AN: OK, OK. It was an evil cliffy. And it won't be the last as we switch between E & D's POV going forward. I can't promise to do this every time, but here is another bonus chapter for you today...
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Miss Bingley was still generally avoiding Darcy when the time rolled around for the party, and glaring at him when she could not avoid his company. While his comment had not been very gentlemanly, he actually wished he had been given an appropriate opportunity to be so honest with her before. Her pursuit of him as a marriage partner had given him much discomfort over the past few years, while also wasting her time and energy. Although her background and attitude were against her, her dowry could have already bought her marriage to a minor gentleman much like Hurst. Perhaps now that she knew she had no chance with him, it would.
After another nearly silent carriage ride, they reached the estate of their hosts rather later than Darcy would have liked. Miss Bingley had delayed them several times and seemed determined not to go at all unless forced. Between them, Darcy and Bingley insisted and they finally managed to get her out to the carriage.
It was to be another soiree, with light refreshments provided and some musical performances later in the evening. Darcy hoped it would not end the way the soiree at Lucas Lodge had done. Of course, if Sir William was present, there might be some tense moments. If it came to that, Darcy decided he would do his best to keep the situation from becoming unpleasant even if that meant unbending from his stance a bit. The important point was that Miss Elizabeth would be present. If he could manage to approach closely enough to speak with her and not frighten her away, Darcy hoped to ask about the metal box and the Derbyshire lace.
To his relief, the Lucas family did not appear to have arrived yet and no one had heard from them. That was a bonus for the evening. Darcy relaxed a bit and greeted people more genially than was his wont. As he went, he kept his eyes open for Miss Elizabeth. He and Bingley spotted Mrs. Bennet at about the same time. That gave Darcy hope that Miss Elizabeth was near. He turned and caught sight of her just as Bingley rushed forward, perhaps trying to catch up with Miss Jane Bennet, who stood just behind Mrs. Bennet and Miss Mary, before the lovely woman could disappear into the crowd.
Darcy smiled in greeting and was pleased when Miss Elizabeth smiled back. He was about to walk her way when suddenly her expression changed. She looked troubled and took a step forward with her right hand raised as if she could stop some terrible event. She shouted one word – no – and then he heard the crash from off to his left where she had been looking.
Bingley lay sprawled atop poor Miss Mary. Her bodice had somehow been torn to pieces and the fall had flipped her gown and petticoat up so her legs were uncovered to just above her knees. With the exposure of so much of her body in such a public manner, she was disgraced in the eyes of the crowd, even if it had just been a terrible accident. Bingley was apologizing and trying to rise, but his arm and coat seemed to be trapped in a piece of lace that was still attached to what was left of her gown.
Darcy rushed to his friend and the young woman, arriving just a step behind Miss Elizabeth and Miss Bennet. Near them, Mrs. Bennet was making a show of fussing over the incident, but doing nothing to help anyone. Some of the officers began jeering and making rude comments and the rest of the room was abuzz with gossip.
Darcy reached down to flip Miss Mary's skirt back over her legs before trying to help Bingley roll off the young woman and stand up. Miss Elizabeth looked at him with eyes full of tears, but her voice was steady as she crouched down near her sister's head.
"See if you can raise Mr. Bingley's chest up just a little bit, Mr. Darcy. His buttons and cuff links are tangled with her gown. Mr. Bingley, please relax and let your friend hold you up while I untangle you."
Darcy did as directed. He heard Bingley groan a bit as he hung from Darcy's grasp. Whether that was from injury or embarrassment, Darcy could not tell. Miss Elizabeth was quick. In a matter of moments she spoke again.
"Mr. Darcy, shift his torso a foot or two to the left, then he can get on hands and knees to stand up. We will take care of Mary."
Once again, Darcy followed instructions. He helped Bingley get to his feet while the two young women did the same for their sister, Miss Bennet wrapping the younger woman in a shawl while Miss Elizabeth held her closely. Miss Catherine came up as well, asking if there was any way she could be of help.
Miss Mary was crying, of course, but her breathing was accompanied by sharp pained gasps that indicated she might have been badly bruised by the sudden weight of Bingley crashing down on her slight form. The other people in the room were starting to crowd around curiously and Miss Elizabeth looked like she was about to panic. Darcy took charge.
"Stand back, make way," he said, using shooing motions towards the people between them and the front door. "Someone send a servant to bring the Bennet carriage to the door right away."
One of the officers made another rude comment while asking if one of the Bennet sisters disgraced herself at every gathering that they attended. Darcy turned to face the man with a glare, not surprised to see it was Lieutenant Denny. He was about to tell the man off when Bingley beat him to it.
"Miss Mary Bennet bears no fault in this unfortunate accident. I do not wish to hear another disparaging word against my future wife. Now, would someone please do as Darcy requested and send for the Bennet carriage so my betrothed can be seen safely home and checked for injuries. It is no pleasant thing to have someone unexpectedly land heavily upon you."
Darcy heard all four Bennet sisters sigh with relief nearly in unison when Bingley said Miss Mary was his future wife. Then Miss Mary moaned softly.
"Is there a physician nearby?" Darcy asked loudly.
"Just Mr. Jones, the apothecary," someone replied.
"Someone please send a messenger with a note to summon him to the Bennet house as quickly as possible."
A voice in the crowd that Darcy did not recognize agreed to take on the task. Darcy hoped the carriage had been ordered as well. The more people who were standing around, the less likely it was that any one of them would take the initiative when a general request was made.
After a little more shooing from him, the people in the room finally opened out a path, and Darcy escorted the four young women along it. Bingley limped to the rear of the group. Behind him, came Mrs. Bennet, leaning on a cane Darcy had not seen her use before. It was obvious to him, just as it probably was to everyone else in the room, exactly how and why Bingley had tripped when he did. It was also obvious to Darcy that none of the sisters had known what would happen.
They reached the front entry and waited there, the two men standing guard on the young women as if they could somehow protect them from the vicious tongues of the gossips. Their mother stayed back, avoiding both the two men and the four young women as much as was possible while remaining in the same room.
It had been a bold move by Mrs. Bennet, Darcy had to admit that. She caused the accident, but did not make any demands, letting the shock and jeers of the neighbors do her convincing of Bingley for her. All the same, the entire fate of their family could have fallen either side of the razor. Bingley did not have to offer for Miss Mary. He could have just as easily walked away and said Mrs. Bennet had brought ruin on her daughter of her own free will. Aside from a little talk, Bingley would have suffered no consequences if he had, although Darcy would have been disappointed in his friend's behavior. Darcy's father had taught him it was shameful to leave an innocent woman to suffer harm that was no fault of her own. If Bingley had deserted her, Darcy would have felt compelled to help the young women in some other way. Darcy supposed the truly good news was that it had not been Miss Lydia in the way of Bingley's fall. Even Mrs. Bennet probably realized that Bingley would have left the youngest daughter to her fate.
A servant brought the ladies' wraps. Bingley and Darcy stepped forward to help the women, but Miss Bennet raised a hand that brought them to a halt. The sisters tended to each other, starting by wrapping Miss Mary carefully in her cloak. One of them had an arm around Miss Mary for support at all times except for a brief moment when she had to stand on her own so they could get the cloak on her. Darcy could hear the young woman's tiny whimpers with each breath. He would not be surprised to learn she had a cracked or broken rib, possibly more than one.
Finally, the carriage pulled around. The two gentlemen assisted the sisters into the carriage carefully. Darcy offered Mrs. Bennet a hand, but did not look at her or say a word. Basic courtesy was all he would give. He did not approve of her actions, but that was Bingley's fight.
Before closing the carriage door, Bingley looked in at the occupants. "Mr. Phillips is the local attorney, is he not?" he asked.
"Yes," Mrs. Bennet replied.
"Please tell Mr. Bennet that I will arrive with Mr. Phillips, providing he is available, tomorrow at eleven in the morning to prepare the settlement. I understand Mr. Bennet is ill, but I will need to speak with him all the same."
"I shall tell him," Mrs. Bennet replied.
"Miss Mary may have cracked or broken ribs," Darcy added. "It will be best if she remains upright and tries not to bend or stress that area of her body too much, at least until the apothecary arrives and can provide better suggestions for her care."
"And, of course, if a physician is needed, send someone over to me at Netherfield and I will send for my physician from London," Bingley said.
Mrs. Bennet thanked them quietly, but refused to look either man in the eye. Bingley closed the door and sent the coachman on his way.
"How are you?" Darcy asked quietly as the carriage rattled off into the night.
Bingley hissed out, "She shoved that bloody cane between my feet, banging both my ankles in the process. They ache abominably, although not as much as the knee that slammed into the floor or the small of my back that twisted as I fell. I may have to take the carriage to Longbourn tomorrow. I suspect I will hurt too much for horseback."
"We should send a note to Mr. Phillips. I did not see him here."
"Yes. Thank you for standing by me. I know I probably should not have given in to Mrs. Bennet's plot, but I just could not leave that poor girl and all her sisters to suffer from it, no matter how much I despise the mother. I was ready to call her out and walk away, I truly was. I know that no one would have blamed me if I did. Then, as I heard the crowd begin to talk, I had only a moment to decide exactly what kind of man I am. Claiming the betrothal and saving their reputations felt like the only gentlemanly thing to do. It was the only honorable thing to do. And who I want to be is an honorable gentleman."
"It was very much the act of an honorable gentleman, despite or perhaps because of the lifelong consequences from your decision. Think on the bright side, Bingley. Your bride is a gentlewoman of good behavior who knows what is expected of the mistress of an estate. Marrying her will elevate your status and that of your future children even if there is a lingering bit of scandal after the wedding. She is pretty, although not quite the blonde beauty you are attracted to in Miss Bennet. From what little I have seen of her, she is also reasonably intelligent and capable of learning enough to be a good companion if you guide her to subjects that interest you. I suspect that if you provide her with access to lessons with a proper music master, she will become a very proficient player to entertain you on quiet evenings."
"She does dance music better than concertos. I already know that."
"Give her a chance. You said yourself that she is a pleasant girl. If you treat her well, she may become a very amiable wife."
"She is more amiable than Caroline already and I have managed to live with my sister's company for years. Do not worry. I will treat her well, just as if she were the wife I had chosen instead of the one I was thrust upon." He smirked at Darcy and added, "And that will make Miss Elizabeth happy. Maybe she will even allow you a chance to speak with her some day."
"Ah, you had noticed that too." Darcy felt slightly embarrassed but tried not to show it.
"It is rather obvious she has been avoiding us both. I have also noticed the way you look at her. We may be brothers one day even if you will not marry Caroline. Enough of that, though. It is definitely time for another early departure, I think. I hurt all over."
"I hope you just have bruises and that they will heal soon. I must say that sometimes you remind me of an excitable puppy - a spaniel or a terrier - and I wonder why we are friends. It is times like this I know why. You are an honorable man, Charles Bingley. The kind of man I am proud to call my friend."
They stepped back inside the house and Darcy asked the servant to send for their carriage as well. Leaving Bingley to wait in the entry, Darcy headed back into the crowd to find the rest of their party, deflect any vile gossip, and make their excuses to the hostess. At least Sir William Lucas had not yet arrived to annoy him.
~o~
Mr. Phillips responded to Bingley's note that same evening to confirm he would be at Longbourn by or before their eleven o'clock appointment the following day. Darcy supposed that his willingness to help might have something to do with the bride in question being his niece. If he arranged a good settlement that would be one less girl to worry about if their father died. If he was really clever he might be able to arrange for all of them.
As Bingley had suspected, he ached far too much the next morning to make the trip on horseback. He was barely able to drag himself downstairs and into the carriage. Darcy heard him moan, groan or swear with every bump in the road.
By the time they pulled up in front of the house, Darcy thought his friend was ready to scream with pain. The footman set the step and opened the carriage door. Darcy got out, but Bingley just sat there looking like he was trying to work up his courage or perhaps just trying to keep the screaming bottled up inside.
The front door opened and Mr. Phillips came out. He walked around and looked at Bingley with evident pity.
"Will you be able to make it inside, Mr. Bingley?" he asked.
Bingley drew in a deep breath and then lurched off the seat, throwing himself at the open carriage doorway. Darcy caught him before he could fall out. Between them, he and Mr. Phillips helped Bingley down the single step to ground level. Bingley let out his breath with a moaning sob.
"You fell hard, I hear," Mr. Phillips said sympathetically. "I spoke with Lizzy this morning and she described the whole scene to me. Your guess that Mary has a few cracked ribs was probably correct, Mr. Darcy, although there was no way to be sure. The apothecary showed Lizzy and Jane how to wrap the ribs and has Mary resting leaning on a board to try and keep the pressure off them so whatever damage there is can heal."
"Will she be well?" Bingley gasped out.
"In time. Unfortunately, time is something we do not have a great deal of. You will understand when you meet Bennet. Your wisest course will be to visit with the bishop in St. Albans and get a common license. The sooner you can marry, the better it will probably be."
"Is Mr. Bennet so near death?" Darcy asked.
"He has been in negotiations with that dark being for some time now. I think his argument is nearly run."
Bingley seemed to gather himself. "I suppose I should meet my new father before I lose the opportunity," he said. Leaning on a cane he had brought with him and which Darcy had retrieved from the carriage, Bingley slowly made his way inside.
Mr. Phillips led them to a room Darcy thought must be Mr. Bennet's study. He was amazed by the sheer number of volumes on the shelves and piled in stacks on the floor and desk. For a man who loved books as Darcy did, it was an awe-inspiring sight. Mr. Bennet, on the other hand, was not.
The older man sat in an armchair behind the desk. He made no attempt to stand when the gentlemen entered the room. Darcy could see their host was probably in even more pain than Bingley was. His eyes had a haunted look and his body appeared wasted except for his abnormally rounded belly. After a searching look at Darcy, he spoke.
"According to my Lizzy, the tall, dark haired man is Mr. Darcy and the slighter blonde man is my soon-to-be son, Mr. Bingley."
"You never could wait for an introduction, could you, Bennet?" Mr. Phillips said a little sharply.
"Most introductions in this neighborhood come from Sir William Lucas. I have developed an antipathy to them." Mr. Bennet grumbled. "Gentlemen, Lizzy insisted I needed my wits about me for this discussion, so I have forgone my current dose of the opium I take to dull the pain. However, I will need it very soon. Mr. Bingley, if we are still on friendly terms at that point I will be happy to share enough to see you more comfortably home."
"Yes, let us get to it," Bingley said, gingerly lowering himself into one of the seats that had been pulled up around the desk.
Mr. Bennet must have noticed Darcy's concern. "It is a cancer, Mr. Darcy. It has been slowly eating away at my body these past few years to build this great blob," he pointed to his rounded belly. "Of late, its hunger has increased. I do not have long to wait."
"Something similar took my own father, Mr. Bennet," Darcy said sadly. "I can see the end in your eyes. If yours progresses the way his did, I doubt you will see the New Year when it turns." He wondered why he had said so much, but the words could not be taken back.
"I certainly hope not," Mr. Bennet replied, apparently unperturbed by the comment. "Now to Mary. You have probably heard that I have very little set aside for the dowries of my daughters. From the current profits of the estate I can offer one hundred pounds while still leaving about the same amount for each of the others and my wife. I know that is not much of a dowry, so I will offer something else – something I have kept hidden from my wastrel stepson and his friends and would prefer he never see. Phillips, will you open the trapdoor? Mr. Darcy, I think your friend would appreciate if you were the one to take make the assessment given his current physical condition."
Mr. Phillips walked over to the side of the room nearest the outside wall of the house. The spot near the corner of the room had obviously been recently cleared of a table that was shoved to the side. Darcy walked over to join him. Mr. Phillips flipped up the carpet to reveal...nothing out of the ordinary. The floorboards were finely polished wood and Darcy could see no break to indicate a trapdoor. It was only when Mr. Phillips released a latch in a decorative carving at the bottom of the wainscoting that a crack appeared. Mr. Phillips pressed down on the boards near the wall until the far side of the hatch raised enough for Darcy to catch hold of it. Both men lifted the floor panel to reveal a wood-paneled hole three feet by three feet square and about seven feet deep. It was equipped with a ladder on the side opposite the outer wall of the house.
At a wave of invitation from Mr. Phillips, Darcy made his way down the ladder. He stepped off at the bottom, wondering what to do next.
"Place your hand flat on the panel to the wall side and slide the panel from left to right," Mr. Phillips instructed. As Darcy did so, the attorney went to get a lit lamp that was sitting on the desk. Darcy had already seen the contents of the underground cabinet as the paneling slid aside into a slot made for that purpose. He accepted the lamp anyway, so he could better examine what was there.
It was a stone-lined wine cellar built into the foundations of the house, the roof of which was about three feet under the floor level of the room. The cavity was probably about five feet wide although the opening in the paneling was only the center three feet of that measurement. It extended out under the yard for a good four to five feet as well. Several racks were packed into it, nearly all of them full. Darcy started checking labels.
"This is quite the dowry," he finally said, his voice filled with awe. "You will want to hide this collection from Hurst, Bingley. It is too fine for a drunkard like him." He turned to look at the last rack, which contained several bottles all standing upright. "Is this rack all brandy, Mr. Bennet?"
The older man gave a raspy chuckle. "Laid down by my father, who was the one who built that hiding hole. It is all good stuff, from before the embargo. If this Hurst you mention is a drunkard, definitely do not let him near it. That should be kept for special occasions or passed on to your children, if you do not choose to sell it for profit."
Darcy stepped back and closed the panel again. He handed the lamp back to Mr. Phillips and climbed up the ladder. Together, they closed the trapdoor and moved the rug back in place, followed by the table. No point in taking chances.
"You will want to arrange to move that as soon as the settlement document is complete and signed," Bennet said. "Mr. Collins would certainly try to claim that collection as part of the estate if I die before you can get it out of here."
Darcy looked around the room at all the books. "Must these all go with the estate?" he asked, gesturing towards the walls.
"No," Mr. Phillips said. "They would be considered Mr. Bennet's private and disposable property."
Mr. Bennet added bitterly, "That would not stop Collins claiming them if he had the least idea of their value. I know Tony has already purloined several of the more rare volumes to fund his gambling. He will likely clear several more out when he arrives in a few days."
"Sell them to me," Darcy said impulsively, seeing an opportunity to help himself while helping others. After all, it was clearly a fine collection based on the limited perusal he had already made of titles while walking to and from the wine vault. "I will offer you a fair price for the lot, so long as the money is set up in a trust fund evenly divided to support your widow and unmarried daughters - specifically including Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth - and placed firmly out of this Mr. Collins' reach."
"So, you already know there is some dissension in this house, much to the detriment of Jane and Lizzy? Their stepmother has never liked them. I will say, the older two both have dowries left by their mother's family. I suspect they cannot access them to live on for some time however. My former brother-in-law has never given me any details on the amounts or the conditions involved. He simply made me aware they exist, are moderately substantial and that he must administer them." Mr. Bennet looked around at the shelves filled with books and then back at Darcy. "Yes. Phillips, arrange the sale and divide the proceeds evenly into trusts for each of them as quick as may be, so Mr. Darcy can get these out of here before Tony has a chance to steal any more. These books have been my good friends for many years, but it is time to let go of all earthly things." He looked carefully at Darcy, as if searching for something, or maybe reviewing an old memory. Finally, he said, "My Lizzy says you are a good man, Mr. Darcy. I trust her judgment, so I will trust you to offer a fair price the first time. No haggling – Phillips will accept your offer. When we are done with the settlement, take a careful look around so you can understand what is here. You look like a man who knows his books."
"I have an exceptional library that has been the work of many generations. Your old friends will all be well-cared for and will care for your family in their turn. I promise the price will be fair." Darcy did not quite understand the wistful smile on Mr. Bennet's face, although he guessed it was the thought of the books finding a good home.
In deference to the obvious pain the two principles in the discussion were feeling, they quickly got down to the business of drafting the settlement. Bingley had already been prepared to offer a reasonable jointure for his new bride from his own funds. With the rough estimate Darcy gave him for the value of the contents of the hidden wine cellar, Bingley felt he was still receiving a very good bargain as far as dowry was concerned, even with the generous provisions he was making for his wife's future.
Mr. Phillips took careful notes and made sure he had a clean draft that all the men agreed on at the end. He promised final copies the following day for signature. As soon as they were done with their business, Mr. Bennet took out a flask and poured himself a drink of the opium mixture he was taking for pain. He held up the bottle and offered a portion to Bingley while Mr. Phillips rang for a servant to have Bingley's carriage brought back around.
"To take the edge off for your drive home. I recommend waiting until you are in the carriage, since your friend might be a little while here."
"I think I will pass, sir," Bingley said. "I know how addictive that stuff can be. It is clear you need it, but I can struggle through this."
"As you wish, Son," Bennet said, "You are probably wise not to take the easy way out. I have lost the energy to struggle through anything anymore. For now, I plan to head up to my sitting room where I will doze in a chair for as long as my treacherous body will allow. Phillips, will you help me?"
"In just a minute, Bennet." The maid had just arrived at the door. Mr. Phillips gave the instructions and then came over to help Mr. Bennet stiffly rise from the chair.
While that was happening, Darcy said, "I will help Bingley out to the carriage so he can head back to Netherfield. I can then take my time in here and will walk back when I am done, or have one of the grooms bring my horse so I can ride back. Your groom pointed out the trail across the two properties when I was here on Tuesday."
Darcy suddenly realized he could ask Mr. Bennet about the lace in the tree, but the older man's eyes were starting to glaze over a bit. Darcy also thought that with all the layers of secrets and other undercurrents in the house, he might be revealing something Miss Elizabeth did not want revealed. He decided to keep his silence on the subject. Instead, he silently helped Bingley stand up and hobble after Mr. Bennet.
To the surprise of all four men, Miss Mary was waiting by herself on the stairs near the entry. As she struggled to her feet, it seemed her pain might rival that of her father and betrothed, but she seemed very determined.
"What are you doing, Mary-child?" Mr. Bennet asked. The opium was starting to take effect and his words were slightly slurred.
"I need to speak with Mr. Bingley. I know you are discussing my dowry," she said.
"We have come to an agreement on the settlement. You will be well-protected," Mr. Phillips said.
"Thank you, but I wanted Mr. Bingley to know that I have been saving as much as I could of my allowance since I first starting receiving one. I have a little less than three hundred pounds to add to whatever dowry Papa provided. It will be yours once we marry anyway, Mr. Bingley."
"Oh, Mary, you put me to shame," Mr. Bennet murmured.
Bingley tried to bow but stopped with a whimper. After straightening and taking a deep breath, he said, "That is an impressive amount of savings. You should know that your father has provided you with a substantial dowry. I appreciate your honesty in telling me about the money, but it does not need to be added to the settlement. I am certain you will need gowns or other items to start your married life. Use your savings in whatever way you please. I will not take it from you. Now, while I am glad to see you, I think you should get back to resting. I will be returning to Netherfield to do the same."
"Thank you, Mr. Bingley. I hope you feel better soon," she smiled shyly.
"You as well. Oh, your father thinks it best we marry as soon as possible. I hope that will be acceptable to you. He signed a document of consent so I can get a common license from the bishop."
Darcy saw Miss Mary look at Mr. Bennet with concern. He was swaying as he stood waiting to take the stairs. She moved carefully moved out of his way.
"That will be fine Mr. Bingley. Whatever day works for you is perfectly acceptable," she said. "Rest well."
Darcy offered her a bow which she acknowledged with a stiff nod. Mr. Phillips and Mr. Bennet made their way around her and up the stairs. With a little wave for Bingley, she turned and slowly followed, wincing slightly with each step up she took.
Darcy helped Bingley outside. The carriage was just coming from the stable.
"She is what? Eighteen years of age?" Bingley asked. Without waiting for an answer, he continued. "I am certain she cannot have that much of an allowance now and possibly less when she was younger. Out of that amount, whatever it was, I assume she must pay for anything special she wants – lace, ribbons, treats. And yet, she has managed to save nearly three hundred pounds! That truly is impressive."
"It is, and she could have hidden those funds from you without you ever suspecting they existed. She is honest as well as frugal. That bodes well for you."
The footman opened the carriage door and Darcy helped his friend inside. "Rest well, Bingley." he said. He closed the door and then directed the footman to have one of the grooms return leading his horse so he could ridge back to Netherfield later.
With Bingley taken care of, Darcy felt free to go decide on what would be a fair price for that wonderful collection of books. He hoped he could resist the temptation to just start reading then and there.
