United By Happenstance (Variations of Pride and Prejudice #2)
Chapter 1
ONE
Still caught in a maelstrom of turbulent feeling brought about by Mr Darcy’s revelations in his letter, Elizabeth felt wholly unprepared to read yet another epistle as disastrous so soon.
The very morning after receiving his letter, she unfolded a new note from her aunt in London in no trepidation of its contents; immediately she felt her spirits plunge as she read the report from Gracechurch Street that declared a shocking illness making its way through her younger relations there.
Her aunt’s distress over their need to cloister themselves until it passed was palpable in every line; her apologies to her niece and to the Collinses profound.
But the firmness of the Gardiners’ apothecary had made it clear: Elizabeth would need to prepare herself to stay on in Kent for at least three weeks until all the children had in their turn overcome this sickness.
Her hopes for her upcoming escape dashed themselves to pieces upon the page she held.
Elizabeth released a quaking sigh as she folded the missive.
Her longing for her removal could only increase when facing such a long delay of her reunion with Jane and more time to steep in her unhappy and unsettled spirits, away from the calm and kindness to be found with the Gardiners, in whose care she had hoped to understand herself again.
“Eliza, you sound troubled. You are still not yourself,” Mrs Collins observed as she leant over the table to pour into her teacup.
Here at least, Elizabeth could give answer to some of her friend’s concern, for her close guard of Mr Darcy’s privacy had heretofore left her unable to divulge to Mrs Collins the contents of Mr Darcy’s letter.
“My little cousins are ill. My aunt says the apothecary believes it is severe and catching. I cannot return to London as planned, perhaps for three or more weeks.”
“Ah, such a blessing!” Mr Collins cried in delight, even as his wife tutted in kind dismay.
“For now you and my dear sister Maria shall experience the fulfilment of her ladyship’s benevolence!
Lady Catherine’s word is as good as her deed, and did she not express a wish to convey you to London herself if you completed the month at Hunsford? ”
“Mr Collins, I could never impose—”
“Oh, but you must, Cousin Elizabeth! Once it is clear that you intend to remain, your refusal would cause her ladyship far greater disappointment than any inconvenience your acquiescence may create,” Mr Collins replied stoutly.
“And further, to refuse such generosity, and such an honour as her ladyship’s own company in a barouche—”
“You are quite right, my dear,” seconded Mrs Collins. “And how it would ease my heart to know that my little sister and my dearest friend will travel safely into town among her ladyship’s retinue.”
Elizabeth sighed. While she anticipated no reward for herself in indulging Lady Catherine, she was forced to see the practicality of accepting such an arrangement: a journey undertaken with every human comfort, attended and chaperoned at every turn.
Such luxuries meant that she would not need to trouble her uncle Gardiner with arrangements for a manservant to meet the travel-weary girls at a coaching inn.
“Very well. If her ladyship wishes to make good her offer to bring us back to London, I must feel very obliged to her.”
Mr Collins eagerly excused himself from the breakfast table and capered into the hall, his intent clear even before he declared it.
“I shall go at once to inform her ladyship of this development, for her plans are perfected, wisely, quite far in advance. Let us hope such notice does not come too late, for it would not do to overset the arrangements of her ladyship’s household. ”
His wife followed him into the hall calmly, offering him his hat. “Go on then, my dear, and give our regards to her ladyship.”
Once the door had banged shut behind Mr Collins, Elizabeth took up her teacup and let out another sigh.
So much of her energy in Kent had been devoted to keeping herself content despite her uncomfortable positions as houseguest and visitor in the territories of men whose offers she had refused.
She now pondered how best to make herself equal to her homeward journey in the company of a woman whose very presence—and her connexion to Darcy especially—precluded her full escape from the burden of such recent history.
For how could Elizabeth truly leave what transpired in Kent behind her if Lady Catherine must remind her of it at every turn in the road?
Every stage of Elizabeth’s farewells to the place dragged on.
There were days and days left to her in Hunsford.
Mr and Mrs Collins felt they must fill them by bringing Elizabeth and Maria to visit nearly every parishioner to receive their well-wishes before leave-taking.
Lady Catherine called at the parsonage several times, staying only long enough to pontificate on the plans already decided.
Mr Collins contributed by fretting over every detail of the arrangements and giving unsolicited advice about the best ways to travel unobtrusively in her ladyship’s company while giving every show of gratitude.
Amidst all this, Elizabeth wisely sought the best possible means to achieve some equanimity, in the form of frequent walks to enjoy the blooms of Rosings Park and the lanes leading to the parsonage.