Page 39 of The Scarred Duchess
“What brings you from Pemberley?”
“I have business in town.”
“And what better place to dine than Matlock House?” boomed the earl, as he joined the grouping, the countess on his arm. He slapped the tall man on his back. “Jolly good to see you, Darcy.”
“And you, brother.” He took the countess’s extendedhand and delivered a perfect kiss. “Lady Matlock, you are nigh on perfection.”
“Mr and Mrs Gardiner,” announced Clarke.
Bennet was not surprised that Gardiner was an intimate of Lord Matlock. “Let us wait for our last guest,” said Lady Matlock. The unnamed guest was promptly announced, almost on cue.
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” Bennet noticed Lord Matlock’s face soften.
“Catherine, you came,” he said warmly.
“Of course I did, Henry.”
“Lady Catherine, I would like to acquaint you with our particular friend, the former Colonel Thomas Bennet.”
Bennet bowed. “Bennet, it is my honour to acquaint you with my beloved sister, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
Lady Catherine turned to her brother. “So, this is Colonel Bennet?” Lord Matlock nodded. She turned back to him and smiled. Bennet sensed she knew something he did not. “We have much to talk about, Mr Bennet,” she said.
Bennet looked to Lord Matlock, who added, “Yes, I daresay you do. Tomorrow.”
The following afternoon, at the appointed time, Bennet crossed his legs and relaxed back into his chair in the drawing room.
“I did not see Darcy as we descended for tea,” observed Lady Catherine.
“His carriage is for Gracechurch Street,” offered Lord Matlock. “He has business with Gardiner.”
That cannot be good.
Lord Matlock opened the meeting. “Bennet, five years ago, the chancery courts denied your application to break the entail.”
Frowning, he replied, “Philips informed me as such. It was disappointing.”
“I daresay it was. Your solicitor found the counter-argument from the court non-existent.” Lord Matlock tapped his nose. “Philips wrote to Gardiner for assistance.”
Bennet shook his head, not in censure but in admiration. He understood the unsaid threat. “Roark.”
“Indeed,” agreed Lord Matlock. “To answer your unasked question, his enquiries led to my involvement. I then spoke with the Chancellor. It took very little for him to recognise the court’s...error. I shall allow Gardiner to acquaint you with his role. He is doing just that with Darcy regarding an unrelated matter.”
Lady Catherine cleared her throat. “I believe this is where my involvement begins.” She turned to Bennet. “Your brother discovered a crucial matter relating to your estate inheritance line. Your cousin Josiah Collins had a son. His name is William Collins.”
Interested if not yet alarmed, Bennet set aside his tea. “And you found him, Lady Catherine?”
“I did, at Matlock’s request,” confirmed Lady Catherine. “He was in a workhouse.”
“Dreadful,” murmured Lady Matlock.
“Where is the lad now?” asked Bennet.
“He resides with a family near Rosings Park. He is a pleasant, albeit timid young man with an appetite for study, an endeavour that Marylebone House fostered. I shall send him to university to study for the church, and ensure he gains a role as apprentice to a clergyman until he gains his own placement.”
“That is quite generous of you, my lady,” said Bennet.
“It is my Christian duty. I believe he will do well.”
