“Neddy is not wild, Mama. He is not spoiled.” It was all she could do to keep her voice calm and even.
“I am sure, Mrs Bennet, that you can see what Philips’s goal is,” Darcy said, moving away from the mantel to hand herhis handkerchief. “If Philips becomes guardian of your son, who is the true mistress of Longbourn? Is it you? Or is it your sister?”
Mrs Bennet gasped. Elizabeth could see that this idea had never even crossed her mother’s mind.
“Why…why Begonia would not…she would never…”
“Mama, of course she would,” Jane interjected. “She has always been jealous of you.”
Elizabeth nearly smiled at this—it was not Jane’s way to criticise. Obviously, she was trying very hard to say what was right.
“Let me put it this way,” Darcy said. “I am the owner of several immense properties, including two thousand acres of country estate in Derbyshire and a fine home in Mayfair. Between me and your brother Philips, which of us is most likely to act as a custodian solely concerned for Edward’s best interests, and which one will pretend he is Longbourn’s lone master?”
Elizabeth could see that her mother was about to do what she usually did when faced with important decisions—fall to pieces. But again, Mary intervened.
“Mama, you know they are right, and Papa would hate the way Mr Philips behaves towards Neddy. If Lizzy marries Mr Darcy, he becomes your son. It is only right that he should take care of you, as well as Neddy and me and Jane. Do you want Mr Darcy to take care of us while you keep your place at Longbourn? Or do you want to watch Uncle Philips and your sister seize it all?”
Mrs Bennet sniffled into Darcy’s handkerchief. “I…I suppose it ought to be Mr Darcy,” she said uncertainly.
Mary nodded crisply. “That is as well. I have been worried of late. It does not seem to me that our home is ahappy one any longer. It is why your daughters keep leaving it.”
Elizabeth went to Mary and hugged her. At first her sister stiffened, but after a moment, she returned the embrace.
“Mrs Bennet, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I do intend to take very good care of all of you,” Darcy said. His expression was sober, but Elizabeth saw the warmth in his eyes. “I understand that Mr and Mrs Philips have a home in Meryton. Is there any reason why they cannot return to it, and at once?”
“No reason,” Mrs Bennet said meekly.
“What do you say, Bingley, Hurst? Shall we escort Mr and Mrs Philips to their own property? Perhaps we shall stop at Ashworth along the way, and invite Harrington to come along as well? I believe a magistrate could ensure that everyone understands the meaning of the word ‘trespass’.”
“At once!” Bingley agreed.
“Happy to,” Hurst concurred.
“Mrs Bennet, I have asked the Bingleys to host you here at Netherfield until such time as we are certain that you will not have to deal with any unpleasantness in your own home,” Darcy said.
“Would you care to lie down for a few minutes in one of our comfortable chambers? You have had a distressing afternoon,” Mrs Hurst asked kindly.
“I will ask for a posset to be prepared,” Miss Bingley added. “I find it is just the thing for my nerves.”
The men departed and the Bingley sisters led Mrs Bennet away between them, leaving the Bennet sisters alone.
“Mary, you were magnificent,” Elizabeth said, taking the seat Mrs Bennet had vacated. “How sensible you are! Thankgoodness you were here today, and that Mama listened to you.”
“Mr Philips has grown unbearable. I wanted to leave with Jane when she did, but I knew there was no more room at Fox Hollow, and besides, Papa asked me to watch over our mother. All I could think that might help was to pray. I did not know what else to do.”
“I think, Mary, that sometimes that is the very best and only thingtodo,” Jane said, kneeling before her sister and taking her hands. “Thank you.”
Elizabeth put her arm about her younger sister. “We love you, Mary. We are so glad you were here today to help Mama see reason. We are so happy you are our sister.”
Mary blushed a bright red, but looked more contented than Elizabeth had seen her in a long, long while.
Forty
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Darcy returned to Netherfield some hours later, only to learn from Georgiana that Elizabeth, Miss Bennet, and Edward had all returned to Fox Hollow, while only Mrs Bennet and Miss Mary had accepted the Bingleys’ hospitality to remain at Netherfield. Disappointed, he quickly decided that despite the lateness of the hour, he could not wait until morning to go to Elizabeth. She must be curious as to the disposition of Mr and Mrs Philips.
The dark and quiet were a vast relief after the endless temper-filled whining of Henry and Begonia Philips. The soft thump of Mabel’s hooves on the dirt track provided a steady accompaniment to his thoughts; he had gone to a great deal of trouble this night, and he should have felt frustrated, angry, even disgusted. Instead, his emotions were tranquil ones, and while no one could find evicting the leeching Philipses as anything except distasteful, he felt the satisfaction of having done what was right.
