Page 45 of Cousin Elizabeth
~~~~~
Richard, Theo, John, and Darcy escorted Beth, Lizzy, Mamie, and Jane to Longbourn after tea. Charlotte met them there, and Mr. Bennet joined them in the garden for a walk. They all strolled separately to the walled garden except Lizzy and William, who walked toward Oakham Mount. Mary had not been asked to join them and had felt quite put out.
“So, Miss Darcy will be safe here with my girls during the ball. Do you have any more information on when you think this compromise will happen? You are staying in the same house with him niece. He could easily sneak into your or Miss Darcy’s rooms before that.” Bennet postulated.
“We believe he will want to try during the ball with lots of witnesses. He will think I have no choice but to accept him. Little does he understand me! Ha!”
“This could ruin your reputation and possibly affect your cousins.” Bennet frowned in thought.
“I will not allow it, Mr. Bennet.” Theo said with conviction. “I will make sure your daughters are not included in any tittle tattle.”
Richard huffed. “Not that your reputation is pristine, brother. I am sure the people of Meryton have read of your exploits in the papers.”
Theo flushed. “But your reputation and our parentsispristine. So is Darcy’s. With all of you backing them, the tale tellers will be silenced.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true, and my girls will all go with Darcy to Pemberley a few days after the ball. The locals will forget any scandal before they return. Someone will do something over Christmastide to cause some kind of new outrage.”
“Not to mention I will leave England in the Spring. Out of sight, out of mind.”
Richard nodded and said, “It is best we let this play out then. He will make a mockery of himself. Darcy will see with his own eyes that his friend is not what he seems. Do the Hursts and Miss Bingley have any idea what is happening?”
“Caroline has suspicions. She has warned me she thinks her brother is up to something. I wish Bingley’s family would not be caught up in his dishonor. It does not matter so much for the Hursts. They plan to go to his parent’s estate after the New Year. Caroline though…she is much changed. He could sink her chances for a good match.”
“IFshe is not part of his plan, and comports herself well the rest of our stay, I will ask mother to help her next season. A few introductions and being invited to mother’s ball. She will need to leave her brother behind though.” Richard and Theo agreed with a look.
“I’m sure that would be a great help. Thank you cousins in law.” Beth smirked as everyone chuckled.
Charlotte laughed out, “Is that even a thing?”
“Well, Lady Matlock is my cousin, so her children would be cousins also, and Beth and Ethan are like my own children, so I would say they are all cousins.” Mamie shocked everyone with that statement.
“We are related? How did we not know?” Theo exclaimed.
Mamie looked a little sheepish. “I asked your mother not to mention to anyone that I was back in England. My first husband, his brother, and I left for America in a bit of a scandal. Nothing too awfully bad. My brother did not help matters. You know him as your Irish cousin.”
“Fitzpatrick?!”
Mamie just nodded as the brothers gawped. She had already told Thomas everything of her past. He drew her closer and glared at the brothers.
“Stand down uncle. I do not know the whole story, but I’m sure my cousins in law will not cause problems for your intended. Right gentlemen?!”
Richard came to himself first, “No, of course not. Actually, we know very little of your story. Mother dislikes Fitzpatrick and told us just a bit of what a terrible brother he was to you. Well…welcome home…cousin!”
Bennet relaxed as Mamie hugged the Fitzwilliam boys.
Mary could not wait any longer and walked into the walled garden while Mamie was getting hugs. “What did I miss? I uh…did not mean to interrupt but wondered if you were ready for tea.” She blushed and looked shyly at the colonel.
Richard stepped forward. “It is so good to see you again Miss Mary. I am sorry we did not enter the house first to greet you. You missed Theo and I finding out that Mrs. Russell is our cousin. She is a first cousin to our mother.”
“Oh! What a small world! So…since you are cousins to the Darcys, and we are cousins to the Darcys, we are all cousins of a sort?”
“Well yes, we are! How extraordinary!”
That shifted the mood considerably. The worry of what Bingley would try was shifted to the background as they group happily went inside for tea and conversation trying to figure out what level of cousins, they were, and how many times removed. Lizzy and Darcy returned to a very happy family of cousins.
Chapter Thirty-seven
“You are looking well tonight, Charles. Very distinguished.” Caroline felt starting the evening off with a compliment might calm her brother. People would start arriving for the ball soon.
