Page 15 of Aunt Felicity

“F elicity, are you well, dearest?” Reggie enquired as soon as they reached their private sitting room. “I did not miss the pain on your face when you heard Netherfield Park. As brave as you are about it, I know that it still hurts you that your brother has continued your father’s madness.”

“You know me so well, my darling husband. Yes, it hurts. I know I have always said I do not want to know about Thomas and his family, but I do. I would like to find out about them. Do I have more nieces and nephews? I know by the time Mama was taken from us; Fanny had delivered two girls. I remember what she wrote in one letter. In fact, it was the one before her last. She told me that Lizzy, as she is called, had my colouring. She said that her eyes had begun to darken like mine did, but Mama did not live long enough to tell if my niece ended up with my coloured eyes.”

“It will be done, my love; you know there is nothing I would not do for you. I will contact Mr Strike directly. He is very discreet, and the Bennets will never know they are the subject of an investigation. I must admit something to you, my Felicity.”

“What is that, Reggie?”

“A few times when I have seen a sad look in your eyes, I have been sure you were ruminating on your family. When I have seen your pain, I was sorely tempted to launch an investigation. I did not because they are your family, and I would not do so without your knowledge and agreement.”

“You are the best of men, Reginald Fitzwilliam, and a far better steward of the Matlock Earldom than your late father or late brother ever were.” Felicity paused. “Reggie, something about this attempt on Anna troubles me. I suspect someone else was pulling the strings, and unless and until we know who that someone was, I will not rest easy. Will you have Mr Strike investigate that as well?”

“I admit I too have felt there was more at play here, but what made you suspect it?” Reggie asked.

“George Wickham was always devious, yes, but I do not believe he would have the wherewithal to plan and execute what he and Mrs Younge attempted without a puppet master who had something greater to gain. I have thoughts on who that would be, but I do not want to cast aspersions without knowing the facts.”

“Let me guess…you suspect Catherine.”

Felicity nodded.

“You are correct. She is the only one I know who would attempt something like this in service of stealing Anne’s inheritance from her. In her mind, if William marries Anne, he will take her to Pemberley, and she will continue running Rosings Park. She makes a fortune hunter like Miss Bingley look like an amateur. She obviously has never seen her late husband’s will,” Reggie agreed.

“What is in the will that she would not like? I mean, besides the fact that when our niece turns five and twenty at the end of August of this year, the estate is hers.”

“To his credit, once he received Catherine’s dowry and paid off his debts of honour, de Bourgh worked hard to restore his estate to what it once was. He was not the strongest man, but he was an intelligent one. No matter how many times Catherine browbeat him, he would not make her his heir. Because he understood she would do anything to get her hands on the estate, and more importantly, the restored de Bourgh fortune, he put a clause in his will. It states that upon Anne’s marriage, or when she turns five and twenty, whichever occurs first, her mother is no longer the mistress. She is to be moved to the dower house, and her allowance is forty pounds per month. This provision goes into effect whether Anne lives at the estate or elsewhere. It is why Darcy and I must approve any expenditure above fifty pounds, and the same reason such meticulous records of income and expenditure are kept.

“When Darcy was there this Easter past, he discovered she had attempted to divert part of the quarterly rents for herself. He told her if she tried that or anything else similar, she would be hanged for theft.”

“She must be delusional if she believes that regardless of who Anne marries, she will gain all she wants.” Felicity shook her head. “At least you and Robert employed Mrs Jenkinson to keep an eye on Anne and to report to you if Catherine tries to harm Anne in any way. I cannot fathom a mother who only sees her daughter as a path to gain that which she desires.” Felicity paused again. “You know, Reggie, I believe your older sister is insane.”

“You may be correct, and if Strike reports that she was behind this attempt to compromise Anna, then to Bedlam she will go,” Reggie vowed. “I will write an express to Strike and have him begin both investigations. As far as Anna goes, I will not tell him what we suspect. If he does find evidence pointing to Catherine, it will not be because he thinks that is what we want him to find.”

“Can he manage both investigations simultaneously?”

“Yes, he has a large group of men as well as one woman who works for him.”

“It is quite revolutionary, employing a woman to assist with investigations. Mayhap he has read Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman . I quite enjoyed that one myself, and you know I am a great believer in education for my sex.”

“I am not sure if his employing a woman has anything to do with Mrs Wollstonecraft’s book. However, when I asked him about that, he asked me a simple question: Who would ever suspect a woman of investigating anything? He made a good point, and she has been so successful, he may employ one or two more ladies as investigators. He cares not for the sex so long as the person gets him results.”

“When we are in London next, I would like to meet this man with such liberal employment practices. Go write your express; I will be sitting with Richard.”

Reggie gave his wife a lingering kiss on the lips before making his way to his study.

Felicity took the stairs up to her younger son’s suite. “How are you feeling, Rich?” she enquired on seeing her son sitting in a wingback chair in his private sitting room; his left leg was stretched out straight with his heel resting on a footstool. Williams, his former batman now valet in training, was close by, acting like the mother hen he was.

“I cannot wait to be allowed to begin walking again. I am tired of being carried up and down the stairs in a bath chair.” The frustration showed in Richard’s emerald-green eyes. Like his mother’s, his eyes were a window into his moods and feelings.

“Richard, may we have some privacy? Your father and I were discussing what recently occurred, and we think there is more to it.” Felicity wanted to have the discussion with her second son, who even before he enlisted in the army had a good analytical mind and strategic way of thinking.

“Mother, when he was Corporal Williams, my batman was privy to all of the secrets with which I was familiar. For that reason, I trusted him with my life; nothing has changed since we both resigned from the army,” Richard insisted.

“In that case…” Felicity related the conversation about Anna she and his father had had. She mentioned nothing of her family in Hertfordshire.

After his mother concluded the retelling of her and his father’s opinions regarding the events in Ramsgate, Richard was quiet for some time as he went over in his thoughts from many different angles, everything he had been told. “As much as I would hate to say this of someone of our blood, I think you may be onto something with this theory. I suggest we say not a word to Uncle Robert or William until we have some facts to report. At this point it is purely conjecture.”

“That is a good suggestion. I will pass it on to your father. As far as walking on your own, I believe that the physician said you may try with the aid of crutches next week.”

“I am looking forward to that. Also, I will be pleased when William arrives. Based on what Father told me of the conversation with Uncle Robert, I expect him in the next day or so. I do not envy him being in the same house with that Bingley woman when he goes to assist Bingley.”

“Did that awful Miss Bingley not get her brother to invite you and Bethie to accompany William to their house as well?” Felicity verified.

“She did. I used the army as my excuse, and knowing Bethie would not ever want to be in that shrew’s company, I told Bingley you could not spare my sister. I do not enjoy dissembling, but there are times when it is needed,” Richard confirmed.

“Someone needs to put that harpy in her place. She is far too high in the instep,” Felicity stated.

“Where are Bethie and Anna?” Richard queried.

“I am about to go see them. It will be slow, but Bethie and Mrs Annesley are trying to help Anna see that although it may have been wrong to agree to the elopement, she was being manipulated by skilled liars. And best of all, she changed her mind once she was able to think about what that miscreant had asked her to do,” Felicity informed her son. She stood, kissed his forehead, and headed towards Bethie’s suite.

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

“Charles, you were supposed to choose an estate near Pemberley, not in the backwaters of Hertfordshire near some savage village full of country mushrooms,” Miss Caroline Bingley whined.

“Remind me who told me I needed to find an estate near London,” Bingley retorted. “You do know that Derbyshire is two to three days from Town, do you not?” Miss Bingley was about to respond with asperity when her brother’s next words changed everything. “I will have to tell Darcy that you do not want to reside at the estate he viewed with me and of which he approved.”

“Of course, I will stay there with you and dear Mr Darcy. Will dear Georgiana and Lady Bethanne be with us as well? I cannot wait to spend time with them again,” Miss Bingley cooed.

No one pointed out to Miss Bingley that she had met Miss Darcy very briefly once and that the young lady avoided her like the plague. They also did not mention she had never met Lady Bethanne…or any of the Fitzwilliams for that matter. All of whom refused to be introduced to Caroline Bingley.

“Caroline, there is, ehrm, something Darcy demanded I impart to you,” Bingley said uncomfortably. He was sure his sister would explode with fury, but he valued his friendship with Darcy more than peace and quiet.

Thinking that the Darcy heir had finally come to his senses and asked her brother for her hand, Miss Bingley preened as she waited to hear the words she was certain were forthcoming.

Bingley knew he needed to get it out now or he would lose his nerve. “Darcy said he will never offer for you…that includes even if you attempt to compromise him. Do that, and you will ruin yourself and end my friendship with him.”

That was not what she wanted to hear or expected her brother to tell her. Surely Charles misunderstood the man. She would be the perfect wife for him; it could not be that he did not see that. “You must have misunderstood him, Charles. You all know he is on the cusp of making me an offer.”

Hurst, who normally kept out of things unless it was connected to hunting, eating, or drinking, scoffed. “And I am the one supposed to be in my cups all the time. If you think that Darcy does anything but disdain you, you are far more delusional than I thought. Please, Sister , tell me what he has ever done or said that would indicate even a modicum of interest in you?”

Miss Bingley opened and closed her mouth a number of times and could not think of anything. Before she could unleash her fury, she heard her brother speak.

“Louisa, I need you to act as the mistress of the estate. You at least have a better idea of what an estate’s mistress needs to do, and as the older and married sister, it should fall to you,” Bingley stated without looking at his younger sister.

“ WHAT ! I am to be your hostess ,” Miss Bingley screamed and screeched at the same time.

“That was something else Darcy pointed out. By precedence it should be Louisa, and he also told me that the duties of a mistress go far beyond just being a hostess,” Bingley explained, still not looking at his sister.

“Caroline, no!” Mrs Hurst called out.

Before Bingley could react, his enraged younger sister had delivered a stinging slap to his face before storming out of the drawing room. She was next heard stomping up the stairs, and then the slamming of a chamber door reverberated around the house. The noise of porcelain and glass breaking was soon heard.

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

“Sister, Sister, I have such news,” Hattie Phillips gushed even though she was out of breath from practically running to Longbourn.

Fanny Bennet and her daughters were seated in the drawing room. Jane and Lizzy together, Mary in a corner with her nose buried in Fordyce’s Sermons. The youngest two were giggling together on a settee near the window, as was their wont. Kitty and Lydia looked up when their aunt burst into the room. They loved gossip.

“Well, Sister, what is it?” Fanny asked as she flapped her lace square.

“Netherfield Park is let. I saw the contract when I was tidying Frank’s desk,” Hattie revealed. “His name is Mr Charles Bingley, and he must be very rich because he is to pay the whole year’s lease at once.”

“But is he single? He may be old and married and then what good will he do my Jane or Lydia?” Fanny reasoned. “One of my beautiful, and in Lydia’s case, beautiful and lively, girls need to marry a man of consequence and wealth. That way, when that cousin of Mr Bennet’s steals the estate, which is not rightfully his, I and any unmarried daughters will not be cast out into the hedgerows.”

“Mama, it is the entail to heirs male that will give our cousin dominion over Longbourn,” Elizabeth explained as she had countless times before. “He cannot steal that which is his according to the law. Also, Mama, have I not told you since I have been assisting Papa, I convinced him to have the dower house repaired. I am sure you have been told you will have lifetime rights to that house after Papa is called home, so you will never end up in the hedgerows .”

“No one asked for your opinion, Miss Lizzy! I will be removed from my home to live in that hovel! Losing my position as mistress to some other woman is intolerable! It would be better for me to be in the hedgerows,” Fanny sniffed. “You are so wilful; no wonder no man will ever want you.”

Jane placed her hand on Elizabeth’s and shook her head before her sister retorted. The look she gave was not of censure but sympathy, and it said, ‘ You know our mother will believe what she will ’. Unfortunately, Jane was absolutely correct. The first time her mother had called the restored and repaired dower house a hovel, she had attempted to suggest they go and see the house. Mama had refused and had closed her ears to the description that it was a very comfortable home, more than half the size of Longbourn’s manor house, and much closer to Meryton.

“I will be the first one to marry,” Lydia boasted. “I am beautiful and lively! What more can a man want? Now if only there were officers close by; only an officer in a scarlet coat will do for me.”

“And for me too,” Kitty parroted as she always did.

“I am sure any man of sense wants a brash, uneducated girl with fluff between her ears, and who should be in the schoolroom, for his wife,” Elizabeth said under her breath. Only Jane heard her.

Rather than look at her sister, Jane looked away. She hated to say or think anything negative, but she knew Lizzy was not wrong.

“Before I was so rudely interrupted,” Fanny glared at her second daughter, “I wanted to ask if you learnt any more about this Mr Bingley. Were you able to ask Frank?”

“I did. For some reason he ordered me not to tidy his desk again,” Hattie admitted without feeling shame for her husband’s anger that she was rifling through the papers on his desk. “He told me that nothing was mentioned of a wife. Mr Bingley is a wealthy man from the north, and he was accompanied by a rather stern-looking friend.”

“How wonderful, then he is single! That is such a good thing for my beautiful girls. I am sure that a wealthy, single man is in want of a wife,” Fanny cooed. In her mind, the man was already married to Jane or Lydia. “Oh Sister, when is this Mr Bingley to arrive and take up his estate? How good that sounds! One of my girls will be the mistress of Netherfield Park. Even better, Jane or Lydia will be Mrs Bingley. I will be driven to distraction.”

“According to his lease, he will arrive on the first day of October,” Hattie revealed. At her reply, her younger sister flapped her lace square furiously in her excitement.

‘ I wonder if Mama will allow this Mr Bingley a choice in the matter, ’ Elizabeth thought. ‘ I am sure he was one of the men riding the other day. I hope he was not the one who said I was a tenant .’ The breeze had been blowing from behind the two men, and Elizabeth was blessed, or at times cursed, with exceptionally good hearing. It was the dark-haired, taller man who had made the comment.

“Well, unless this Mr Bingley is an officer, I am sure I care not a whit how wealthy he is,” Lydia announced.

“In that case, Mr Bingley will be for Jane,” Fanny decided.