“Lies, all lies,” Collins asserted.
“He really is that myopic to believe his own fiction is he not, Sir William?” Phillips shook his head. “In my hand, I have a certified copy of the document governing the entail. It has been validated by the Court of Chancery. It says exactly what I said it does.” Phillips opened the document to the relevant page and pushed it against the bars for Collins.
The corpulent man stirred himself from his bed, slowly rising off the straw filled mattress. As he read, he turned pallid. His reaction was to attempt to grab and destroy the papers.
Phillips pulled the pages back before any harm was done. “That would get you nowhere as there are at least five more certified copies.”
“Why am I being held in gaol?” Collins demanded.
“The Archbishop’s office requested that we hold you. After you were notified that you had been defrocked, you kept representing yourself as a clergyman in what was it four, or was it five, parishes?” Phillips explained. “You came very close to excommunication for your actions at Hunsford, but that is what His Grace intends now.”
Not only was he no longer a clergyman, nor would he ever be the master of an estate, but now he was to be expelled from the Church of England. It was too much. Collins felt a burning pain in his chest and left arm at the same time. The pain became all-encompassing. Within moments, Collins’s world went black, and he breathed his last.
Sir William had the constable unlock the door as thecorpulent man had gone very still within. “‘E ain’t livin no more,” the constable confirmed.
Mr Jones came to examine the body and concurred that Mr Collins was beyond any help in the mortal world. He opined that the combination of the man’s girth and the stress had more than likely ended his life.
Given the Archbishop’s decree, William Collins ended up being interred in non-consecrated ground. With his demise, his line came to an end.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Later that day, the Bennets and Taylors met at Longbourn.
“Now that Thomas is no longer an impediment, it is my intention to annex Purvis Lodge to Longbourn. It will enlarge the estate by one third more than it is now,” Henry announced. “We will renovate Longbourn as well and add pipes for hot and cold water, among other things.”
Henry Taylor was about to object to Uncle Henry spending more of his money on them. He saw his mother shake her head, so he receded. He remembered his mother had told him the pleasure her brother derived from assisting family.
“The girls and I can move into one of the dower houses,” Fanny suggested. “Debby and Henry should move in here and take over the running of Longbourn.”
“I agree with the second part, but not the first. You and the girls will live with me at Netherfield Park,” Henry insisted. “We do not need another dower house, so what to do with the house at the former Purvis Lodge?”
“Uncle Henry, can we not turn it into a hospital of sorts for the area?” Elizabeth proposed. “Between Longbourn, Netherfield Park, and the two dower houses, we have more than enough living space for ourselves and many guests. I have heard Mr Jones mention how he would like to be able to havethose that need constant care in one place.”
“Uncle Henry, does not Mr Bingley have a one-year lease on Netherfield Park?” Fanny enquired.
“He does, but there is a clause that states that the landlord may reclaim the estate and either refund all of the lease or provide another house on the estate at a lesser rate,” Henry clarified. “If he wants to remain here, he can reside at the dower house at that estate, but I suspect with his family gone, and two beautiful blonde ladies having spurned him, he may want to leave. I could be wrong about that, though,” Henry predicted.
“Mother, with us moving to Longbourn, there is more than enough room for you, if you choose to live with us,” Debby stated.
“Thank you, Debby dear,” Felicity replied gratefully. “As much as I appreciate that, unless he wants to be rid of me, I would like to continue to reside with my brother. We do not know how much longer He will grant us in the mortal world, which is why I would prefer to remain with Henry.”
“Fee, you must know I would love to have you with me,” Henry responded emphatically. “As to the rest of the Taylors, please remember it is but two miles across the fields, and as it was in the dower house, you are welcome at any time without standing on ceremony.”
“I suppose we could have moved to Sherwood Dale, but the winters in the north are far colder,” Elizabeth jested.
“Sherwood Dale?” Fanny queried.
“Fanny, I own alittlemore than Netherfield Park and what was Purvis Lodge,” Henry shared. “It all started in India…”
For the first time in a long time, Fanny fainted. It was also a revelation for Jane and Mary. They had known Uncle Henry was wealthy, but not to this extent. They had their great-uncle’s permission to tell Kitty when they returned toNetherfield Park’s dower house where she and Anna were. The amount each of them would have was flabbergasting.
Mrs Hill provided salts, this time for genuine need, and Fanny was revived. “Lizzy is the heir to all of that?” Fanny’s mouth fell open. “Wait, Uncle Henry, did you say that you have settled thirty thousand pounds on me?” Seeing the nod, Fanny almost fainted again, but did not.
“What say you all we relax tomorrow and on the Sabbath and speak to Mr Bingley and start moving between houses after that?” Henry suggested.
No one disagreed.
Chapter 30
