Netherfield Park Quarantined (20 page)

As Denny came up behind the men, he could see Bingley was attempting
to determine the best course of action.

Denny was almost to the man with the knife to Lydia’s throat when Mrs
Bennet was heard shrieking as she had come to her bedchamber door and
seen her two favorite daughters in the hands of ruffians. Laub was caught off
guard, turning his attention towards Mrs Bennet.

At that moment, Denny lunged forward, grabbing hold of the second
man’s arm and wrenching it away from Lydia. Seeing Denny move into action,
Bingley leapt forward, and struggled with Laub for control of the pistol. Jane
moved from the men, crawling across the floor to her youngest sister, pulling
her through the door and into a bedroom, slamming the door shut and locking
it.

Denny was able to subdue the second man, securing his hands behind
his back. Suddenly, he heard the sound of the pistol firing.

 

~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

 

Chapter 16

While Elizabeth was sleeping, Darcy took time to write a letter to Mr
Bennet, letting him know of Elizabeth and Georgiana being recovered and
both recovering nicely. Though it had been three days since they had stormed
Rosemoore and liberated the captured ladies, Elizabeth was far from being
able to travel, especially such a long journey as to return to England.

Her fever had broken, the second day after being tended to by Mr Webb,
the fever and infection had sapped most of her strength. She had yet to be
able to sit up on her own, and Darcy saw to her meals each day, feeding her as
if she were a small child. At first, he worried she would grow angry at his
service, but Elizabeth was grateful for the attention her husband bestowed
upon her. Having him near was worth allowing such treatment.

Georgiana and Elizabeth were finally able to meet. It was amazing to
Darcy to watch the two ladies he loved most in the world take to each other so
easily. The natural shyness Georgiana normally displayed vanished within
moments of Georgiana and her new sister first talking with one another.
Their common interest in music and reading gave them much to discuss, as
well as their pleasure at knowing the other was safe and recovering from their
experience.

Darcy also wrote to his father in law of the Fitzwilliam family’s plan to
confront Lady Catherine. He was unaware of all that had been happening in
Meryton and Longbourn, as there had been no news since they left England.
Not knowing where to send letters had prohibited communications from the
Bennets.

When it was discussed, the night before, as to how to handle Lady
Catherine, Darcy suggested they consider Mr Bennet’s opinion, as the Bennet
family had been injured in the matter. Lord Matlock agreed, especially since
Mr Collins had been Mr Bennet’s cousin and heir. So, in the letter, Mr Darcy
suggested his father in law put thought into his opinion before their arrival.

Hearing his wife stirring, Darcy finished the letter, sending Elizabeth’s
love to her family, as he was sure she would wish him to do. After it was
sanded, he sealed the letter and stepped into the hall to have one of the
servants post it.

Stepping back into the bedchamber, he was greeted with his wife’s eyes
wide open. “William, where were you?”

 

“I just asked the footman to post a letter to your father. And, yes, before
you ask, I sent your love along in the letter.”

 

Elizabeth chuckled. “You know me so well.”

 

“Yes, I do. Now, how are you feeling? Do you wish to try and sit up
today?” Darcy asked.

 

“I believe I am strong enough today. I am already frustrated with the
splint on my arm.”

Darcy laughed. “I did not think it would take long for it to become too
constricting. But I am grateful it was only your arm which was injured, as I
shudder to think of what Wickham had in store for you.” He kissed her lips
with more desire than he had of late, as he was careful with her delicate and
frail form. Elizabeth knew he needed reassurance, and she met his kiss with
as much energy as she could. Soon enough, Darcy pulled himself back from
her lips. “I had best reign in my ardor or I will ravage you this very moment.”

“You know I have the same desire as you do, my love. Give me time to
recover fully, and I will show you exactly how greatly I desire my handsome
husband. I love you, William, and plan to spend the rest of my life showing
you how much you mean to me.”

“You are not allowed to leave me, not now, not ever.” Darcy said as he
lightly kissed her lips again. “I will not tolerate spending another day without
you at my side.”

“You sent my father word as to where he can write to us, did you not?”

“I did, though, as long as it takes to send letters back and forth, hopefully
you will be recovered enough to travel by the time a letter can arrive from
your father.”

Elizabeth sighed. “I pray they are well. I miss my sisters, and Papa.
Especially Jane. Do you think Mr Bingley has asked for her hand yet?”

“If Bingley is intelligent, he would have secured her hand by now. I
know your father assumed it would not be long before Bingley came knocking
on his study door.” Darcy smiled.

“Mr Bingley would be your brother. Would you like that?”

“Very much. He has been a close friend for many years, nearly as close
to me as Richard. I have always thought of Richard as a brother instead of a
cousin. They are two of the best men I know.”

Nodding her head, Elizabeth agreed. A knock on the door announced
the maid bringing their food tray. “Ah, the food smells delicious, as usual. If I
continue to eat so much, I will be twice my size around before we leave here.
The cook is excellent.”

The maid, Bridget, smiled. “Cook will be thrilled to hear such praise,
Mrs Darcy. She has enjoyed having guests for whom to prepare meals, though
we all wish you had come purely as a visit. We are all pleased to see your
improving so much.”

“Thank you Bridget. Please convey my thanks to Cook for all her
efforts.”

 

~~ ** ~~
A knock on the door of his study brought Mr Bennet from his wool
gathering. “Enter.” He called out.

 

The door opened and in came Mrs Hill. “What has Mr Hale said?” Mr
Bennet inquired. His housekeeper had been assisting the physician.

“Though there was a large amount of blood lost, the wound is mostly a
graze. With the wound tended properly, there should be no further problems
that a few days in bed and good food cannot cure.”

“Thank the heavens for such news.” Mr Bennet had tears stinging his
eyes. “After all that has unfolded this day, I am thrilled it was not worse.”

“As am I, Sir. When I saw the men holding your daughters, my heart
nearly stopped. I feared the worst would happen. How much damage was
there from the fires?”

“Netherfield’s house was saved, as the wind died down and the rain
began. Lucas Lodge was badly burnt, though it is salvageable from what they
told me. The Lucas family will be staying at Netherfield Park for the time
being. Where is my future son in law?”

“He is upstairs. I believe we finally have him calmed enough to rest.”
“The poor boy, he has endured so much today. I am pleased he stayed
here and took charge. He has the makings of a strong master of an estate.”
Mrs Hill nodded her head. She turned and left Mr Bennet to his
thoughts.

When Thomas Bennet had returned to his home, he found utter chaos
had erupted. Two of the guards had been injured, one of the perpetrators was
unconscious, and the other was tied to a chair. The most frightening was the
bleeding which was coming from Denny’s arm. He had been shot as Bingley
and Laub had struggled over the pistol. Fortunately, the wound was not
terrible, and Bingley was able to knock Laub out with the butt of the gun he
had wrestled from the criminal’s hands. By that time two more guards from
the front area of the house had joined the fray and they secured both of the
blackguards so they would not cause further harm.

Mr Bennet was pleased with all that Denny had done for the Bennet
family. The young man was dedicated and caring, and had saved the lives of
two of his daughters, while suffering a wound in the process. Even wounded,
Denny did as much as he could in securing the second suspect. No man could
ever doubt Denny’s loyalty and devotion to the Bennet family.

Mr Gardiner had traveled to Longbourn to assist his family. There was
the disposition of Mr Phillips’ business and a decision to make on whether to
keep the Phillips house, as well as repairs to be made to the tenant house and
surrounding farmlands. Laub and his man had been turned over to the
magistrate, which, for the area, was Sir William Lucas. It was decided to keep
both of the men isolated, and keep their presence unknown to the general
public.

Mr Gardiner and Mr Bennet agreed on waiting for the return to England
of the Darcys and the Matlock family. Before leaving London, Mr Gardiner had
visited Matlock House, only to learn the family had traveled to Ireland. This
was news which brought relief to Mr Bennet. To him, the only reason Lord
and Lady Matlock would both travel to Ireland was in support of Darcy and
Elizabeth’s marriage and they were joining forces with Darcy and Colonel
Fitzwilliam in recovering the young ladies. Richard had informed Mr Bennet
of his mother’s support and that, if anyone could, she would bring Lord
Matlock’s thinking towards siding against Lady Catherine.

The last thing that was wanted, while they waited, was for Lady
Catherine to learn her men were captured. It was not beneath what they
knew of Lady Catherine to hire more men to continue the attacks. It was
better to have her believe her men were still making attempts to find the
documents they were trying to obtain. Little did it matter to Lady Catherine
or her men that the documents they were seeking were not at Longbourn, nor
were they even in Hertfordshire. Darcy had not trusted his aunt and wished
to protect his new family by having the documents elsewhere. Mr Bennet had
proceeded as his son in law suggested, and the papers were safe. But telling
Lady Catherine the papers were not at Longbourn would not convince her.
She would believe they were lying to her.

So the men would be held in the locked storage area of Netherfield Park,
with many of the guards taking shifts watching over them. Though no further
attacks were expected in the near future, as Lady Catherine was temporarily
satisfied with her men’s ability.

It was also decided to remove Mrs Bennet, Lydia, and Kitty to Town to
stay at the Gardiner home. Since the attack on Longbourn, Lydia was in a
constant state of fear. Mrs Gardiner would be a positive aspect in Lydia’s life,
as she would also work with the lady from the blind school in improving the
girl’s life.

~~ ** ~~

Lady Catherine was furious. It had been plenty of time for Mr Collins to
have arrived in Ireland and have taken up residence at Rosemoore. Before he
left to journey to his new home, Mr Collins had promised he would write to
her as soon as he arrived and to inform her that Elizabeth was, indeed, being
kept at the estate. Once she knew for sure that the country chit was out of the
way, she could continue working on her nephew. She was surprised to learn
the men she hired to take Darcy to the sanitarium had failed and had
disappeared.

All the letters Lady Catherine had written to her brother had gone
unanswered. There had never been any love between Rebecca Fitzwilliam
and Catherine de Bourgh. The two were completely opposite of each other.
This infuriated Lady Catherine, as she was used to being able to convince her
brother and sister to follow her advice before Rebecca married Henry
Fitzwilliam.

To add to Lady Catherine’s frustration was when her sister, Lady Anne,
became close friends with their sister in law. The two spent so much time
together, ignoring Lady Catherine most of the time. When an invitation was
sent to Lady Anne to visit Rosings, the younger sister was unable to as she was
assisting Rebecca during her first confinement. After Lady Anne’s marriage,
Lady Catherine thought the hold Rebecca had over her sister would have
lessened. That was not the case. Gerald Darcy and Henry Fitzwilliam were
close friends as well, so the two couples spent as much time together as
possible.

When Lady Catherine finally conceived, she wished for her sister to stay
at Rosings with her through her confinement. Lady Anne could not make the
journey to Rosings, as she had given birth to her son only months before, and
her strength had yet to recover. Fitzwilliam Darcy’s birth had been difficult
for the frail Anne Darcy, and it took her more than a year to return to her
previous health.

In a plan to improve relations between her and her sister, Lady
Catherine named her daughter Anne. She had suggested an arrangement for
her daughter and Lady Anne’s son, a suggestion which Lady Anne refused
most vehemently. Lady Anne’s health continued to plague her, as she had four
miscarriages after her son’s birth. Finally, she gave birth to a daughter. It was
only three days later when Lady Anne took her final breath, with her husband
and son each holding one of her hands. Lady Catherine was furious, after
naming her daughter for Lady Anne that the courtesy was not returned with
Lady Anne’s daughter being named for her. For many years, Lady Catherine
would abuse Gerald Darcy for his naming Georgiana for his mother’s mother.

As Lady Catherine’s frustration grew from lack of information from Mr
Collins and Laub, and no response from her brother, her mind began plotting
other ways she could obtain her goal. She was certain the documents she
needed were hidden at Longbourn. Her nephew had not had time to return to
Pemberley, so his copy of the papers were most likely with his father in law’s
copy. Laub had investigated the solicitor Darcy used in Town, and no copies
had been sent to him.

If those papers were to appear, her quest for an annulment would be
thwarted. And she had to have Darcy’s marriage torn apart. Her daughter
needed to be married, and only Darcy would be the proper husband. Like her
namesake, Anne de Bourgh was of fragile health. Darcy would not place
undue demands upon Anne when they were married. And they had no reason
to wish to live at Rosings, so, with them living at Pemberley, Lady Catherine
could continue with her free reign over Rosings.