Page 75 of Collins Takes Charge

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The carriage bearing Bingley and his sedated sister left Netherfield Park just ahead of the coach with Miss de Bourgh, her maid, Fitzwilliam, and his batman, Barker.

The Hursts were on hand to farewell Bingley and wish him well on his mission to settle Caroline.

Hilldale, Darcy, and Georgiana stood and waved to those in the de Bourgh conveyance until it was no longer visible. It was a cold day, thankfully without precipitation, so both groups made their way back into the house with speed.

Once they had been relieved of their outerwear, Mrs Hurst went to meet with Mrs Nichols. Anna and Mrs Annesley—the latter had waited for her charge just inside the front doors—made their way to the music room. The three men headed towards the billiards room.

Hilldale walked a little slower, causing his cousin to match his pace. “William, do you think that Rich will keep his word and not mention to Mother that I am interested in a woman?” Hilldale worried.

“Come now, Andy, would it be so bad if Aunt Elaine were aware a lady has caught your eye?” Darcy ribbed.

“You know very well that Mother would insist Father convey her here as soon as she heard that. Not even Anne and Richard getting engaged will distract her. She has lamented my disinterest in any woman, and since I turned thirty in June, it has only become worse. At least, they would not care what level of society she is from, as long as she is a gentlewoman,” Hilldale related. “I would like to come to know Miss Bennet without Mother trying to hurry me along.”

“Richard gave his word. His word is his bond, and besides, if he dares to break his promise, Anne would be very unhappy. The last thing your brother wants is to upset his lady love,” Darcy opined.

A similar conversation was happening in the de Bourgh barouche at that very moment.

“No, Richard Hampton Fitzwilliam, you will not even hint that Andy is interested in a lady. You vowed you would not, and I expect you to keep to your word,” Anne scolded.

“I promised I would not tell, but I said nothing about hinting…Ow, what was that for?” Fitzwilliam complained when the toe of a travelling boot connected with his shin. He was sitting opposite his Anne, and he could feel her kick through his boot. Her maid was next to her on the forward-facing bench, and his batman was alongside him.

“Just to let you know what you will suffer, and more, if you say anything that sends Aunt Elaine running to Hertfordshire,” Anne said firmly. “We will keep her attention on us, and the fact that one of her bachelor sons is to marry.”

“I will obey you, Annie,” Fitzwilliam agreed as he gave a half bow from the seated position.

“As soon as you tell your parents you have already written to General Atherton, announcing your intention to resign from the army and sell your commission, your mother will not even think of Andrew,” Anne predicted.

“You win, Annie. I will not even hint that Andy is seeking to know a woman better. I will simply say that he decided to remain at Bingley’s estate with William and Anna. Speaking of Bingley, I hope for him that his sister’s sedation does not wear off before he reaches London.” Fitzwilliam suspected he would discover the answer to that question sooner rather than later, as it was likely that both carriages would stop at the same rest stop on their way to London.

Fitzwilliam knew that Anne was absolutely correct. Even though other than expressing their opposition when he first announced his intention to make the regulars his profession, his parents had done nothing to dissuade him or influence anyone in the army to keep him safe in England. He was aware that they disliked his choice, and when they discovered he would never be sent to another battlefield, there would be paroxysms of happiness. At least, he would not lose Barker when he resigned. His batman would leave the army as well. He had no interest in remaining without his colonel. Barker would become his valet, and Carstens, William’s man, would teach Barker everything he needed to know.

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Even though he knew what he was doing was necessary, it saddened Bingley that all his younger sister’s delusions and pretentions had led her to slip the bounds of reason. Caroline was leaning against the side of the coach, slumbering; her maid was next to her. The girl was more nurse than maid since Caroline had been consigned to her suite. Next to Bingley sat a footman. There were two more on the bench and a fourth one seated on the box next to the coachman.

If his sister woke from her drug-induced sleep before they reached London, and the doctors waiting there to evaluate her, Bingley wanted to be sure he had more than enough men to restrain her.

Thankfully, Caroline Bingley did not awaken before Bingley reached the offices of The Quiet Place in Town.

The Bingley footmen carried the unconscious woman into the offices and placed her on a bed where one of the physicians had instructed. Bingley signed some documents and was then released and told to return on the morrow in the morning.

From there, Bingley made for Hurst House in Curzon Street. As his older sister had written to inform her housekeeper that her brother would be residing at the house for a few days, Bingley was expected. He did not miss the relief displayed on the faces of the senior staff and servants that it was only him and Caroline was not with him.

He was able to own that for far too long he had given in to Caroline in all things. As such, he bore a large part of the responsibility for the way she behaved.

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The other coach took the passengers directly to Matlock House. The four who had been in the cabin alighted, with Fitzwilliam handing Anne out and allowing his hand to linger holding hers for far longer than needed. The footmen unlashed and removed Miss de Bourgh’s trunks. Barker re-entered the cabin, and the carriage went around the green and stopped in front of Darcy House, where Fitzwilliam’s trunk would be offloaded.

While Anne’s maid followed her mistress’s trunks to the suite she always used at Matlock House, Anne and Fitzwilliam made for the parlour, where the butler informed them the master and mistress of the house could be found.

“Anne, Richard! It is very good to see you.” Lady Elaine was expecting to see her eldest as well. “Where is Andrew?”

“After we dealt with that wastrel, he decided to remain with William and Anna a little longer,” Fitzwilliam stated. “It was a great pleasure to remove that blight from the body of society. All thanks to Mr Collins who did not trust Wicky.”

“Anna is well?” Lady Elaine worried. Her niece was the closest thing she had to having a daughter. Ever since Anne Darcy passed away, Lady Elaine acted as a surrogate mother to her niece. William was almost like a third son, but it was not the same as Anna. She had always dreamed of having a daughter, but in His wisdom, He had not granted her desire.