Chapter 24
"I am sorry," Lady Catherine said because she saw her nephew Darcy so angry and needed to talk to him. "I have come to accompany Mr. Collins to ensure his rights are respected. "That is what we should be concerned about, not my opinion of these… ladies."
"My dear Lady Catherine, like always, is absolutely correct. Right now, the only important thing is to sign the papers and have my property handed over to me. Considering how my cousins have behaved, I shall be forced to ask them to leave my home and warn them that only with my permission will they be able to set foot in Longbourn. Although I consider myself a generous soul due to my closeness to God, I am not sure I can forgive them for such humiliations," Mr. Collins explained petulantly.
"You just said that the important thing is to talk about the transfer of the property. However, you do not miss the opportunity to make hurtful and out-of-place comments. Collins, you just made an enemy, and I warn you that if you do not control your tongue, we shall solve all this like men…" Andrew said angrily.
"Dear, I believe it is best that we end this matter once and for all. It is better that we ignore this gentleman," Jane said to her husband, and Elizabeth supported her.
Seeing that the situation was so tense, Elizabeth approached Georgiana and told her to go to her mother's room because they had a beautiful surprise to share with her. When Georgiana entered the room, Mrs. Bennet invited her to join them in bed and told her about her pregnancy. She felt so happy that she immediately hugged Mrs. Bennet and began planning the baby's future with her friends. For the first time in her life, Georgiana felt like she had a family, which made her feel happy, safe, and protected. No one like George Wickham could take advantage of her in this new life.
"I am very happy for you, Mrs. Bennet, and I hope to have the opportunity to care for and play with the baby when I can visit you."
"My dear child, you are always welcome," said Mrs. Bennet. She then caressed Georgiana's face as she smiled.
Mary sat in a chair and, with her sisters and Georgiana began to make a list of all the possible names for the future child. Unfortunately, things were not progressing in the drawing room. Mr. Darcy gave the inventory of the house to Mr. Collins, and he insisted on asking all kinds of absurd questions.
Mr. Phillips kept repeating to Mr. Collins that Mr. King had reviewed the list and was satisfied with the excellent work that Mr. Darcy had done. Still, Mr. Collins somehow wanted to demonstrate his new power as a landowner and chose to do it at the cost of the patience of everyone present.
Andrew preferred to avoid arguing with him. He did not want another confrontation with that unpleasant man. Besides, the Magistrate had not yet arrived, and it was better to announce the good news when he was present.
"Miss Bennet, if you want, I can intervene to silence that charlatan. You and your family do not have to endure this display of arrogancy," Mr. Darcy murmured to Elizabeth.
"Do not worry sir. Allow Mr. Collins to say all he has to say. We are waiting for the Magistrate, and he is helping us buy time," Elizabeth also murmured.
"The magistrate?" Mr. Darcy asked worriedly.
"Cannot explain now, Mr. Darcy, but it is not for anything bad," Elizabeth explained.
Meanwhile, in the garden, Mr. King sat with Anne on the bench next to the orchard. He was very impressed and happy with the young lady's company. Usually, when he talked to a woman, she would listen to him for a minute and make any excuse to escape him as quickly as possible. But Miss Anne seemed to enjoy listening and even asked him interesting questions.
"Why did you decide to be a solicitor?"
"Because my mother told me it was the proper profession for me. Miss Anne, since I was little, I always liked to read, and I have had many ideas. Sometimes, one has good ideas, and it is necessary to share them so that others can learn from you and with you. My father was an accountant and kept the books for many merchants in London, so he always said that I talked too much, and it did not let him concentrate on his work. But my mother loved to listen to what I had to say, and since my father's best friend was a solicitor and he also liked to talk, my mother wisely advised me to follow this profession. And let me tell you, my dear young lady, that my dear mother was not wrong because I fully enjoy everything I do, and I believe that with time, I shall be able to…"
Mr. King did not stop speaking, and Anne listened attentively. She spent much of her time in silence. Mrs. Annesley spoke little. The few people who visited her, like Darcy and Richard, did not talk to her much, and if they tried to do so, her mother always intervened. So, for Anne, it was wonderful that someone wanted to talk to her, tell her so many exciting stories, and, above all, answer each of her questions in detail.
Inside the house, Mr. Collins also spoke but with petulance, as he walked around the room. "Thanks to Lady Catherine, I shall make this estate productive. My dear patroness has given me excellent advice, and anyone who knows Rosings can attest that it is not only one of the most beautiful but also the most prosperous estates in all Kent."
"Not only of Kent but of all England," Lady Catherine added proudly.
Mr. Darcy preferred to remain silent and not say out loud what he thought. If the steward of Rosings followed Lady Catherine's advice, the estate would be in ruins. It was Mr. Darcy and Lord Matlock's intervention that made Rosings productive so Lady Catherine could boast about it to anyone who had the patience to listen to her.
"I think I have been here too long, Mr. Collins; ask this man to give you the papers to sign. Darcy, you are coming with me because I have many things to talk to you…"
"I am sorry, Lady Catherine, but I have other plans. You do not own my time," Mr. Darcy replied firmly.
Lady Catherine became furious, but just when she was about to reply, the Magistrate arrived, and the atmosphere became tense again.
"Thank you very much for coming, Mr. Walker," Andrew said, welcoming the Magistrate.
"Excuse me, but who is this man, and what is he doing here?" Lady Catherine asked contemptuously.
"Mr Walker is the Magistrate of Meryton," explained Mr Phillips.
"I am glad that the Magistrate has arrived. This way, we can do everything legally. Mr. Magistrate, I ask you to please tell all these people to leave my house because now it is mine. Also, I want you to know that you cannot return unless you receive an invitation…"
While Mr. Collins spoke, Elizabeth went in search of Dr. Ward. He had gone to the kitchen to help Mrs. Hill create an herbal ointment to help Mr. Hill with his back pain. Once Dr. Ward was present, Mr. Phillips decided to speak.
"Mr. Collins, before signing any document, I need to explain to you some new circumstances that have radically changed your situation and your legitimate rights…" Mr. Phillips could not finish speaking because he was interrupted.
"If you think I will allow you to fool me so you can steal what rightfully is mine, I want you to know that I shall not allow it," Mr. Collins exclaimed.
"I shall not allow it either. And you, Darcy, cannot be involved in a matter as deceitful as this, Darcy. I do not know what this woman must have told you…" Lady Catherine tried to say, indicating Elizabeth.
"Not another word, Lady Catherine. Now we shall listen to what Mr. Phillips has to say, and no one will interrupt," Mr. Darcy said in a threatening voice with the support of Andrew and everyone present.
"Thank you, Mr. Darcy. As I said, a change in circumstances leaves the legal situation of this property in Status Quo." Mr. Phillips took a breath and broke the news. "Mrs Bennet is expecting, and until the child is born, we have no way of knowing who the legitimate heir of Longbourn is. If it is a girl, Mr. Collins, this estate is yours. But if it is a boy, he will be the rightful heir to all this."
Mr. Darcy was so surprised by the news that he had to sit down to process the information. Without a doubt, the future gender of that creature would be vital in deciding the future of Longbourn.
"That is a lie… I cannot believe you would stoop so low to take what is mine," Mr. Collins said desperately.
To prevent things from escalating further, Mr. Walker decided to intervene. "Mr. Collins, Mr. Phillips has informed me of the situation and has sent me a certificate signed by Dr. Ward stating the condition of Mrs. Bennet."
"This man is a lying charlatan," said Mr. Collins, indicating Dr. Ward.
"I will not tolerate you or anyone else doubting my honorability," Dr. Ward said. If Andrew did not stop him, he would have pounced at Mr. Collins.
"How do I know that the child Mrs. Bennet is expecting is the child of my late cousin?" Mr. Collins asked.
"I am sorry, Collins, but I have lost my patience with you… You miserable scoundrel," Andrew said. This time, Mr Phillips and Mr Darcy had to stop him from punching Mr Collins.
"Mr. Collins has a valid point; no one can deny it," Lady Catherine said contemptuously.
"How dare you, madam?" Elizabeth and Jane said indignantly.
"Ladies, gentlemen, please, let us remain calm," the Magistrate said. After he managed to order everyone present, he explained why Mr. Phillips had asked him to come. "This situation is very complicated, and there are many elements we must consider. The first thing I must say is that Dr. Ward's word and the certificate he has issued are absolutely legitimate, and it is best that we not waste time arguing about that. Second, I have in my possession Mr. Bennet's death certificate, and logically, the child Mrs. Bennet is expecting must be born within a certain time range. If not, then, Mr. Collins, you may make a formal claim and contest the honor of the lady in question. Otherwise, for your sake and that of your own honor, I suggest you not make such comments."
Before continuing the conversation, Mr. Collins told one of the maids to find Mr. King. Only when he entered the room could the conversation continue.
"Thank you, Mr. Magistrate. Mr. Collins, given the circumstances, and as I told you before, we shall not be able to decide in the subsequent four months who Mr. Bennet's legitimate heir is." Mr. Phillips took out a book and read passages explaining what the law said. "Having clarified that matter, and with the dominion of Longbourn in question, if you and Mr. King have no objections and given the judicial precedents that exist in this regard, I believe it is best to convey the control of Longbourn temporarily to the Magistrate. Once it has been determined who the legitimate heir is, Mr. Walker will be in charge of transferring the property."
Mr. Collins complained for almost half an hour, and Mr. King spoke for another half hour. The situation was becoming increasingly unbearable, so much so that Lady Catherine practically forced Mr. Collins to make a decision.
"Mr. Collins, if we take this whole matter to court, we could be litigating for years," Mr. Phillips said.
"That is correct, Mr. Collins. We should follow Mr. Phillips's proposal. In this course, in five months, this matter will be completely resolved. You have my word of honor that it will be so," said the Magistrate.
"Alright, if the Magistrate will be in charge of my property, I shall accept. But in five more months, I shall take possession of everything, and I do not want to see any of these women in my house. Also, I want my mother-in-law, the honorable Lady Lucas, to witness the birth of that child to make sure the Bennets do not do anything dishonorable."
"Although it seems excessive to me, I cannot deny the right that Mr. Collins has. I hope there will be no objection that a lady representing Mr. Collins's interests can be present at the time of birth."
After speaking with his nieces for a few minutes, Mr. Phillips communicated the family's decision. "We understand. Lady Lucas may be present as a witness, but she must always remain silent and show respect to Mrs. Bennet."
Finally, after almost two hours, the matter was resolved, and all decisions regarding Longbourn were postponed until the new Bennet child was born.
Andrew accompanied the Magistrate, Mr Phillips, and Dr. Ward to Meryton to arrange some legal papers. For her part, Jane went to tell Mrs. Bennet the news. And Mr. King returned to the orchard to see if the lovely Miss Anne was still there.
"It is time to go, Mr. Collins, please wait for me in the carriage because I have to talk to my nephew and this young lady," Lady Catherine said.
"I am sorry, but I need to see my mother," Elizabeth said, trying to avoid problems.
"Do not think, Elizabeth Bennet, that I do not know what you are trying to do."
"Lady Catherine, I do not want to…"
"Darcy is engaged to my daughter, it does not matter what you do because he…"
"ENOUGH! I do not want to hear that absurd statement again. That is only in your head, Lady Catherine. I am sorry, Miss Bennet, but I shall accompany my aunt to her carriage," said Mr. Darcy, almost forcibly removing his aunt from Longbourn.
"Do not worry, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said, leaving the room to avoid listening to that unpleasant woman.
Lady Catherine left the house totally enraged, accusing her nephew of the worst. Despite everything, Mr. Darcy ignored her words and accompanied her to the carriage. He wanted to ensure she got out of there and stopped making a fool of herself.
Finally, and after almost ten minutes of listening to his aunt's reproaches, Mr. Darcy saw the carriage leave and drive away. He felt great relief, and as soon as he arrived at Netherfield, he sent an express to his uncle to tell him everything Lady Catherine had done, including everything she said about Lord and Lady Norton.
"I am so sorry, Miss Anne, that you had to hear all that," said Mr. King, watching Lady Catherine's carriage drive away.
"Do not worry, I am used to hearing things like that and worse," Anne said, laughing. Apparently, her mother was so angry that she had forgotten about her. Anne planned to take advantage of the hours of freedom by chatting with her charming new friend.
P&P
After resolving Longbourn's legal problems, Mr. Walker decided that it was best for Mrs. Bennet to remain at home until the child was born. Elizabeth and the rest of her sisters agreed to care for their mother during her confinement. For that reason, the Gardiners' trip north was postponed. Mrs. Bennet's condition was the most important thing to the family.
Aunt Amanda had been trying to buy a residence in the country for a long time so she would not have to spend the entire summer in London. Furthermore, she did not want to be a burden on her nephew and wanted to live a life independent of him and his new family. Additionally, she had become very fond of Mrs. Bennet and her daughters, so she did not hesitate when her solicitor told her that a property near Meryton was being sold at an excellent price. She bought Netherfield and moved to live in Hertfordshire to help her new friend and welcome her nephew and his family when they visited their family. Aunt Amanda planned to leave her estate as an inheritance to his nephew's children so they would all have a home.
Mr. Darcy was eager to get to Hertfordshire and see Elizabeth again. Over the past few months, he frequently traveled between Longbourn and Pemberley while Georgiana spent the summer with Elizabeth and her sisters. He had done what everyone had recommended: show his feelings, put aside his absurd pride, and above all, be kind and gentle with Elizabeth and help her in everything she needed to show her the strength of his affection.
However, Mr. Darcy did not want to continue traveling and living alone in Pemberley. He had made the decision to declare his love for Elizabeth and ask her to be his wife once again. If she rejected him, he would forget about that matter forever and walk away to let her live her new life in peace.
When Elizabeth saw the Darcy carriage approaching Longbourn, she was pleased. Mrs. Bennet was asleep, and Georgiana and her sisters were in Netherfield enjoying a picnic Aunt Amanda had organized for her new neighbors. She wanted to meet her neighbors and let them know her plans for Netherfield and the area.
Elizabeth asked Mrs. Hill to watch her mother and let her know if she needed anything. She would go to greet the guest and invite him to sit next to her in the garden. She felt very nervous every time she talked to Mr. Darcy. Sometimes, she believed he still loved her, and other times, she thought his kindness was because he was grateful for everything she and her family had done for Georgiana.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Darcy. It is a pleasure to welcome you back to our house. Unfortunately, Georgiana is not here, but if you wish, you can go to Netherfield…"
"Good afternoon, Miss Bennet. How is Mrs. Bennet?"
"She is very well, although a little tired. Mrs. Allen says the child could arrive at any time. My mother is resting now. She felt fatigued, so she decided not to attend the picnic, and I offered to stay with her. But if you want…"
"If you do not mind my presence, Miss Bennet, I would prefer to stay here with you."
"Of course, you do not bother me at all. Please, let us sit on that bench next to the garden. The day it is too nice to be inside of the house."
"It is a great idea." Mr. Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth, and they walked in silence. Then, they sat, and Mr. Darcy began to speak. "Mrs. Reynolds and Mr. and Mrs. Turner sent you many regards and asked me to tell you they will pray for your mother and the child."
"It gives me great pleasure to know that they remember me with the same fondness that I remember them and all the people of Pemberley."
"You left an excellent impression on all the staff at Pemberley, and all greatly miss you. Although those who miss you most, my dear Miss Bennet, are Oscar and I," said Mr. Darcy, looking at Elizabeth with longing eyes.
Elizabeth blushed but did not avoid his gaze. "Oscar, my dear friend. He accompanied and comforted me when I needed it most."
"I know, and that is why we are excellent friends now. I set up a small bed for him in my study because he always accompanies me while I work… Miss Bennet, I… I know that maybe I do not deserve a second chance, but I cannot continue living without knowing if I…"
Elizabeth took Mr. Darcy's hand and said, smiling, "I also want to give us a second chance, Mr. Darcy. I do not know, but I... I miss you..."
"Elizabeth, my dear beloved Elizabeth… I love you even more than I loved you the first time. My dear Elizabeth, I want to know if you would do me the honor of being my wife. I promise to love and care for you for the rest of my life…" Mr. Darcy wanted to say many things but was so excited that he could not speak. He could only kiss the hands of the woman he loved so much.
"I accept! I want to be your wife, my dear William," Elizabeth said, smiling.
"I want us to get married as soon as possible. Pemberley is wonderful in summer, although before we go home, I want to take you on your honeymoon to the place of your choice."
Mr. Darcy did not stop talking while Elizabeth laughed merrily. "Why are you laughing, dear? I hope you never stop the habit of laughing at your husband."
"I laugh because I do not remember hearing you talk so much in such a short time."
"I am so happy that I cannot stop making plans. Imagine how Georgiana will be when we tell her the news."
"We shall have time to talk about all that, dear. Jane and Andrew are in Netherfield; you should ask him for my hand."
"I shall do so as soon as possible… I cannot wait to take you to Pemberley, but this as you deserve, as my wife."
"I warn you, William, that this time I shall have no objection to putting you in your place when you deserve it. Oscar and I do not like arrogant people, no matter how handsome and rich they are," Elizabeth said, laughing.
"Thank you for telling me I am handsome, my dear Elizabeth. I must tell you that I have no problem with you putting me in my place if I deserve it, as long as after doing so, you sing for me and give me one of your beautiful smiles," replied Mr. Darcy, caressing Elizabeth's cheek.
"I did not know you could be so gallant, my dear William," said Elizabeth, unable to help blushing.
"You are the one who inspires me. By your side, I feel so elated that the words flow naturally." Mr. Darcy took a small notebook out of his jacket pocket and showed Elizabeth a small sketch. "What do you think?"
"It is me?"
"Yes, I did it so I could have you with me in some way. Although I do not think I caught the shape of your eyes properly," Mr. Darcy explained.
"You have made me much prettier than I am… So much so that I think you might be tempted to want to dance with me," Elizabeth said, smiling.
"I suppose I shall have to listen to that reproach for the rest of my life?" Mr. Darcy asked. Then he kissed his betrothed's hand.
"Indeed, so you will think twice before saying anything about me."
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth remained for more than an hour, sitting on that bench holding hands. They talked about Pemberley, Georgiana, and the many plans they had for the future. But their cheerful conversation was abruptly interrupted by Mrs. Hill's cries.
"Miss Lizzy, please come… I believe Mrs. Bennet is in labor!
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy stood and ran toward the house to see what was transpiring.
P&P
I sincerely thank everyone who leaves comments and follows the story enthusiastically.
In the next chapter, we will know who is the legitimate heir of Longbourn 😀
Saludos,
Yo