Chapter 4 #3
“Come, sit here, Miss Bennet. So—your father’s estate is entailed to Mr Collins.
Well, well, that must be very unpleasant.
It has never happened in our family; we know how to value women properly.
If Anne were healthier, I am sure she would be an excellent mistress for any estate—or perhaps several. ”
Elizabeth made no reply.
“So, you have four sisters?”
“Yes.”
“That must be very unpleasant. Four more sisters, none of them married, and no estate in your future.” Lady Catherine declared.
“I assure your ladyship that nothing is farther from the truth,” Elizabeth responded.
Mr Collins frowned, and Lady Catherine’s eyes opened in disbelief, but Elizabeth continued calmly.
“Having four sisters is a true blessing. And we have no fear for the future as my father is strong and healthy. We expect to have him with us for many, many years.”
“Nevertheless, such a small estate cannot provide a decent dowry for any of you, of that you must agree,” Lady Catherine challenged her.
“I would not dare attempt to disagree. But we are happy enough as we are—at least for the present,” Elizabeth answered as pleasantly as she could.
“But have you at least benefited from a proper education? Anne has had the best teachers since she was an infant. I always say that a lady cannot dedicate too much time to her education. If Anne were healthier, she would be one of the best-educated women in England.”
Elizabeth glanced at Anne again; she was even paler, and her lips seemed to tremble slightly.
“Those of us who wished to study had all the encouragement they needed. Some of us are fond of reading, others of playing and singing. But I heartily agree with your ladyship in regards to education,” Elizabeth attempted to conclude the debate.
Mr Collins, Maria, and Sir William appeared deeply disconcerted; and Charlotte, though more confident, likely felt the same.
“Of course you must agree with me. I am rarely, if ever, wrong,” Lady Catherine said, and Mr Collins hurried to support her statement.
Tea and refreshments were finally served, and the conversation turned to the activities of certain families in Hunsford. Then Lady Catherine again turned her attention to Elizabeth.
“How long do you plan to stay in Kent, Miss Bennet?”
“My friend Mrs Collins kindly agreed to host us for a fortnight.”
“My father-in-law will stay only a week, but my cousin and sister-in-law will remain with us longer,” Mr Collins added.
Lady Catherine dismissed him with only a glare.
“Good. You should come and dine at Rosings sometime this week. Starting next week, we might not have time to spare for you. Two of my nephews will arrive for their annual visit. They usually come a little later, but this year, Darcy decided to come early. He seemed especially eager to visit Rosings,” Lady Catherine uttered, glancing at her daughter.
Anne’s expression wore apparent uneasiness.
“Your ladyship is too kind and generous to us.” Mr Collins bowed lower one more time.
Elizabeth fought the temptation to roll her eyes at the news. Having to see Mr Darcy again was one of the least pleasant things she could imagine. It was fortunate that he would likely not step past the edge of the Parsonage’s garden. The Collinses were surely not among his friends.
“We expect another visit too. From my uncle—my aunt’s brother,” she heard herself saying.
“Which uncle and aunt do you mean?” Lady Catherine inquired. ‘The ones who are in trade and live in Cheapside?”
A trace of anger stirred Elizabeth; Lady Catherine’s disdainful tone reminded her of the Bingley sisters and the haughty Mr Darcy.
“Yes. My aunt lives near Cheapside, but her brother has just rented a house in Park Lane.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Which Park Lane do you mean, Miss Bennet?”
“Are there several? If there are, I only have knowledge of the one in London,” Elizabeth answered.
“You must be confused, Miss Bennet. The houses on Park Lane are far above the means of your aunt’s brother, I am sure,” her ladyship opined.
“Indeed, I heard the same. The gentleman himself told us when we were in London…” Sir William unwisely attempted to support Elizabeth’s words.
Lady Catherine turned on him. “Are you an expert on the estates of London, Sir William?”
“I am not…I only meant to…”
“And have you seen the house yourself?”
“No…”
“Then I would suggest you wait until the answer to these questions is ‘yes,’” Lady Catherine concluded in a patronising voice.
The rudeness was unacceptable to both Sir William and Elizabeth, and she wondered whether she would be able to remain composed.
She would have gladly replied sharply, but she had to consider Charlotte, who would be at the Parsonage for many years and would have to bear her ladyship’s ‘generosity.’ She had to keep herself under proper regulation for no more than a fortnight; it would be a test of her self-control.
For the remainder of their visit, Lady Catherine continued to inquire about the Bennets, and Elizabeth patiently complied in her duty as a polite guest. But she anticipated the moment of departure with eagerness.
Dinner was brief and tasteful, and Elizabeth contributed little to the conversation, which was similar to their earlier visit.
At the end of the day, she found her small chamber at Hunsford more comfortable than the large, imposing rooms and windows of Rosings, and silence and solitude were a welcome change after the irksome discussions.
She briefly considered she had twelve more days of such activities, and in exhaustion, she fell asleep.