Page 20 of The Next Mrs Bennet

T here were many hugs and kisses given and received when the Cavendishes and Smythes arrived at Longbourn. It had been since the summer when they last had all been together. For a family who was as close as this one, that was a long time to be apart.

After the noisy greetings, the Cavendishes and Smythes went to their chambers to wash and change from the road, even though it had only been a four hour journey from London.

Henry and Tommy joined their cousins William—Uncle Will and Aunt Marie’s son—and Ian—Uncle Harry and Aunt Connie’s heir—to walk with them to the suite the two were sharing. William the younger was a little more than a year older than Henry. Due to the fact the latter had begun at Cambridge a year earlier than most, the cousins had been together for their three years at the university. They had been good friends before, but during their time at the school, they had forged an unbreakable bond. Ian Smythe, who was Viscount Braverton, was two years younger than Tommy. As he was not yet fourteen, his parents had yet to decide whether he would begin at Eton at the start of the 1811 or 1812 school year. If it was the latter, Tommy would commence his studies at Cambridge before Ian’s time at Eton. The age difference notwithstanding, the cousins were all very close.

Rosemarie Cavendish, Felicity, and Harriet Smythe, and Mary all loved spending time together and claimed each other as best friends. Lady Rosemarie had come out during the Little Season of 1810, while Ladies Felicity and Harriet still had two years before it would be their turn to be presented to society. Even though Ellie was a little less than three years younger than the Smythe twins, the group of older girls always included her whenever she was not busy with her lessons.

It was less than an hour before the adults all met in the main drawing room, which included Jane and Lizzy. The rest of the younger cousins decided to go for a ride.

“Well, Becca dear, I can see you have something to report to us,” Lady Anna guessed. “If I were a soothsayer, I would presume it has something to do with your tenants at Netherfield Park.”

“You are as astute as ever, Mama,” Becca agreed. “Unfortunately, and thanks to Miss Bingley’s study of the society pages…” She reported all regarding the assembly ball, including Mr Bingley’s unrelenting chase of Jane and finally meeting Fitzwilliam Darcy and how well he behaved at the assembly.

“He was about to insult me, but he stopped himself,” Elizabeth revealed. “Even though he never said what he intended to say, he made a very sincere apology for even thinking the words he would have spoken.”

“Good, it seems that Richard’s setdown of Fitz has had some positive consequences,” the Marquess observed.

“Uncle Will, he does not like the name Fitz, so we have decided, with his approval, to call him Liam, as it is also included in his given name,” Elizabeth reported.

“We never knew Darcy objected to that name,” Granville stated. “Why did he not say anything?”

Elizabeth related what Liam had told her. “The hardest one to convince to use Liam and not Fitz will be Rich. However, if he refuses, we will give Mary the task of convincing him,” Elizabeth smiled.

“As besotted as he is with my niece, that will not be hard for her,” Connie opined.

“Mama, Marie, and Connie, I assume if Miss Bingley does not behave as she should, you will end her aspirations in society?” Becca questioned. “We will do all we are able to keep her away from you, but when she discovers you are here, it will be like a fly attracted to honey. We may have to be very direct with her, and even then, the woman may not get the message.”

“We are well versed with ways of swatting annoying gnats buzzing around our heads,” Lady Anna insisted. “Now Thomas, what about this delusional cousin of yours who will arrive in what, about ten days from now?”

“The other guest will arrive some days after Aunt Elaine and Matlock, and I have a feeling Collins will not know whose boots to lick first once he meets all of you,” Bennet replied. “I trust it will be short work to disabuse him of his delusions of grandeur and send him on his way. We,” Bennet looked at his wife lovingly, “will not tolerate him in this house longer than absolutely necessary.”

Before anyone could reply, Mr Hill announced Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. Darcy stepped into the room after the butler withdrew. He was no longer surprised at the obvious wealth of the Bennets, which he had been aware of since they had alluded to the size of their house at the assembly. His ride up the drive and his first view of the house had confirmed what he had believed.

Darcy bowed to those in the room. “Welcome, Cousin Liam ,” Becca said after her curtsy. “It is good to see you again.”

“I am not intruding, am I?” he enquired humbly.

“Not at all,” Bennet drawled. “After all, we invited you to visit whenever you chose to do so, and we did tell you that more family would arrive today.”

It took a few minutes to greet all of the family members present. Seeing the Duchess, Cousin Becca, and Cousin Elizabeth together in the same room only highlighted how much the latter looked like her mother, Aunt Elaine, and grandmother.

“Have you managed to discourage Mr Bingley from his dishonourable chase of my eldest granddaughter?” Beth enquired after Darcy took a seat close to Lizzy.

“I attempted once again to point that out to my friend. Unfortunately, he follows his younger sister’s directives, and she has ordered him to make Cousin Jane his wife. Additionally, based on a conversation I inadvertently overheard, she has set her cap at Cousin Henry,” Darcy revealed. “As much as I am pleased that she is no longer hunting me as her marital prey, I would not wish that experience on anyone, especially not a member of my own family.”

Anna looked at her daughters and daughter-in-law. “It seems we are going to have to deal with her and have her run out of London. We will speak to Elaine when she, Reggie, and Rich arrive in a few days. She will not want to be excluded from excising this blight on society.”

“Whatever happens to her will affect Bingley. My warnings that she would ruin the Bingley name one day have been ignored, and I will not step in to try to mitigate the damage,” Darcy pledged.

“It seems that the two local clergymen will be receiving an influx of capital to their charitable coffers sooner rather than later,” Elizabeth remarked.

When Darcy’s questioning look was seen, Bennet explained what they did with forfeited funds if they ever had to evict a tenant from Netherfield Park. “Becca, what say you, after the Bingleys are removed, we take on no more tenants. We do not need the income, and we certainly can live without the bother that comes with some tenants,” Bennet suggested.

“I agree wholeheartedly,” Becca nodded emphatically.

“When the Fitzwilliams and my sister arrive, may I please accept your generous offer to reside at Longbourn?” Darcy requested. The reply was swift and positive. As much as he wanted to be away from the debacle the Bingley’s were making, he was certain that he would come to know Cousin Elizabeth far better with all of the time they would be in company together.

The lady he was interested in was impressed by Cousin Liam’s humility. She saw no trace of improper pride in him, and as such, she was pleased he would be a guest in her home. She was not averse to getting to know him better.

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

“Why did you not insist that we join Mr Darcy in travelling to Longbourn?” Miss Bingley demanded of her brother. “You could have been charming Miss Bennet, and I would have been making friends with them!”

“Caroline, you heard what Darcy said,” Bingley whined. “He was the only one invited, and he refused to take any of us with him.”

“As was proper,” Hurst interpolated. “It is most improper for one who is invited to bring those not specifically included in the invitation with him or her.” Hurst looked at his brother-in-law pointedly. How many invitations had Bingley received where he had included his sister in the party, rather than suffer her tantrum?

Bingley looked away. It was not that he was unaware that such behaviour was unacceptable; he just could not stand up to Caroline.

“What is it to you, and what do you know?” Miss Bingley screeched. “Louisa, how can you allow your drunkard of a husband to interfere in Bingley family business?”

“I happen to agree with Harold,” Mrs Hurst stated softly.

“And as you correctly said, it is Bingley business. Thankfully we are Hursts, so if you ruin the Bingley name, we will not be tainted by association,” Hurst returned firmly. “If you think that Miss Bennet will ever accept your brother as her suitor or you as a friend, then you are far more delusional than I ever believed. If the Bennets are family to the Devonshire dukedom, you are plotting your own ruin. As such, we will not remain here to watch the disaster you will cause. Louisa and I will return to London and Hurst House. You will not drag us down with you.” Hurst stood and led his wife out of the drawing room.

Bingley wanted to say something to the Hursts to stop them, but he was more than aware that had he done so, it would have resulted in a tantrum of epic proportions from his younger sister.

“Good riddance to them,” Miss Bingley sneered. “When I…we reach the first circles, we will not know the Hursts,” Miss Bingley spat out nastily.

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

Early Saturday morning, the fifth day of October 1811, the ship bearing Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam reached the mouth of the Thames, and the last leg to reach London. The ship had passed Dover the previous day, and this glorious morning, they had reached Southend On Sea and the mouth of the river.

Andrew had wanted to arrive in London that day but had to be patient thanks to the distance of roughly five and forty miles to London. According to the first officer, who was also the navigator, they were averaging one to two knots on the Thames, and would have to anchor for some hours at night, which meant they would arrive at the dock in a little less than two days. After the church service conducted by the third officer who had taken his orders some years earlier, Andrew had stood along the ship’s rail and extended his hand as if he could touch the land of his birth as the ship sailed ever closer to London.

Sunday night Andrew hardly slept with the anticipation of reaching the quay where the ship would dock mid-morning on Monday. It was a little past ten in the morning on Monday when Andrew began to identify London landmarks. He knew they were close when he saw the dome of St Paul’s rising above the haze which hung over the city.

He had to exercise all of his self-control not to jump over the side and swim to the dock while the crew manoeuvred the ship. Eventually, in what seemed like an eternity to him, which in reality, was about a half hour, the ship’s crew in concert with the men on the quay, had the ship secured with the thick ropes.

As the brow was put into place, Andrew felt the anticipation building. He had already made sure that his valet had more than enough coins to rent a cart to bring himself and their trunks to Hilldale House. He thanked the Captain, some of his officers, and a few crewmen who were not busy with other tasks and practically ran down the brow. If he had not thought it would make an embarrassing spectacle, Andrew would have dropped to his knees and kissed his native soil. He saw a few hackney cabs waiting just past the quay.

He jumped into the first one, handed the driver a half-crown, and told him to convey him to Matlock House on Grosvenor Square. Andrew told the driver there would be a bonus half-crown if he got him there as speedily as possible.

The driver earned his bonus, and Andrew jumped down and ran up the stairs, lifted the knocker, and allowed it to fall. When the butler opened the door, he did his best not to smile when Master Andrew pulled him into a hug. He was not completely successful, as the corners of his mouth were decidedly pointing up.

“My mother and father?” Andrew enquired.

“The Master is in the study with Master Richard, and your mother is in the morning room. Welcome home, Master Andrew,” the butler replied, his stoic look back in place.

The only thing which stopped him from running down the hall and up the stairs to the morning room was his mother’s admonition from years ago playing in his head, ordering her sons to never run in the house. Arriving at the morning room as speedily as his legs could carry him without running, Andrew pushed the door open and startled his mother as it swung open with force.

“Andrew!” Lady Elaine exclaimed as she pushed herself up and opened her arms to receive her eldest son’s hug and return her own. “When did the ship dock?”

“Within the last hour,” Andrew responded. “Mother, I am so happy to be home.”

“I am sure you would rather be another twenty miles from London, would you not?” Lady Elaine smiled slyly after she kissed each of her son’s cheeks. “How I have missed you. I have forbidden your father from ever again sending either of you away for so long.”

“I was happy to act as the family’s representative, and besides, I found a perfect sapphire which had been extracted from our mine, and had it turned into a ring for Jane.” Andrew withdrew a pouch from his pocket to show his mother. He did not mention he had brought a ruby home for Rich in case he ever needed it.

Lady Elaine opened the drawstring and allowed the ring to fall into her palm. “Oh Andy, it is perfect for Jane.”

“I thought I heard some noise from here. Welcome home, my boy,” Matlock boomed. “As much as I wish I had not needed to send you all the way to India, I am very thankful for the work you did while you were there.” The earl pulled his heir into a hug and slapped him on the back.

“It seems that the prodigal son has returned,” Richard jested as he gifted his brother a bear hug.

“Andrew, I am sure you want nothing more than to jump into your carriage and hie for Longbourn, and believe me, we all understand your desire to see Jane,” Lady Elaine told her eldest. “If you will spend the rest of the day with us, you may join us in the morning as we are all travelling to Longbourn.”

“As much as I would like to go before Jane on bended knee this very day, I will travel with you in the morning,” Andrew agreed. He turned to his brother. “Rich, I thank you for keeping an eye on Hilldale House. I suppose I should go there and change and allow my staff and servants to see that I am returned. Will you join me in travelling to Portman Square?”

“It was my pleasure to assist you, Andy, and yes, I will join you,” Richard decided.

“Not before you join us for nuncheon,” Lady Elaine commanded. “I have just regained my eldest son, so I am not ready to surrender you just yet. Your house will still be there in two hours.”

Until the butler informed them the midday meal was ready, Andrew regaled his family with stories of his two-year odyssey.

In the coach on the way to Portman Square, Andrew presented his brother with the ruby. Richard was very grateful. He decided he would have it cut and made part of a ring as soon as may be. He went to the jewellers that very afternoon and ordered what he envisioned.

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

“Charles, this is unacceptable. You have not seen Miss Bennet since the assembly, and you have done nothing to promote my friendship with the Bennet sisters. I care not what Mr Darcy said; we are calling on the Bennets this morning,” Miss Bingley stated stridently.

“But Caroline, we cannot do so before the Bennet ladies call on us, so we may return the call,” Bingley responded weakly. “Surely you do not want to anger the family of a duke?”

“How can receiving a call from one such as me, who will help them in London society, anger them? Mr Darcy gave us the wrong information for some nefarious reason of his own. I have ordered the coach; we are leaving in ten minutes!” Miss Bingley commanded.

Knowing it would do no good to oppose his sister, Bingley was in the coach as his younger sister had instructed. The three-mile trip went by very fast, and by the time they arrived at Longbourn, he had not thought of a plausible reason for the call.

“You were not exaggerating!” Miss Bingley crowed. “Look at the size of their mansion. Even without her connections, Miss Bennet is the wife for you.”

As their coach came to a halt under the portico next to the entrance to the house, the two Bingleys were not aware they were being observed by unfriendly eyes.

“I am sure the shrew demanded Bingley bring her here. I have seen her frustration that she has not been able to have contact with any of you since the assembly.” Darcy shook his head. “I tried to warn him, but now I wash my hands of Bingley; he will have to learn the hard way.”

Becca turned to her parents, sister, and brother. “I think you and your families should all go up to the family sitting room. Let us see what they want before we send them off with fleas in their ears. If I need you to put an end to her pretentions I will have Hill summon you.” There were nods, and the Cavendishes and Smythes headed for the grand staircase and made their way up to the first floor.

Once their titled family members were upstairs, Bennet nodded to Hill to answer the door.