Page 89 of Collins Takes Charge

“My father will agree; if he does not, he will face my wrath,” Mary said firmly.

“Now that is my Mary, roaring like the lioness she is. I do not doubt your father will agree, but I do not want to assume.”

That evening when William told the Pierces, they were overjoyed. They understood he needed to speak to his patroness first. Both men agreed that Keating was a formality, but William would speak to him if Miss de Bourgh agreed to his plan.

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

On Monday morning when the Fitzwilliam coaches arrived, William Bennet was present to speak to Miss de Bourgh. He had ridden Vulcan across the fields.

Both Miss de Bourgh and Fitzwilliam agreed that if William Bennet was preferred to the Longbourn Village living, that Mr Keating would be an excellent man to take over the Hunsford parish.

William rode to the parsonage and informed Pierce that he was free to speak to Bennet.

The two men met with Bennet who agreed that Pierce well deserved to retire. Preferring his cousin and future son-in-law to the living was done without any hesitation. William would have his house packed well before his own wedding and have everything transported to Hertfordshire. He did not have very much furniture that did not belong to the parsonage, so what he did own would be stored at the parsonage until the Pierces moved on Boxing Day. That way, when Keating accepted the living, he would be able to take up residence in the parsonage next to St Cuthbert’s Church as soon as he was able.

Chapter 33

Knowing that those from London would arrive that morning kept the two suitors at Netherfield Park. Once greetings were accomplished and Bingley and the Hursts had been introduced to the Fitzwilliam parents, the latter couple had gone to wash and change while Anne and Fitzwilliam met with Mr William Bennet. As soon as that meeting was over and the parson had departed, separately, the engaged couple took some time to wash and change.

Hilldale was ready for the inquisition to begin as soon as he was summoned to his parents’ suite’s sitting room.

“Is there anything you did not tell us in your epistle?” Matlock questioned. “We spoke to Anne and Richard, and we are aware of all the things you would not commit to writing. They also gave Miss Bennet a glowing character.”

“Mother and Father, there is nothing more to tell you about Jane, except that I believe she owns my heart already; but I intend to court her until, at the very least, her younger sister, Miss Mary, and Bennet marry in January. You do not object to her because of her humble beginnings or the almost scandal, do you?” Hilldale enquired. “I must tell you that the only way I will walk away from Jane Bennet is if she sends me away!”

“Calm yourself, Andrew. We have no objections to Miss Bennet at all,” Lady Elaine assured her eldest. “It would make us the worst kind of hypocrites to censure the Bennets for the same thing that Anna almost did. She is gently born, so we have no objections on that front.”

“Before we meet the Bennets, I wanted to make certain there was nothing else. It is telling how quickly you jumped to her defence,” Matlock declared. “We already share the connection with Gardiner, so I have no complaints.”

Hearing what his parents said allowed Hilldale to relax significantly. He would sooner give up his title than Jane. One thing he already knew was that if Jane decided to accept his offer when he made it, whether he was titled or not, would not change her response.

“Do we need to remonstrate with William for his past behaviour or do you believe that he has truly moved past his improper pride?” Lady Elaine asked.

“No, Mother, William has learnt his lesson. It would not hurt if you were to remind him you are fully aware of his foolishness. No more than that would be needed. He is completely besotted with Miss Elizabeth, and I begin to believe that she is beginning to feel the same for him. You will see a mooncalf at Longbourn today. William is interesting to watch,” Hilldale revealed.

“Seeing that I will wager you are the same with your Miss Bennet, how were you able to notice William’s feelings for Miss Elizabeth?” Matlock ribbed.

“Ehrm, Jane told me what she had noticed,” Hilldale admitted sheepishly.

Matlock dismissed his son. “That boy is as lost as he claims William is. At last, we will have both of our sons married, and it seems, our nephew as well.”

“I began to thank God in my daily prayers after I read Andrew’s letter. I will continue to do so until both of our boys are safely wed,” Lady Elaine averred. “Come Reggie, we should join the rest in the drawing room. The sooner we do, the sooner we will meet our future daughter and, possibly, niece.”

The earl and countess made their way out of the sitting room and down the stairs.

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

Once they were in their coach on the way to Longbourn, Matlock addressed Darcy. “William, your aunt and I will not take you to task over the way you behaved when you first arrived in the area, because we accept what Anne and our sons have told us about the very real changes you have made to amend your character.” He had requested that Andrew and William ride with him and his wife while the rest followed behind in the Darcy conveyance. “All I will do is reiterate what Richard told you; it is something with which I wholeheartedly agree. My late sister and brother-in-law would not have approved of your behaviour. However, the way you have changed since then would have made them very proud of you.”

Darcy felt a lump in his throat at his uncle’s words. There was nothing he could hope for more than his parents looking down on him from heaven with pride. No one commented on his moist eyes. He went on to apologise for not listening with regards to Mrs Younge.

“We accept your amends, now tell us about your Miss Elizabeth,” Lady Elaine requested.

“She is magnificent and has the most mesmerising emerald-green eyes. She more than tempts me and is the handsomest woman of my acquaintance. However, her most attractive feature is her mind…” Darcy waxed eloquently about Miss Elizabeth.

Lady Elaine and Matlock looked at one another with knowing looks. William was even more besotted than Andrew had mentioned.

When the coaches halted at Longbourn, Fanny and Bennet were standing just in front of the door to receive their noble guests. The former was fighting to maintain her equanimity while the latter knew this was not a time to make sport of anyone. Remembering her lessons with Mrs Crawford, Fanny calmed herself and waited for the earl to request an introduction.