~O~
Family Matters
In the morning, Collins was up early to take his leave from the family after consuming a substantial breakfast.
'You have been everything gracious, and I appreciate the trouble you took to explain things in detail, without gloating. Not only that, but you also gave me much to think about.' Collins glanced at the mantle clock. 'I had better hurry. The post leaves at half past eight.'
'There is no need to rush. I have arranged for John to take you to Hunsford in our gig, provided you can put him up for a night,' Bennet said with a pleasant smile. While they had a difficult beginning, the young man was better than expected.
'You are all that is kind.' Collins gave Bennet an almost shy smile as he requested. 'Am I overstepping if I ask whether you would be willing to correspond? I believe I would greatly benefit from your advice in the future.'
'Feel free to write. I have to warn you though, that I am at times slow to respond.'
In the end, Collins left Longbourn in a much happier mood than he was in on arrival.
~O~
Collins had barely gone, and the Bennets were still in the foyer in preparation to separate to their own tasks, when a liveried messenger arrived to hand a letter to Mrs Bennet.
Concerned because it had been sent by personal messenger, she immediately read the letter, while the family clustered around her. Everyone's worry was relieved when Mrs Bennet gave a small chuckle and turned to the waiting messenger. 'You may tell your mistress she is welcome at any time convenient for her.'
The messenger bowed, saying, 'Thank you, madam. I believe that time will be tomorrow around noon,' before he smartly turned and departed.
To put her family out of their misery, Mrs Bennet explained, 'My Cousin Susan announced that she will be taking us up on our standing invitation and visit us at last. She is planning to stay a sennight or two.'
'Where shall you put her?' Bennet asked, although he suspected he knew the answer.
Mrs Bennet glanced at Jane to see her reaction when she explained, 'Considering her age, I think we should accommodate her on the family floor. Now that the mistress' suite has been refurbished, she should be comfortable there.'
Jane sighed as she addressed Mrs Bennet. 'Grandmother, you do not have to walk on eggshells around me. I have accepted that my mother is not the kind of woman you had hoped she would be when papa married her. Now that my eyes have been opened, I am becoming reconciled to the changes.'
'Good. In that case I had better tell you that Cousin Susan is my cousin by marriage, and she is Lady Susan Fitzwilliam, the Dowager Countess of Matlock.'
'Why have I never before heard of…' Jane exclaimed but trailed off as the answer came to her. She made a grimace and nodded. 'In the past month I have learnt that there is much more to our family than I had ever known.'
Mr Bennet hugged his oldest daughter. 'I am sorry, Jane. We had to wait until you were out from under your mother's thumb. And before you ask, we had to wait until one of you initiated the break.'
~O~
Jane excused herself and retired to the large drawing room where she could pace in solitude.
Even if she did not show it, she had been upset to learn yet another secret the family had kept from her. But each time she discovered something new she reminded herself what her mother would have done with the information. She also had to admit, even if only to herself, that until recently she would have shared any information with her mother.
Grandmother had also been right that they had to wait until Jane's eyes were opened to her mother's utterly selfish character. While she had known it for years, she had always made allowances for it by believing that the family were being cruel to her mother and Fanny had to fight for any little crumb to support herself and Jane.
If Fanny had known the true extent of the situation, she would have alerted every fortune-hunter in the country, as she incapable of discretion. If she had known that the family was related, even distantly, to a countess and that the Bennets were wealthier than was commonly known, she would have tried to use this information to lure a potential husband for Jane, and she would have badgered Jane until she accepted the proposal.
After all that had happened, Jane could at last admit to herself that the only thing which had kept her safe was her family's secrecy. The more she thought about it, the more she came to realise that she had not the slightest wish to get married. She still remembered her mother's screams, as well of those uttered by Mrs Potter, making her determined never to subject herself to so much pain.
She would never be able to express the relief she had felt when her father explained that she would not have to marry to have a secure future.
Still, it was frustrating to learn that her family had not been able to trust her. She wanted to be angry with them but could not fault them. At least now they allowed her to know everything that was going on.
Jane kept pacing, still trying to come to terms with her new understanding, when she was interrupted by the arrival of Charlotte Lucas.
Seeing her oldest friend, Jane was pleased to be distracted from her uncomfortable, albeit enlightening, thoughts. Yet it did not take long for her to notice that Charlotte was ill-at-ease.
'Something is troubling you, Charlotte. What is it? Can I help?'
'What do you think about Mr Bingley?'
'I think he is a most amiable young man.'
'Perhaps I should have asked, how do you feel about Mr Bingley. You have been in company with him a lot since he arrived.'
'Like I said, I think he is a most amiable young man.'
'I know that you have perfected an unruffled mask which hides your feelings, but please tell me how you feel about him?'
'Are you asking if I am in love with him?' When Charlotte nodded, trying to hide a blush, Jane exclaimed, 'I like him well enough, but I do not love him. While his attention has been flattering, I have no interest in taking it further than friendship. To be honest, I have been grateful for your presence to distract him from myself.'
The knowledge that she would not hurt her friend made Charlotte almost sag in relief. 'You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that.'
'Charlotte, have you fallen in love with Mr Bingley?' Jane cried, grasping Charlotte's hands.
'I have and I believe that the feeling may be mutual.'
'How wonderful. I am so happy for you. But how did this come about? I thought you were not a romantic.'
Charlotte decided not to hurt Jane by informing her of the true situation of Mr Bingley's attention. Instead, she claimed, 'All those conversations he and I had while in your company developed into something. I am not yet certain what it will be, but when he came to deliver the invitation to the ball, he requested the first and the supper sets.' Charlotte's smile was one of chagrin as she explained, 'Since yesterday I was greatly concerned that this would cause you pain.'
Jane's initial reaction was pain and anger, but it was not long before she said, 'My pride is hurt, but I find that my heart is quite untroubled.' Jane frowned slightly. 'I suppose that I wanted to have the option to reject Mr Bingley instead of him rejecting me, but a part of me is relieved.'
'Are you relieved because there is someone whom you like better?'
'Not at all. I have simply come to realise that I have no wish to marry anyone. Not Mr Bingley, not anyone else. So, Charlotte, if you like him, I hope you will be very happy.'
~O~
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam visited his grandmother to explain that Darcy had need of him to control Wickham, whose reputation was known to the lady.
'So, you can see that it is important for me to aid Darcy. I am certain that your cousin will be happy enough to entertain you and you will not miss my company at all,' he explained with sincerity while inwardly rejoicing to have a genuine reason for his refusal of the invitation.
Lady Susan smiled sympathetically. 'I can see that Darcy needs reinforcements to keep that scoundrel contained. Still, you are in luck. Meryton is on my way. You can therefore travel in comfort.'
'But our horses…'
'My grooms can lead them.'
Suspicious at the lady's easy capitulation, Richard pleaded, 'Grandmother, please whatever you do, do not make Bingley offer to put you up.'
'Certainly not. I am looking forward to spending time with my cousin and her family. You have my word, I shall not importune Mr Bingley.'
The Colonel was still dubious, but then he remembered that his batman was not fully recovered from his wounds. It would be easier on him riding in a carriage, especially the quality of carriage his grandmother preferred, than on a horse. That thought decided him. 'Very well, grandmother, Corporal Bennings and I shall be grateful to accept your offer.'
'Good. Be here by eight o'clock.
~O~
By the time the coach carrying the Dowager Countess and her party, arrived at Netherfield, the Colonel was grateful to have accepted a lift from his grandmother, since it had started to rain by the time they reached St Albans.
The cold rain in late November would have been utterly miserable to endure if they had come on horseback as he had planned. Even though he had endured worse conditions, he preferred to avoid them if he could.
The footmen were quick to remove his trunks while he said goodbye and the groom handed their horses to a stableboy who had rushed out to assist.
Their arrival had been noted not only by Darcy, but also by Caroline Bingley who was impressed by the crested coach and liveried outriders.
Bingley and Darcy rushed to meet the new arrivals. Louisa Hurst was on hand to greet Fitzwilliam. He quickly said, ' It is most kind of you to put me up. I must apologise for barging in on such short notice.'
'There is nothing to forgive, Colonel, I am pleased to have you come stay with us. But I hope you will not be offended and forgive me if I leave you with my brother for entertainment as I am in the middle of preparations for a ball.'
Once they uttered mutual assurances that all was well, Fitzwilliam was shown to his rooms for a quick wash before he joined the men in the library to catch up on the local happenings. Because Hurst and Bingley were present, neither cousin raised any personal issues.
~O~
At Bennet Hall, Mrs Bennet and her family were on hand to greet their guest. 'My lady, welcome to Bennet Hall.'
'I thank you for the welcome, but insist that you stop that nonsense, Beth. If you have forgotten that I am your first cousin, and unless you address me properly, I shall leave this instant.'
Mrs Bennet laughed. 'Very well, Susan, but I would like to introduce to you the members of my family whom you have not yet met.'
Introduction complete, the Dowager Countess invited all the younger generation to address her as Aunt Susan, before she was taken to her suite by her hostess.
Once as she was refreshed, Lady Susan joined Mrs Bennet in the sitting room of the mistress' suite to enjoy some tea. As soon as they were settled, Lady Susan demanded, 'Now tell me all that has been happening with Darcy and Elizabeth.'
~O~
The Colonel did not take long to be ready for dinner. As he strolled into the drawing room where the party were to gather before dinner, he was surprised that Caroline Bingley, overdressed as usual, was already present and appeared to have been waiting for him.
She barely gave him time for a greeting before she approached him to speak in a confidential manner. 'Colonel, I am exceedingly glad to have an opportunity to speak to you privately.'
Concerned about her motives, Fitzwilliam backed away enough to maintain a proper distance. 'What is it that you wish to say?'
'I am hoping to count on your assistance, as I have despaired how to keep my brother and Mr Darcy safe. I hate to say it, but they both seem to have fallen into the clutches of a couple of pernicious fortune hunters.'
'Have they indeed? I would have thought that since your brother constantly falls in and out of love with young ladies you would not need to worry about him being serious. As for my cousin, he has survived nearly a decade of the ton. Believe me when I say that he would never fall for the blandishments of a mercenary shrew.'
Convinced of her own superiority, it never occurred to Caroline to apply that comment to herself. She therefore put on a concerned expression as she said, 'You and they have dealt with ladies of the ton, not with a couple of desperate country bumpkins whose estate is entailed away from females. I have been reliably informed that their father's estate is small, and they have virtually no dowry as the family boasts five sisters.'
'I do not know the circumstances of your brother, but my cousin is wealthy enough not to be dependent on finding a wife with a large dowry.'
'Perhaps that is not an issue for Mr Darcy, but I would hate to see him trapped into marriage by some desperate woman who is only concerned with finding a rich husband.'
'You may put your mind at ease, I am certain that such a fate would never befall Darcy,' Fitzwilliam said with a straight face despite wanting to burst into laughter. 'But you may be assured that I shall speak to my cousin as soon as we have a chance to do so privately.'
Caroline placed a hand on her heart as she simpered, 'I am exceedingly relieved that you have come to join us, even though this place is such a backwater.'
'My apologies, Miss Bingley, but Meryton is but twenty odd miles from London. If you consider this a backwater, what must you think of my home county of Derbyshire which is three days travel from town.'
Caroline batted her lashes as she explained, 'But Derbyshire has many illustrious families living there who supply sophistication and refinement to the county. Meryton on the other hand is inhabited by nothing but country bumpkins.'
The Colonel smiled guilelessly as he bowed to the lady. 'Miss Bingley, I am certain that I shall find some of the company hereabouts just as sophisticated and refined as I would find in the drawing rooms of London.'
Misinterpreting the statement, Caroline beamed at the gentleman.
~O~
~O~
A Most Attentive Father (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2024
