Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
E lizabeth did not return to the parsonage straight away. Between Mr Darcy’s express and Colonel Fitzwilliam’s near confession, she had much on her heart, and only a brisk walk along her favourite path would allow her to process it all.
If Miss de Bourgh truly wanted Darcy dead, why go to all the trouble of hiring ruffians from London? Why not just slip something into his drink? Or arrange a highway robbery? Or, if she really was capable of what Mrs Walker hinted at, why would Miss de Bourgh not kill him herself?
Perhaps she simply wanted to place Darcy’s death far away from Rosings. After all, even Darcy had noted how abhorrent a scandal would be. Did Miss de Bourgh care enough about her family’s reputation to give such forethought to avoiding the opprobrium of the ton ? Elizabeth simply did not know.
And the colonel! He may as well have just said out loud that he was going to town to arrange for their future together. But what future? Had he not told her plainly that he could not marry without attention to money? That he was too dependent, that his habits of expense made the possibility of marrying without a fortune impossible? What had changed? More to the point, what did he hope would change on this trip to London? Clearly, he felt that, once his business was addressed, he would be able to find her and ask for her hand.
It was a miserable feeling to have led such a deserving, feeling man to hope—even inadvertently—for something he could never have.
As Elizabeth rounded the gnarled oak on her way back to the parsonage, she saw Miss de Bourgh’s phaeton rolling to a stop before its gate. She crossed the road and passed in front of the lady’s pretty chestnut mare just in time for Mr Collins to take the reins from Anne’s hands and assist her to the ground. After Miss de Bourgh had nodded and walked on towards the house, he looked down at the tethers in dismay, as if having no idea what to do with them. Espying Elizabeth, he blithely handed them over to her and trotted after his more esteemed guest.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and walked the mare closer to the fence, where she wrapped the reins securely around one of the sturdier posts before making her own way inside.
“I really must apologise for the scene you witnessed when last you were at Rosings, Mrs Collins,” Miss de Bourgh was saying as Elizabeth entered the parlour. “I was able to say the same to your husband and guests at supper on Sunday, but I have been especially anxious to secure your pardon. Such behaviour was beneath me, and I should hate to have you avoid coming to the great house for fear it might be repeated.”
Her voice was dripping honey, and, though Elizabeth knew Charlotte to have been shocked by the lady’s outburst, her friend issued her full and free forgiveness.
“Please do not suppose that my dear Charlotte chose to stay behind on Sunday because of anything that you have done, Miss de Bourgh. Indeed, nothing but the severest of illnesses could keep any of us from the honour of your company. Why, your—and your most illustrious mother, of course—magnanimity in inviting the humble occupants of my simple home to dine in your most prestigious company! It leaves me positively speechless when I think upon all the kindly bestowed solicitude we have received from your exceptionally generous hands! Speechless, I tell you! Indeed, I discuss it with my dear wife often,” Mr Collins said in a remarkable display of how many words one might utter without taking a breath.
“And are you ill today, Mrs Collins?” Miss de Bourgh asked, levelling a sharp gaze at Charlotte.
“Today has been better than other days, so I am grateful for that. I understand such bouts of illness are to be expected during early days. Though, I admit, I do not believe I have the strength to make the walk to the great house for tea tomorrow.”
“You are feeling… weak , then?”
“Yes, rather,” Charlotte answered.
Elizabeth noted something in Miss de Bourgh’s eyes she could not define. It was almost as if she wished Charlotte to be sickly. Was she so unfeeling as to revel in others’ misfortune? Was that the purpose of her visit? To witness Charlotte’s decline as she herself grew stronger each day? Elizabeth could not watch any longer.
“Have you plans to go to London soon, Miss de Bourgh?” she asked abruptly.
Miss de Bourgh’s eyes flashed with fire before she peeled her eyes away from Charlotte and answered, “My health has always been too indifferent for travel, Miss Bennet.”
“So, you have not been to London in recent weeks, then?” Elizabeth could not help but raise an eyebrow as she threw this particular dart.
It seemed to hit its mark, for Miss de Bourgh’s eye twitched before she responded, “Of course not. When should I have had the chance to travel to London? Why, you have been here these many weeks, and you saw how ill I was when you arrived, did you not?”
“So ill in fact that we did not see you for days at a time, true,” Elizabeth answered, wondering how much of Miss de Bourgh’s illness had been an act. “I did hear that you used to travel often in your younger years. As far as Pemberley in Derbyshire, I understand. Your health cannot always have been so grievous.”
“Cousin Elizabeth! How you can be so presumptuous as to argue such a point with the daughter of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I simply cannot fathom. Surely our most estimable guest knows her own concerns well enough to explain them to the likes of you.”
“Surely,” Elizabeth acquiesced, but not before seeing the briefest glare of disdain wash over Anne de Bourgh’s face.
“I really must be going. Miss Bennet, Mr Collins, my mother will be expecting you both for tea tomorrow at your usual time. Mrs Collins, I am sure she will understand why you and Miss Lucas cannot join us, though either or both of you are welcome, as always.”
With that, she swept out of the room, out of the house, and down to the gate. Without assistance, she unhitched her mare, pulled herself into the driver’s seat, and turned the phaeton back to Rosings Park.
Miss de Bourgh was far too interested in Charlotte for Elizabeth’s comfort. What she was after, heaven only knew. But one thing was certain…Elizabeth was not going anywhere.