As expected, Andrew was waiting for his bride at the base of the staircase. Jane transferred her hand to his arm. They returned to the ballroom in order to convey their final thanks to everyone for attending their celebration and to then take their leave. The last one Jane farewelled was Charlotte. Jane and Andrew, accompanied by the family, made their way to where the Hilldale coach was waiting for them under the portico. The family’s exodus left the ballroom with only a few people within.
Even though they would see Jane and Andrew in five days, it did not make the goodbyes any easier. Soon enough, the conveyance was on its way with the family waving until it turned and disappeared from view.
Gardiner was one of the last remaining with Becca and Bennet. “Jane truly looks very much like Fanny did before she forced you to marry her,” Gardiner stated wistfully as he still looked at the spot where the coach disappeared from view. “I am very grateful that there is none of my late sister’s character in Jane.” He paused as he cogitated. “At least, the Gardiner line will continue on after me, with me being the last surviving member of my generation of Gardiners alive. Eddy and Peter will be good and honourable men, of that I am certain.”
Neither Bennet disagreed with their friend and business partner’s assessment. The three walked back into the house.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“What do you mean you are returning to Scarborough and selling the lease on this house? We need to remain in London and fix things,” Miss Bingley shrieked at her brother.
“Caroline, if you think we will ever be accepted back into polite society, then you belong in Bedlam. Do you not rememberthe Duke of Devonshire telling us our ruination is irrevocable? What did it tell you that within a day of our attempted transgressions against the Bennets being committed, our name was already scorned and reviled in Town?” Bingley looked around as the servants packed up the house. “I am leaving; if you would like to remain, I will release what remains of your dowry to you, and you may do as you wish. No matter what, I have learnt a costly lesson, and I will no longer follow your whims and dictates. Remind me again, Sister, how many of yourso-calledfriends were at home to you?”
Miss Bingley looked anywhere except at her brother. She had told him her acquaintances were otherwise engaged, not that she had been told never to darken their doorsteps again. She remembered something Charles said about her dowry. “What do you mean, ‘what is left’ of my dowry? I have the whole of the twenty thousand pounds!”
“Once I have deducted your overspending for the last two years only, as well as the amount you cost me when my money on the lease was forfeited, you will have a little less than fourteen thousand pounds remaining.”
“You cannot do that!” Miss Bingley screamed. “Our late father set the amount of my dowry, and you have no authority to change it!”
“That is where you are wrong. Father’s will gave me complete authority to adjust the amount of your dowry as I see fit. Before you claim it is only to increase it, that was not what was specified. Knowing how our mother spoilt you, I am sure he worded it the way he did with intention.”
“How could you do that to me? I will not live with you any longer. You can find another to be your hostess,” Miss Bingley threatened. “What has happened to you? You were always so affable.”
“I am finally beginning to mature and grow a backbone. Your days of manipulating me into doing whatever you want me to do are past. I learnt too late to save my friendship with Darcy or to stop you from destroying any chance we had in society, but learn I did.” Bingley ceased speaking while he made a calculation in his head. “If you choose to have me release your dowry, all of your living expenses will be paid by you. I will not subsidise one penny.” He held his hand up when she was about to protest. “Your principal will bring you five hundred eight and forty pounds interest a year; that is about five and forty a month. From that, you will have to pay everything, including a companion, if one will agree to work for you given you are ruined.”
It seemed she would need to leave London and remain with her brother, at least for a short while until the next scandal made people forget about the Bingleys. The monthly amount he mentioned would not pay for her wardrobe needs, never mind anything else. “I have decided to join you, so I will instruct my maid to pack,” Miss Bingley stated. She stood and sailed out of the drawing room; her nose high in the air.
Bingley shook his head. He was certain his sister had told herself this would all blow over and that soon she would be able to return to society. He knew better. Also, if Caroline thought she would be able to spend freely as she had in the past, she would be in for quite an unpleasant shock.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
William Collins was counting the days until he departed his parsonage at Hunsford to travel to Hertfordshire to see his birthright, which, if God above would answer his prayers, would be his sooner rather than later.
He was very thankful his wise, beneficent patroness had given him directions regarding marriage because he had not hadmuch success on his own. He remembered the conversation—Lady Catherine’s instructions—clearly, as if it had just happened that very day.
“What is it you want?” Lady Catherine had asked.
“Based on your identifying the documents as frauds, I intend to write to my cousin so I may visit him, his wife, and daughters, and as you said, the foundlings he is attempting to claim are his sons. I have come to seek your wise counsel before I write and post my letter,” he had said as he bowed three times during his speech.
“So he has daughters. Do you know how many?” Lady Catherine had enquired. “As his lowborn wife did not do her duty to him, he had to bring in the foundlings to make up for her omission.”
“I am not sure, your Ladyship, but it is more than one, as far as my late honoured father knew.”
“In that case, Mr. Collins, you must marry. A clergyman like you must marry. Choose properly; choose one from among your cousins who are gentlewomen. A gently bred lady is for my sake, so I may allow her in my company. For your own needs, let her be an active, useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small income go a good way. This is my instruction. Find such a woman among your cousins as soon as you can; bring her to Hunsford, and I will allow her to visit me.”
“It will be so, Lady Catherine.” Collins had remembered the refusals he had sustained from the other two instances when he had proposed. “Ehrm, what do I do if the lady I choose refuses me?”
“You should by no means be discouraged by what the lady may say in refusal, but, rather know that you will lead her to the altar ere long.
“If a cousin does not accept your generous offer, they will end up in the hedgerows when you inherit. If the one you propose to does refuse you, it will be a tactic to increase your ardour. Remember, that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of a man whom they secretly mean to accept when he first applies for their favour, and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second, or even a third time.” He had now just realised his mistake from his two previous proposals; they had meant to accept him. However, he had erred and not pressed his suit like Lady Catherine instructed him to do. In that way, he had not proved his ardency to them. He would not make that same mistake again.
Lady Catherine had dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
Collins had only referred to amends in the letter he posted to his cousin to inform him of the pleasure he could expect from receiving his heir. He did not, however, articulate how he would honour one of his cousin’s daughters with the offer of his hand in marriage. He was sure his cousin would be in great anticipation to learn what the amends would be.
When he thought about the two clergymen who were visiting his parish to learn how to do their duties by observing him, Collins’s chest puffed up with pride. They had been greatly impressed with his sermons, especially when he had shared that they had been almost entirely crafted by the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
They had even accompanied him on calls to his parishioners and on a subsequent visit with Lady Catherine.His patroness had been more than pleased to educate the two visitors in the correct way to fulfil their duties and the deference they needed to show their patron or patroness. Afterwards, on the walk back to his humble parsonage, they had been awed to discover he reported everything his congregants told him to his patroness and the way she fixed all of their concerns.
