Page 20 of The Bennet Heir
Chapter Nineteen
O ver the past few days, Jane had grown increasingly concerned about her mother’s mental state. Fanny Bennet had always been prone to anxiety, but lately, her distress had intensified. She was more restless than usual, her moods shifting unpredictably between frantic excitement and deep melancholy. At first, she had been pleased by the rain, then unsettled by it. When it stopped, instead of being less anxious, she grew worse, constantly twisting her handkerchief in her hands, unable to sit still. It seemed as though she were waiting for something to happen, but Jane did not know what it might be.
Jane knew her mother had been meeting in secret with Miss Bingley and, from what she had overheard from her mother’s ramblings, with Mr. Collins as well. Though she could not fully grasp the purpose of these meetings, it was clear they were tied to the rumours circulating through Meryton—whispers that Elizabeth was engaged to Mr. Collins and that he had a rightful claim to Longbourn.
These rumours unsettled Jane, not only because they were absurd but also because they directly contradicted Elizabeth’s own words. At the dinner party on Saturday night, Elizabeth had plainly stated that she was engaged to Mr. Darcy. Despite this public declaration, the falsehoods persisted, perpetuated by her mother.
Jane had attempted to reason with her mother, but their conversations had only left her more bewildered. When Fanny returned home late Sunday afternoon from yet another undisclosed errand, Jane seized the opportunity to confront her.
“Mama, how can you say Lizzy is engaged to Mr. Collins when she herself has said she is engaged to Mr. Darcy?” Jane asked urgently.
Fanny had simply waved a hand dismissively, her expression unreadable and her meaning incomprehensible. Jane attempted to learn more, but had so far been unable. Since none of these secret conversations took place where Jane could overhear, she was uncertain what these three might be plotting.
However, on Wednesday afternoon, Fanny Bennet’s anxiety had reached new heights. She could barely sit still and was constantly wringing her hands until Mr. Collins visited in the late afternoon. Jane had seen him once or twice before, when he had come to the house, but her mother usually sent her out of the room whenever he called. Today, his appearance was very different from how he usually appeared.
Never particularly well-turned, today his clothes were askew and his boots were muddy. For a man who appeared to have never done any sort of manual labour, his appearance that day seemed out of character. “What has happened to you?” Jane cried out when he entered the room behind the maid.
“I am well, Miss Bennet,” he replied, though his tone held a hint of uncertainty.
“Jane, do not bother Mr. Collins,” Mrs. Bennet cut in as she bustled into the room behind their caller. “I need you to go…speak to the cook about this evening’s meal. She mentioned earlier that she needed something from the grocer, but I do not know if she was able to get it.”
Hesitating, Jane glanced between her mother and Mr. Collins. Something was amiss about this situation. Her mother was suspiciously eager to send her away, and Mr. Collins, normally so full of self-importance, appeared rattled. His usual smug confidence had been replaced by an unease that set Jane on edge.
“Surely that can wait, Mama,” Jane said, forcing a calm tone. “I would rather ensure Mr. Collins is well first. He looks as though he has been in some distress. Surely it would be better to offer him some tea or coffee.”
Mrs. Bennet’s eyes flashed with irritation, but she forced a brittle smile. “Oh, do not trouble yourself, Jane! Mr. Collins merely had a bit of a mishap on the road. Nothing that cannot be remedied with a fresh coat of polish and a change of clothes which he will get as soon as he returns to Netherfield. He merely wished to speak to me for a moment.”
Mr. Collins nodded stiffly, his fingers twitching at his sides as though he wished to wring his hands but dared not do so in Jane’s presence. “Yes, quite right, Mrs. Bennet. I assure you, Miss Bennet, all is well. Merely an unfortunate accident, nothing more.”
Jane frowned, unconvinced. “You seem shaken, sir. If something has happened, surely someone should be informed. Perhaps we should call Sir William since he is the magistrate for this area.”
At this, her mother’s forced composure cracked. Her lips parted slightly, and for a moment, she looked stricken. Then, just as quickly, she regained herself, waving a dismissive hand. “Oh, do not trouble yourself or Sir William, Jane. Mr. Collins is more than capable of managing his own affairs.”
“Do you need the apothecary then? You mentioned an accident, sir, and I would not wish you to go without getting the help you need,” Jane said, a little more forcefully. She suspected these two to be working together, and she wanted to remain behind to listen.
Mr. Collins shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flickering towards Mrs. Bennet as though seeking guidance on how to proceed. “Perhaps—perhaps it is best if we continue this discussion privately, madam,” he murmured.
Mrs. Bennet nodded swiftly. “Yes, quite right. Jane, do see to the cook, will you?”
It was an outright dismissal, but Jane was not so easily deterred. “I will go in a moment,” she said, deliberately keeping her voice even. “But first, I must insist—are you certain you do not need any assistance?”
Her mother’s expression darkened. “Go, Jane, and do as I said. Mr. Collins will be well without your interference. Oh, why must you be so vexing, interrogating me in this manner, Jane?”
With no better option, Jane turned and left the room though she did not go to the kitchen as her mother had ordered. Instead, she quietly pulled the door closed behind her and slipped into the dining room, which was adjacent to the room where her mother and Mr. Collins were speaking. She had often seen Lydia eavesdrop by pressing a glass to the wall and decided to attempt the same.
She pressed the rim of a glass against the wall and tilted her head, straining to catch every word.
“…well-hidden, I assure you,” Mr. Collins was saying in a hushed but urgent tone. “The cottage is in such disrepair that no one would think to search there, and Mr. Wickham and the other militia members he recruited to help him have taken great care to ensure he remains… secure.”
Jane’s breath caught in her throat. Who is being held somewhere? she wondered.
Her mother’s voice came next, sharp with anxiety. “You are certain? No one saw you take him?”
“No one at all,” Mr. Collins assured her. “There was no one on that part of the road this morning, and we ensured the coachman and footman were insensible. It will likely be some time before anyone realises he is missing. If they do conduct a search, that Wickham fellow will make sure that the militia will not find him before we are ready. I will have already made my claim to Longbourn by then, and he will not be able to toss me out again.”
Jane pressed a trembling hand to her mouth. They are speaking of a kidnapping. Longbourn? she thought. Have they kidnapped Jonathan? Mr. Collins intends to claim the estate? How can he do such a thing? She returned her attention to what was being said as she heard her mother’s voice again.
Mrs. Bennet exhaled shakily. “Very well. We must ensure that he remains there until all is settled. Mr. Collins, you are quite sure you can handle him?”
A nervous chuckle. “Oh, he is well secured. The ropes are tight, and we have taken precautions. Mr. Wickham assured me that Bennet will not be going anywhere.”
Jane clenched the glass so tightly she feared it might crack. Her mother was a party to kidnapping. The thought left her distraught, and she had to prevent herself from swooning at this realisation. Along with this Mr. Wickham, who was apparently a member of the militia, they were holding Jonathan against his will. The idea was unthinkable, yet she had just heard it confirmed with her own ears.
Her mother’s voice dropped to a whisper, and Jane had to press closer. “…enough to force her hand? I must know.”
Mr. Collins made a noise of uncertainty. “I believe so, madam. With Mr. Bennet out of the way, Miss Elizabeth will have no choice but to accept the arrangement we will offer her. A young lady of sense will understand what must be done to secure her family’s future. If she does not agree… you yourself suggested that she likes to walk out on her own. If she were to disappear for a day or two as well, then Mr. Darcy would forsake her, and she would have to marry someone. I would offer myself as her husband, and she will be unable to refuse at that point.”
Jane felt sick. They were using Jonathan to force Elizabeth to marry Mr. Collins, and they would compromise her to do so if she refused. But Elizabeth would never marry Mr. Collins.
“I do hope you are right,” Mrs. Bennet muttered. “If she would only listen to reason, we would not have to resort to drastic measures.”
Jane had heard enough. Her heart pounded as she pulled away from the wall, her mind racing.
She had to act—quickly. Jonathan’s life could be in danger, and Elizabeth is about to be forced into a scheme that should never have been conceived. But what can I do? Who can I trust?
Miss Bingley was likely involved, which meant Jane had to be cautious about whom she confided in. Elizabeth needed to know—but how could she get to Longbourn without drawing suspicion? If my mother or Mr. Collins realise I overheard them, they might try to stop me.
Sir William was the magistrate. Should I tell him? Would he even believe me, given that I have no proof beyond an eavesdropped conversation?
And what about Jonathan? Has anyone else noticed his absence yet? If not, how long before they do? Will the militia genuinely search for him, or have they been misled as well?
She pressed a hand to her temple, willing herself to think. I have to find a way—before it is too late.
After speaking briefly with the cook, Jane slipped from the house to go to her Uncle Philips’ office. Her mother did not like her to venture there, believing a solicitor’s office was no place for a lady like her, but Jane decided that did not matter. After contemplating what she had overheard, she decided that her uncle was the best person to speak to, for he would be able to tell her what to do.
“Jane, how can I help you, my dear?” Philips asked as soon as she entered. His face, which had been smiling when she walked in, fell quickly when he saw the look on her own countenance.
For a moment, Jane could not speak. When her uncle prompted her yet again, she finally began to speak. “Uncle, have you heard anything from Longbourn today?”
“No, but I know that Bennet intended to go to St. Albans today and intended to be home well in time for dinner. Do you need me to take you there?” he asked.
“I…I think that he will not be returning home,” Jane said, her voice so quiet that Philips had to strain to hear her. She closed her eyes as though willing herself to continue. “Uncle, I…Mama and Mr. Collins have conspired to steal Longbourn together. I do not understand all of their plans, but given what I just heard, they have kidnapped Jonathan and are holding him somewhere.”
“Kidnapped?” Philips said, far more loudly than he intended. “Mr. Collins is a rector, and even your mother is not so stupid as to attempt what you suggest.”
“But, Uncle, I heard them speaking of it just now. Mr. Collins arrived at the house dirty and unkempt, and Mama sent me away. I…I have seen Lydia hold up a glass to the wall in order to overhear conversations in the past, so I did likewise and listened to them through the wall. They were speaking of kidnapping Jonathan and holding him in a cottage somewhere,” Jane said, and then continued to explain to her uncle what all she had overheard.
“Jane, this is quite the tale,” he consoled. “You cannot truly think your mother is capable of acting in this way, can you?”
“She has been meeting with Mr. Collins and Miss Bingley in secret,” Jane told him. “They do not realise that I have seen and overheard some things, but until today, I did not know enough to say anything. But I swear to you that they were speaking of keeping Jonathan from returning home and forcing Lizzy to marry Mr. Collins so he can claim Longbourn as his.”
“But that is preposterous,” Philips stated. “Mr. Collins has no legal right to Longbourn. Even if they kidnapped Bennet or had him kidnapped, Longbourn would go to Bennet’s heir. If he has no child, it would go to Lizzy although his wife would have the right to live there as long as she wished. But if there is a child, then the estate would be the child’s, with your Uncle Gardiner and me acting as its legal guardians. The entail was ended when Jonathan reached his majority.”
Jane shook her head. “Mr. Collins intends to use the rumours to lay claim to the estate himself,” she told him. “Not only that, but once he moves into Longbourn, he will compromise Lizzy and force her to marry him. Neither he nor my mother intend for Lizzy to get away; they have said they will ruin her completely if she does not comply with their wishes.”
Philips took in his niece, considering the expression on her face and the earnestness in her tone. “You truly believe what you are telling me?” he asked after a moment. “Whatever you heard makes you believe that your mother and this Collins fellow truly intend to harm your stepsister?”
“Yes!” Jane exclaimed, thankful that he finally seemed to be listening to her in this matter.
“I will speak to Sir William as soon as I can,” Philips replied. “You say they have already taken him?”
“When Mr. Collins came to our house an hour ago, his clothes were muddied, and he told Mama that he and some of the members of the militia had ‘him’ secured in an abandoned cottage somewhere. They mentioned the name ‘Wickham’ several times—he is the militiaman who has helped him. If Colonel Forster is called to assist with the search, this Mr. Wickham intends to keep the searchers away from where their captive is hidden.”
Once again, Philips took a few moments to think. “Jane, do you think it is safe for you to return to your home tonight? Would your mother miss you if you were to stay with my wife and me?”
Jane sighed and closed her eyes as she considered this. “She wanted me out of the way so she and Mr. Collins could discuss matters privately and sent me to speak with the cook about the meal. However, I doubt it would even occur to her that I would leave after speaking with the cook or that I would eavesdrop as I did.”
Philips nodded. “I wonder if anyone realises that Bennet is missing yet,” he mused. He pulled out his pocket watch and looked at it. “It is nearly dinner time. I will have my gig readied and will take you to Longbourn to make inquiries.”
“What will we tell mother?” Jane asked.
“I will ask my wife to send her a note that she encountered you on the street and asked you to come to our house for the evening meal,” Philips replied. “She has done that often enough that it should not concern your mother, especially if she is already distracted by other matters. I will have her ask for a servant to bring a dress for you for tomorrow, and then you can stay with us tonight.”