Collins, ever the coward, cringed at the anger he saw radiating towards him.
“As for you, Wicky, we knew the governors at some of the prisons were selling information to men who would purchase debts and use the men theyrescuedas agents. Yes, as you know, you have committed treason,” Fitzwilliam drawled. “As I was saying, thanks to Hurst having you closely watched, we identified the man, St Claire, who was sending former debtors out to do his bidding.
“After those menspoketo you, you believed that St Claire was the ringleader. He was not. His butler was the master spy who pulled all of the strings from behind St Claire. His name is Jacques Clouseau, and he had about ten rings of spies in England. St Claire, Clouseau, and all their men, both French and English, are being arrested as we speak. It is all thanks to Hurst never dropping his vigilance.
“You should be happy to know that everything you sent to this St Claire was false. Colonel Forster, Captain Carter, and Lieutenant Denny all assisted us in funnelling useless information to the French. You must have thought it was your charm which allowed you to gain the colonel’s confidence so quickly. No, Wicky, it was all planned. Even after those men, who we caught and interrogated, told you that you were committing treason, you kept sending reports to St Claire. Yes, we have them all. He kept them for his records. Hence, when his house was searched after his and his master’s arrest, we discovered everything.”
“Before you say that as it was all false information, you did nothing so very wrong, you willingly committed treason,because you did not know you were being fed fake information,” Colonel Forster barked. “If you were not on your way to the Tower for a date with the executioner, I would have you flogged first.”
Had one of the mountainous men not been holding onto him, Wickham would have collapsed into a heap on the floor.
“As for you, Collins, after that drivel in the epistle you posted to me, Hurst decided to have you watched,” Bennet began. “His men heard your mutterings about revenge and your plan to come to my estate even though I had denied you permission. The driver of the gig is one of Hurst’s men. I, we, hoped that as soon as you were refused entry, you would go back from whence you came. However, instead you tried to pay this miscreant,” Bennet cocked his head towards the shuddering Wickham, “to murder all of us, our staff, and servants as well, by burning down this house. Even had you managed to light your fires, not one living soul was within. I was the only one here, waiting in the park with these men to capture you; everyone else is at Netherfield Park.” Bennet paused to calm himself. “You two remember the two sleeping men near you while you discussed your dastardly plan, do you not?”
Both Wickham’s and Collins’s eyes showed that they did.
“You should know, Mr Collins, that within a few days the Archbishop of Canterbury will defrock and excommunicate you. His Grace does not look kindly on criminals who cloak themselves in the skin of a clergyman. Also, he takes a dim view of one who claims to be doing God’s work while perpetrating pure evil,” Hurst revealed.
Bennet began to speak again before Collins could react, “Once you were out of the room, the twosleepingmenwoke. They were soon galloping the two miles to Netherfield Park,where they reported all they had heard to Hurst and Darcy. You were followed while you collected all the accoutrements you needed to execute your despicable plan for murderén masse. The same was true as you both made your way here, and yes, Wickham, you were permitted to steal the horses by the men watching you. They have been returned to the stables already.”
Right after the two men reported to Hurst, he, Darcy, and Fitzwilliam rode to Longbourn. Using backroads so they would not go through Meryton, after a few trips by the various equipages, everyone at Longbourn, save some footmen who would keep watch from outside, had been ferried to Netherfield Park.
“We allowed you to build one pyre at the front door so that you would not be able to say it was not what you two bastards planned.” Bennet looked at Wickham with extreme disdain. “Wickham, while you are on your way to the Tower to lose your head, Collins here,” he speared the man who was unfortunately family, no matter how distant, with a look which could possibly kill, “will be taken to the Old Bailey where, after he has been pronounced guilty of attempting to murder four and twenty souls, will be taken to Newgate Prison, where he will hang.”
“The reason you remained gagged is that we did not want to hear your lies while you begged for leniency,” Hurst told the two blubbering men. The gags saved them the need to listen to their cries.
Without another look back at the two, the men all filed out of the windowless room. Biggs and Johns released the two, removed the gags and exited, ignoring the wailing behind them. They locked the door securely and assigned a man to stand guard outside.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Before the three officers left the house, they swore that other than if needed to testify, they would not speak of anything from this night. Once they were gone, Bennet, Darcy, and Bingley looked at Hurst and Fitzwilliam.
“You must tell us all now,” Bennet suggested. “You, Fitzwilliam, are not some benign civil servant, and you, Hurst, are nothing like you want people to believe.”
Hurst looked at Fitzwilliam, who nodded. “What we are about to tell you cannot ever be repeated, except to your wife, or wives-to-be,” Hurst began.
All three men made their vows.
“Much of this story begins when my late father saved…” Between Hurst and Fitzwilliam they told the story, up to when Hurst saw the Prince Regent.
The three men had suspected a small portion of what they were told, but it was not close to the reality. They sat there with their mouths open for some minutes before any of them regained the power of speech.
Darcy looked at Hurst with a new level of respect. The change in his Aunt Catherine was due to him. It had always been a mystery since his aunt had decamped his estate after his father was called home and changed completely. He agreed that there was no reason for Anne to ever know the truth of how her father died.
“The only part I did not know was that it was you who pointed your late father in my direction,” Fitzwilliam said gratefully. His life would have been so very different had Hurst not interceded. He might not be alive now, not married toCharlotte, and would not have his daughter, Sarah. The position he held was an added bonus.
“Wait, you are an earl, Lord Winsbury, and Louisa is a countess!” Bingley exclaimed and began to laugh. “When Caroline called you nothings, you were already Sir Harold and Lady Hurst. She would have fawned all over you.”
“It will not be made public for about another ten months, so we only can allow Caroline to find out along with most others,” Hurst responded.
“Yes, your Lordship.” Bingley grinned widely.
“Bingley! None of that. I still have a boon waiting from the Regent. I can have you join Wickham, St Claire, Clouseau, and their agents at the Tower. I am sure the executioner will like boots as costly as yours,” Hurst ribbed.
“I yield.” Bingley raised his hands in surrender.
“Let us away to Netherfield Park,” Bennet proposed. “Our families are waiting to make sure we are all well.”
There was no word of dissent.
