Chapter 2
Mr. Bennet paced the floor, clutching a letter in his hand.
It served as further evidence of his second oldest daughter’s persistence to vex him at every turn.
First, she married the late Randall Carlton at seventeen against his advice.
Second, she failed to honour her arrangement with him by refusing to marry Geoffrey Collins, their cousin and the next in line to inherit Longbourn owing to its entail to the male line of the family.
This latest act is tantamount to a blatant slap in my face.
“I contend it is criminal to extend an invitation to travel to the wilds of Derbyshire with nary a hint of covering the expense.”
“Criminal, Mr. Bennet, whatever do you mean?”
“While days of travel with the associated burden of food and lodging along the way may pose no challenge to a man of Mr. Darcy’s means, it is hardly a trivial pursuit for someone of my circumstances.
I reckon years of living at Camberworth as the mother of the precious young heir to Sarah Carlton’s fortune, and now living at Pemberley as the wife of its haughty master has caused Lizzy to forget what she is about. ”
Mrs. Bennet, by then, had intimate knowledge of every word in the letter that had been dispatched to Longbourn by private carrier hours earlier.
“The invitation was extended by Miss Darcy as a means of surprising Lizzy and Mr. Darcy. Surely the young lady can know nothing of such matters.”
He peered over his spectacles. “What is your point?”
“You are a gentleman as is her brother. She might never consider you as being of lesser means.” Mrs. Bennet determined to persist; suspecting as she did that her husband would do or say anything that might spare him the trouble of leaving the comforts of his library.
As much money as she spent on gowns for her daughters, she doubted the veracity of his claims that he could not afford to travel to Derbyshire.
“Perhaps, if I appeal directly to Lizzy and explain the situation, the entire matter might be resolved with no inconvenience to anyone.” She placed her hand over her chest. “Oh, how I long to see Pemberley. Just think how our friends will suffer the news of our being invited there for Christmas.”
The elderly patriarch, who secretly wished to see his daughter’s new home, feigned resignation. “I suppose if you are determined to do this there is little I might do to stop you.”
Mrs. Bennet’s pleasure was just what might be expected of a proud mama who often boasted of her second eldest daughter’s excellent match to a gentleman who was rumoured to own half of Derbyshire.
Once she had delighted in her first tumult of joy at her husband’s expense, she set off to tell the rest of her family the glad news.
What a difference a year makes, Jane considered as she lay in bed, her head resting comfortably on her husband’s broad chest. Even with her good fortune in marrying a man she revered, sad thoughts of Charles Bingley’s precipitous departure from Hertfordshire weighed heavily on her mind whenever she allowed herself to consider it. She sighed.
Geoffrey Collins swept his fingers through his wife’s loosened hair. “You are awake?”
“I am afraid so. Forgive me for disturbing your slumber.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Jane lifted her head. “There is a reason for my inability to sleep.”
“No doubt.”
“Do you not wish to know what that reason is?”
“You are determined to tell me. Now that I am wide awake, I am obliged to listen.”
“We received an invitation to spend Christmas at Pemberley this year.”
He spoke not a word.
“Have you nothing to say?”
“What would you have me say?” Collins asked. “I always supposed it was only a matter of time before the Darcys deigned to invite us to their estimable abode, my dear wife. I imagine your sister cannot wait to flaunt her good fortune.”
“My dear, I wish you would not think as harshly of Lizzy as you do.”
He silently considered that he might never truly forgive Elizabeth for choosing Fitzwilliam Darcy, thereby rendering himself a jilted lover.
Heaven knows he had tried. Perhaps in time he would excuse her scandalous behaviour.
He had observed how Darcy had pursued her with little regard for her standing as his intended.
Fitzwilliam Darcy was the villain; Elizabeth was simply the dupe.
“Geoffrey, have you heard one word I have spoken?”
“I am sorry?”
“I am certain no ill intent exists as far as this invitation is concerned. Miss Darcy extends this request. She and my nephew are planning a grand surprise for my sister and brother. Miss Darcy writes to say that she is especially looking forward to making Gillian and Emily’s acquaintance.
She says that my nephew speaks fondly of the girls. ”
“I rather doubt that. The little devil went out of his way to torment the girls.”
“I believe you are far too harsh on poor Ben. Gillian and Emily speak fondly of their exploits whilst in Hunsford. I assure you, they gave as well as they took.”
“I suppose you have a point.”
“Does that mean you are agreeable to spending Christmas at Pemberley?”
“If that is your wish, I am obliged to say yes.”
“I should like it very much. I shall write a letter to my sister straight away letting her know of our intentions.”
Collins refused to surrender his wife from his embrace. “I believe the letter can wait, my dear wife.” He graced her lips with a tender kiss and guided her astride his person. “Need I remind you that you have my full attention?”
Mr. William Collins nearly tripped over his feet as he raced up the steps to the hall. He paused long enough to encourage his wife, Charlotte, to make haste. He took her by the hand and pulled her through the ante-chamber to the room where his patroness was sitting.
“Mr. Collins, Mrs. Collins, what is the meaning of this delay? Did I not make my carriage available to deliver you here? Why was I forced to endure such a wait?”
“Good morning, your ladyship. Pardon our tardiness.”
“There is nothing to be done now. However, I will be most displeased should it happen again.”
“Yes, Lady Catherine.”
“You two can have no doubt of the reason for my summons. My niece informs me that she has invited the two of you to join our family at Pemberley for Christmas. Heaven only knows what she was thinking, what with Mr. Collins’s obligation to look out for the less fortunate and the poor amongst us, especially at Christmastime .
.. to assist where he might. Alas, it cannot be helped for I have decided that we shall travel to Derbyshire together, the three of us. ”
“You are most kind, your ladyship.”
“Indeed. You need not suffer any misgivings for your inability to tend to your duties. I shall take it upon myself to find a visiting parson to act in your stead.”
“I shall be forever in your debt, your ladyship.”
“Fate is on your side, Richard. You will have yet another chance to secure Anne’s hand in marriage what with all of us being invited to spend Christmas at Pemberley this year.
” Lord Matlock handed the snifter filled with his finest brandy to his youngest son.
He took his own glass to the table and set it down.
“I know not which is harder to believe ... that Darcy would invite you to spend Christmas with his family, or that you might actually accept,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam.
“I will have you know, son, that I value Christmas as much as anyone else.”
“I beg your pardon. Since when did you value Christmas, my lord? I know of no one who values it less. Was it not you who pronounced Christmas to be nothing more than an excuse for excessive idleness and nonsensical frivolity?”
“Rubbish! I have always honoured Christmas, as you have well known.”
“Of course, that explains why we have not gathered here as a family since my grandparents passed away.”
A hint of concern graced Lord Matlock’s countenance. He took a seat and reached for his pipe. “I never knew you felt this strongly, son. What do you expect me to say?”
“Perhaps, if you had bothered to ask, you would have known. There is nothing to be done. Thanks to Georgiana and young Ben, we have all been invited to spend Christmas together at Pemberley, as a family.”
“Capital!” Lord Matlock lit his pipe and took a long draw.
“Back to the matter at hand, what are your plans as regards Anne? I understand you were quite instrumental in helping her recover from the loss of your cousin’s affections to his recent bride.
I have considered that you might parlay your newfound friendship into something more.
Need I remind you that, as a second son, Anne would be quite a catch? ”
“You need not continue to remind me, my lord. I am well aware of my need to win the hand of a wealthy woman if I am to continue to live in the style I am accustomed to.”
“Indeed. Anne will make a decent wife. I am convinced of it. You know how fond I am of my niece.”
“Be that as it may, your opinion of Anne is of little concern to me. I shall not choose my bride on the basis of your recommendation.”
“We shall see about that, son.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother, Lady Ellen, walked into the room. “We shall see about what, my lord?”
Richard huffed. “Come now, Mother. You can hardly suffer any doubt over what my father is discussing, for it seems he has no greater ambition of late than to see me settled with Anne.”
“A father wants what is best for his son,” said his lordship.
Lady Ellen looked at her husband with dismay.
“For the sake of familial harmony, I do wish you would give your matchmaking attempts a rest, my lord. Shall we all agree to do or say nothing that will take away from the joyousness of spending Christmas together at Pemberley once again after so many years?” She placed her hand on her husband’s.
“What a happy time this will be for all.”