Page 17 of The Bennet Heir

Chapter Sixteen

S ince the next day was Sunday, the three conspirators arranged to meet in secret. Miss Bingley feigned a headache, claiming it had begun the previous evening and persisted into the morning, giving her an excuse to remain home from church services.

Her excuse was not entirely dishonest. Since arriving at Netherfield, she had been in a constant state of dissatisfaction, and the sight of that wretched pendant around Eliza Bennet’s neck—along with the reason for it—had crushed the dreams she had nurtured ever since first meeting Mr. Darcy alongside her brother years ago. Both Charles and Louisa had warned her about his disinterest, but Miss Bingley had refused to accept their counsel. Even so, she knew that if she could engineer a compromising situation with Mr. Darcy, particularly one that took place in public, he would have no choice but to act honourably and offer for her. This nonsense about sending a wife to some remote location with no pin money was mere bluster, meant to scare others into proper behaviour. Mr. Darcy was far too principled to treat his wife so infamously, regardless of the circumstances of their marriage.

Once her family had departed for church, Miss Bingley rose and dressed in preparation for her guests. While she cared little for the opinions of Mrs. Bennet or Mr. Collins, she wished to present herself as their superior in both breeding and refinement. She directed her maid to attire her in one of her finest day dresses and to style her hair with particular care.

When at last she descended, she deliberately kept her visitors waiting several minutes. Mr. Collins had protested missing Sabbath services in Meryton, but was eventually made to understand the necessity of their meeting taking place while Netherfield was empty. Mrs. Bennet, on the other hand, found it far easier to justify her absence. Like Miss Bingley, she claimed a megrim without difficulty—and, like Miss Bingley, her ailment was not entirely feigned. She, too, had ample reason to be displeased with the news of Mr. Darcy’s engagement to her stepdaughter.

“Mr. Collins, I have heard rumours that my stepson will be travelling to St. Albans on the morrow, or at least one day this week. I imagine he is going to learn what he can about the entail to combat the gossip making its rounds.” Mrs. Bennet laughed as she thought about the gossip. “I do not know how the rumour that my late husband stole the estate from your family began, but I wish I could have seen Jonathan’s face when my brother Philips informed him of it. If we could find a way to make that rumour escalate, perhaps you could sue his family not only for control of the estate, but you could bankrupt them by demanding they pay penalties for the money that ought to have been yours. That would make my brothers hesitate, and then they would have no choice but to make Lizzy marry you.”

Miss Bingley huffed. “Mrs. Bennet, none of our plans thus far have come to fruition. With Miss Eliza already engaged to Mr. Darcy, Mr. Collins cannot force her into an agreement with him. He would need to get her alone and find a way to either ruin her entirely or to compromise her in a public manner that she is left with no choice but to marry him. It will also need to be sufficiently terrible that Mr. Darcy will no longer wish to marry her. He is honourable, but he would not be willing to risk his reputation or that of his sister by marrying someone who is immersed in scandal.”

“But if the scandal is only at Meryton, will that be enough? Or will we somehow have to ensure that word of the compromise gets to London?” Mrs. Bennet asked. “I suppose that you can assist with that, Miss Bingley, but you will need to do it so Mr. Darcy will not realise that it was you who spread it.”

“Lady Catherine!” Mr. Collins exclaimed, puffing out his chest. “If I write to my most esteemed patroness and inform her that Mr. Darcy has most improperly engaged himself to my own intended, she will see to it that the matter is rectified at once. Despite his claim to the contrary, Lady Catherine has always insisted that her nephew is promised to her daughter, the lovely and incomparable Miss Anne de Bourgh. She will not tolerate this blatant deviation from her wishes! If anyone can compel Mr. Darcy to abandon this unfortunate engagement, it is his formidable aunt. Mark my words—she will set him to rights without delay! Then I will be able to marry my cousin, as you had intended, Mrs. Bennet.”

Miss Bingley scowled but seemed to recognise that the parson might be of some use—at least in separating Miss Eliza from Mr. Darcy. “You must write to Lady Catherine today and have the sent express first thing in the morning. She will go to London at once, demand an audience with her nephew, and insist he break the engagement. That will make Miss Eliza far more willing to accept you, for it will certainly harm her reputation since they have already announced the engagement. The settlement is not yet signed, so that will protect Mr. Darcy from scandal, but not Miss Eliza.”

“That is all well and good,” Mrs. Bennet interjected, her voice sharp with impatience, “but how does that help Mr. Collins secure Longbourn? Preventing this marriage is only half the battle. Once you have sent that letter, you must take action to ensure my stepson never arrives at St. Albans. The militia is in town—surely there are one or two among them who could be persuaded to…distract him from his purpose?”

Mr. Collins gasped, his florid complexion paling. “You are asking me to kill a man?” he sputtered, his chest heaving with indignation.

Mrs. Bennet tsked and waved a dismissive hand. “Do not be so dramatic. I am suggesting only that he be…delayed. If he disappears for a month or two, the neighbourhood will be in an uproar, and you, dear Mr. Collins, can step forward to assist on the estate in his absence. While they search for him, you will make yourself invaluable to Longbourn. When he returns, by then, you will already be married to Lizzy, and he will have no choice but to accept the situation and your help.”

Though Mr. Collins still looked uncertain, Mrs. Bennet pressed on, her eyes gleaming with determination. While the parson might balk at the thought of truly harming Jonathan Bennet, she herself felt no compunction. If removing her stepson from her life would secure her future, she would not lose a moment’s sleep over it.

“I am a clergyman and cannot leave my flock,” Mr. Collins insisted. “You cannot expect me to remain at Longbourn forever.”

“Just long enough to marry Lizzy. Once you are married and have reclaimed Longbourn, I will move into the manor house and take charge. You can return to Hunsford and your flock and not worry at all about the estate,” Mrs. Bennet soothed.

Miss Bingley huffed. “What will keep you from running the estate into the ground, Mrs. Bennet?” she asked snidely.

Mrs. Bennet simply shot the lady a significant look. “Your winning Mr. Darcy’s hand seems far less likely. The estate will continue to produce, and my brothers will ensure that I have a competent steward to assist.” She turned to look at Mr. Collins. “Besides, even if you do not reside at Longbourn after it is yours, you will be able to correspond with the steward to make sure the estate does well, will you not?”

Mr. Collins nodded, but did not know how else to respond to the women, who seemed to him to be working at cross purposes. The mention of Miss Bingley winning Mr. Darcy alarmed him, and he did not understand their meaning.

“What am I to do, ladies?” he asked.

Miss Bingley stood and walked over to a writing desk, pulling out paper, ink, and a pen. “Sit here, sir, and write your letter to Lady Catherine. Mrs. Bennet and I will speak further while you work and then will explain to you the rest of our plans.

While Mr. Collins wrote, Mrs. Bennet and Miss Bingley plotted.

“I met a militia officer in town yesterday by the name of George Wickham,” Miss Bingley said. “His name was familiar to me, and after speaking to him for a few minutes, I realised how I knew him, or at least knew of him. He is no friend to Mr. Darcy and is willing to aid us in ruining that gentleman’s intended. I have already suggested to him that, should he aid us in ensuring Mr. Collins marry Miss Eliza, we could offer him a better life in return. I believe he would do quite well as the steward for Longbourn, for he was trained in the law and his father was the steward at Pemberley. However, Mr. Darcy has prevented him from obtaining a position on another estate, which is why he is now in the militia.”

“Do you think he would assist my late husband’s cousin to kidnap my stepson?” Mrs. Bennet asked.

“It seemed there is little Wickham would not do for coin,” Miss Bingley replied flatly.

Mrs. Bennet seemed to consider this for a few moments. “I cannot offer him much at present, but perhaps the promise of a reward once the task is completed will be sufficient,” she said finally. “Mr. Collins can assist him, and if this man is trustworthy, we can take him into our confidence.”

Miss Bingley agreed and told Mrs. Bennet where to find him. Once Mr. Collins finished the letter to his patroness, they told him the plan and discussed ways they might delay Bennet’s journey for a day or two so they might be able to put everything into place.

Much to the pleasure of the three conspirators, heavy rains swept through the area on Sunday evening, continuing without respite through late Monday afternoon. The roads quickly became impassable, leaving Bennet unable to travel to St. Albans by carriage. While he might have ridden on horseback, he would have arrived at the solicitor’s office soaked and covered in mud—hardly the condition in which to conduct important business.

With the roads still sodden, he remained at home on both Monday and Tuesday, seeing to estate matters and attending to his correspondence instead. It was not until Wednesday morning that the ground had dried sufficiently to permit travel. At nine o’clock, Bennet boarded his carriage, instructing his wife and sisters to expect him in time for the evening meal, if not sooner, depending on the progress of his affairs.

The ladies passed the day much as they usually did, sewing for the poor box and attending to household matters as needed. None of them ventured far from the house, heeding Bennet’s request to remain close. The footmen Darcy had sent for their protection remained stationed nearby, their presence a silent reassurance in case of need.

Darcy’s messenger, delayed by the weather, had failed to arrive on Monday but had finally reached them on Tuesday. His letter conveyed his intent to return to the area before the end of the week. The rain had not been the only hindrance to his prompt return; several pressing matters required his attention in town, particularly in light of Elizabeth’s acceptance of his hand. He explained his preference for settling all outstanding business before departing London so he need not be separated from her again so soon. He expressed his regret at the delay, assuring her that it was only the necessity of preparing for their future that kept him away.

Charlotte, ever practical, took the opportunity to encourage Elizabeth to begin considering the wedding breakfast and the trousseau she would require as Mrs. Darcy. While the younger girls were at their studies, Elizabeth and Charlotte made lists of all that might be required. Elizabeth’s lists tended to be shorter, with Charlotte constantly adding to them or encouraging Elizabeth to reconsider what would be necessary for her new status as the wife of an important gentleman.

“But Charlotte, I can hardly believe I will need so much,” Elizabeth protested more than once.

“As Mrs. Darcy, you will have to socialise at least a little, and you and your husband will need to attend a few events so he can show you off to his friends and family in town,” Charlotte said matter-of-factly. “We need to write to your aunt in London; surely she will be able to advise you about what you will need to travel so far north. Now, have you and Mr. Darcy discussed when you wish to marry?”

Elizabeth sighed as she watched her sister add yet more to the list of ‘necessary’ items she would need. “You will have me spending days at the modiste . Aunt Gardiner said she could not host me at present; how will we ever manage to obtain all these things.”

“Mr. Darcy has a house in town, does he not?” Charlotte enquired, glaring at her sister by marriage.

“He does,” Elizabeth conceded. “But I do not know how that will help us.”

“He could spend a few nights at his club while we make use of his house,” Charlotte replied. “Or, we could all go and stay in his house. With Jon and me there, it would not be improper.”

“I would not want to impose ourselves on him,” Elizabeth protested.

Charlotte scoffed at that idea. “Mr. Darcy would adore having you in his house and would likely take great pains to make you comfortable.”

“What if I simply wrote to the modiste and told her what was needed?” Elizabeth asked. “After the wedding, Fitzwilliam and I can go to town and acquire whatever is needed then?”

“Elizabeth, I know you hate all forms of shopping, but I assure you, as Mrs. Darcy of Pemberley, you will need a much more extensive wardrobe than what you are used to as Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn,” Charlotte said.

Huffing, Elizabeth agreed. “If you insist, we will go to town. But I hope you know that I am doing so only at your urging. Do not expect me to be happy at the modiste or to appreciate being dragged through the shops on Bond Street.”

Charlotte shook her head, laughing. “If nothing else, Mr. Darcy can be certain you did not accept him for his wealth,” she remarked. Then, after a brief pause, she added, “Let us write to Mrs. Gardiner about our plans and see what arrangements she can make for us before we arrive. You should also write to your intended to ask if we might make use of his townhouse while we are in London.

“Now, let us return to the matter of your wedding and the wedding breakfast. We should include Grandmama Bennet in these discussions. Have you visited her since your engagement?”

“I went to see her on the Sabbath and spoke with her then,” Elizabeth replied. “She wants to be included in our planning though, of course, she will not wish to travel to London with us. She would also understand our need to remain indoors while Jon is away—she would not expect us to disobey him.”

Elizabeth hesitated, her lips quirking into a bemused smile. “I do not like having my movements restricted, and I am not certain there is any real cause for concern. However, I will not defy him in this.” She glanced at her sister and added with a wry chuckle, “At least, not so soon after he made the request.”

Charlotte merely shook her head at Elizabeth, and the two continued speaking of their plans.