Chapter 3 #2
Knowing that she had pushed her younger sister as far as she was able, Mrs Hurst said nothing further, such as warning her what a perilous position Caroline would be in if Mr Darcy ever came by the letter she had written claiming an unofficial courtship between Miss Darcy and Charles.
The words about Caroline soon to be engaged to Mr Darcy would not please him either.
Louisa Hurst was under none of her younger sister’s delusions about Mr Darcy offering for her.
She had not told Caroline this because it would have led to a giant tantrum—the same reason Charles had not said anything—but her husband had related that he had heard Mr Darcy state more than once he would never offer for Caroline, not even if she went as low as to compromise him.
Thankfully for Mrs Hurst, her younger sister did not see the need to fill the silence with more chatter about any subject.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Over the next few days Jane kept to herself, deep in thought. As much as she loved being with the Gardiners, on the day she knew Sir William would be conveying Lizzy and Maria to Hunsford, she felt envious.
For a few moments, she thought that she would be much happier had she not learnt how duplicitous Miss Bingley had been and how Lizzy had been correct about her.
As she looked within, other uncomfortable thoughts surfaced.
They were things which began to call her whole personal philosophy into question.
She did not enjoy what she was beginning to see, so when on the eighteenth of March, a missive arrived from Lizzy, Jane read it right away to hopefully give herself a respite from the troubling thoughts she had been having.
She took a seat in the empty drawing room and broke the seal before she smoothed the pages and began to read.
17 March 1812
The Parsonage
Hunsford
Dearest Jane,
I am so sorry that after almost a month Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley have not returned your call. I would be dissembling if I said that their behaviour was a surprise to me. Enough about them; I need to cheer you up, not remind you of those who have caused your heartache.
As you can imagine, the carriage ride with Sir William and Maria was amusing.
The latter was in awe of her brother-in-law’s patroness before she ever met the ‘great’ lady.
The former is in great anticipation of meeting a peer, because that is how Mr Collins describes her.
I am afraid Sir William does not realise that as Lady Catherine is the daughter of an earl who was married to a knight, she is no more a peer of the realm than Sir William is himself.
For my part, I too am looking forward to meeting her.
My reason is not the same, and knowing me as you do, you would be able to guess that I am interested to see if she is as pompous and ridiculous as Mr Collins described her.
You know how much I love to sketch characters.
Before you admonish me, I will be polite, Janey, I swear it.
If I want to make fun of her, it will be silently, and only to myself.
It will be no big surprise to you that Sir William related the story of his knighting and investiture at St James’s Palace no less than three times during our journey.
Once after each stop we made to rest the horses and take refreshments.
Do you think he forgets he told the story a few hours before, or does he just enjoy telling it over, over, and over again?
Other than his foible of always wanting to retell the same story, I like Sir William as much as I ever have. I see no harm in him.
I am sorry, Dearest, that Sir William decided to go directly to Kent and not via London. I will have to wait to see you on my return.
When we arrived at the parsonage a little after three that afternoon, Charlotte and our cousin were waiting for us just outside of their front door, in the drive. I suppose that Charlotte is also our cousin now. I must admit that thought cheers me.
Before I describe the parsonage, I must recount a conversation I had with our father before departing Longbourn.
I had asked him if he thought that Charlotte’s being Mr Collins’s wife will help those dependent on Longbourn once Papa is called home to God.
He was rather cryptic. All he said was, ‘that will not be an issue’ and when I asked him for clarification, he said we would speak about it another time as he waved me away and returned to his book.
I know not what he meant, and our father was not in a mood to elucidate.
Now, back to Charlotte’s home. It is a cosy house, and our friend is very happy here. Whether she is as happy with her choice of husband, I know not. It is a one-storey structure built with an almost grey stone, the same colour as the church, which is but a few yards past one side of the house.
On the ground level is a dining parlour, our cousin’s study (which faces the lane so he can always see who is coming and going), a parlour and a sitting room at the rear of the house—Charlotte claims this room for her particular use.
The kitchen and scullery are in the cellar.
On the first floor are four bedchambers.
Two belong to the master and mistress of the house, while I have another, which I will share with Maria for 3 days until Sir William returns to Meryton on Friday morning.
The attics hold room for the 2 female servants.
The cook and housekeeper in one person lives in a cottage with her husband, who acts as a manservant at the parsonage when needed.
Charlotte does not see Mr Collins very much, except for meals. When he is not running to Rosings Park or busy with his parish duties, she encourages him to go and work in the garden.
Since the moment I arrived, Mr Collins has gone out of his way in an attempt to make me regret what I missed when I refused his proposal.
It does not affect me, but I can see how it mortifies Charlotte when he attempts to do that.
I feel bad for her, but she married him knowing how ridiculous he could be.
This morning I walked out from the parsonage.
Oh, Jane, I am so happy! There are groves that are part of Rosings Park, and they have been allowed to grow as nature intended.
I walked for more than an hour before I returned to break my fast. Even Mr Collins’s bad table manners and the inanities he spewed could not spoil my mood.
After the meal, our cousin went to transact parish business, and while Sir William rested, Charlotte, Maria, and I enjoyed ourselves in our friend’s sitting room.
When Mr Collins returned, he was almost jumping up and down with excitement as he related the ‘great condescension’ his patroness showed when inviting the whole party for dinner. I am not sure who was more excited, our cousin, Sir William or Maria.
Before he went to his study, Mr Collins addressed me.
He said: ‘Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which becomes herself and her daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, as there is no occasion for anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved.’ You will be proud of me, Janey; I bit my tongue and did not respond with some impertinent rebuttal as I so desired to do.
I expect to be greatly diverted at dinner. In my next letter, I will tell you all. Please convey my warmest regards to the Gardiners.
With love for my dearest sister and best friend,
Lizzy
Jane could not help but smile as she read Lizzy’s words. Lizzy had always been a fierce protector and would do anything she could to cheer Jane if she needed it.
When she thought of the call by the sisters, Jane knew one thing. Aunt Maddie’s response would have been termed mild compared to Lizzy’s.
That led to more uncomfortable thoughts. How was it Lizzy would do anything to protect her, yet, when Mama denigrated Lizzy, Jane never spoke up in defence of her younger sister? The answer Jane arrived at did not comfort her.
Admittedly through a sardonic eye, Lizzy saw the world as it was, while thanks to her wanting everything and everyone to be good, Jane saw what she wanted to see and what she needed to see. More and more, she was coming to the realisation that it was time for a change of her personal philosophy.