Anne commanded.
“He is working on that already,” Lord Hilldale ribbed.
“You know how much this will please your mother, do you not?” Lord Matlock pointed out to his younger son. The Earl turned to his niece. “Anne, will you travel with us to London and remain with your Aunt while I take your mother to Snowhaven?” Lord Matlock invited.
Anne agreed and plans were made to depart Rosings Park in two days.
Chapter 33
It almost felt strange to have transitioned to half mourning, but Elizabeth and her sisters understood it was what Jane wanted. She had allowed for up to a year, but her preference had been for a shorter period. All four sisters honoured their parents’ decision to mourn for a year complete.
Elizabeth found herself missing Mr Darcy’s company far more than she would have thought possible. The fact he had trusted the Bennets with the care of his most precious relation, spoke far louder than words of his feelings towards the family. Knowing he had been reluctant to leave, as had been true of the Colonel, even though the latter was to report for duty before the end of the month, had made Elizabeth feel good. At least she still had his monogrammed handkerchiefs, one of them was always in her pocket, which she was able to touch whenever she felt the need.
As much as she had convinced herself they were only friends, she had fallen in love with Mr Darcy. Elizabeth was certain he was exactly the man, actually the only man, who in disposition and talents would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would answer all her wishes. It was a union which would be to the advantage of both; by her ease and liveliness, his mind would be softened, his comfort in society improved. From his judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she would receive a benefit of much greater importance. This was, of course, assuming he would offer for her in April or soon after.
