Author's Note: Re-read this chapter. I will post chapter 18 soon. I have had to rewrite portions to make it work better.
Chapter 17
The brief meeting at the solicitor's office was more time-consuming than anticipated. Although not legally prohibited, marrying one's ward could be viewed as scandalous by society, especially if done without the guardian's direct consent. Hence, the decision was made to involve the Earl of Matlock, Darcy's uncle, to replace Darcy in managing the trust. Legal documents were signed to transfer the trust from Darcy's control to Matlock's. While Gardiner could have assumed this role, Elliott believed that having a peer like Matlock would lend more weight to his approval of the match.
Darcy had spent significant time persuading his uncle to take on this position despite the brevity of the role. However, as the discussions during the transfer revealed the extent of Miss Tomlinson's holdings, Matlock became more amenable to the match. In fact, he was now leaning toward actively supporting it, recognising that it was in Darcy's best interest—and perhaps even his. Privately, Matlock entertained the idea that, by incorporating these significant assets into Darcy's responsibilities through the marriage, he might be better positioned to petition the Regent for a title on his nephew's behalf.
Ever since the earl met George Darcy all those years ago, especially after the man married his sister, Matlock had harboured the hope of securing a title for Pemberley. His nephew was an upright and moral man, and Matlock had long aspired to persuade him to serve in some capacity in Parliament. He privately hoped that this match might just be the means to make that aspiration a reality.
"Now, what is this about an elopement?" Matlock demanded once the necessary papers were signed, making him Miss Tomlinson's second trustee. "As I understand it, if Mr Elliott and I approve the match, the lady and my nephew might wed immediately."
The solicitor spoke up. "There is one small matter to bring to your attention, gentlemen," he began and at the earl's nod, he continued. "Legally, Miss Tomlinson does not have a guardian. Her father's will was silent on the matter since she had not been born when he passed away. Her mother never made a will, and she passed away before the child's first birthday. The Bennets assumed the guardianship when the child was orphaned, but nothing was ever filed with the court. However, Mr Tomlinson was the next of kin who should have rightfully taken on the guardianship, and he made arrangements for his only grandchild to inherit everything but left her in the charge of her mother's family. Still, Mr Bennet was never officially appointed as guardian."
All of the gentlemen eyed the solicitor warily, but it was Darcy who spoke. "What does this mean exactly?"
"Well, Mr Elliott could petition the Chancery Court to place Miss Tomlinson in his care. You have already accumulated evidence that Mr Bennet has neglected her care, and, with the earl's backing, I believe it would be a simple enough matter," the solicitor explained.
The men looked between themselves as they silently considered this course of action. "How long would such a request take?" the earl asked.
"I would imagine it would take less than a fortnight," came the reply. "Someone will likely need to journey to Hertfordshire to confirm a few things, but I can easily send a man to do so quietly. One difficulty might be with the attorney there—Phillips is the name, I believe. He is a relative of Mr Bennet and may be difficult."
"What will you need from him?" Gardiner asked.
"We need to confirm that Bennet does not have any papers granting him guardianship," the solicitor replied. "I can send someone to do a check of Phillip's files."
"When we go to visit Bennet, we can ask directly for this information. We can state there is some matter related to the inheritance and we need to confirm that Mrs Tomlinson did not leave a will," Mr Elliott suggested.
"What about Mr Collins?" Darcy asked. "Is there any way that Bennet could force Elizabeth to still marry that fool? He cannot, of course, actually exchange Longbourn for Briarwood, but since he has signed these marriage articles with Mr Collins, does that obligate her?"
"There is a discrepancy between what her grandfather will requires and what the law states. In such cases, the courts tend to side with the guardian, but again, you have demonstrated that her guardian does not have her best interest in mind. If the courts appoint Mr Elliott as her guardian, that will void any documents signed by Mr Bennet. Otherwise, she will be considered engaged to Mr Colllins based on the marriage contract signed by Mr Bennet. She does have the right to refuse to go forward with the wedding, and well, there is always Scotland," the solicitor responded.
"We have considered such an option but would prefer to marry in England if at all possible," Darcy replied.
"You should be able to do so if the Chancery Court appoints someone other than Bennet as her guardian," Elliott replied. Turning to the solicitor, he asked, "What will we need to proceed?"
As the solicitor explained, Darcy considered other things—mostly Elizabeth and his worry that she needed to be removed from London if at all possible. He had a nagging feeling that this was best, though he was uncertain how to best put that thought into words. However, the solicitor finished and after a few more questions, the gentlemen began to leave the solicitor's office and headed in their separate directions. They would meet again at Darcy House that night for dinner.
"I learned something yesterday," Gardiner said as he and Elliott made their to that latter's carriage, which would take them both toward Cheapside. "As you know, I sent an investigator into Kent to learn more about Mr Collins while Darcy's investigator was learning more of his history. Collins has apparently spent quite a bit of time with a solicitor lately who is advising him on what to do in this situation and supposedly helping him make plans once he comes into his inheritance. My man followed this so-called solicitor and has learned he is not at all what he claims. We knew Collins to be a fool and easily led, and this has proven true since it appears this solicitor is using Collins."
"Do you know the pretender's name?" Mr Elliott asked.
"Yes, his surname is Wickham, and he claims a connection to the Darcys. He is not particularly careful with what he says, especially when he is in his cups, and he says George Darcy was his godfather. His father was Pemberley's steward before he passed, and the elder Darcy assisted him by providing an education for his son."
"Wickham, you say?" Elliott asked. "I vaguely recall him. Mayhap George Darcy mentioned him a time or two. You say he is not a solicitor but merely pretending to be one?"
"Yes, and he has run up substantial debts in the area on the basis that he will come into an inheritance soon that will enable him to pay them all. Not only with the merchants but debts of honour from gambling as well," Gardiner said.
"We should keep an eye on him," Elliott said. "Has he run up enough yet to be through into debtors' prison?"
"His debt to the local merchants is already more than twenty pounds, and he has only been there a short time," Gardiner replied. "I do not know about his debts of honour, but that is someone else's concern—I am less concerned if someone with a penchant for gambling is not paid. But the merchants he owes could be ruined if he never pays."
"I will send a note to the magistrate in the area asking them to purchase his debt on my behalf and then, when he cannot pay, to throw him into the local gaol. Once we have this situation with Bennet handled, we can turn our attention to him to see if we can figure out his intentions. We do not need one more person attempting to take advantage of the poor girl," Elliot replied. "He can remain in the gaol until after the new year. I will be in no hurry to deal with someone like him."
"You assume he is untrustworthy then?" Gardiner asked.
"To have run up such debts in such a short time? And to pretend to be a solicitor when he is not? He claims he is awaiting an inheritance—is he intending to lay some claim to the Tomlinson estate? As far as I know, he has no right to it or any other inheritance, so surely he has some nefarious plot in mind," Elliott retorted. "I prefer to have him safely locked up where we can deal with him in our own time than running free to wreak havoc."
"That is probably for the best. If there is a connection to the Darcys, we should likely mention it over dinner. Perhaps Darcy will know how to best deal with the man," Gardiner said before the two went their separate ways.
In Hertfordshire, things were quite as they suspected. Almost as soon as Bennet returned to his home after visiting with Mr Bingley, he wrote a letter to Collins informing him of the potential delay in the marriage plans. He asked the gentlemen to still visit at Christmas, as he had several thoughts about ensuring the marriage happened sooner than the trustees believed.
Bennet informed his wife of their visitor for dinner that evening and encouraged her to push their eldest, Jane, toward this guest. "I believe he is interested in our girl, and surely, once he realises Jane will inherit Longbourn, he will be even more interested in her. There may be a delay in the wedding, but I hope that by telling all and sundry of her engagement to Mr Collins, I will be able to force Mr Elliott and Mr Darcy to agree to match far more willingly," Bennet said to his wife.
"Mr Darcy?" she asked. "What has he to do with Lizzy?"
Bennet scowled. "I did not realise when he came to ask me for permission to convey Lizzy to London that he is her second trustee. I had only dealt with Elliott for all these years and had forgotten the name of the second gentleman. This Darcy is the son of the original trustee, as the elder Mr Darcy died several years ago. I supposed I was informed, but I do not remember, not that it matters. What do you know of Mr Darcy?"
Mrs Bennet shook her head. "He is very wealthy, far more so than Mr Bingley, but he was haughty and proud and never spoke much to anyone outside his party. I only saw him twice, and he never danced a single dance, not even with Mr Bingley's sisters. I found it odd, and then he departed suddenly. Mr Bingley never mentioned his departure, and Miss Bingley left for London shortly after. Mrs Hurst would not give a reason but seemed to imply that Miss Bingley had acted in a way that she disapproved of."
"Or their guest did," Bennet replied darkly before sharing a portion of Bingley's story about his friend's behaviour.
"And you allowed Lizzy to travel with that man? What if he compromised her? All of our plans would be for nought. If she were forced to marry Mr Darcy, then Mr Collins would still take control of this estate instead of Lizzy's. Perhaps, though, we could persuade him to marry Mary instead," Mrs Bennet said in a rush of words.
"Mr Darcy will not have to marry Lizzy, and our plans are still in place. In fact, I have encouraged Mr Collins to visit at Christmas, and we will ensure that Lizzy is forced to marry him. I do not care how he does it, but we will ensure Collins compromises Lizzy if I have to lock the two of them in a bedchamber myself," Bennet declared. "I will not let all my careful planning go to waste. I must go to London in a week or two and meet with the trustees again. You focus on getting Jane married to our neighbour, and I will worry about Lizzy's marriage."
With a huff, Mrs Bennet departed the study and began planning.
Jane and Mary had stood just outside the opened study door and had heard everything their parents had said. Some of it was confusing, as there had been a mention of Lizzy having her own estate, and there had been talk of trustees. While neither girl was particularly wise in the ways of the world, they had noted that Lizzy had always been different in her looks and how their parents had treated her.
"We need to write to Lizzy," Mary said after a moment.
"Hush," Jane hissed. "Not here." She thought for a moment, pulled her sister into the music room, and shut the door behind her. "Hill packed a few of Lizzy's things and placed them in the carriage with Mr Darcy when he visited yesterday. Do you think she might know something?"
"Perhaps," Mary replied quietly. "Do you think she would tell us what she knows?"
"I do not know, but we can ask her," Jane replied. "When?"
"Shall we go into the kitchens to see her for a minute? Perhaps she can at least give us a hint?" Mary suggested.
When the two girls found Mrs Hill, they convinced them of their sincerity and desire to warn Lizzy about what their parents were plotting. That news persuaded Mrs Hill to share the letter she received yesterday explaining some of what Elizabeth had learned in the last weeks, although it did not tell of their plans since many were only formed after the gentlemen departed. Jane and Mary were shocked to learn that Lizzy was not a sister but a cousin, especially when they pieced together what their parents had done.
"We must write to her, but for her sake, I hope she is not in London long," Jane said.