At least for this, he had a semi-legitimate reply. “There are not enough funds for that,” Bennet stated triumphantly.
“If it costs you nothing, will you allow Lydia to go?”
“Yes, if there is not any expense for the estate, you have my permission to send her where you will,” Bennet allowed. As he was sure Fanny would not be able to gain the funds, his last remaining source of entertainment would not be going anywhere.
Fanny glided out of the study without another word. That same day, she had visited the dower house, based on Mrs Bellamy’s recommendation, she had written to Mrs Hesperia Gilbert, the headmistress of the Dark Hollow School for Girls, which operated all year round. It was on a former estate in Wiltshire, with the nearest town almost twenty miles distant and the closest neighbour well over ten miles away.
To make sure her husband did not waylay the message when a reply was sent, she had used Purvis Lodge for the return direction.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“It is time for us to approach Bennet and offer him something which will allow him to enjoy his indolent life with no responsibilities,” Henry stated.
Henry, Debby, and Roger Taylor were at the dower house along with Jane, Lizzy, and Mary Bennet. Mary and Roger were seated next to one another, as was their wont. Henry and Felicity sat in the comfortable armchairs they preferred.
“I think you should wait a little longer,” Elizabeth opined. “Since Mama received the acceptance for Lydia to go to school when my father obviously thought it would not come to pass, he has been in a snit. He is like a young child who has had all of his toys confiscated. He is not much better than Lydia. No matter how many tantrums and how much she has caterwauled, Lydia leaves on the morrow. Father refused to escort her, so thank you, Uncle Henry, for the use of one of your coaches and four footmen. There will be a maid with her as well. The men, however, will have their hands full as I, we, all expect she will attempt to escape any opportunity she has on the way to the school.
“At first, Papa was very missish about it, but in the last day or two, he received a letter, and I believe he sees the opportunity to create mischief.”
“Lizzy, we will defer to your judgement as you live there, unless you disagree with Lizzy’s assessment, Jane and Mary?” Henry enquired. Both nodded their agreement with Lizzy. “I do think we need to see that letter. Lizzy, please tell Mr Hill I need that missive. He and his wife have been my eyes and ears in that home for years. I employed them when your father demanded you return to Longbourn for his purely selfish reasons. That way, if your father asks if you have removedsomething from his study, you will be able to reply honestly. He will never suspect Mr Hill, and if he did, the Hills know their futures are secure.”
“So that was how you knew what was occurring in the house even when Mrs Bellamy or the three ladies you employed were not present?” Elizabeth understood. “The Hills have always cared for our wellbeing.”
“They have, and not only because I paid them,” Henry agreed.
“It will be interesting to see why this letter has restored some of my father’s humour,” Elizabeth said.
“Your father is in bed before ten each night, is he not?” Henry verified.
“Of late, it has been closer to nine,” Mary responded.
“Besides discovering what my cousin is about, are not those Bingleys arriving at your other estate soon?” Taylor wondered.
“The tenants arrive at Netherfield Park in a little more than a fortnight. Their arrival will have no bearing on what we do and when we do it with regards to my Bennet nephew,” Henry replied.
Elizabeth would speak to Mr Hill as soon as she arrived back at the manor house.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The under-steward sent from Snowhaven had been employed a fortnight after de Bourgh took over ownership of Rosings Park. Now, a month later, he had learnt much from Fitzwilliam and Darcy, and de Bourgh felt secure enough to tell the two cousins he would join them in Hertfordshire.
Darcy sent a courier with a note to Hurst House on Curzon Street for Bingley. The man had been instructed to hand the note only to Mr Bingley and wait for a verbal reply.
Thanks to Bingley’s atrocious script, by having hiscourier wait for a verbal message, Darcy would not have to decipher Bingley’s scribbles, blots, and smudges.
The next morning the man returned from London and informed his master that Mr Bingley extended an invitation to Mr de Bourgh and any other friends or family that Darcy chose to invite.
Since Lady Catherine’s removal and the employment of new senior staff and servants, the atmosphere at Rosings Park was much lighter. Said lady had been seen by doctors in London who all pronounced her ‘stark raving mad’ and recommended she be placed in an asylum. Lord Matlock had sent her to the one he told his nephew and son about, which was located on the Island of Jersey.
As would be expected, her lackey, Mr William Collins, was defrocked as soon as the Archbishop of Canterbury was informed of the clergyman’s behaviour. As it was not known where he had gone when he left Hunsford, notices were sent to every parish in the United Kingdom, in case the dishonourable man attempted to seek a position in the church.
Just as he had planned to do, the Earl and Anne de Bourgh departed for Snowhaven as soon as Lady Catherine had been sent to her new home. To keep his sister from harming herself, the former mistress of Rosings Park had been dosed with laudanum for the duration of the journey to her new place of residence.
Before he departed Rosings Park, Matlock had suggested that de Bourgh contact Gardiner and Associates in London to come see all of the gaudy and gauche décor, artwork, and ornaments at the estate. In de Bourgh’s mind the house looked like a museum to bad and vulgar taste.
When Mr Gardiner had arrived with some of his clerks, Darcy had been shocked at how gentlemanlike the man was in his bearing and his dress. This was no vulgar tradesman. The commission he would charge for selling everything wasmore than fair. Once the clerks had inventoried everything de Bourgh wanted gone from his home—which was almost everything—the estimate Gardiner gave of the expected revenue after his commission would be more than enough to redecorate and refurnish the house with a small amount of the funds remaining.
Carts would arrive in a few days, and since de Bourgh planned to be away at least a month, it was a perfect time for the redecorating. Until they departed for London, the three men would reside at the dower house, which thankfully had not been touched by Lady Catherine.
