Chapter 10
Charles Bingley was more scared than he had ever been before. One of Lady Catherine's goons had caught him attempting to watch some young ladies bathe through the window of their cottage. The man had frogmarched the errant clergyman to his mistress where he now stood sweating before her throne in her drawing room.
"I knew you were not to be trusted when you looked at my Anne the way you did! Spying on young maidens! What kind of libertine are you Mr. Bingley?" the great lady spat out. "Do not try and answer; there is no excuse for the way that Dryden discovered you!"
"W-what w-will you d-do to me y-your Ladyship?" Bingley managed to get out. If only he could control his urges. It was the same as when he tried to drag the delectable Jane Bennet away, he felt a base need that controlled him rather than the other way around.
"As I see it, there are two choices here. One is I contact the Bishop and you will be defrocked and never be allowed to be a curate, never mind a vicar." Lady Catherine paused allowing her words to sink into the disgusting pastor's consciousness.
"I will do anything you require your Ladyship, just please do not summon the Bishop. Bingley was well aware he was already treading on thin ice with the Bishop, so there would be no returning from this.
"Your mother recently told you that the Duke of Derbyshire has recently taken up residence in a neighbouring estate to the one where she is mistress, did she not?" Lady Catherine asked, seemingly changing the subject.
"She did in fact relate that fact. I do not understand…" Bingley started to say when the lady held up her hand.
"You will soon enough. She told you that his sister, Lady Georgiana is also reputed to be with him, did she not?" Bingley nodded. "I have a task for you. Succeed and I will give you a character so you may seek a new parish along with ten thousand pounds. Fail me and your Bishop will hear all!" Lady Catherine stated sinisterly.
"What is it you would have me do?" Bingley asked with trepidation. Especially where her nephew was concerned, he knew that the lady was bordering on the insane.
"You will go visit your family on the estate that neighbours my nephew's." Bingley had never shared that he was not allowed to set foot on the estate. "You will find a way to compromise my niece! You despoil her and Dryden here," she pointed a bony finger at the man, "will end your miserable life for me! I want enough done that I will be able to force my nephew to finally do his duty to his betrothed, my daughter! You have your choice. What is your decision?"
Bingley was not sure what he would do once he reached the Meryton area, but he had to make her think he would do as she desired to buy himself some time. "I will do as you ask. You realise that it may take me a little while to get close to her do you not?"
"Do you take me for a fool?" Lady Catherine slammed her can down. "I am not a simpleton; I know that you will not be able to walk through the doors of their Netherton estate and simply have access to her! I expect updates at least once a week. If not, Dryden will come and visit you! Do I make myself clear?"
"It is Netherfield your Ladyship." Bingley then convinced the lady he would need funds for travel and to purchase some clothing that would make him look the part of a man who would be noticed by the sister of a duke. Lady Catherine gave him a hundred fifty pounds and told him it would be deducted from his final payment. By early the next day, Charles Bingley was on a pony from Bromley headed towards Meryton.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
"It will be the finest gown I have ever owned!" Louisa gushed as Elizabeth and Charlotte watched her as she had a fitting at the seamstress in Meryton of the gown that Elizabeth was gifting her.
"You look very well in it Lulu," Charlotte assured her friend.
"Charlotte has the right of it Lulu, it is perfect for you. Louisa blushed with pleasure not used to compliments about the way she looked. She changed and the three friends departed.
As they walked down the Meryton main street, Elizabeth spied her stepmother and stepsister exiting the jewellery store, which was also Meryton's pawnbroker. "Charlotte, I will meet you and Lulu at the tearoom, there is some Longbourn business I must take care of." She crossed the road to Smithers Emporium and rang the bell for Mr. Smithers who looked decidedly guilty when he saw her.
"What did that woman sell you Mr. Smithers?" Elizabeth asked sharply arms akimbo.
"J-just some old pieces of hers Miss Bennet," the man hedged.
"Mr. Smithers, you may tell me now or I will return before you know it with Mr. Phillips, the magistrate, and the constable! Now I ask again what did she sell you?" Elizabeth demanded.
The man crumpled knowing that if he were convicted of selling stolen goods, he would lose his business and be transported. "Some of your father's first editions," the man owned.
"Is this the first time she has sold Longbourn's property to you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Just one other time. She sold me a pair of silver candlesticks. They are in the back." the defeated man acknowledged.
"If you do not want the law involved, you will have all of my property sent to the Halverson's farm. I will not reimburse you one penny as you were warned along with every other merchant in Meryton. She is not to be trusted. At the very least you should have told her you needed time to appraise the goods and called me or Mr. Phillips. Which you will do if she attempts to sell you anything else, will you not?" Elizabeth stated leaving no room for argument. The man nodded. He summoned his man and had him load anything the woman had sold him and instructed his man to deliver the items to the tenants at Longbourn.
Elizabeth stopped at the tearoom and told her friends that she needed to return home urgently and was gone before they could protest.
After the two friends completed their tea and pastries, they paid and left the tearoom. Louisa was turned looking at Charlotte and did not see the gentleman barrelling towards her as he too was distracted. The two collided and Louisa would have fallen had the man not quickly reached out and caught her arms saving her.
"I am so sorry sir," the embarrassed young lady stated with her head down.
"No madam it was all my fault, I was preoccupied and did not see you," Mr. Hurst averred.
"Rather than argue who was more at fault, may we know who almost bowled my friend over, sir?" Charlotte asked with amusement, as she saw how uncomfortable both were. She wondered when one of them would wake up to the fact that the gentleman was still holding onto Louisa's arms. Charlotte said nothing, not wanting to add to their embarrassment.
Just then both released and separated by a step or two blushing furiously. "Harold Hurst at your service ladies. Private secretary to the Duke of Derbyshire and Earl of Lambton."
"Miss Charlotte Lucas, and the lady you accosted is Miss Louisa Bingley," Miss Lucas made the introductions from their side.
Hurst almost recoiled when he heard the chit's name, but he schooled his features. As he remembered the report, it had stated that the younger Bingley, Caroline, was the objectionable one. He had the good fortune in bumping into the one that was reported to be nothing like her mother or sister. She was standing demurely waiting for his reaction and had not in any way tried to call compromise.
"Well met Miss Lucas, Miss Bingley. I must away but may I be so bold as to solicit a dance from each of you at the upcoming assembly?" Hurst bowed to the friends. Both nodded and he requested the second from Miss Lucas and the third from Miss Bingley.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The afternoon after The Charger sailed, leaving New England, the stranded party's home for over three years behind them, the Captain and his Executive Officer had introduced the arriving Bennets to their wives. For the first night, the Countess and Jane joined Mrs. Sandiford in the captain's cabin while Ladies Cassandra and Alicia were billeted with Mrs. Chandler in the second in command's cabin. The two senior officers shared the Captains day cabin while the Viscount, Phillip, and Tommy joined the officers in the wardroom. Much to his dislike, Parrot was not allowed in the wardroom and was given a perch near the crew's messdeck.
The night before the wedding, her Aunt Amy had given Jane the talk. It was at the best of times not the easiest talk to give and when the Countess had talked to Marie it was easier than in this case when the bride was marrying Jamey. Both had made it through the awkwardness with the minimum of embarrassment.
Before she went to bed that night, Jane had found Uncle James. "I feel guilty that I am being selfish and not waiting until Papa walks me down the aisle," Jane informed her uncle.
"There are things that you need to know Jane. Your father's love for you is such that when he sees you again all he will care about is that you and Tommy are alive and well. He would think it most selfish of himself wanting you and Jamey to wait one more day than necessary. The second part is that although your being of age you do not need it, through me you have your father's consent and blessing. Do you not think that we both did not see that you and Jamey were headed in this direction? Before we left for Jamaica, your father gave me full authority to consent to and bless your marriage if it were to happen before we returned." The Earl lifted his soon to be daughter's chin. Jane was gently crying tears of relief.
Knowing that she had her father's consent and blessing through Uncle James, lifted a great weight from her shoulders that she had not realised she was carrying. The night before her wedding, Jane Bennet had the most restful sleep she had had in a long time.
The morning of the seven and twentieth day of February dawned with a brilliant sunrise as the sun started its climb in the east. Jane was assisted in dressing by her two cousins and soon-to-be sisters. The truth was that over the last three years of their ordeal they had become as close as any sisters could ever be, but today it would become official.
At two bells—nine in the morning to the Bennets, all crew who were not integral to the sailing of the ship were in two smart lines on either side of the deck. The Chaplain stood in front of the main mast with Jamey to his side, just in front of the capstan, with Phillip as best man standing to his brother's right. The Earl, Countess, and their two younger daughters, along with the two officer's wives, and officers sat on chairs near the mast. The clergyman gave a signal and those seated stood and as the bosun piped the welcome for a senior officer on his bosun's whistle. Mrs. Sandiford had a special pianoforte that was designed to be on board, but it had been decided it would be to hard to bring it up onto the deck.
All Jane saw was Jamey standing in front of her waiting for her. They had waited for so long and it was finally the day she had dreamed of for eighteen long months. Jane saw nothing of the beautiful view as the ship navigated between some of the hundreds of islands in the chain. All she saw was Jamey.
Jamey knew that his betrothed was beautiful, but she never looked more so than she did as she walked towards him on Tommy's arm. Somehow, she had a new gown, well n ew for her. It was one on loan from the Captain's wife, and although it was a simple gown, it was perfect. Jane did not need adornments for her angelic beauty to shine through.
They had often discussed the possibility they would never be rescued, and what they would do if they had been stranded for another year. Those contingencies were forgotten; they were on a Royal Navy warship and hopefully in two to three months they would see the shores of England again.
Tommy kissed his sister's cheek and placed her hand on his soon-to-be brother's arm. Jane looked up at Tommy who was no longer shorter than her and had not been for almost a year. Jane and Jamey took two steps and were standing in front of the Chaplain. He nodded his head and those with chairs were seated.
The clergyman opened the Book of Common Prayer and commenced the service. Before they knew it, they had said their vows one to the other and they were pronounced man and wife. When Jane signed the resister, she had to smile. Most brides signed their maiden name for the final time at this point in the proceedings, but it was not the case for Jane Bennet. The new Viscountess Glenmeade had married her cousin, James Bennet.
The crew cheered and whooped loudly and were all released to receive a double ration of grog that day. The two crew men that had spent the years on New England with the Bennets wished the newlyweds joy in person like the family and officers. These two men had been assimilated into the frigate's crew until they reached Nassau. After three years together, they were honorary members of the family after all. The Earl had privately spoken to his wife and pledged to help them and their families as much as he could, including the family of Jack Sparrow, the unfortunate soul who was back on New England in eternal slumber.
For their wedding night, the newlyweds would have the Captain's cabin while the other ladies would make alternate plans for one night. Thankfully in three days or less The Charger would sail into Nassau.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As soon as Elizabeth arrived at Longbourn, she had the Hills, and the other servants, check the house and its contents against the inventory. Thankfully, the items Mr. Smithers claimed to have been sold to him were the only items missing. Elizabeth had her servants pack anything of value into crates.
When Mrs. Bennet and Caroline flounced into the house looking well pleased with themselves, their looks changed to ones of horror when they noted all the valuables gone from their places.
"Cinder-Liza! What are you doing with our possessions?" Caroline screeched.
"Contrary to what your mother may have told you, nothing in this house, besides what you brought with you, or you have purchased with your own money is yours! Why would you care what I do with the heir of Longbourn's possessions? It is not like you would have stolen anything to sell in Meryton would you?" Elizabeth asked innocently.
Mother and daughter blanched, and their pallor became decidedly whiter. It was then that Louisa returned and saw the looks on her mother and sister's miens. "What has happened?" She asked.
"Never mind, go eat something Louisa," Martha Bennet spat out spitefully as she turned on her heel and she and her ugly daughter beat a hasty retreat. Elizabeth told Louisa what had precipitated her action.
"Why did you not report them to Mr. Phillips?" Louisa asked.
"Everything is safe. These crates will join the recovered items and be out of their reach until it is time to restore them to their rightful owner," Elizabeth stated cryptically.
"Louisa knew there was something her friend was not telling her, but she did not push her.
That night after talking to her friend for an hour or two, where Elizabeth noted but did not point out, the name Hurst was mentioned by Louisa three of four times. Elizabeth decided she would have to pay attention and help her friend find happiness and free herself of her nasty mother and sister.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next morning the Duke, as was his wont, had Zeus saddled and he was off across the fields as the sun rose above the horizon. He only had Biggs as an escort. At some point he must have crossed the boundary between his estate and Longbourn without noticing it. He slowed down as he approached an apple orchard. He seemed to remember one on the estate, mayhap not as large as the one he rode into.
Lord William slid off his mount and picked an apple and offered it to Zeus to munch on. He then repeated the action for himself and was about to take a second bite when an apple flew and struck him on the shoulder.
"Who do you think you are stealing my apples!" The angry launcher of the missile hissed. Elizabeth had an apple in each hand just in case she needed it. It was then that the Duke saw the green eyes flashing at him in anger.
"Do ya know w'o ya thowed your apple at?" Biggs asked as he advanced to take hold of the petite young lady. "Ya cannot 'urt 'is Grace like that!" The big man stopped as his master shook his head.
"I care not a whit of he is the King himself. That does not give him the right to trespass on my land and eat my apples without permission!" Elizabeth looked at the Duke daring him to say anything. "Now please leave my estate and respect the boundary unless you have permission."
Before the stunned Duke could retort, the woman turned, her loose chestnut curls flying behind her, and took off walking at a furious pace towards what Lord William guessed was the manor house. As her form retreated her heard: "Insufferable man!"
She obviously knew who he was and did not care a whit. Those eyes. He had only witnessed eyes that green and impertinent, such as she had just displayed ,by one four year old girl ever. He could not remember the girl's fist name, but those eyes!
It took Biggs to remind the master they needed to return to their own land to break the Duke out of his stupor. She had not fawned, had not simpered, but she had treated him just like what we was—a trespasser. Any other lady, knowing who he was, would have told him to take anything he desired, including themselves, not this lady. She must be the last remaining Bennet daughter at home, the one the report called Elizabeth.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As Elizabeth trudged back towards the manor house, much of her anger bled from her body. 'Did I just throw an apple at a duke? And then chastised him! Good heavens he must think me an uncouth harridan! You have to learn to control your temper Lizzy!' she berated herself and then felt sad as she knew those were words that Jane had spoken to her on more than one occasion.
Elizabeth sat down on a log and considered all that she had lost in her less than twenty years. First her beloved mother, then Tommy and Jane had disappeared along with her uncle, aunt, and her cousins. Shortly after those tragedies, she lost her father. She was the only Bennet left. Marie was a Fitzwilliam now.
Andrew and Marie wrote to Elizabeth in care of Mr. Phillips. When they asked how she was; she would always say all was well. Her cousins had more than enough to worry about without her adding to their burdens. They had invited her to visit them from time to time, but she had always demurred. She just did not feel that she could afford to be away from her beloved Longbourn; it was all she had left of her family.
What she did not know was the man she had just berated was in fact her cousin through marriage.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
"You were attacked by a slip of a woman?" Richard guffawed as his cousin related the happenings of the morning.
"She did not fire grape shot at William, Richard, she fired apple shot!" Wickham ribbed his friend.
"Take your fun you two, I would like to see you stand up against the force of nature I met this morning. Well I never met her; she was too busy berating me to worry about mentioning her name." Lord William took another sip of his coffee.
Richard, do you remember, I think it was in '94, I was with you at Holder Heights, and we met this little impertinent miss, about four, green eyes, chestnut curls, little slip of a thing and as inquisitive as all heck?" Lord William asked.
"I remember her, Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" Richard stated.
"Richard are you sure that is her name? I believe the one I met today was the nineteen or twenty year old version of that mite," Lord William whistled. He had suspected it was the same girl. "If that is true then she lost a big part of her family in '05."
"She lost a lot more than cousins William. Her older sister and younger brother were with the Holders when they were lost. A year later, he father fell of his galloping horse and died instantly. She is our cousin William! Her cousin Marie, the only surviving Holder Bennet is Andrew's wife!" Richard explained. His mother had kept up a steady correspondence with him while he was in the peninsula. The letters he received were news filled and she had received the one where his mother had enumerated the tragedies of the Bennet families.
"She is our cousin William, and she is all alone in the world?" Lady Georgiana asked softly.
"So it seems Gigi," Lord William replied thoughtfully. "Richard, why does no one here know of the connection to her Holder Bennet cousins?"
"From what I remember of what my mother told me at the time, when the despicable woman compromised Miss Bennet's father, he led her to believe the entail on the estate is away from females. It is not, but given the social climbing and fortune hunting tendencies of his new wife, he kept as much of the truth from her as possible," Richard recalled.
"At the moment she thinks me an insufferable man who thinks his rank allows him to take what he wants. I think before we inform her of our connection to her, we should change her opinion of us," Lord William grimaced as he saw three sets of raised eyebrows pointed in his direction. "I know—me—not us!"
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Charles Bingley had taken a bedchamber at the Golden Bull Inn in Steveton, a little town ten miles to the west of Meryton. He did not want to be seen yet, not until he knew how to approach the problem.
He was finally willing to admit that anything bad in his life had been at his own direction, all of his talk about being controlled rather than in control a lie. He had spied on young woman because it gave him a feeling of control and pleasure, he controlled it not the other way around as he had tried to tell himself. He slowly started to admit that the biggest lies he told were the ones he told himself.
His mother had taught him to take what he wanted, as it was his due. However, as he thought back now with fresh eyes, fully open for mayhap the first time in his life, he could see that there was little his mother told him that had been correct. She had involved her eleven year-old and nine year-old children in a despicable scheme to entrap a man so honourable that he married his mother. What mother uses her children in such a fashion?
He had gambled, drank, and whored away his legacy. It had not been a vast sum, but if he had invested it with Mr. Gardiner as he should have, he would have had a healthy dividend each year while being able to grow the principal as well. What an addlepated fool he had been.
He did not know yet how, but he must find a way to contact the Duke and tell him what Lady Catherine had charged him to do. He would seek no reward. For the first time in his life, Charles Bingley wanted to do something just because it was the right thing to do.
