Page 61 of The Next Mrs Bennet
M r. Reynolds had never seen such anticipation for the London papers as he had when he delivered them to the large breakfast parlour that Wednesday morning.
At that time of the morning, it was usually the master, Master William, and sometimes Her Grace who would be breaking their fasts. This morning, however, the whole of the party resident at the estate were present, and not one of them had food in front of them.
As he always did, the butler was about to lay the Times of London in front of the master to read. “Please hand the broadsheets to Her Grace,” Darcy instructed.
The butler carried out his master’s instruction without question, laying the folded paper face down in front of the Duchess.
“Mr. Reynolds, please remove the two footmen and close the door on the way out. I will ring when they may return and the doors be opened again,” Lady Anne instructed. The butler bowed to the mistress, and then led his two footmen out of the breakfast parlour before pulling the doors closed behind him.
Elizabeth looked at the folded newspaper in front of her. She so much wanted to see if what the letter told was the truth, while at the same time, she was fearful her hopes of freedom would be dashed.
‘ Come now Lizzy, ’ she told herself silently, ‘ are you not the one who tells how your courage rises when faced with adversity? ’ Elizabeth took a deep breath. She stood so she would be able to see the whole of the page, picked up the folded sheets, unfolded them, and then turned them over to display the first page.
As soon as she saw the headline on the front page her face lit up with joy as she smiled with the warmth of the rising sun. The clear signal to everyone in the parlour was that which she had hoped for had been confirmed.
There was no thought of society’s mores that one did not revel in the death of another. Elizabeth was rather sure hers was not the first, nor would it be the last merriment expressed at his demise. If there had been even the smallest measure of goodness in her late husband, it would have been different. There was not and Elizabeth was as certain as she could be his eternal soul was now discovering how hot the fires of hell were.
After her thoughts, Elizabeth lifted her eyes to the heavens to say a prayer of thanks for her deliverance out of bondage. She added thanks for her Easter prayers being granted.
With her thanks to God on high completed, she placed the unfolded edition of the newspaper back on the table allowing everyone to see the large, bold headline which went from one side of the page to the other.
THE DUKE OF HERTFORDSHIRE SHOT DEAD!
William had been closest to her and before either knew what they were about they were hugging. When they realised what they were doing, in front of everyone present no less, Elizabeth and William stepped back from one another.
It was clear the rest of the party wanted their share of wishing Elizabeth well on her freedom. After William stepped back, Elizabeth was surrounded by her four sisters. None was more gleeful than Lydia, and not only because she would be able to see the Castle. Lizzy was free and would never have to see him again.
“I know we are not supposed to feel jubilation at the death of any person, but I find I care not,” Lydia insisted. “That man deserved what he got.”
There was not a single voice in the room that said a word in disagreement with the sentiments Lydia expressed. In fact, Lord Matlock and Darcy separately were sorry he was gone for one reason only. Each of them would have liked to have been the man who ended the stain on humanity the late Duke represented.
“Lizzy, you are free!” Jane exclaimed.
“Yes, yes! I most certainly am,” Elizabeth gushed as she accepted a joint hug from Mary—who would turn fifteen on the morrow—and Kate.
“This being the first day of April, rather than someone pranking our Lizzy, she has been given the best gift anyone could ever conceive,” Gardiner remarked. Those who heard him nodded their emphatic agreement.
While Lady Elizabeth was being hugged by her sisters who were soon replaced by her aunts and uncles, William picked up the paper and read the article accompanying the headline. “What George Wickham informed us of in his letter was nothing but the truth. The reporter’s writing corroborates what he wrote,” William stated to no one in particular once he had completed reading the words on the broadsheet.
“My steward received a letter from his son telling of his intention to leave England in which the son begged his father’s pardon for his past misdeeds,” Darcy revealed after they had heard what William said was revealed in the article.
“I am happy for Mr. Wickham,” Lady Anne commented. “At long last he can feel proud about his son’s actions.” She turned to her son. “William, it does not mention anything regarding my friend being harmed does it?”
“She was not harmed, Mother. According to this Lady Sarah was away from the house with her daughter when her husband, son, and some of their men detected the intruder. They only discovered who it was after he had been shot to stop him from shooting one of them,” William averred.
The Darcy father and son, who normally found disguise abhorrent, shared a look which told of their being sanguine with it in this case.
“I wonder if Bennet has seen this yet?” Philips said to his brother. “He will not be happy as he knows what the added clauses to the settlement are and how the Duke’s death before the birth of an heir will affect his big plan for the entail to be broken.”
“Who cares what Bennet thinks,” Gardiner spat out. His anger over Bennet not protecting his daughter had not diminished. “However, I am in anticipation of knowing the details of the provisions Lizzy had added,” Gardiner stated.
“Once the celebration calms, I will do as Lizzy asked and reveal all,” Philips assured his brother.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Thomas Bennet was not feeling very well. He was sure it had nothing to do with the volume of spirits he was drinking. It had been some months now since he had ceased bothering with port as it had become like drinking water and had no dulling effect on him at all.
For a few days now his skin felt very clammy, he would lose consciousness at various times, at other times he felt rather confused, and he had been nauseous not a few times each day. He practically lived in his study, and even though he had his manservant keep the fire in his study built high, of late he had begun to feel cold all the time. Also, the few times he got out of his chair, he felt rather light-headed.
Bennet had for nigh on four months drank whisky, brandy, and gin exclusively. For more than two months now, he had been consuming at least two bottles of the cheapest drink he could find each day.
To support his habits and prop up the estate—given for some time now their income did not meet the expenses any longer—Bennet had withdrawn more and more funds from the principal which made up Fanny’s dowry of five thousand pounds. His intention to replace the money was long forgotten.
In his state of confusion, he had paid for things multiple times and had indulged in purchasing some very expensive sets of first editions. Between all of his mismanagement and indulgences, there was less than one thousand pounds of his wife’s fortune remaining. As he cared not for her present or her future, he never for one moment considered the impact on his wife of what he had done.
He had no idea what the malaise he was suffering from was. To dull his senses, Bennet consumed more and more of the spirits to try and make himself feel better. On the other hand, he was eating very little solid food. He could not remember the last time he had bathed, and his beard and whiskers were evidence of the fact he had not been shaved for weeks.
Given his and his wife’s ostracization from local society and the fact no one would deign to call on them, the only way news of the outside world was made known to him was when he chose to read the newspaper. The Times of London was delivered each day it was printed, but he did not read the news as diligently as he had in the past.
Reaching over to the pile of unread newspapers, Bennet happened to pull this past Monday’s edition from the four editions that lay untidily on his desk.
He unfolded the paper and saw the large print headline staring back at him. It took him much effort to focus and be able to read what it said. Even after reading it several times, it took some minutes before his brain communicated the meaning of the information before him in a way he was able to understand.
He rang the bell for Hill. The man looked greatly surprised when he entered the study as it had been some considerable time since the master had summoned him thither. “Hill,” Bennet slurred, “bring my wife.”
Hill gave a curt bow and went to summon the mistress who was ensconced in her bedchamber. It had been some months since she had taken to her chambers and remained there.
“The master requires you attend him in the study,” Hill conveyed.
Fanny had thought to refuse, but it had been so long since she had been invited into her husband’s sanctuary, she decided to see what it was he wanted. She had her maid assist her to dress and put her hair up in a simple coiffure—something she had not done in many weeks.
“You summoned me,” Fanny stated on entering his inner sanctum.
Bennet handed her the paper, “Read this,” he managed.
“What do I care if the man who refused to acknowledge his own parents-in-law is dead?” Fanny demanded nastily once she had read the article.
“You should, with him dead, Lizzy has all of the power now.”
“What nonsense do you speak of?” Fanny screeched.
He pulled open the centre drawer in his desk and withdrew a document, opened it to one of the last few pages, and handed it to his wife.
Fanny began to read:
Addendum to the marriage contract between Lord Archibald Winston Chamberlain, the Duke of Hertfordshire and Marquess of Hertford Heights and Miss Elizabeth Rose Bennet of Longbourn.
The terms hereunder are binding unless both parties jointly agree to dissolve any or all of them. They can be changed by one of the parties, only if that person survives the other.
The entail on the Longbourn Estate in Hertfordshire will only be broken with both the Duke’s and the Duchess’s agreement. If one of them predeceases the other, then the surviving party can decide on his or her own.
His Grace hereby agrees to not approach the Duchess’s sisters in any way without her written permission.
The Duchess will not be forced to give up a connection with her sisters, and is free to write to, and receive letters from them.
The Duke must agree on any non-family connections.
The Duke agrees to sever any connection to or with Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Frances Bennet of Longbourn, Hertfordshire.
Mr. Thomas Bennet is to sign the agreement on the last page revoking his parental rights on Miss Jane Bennet, Miss Mary Bennet, Miss Catherine Bennet, and Miss Lydia Bennet. If both the Duke and Duchess jointly call for the named sisters to live with them, they will be sent without delay. In the event either the Duke or Duchess predecease each other, the surviving party will be the full legal guardian of the four named Bennet sisters.
None of the promised dowries or interest thereon will be permitted to be used by either, or both, Mr. Thomas Bennet or Mrs. Frances Bennet.
If the Duke predeceases his Duchess, then Her Grace, Lady Elizabeth Rose, Duchess of Hertfordshire and Marchioness of Hertford Heights is the sole beneficiary of all of the Duke’s unentailed houses, estates, business interests, and fortune. The only estate and income thereof which is entailed to the dukedom is Falconwood which is in both Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. Likewise, Hertfordshire House is the only house that is tied to the dukedom.
In the case the eventuality in clause viii above comes to pass before the Duchess attains the age of 21, Mr. Edward Gardiner of London and Mr. Frank Philips of Meryton will be the Duchess’s guardians until such time as she either remarries or reaches her majority, whichever occurs first.
Unless agreed to by both the Duke and Duchess, or in the event one of them predeceases the other, clause viii is held inviolate and supersedes any last Will and Testament of Lord Archibald Winston Chamberlain, the Duke of Hertfordshire and Marquess of Hertford Heights even if said will is dated after the day the marriage settlement was signed.
If a son is born after the Duke’s death, he would inherit all entailed property plus whatever Her Grace conveys him from the unentailed properties and fortune.
If a daughter and no son is born and the Duke is not living to produce a male heir, then as laid out in the patents of the dukedom, the title will be bestowed on said daughter’s first-born male child.
“This means Miss Lizzy is rich beyond our wildest dreams and all of our concerns are over,” Fanny asserted.
“Mrs. Bennet, are you addlepated?” Bennet managed to say derisively. “The Duchess hates us. She had these clauses added to ensure if her husband passed before her, we would receive nothing.”
“ HOW COULD YOU AGREE TO SUCH A THING ?” Fanny screamed. She launched into a vitriol and expletive-laced tirade aimed at her useless husband.
To assist in drowning out the sound of his wife’s voice, Bennet unstopped a new bottle of whiskey and while his wife berated him, he drained the entirety of the bottle’s contents. No sooner had he put the bottle down when he began to be violently sick as what he had just guzzled down came back up.
He suddenly had trouble breathing as his dulled responses did not protect his ability to draw breath and swallow. Much of what remained in his mouth ran down his throat and ended up blocking his ability to breathe.
Fanny was still screeching when she noticed her husband was slumped over his desk in a pool of his vomit and was not moving. She promptly fainted at the view before her.
The Hills entered the study and found the mistress lying on the floor, fainted dead away. While Mrs. Hill opened the bottle of salts, which was always in her pocket, Mr. Hill went to check on the master; he found no signs of life.
Hill dispatched the single footman to first go to Mr. Jones and request he attend Longbourn post-haste. Next, the lad was to go to Mr. Long who was the substitute magistrate while Sir William was away. Lastly, Mr. Philips’s clerk would have to be told as there was a record on file which told how to contact the heir to Longbourn.
He was thankful it was his wife who had escorted the mistress to her chambers. Although she was in a daze, it was only a matter of time before the caterwauling would commence.