19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
November 27, 1811 Longbourn, Hertfordshire Elizabeth
T he morning after a ball always kept the residents of Longbourn abed longer than their usual propensity. That is, everyone except Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet. The former joined her father at the table at around eight o’clock. They ate their meal in silence, enjoying the peace and quiet along with their rashers of bacon.
Mary came next, and when the three had finished their meal, they departed for their own pursuits. Mr. Bennet had estate matters to attend to, and the sisters had correspondence and household responsibilities.
Elizabeth moved to the parlor. Her work basket had filled recently and there were various articles of clothing that needed to be mended. She threaded a needle and began to close the tear in a petticoat when footsteps alerted her to someone approaching. Looking up, she smothered a grimace as Mr. Collins entered the room.
He smiled at her, his handsome visage fairly glowing with good humor and pleasure as he greeted her. “Cousin Elizabeth, good morning. I am very pleased to have encountered you, for I wished to have a private audience.”
“You can have nothing to say that I wish to hear, sir,” she replied.
He grinned and took the seat next to hers. “On the contrary, my dear cousin, I am certain that when I speak my piece, you will be overflowing with joy and pleasure. Indeed, I flatter myself when I say that you are to be the envy of your sisters and all the ladies in Meryton.” He reached out and took her hand, causing her to drop the needle and thread.
She pulled away and made to stand, but suddenly he was on one knee.
“My dear cousin, my patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, impressed upon me the importance of a clergyman setting the example of matrimony in his parish. ‘Mr. Collins,’ she said, ‘you must marry. One of your cousins will do nicely. In seeking a bride from amongst them, you will ensure that they will have a home long after their father’s death. It is not right for young ladies to be deprived of the comforts to which they are accustomed. Choose wisely, sir, for your lady wife must needs be an asset to you. Your choices reflect upon me, so do be careful.’ So, you see, cousin, the great lady is everything attentive, and I believe that you will fulfil all the requirements Lady Catherine has set forth.”
He smiled broadly again and tried to take her hand once more. Elizabeth tucked both her hands behind her and stepped back. Mr. Collins cleared his throat and continued speaking.
“Now, the only thing that remains is to assure you in the most affectionate manner the violence of my affections.”
“You forget sir that I have made no answer.” Elizabeth interrupted before he could begin another monologue. “You and I will not suit. Indeed, I would likely make you miserable within a fortnight.”
“The humility you display does you credit, Cousin Elizabeth, but it is hardly necessary. You are a capable woman; do not be afraid to own it. Your loveliness will suit my handsome countenance admirably and we shall have a bevy of beautiful children.” He stood from where he knelt and stepped toward her. She side-stepped his approach and moved toward the door.
“Yes, let us go to your father! His approval must be sought. Of course, he can have no objection to my suit, for it will secure your future and that of his remaining children.” He continued to ramble as Elizabeth strode to the study, determined to end this farce immediately.
“Papa,” she said, entering the room without knocking. “Mr. Collins has proposed and will not take my refusal as genuine.”
Papa and Mary looked up from the chess game they were engaged in. Mr. Bennet frowned and stood. “Elizabeth, Mary, leave us.” They complied quickly and without complaint.
Mr. Bennet
Thomas indicated a seat before the desk and took his own chair across from his cousin. “Now, sir, you have proposed to Elizabeth, and she has refused you. Am I correct?”
“I have, Cousin, and though she has not yet given me her acceptance, ladies are apt to refuse an acceptable offer of marriage intending to increase the man’s love by suspense. I know that you will impress upon her the great benefit of securing her future.”
“Who told you such drivel, sir? I do not know any ladies who take pleasure in tormenting a respectable man. Elizabeth will not accept your eminently suitable offer. Indeed, she cannot accept any proposals without first having both my and her uncle’s blessing.”
“Her uncle? Do you mean Mr. Phillips?” Mr. Collins looked confused.
“No. I do not believe you are familiar with the family history. Mrs. Bennet is my second wife, sir. Elizabeth and Mary are children from my first marriage. Their uncle has, with my agreement, taken on some aspects of guardianship with my daughters. As such, his approval and blessing must be sought before the girls can marry.”
“Then let us write to him immediately!” Mr. Collins’s cherubic face lit up excitedly.
“No, Mr. Collins. My brother-in-law will be taking the girls to town in the spring. It will not be possible for them to marry before then, and knowing Lady Catherine as I do, she will not wish you to wait.” Mr. Bennet leaned back, putting his elbows on the arms of the chair. He steepled his fingers and smiled smugly at his cousin.
His face fell dramatically. “What am I to do?” he asked piteously.
“If you truly wish to extend an olive branch, perhaps one of the other girls will suit.” In truth, he did not care which daughter his cousin married, as long as it was not Elizabeth or Mary. It would tidy things up very nicely for his wife and remaining children if he did go to his reward first. They would have a home.
Mr. Collins looked speculative. “Any one of them would be honored to be my wife. Perhaps I ought to sleep on the matter. Three such lovely ladies… it is hard to choose. Miss Bennet is the eldest and loveliest. And Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty would both look attractive on my arm.”
“Whatever you wish to do, cousin, I will aid you in as long as the daughter you choose is willing to hear your proposals.” Thomas smiled again, hoping that his annoying cousin would soon leave the library.
“Yes, thank you.” Collins stood. “I shall take to my chambers and meditate on the matter.”
Thomas waved him away and reached for a book. His heart ached as he thought of his Olivia. Perhaps if she still lived, they would have a son, and this visit might never have occurred.
He called Elizabeth back to the study and quickly informed her of the contents of the discussion. Relieved, she kissed his cheek and left. When she had gone, Mr. Bennet pulled out a miniature of Olivia, gazing at it with longing as he so often did.
Elizabeth
Glad to know that she would no longer face her cousin’s attentions, Elizabeth made her way to the drawing room. She could hear her stepmother and the other ladies in the breakfast parlor. Knowing her stepmother would be furious when she found out that Mr. Collins had proposed to her stepdaughter expressly against her wishes, Elizabeth concocted a scheme to draw the lady’s attention elsewhere.
She waited until she could hear Lydia in the hallway and then stuck her head out. “Lydia,” she hissed. “Come, I must speak to you about our cousin.”
Lydia glanced at Elizabeth, her expression a mixture of disdain and curiosity. She held her bonnet in her hand as if she meant to leave the house.
Curiosity won out, and she approached her half-sister. Elizabeth closed the door behind them. “What do you want?” Lydia asked imperiously.
“Mr. Collins proposed to me today, and I refused him,” Elizabeth rushed to say. “Papa has refused consent and directed our cousin toward one of you. Mr. Collins is currently in his chambers meditating on the decision.”
“Why are you telling me?” Lydia asked. Genuine confusion spread across her face. “Mama says you will marry Mr. Collins and steal Longbourn from us. She says you will cast us out when Papa dies.”
“She is misinformed,” Elizabeth said kindly. “I have no wish for my family to be without, but neither will I marry Mr. Collins. He will not suit my temperament, and I would go mad.”
“What about Mary? Everyone knows you and she are Papa’s favorites. Why would he not wish for ‘his girls’ to marry his heir?” The hurt in Lydia’s voice was apparent and Elizabeth felt guilty for having so dismissed her sister’s feelings for so long.
“Lydia,” she said gently, “Mary, too, has no desire to wed Mr. Collins. And Jane’s attention is already in another direction. You and Kitty have both expressed a desire to marry him, and so who am I to stop you? Besides, Mama would be much happier with you as the future mistress of Longbourn.”
Lydia straightened. “You are very right,” she said. “And I am much livelier and prettier than Kitty, so I would be a better fit for Mr. Collins.”
Elizabeth nodded. In truth, had Kitty come along first, she would be having the conversation with her instead. “You must do what you can to attract our cousin’s notice,” she said aloud to her youngest sister. “I am certain you are more than capable of that feat.”
Lydia smirked. “There is none with more skill in that area than I. Be assured, Lizzy, that I shall be engaged to Mr. Collins before two days have gone.” Lydia paused. She bit her lip and seemed contemplative. “You really do care about us, do you not?” she asked. “It is not as Mama says—you will not see us in genteel poverty.”
“Never!” Elizabeth cried. “Though we have not been close, you are still my sister, and for that alone, I would never let you go without.” She extended her arms tentatively and felt surprised when Lydia hugged her tightly.
“I thought you hated us,” Lydia mumbled. “That is why I have always been so mean. But you do not.” She pulled back. “Thank you.”
Elizabeth smiled. “You are quite welcome. Now, go put on your most becoming gown.”
“Come with me!” her sister commanded. Elizabeth smiled and agreed, following Lydia from the room and upstairs to her chambers. Together, they spent an agreeable hour choosing attire and accoutrements.
To Lydia’s dismay, Mr. Collins remained in his chambers for the rest of the day, meditating. He called for trays for tea and for the evening meal. His absence made Lydia irate, but no one remarked on her fractious mood.
Surprisingly, the youngest Bennet sister did not tell her mother about the proposal or her plans. Mrs. Bennet remained blissfully unaware that the man she intended for one of her daughters had proposed to the stepdaughter she disdained.
Kitty, too, did not seem to notice anything amiss with her younger sister. She tried to engage Lydia in discussions about the officers they had danced with and even asked to walk into Meryton that afternoon. Lydia finally snapped and told Kitty to leave her alone, stalking off to her room and closing the door forcefully.
Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth exchanged glances across the table during dinner as Mrs. Bennet wondered aloud when Mr. Collins would make an offer for one of her daughters.
“He will not ask you, Jane, though you are so very beautiful. No, I have told him you are for Mr. Bingley, and he will not encroach on another man’s territory.”
“You make Jane sound like a tract of land, Mrs. Bennet,” Mr. Bennet said humorously.
“A tract of land? What a ridiculous notion.” She turned to Jane. “Now, when did Mr. Bingley say he would return to Netherfield?”
“He is to be in London for no longer than a sen’night,” Jane replied, taking a dainty sip of soup. “I expect the time apart will encourage his heart to grow fonder, and he will hasten back.”
“You might be right,” Mrs. Bennet agreed. “He will be back by Saturday.”
Elizabeth ceased to listen to her step relations and focused instead on her soup. The lovely beef broth had carrots and potatoes and chicken. Each bite was aromatic and delicious. She dipped a roll into the broth as well, sopping up the last of her soup.
After dinner, they went to the drawing room. A lovely, warm fire roared in the fireplace. Lydia brooded or plotted in the corner; Elizabeth was not certain which. Jane and Mrs. Bennet talked animatedly on the settee. Kitty sat near, chiming in where she could until she coughed unexpectedly, earning a scolding from her mother.
Mary and Elizabeth played chess whilst Mr. Bennet watched and commented on the game. The winner partnered with their father. The activity kept them entertained until they retired.
In her room, Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief that the day had come to a close without a scolding from Mrs. Bennet. Indeed, the matron had steadfastly ignored her stepdaughter, pretending that she did not exist. Elizabeth preferred it that way, for it made for a more peaceful day.
“Jane, too, continues to ignore me,” she whispered to the empty room. She made her way to her window and separated the curtains enough to look out. The dark obscured her vision, and she could see only that which was illuminated by the light from the windows downstairs. “I wonder if Mr. Bingley will return to Jane’s side as expeditiously as she imagines.” She recalled the peculiar look on the gentleman’s face just before the Bennet carriage had carried them away from the ball. Perhaps he had noted something in Jane’s behavior that troubled him.
He would not be alone, she thought. Jane’s behavior had troubled Elizabeth for some time. Though he did not know the supposed Miss Bennet well, even he appeared to have detected something odd. And whilst Elizabeth hoped for a happily ever after for her stepsister, she did not wish for Mr. Bingley to be deceived as to Jane’s character. If the lady had altered so far from her usual demeanor, Mr. Bingley did not deserve to be taken in by duplicitousness.
Elizabeth could only hope that eventually all would be made right. Jane would have her happy ending with a man she loved, and she and Elizabeth and Mary would once again be friendly. It did not seem likely just now.
She wished above all that when she and Mary left in December that they would leave on good terms with their stepsister.