There was much applause from the congregation, none more so than the Archbishop.
The newlywed Bennets made their way to the registry with their witnesses to sign the register. Bennet signed, and Louisa used the name Bingley for the final time.
“Even I did not think that man so witless as to attempt to object to your marriage,” Gardiner remarked after he signed the register.
“His stupidity knows no bounds,” Bennet commented. No one disagreed.
Hildebrand signed the register and hugged her niece, now Mrs Thomas Bennet. The older lady’s eyes were suspiciously moist.
Gardiner followed Miss Bingley out of the room and pulled the door closed. As soon as they were alone, Bennet pulled Lulu to him and kissed her deeply. His kisses were returned just as ardently.
“Come, Mrs Bennet, our family awaits us. Mrs Bennet, how well that sounds.”
“I could not agree with you more, Thomas. I love our family and friends, but I hope they do not tarry at the wedding breakfast for too long,” Louisa said as she looked at herhusband through her lashes.
“You will not hear any argument from me, my love.”
Mr and Mrs Bennet exited the registry and were swarmed by their ecstatic family and close friends. Soon enough, everyone who was invited to the wedding breakfast began the walk back to Longbourn.
Before they left the church, Phillips wished the newly married couple every happiness and headed back home to his veryenceintewife.
Hill took much pleasure in announcing Mr and Mrs Thomas Bennet after he had wished the master and mistress happy on his behalf and that of all staff and servants at Longbourn and Netherfield Park.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
A little less than two hours later, those travelling to Netherfield Park were the last to depart.
A cart had conveyed the Bennet sisters’ and the companions’ trunks to Netherfield Park as soon as the family left the house for the church, which meant there was nothing to delay the departure.
Bennet and Lulu soon discovered they were very compatible in the marriage bed as well.
Chapter 29
Moving out of the parsonage was humiliating for Collins. Rather than his servants being sympathetic, they all seemed pleased that he was no longer a clergyman. He could not understand why they would feel that way. After all, he had treated them exactly the way Lady Catherine had told him to treat them. He had arrived on Monday morning after staying at an inn Saturday evening and all day on Sunday. Just because he was no longer a clergyman, he would still not travel on the Sabbath.
Once he had vacated the parsonage, Collins made his way to the mansion to take his leave of Miss de Bourgh and commiserate with her as she was losing him as her parson.
The butler admitted Collins and led him to the drawing room where he used to meet Lady Catherine. As he walked, he saw even more changes than the previous time he had been at Rosings Park. Nothing remained of the items Lady Catherine had told him marked her wealth, status, and rank. To Collins, the house looked more like his future home at Longbourn than the magnificence that used to be on display.
When he was shown into the drawing room, Collins remembered to give a regular bow and not the low one Lady Catherine had expected of him. He noted that in addition to Miss de Bourgh and her companion, the Earl and Countess were present along with another couple he had not met.
“Anne, will you introduce this man to us?” Hilldale requested.
“Andrew and Marie, this is Mr William Collins, a former clergyman, who held the living at Hunsford. Mr Collins, Lord Andrew and Lady Marie Fitzwilliam, the Viscount and Viscountess of Hilldale,” Anne introduced as requested.
Collins was awed to meet more of the noble Fitzwilliams. He bowed to them and almost forgot not to bow as he formerly had done in this room. Suddenly, what Miss de Bourgh said struck him. She had called him a ‘former clergyman.’ How could she know that already? It was only two days past that he had been stripped of his chosen profession.
“You look confused, Mr Collins, regarding how we are already aware of your ill-advised attempt to object to your cousin’s wedding,” Matlock drawled. “A notice from Bishop Lankershim arrived this morning after he received word from the Archbishop’s office. You evidently ignored my words and made that avaricious attempt to stop your cousin from marrying. I hope it is worth having the ignominy of being defrocked. At least, His Grace did not order you to suffer the physical parts[3]of defrocking. Personally, based on the disgusting way it was reported you behaved, in my opinion you deserved the added humiliation.”
“That being said by my uncle, some of the horrendous pieces Lady Catherine had all over my house have been sold. When you leave, which will be soon, the butler will hand you a draft for the money which was stolen from you,” Anne said in dismissal.
Even Collins did not miss the fact that he was being told to leave. He bowed once more and exited the drawing room. When he reached the double front doors, the butler had a document ready for him to sign which stated he had no more claim against the estate of Rosings Park or anyone associated with it. He signed both copies and was handed a bank draft and one copy of the document.
As he had paid to have the rented carriage convey him to Faversham, it was waiting for him in the drive. Collins entered and took a seat. He hit the ceiling with his hand, and it was off.
It was three hours in the carriage to the destination Collins had given the driver. The coachman drew the conveyance to a halt at St Peter’s Church in Faversham, where Mr Davidson was the rector. Collins was certain that his old mentor would be willing and able to assist him.
First, Collins lumbered to the church to see if Mr Davidson was there; he was not. As much as he did not like extra walking, Collins walked the distance to the parsonage and knocked on the door. “Mr William Collins to see Mr Davidson,” he intoned when a lady, possibly the housekeeper, answered the door. He was asked to wait while she went to see if her master was at home to him.
