Page 57 of Regrets

She shrugged. “I will not go into his study unless he calls for me to do so.” There was a tightness in her voice that puzzled him. She was not easy with her father, that much was plain. “But I will take you there.”

She led him to the study door, knocked on it, heard him say, “Enter,” and then left Mr. Darcy to do so.

Mr. Bennet rose to his feet. “Mr. Darcy,” he said. “It is good to see you. Sit, please.”

Mr. Darcy did so. He produced the package that his solicitor had sent, and handed it to Mr. Bennet to read.

“I see,” Mr. Bennet said. “Well, my brother by marriage is a notary as well as a solicitor, and he can be depended upon to keep silent, so we can go to his office. As for the matter of Mr. Collins’ history…” Mr. Bennet closed his eyes and steepled his hands, thinking. “I know that my grandfather’s second son, Joshua, went to Birmingham. But what happened after that, I have no idea. Wait, I recall George Collins saying that he had come some hundred miles to demand his rights. But he could have come from anywhere! Why are you investigating his birth? Do you think something might be amiss?”

“One never knows,” Mr. Darcy said, shrugging. “One hundred miles…yes, that could be Birmingham. I have written to my Aunt Catherine, asking her to try to get some information from Mr. Collins. If she does not do so, I can ask Georgiana to write to her cousin, Anne, and ask her what she might be able to find out.”

“I am sorry to put you in such a position with your relatives, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet said, ruefully.

“No, no, do not apologise. I would never be easy, knowing that a man such as Mr. Collins was bankrupting Longbourn. Let us go to your brother. It is Mr. Philips, is it not? The man who arranged Bingley’s lease?”

“Yes, exactly. It is not far.”

***

A quarter of an hour later, the two men were ushered into Mr. Philips’ office. He was shown the papers, and then he turned to Mr. Bennet in some alarm. “Are you mad, Bennet? You cannot sell Longbourn; it is entailed!”

Mr. Darcy smiled. “We understand that, of course, Mr. Philips.”

“Well, then, why on earth – oh, I see.” Mr. Philips, who had risen from his chair in indignation, sat back down. “You are executing a common recovery.”

“Precisely; I am delighted to know that you are familiar with it,” Mr. Darcy said.

“I have heard of it, but have never been party to one. It will become illegal one day, Mr. Darcy.”

“I am certain that you are right, Mr. Philips, but that day is not today. I have met Mr. Bennet’s heir presumptive, and he is not fit to own an estate.”

“Why not our brother, Mr. Gardiner, as the third party?” Mr. Philips demanded of Mr. Bennet.

Mr. Bennet replied, quietly, “Mr. Darcy is the nephew of the Earl of Matlock. He has a good deal of influence and no need whatever for my small estate.”

“I see.” Mr. Philips stared at Mr. Darcy for a long minute. Then he sighed and said, “Very well; I will notarise your signatures.”

Once that was done, Mr. Darcy gathered up the papers; he and Mr. Bennet returned to Longbourn, where they found Mr. Bingley deep in discussion with Miss Bennet, and Georgiana in equally deep discussion with Elizabeth.

Mr. Darcy finally managed to pry his friend away from Miss Bennet, though he could not miss the looks of longing the two exchanged. He also managed to persuade his sister away from Miss Elizabeth, though he rather feared he himself might have cast some longing glances her way. She did not return them.

Once he was back at Netherfield, he packaged up the signed and notarised documents and enclosed a note to Mr. Stanley, saying that he was doing what he could to get more information as to Mr. Collins’ birthplace, and sent the package off to London with a messenger.

Chapter Forty-Four

Miss Bingley had been in a dreadful temper all day. Nancy suspected it had to do with her not being invited to a particular social event that she had had her heart set on. The Season had not yet begun, so why this event was so important to her mistress was not at all clear; nonetheless, Miss Bingley was in a temper.

This, Nancy decided, would be the day. “Miss Bingley,” she began.

“What is it, Nancy? I have told you twice now that I would wear my blossom pink gown to dinner, and you have yet to take it from my wardrobe!”

“Yes, Miss Bingley. Only I thought you would want to see something important.”

“What could you possibly have to show me that is important?” Miss Bingley sounded astonished at the mere idea.

“Well, this was found in Mr. Bingley’s study, and it found its way to me only yesterday.” Miss Bingley need not know that it had been in Nancy’s possession for two weeks.

“Well, what is it? Come on, girl, I do not have all day!”