“William Collins, rector to the Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” Collins sniffed.
“If you take a seat, Mr Collins, Mr Phillips will see you as soon as he is free.”
Collins sat as close to the only other door he could see, he was in luck, it was cracked open.
The more he heard, the more horrified he became. His cousin was ignoring the order Collins had issued and was marrying again, and in ten days at the Longbourn church! He stood and ran out of the office—as speedily as a man of his size could—and headed back to the inn.
This was a disaster. If there was a son from the union, he would be robbed of his birthright like generations of Collinses before him. Huffing and puffing because of the exertion, he returned to the inn.
In his worry over what to do about his cousin’s impending marriage, Collins forgot all about going to see the solicitor to obtain proof to show the Bennets’ perfidy.
He would be on the post coach in the morning and make for Rosings Park with all speed. He would confer with Lady Catherine because she would know how to act to stop this travesty.
Elizabeth, who had been in the residence above the offices visiting Charlotte and Lawrence, noticed her father’scousin trundling out of the office with as much speed as he could manage and heading back to the Red Lion Inn. She did not care about him enough to wonder what he had been doing at her uncle’s office.
She had far more pleasant thoughts about a tall, dark, sometimes brooding man from Derbyshire, and at this moment, she was enjoying playing with Lawrence while Charlotte lay on a chaise trying to keep comfortable.
She would miss seeing Charlotte at the soirée to be held at Lucas Lodge that evening. Lady Lucas was already seeing to the arrangements for the night.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Other than bedding a few serving wenches—for coin—the militia had not been as entertaining as the new Lieutenant Wickham had hoped it would be. With Reading in Berkshire being far larger than just a market town, the shop owners were far more wary of unknown people. Neither his charm nor the fact he was wearing a scarlet coat helped him gain any credit. If Wickham wanted anything, it was for coin.
Thanks to joining in the middle of a month, he had received two pounds in wages, so at least he was able to buy some grog.
The residents of the town did not look upon the militia with a friendly eye, and unfortunately for him, they kept their daughters close to a male in the family. He was never alone with any of them, so he had not been able to work his ‘if you marry me…’ line.
Denny had been a good friend to him, even lending him a few pounds to ‘tide him over’, but he was gone to the town where they would be moving in early November.
It was described as a small market town, so Wickham hoped it would be a better place for him to ply his trade,and if it were similar to Lambton, he should have no trouble obtaining credit and girls.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Longbourn and Netherfield Park residents did not part for too long as they were both invited to Lucas Lodge that evening.
As it was, the carriages from the two estates arrived at almost the same time. Kate, Anna, and Lydia were allowed to attend because it was at Lucas Lodge with friends their family was familiar with, except for the four officers Sir William had told Bennet would attend. The companions were with the younger ladies, and they had been told that they were not allowed to interact with the officers, something none of the three thought was a hardship.
The good friends all entered together, greeting their host and hostess.
“Bennet,” Sir William delayed his friend. “Do you remember I spoke of four officers?”
“I do,” Bennet responded patiently. His friend was rather garrulous.
“One of them ate something which did not agree with him and is resting at the inn, so there are only three officers here this evening,” Sir William related. “The Colonel, a captain, and a lieutenant. I do believe they found a location for their encampment, just south of the old stables.”
Knowing his friend would not stop for a while, Bennet knew he needed to distract him. “Congratulations are in order, old friend,” he interjected.
“I did not know one of your daughters was engaged or even courting.”
“It is not them; it is me. This wonderful lady,” Bennetpicked up Lulu’s hand and bussed it with a kiss, “Miss Bingley has made me the happiest of men and agreed to marry me. We will marry a sennight from Friday.”
“Bennet, you are a sly one. What congratulations must now flow in! I wish you and Miss Bingley happy in your marriage,” Sir William enthused.
Lady Lucas’s eyebrows shot up at hearing the news. She added her good wishes.
Bennet pulled Lulu into a hallway and gave her a quick kiss. “Now that I told Sir William and Lady Lucas also heard, we have told everyone in the area, so we will not have to repeat our news wherever we go,” he said next to her ear insotto voce.
Louisa gave a little giggle. How she loved this man! She also realised that she had not worn a veil, so she hoped that it would not prove a distraction.
