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“Yes, she is,” Fitzwilliam assured his parents. “We shared what was being done so she is aware that he would never bother her or any other again. Knowing that he could never harm anyone again helped with Anna’s recovery.”

“How long will you be home, Richard?” Matlock enquired.

“To that. I have initiated the process of resigning from…” Fitzwilliam got no further before his father pulled him into a bear hug. His mother joined in, tears of joy flowing freely down her cheeks.

“Why now?” Lady Elaine enquired after she dried her eyes. “Not that I am complaining, mind you.”

“I am about to propose to a lady who insisted she would not marry a man who was still in the army,” Fitzwilliam jested. He took Anne’s hand. “There is a reason that I am residing at William’s house and not here.”

“You and Anne are to be married!” Lady Elaine exclaimed.

“I need to propose first, but it is my fervent hope that Anne will want to join her life with mine. I love her, and not as a cousin,” Fitzwilliam stated emphatically.

“Yes, Richard, I will marry you,” Anne stated.

“But, I have yet to propose,” Fitzwilliam said confusedly.

“I do not need more flowery words than the ones you just shared about me with your parents. Hence, I accept. Unless, of course, you want to recant?” Anne looked at her betrothed challengingly.

“Anne, you have made me the happiest of men.” Fitzwilliam kissed his affianced, and he would have repeated the action many times had his father not cleared his throat. In his euphoric joy, Fitzwilliam had quickly and completely forgotten his parents were in the parlour with him and Anne. The tips of his ears burnt dark red.

“I need to speak to Cook; there will be a celebratory meal for dinner.” Before Lady Elaine left the room, she pulled her niece, now daughter-in-law-to-be, into a tight, but warm, hug. “I am forever in your debt, Annie. Now I can leave the nightmares that my son would die in battle behind me,” she continued in sotto voce right next to Anne’s ear. “Aside from gaining you as a daughter, my boy is leaving the army.” She turned to her beaming son. “Go to Darcy house, wash off the road dust, and change clothes. As soon as you are presentable, return.” With that, Lady Elaine bustled off to see about dinner.

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

The next morning Bingley arrived at the London offices of the asylum at the time he had been instructed to do the previous day. He was shown into the senior physician’s office. The Good Place itself was located on the Isle of Wight.

Mr Halverson asked Mr Bingley to take a seat. “Your sister is on her way to her new home,” Halverson revealed. “When she woke and was no longer under the influence of the laudanum, she insisted she was Mrs Darcy and her husband would be very angry if she was not allowed to leave. Then, she began to rant about an Eliza and her fine eyes. Finally, she became violent, and some of the men we employ had to subdue her. She has no grip on reality and is a danger to herself and others. That is why we acted with speed. One of the documents you signed when you delivered her here allowed us to act and not wait to see you.”

“I did authorise you to do this if you felt it was needed, and obviously it is.” Bingley sighed. “Before she became obsessed with rising in society, she was a good and pleasant girl. I wonder if my late mother’s pressuring her contributed to her ultimate slide into insanity.”

“As things are today, we do not know enough about the kind of illness of the mind your sister has. Perhaps in the future doctors will know much more about the mind and its workings. Hence, it is only speculation, and as you surmised, the items you mentioned may have contributed to your sister’s state,” Halverson opined. “In rare cases, a patient has recuperated to the extent they were able to return to the life they had before coming to The Quiet Place. However, I do not want to raise your expectations. Remember that most will not make such an improvement. You will be sent monthly reports about your sister and her care. If there is a reason for something to be sent to you outside of the monthly communications, we will do so.” Halverson paused. “Do you have any questions, Mr Bingley?”

“Only one; is there any reason you require me to remain in London any longer?” Bingley queried.

“There is not. Do you have the draft for the first year’s payment?” Halverson enquired.

“I do,” Bingley replied as he reached his hand into his inside jacket pocket, extracted the draft, and handed it to the doctor. “That is the amount I was told would pay for a year; is that correct?”

“Yes, this is perfect.” Halverson stood and extended his hand. The two men shook hands.

With that, Bingley left the offices and told his coachman to make for Hurst House. There he informed the senior staff he was departing for Netherfield Park. There was more than enough time to reach his estate, and he had nothing else he needed to do in London.

As he had not slept well the previous night, Bingley slept most of the way back to his leased estate.

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

Bennet felt not a little shame at the surprise he saw on the faces of his ten remaining tenant farmers when they saw him at their farms. There was ill disguised scepticism when he apologised and promised he would do better.

With his cousin’s help, Bennet noted anything that required attention at each farm.

When Mr Collins confirmed that Mr Bennet was to employ a steward, some of the tenants began to be a little hopeful that things were changing at Longbourn. After so many years of the master doing as little as he was able, they would judge by actions and not pretty words.

By the time the two men returned to Longbourn’s stables—many hours later—Bennet, who had not spent so much time in the saddle for many years, felt the pain in his posterior.

That notwithstanding, he was determined to become a good master.

Chapter 29