Bingley's Deception

by Tiffany Ward

  Lady Catherine was returned to Rosings with a royal escort. The steward was instructed by the Royals to open the dowager home for her immediate occupancy. Catherine was not allowed to enter Rosings again. Lady Anne de Bourgh took over the running of Rosings. The investigators determined that Lewis’ true heir had passed three years before without any progeny, so Anne did indeed inherit Rosings. Since Anne was continually ill, she asked Richard Fitzwilliam to come to Rosings and become her heir.

  While Richard was happy to become the master of an estate, he refused to sell his commission until he was able to extract revenge for his cousin. He ended his military career, after sending Wickham and Denny to the front lines in France. For the first week, the two soldiers attempted to ingratiate themselves into Richard’s unit. Once they were sent into battle, Wickham disserted never to return to England after seeing Denny mortally wounded as he stood by Wickham’s side. Richard did inherit Rosings one year later when Anne died. With his new inheritance, Richard was able to marry a debutante from the ton. He was never interested in a love match, so he had two children and a society marriage.

  As for the town of Meryton, Mrs. Long and Mrs. Goulding were removed from polite society for one year. Their actions of following an insane woman due to jealousy and revenge were topics when new gossip arose in town. They learned that gossip was terrible for them and their families. The ladies did reconcile with Mrs. Bennet but did not receive any forgiveness from Mr. Bennet. He was bitter that his inaction and propensity to remain home allowed others to tarnish the name of his favorite daughter. His death a five years later allowed Mrs. Bennet freedom to act as she had before Elizabeth’s ruin. The Bennet matriarch never forgave her second child, even though she admitted that Elizabeth was innocent as the rector stated. Everyone remembered Caroline Bingley as the deceptive woman who lied about the Bennets.

  The community in Meryton learned that one good person could change their entire society. All of the people that Elizabeth Bennet had helped during her time in Meryton missed her dreadfully. The tenants at Longbourn were dissatisfied by the lack of attention the master gave them. None of his other daughters ever took the place of Elizabeth in maintaining their cottages or helping them when they were ill. Many of these tenants had left before Bennet’s ultimate death. Jane was never trained to work with the people or run the estate, so she left everything to her steward. The family funds were depleted due to the lack of care for their tenants, Jane never attempted to improve the property.

  Mr. Evans continued sending reports to the royal family regarding the community. The elderly inhabitants were neglected after Elizabeth was removed from Meryton. She had used her personal funds to support them during times of need. After her removal no remaining members of the community helped in her stead. Due to the need presented, Evans was given the charge to find a member of the community to assist those who were harmed by Lizzy’s leaving, this was funded by the Royals. Charlotte Lucas was chosen to run the charity; she was a spinster who wanted to have her own home. This charity provided a cottage for her to live in while tending to the needs of the poorer community members. All who were honest missed Elizabeth Bennet terribly.

  Bibliography

  Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Bantam Classics, Reissue edition,

  December 1, 1983.