Page 44 of Great Uncle Henry (Pride & Prejudice Vagary)
As would be expected, her lackey, Mr William Collins, was defrocked as soon as the Archbishop of Canterbury was informed of the clergyman’s behaviour.
As it was not known where he had gone when he left Hunsford, notices were sent to every parish in the United Kingdom, in case the dishonourable man attempted to seek a position in the church.
Just as he had planned to do, the Earl and Anne de Bourgh departed for Snowhaven as soon as Lady Catherine had been sent to her new home.
To keep his sister from harming herself, the former mistress of Rosings Park had been dosed with laudanum for the duration of the journey to her new place of residence.
Before he departed Rosings Park, Matlock had suggested that de Bourgh contact Gardiner and Associates in London to come see all of the gaudy and gauche décor, artwork, and ornaments at the estate. In de Bourgh’s mind the house looked like a museum to bad and vulgar taste.
When Mr Gardiner had arrived with some of his clerks, Darcy had been shocked at how gentlemanlike the man was in his bearing and his dress.
This was no vulgar tradesman. The commission he would charge for selling everything was more than fair.
Once the clerks had inventoried everything de Bourgh wanted gone from his home—which was almost everything—the estimate Gardiner gave of the expected revenue after his commission would be more than enough to redecorate and refurnish the house with a small amount of the funds remaining.
Carts would arrive in a few days, and since de Bourgh planned to be away at least a month, it was a perfect time for the redecorating. Until they departed for London, the three men would reside at the dower house, which thankfully had not been touched by Lady Catherine.
When Darcy had time on his own, he would think about his attitudes and what his cousins and others had told him. He was aware that he had much self-reflection to do.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Bennet could still not believe his wife had found a way to pay for Lydia’s school.
He had only agreed, as he had been sure she would not find the funds for the tuition costs.
Somehow she had, and as much as he would have liked to go back on his word, he could not.
He had stupidly given his word of honour.
Where would he find his entertainment now that Lydia was leaving the house?
His answer came in a godsend of a letter from his distant cousin, William Collins.
Bennet was certain he would have much amusement from the buffoon and the trouble the man would cause within his family.
He was sure that his distant cousin’s arrival would bring his wife’s attacks of her so-called nerves back in full force.
Yes, he would not be bereft of entertainment any longer.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Elizabeth quietly conveyed her uncle’s request, Hill agreed with alacrity.
That night, after his master went to bed, Hill entered the study to tidy it as he did every day.
Towards the end of his work, when he was certain the master was in bed and more likely than not asleep, he opened the middle of the three drawers on the right-hand side of the desk where Mr Bennet kept correspondence which was important.
The letter was on the top of those the master kept. Hill retrieved it and left the desk as it had been before. He made his way upstairs and tapped on Miss Lizzy’s bedchamber door.
Rather than call out, Elizabeth opened the door.
She was in her nightgown covered by a thick dressing gown which was closed from her neck down to the tops of her slippers.
“Thank you, Hill,” Elizabeth said softly.
“If there is any trouble from this, you know my great-uncle will take care of you, do you not?”
“Aye, Miss Lizzy, my wife and I know that,” Hill returned quietly. He gave a quick bow and was gone.
Elizabeth locked her door and lit two additional candles from the one next to her bed so there would be more than sufficient light to read the letter.
If needed, she would make a copy of the missive, and she would return the original to Papa’s desk.
Even though the Hills would never want for anything, if she could protect the faithful retainer from her father’s sharp tongue, she would do so.
She sat on her bed and unfolded the paper and began to read.
30 August 1811
The Bubbling Brook Inn
Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire
Dear Sir,
The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach, but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.
In addition, I was inhibited by his telling me how you prevaricated to him about the entail precluding a Collins from inheriting the estate over which you now superintend.
Like my late father before me, I know this must be a scandalous falsehood, as I am certain that our common ancestor would never exclude one with the mental acumen of a Collins from the line of succession.
Nevertheless, my mind is now made up on the subject.
For having received ordination at Easter of this year, I had been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence had preferred me to a valuable rectory of the parish of Hunsford, where for a short time it was my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England.
That all changed in late July of this year when the great lady decided I was to marry her daughter, Miss Anne de Bourgh, the Rose of Kent.
The day I was to have the great honour of taking my betrothed as my wife, some men who claimed to be close relatives of Miss de Bourgh arrived and threw me from my house.
They contended that Lady Catherine, who is all wise, had no authority to appoint me to the living and took issue with the fact I intended to conduct the wedding ceremony myself.
How could it be wrong to do so when her Ladyship had given me sanction to proceed?
I barely escaped with my life as two brutes first dragged me to Rosings Park and back to the parsonage, which should be mine. I attempted to overpower them, but other men assisted them, and I was unceremoniously deposited at the inn in Hunsford after one of the miscreants urinated on me.
I have been to several parishes to attempt to share my vast knowledge of the scriptures, but at each one I was lied to and told that His Grace, the Archbishop of Canterbury has ordered me defrocked.
This leads me to the reason for my setting aside my doubts and writing to you. As the lies have spread to all parishes I have called on so far, I intend to come live at my future estate until God sees fit to call you home.
It is not only that I need a home, as a clergyman moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in line in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch.
I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends, but of this hereafter.
If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Friday the thirteenth of September, by four o’clock.
I am certain that had I not been illegally removed from my parish in Hunsford, that Lady Catherine would have granted me leave to come see you as while I had the privilege of having her as my patroness, she was far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman was engaged to do the duty of the day.
I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,
William Collins
“This man is insane, and I can only imagine what mischief my father will attempt if the buffoon arrives,” Elizabeth told her bedchamber.
She could see him demanding one of them marry the man.
It was too much to remember, so Elizabeth sat at her escritoire and copied the epistle word for word.
It took about an hour. When she had completed her self-assigned task, Elizabeth refolded the original.
She opened her door slowly. As expected, there was no one in the hallway.
She crept down the stairs and into the study.
She returned the letter to the drawer where her father kept letters.
Once in her bed, it took Elizabeth some time before Morpheus claimed her. Her mind had been busy wondering what her father had been thinking, as she was certain he had responded and invited the oddity to Longbourn.
Elizabeth would ride to the dower house first thing in the morning.