Field of Dreams: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by J. Dawn King

Author:J. Dawn King [King, J. Dawn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Quiet Mountain Press
Published: 2022-05-09T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Darcy recognized the sound coming from Mr. Bennet’s chest. It was called the “death rattle” for a reason. A mountain of pillows had propped him up. The butler was fanning his face trying to get air into his lungs. The windows were wide open.

He could see Mr. Bennet’s attempts to focus on what was happening. The demand for oxygen was his greatest struggle. There were long pauses between breaths moving his stomach up and down rather than his chest. The gurgling sound made Darcy want to cough for him.

As it was, Darcy cleared his throat before speaking. “Mr. Bennet, I am Fitzwilliam Darcy, the man your daughter contacted in the spring. It is my purpose here tonight to protect your family’s future.” He quickly explained what they were about.

With Bingley and the apothecary’s assistance, Mr. Bennet managed to sit upright. Hurst held a portable writing desk on his lap while Darcy kept the bank draft steady.

“Do you understand what you are signing?” Darcy asked.

There was a slight nod.

“Do you understand that this money will support your wife and daughters after you are no longer able?”

The nod was more vigorous.

“Do you understand that there are four witnesses here who will testify, if necessary, that you are of sound mind? That you willingly and voluntarily are signing this document transferring funds into an account for the personal use of your wife and daughters and that these monies will be removed from Longbourn’s accounts?”

“Do,” he mumbled as his head dipped again.

“You are in full agreement?” Darcy said.

“Yes.” He reached feebly for the quill.

His speech was garbled, but that one word was clearly understood.

With a swift move of the quill, it was done.

Mr. Bennet thrust the quill into Darcy’s hand. “Sign...wit...ness...”

Once Hurst lifted the desk to the side of the bed, each man signed his name across the bottom of the draft that Miss Elizabeth had carefully dated.

“I will only ask one more thing of you, sir.” Darcy cleared his throat. “I will leave as soon as the sun rises and go directly to the Bank of England. There, I will open an account not associated with Longbourn for your family’s use. Your task is to remain alive until my return, indicating the deed is done, and the funds are safe.”

Mr. Bennet nodded, then slid down onto his pillows. “Gar...din...er...go!” he whispered as loudly as he was able. Immediately, a violent fit of coughing hit him.

Mr. Jones stepped up with a bottle of some sort. Hopefully, it contained laudanum so the poor man could sleep.

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