Page 55 of Great Uncle Henry (Pride & Prejudice Vagary)
“R ichard, why are you grinning like a Cheshire cat?” Darcy asked once he joined Richard and de Bourgh in the sitting room between the latters’ bedchambers. He had agreed to meet them there after he had washed and changed.
“Do you remember how Andy and I would point out the inconsistency in the way you saw Bingley and Mr Henry Bennet?” Richard asked.
“I had meant to discuss that with you. Our Aunt Catherine’s recent behaviour opened my eyes to my selective prejudices.
I finally accepted that the words came from my late mother when she railed against Mr Bennet, but the thoughts had been planted there by her sister.
My late father attempted to tell me that before he was called home.
To my shame, I did not listen to him,” Darcy lamented.
“I know not where Mr Bennet is because I would give anything to beg for his pardon for my improper pride and arrogance. It has been some years since he has lived at Sherwood Dale, so I have no way to reach him.”
“Then, cousin of mine, Lady Luck is smiling down on you today. What I tell you now is to remain in the strictest confidence,” Richard demanded.
“You have my word of honour I will not share the information,” Darcy vowed.
“This estate is one of two Mr Bennet owns in the area of Meryton. He and some of his family are living just over a mile from where we currently are. There was a good reason the estate’s dower house and surrounding property are not part of Bingley’s lease; it is where Mr Bennet resides, for now.”
Darcy’s eyebrows shot up. Mr Bennet owned multiple estates!
He was pleased he had decided he needed to make amends before learning about the additional estates.
No one could accuse him of changing his opinion because the man was wealthier than he had thought him to be.
“Your business which necessitated you and de Bourgh travelling separately from me…had it anything to do with Mr Bennet?” he asked.
“It did,” de Bourgh confirmed. “What say you we three of us take a ride.”
“William, allow me to warn you that Mr Bennet has a bevy of very beautiful great-nieces. Before you think it, there are no Caroline Bingleys among them; in fact, they are quite the opposite,” Richard disclosed.
“Also, those with the name Taylor were born and raised in the former colonies…” Richard gave a brief retelling of how, after the late Mr Taylor wed Miss Felicity Bennet, the newly married Taylors moved to the American colonies and what prompted them to return.
“We have met all of the Bennet sisters bar one, who is at a school for wayward girls. Also, we have come to know all of the Taylors, estimable regardless of where they were born,” de Bourgh revealed.
“In addition, we have met some of their friends. The only husband hunter we know of in these parts is the mistress of this very house.”
“Bingley will inform you, if he has not already, that there is an assembly tonight, which we will attend,” Richard related.
“The alternative is to remain here, and you know the termagant will decide to stay to keep you company if you do not join us.” He paused.
“Before I forget, one Taylor and one Bennet would qualify as angels for Bingley. He will be disappointed, as both ladies are fully aware—they were before we arrived—of Bingley’s propensities, and they will want none of him.
They are looking for men, not a puppy. Also, some of the ladies ride astride, so try and keep the judgement hidden when you see them. ”
“Give me a little while to dress in riding attire,” Darcy requested. “I will meet you in the drawing room.”
As much as he was concerned about women of the ilk of Miss Bingley, Darcy knew that Richard would not dissemble about ladies to him. If he said the Misses Bennet and Taylor were not huntresses, then they were not.
When he entered his suite, thankfully Carstens was still present completing the unpacking. It was less than fifteen minutes before he was dressed for riding.
He cringed as he neared the drawing room and heard Miss Bingley’s grating voice. “But where is dear Mr Darcy? It has been an age since he has been with his good friends,” she cooed.
That was another thing about which his cousins had been correct. He was doing Miss Bingley no favours by not killing her delusions with regard to himself.
“Miss Bingley, I am your brother’s friend, not yours.
I have never permitted you to address me with an endearment, have I?
The only reason I am here with my cousin is to assist your brother and de Bourgh to learn about estate management.
If you have other ideas in your head, you are wrong,” Darcy stated bluntly.
Two Bingleys quailed. Miss Bingley looked like she had been slapped, and Bingley was afraid a tantrum was about to be unleashed.
“Ah, Darcy, there you are. Our horses are ready in the drive,” Richard revealed. He shepherded his cousin and de Bourgh from the drawing room before Miss Bingley recovered the power of speech.
The three heard Hurst’s “I told you so” before there was a crash of something being broken.
“That will cost Bingley,” Richard said as the men approached their horses.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~ ~
Bennet’s mood was almost ebullient. As much as he usually eschewed any and all social events, especially the assemblies, he could not wait for the hours to pass until he and his idiotic cousin arrived at the assembly hall in Meryton this evening.
He was in great anticipation of the instant when Lizzy resigned herself to her fate. There would be no doubt as to who had the superior intellect after tonight.
He felt no guilt over the type of man with whom he would be saddling his second daughter.
He was sure that besides being a glutton, odiferous, and thoroughly unintelligent, Collins believed in corporal punishment.
His father had liberally used it on the son, so he knew no other way.
Even this knowledge did not give Bennet pause.
All he saw was the satisfaction he would receive by proving his superiority to his daughter and punishing her for spoiling his fun.
He was so caught up in his thoughts of exacting retribution that Bennet, who considered himself supremely observant, missed the looks of disgust and disdain on the Hills’ and other servants’ countenances.
Collins could hardly wait to see his intended. His cousin had told him Elizabeth was pretty. He hoped she was well endowed, as he could not wait to take the pleasures of the flesh with his new wife. His cousin had promised to acquire a common licence because they would need to marry speedily.
The sooner he was married and an owner of a house and whatever else the girl had; the happier Collins would be.
It was impressive to Collins that Cousin Bennet managed Longbourn just like Lady Catherine had during his short tenure in Hunsford.
She too issued orders from her study and did not sully herself with anything else.
Like Lady Catherine had told him of how well her estate was doing under her management, Collins was certain Longbourn would be very profitable when one day it became his, as his cousin followed Lady Catherine’s stellar example of estate management.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy was impressed as they arrived at the dower house. He had seen small estates which did not boast as good a looking house as this one. Based on what he could see, he would guess it was not that much smaller than the manor on the estate.
The three men dismounted and handed the reins to a groom who led the horses back towards the stables.
Richard knocked, and the door was opened by an older lady, the cook-housekeeper, who, recognising two of the three, invited them in. After handing over their outerwear, Richard led them to the drawing room.
Although he looked considerably older than the last time he had seen Mr Bennet, Darcy recognised him right away. He was surprised Mr Bennet did not recognise him or acknowledge his presence. The reason for that was swiftly revealed.
“Lizzy, dear, who has entered the room? I can tell they are men from the sound of their boots,” Henry said as he cocked his head to listen better.
Mr Bennet had gone blind. Darcy had not been ignored, simply not seen.
As soon as he saw the one who was called Lizzy, Darcy almost forgot to breathe.
She was a most beautiful woman with a light and pleasing figure.
Her incredible emerald-green eyes shone with intelligence, and her raven locks were styled in a simple chignon.
Before the beauty could do as Bennet asked, Darcy was shocked by a voice from behind him.
“Did I not tell you I would see you sooner rather than later?” Anna squealed. She released Kitty’s arm and leapt into William’s waiting arms.
“Ah, by Anna’s excitement, I can tell that young William Darcy has arrived,” Henry stated with a grin. “Welcome, young man. It is very good to be in your company again.”
Elizabeth had heard that Anna’s brother was handsome, but she had never seen a man more blessed with good looks. She had also heard that he could exhibit improper pride, but she had seen none of that so far. He was related to Anna and the Fitzwilliams; how bad could he be?
“Where are Aunt Elaine, Uncle Reggie, Andrew, and Anne?” Darcy enquired of his sister.
“Upstairs resting, well, except Andy; he went for a ride. Anne is much healthier than she has been, but a long journey still tires her. I could not keep away from my friends. Tonight will be soon enough for me to sleep. May I introduce you to those you do not know?”
Mary, on Roger’s arm, Elli, Lola, Felix, and Jane, who had been walking in the gardens, joined those in the drawing room.
Seeing William’s nod, Anna, who had only met them when she had arrived, made the introductions. “I met Lizzy, Mary, and Kitty one year before Papa was called home when they were at Mr Bennet’s house across the square from Darcy House,” Anna explained. “I met Jane and some of the Taylors today.”