Page 73

“First thing, you and I will ride out to each tenant and assure them that things are going to change, and we will proceed to make changes. You will employ a steward; I will assist you to find a good man. When your tenants see that you are taking concrete actions and not just saying what they want to hear, they will become content to remain here. Word will spread, allowing you to fill the other tenant farms.

“You will employ the six men who assisted to keep your youngest daughters safe as footmen-guards. And lastly, you will employ a governess and companion, or both in one person, who will be able to teach your youngest two as well as gently educate your wife in the ways of the gentry.”

“As you pointed out, my income has fallen below three thousand pounds per annum,” Bennet reminded his cousin.

“Initially, it will take both you and Cousin Fanny being far more prudent with money. On your side, book and port purchases will need to be deferred. Your wife will have to learn to live within a budget. The clothing, fripperies, and food budget will be reasonable and not excessive like they are now.”

Even had he wanted to, Bennet could not refute his cousin’s words.

“I suggested this to your wife, but I think that your first act in taking an interest in the lives of your daughters should be to put Kitty and Lydia back in. Although I suggested the lady you employ, if you employ only one, could educate your wife, her primary concern will be Cousins Kitty and Lydia. All I can say is thanks to on High that Cousins Jane and Elizabeth were educated and influenced by Mrs Gardiner and that Mary was willing to have them teach her what they learnt. Before I forget; Mary needs a music master. She has done very well on her own, but she, and for that matter, her two older sisters, need some instruction from an expert.”

“And what of you becoming the master here?” Bennet enquired.

“Let us see how things proceed. We need to look forward and not back.” William paused to cogitate. “Cousin Bennet, I suggest you read the entail document so you will know there was nothing I said which was not based in truth.”

Bennet stood and retrieved the document from his safe.

“We will speak more once you have read it,” William said as he stood. “After you get past the reverberations of today, you will see it will be a very good thing for both you and your family.”

“I pray God hears you and makes it so.” Bennet began to read as his cousin exited the study.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Not long after they returned to Netherfield Park from the distasteful duty of being in Wickham’s company, the three cousins almost felt like they needed to take a bath to wash off the stench of their former friend. It was not just the physical smell emanating from the miscreant but also, how dirty they felt hearing him speak of a planned seduction of a fifteen-year-old girl as if it were nothing.

“Richard, do you believe that it is best to tell Anna that the bastard is in the area, even if only for one more day, and that he will never bedevil her, or any other, again?” Darcy verified.

“I absolutely do,” Fitzwilliam confirmed. “You know my opinion that knowledge is strength. How can we expect her to make good decisions without information?”

“For what it is worth, I agree with my little brother,” Hilldale added.

Based on the sweet music coming from the music room, the cousins deduced that Anna was practising at the pianoforte. She was. Mrs Annesley was sitting and working on some darning as she watched over her charge.

“Anna, sweetling, will you join Andrew, Richard, and me in the library? There is something we need to share with you, and it would not do to speak in a public room,” Darcy requested. He did not miss the trepidation in his sister’s countenance no matter how gently he had spoken. “It is nothing you have done. No one will be censuring you. In fact, Mrs Annesley, will you join us as well?” Darcy was pleased to see his sister relax.

“Of course, Mr Darcy,” Mrs Annesley replied as she stood.

Even though Miss Bingley was locked in her suite, Darcy had Thompson posted in the hallway outside of the library door. He would not take any risks while discussing this subject.

“What we have to tell you relates to the reprobate who attempted to take advantage of your soft heart in the summer,” Darcy began.

Georgiana Darcy gasped and covered her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks. George Wickham was the last person she wanted to hear about. Had he begun to spread her name about to ruin her?

“Remember, Anna, I told you it is nothing bad for you,” Darcy assured her as he pulled her into a hug. “I did not want to repeat an error of the past and leave you uninformed. To that end, I must tell you the truth of what has been going on since I arrived in Hertfordshire. Anna, I know you think me without faults, but I am as frail a human as any of God’s children. On my first night here…” Darcy revealed all from the assembly until the Bennet sisters left Netherfield Park. He did not miss how Anna’s eyes grew larger the more he spoke. Then, he spoke of seeing the miscreant and how, rather than expose him, he rode away. When he related what Mr Collins did to hobble Wickham, his sister looked pleased. Darcy next explained that he, at Richard’s urging, had taken steps to permanently remove the seducer from society. At this Anna smiled widely.

Then he told her what occurred during the meeting at Longbourn and that he and Richard had told the three eldest Bennet sisters about Ramsgate. Anna lost all her colour.

“Sprite, you remember meeting the Bennet sisters before the ball, do you not?” Fitzwilliam asked. He saw Anna give a nod. “At the ball, before and during supper, were not those same sisters very welcoming of you?” Another nod. “They already knew what that bas…blackhearted libertine had attempted with you. Did they treat you with scorn or disdain for even the smallest measure of time?”

She shook her head. “They must think me very silly,” Georgiana said softly.

“Did I not tell you that Miss Elizabeth, who is anything but silly, was taken in by the wastrel’s tale of woe?” Darcy queried.

After thinking for some moments, Anna dried her eyes and sat up straight. “They treated me like someone they wanted to know,” she said. “Had you not told me they knew I would not have known they did. William, thank you for telling me that Miss Elizabeth also was taken in by him. She is such a strong and intelligent lady. I was hoping I would meet her when I came to Hertfordshire.”

Georgiana felt far more relaxed now that her brother and Richard had spoken to her. Now she hoped to further her friendship with the Bennet sisters. She wondered if she would spend time with the youngest two sisters, who, other than a greeting when she met them, Georgiana had not conversed with.

“You must know that had that man been free in the area, Andy would have never brought you here,” Darcy told his sister. “As we speak, our late father’s former godson is on his way to Marshalsea. If he ever leaves that place alive, he will be an old man.”