“Even before she escaped, Lizzy had not been out of doors on her own, correct?” Gardiner nodded again. “In that case, I have a suggestion. We will have Lizzy walk to the stables on her own. In the mean while the shortest guard we have will be dressed identically to Lizzy. He will ride out on her horse, seated side-saddle, but be followed closely. I am sure the chance of getting Lizzy on her own will draw the woman out.” Richard laid out a plan he believed would bring the madwoman out of hiding.
“It is a plan in which I am in agreement with as there is minimal exposure for my daughter, and Lizzy will agree to do her part without hesitation,” Gardiner mused. “She has never lacked bravery.”
“You understand she will not be in danger at any point, do you not?” Richard assured him.
“If I felt there were any possibility of harm coming to my daughter, then you can be assured I would never have agreed to your plan,” Gardiner confirmed. “Before we set this plan in motion, however, I must talk to Maddie and Lizzy.”
“I would expect no less,” Richard articulated. “In the time I have come to know your wife and eldest daughter, it is plain to me neither are wilting flowers who enjoy decisions being made for them without consultation. My Charlotte is just such a woman and it is one of the things that attracted me to her.”
Gardiner tugged the bell pull, and when Mr. Nichols appeared he directed the butler to ask his wife and eldest daughter to join them in the study. The two ladies arrived less than ten minutes later.
With a nod from Gardiner, Richard laid out his plan for Mrs. Gardiner and Lizzy. As expected, Madeline had many questions about her daughter’s safety. Once she was assured Elizabeth would be safe, she agreed to the plan.
Elizabeth sat listening quietly without asking questions. “For my part, I will do what is needed. The sooner the unstable woman is back in custody, the better,” Elizabeth said firmly.
“Do you have any questions, Lizzy?” Gardiner asked.
“No, Father,” Elizabeth responded, “it is a well-thought-out plan by a man who understands strategy,” Richard inclined his head at the compliment. “All will be well.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“You called for me to attend you, my beneficent patroness,” Collins bowed low his nose almost touching the floor.
“I have decided to punish my tenants for not sharing anything with you any longer. Iwillhave my share of their information and if they are not willing to talk to you then they will pay,” Lady Catherine spat out.
“What I can do to assist you will be done, my exalted Lady,” the profusely sweating Collins replied, punctuated with another of his low bows.
“You will inform them that unless they begin to tell you all as they used to do, I will raise their quarterly rents by twenty percent!” Lady Catherine pronounced nastily. “Remind them the rent for the quarter ending in March will be due before the end of April and I will evict anyone who does not pay the amount I demand.”
Anne de Bourgh felt a deep sense of shame and disgust at her mother’s pronouncement as she stood outside the drawing room with Mrs. Jenkinson. Hearing her mother dismiss the hapless parson, Anne and her companion withdrew.
In the small parlour which had anescritoire, she wrote two notes: a short one to Mrs. Collins and a longer one to her Uncle Reggie. The note for Mrs. Collins was given to the footman, Jennings, who often found himself granted the mistress’s permission for further ‘spying’while helping the parson’s wife by carrying the baskets of needed goods to the parishioners.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Jane Collins was about to start her visits when Jennings arrived. He was most welcome as her load was heavy that day. He handed her a note.
Jane,
My mother is trying to institute draconian measures to force the tenants to speak to your husband. Tell them to stand firm. I guarantee not only will theyneverpay more rent, but they will find this quarter’s rent will be reduced to reasonable levels once again.
Enjoy your visits my friend,
Anne
With her helper taking charge of all but the lightest basket, Jane began her planned visits for the day. When she arrived at the first tenant’s house, she found them in an uproar over the ultimatum her husband had just delivered on behalf of his patroness.
It took a matter of moments for Jane to calm the Warners and convince them of the truth of the matter. Knowing her husband walked slowly, Jane gave the four Warner boys a penny each to go to each tenant and make sure they were forewarned.
After he visited the first tenant, Collins could not fathom why the threat from his patroness made no impression whatsoever. How could these lowly peasants ignore the word of the wise Lady Catherine?
By the time he completed the task his patroness gave him, he was so short of breath he needed to sit in the shade under a tree before he was able to return to his patroness and give her the report he would much rather not give. She had instructed him to return so, as much as he would have preferred not to, return he would.
“What do you mean none of the tenants other than the Warners seemed cowed by your message?” Lady Catherine thundered after Collins, most hesitantly, made his report.
Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson, from their position outside the drawing room, had to place their hands over their mouths to stop the laughter bubbling just below the surface from becoming audible.
“The message was deliveredverbatim,your magnificence,” Collins bowed for the tenth time since entering the drawing room to articulate the bad news.
