Page 47 of Saving Jane
“Your uncle tells me that he wrote to Mr Darcy and asked for his help because of Lady Catherine’s interference.”
Mr Bennet frowned. “It is seldom that the gentry get the better of the aristocrats and I would prefer to deal with the devil than a pack of attorneys and lords.”
Now their father smiled and joked, “Perhaps the French have the right of it, and we should chop off the heads of our nobles!”
“When do we journey to London, Papa?” asked Jane.
“Tomorrow, if the sky is clear. We leave by nine sharp–with the cold I am not certain how long the journey will take but we must be at Grace Church Street before nightfall.”
~~}{~~
During the ride to London, Jane and Elizabeth sat close together huddled under blankets and pillows. Mr Bennet shivered occasionally but his daughters piled more blankets around him to keep him warm. The city had almost as many people on the streets as in the fall, but Elizabeth saw the parks and public places were deserted.
Upon arrival at Grace Church Street, Mrs Gardiner made certain that her nieces were wrapped in warm blankets for an hour and that Mr Bennet was provided with warm drinks. It was just before teatime, and they joined the family for a pleasant repast that grew noisier when Mr Gardiner returned home to determine if the Bennets had arrived.
Mrs Gardiner asked questions concerning Mary and Mr Lucas, Elizabeth’s correspondence with Miss Darcy, and any news of Mr Darcy. Their aunt became distressed when she learned that Jane had not received any word from Mr Collins since his departure before Christmas.
“Mr Bennet, in all the letters you received from Mr Collins did he never mention Jane or ask for any message to be conveyed to his fiancée?” she asked privately when her nieces were above stairs.
“Mrs Gardiner, I am sorry to report that Mr Collins has not mentioned Jane by name in a single line of any of his letters. He only speaks of Lady Catherine and her suggestions for bettering the settlement arrangements.”
He thought for a moment and added, “I believe that Jane wrote to him twice but never received a reply, so she ceased writing.”
The following afternoon, the interested parties began to assemble at Grace Church Street immediately following the hours for social calls.
First Mr Darcy and his attorney arrived to speak with Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner. Promptly on the hour, Mr Collins arrived with all the gravity of a lord’s procession into Parliament. He bowed to each of the gentlemen and spent ten minutes reporting in detail to Mr Darcy onthe particular health of Lady Catherine and her daughter, Miss Anne de Bourgh.
“Mr Collins, would you care to greet Miss Bennet?” Mr Gardiner inquired when the parson finally realized that Mr Darcy was not listening to him but was speaking with Mr Bennet instead.
The parson smiled briefly, bowed and intoned a single, “How very nice to see you again Miss Bennet.” Then he turned to his host and suggested, “Perhaps the ladies can retire so that we can begin.”
“Retire sir?” asked Mr Gardiner. “Have we just completed supper and need to separate to refresh ourselves? I am not understanding you.”
Collins blustered for a moment, “Mr Gardiner, certainly we cannot discuss business with ladies present. It would affect their composure... their very felicity to be exposed to matters of pounds and inheritances.”
“For my part, I want my daughters to remain,” Mr Bennet replied. “Jane and Elizabeth have good heads on their shoulders for ladies. I do not think anything Mr Collins says will harm their sensibilities.”
Collins frowned but fell silent as Mr Darcy’s attorney stood up and addressed the gentlemen and ladies. For his own family, the attorney would have separated the ladies from such conversations as well, but he understood from Mr Darcy that these were exceptional women with education and thought. And it appeared that the parson from Lady Catherine’s glebe could lay claim to neither such characteristic.
“Upon request of Mr Darcy, I have examined the claims and requests of Mr William Collins for alterations in the marriage settlement dated four November of last year and signed by Mr Thomas Bennet, his daughter Miss Jane Bennet and Mr William Collins. I find nothing in the agreement that allows for any alterations or adjustments without breaking the agreement.”
“Mr Collins, I understand you wish to lay claim to the entirety of the dowry of Mrs Francis Bennet, wife of Mr Thomas Bennet. Sir, I must inform you that to do so would require Mr Bennet to break his own marriage settlement for Mrs Bennet’s father stipulates the division of her dowry equally among her children.”
The attorney stared at Mr Collins for a moment before adding, “You would have to bring suit against Mr David Gardiner who has been dead these fifteen years past. And I have to tell you, judges do not favour the attendance of rotted corpses in their courtrooms.”
Elizabeth watched Mr Darcy carefully as he kept his face free of emotion or opinion except for catching her eye andwinking quickly.
“I do not understand you sir,” Mr Collins said. “Her Ladyship assures me that families make changes to the marriage settlements up to the very day of the wedding.”
“That may be the case sir when both parties are in agreement to the changes,” the attorney explained. “I understand that Mr Bennet does not wish to make the change you have requested. To change his mind, do you wish to offer any consideration to Mr Bennet for increasing Miss Bennet’s share of the dowry?”
“No. Lady Catherine...I believe that the entire dowry should be mine because I shall have to support Mrs Bennet and her unmarried daughters after I inherit the estate.”
Mr Bennet leaned forward, “Do you anticipate an early inheritance, sir? I hope you are not planning to do me in with inheritance powder. Remember the scoundrel who was hung last fall for poisoning his wife for her money! They stretched his neck as his final inheritance.”
Darcy glanced at Mr and Mrs Gardiner and at Elizabeth–they were each piqued at Mr Bennet for such words but the master of Longbourn did not know of their previous dealings with the dead man and it appeared that Elizabeth had not told Jane Bennet of the events.
Again, flustered and blustering, Mr Collins retreated to the directives of Lady Catherine; “It is the duty of the upper class to direct the lower classes how best to settle things! We all must listen to Lady Catherine and her wise words!”
