Author's Note: Another chapter for you.
As always, thank you, thank you, thank you for your feedback. Please continue to message me or comment about questions, issues, or anything else you see. I am enjoying this story, and I hope you are as well.
Chapter 27
The next morning, Richard departed Netherfield early to pay a visit to Mr Bennet. During one of several late-night conversations, the gentlemen had discussed that the youngest Bennet girls would be adversely affected were it to become known that the eldest had attempted to murder her sister. Therefore, Richard was prepared to present several options to Mr Bennet regarding consequences for Miss Bennet's part in the attempted murder. While it was technically too early for a formal call, Major Fitzwilliam was in the uniform of His Majesty's Army. It was unlikely he would be turned away.
Mrs Hill graciously welcomed him into the house when he arrived and promptly filled him in on the events of the previous night. "My mistress has not yet stirred from her bed, and I doubt she'll leave her rooms today. She suffered from a fit of nerves last night upon their return from the assembly. Miss Jane remains in bed as well. However, the younger girls have already come down for breakfast. Mr. Bennet, on the other hand, is already in his book room. He was asleep when the ladies returned from the assembly, and it appears he either didn't hear or chose to ignore his wife's hysterics."
"Thank you for that information, Mrs. Hill," Richard replied, extending a note to the housekeeper from Mrs Darcy. She accepted it with a smile, and he continued, "Would you kindly announce my arrival to Mr. Bennet?"
Mrs Hill was delighted to receive a note from her favourite of the Bennet daughters. Miss Lizzy, as she was affectionately known among the servants, had always shown kindness, a trait she had inherited from her late grandmother, who had taught her to value those who served the family. Mrs Hill was pleased that the young lady found a husband who appreciated her for who she was, and she secretly relished the fact that Miss Lizzy's marriage had caused discontentment for Mrs. and Miss Bennet.
It was probably not wise for a servant to feel this way about the family she served. She and her husband had a good position, though, and they did not want to search for a new position at their age. It was often difficult for a husband and wife to find a place together, and while their present situation was not perfect, it was not as bad as it could be. Mrs Bennet perhaps relied a little too much on her housekeeper, but there were worse positions to be had.
After introducing Major Fitzwilliam to Mr Bennet, she read the letter, surprised and pleased at the offer of a position at Oakridge Manor. She tucked the note into the bodice of her dress, where it remained until that evening when she could discuss it with her husband.
In the study, Mr Bennet was surprised at the announcement of a soldier into his bookroom. "Major Fitzwilliam, what can I do for you?" he asked.
"Are you aware that your eldest daughter has been plotting with a scoundrel and a rake to murder your second daughter?" he said without preamble.
Mr. Bennet peered at Major Fitzwilliam with a mixture of surprise and alarm. "Murder? That is quite an accusation. I find it hard to believe that any of my daughters—particularly my eldest—would engage in such a heinous plot," he replied, his voice filled with scepticism.
Richard Fitzwilliam's expression remained stern as he explained the previous night's events succinctly. "Miss Jane Bennet, your eldest daughter, attempted to poison Mrs Elizabeth Darcy during a gathering at the Meryton Assembly. Fortunately, her scheme was thwarted, and her accomplice, George Wickham, is in custody. He will be dealt with quickly, as he has been a scourge upon both Derbyshire and London for years, but this has been his final act against the Darcys. However, your daughter's actions are deeply troubling. She conspired with Wickham here in this house to plot Mrs Darcy's demise under the misguided belief that she could claim her sister's husband after her sister's death. It appears she is not well-versed in the laws regarding siblings marrying one another."
Mr. Bennet's brows furrowed deeply as he absorbed this shocking information. "This is preposterous! Jane would never commit such a vile act nor consort with a scoundrel. I have met this George Wickham; he is an amiable gentleman and has never given me a moment's concern." His initial disbelief was gradually giving way to concern.
Richard chuckled. "How much time were you in the room when Wickham visited? According to those I've spoken with, Miss Bennet met with Wickham in the parlour while Mrs Bennet sat across the room. Wickham, I must say, is quite the master of pretence. He masquerades as a gentleman, but in reality, he possesses neither wealth nor property and has a bleak future ahead. He can offer nothing of substance, only empty words and flattery." He paused, observing the emotions flitting across Mr. Bennet's face, which prompted him to adopt a gentler tone. "I understand that this may be difficult for you to accept, but the evidence against your daughter is quite compelling. We have witnesses and concrete evidence to support our claims, and she herself has admitted her involvement in this nefarious plot. Wickham was more than ready to let her take the fall, for he is and always will be a coward."
Mr. Bennet's face turned ashen as the gravity of the situation sank in. "What will become of Jane? You say Wickham will be punished?" he inquired, his voice trembling.
"Yes, whether he likes it or not, George Wickham has chosen to enlist in the Navy, and he will be sent to sea; I sincerely doubt he will survive for long. As for Miss Bennet, we are currently considering options for her. Personally, I would like to see her jailed and tried for her crime. Fortunately for the two, their attempt was unsuccessful and could not have been, as they chose the wrong poison. Belladonna would take several doses to kill, and the amount they poured into Mrs Darcy's glass would have allowed her a good night's sleep but little else," Richard informed the gentleman.
Mr Bennet sighed in relief, but the weight of this hung heavily around him as he contemplated potential consequences for his family. "Will she be tried?" he asked, his voice small.
"My cousins are deeply concerned about the potential repercussions for the Gardiners and the younger Bennet girls if Miss Bennet were to face a public trial for her involvement in this plot," Richard replied, his tone hardening. "However, even if we were to avoid that, it would not entirely resolve the underlying issue here. The crux of the matter, sir, lies with your wife. She has convinced her eldest daughter that she is the only one worthy of attention and that her beauty entitles her to anything she desires. She desires a wealthy marriage, and given my cousins' considerable estates, she's set her sights on them, regardless of the collateral damage it may cause. She was willing to go as far as attempting to murder her own sister, all in the misguided belief that she could take her place. Frankly, that kind of delusional thinking suggests someone who has lost touch with reality and perhaps should be in a place like Bedlam."
"Bedlam?" Mr Bennet gasped. "Surely not that awful place."
"Your daughter's intention last night, Mr. Bennet, was to have Mrs Darcy killed," Richard stated firmly. "Had she been more intelligent or chosen a more capable accomplice, she might not have hesitated to go through with murdering her sister. Miss Bennet handed Mrs Darcy a glass of wine, fully aware that Wickham had laced it with poison. She did not know that the poison wouldn't work as intended. And when Mrs Darcy declined the glass, she willingly allowed my cousin to drink from it. She did not object or utter a word to prevent him."
Mr Bennet paled considerably. "I … I cannot believe it. And you say my wife is likewise to blame?" he replied, his voice small and unsteady.
"Do you not know what happens in your own household, sir?" Richard demanded angrily. He was growing frustrated with this weak man and was ready to throw him into Bedlam along with the ladies.
Mr Bennet laughed bitterly. "Apparently not," he replied. "What would you have me do?"
Richard blinked at the man's sudden acquiescence. "Have you ever met your successor?" he asked.
"Mr. Collins?" Bennet inquired, his expression blank, curious about the abrupt change of subject.
"Yes," was the succinct reply.
"The Mr Collins I knew passed away a year or two ago. His son, last I heard, was finishing his studies at Oxford," Mr Bennet responded.
"He is a solicitor in London, and a good one, very diligent in all his dealings. My cousin, your son-in-law, knows him well, having worked with him on several occasions when he was a barrister," Richard said. "You obviously care little for your estate, and your wife and eldest daughter no longer deserve to live as ladies of the estate. My father has a small cottage in Scotland where Mrs and Miss Bennet could live, along with a servant or two, but with very little company. Miss Bennet would likely never marry, and the two could live on the income from Mrs Bennet's portion. You could remain here in the dower's cottage, or you could accompany your wife and daughter."
"What of the younger girls?" Mr Bennet asked.
"As I understand it," Richard continued, "you have already entrusted Miss Mary Bennet to the care of the Gardiners, and the youngest two will be invited to Pemberley with my youngest cousin. Georgiana Darcy is of the same age as Miss Catherine and Miss Lydia, and the three of them could greatly benefit from each other's company. Georgiana has a governess, and your youngest daughter could join her in her lessons, ensuring they receive a proper education instead of remaining as spirited and untamed as they presently are. They have shown remarkable initiative in this situation, and their warnings alerted my family to the plot against them. My cousins wish to reward them by offering them an education and broader opportunities than they would find here. It is clear that your wife has been an indifferent teacher, sir."
"If I were to go to Scotland with my wife, what would become of the estate?" Mr Bennet asked.
"Mr Collins could come here and begin learning how to run it," Richard replied. "As easily as he learned his trade, he would no doubt have an easy time learning to master the estate, and he could hire a steward to assist him. I will warn you, sir, that regardless of your choice, my family will take steps to ensure Mr Collins is granted this estate sooner. We will not allow you to continue as you are. If you would like to remain here and help instruct your cousin on how to run the estate, I dare say that could work out well for everyone, but I am determined to see you surrender its control."
Mr. Bennet felt a sense of gravity in the Major's words, and even someone as detached as he could discern the unwavering determination in the Major's demeanour. Richard Fitzwilliam was not a man one would want to challenge, and certainly not Mrs. Bennet.
"Do as you must; I shall not object," Mr. Bennet replied. "Who will be the bearer of this news to my wife and eldest daughter?"
"The responsibility falls to a man, so I doubt you are suited for the task," Richard snapped. "I will handle it, and my men will maintain their places outside your home to ensure no one departs without our knowledge. Your wife and daughter will not evade these consequences."
Mr Bennet simply nodded his acquiescence. The major silently exited the room and conferred with Mrs Hill and his men before departing from the estate. Mrs Hill would notify them when the women descended from their rooms, and a carriage would arrive later to convey the younger girls to Netherfield for an afternoon visit. Elizabeth wished to have a conversation with them, extending the invitation to Pemberley and discussing the family's future plans.
Early that same morning, Wickham was conveyed to London with two guards riding alongside him. He was given the option of Newgate or a Navy ship, and the fool chose a life at sea. Unfortunately for him, the captain he was assigned to was well known to Richard and had been given strict orders to ensure he did not leave the ship until they were well out to sea. Given Wickham's propensities to take what was not his to take, Richard had discussed with his friend that England would be well served were Wickham to meet with a watery grave. Neither man felt the least guilty over this, as both were military men familiar with military justice. Nor did Richard want to subject the Darcy family to the notoriety that would accompany a trial—Hertfordshire was much too close to town that the attempted murder of such a well-connected gentleman would surely garner much publicity.
Wickham had not gone quietly. He had vociferously protested and railed against what he considered an injustice until the men accompanying him finally resorted to silencing him by using his own, rather soiled, cravat as a gag. Not another word escaped his lips until they reached London. He kicked and struggled throughout the journey, from being forcibly carried onto the ship until he was unceremoniously thrown into the brig, where the door was locked shut. There he remained for a week until one night, he was encouraged to "escape" from the brig when his food was delivered, only to find himself on the deck of a ship. He never even saw the log that struck him and knocked him into the sea somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Author's Note: What do you think of the consequences for the plotters? And Mrs Bennet? Mr Bennet seems to be getting off easier, but I don't think I am not done with him. I like the idea of taking his books away from him and of Mrs Bennet setting fire to his library, as one commenter suggested. Story is almost done - only a few chapters more I think.