Chapter 12
Lady Matlock pulled Bingley aside and explained about his sister. He felt so angry with her, he was also glad she was no longer around. That was it for him. He looked at Lady Matlock. "Will this effect me in any way" turning pale at the thought
"I shouldn't think so unless you try to bring her back into our society, Elizabeth's Aunt's are livid as well as Myself and Lady Castlemaine. My advice is to send her away. She will be forgotten but never forgiven"
Bingley nodded and thanked her. People were pairing off now for the third set and he found Miss Mary. "Are you well Mr Bingley" she asked
"Yes Miss Mary just a little warm, it is a crush" he smiled
"If you want to sit this one out, I really don't mind you are really very pale"
"No, no Miss Mary I do love to dance" he said firmly
They joined the other dancers for the start of the quadrille. Mary was happy that their father had hired a dancing master the complicated steps were no problem for her now.
At last, it was time for Supper the family had set a large table for them all and Lady Castlemaine was at the table next to them, The Earl waited for everyone to be seated. Standing up and tapping his glass for silence he announced the engagement of his nephew to Elizabeth Bennet. She had been watched carefully that evening some had already seen her at the theatre and Darcy's reaction to her. That didn't stop the whispers though. Lady Chalmers and Lady Lewis nodded to each other in satisfaction. They also approved of Mr Bingley for Jane. He had an inner strength that Jane would sometimes need. They looked at Mary and Reginald Warner, yes, another good match.
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Breakfast for the three eldest was later than usual. Their father had been able to join them having finished up all he needed to do. He still looked tired so the girls didn't plague him with talks of lace and fripperies. They only said how much they had enjoyed the evening and he was satisfied. The notice of Darcy and Elizabeth's engagement was now in the paper and Mr Bennet pointed it out. "I suggest you visit the Gardiners today" he said
"Yes, I think that is a good idea" she said in return.
Gathering up the younger sisters and Georgiana and after sending a footman round to Darcy House with a quick note for Mr Darcy and after they had finished breakfast the carriage arrived and off they set.
Reginald Warner adjusted his cravat and jacket and made his way to the front door of the Bennet residence. Mary had told him that her father might have a bit of sport with him, but if he was a chess player her father was likely to welcome him with open arms. Reginald smiled he loved a game of chess. The footman took his card and moments later he was shown into Bennet's study. Mr Bennet put aside the book he had been reading Medea in the original Greek was another of his favourites. The gentleman stood in front of him and saw the title "Ah Euripides, it has been some time since I tackled him"
"In, Greek or the translation" said Bennet
"In Greek of course,I find that it loses something in the translation" Reginald replied
Bennet waved over to the chess set "do you play"
"I do, and I would love a game" he replied.
Not quite an hour later Mr Bennet was laying down his King. He looked at the gentleman with respect "and now for the real reason you are here, not that I don't appreciate an excellent player"
"I have come to ask permission to court Miss Mary" he said as he was re setting the pieces
"You have it, you know she plays too" Bennet said with a smile "I have taught all my girls"
"It will be something to while away the long winter evenings" Reginald's face looked wistful
"Aye that it will young man" Bennet pulled on the bell and a footman appeared "wine glasses please and I think a bottle of the red there is more to celebrate"
"for a house full of women it is surprisingly quiet"
"Ha, yes it is I have sent them to their aunt's for the day as the notice appeared in the paper today of my daughter Elizabeth's engagement to Mr Darcy. Didn't want her bothered yet"
"Yes I enjoyed a dance with her last night, and with Jane. My mother holds a ball every year at the start of the Season and I think last night was the best I had ever attended"
In chess they were very evenly matched and Bennet won the second. "I think you employed a pincer attack there no wriggling out of it"
"we are always wise after the event" said Bennet
Reginald checked his watch "I must leave you, I am meeting Darcy at Angelo's fencing club as I owe him a match I thank you for the games the chat, and especially the wine."
Bennet smiled at him, "It was a pleasure meeting you son" He picked up his book again. He heard the knocker but the footman had orders of no females except the family and only certain gentlemen. He sighed happily he was happy for Mary a good man who could play. Yes very good. The footman entered with a note from Darcy that he would call tomorrow at Eleven with his solicitor to go over the marriage settlement. Euripides was for the moment forgotten. The door went again jolting Mr Bennet from thought he waited the door burst open and in strode Wellesley with Matlock. Not long after followed the footman with more glasses and another decanter of the mead. Both men indicated the red. Once that was poured the footman left quickly.
Wellesley got straight to the point. "Prinnie wants to honour Miss Elizabeth, going to happen quickly too. Told him all that she has done and seeing as you won't accept any honours he is going to set aside the entailment give that Collins fellow an estate in Kent or some god forsaken place in Northumberland or there abouts. He is looking at a very high honour heard from Matlock that she is engaged to Darcy looking to reinstate the honours they lost"
Bennet looked at him "I don't know what to say except thank you"
"No need to thank us we have to thank you shortened the war and will save countless lives on both sides" Wellesley's voice was gruff with emotion. "will send a message round as soon as Prinnie tells me" he drank the last of his wine "got to go big conference at the war office." He shook both Matlock's and Bennet's hand and thrust himself out.
Matlock looked at Bennet and gave a short laugh, I don't know where he gets the energy from. Seeing the look on Bennet's face "Are you ok"
"Just a bit dazed, I know Lizzie deserves it I don't know the history of how the Darcy's lost their titles or even what they were, but the highest honour and to have Longbourn. Sorry old friend but I am just trying to get this brain around it, ok what have you had to do with it"
Matlock smiled, "not a lot, to be honest. Had to meet with Prinnie, Queen Charlotte wants your girls to make their curtsey your sisters will be involved with that." Matlock looked at Bennet again "You only have to say the word and honours will come your way too"
Bennet shook his head "no I am happy as I am but they can shower my Lizzie with as many accolades as they want" Bennet sipped on his wine "Had Young Reginald Warner here earlier wanted permission to court my Mary, plays a good game of chess he beat me first match"
Matlock looked impressed then the knocker went again and Bennet sighed "Sent the girls to the Gardiners, door has been busy all day"
Matlock looked at him closely "you can always come to mine, give you a break"
"No, they chose well with this of books once I finish Medea I have Sappho I am content and Rogers has his orders of keeping back the hordes" Julia and Bethany entered the house and went straight to their brother. "We just saw Matlock, he said a shopping trip was required for court dresses" Julia said
"Yes, we will also need someone to show them what to do" said Bennet
"No, we can organise all of that, we can rope in Sarah Castlemaine and Jessie Matlock," said Bethany, "We can send a note round to Madame Clarisse"
"Oh, by the way the entail on Longbourn is to be broken" said Bennet
"Oh that is wonderful news" Julia said as Bethany nodded.
"What about Collin's though" Bethany said
"Oh, he will get another estate Wellersley suggested Northumberland" Bennet guffawed at the memory. Bennet kept his council regarding Lizzie no use putting the cart before the horse.
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Darcy arrived back from Angelo's fencing club happy with his workout with Reginald. They were evenly matched and if there had been any tension in him it was gone now, he was feeling exceedingly relaxed. The door opened and he passed his beaver and coat to the footman who was looking at him oddly. "Darcy is that you" the dulcet boom of his aunt Catherine's voice reached him. His heart sank it seems their disagreement was over. He joined her in the parlour signalling the footman for tea.
"Good afternoon Aunt, what brings you to here" he felt he knew the answer but wouldn't give her the satisfaction. There was a strange looking man with her. He raised an eyebrow in question
"This is Collins, he is my pastor but also relative of the Bennet's. He is willing to marry Miss Elizabeth even though he has never met her. You, are to marry Anne" the woman stated
"I am engaged to Elizabeth, I am going to marry Elizabeth the settlement is ready and the notice has been in the paper" Darcy stated firmly
"But what about Anne" the woman exploded "She expects to marry you, has been waiting for your proposal, such a fine match on both sides and uniting two great estates it is what she has been trained for".
"Anne and I talked before our argument, we have never intended to marry each other we both wish to marry for love"
"Love, nobody marries for love what kind of tosh is this"
"My mother and father married for love and I want what they had"
"But this Elizabeth Bennet who is she you know she has connections to trade on her mother's side"
"She is also the niece of Lord and Lady Lewis and Lord and Lady Chalmers on her father's side, but her relatives in trade is the Gardiners and Edward Gardiner is probably the most respected business man in the whole of the country and has done so much towards the war effort that they are talking of a knighthood"
The woman stared at him "Julia Lewis and Bethany Chalmers are her aunts? I was at finishing school with them" she sank back in shock "They were there with Jess Matlock and Sarah, Yes I can see Matlock being happy with the match too" all the wind had been taken from her sails.
"But milady what about me marrying her. What about me" William Collins spoke for the first time
"She has other sisters have one of them" her Ladyship said dismissively
"Miss Bennet and Miss Mary are both in courtships with very worthy men and the youngest are far too young to even think about it" Darcy countered
He looked the man over, spindle legged with an almost egg shaped body greasy hair and a snivel, he shuddered at the thought of that man touching his Elizabeth.