Page 22 of The Next Mrs Bennet

S eeing that he was still in a stupor as a result of everything that had just occurred—the eviction, the ruination of his name, and the loss of Darcy’s friendship, but more importantly, his former friend’s support—Bingley did not pay attention to his squirming sister on the opposite bench. He was oblivious to the fact she was still bound and gagged, but could not regret the quietude in the cabin of the coach.

A sound kick to his shin reminded him that his sister was present in the conveyance with him. It was then that Bingley noted that Caroline’s arms were still bound and the gag was in her mouth. As much as he did not desire to hear what she had to say, Bingley knew he could not leave her in this state.

He first untied the rope holding her arms behind her back. The thanks he received was a hard slap to his one cheek. She removed the gag herself.

“How dare you allow those people to treat me in this infamous fashion?” Miss Bingley screeched. “If it were not for your failure, we would both be engaged to a Bennet now!”

Based on his sister’s screeching, Bingley could tell that she had ignored what Mr Bennet said about giving in to a compromise. He was at fault for going along with his younger sister’s scheme. He tried to ignore the voice, which reminded him he was a willing participant and had wanted to hold and kiss Miss Bennet’s beauty regardless of what Caroline had ordered.

Mr Bennet had had the right of it. If they had joined the Hursts in travelling to London, they would not be ruined now. He decided not to dignify his sister’s wrongheaded accusations with a response. Now, thought was required.

A way to keep his money, or the lease, was imperative. Thanks to the massive bills for Caroline’s overspending over the years, he had had to dip into the principal of his fortune to meet his annual expenses. Hence, he could little afford the thousands of pounds he would now lose if he was not refunded the money for the eleven months remaining on the lease.

“ Do not ignore me !” Miss Bingley screamed.

The coach turned onto Meryton’s main street, and seeing the sign for the law offices of Frank Phillips, Bingley had an idea. Still ignoring his sister, he struck the ceiling, and his coachman halted the team of four pulling them.

Bingley alighted and told the footman to close the door. Then he turned to the coachman. “Peters, drive Miss Bingley back to the estate, return, and wait here for me,” he instructed. As soon as he stood back, the coachman flicked the ribbons, and the equipage was on its way.

After he watched his coach turn onto the road to Netherfield Park, Bingley entered the law practise. “I am here to see Mr Phillips,” Bingley told the clerk.

“Allow me to ask if Mr Phillips is available to receive you, Sir. You do not have an appointment, do you?” Bingley confirmed he did not. The clerk walked to a door at the opposite end of the office, knocked once, and disappeared inside. A few minutes later, he exited and showed the gent into Mr Phillips’s office.

Phillips was fully aware why Mr Bingley was in his office, but he would allow the man to explain on his own. “How may I be of service to you, Mr Bingley?” Phillips enquired. He indicated a chair before his desk.

“I would like you to sue Mr Bennet on my behalf. He is attempting to evict me from Netherfield Park and steal my money,” Bingley began after seating himself.

“Mr Bingley, do you remember how I begged you to read everything in the lease before you signed and executed it, right here, in this very office? Have you perused your copy of the document?” Phillips asked.

“When the butler told us about the clauses regarding the furniture, I did read the lease, which was after the fact. I do not remember it all verbatim, but I do not believe we have done anything to contravene the terms.” Bingley paused while he cogitated. “By the by, why did you not reveal that Mr Bennet is my landlord?”

“Because my client chose not to list his name in the contract, and more than that, it was completely irrelevant. As you had never met the Bennets before you took the lease, how would knowing the name have changed things?” Phillips demanded.

Knowing that what the solicitor said was the truth, Bingley had to think of another line of attack. “How can Mr Bennet evict me on a whim and keep my money just because I was attracted to his eldest daughter? That cannot be legal and is the reason I want to bring suit against him.”

“Mr Bingley, let me inform you of a few truths,” Phillips stated as he steepled his fingers in front of him. “The Bennets came very close to rejecting you as a lessee based on the results of the investigation of you and your family. You almost broke the terms of the lease on your first day in residence and did so most decidedly today. Do you think that I was not aware of your attempted compromise of Miss Bennet before you entered my office? A groom from Longbourn delivered the news a minute or two before you arrived. Attracted to indeed. You attempted to entrap one Bennet while Miss Bingley aimed for another. It does not help you at all to sit before me and prevaricate.”

“But how does that lead to the eviction and forfeiture of my money?” Bingley pleaded.

Phillips lifted a document from his desk and opened it to a certain page. “Read clause twelve, sub-clause number two,” Phillips stated, and handed the contract across his desk to the younger man.

As he read, Bingley’s face fell. It clearly stated that the tenant would be evicted for any dishonourable or rake-like behaviour or actions which affect anyone in the community. There was no ambiguity about the penalty being eviction without the refunding of a single penny.

“If you will not sue the Bennets for me, I will have my solicitor in London retain the best barristers, and I will receive all of my money back,” Bingley asserted petulantly.

“That is your right to attempt; however, I suggest you read the final clause very carefully before you do any such thing.” Phillips leant over and pointed to the relevant lines on the final page, above the signature lines. He watched as Mr Bingley read, and he knew the man understood when his face lost all of its colour.

“If I sue after being evicted for cause, in signing the lease, I have agreed in advance to pay five times the total amount of the lease!” Bingley exclaimed. He felt like he wanted to cast up his accounts.

“And before you ask, the four and twenty hours to vacate the estate or be arrested for trespassing is in clause fifteen, sub-clause one. Rather than waste your time here with me in an exercise of futility, I recommend that you go back to Netherfield Park, to pack, and to leave the estate before,” Phillips looked at the clock on his desk, “a quarter before midday on the morrow.”

“The Bennets are wealthy, what need have they for my money which they have not earned on the lease? They can afford to return it to me,” Bingley attempted as a final effort to recoup his funds.

“The no-refund clauses are in the lease to make sure that a tenant abides by the terms laid out in said document. The Bennets’ wealth is neither here nor there. Especially as they do not keep the money you are forfeiting.” Phillips held up his hand when he saw Mr Bingley begin to grin with happiness. “They do not keep the money, and it does not go back to you.”

“Then what happens to my funds if I do not receive the money, and they do not keep it?” Bingley puzzled.

“They have only had to evict one other tenant before you, and like they did then, the funds will be given to the two local parishes for the rectors to use to assist the needy hereabouts.” Phillips paused as he looked directly at Mr Bingley. “What would you learn if they did not stand by the contract you signed?”

Shoulders drooping in total defeat, Bingley left the law practice, and wordlessly climbed into his coach, which was waiting for him as he had instructed. He and Caroline had to pack.

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

Andrew led a smiling Jane to a bench in the wilderness on one side of the park. They were in full view of the footman but distant enough that he would not be able to hear anything.

As soon as Jane was seated, Andrew dropped to one knee and took each of her delicate hands in one of his own. “Jane, we both know what my purpose is here, and although you already stated what your answer would be, I feel I must ask the question.”

“Ask, my darling Andy, but make it short, there is no need for a flowery speech.”

“Jane Esmeralda Bennet, my heart has ached for you every instant you were not by my side. I never want to experience that longing for you again. Will you do me the supreme honour of accepting my hand in marriage and become my wife?”

“As those are the words I have dreamed of hearing from you, since before you sailed away to India, yes, Andrew Christian Fitzwilliam, I will marry you and desire nothing else than to never be parted from you again. That is my way of saying I do not desire a long engagement, quite the opposite in fact.”

“It was well known in society that we were courting before I departed for the faraway shores of India. We will not correct them when they assume, as they will be wont to do, that we had a secret engagement before I left England.”

First, he extracted the pouch containing the ring he had made for Jane, opened the bag, retrieved the ring, and slipped it onto the ring finger of her left hand. Then Andrew pushed up into a standing position. He placed his back between the guard and his fiancée, and after seeing not only permission but longing in her looks, he placed his hands either side of her head and lowered his head until their lips met. Rather than a light brushing of the lips, their kiss was deep, hungry, and passionate, and was followed by more, much deeper kisses.

Biggs allowed a few minutes with the Viscount blocking his view to pass before he unleashed a very loud cough, which caused the couple to jump apart. He grinned with satisfaction when he was able to see a gap between them.

Jane was breathless. Kissing Andy’s lips had been everything she had anticipated, and so much more. Yes, a short time before marriage was imperative.

“My dearest Andrew, I think we need to go discover where our parents and family are and give them our happy news, which I am certain will not come as a surprise to anyone,” Jane sang as she took Andy’s hand and pulled him towards the manor house. It was only then she truly looked at the ring he had gifted her. It was perfect.

For his part, Andrew was only too happy to allow his beloved to lead him towards the manor. He would follow this magnificent woman to the ends of the earth if needs be.

Knowing her parents would be waiting in the study, Jane led her betrothed directly there. The door was open, so they both entered the room, their fingers still intertwined. Now that they were back together, neither one wanted to break the physical contact between them.

“There is no question that you have accepted Andrew, Janey,” Becca beamed at her daughter. Even had she not seen the enormous sapphire engagement ring on Jane’s finger, her daughter’s face would have told her all she needed to know. “You need not our permission, but your father and I,” she said as she looked at her beloved Thomas, who nodded his agreement, “bestow our heartiest and most enthusiastic blessings for your union.”

“We wish you both happy and know that you are very well suited one to the other,” Bennet added. “I take it neither of you desire a long engagement?”

“No, we do not,” Andrew confirmed. “After being separated for two years, unless you object, we would like to marry as soon as may be. However, if you decree that we need to wait, we will.”

Bennet and Becca looked at one another, communicating silently as they were wont to do. “Neither your mother nor I will object to whichever date you choose to marry. If needed, I am sure Mr Pierce will issue a common licence in the next few days,” Bennet pronounced.

“Jane dear, do you want to go shopping in London before or after your wedding?” Becca enquired.

“After!” was Jane’s succinct and definitive answer.

“You have more than enough wonderful gowns, some never worn and others hardly ever, which would be more than appropriate for a wedding,” Becca stated as she hugged her firstborn to her. Regardless of whose blood flowed in her veins, Jane was as much her daughter as Lizzy, Mary, and Ellie. Not for the first time since she had begun to grow up, Becca gave thanks to God that Jane was nothing at all like her late birthmother in character, honour, or honesty.

“The rest of the family are impatient to share in your good news,” Bennet reminded those in the study. “I suggest we go and join them.”

None of the other three disagreed with him.

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

“Where were you?” Miss Bingley demanded when her brother arrived back at the mansion. “Why did you not tell me what you were about?”

“I discovered that Mr Bennet was well within his rights to evict us. We must vacate the estate before eleven on the morrow,” Bingley related dispassionately. “Before you blame me again, this was all your doing, and I followed you like a lamb to the slaughter. You have cost me thousands of pounds; now go pack.”

“How can you speak to me in that fashion?” Miss Bingley shrieked. “I will not pack; they cannot…”

“Yes, they can. Furthermore, it is perfectly legal. I am going to have my man pack, and I will depart on the morrow at exactly eleven in the morning. If you have not had your trunks filled, then they will remain here. If you are not ready to depart when I am, I will leave you behind, and then you will be the one arrested for trespassing.” Bingley stood and marched out of the drawing room.

While he went to issue orders to the housekeeper and butler to close the house and inform them of his departure, his sister was sitting very still in the drawing room.

Caroline Bingley did not like that her brother had not allowed her to control him. One thing of which she was sure was that Charles would not waver on the departure time, so unless she wanted to remain at Netherfield Park, be arrested, and end up in the town’s gaol, she needed to have her maid begin to pack her many trunks.

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

On entering the drawing room, the family members within managed to restrain themselves until Bennet made the announcement that all of them expected. As soon as it had been made, the newly engaged couple were mobbed by the younger generation. The females, as would be expected, all admired the ring after they had wished Jane happy.

“You will be my bridesmaid when I marry, will you not?” Jane whispered next to Elizabeth’s ear.

“As if you even need to ask me; of course, I will be honoured,” Elizabeth replied and then kissed her sister’s cheek. She had questions about the wedding being held on Friday upcoming, but she would ask them of Jane when they had time alone later in the day or that night. Elizabeth moved to hug her cousin, soon to be brother at the same time Cousin Liam was about to congratulate Andrew. Elizabeth’s hug ended up catching both Andy and Cousin Liam. She blushed furiously.

Darcy relished the feeling of Elizabeth’s arm around him, even if it had been for an instant. He could see she was fighting to bring her embarrassment under regulation and was about to apologise. “You have nothing to apologise for; it is, after all, not unheard of for cousins to hug,” he assured her.

Elizabeth sensed the heat leaving her face. She felt very grateful that her cousin had gone out of his way to make her feel comfortable. She noticed that Giana Darcy was holding back from joining the celebration, so she made her way to the younger Darcy’s side. “Giana, it is very good to see you again. What has it been? Ten years since we met at Snowhaven?” Elizabeth asked cheerfully.

“Yes, it has been that long,” Georgiana agreed. “Even though I was not yet five, I always remembered how kind you and Jane were to me there. For obvious reasons, I have never forgotten your second name.”

“As I could never forget yours. Not only because of my name, Grandmama Anna is another Georgiana,” Elizabeth noted. “Do you remember Mary and Tommy from Snowhaven? She would have been eight, and he was six at the time. Ellie was only three, so she remained in the nursery most of the time.”

“Do you not have a twin brother?” Georgiana verified.

“Yes, that is correct,” Elizabeth confirmed. “You know Will the younger and Ian, do you not?” Georgiana nodded it was so. “You see the four young men around Andrew and Janey now?” Another nod. “The tallest is Tommy. He is a month or two older than Felicity and Harriet. Between Will and Ian is my twin, Henry. When you see him close to my papa, you will see how much they look alike.”

“May I call you Lizzy as I did at Snowhaven?” Georgiana requested.

“Of course, you may,” Elizabeth allowed. “Have you not heard that I refer to you as Giana, unless you object?”

“No, no, not at all, Lizzy. I do have a question with regards to names. I have heard yourself and others call Fitz ‘ Liam ’. Why is that?”

Elizabeth explained why they had begun to call her brother Liam. Giana looked mortified. “I never asked him if he enjoyed being called Fitz. I should have enquired of him about his preference like you did.”

“Do not berate yourself, Giana. There was no reason for you to think there was aught wrong. You grew up with Andy and Rich addressing Liam in that way. He never indicated his true preference, and as intelligent as you are, you are not a soothsayer who has the power to read minds. It was easier for me to see as I was not used to the other name my whole life.”

“Thank you for putting Giana at ease about my name, Cousin Elizabeth,” Darcy interjected after hearing most of the conversation. “It is an unfortunate Darcy trait to attempt to take responsibility for that for which we have no blame.” He smiled widely, this time revealing two dimples.

Seeing the dimples made the heat rise in her cheeks all over again. To bring herself under regulation, Elizabeth turned to look at Jane and Andrew. Grandmama Beth had just reached them.

Once all of the hubbub had died down, Jane and Andrew announced that their wedding would be on Friday upcoming.

No one made a single negative comment regarding the speed of the nuptials.