“Mr Bingley, let me inform you of a few truths,” Phillips stated as he steepled his fingers in front of him. “The Bennets came very close to rejecting you as a lessee based on the results of the investigation of you and your family. You almost broke the terms of the lease on your first day in residence and did somost decidedly today. Do you think that I was not aware of your attempted compromise of Miss Bennet before you entered my office? A groom from Longbourn delivered the news a minute or two before you arrived. Attracted to indeed. You attempted to entrap one Bennet while Miss Bingley aimed for another. It does not help you at all to sit before me and prevaricate.”
“But how does that lead to the eviction and forfeiture of my money?” Bingley pleaded.
Phillips lifted a document from his desk and opened it to a certain page. “Read clause twelve, sub-clause number two,” Phillips stated, and handed the contract across his desk to the younger man.
As he read, Bingley’s face fell. It clearly stated that the tenant would be evicted for any dishonourable or rake-like behaviour or actions which affect anyone in the community. There was no ambiguity about the penalty being eviction without the refunding of a single penny.
“If you will not sue the Bennets for me, I will have my solicitor in London retain the best barristers, and I will receive all of my money back,” Bingley asserted petulantly.
“That is your right to attempt; however, I suggest you read the final clause very carefully before you do any such thing.” Phillips leant over and pointed to the relevant lines on the final page, above the signature lines. He watched as Mr Bingley read, and he knew the man understood when his face lost all of its colour.
“If I sue after being evicted for cause, in signing the lease, I have agreed in advance to pay five times the total amount of the lease!” Bingley exclaimed. He felt like he wanted to cast up his accounts.
“And before you ask, the four and twenty hours to vacate the estate or be arrested for trespassing is in clause fifteen, sub-clause one. Rather than waste your time here with me in an exercise of futility, I recommend that you go back to Netherfield Park, to pack, and to leave the estate before,” Phillips looked at the clock on his desk, “a quarter before midday on the morrow.”
“The Bennets are wealthy, what need have they for my money which they have not earned on the lease? They can afford to return it to me,” Bingley attempted as a final effort to recoup his funds.
“The no-refund clauses are in the lease to make sure that a tenant abides by the terms laid out in said document. The Bennets’ wealth is neither here nor there. Especially as they do not keep the money you are forfeiting.” Phillips held up his hand when he saw Mr Bingley begin to grin with happiness. “They do not keep the money, and itdoes notgo back to you.”
“Then what happens to my funds if I do not receive the money, and they do not keep it?” Bingley puzzled.
“They have only had to evict one other tenant before you, and like they did then, the funds will be given to the two local parishes for the rectors to use to assist the needy hereabouts.” Phillips paused as he looked directly at Mr Bingley. “What would you learn if they did not stand by the contract you signed?”
Shoulders drooping in total defeat, Bingley left the law practice, and wordlessly climbed into his coach, which was waiting for him as he had instructed. He and Caroline had to pack.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Andrew led a smiling Jane to a bench in the wilderness on one side of the park. They were in full view of the footman but distant enough that he would not be able to hear anything.
As soon as Jane was seated, Andrew dropped to one knee and took each of her delicate hands in one of his own. “Jane, we both know what my purpose is here, and although you already stated what your answer would be, I feel I must ask the question.”
“Ask, my darling Andy, but make it short, there is no need for a flowery speech.”
“Jane Esmeralda Bennet, my heart has ached for you every instant you were not by my side. I never want to experience that longing for you again. Will you do me the supreme honour of accepting my hand in marriage and become my wife?”
“As those are the words I have dreamed of hearing from you, since before you sailed away to India, yes, Andrew Christian Fitzwilliam, I will marry you and desire nothing else than to never be parted from you again. That is my way of saying I do not desire a long engagement, quite the opposite in fact.”
“It was well known in society that we were courting before I departed for the faraway shores of India. We will not correct them when they assume, as they will be wont to do, that we had a secret engagement before I left England.”
First, he extracted the pouch containing the ring he had made for Jane, opened the bag, retrieved the ring, and slipped it onto the ring finger of her left hand. Then Andrew pushed up into a standing position. He placed his back between the guard and his fiancée, and after seeing not only permission but longing in her looks, he placed his hands either side of her head and lowered his head until their lips met. Rather than a light brushing of the lips, their kiss was deep, hungry, and passionate, and was followed by more, much deeper kisses.
Biggs allowed a few minutes with the Viscount blocking his view to pass before he unleashed a very loud cough, whichcaused the couple to jump apart. He grinned with satisfaction when he was able to see a gap between them.
Jane was breathless. Kissing Andy’s lips had been everything she had anticipated, and so much more. Yes, a short time before marriage was imperative.
“My dearest Andrew, I think we need to go discover where our parents and family are and give them our happy news, which I am certain will not come as a surprise to anyone,” Jane sang as she took Andy’s hand and pulled him towards the manor house. It was only then she truly looked at the ring he had gifted her. It was perfect.
For his part, Andrew was only too happy to allow his beloved to lead him towards the manor. He would follow this magnificent woman to the ends of the earth if needs be.
Knowing her parents would be waiting in the study, Jane led her betrothed directly there. The door was open, so they both entered the room, their fingers still intertwined. Now that they were back together, neither one wanted to break the physical contact between them.
“There is no question that you have accepted Andrew, Janey,” Becca beamed at her daughter. Even had she not seen the enormous sapphire engagement ring on Jane’s finger, her daughter’s face would have told her all she needed to know. “You need not our permission, but your father and I,” she said as she looked at her beloved Thomas, who nodded his agreement, “bestow our heartiest and most enthusiastic blessings for your union.”
“We wish you both happy and know that you are very well suited one to the other,” Bennet added. “I take it neither of you desire a long engagement?”
“No, we do not,” Andrew confirmed. “After being separated for two years, unless you object, we would like to marry as soon as may be. However, if you decree that we need to wait, we will.”
Bennet and Becca looked at one another, communicating silently as they were wont to do. “Neither your mother nor I will object to whichever date you choose to marry. If needed, I am sure Mr Pierce will issue a common licence in the next few days,” Bennet pronounced.
