“Meryton, Longbourn, we must leave at once. I did not mean to startle you. Read this while I go give instructions for a change of horses, and then we will depart.”
As Maddie read, like her husband had before her, she felt like she wanted to be sick. Edward had told her they would gain three wards if, as his brother-in-law suspected, he went to his final reward. He had told her the last time he had seen Thomas Bennet; he had seemed better than he had been for a long time: it was why Edward had felt free to come to Lambton. Not only was Mr Bennet gone, but the three girls had disappeared, and the mother was suspected of being involved in whatever had occurred.
Without seeing very much of her new house, Maddie joined Edward in the carriage, and they were off to Longbourn.
Chapter 9
Gardiner was out of his carriage as soon as it halted in the drive before Longbourn. As much fury as he felt towards his sister, he did not forget to hand his wife out first. His anger subsided somewhat when he saw the Hills, who he knew loved his nieces, waiting for them outside. The anguish on their faces was easy to see.
“Has any trace of my wards been found?” Gardiner demanded. Then, he remembered the butler and housekeeper had never met his wife. Before either Hill could reply, he introduced them to his wife.
“As much as it pains me to tell you, no trace of the sweet dears has been found,” Hill reported.
Gardiner could see that both Hills looked very uneasy. “You will not offend me by telling me what outrage my sister has perpetrated. What did she say happened to the girls, and why did she take them?”
“Mrs Bennet is now Mrs Collins,” Mrs Hill stated. “They married the Monday after Easter.”
“WHAT!” Gardiner retorted loudly. He saw the Hills were taken aback. “I am not angry at you. Has my sister lost every little part of common decency and sense she had? She did not have much of either to begin with? What about my other question regarding the girls?”
“MrsCollinskeeps to her claims that…” The Hills told Mr Gardiner what tale Mrs Collins had spun. “Mr Long says that in the absence of evidence there is nothing more he can do. Men were sent to coaching inns outside of London, and no one reported having seen the carriage described, and certainly not one with three unescorted little girls in it. They did make one stop on the way to London, and your sister was with the conveyance when it departed.” Hill paused. “Mr Gardiner, as soon as the will is read, all of us who are employed here will leave. Every tenant is seeking other farms to lease. None of us want to work for such a man and woman.”
“My wife and I, and I am sure Mr and Mrs Phillips when they arrive, will do what we are able to assist any of you who want employment to find good positions,” Gardiner promised. “Where are Mr and MrsCollins?” He spat the last word out.
“In the parlour Mr Bennet allowed his wife to use,” Mrs Hill revealed.
“They are most put out they have to wait for the reading of the will, but I believe that Mr Collins is too scared to do anything which will disqualify him from becoming the master of Longbourn,” Hill opined.
“Maddie, dear, do you want to accompany me to see them, or would you prefer not to be present for any unpleasantness?” Gardiner enquired.
“Edward, we are partners in all things; I will come with you,” Maddie decided.
“Before you go inside, Mr and Mrs Gardiner. I am not sure you remember that the late master made me the acting mistress of the estate. Much to Mrs Collins’s chagrin, that does not change until Mr Phillips arrives and reads the will. Do you require that I prepare chambers for you?” Mrs Hill questioned.
“Yes, thank you, Mrs Hill. Being in this house will allow us to make sure the Collinses do not get up to any more mischief before Phillips arrives.” Gardiner had a knowing smile. “My solicitor, Mr Crawley, has a copy of the will and may read it, but I think we will make these selfish, avaricious people wait for Phillips to arrive back in Meryton.” He turned to the butler. “Hill, send a groom to Phillips’s law office. Have him tell Jamison that I am to be notified when Phillips arrives,beforehe comes to Longbourn.”
“Aye, Sir, it will be so,” Hill agreed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Carrington parents had sent word ahead that they did not want the servants turned out when they arrived at Holder Heights. The last thing they wanted was for Jane and Lizzy to be intimidated as soon as they reached what both Carringtons were hoping would be the sisters’ new home.
Thanks to the same nursemaids travelling with them, Jane and Lizzy had not shown any trepidation at the change when they had been shown to the much larger nursery.
The only new people the girls had met were the butler and housekeeper at Holder Heights, Mr Hector Belle and Mrs Ethel Steveton. Also present was Jim Kinford, the steward. Once the new residents of Holder Heights had been whisked up to the nursery, Lord and Lady Holder had the three senior staff members join them in the study where they shared the truth of how the darling girls had come to be with the family.
Once the three had expressed their outrage that anyone could be so heartless, they were told to tell the servants the girls were temporary wards of the Carringtons and may become permanent members of the household at some point.
That had been the previous day when they had arrived. One day later, it seemed like the girls had always been at Holder Heights.
It was not only Jamey who felt very protective of the sisters. The same was true for the Fitzwilliam brothers and the Darcy heir. They had met on the journey from London to Holder Heights, and the two older girls had captivated the three boys’ hearts in short order. Like their friend Jamey, the cousins felt very angry with whoever had discarded them like they were nothing. The boys did not quite know what to make of Mary because of the fact she was a babe who did not do more than eat, sleep, and some other things about which none of them wanted to know. Jane and Lizzy were a different story.
The three cousins liked them both very well, except for some reason Lizzy wormed her way deep into both Richard’s and William’s hearts before the first day of travel had been complete. Jane, however, was in no way neglected. Whichever of the three cousins or Jamey was not giving Lizzy attention, one of them was with Jane, walking around with her holding onto her hand at rest stops. The boys loved to make the imp who was Lizzy giggle, and they found the easiest way was for two of them to each take a hand and swing her high between them.
From what the adults could see, the more comfortable little Lizzy became, the more fearless she seemed to be.
Whenever they stopped along the way, Mary was in the arms of one of the three ladies in the convoy travelling to Holder Heights. When they departed, if Mrs Indigo had fed Mary recently, Ladies Elaine and Anne would have her and one of the nursemaids in whichever coach they were travelling.
Jane was far calmer, and although she enjoyed the interaction with the boys, she preferred less physical games than did her younger sister.
