“There is a little exaggeration, but in essentials, everything Mrs Phillips told you is true,” Charlotte, who had just ridden back from Netherfield Park’s dower house,confirmed. “Not only that, but Eliza and her family had received confirmation that Mr Bennet had advised the former clergyman to compromise his daughter.”
“That is disgusting! Mr Bennet deserves to be shunned, and that Collins man should be forced to leave the neighbourhood!” Lady Lucas huffed.
“I am sure Mrs Phillips informed you that Mr Bennet will attend the assembly?” Charlotte wondered. Her mother allowed it was so. “Then you and those who find Mr Bennet’s behaviour abhorrent will be able to cut him and let him know how everyone’s opinion of him has fallen so much,” Charlotte suggested.
“You have the right of it, Charlotte. I always knew you could not be so intelligent for nothing. I will make calls in the morning so we can plan how to clearly display our displeasure to Mr Bennet.” Lady Lucas scowled at the thought of what her friend’s husband planned to do. “Do not mention this to your father until it is too late. You know how he likes Lizzy. He would want to call Mr Bennet out for this travesty.”
That she was able to play even a small part in the plan being executed to put Mr Bennet in his place and run off the revolting Mr Collins was, for Charlotte, a great honour.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As much as he would have preferred to begin his journey to Bingley’s leased estate at first light on Thursday morning like he had intended, Darcy’s departure had been delayed by three hours thanks to one of his footmen at Darcy House being injured when he slipped from a ladder in the ballroom while cleaning the upper windows.
Being a conscientious master, Darcy would not depart until he was certain the man would be well. Thanks to the angle at which he fell, his left leg was broken in two places.
Expense was not a consideration when the health and safety of one of his servants was in question. Thathad led to Darcy’s personal physician as well as a surgeon being summoned. Once Mr Bartholomew, his London doctor, assured him Brown would be well, only then did Darcy depart.
In his comfortable travelling coach, the time passed quickly as he read a book. His valet, Carstens, sat on the rear-facing bench. He would only speak if Darcy spoke to him first.
They made a turn and slowed somewhat. Darcy saw they were behind some other conveyances. About a mile the other side of the town of Meryton, Darcy felt his coachman urge his horses to pick up speed. As they passed a lane which led off the main road, the reason became apparent; the other carriages had turned off.
As soon as his equipage passed the gateposts of Bingley’s leased estate, Darcy girded his loins for the upcomingtreatof seeing Miss Bingley.
Chapter 27
“Richard, why are you grinning like a Cheshire cat?” Darcy asked once he joined Richard and de Bourgh in the sitting room between the latters’ bedchambers. He had agreed to meet them there after he had washed and changed.
“Do you remember how Andy and I would point out the inconsistency in the way you saw Bingley and Mr Henry Bennet?” Richard asked.
“I had meant to discuss that with you. Our Aunt Catherine’s recent behaviour opened my eyes to my selective prejudices. I finally accepted that the words came from my late mother when she railed against Mr Bennet, but the thoughts had been planted there by her sister. My late father attempted to tell me that before he was called home. To my shame, I did not listen to him,” Darcy lamented. “I know not where Mr Bennet is because I would give anything to beg for his pardon for my improper pride and arrogance. It has been some years since he has lived at Sherwood Dale, so I have no way to reach him.”
“Then, cousin of mine, Lady Luck is smiling down on you today. What I tell you now is to remain in the strictest confidence,” Richard demanded.
“You have my word of honour I will not share the information,” Darcy vowed.
“This estate is one of two Mr Bennet owns in the area of Meryton. He and some of his family are living just over a mile from where we currently are. There was a good reason theestate’s dower house and surrounding property are not part of Bingley’s lease; it is where Mr Bennet resides, for now.”
Darcy’s eyebrows shot up. Mr Bennet owned multiple estates! He was pleased he had decided he needed to make amends before learning about the additional estates. No one could accuse him of changing his opinion because the man was wealthier than he had thought him to be. “Your business which necessitated you and de Bourgh travelling separately from me…had it anything to do with Mr Bennet?” he asked.
“It did,” de Bourgh confirmed. “What say you we three of us take a ride.”
“William, allow me to warn you that Mr Bennet has a bevy of very beautiful great-nieces. Before you think it, there are no Caroline Bingleys among them; in fact, they are quite the opposite,” Richard disclosed. “Also, those with the name Taylor were born and raised in the former colonies…” Richard gave a brief retelling of how, after the late Mr Taylor wed Miss Felicity Bennet, the newly married Taylors moved to the American colonies and what prompted them to return.
“We have met all of the Bennet sisters bar one, who is at a school for wayward girls. Also, we have come to know all of the Taylors, estimable regardless of where they were born,” de Bourgh revealed. “In addition, we have met some of their friends. The only husband hunter we know of in these parts is the mistress of this very house.”
“Bingley will inform you, if he has not already, that there is an assembly tonight, which wewillattend,” Richard related. “The alternative is to remain here, and you know the termagant will decide to stay to keep youcompanyif you do not join us.” He paused. “Before I forget, one Taylor and one Bennet would qualify as angels for Bingley. He will be disappointed, as both ladies are fully aware—they were before we arrived—of Bingley’s propensities, and they will want none of him. They are looking for men, not a puppy. Also, some of the ladies ride astride, so try and keep the judgement hidden when you seethem.”
“Give me a little while to dress in riding attire,” Darcy requested. “I will meet you in the drawing room.”
As much as he was concerned about women of the ilk of Miss Bingley, Darcy knew that Richard would not dissemble about ladies to him. If he said the Misses Bennet and Taylor were not huntresses, then they were not.
When he entered his suite, thankfully Carstens was still present completing the unpacking. It was less than fifteen minutes before he was dressed for riding.
He cringed as he neared the drawing room and heard Miss Bingley’s grating voice. “But where is dear Mr Darcy? It has been an age since he has been with his good friends,” she cooed.
That was another thing about which his cousins had been correct. He was doing Miss Bingley no favours by not killing her delusions with regard to himself.
“Miss Bingley, I am your brother’s friend, not yours. I have never permitted you to address me with an endearment, have I? Theonlyreason I am here with my cousin is to assist your brother and de Bourgh to learn about estate management. If you have other ideas in your head, you are wrong,” Darcy stated bluntly.
