Page 82 of Collins Takes Charge

I cannot tell you the pleasure I feel that the past disagreements between our families are now put to rest.

When my great-grandfather took the Collins name, he tried—many times—to inform his father, Henry Bennet (our common great-great-grandfather) that he made the change to be able to marry the woman he loved. The estate was her legacy and she would not give it up if William Bennet refused to change his name.

No matter how many Collinses reached out to reestablish the family connection over the years, they were rebuffed.

When my William wrote that you would welcome the connection, and further we are welcome at Longbourn, my wife (Ophelia) and I were very excited. It has been a dream since we married to have the whole of the family together to celebrate Christmastide. Would we ask too much to accept your invitation and be with you for the holy season? We are four: my wife and me, and my older son and his wife. If you do not have space for us, we will make alternate plans so we may reside in the area.

William asked me about a candidate for steward. I highly recommend Mr Kenneth Jennings for you to interview for the position. He has been the under-steward of an estate here abouts and is more than ready to be steward at an estate of similar size to Collins Hollow or Longbourn. He has let it be known he would not object to move for the right position. If I was not so well pleased with my own man, I would employ Jennings myself. Let me know if you want to meet with him.

Please write back and inform me if you and your wife are sanguine with our joining you for Christmastide.

Your cousin,

Clem Bennet Collins

He would write back and ask that this Mr Jennings come as soon as he was able to interview. Darcy had sent for a man by the name of John Kildare, an under-steward at Pemberley, who he had full faith and confidence in. Bennet and Collins would speak to both men before deciding on the one who was most suited.

Bennet pushed his chair back from his desk and walked to the drawing room. He was not surprised to see the two Darcys and Lord Hilldale present. Mrs Annesley approached him.

“Mr Bennet, I wrote to my sister, and I expect to receive a reply telling me she is on her way to Hertfordshire any day now,” Mrs Annesley reported.

“I thank you for your assistance. Please inform me when she arrives.” Bennet turned to his wife. “Fanny, will you join me in the study, please? There are some things I need to discuss with you.”

Fanny stood calmly and joined her husband when he offered her his arm. In the past, had she been summoned to his study, she would have had an attack of her nerves and made a great hullabaloo before ever discovering what Thomas wanted to discuss with her.

As soon as the study door was closed, Bennet relayed the Collins’ request to his wife. “My inclination is to invite them, but if you think it will be too much with the Gardiners here, I will respect your judgement.”

“We have enough guest chambers. Thankfully, my younger niece and nephew are still in the nursery, and Eddy will not object to sleeping there. Lilly can share with one of our daughters. That way, no more chambers will be needed. I assume Cousin William will return from Hunsford before his parents arrive. His presence will use the last chamber for guests.” Based on what Cousin William had said about the relationships between his parents, and his brother and sister-in-law, Fanny was certain that the two couples would not object to a single bedchamber for each of them. Thankfully Edward and Maddie never needed more than one chamber for themselves. “I see no reason for us not to meet the rest of our Collins family.”

“In that case, I will write the invitation for them to join us for Christmastide,” Bennet agreed.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

William Collins read the missive from his mother first. She expressed her great joy that he had found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. She wrote of her hope that Mr Bennet would extend the invitation to them so she would be able to meet her future daughter-in-law.

Clem’s note extended his and Bethany’s congratulations on William’s courtship. Then, he went on to explain that he had changed his name to Bennet and why he had wanted to do so now. This confirmed William’s resolution to change his name and he adopted the same pattern as his elder brother. He decided that he too would swap his middle and family names like his older brother had.

As soon as he decided what he would do about his name, William concentrated on the important news. His brother and sister-in-law were to make him an uncle in March or April of the coming year!

Lastly he read his father’s epistle. Like had been expressed in the other two letters, Father wrote of his happiness that William had found the lady he wanted to walk life’s paths with. Next, Father complimented William on the changes he had been able to initiate for those who needed it in the Bennet family. He acknowledged what William had written about the impeccable manners of the three eldest sisters.

Father mentioned he had sent a recommendation to Cousin Bennet about a candidate for steward, Kenneth Jennings. William knew the man and agreed he would be a good fit for Longbourn. Like Clem had, Father endorsed his son’s decision to change his name now as Clem had done and explained why he would have recommended William do so even had he not asked permission. What Mr Hampton had told Father and Clem was laid out in detail.

Had he not already desired to change his name now, what Father passed on from the solicitor would have caused William to do so.

He decided to make for the study to discover what Bennet had decided about the proposed visit and to inform him of his name change. He knocked and when he opened the door, William saw that Cousin Fanny was also present.

“Thomas is writing to your family at Collins Hollow to invite them to join us for Christmastide,” Fanny related.

“I am also requesting that your father send this Jennings to come see me,” Bennet stated as he looked up from the missive he was scribing. “You know the man, do you not?”

That answered the question about his family coming. “Yes, I know Jennings; he has more than ten years of experience. Hence, I heartily endorse my father’s recommendation.” William was about to tell his cousins about his name when Cousin Fanny spoke again.

“Your brother’s wife…” Fanny began.

“Bethany,” William supplied.

“Does she not have family? If so, it will be hard to be away from them at that time of the year,” Fanny pondered.