Vol 2, Chapter 1 #2
Whenever Miss de Bourgh rode out in her pony drawn phaeton, she would make a point of stopping and asking Mrs. Collins to join her; Mr. Collins would never object as he would never slight his patroness’s daughter.
A firm friendship had grown between the two, and although Miss de Bourgh was sickly, she had a keen sense of humour and enjoyed her time with Mrs. Collins exceedingly.
Charlotte had convinced her husband to spend an inordinate amount of time in his garden or his study and, for the most part, other than meals she hardly saw him.
She had been mortified on behalf of her friend when, on her arrival, Collins had attempted, in a not too subtle way, to point out all of the manifest advantages one of his cousins could have enjoyed had they married him, completely insensible of the insult to his own wife.
Charlotte and Elizabeth were sitting in the former’s parlour when the portly, sweating man burst in with exuberance.
“My dove, Cousin Elisabeth, you will never guess the honour that will be bestowed on you on the morrow. My most esteemed patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s most estimable nephews and niece are to arrive, and we have been doubly honoured as we are invited to dine at Rosings the following evening for dinner.
What an honour you will have, cousin, to be in the company of one so high born!
” Collins had babbled. Both Elizabeth and Charlotte did their level best to not burst out laughing, and Collins was certain that their reactions proved their pleasure of the honour of being in her ladyship’s company.
Elizabeth had been concerned before she saw Charlotte, worrying that she would find her picture of abject misery.
Elizabeth knew that Charlotte had fallen in love with Richard and he in his turn with her.
She had been relieved to find Charlotte, if not happy, then at least content.
Elizabeth was impressed at how, for much of the day, Charlotte managed to keep her husband anywhere but in her company.
After Collins departed the parlour and had closed the door, Elizabeth looked to her friend. “Charlotte are you able to be sanguine about Richard’s arriving on the morrow?” Elizabeth asked gently.
“I am well, Eliza. I am a married woman now, so we may meet as indifferent acquaintances,” Charlotte was trying to convince herself as much as her friend, and they both knew it.
“Indifferent indeed,” Elizabeth returned softly.
“Eliza! Behave yourself!” Charlotte demanded with mock effrontery. “More importantly, how do you feel about Mr. Darcy’s coming?”
“He is welcome at his aunt’s home. If he follows through with his intent as he wrote in the letter to Andrew, I will accept his apology as long as I see genuine change and not the proud, haughty man from Hertfordshire.
As long as he is not, I see no reason why we cannot begin anew,” Elizabeth stated evenly.
“I am very much looking forward to meeting Miss Darcy.”
The two discussed those arriving on the morrow, and then Elizabeth went for a walk in the grove that led from the parsonage into Rosings Park. She enjoyed being able to take a solitary ramble, as Mercury was not with her, so she made do with as many walks as she could.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The three cousins were sitting in Darcy’s comfortable travelling coach as they departed the rest break at Bromley. Darcy had been in Town for a full fortnight prior to the departure. He had not been aware that most of the Bennet family were in residence at Gardiner House.
He found out the night before they departed when Andrew handed him a letter from Miss Bennet for Miss Elizabeth.
It was at the dinner that Darcy learnt that Andrew was betrothed to Miss Bennet, and for Bennet family reasons the announcement would not be made public until after the beginning of April.
He had been sincere in his wishes to his cousin.
As he sat, almost lulled to sleep by the rocking of the conveyance, he could not help but smile when he thought of the pleasure of delivering his apology and the letter to Miss Elizabeth. He was also just as keen for Miss Elizabeth to meet Gigi as his sister was to meet Miss Elizabeth.
At the other end of the rear facing seat was the Honourable Mr. Richard Fitzwilliam.
The sale of Brookfield had become final almost a week previously, and as promised, the day his father handed him the deed to the estate Richard had gone to see General Atherton and resigned from the army.
The sale of his commission had been finalized the day before, and Richard had been relieved that it was finished before they set out for Kent.
As much as he was looking forward to taking up residence at his estate, he was doubly so to see Charlotte Lucas, no, not Lucas, Collins, again.
He was fully aware she was forbidden fruit, and unlike Adam and Eve, he would not succumb to temptation.
He had far too much honour to ever dishonour anyone’s wedding vows regardless of his heart's yearning for Charlotte.
He told himself he wanted to assure himself she was well, that the buffoon was not mistreating her in any way, and his aunt was not making her life a misery, though he felt certain Charlotte would be able to manage his aunt better than most. Regardless of her pronouncements to the contrary, their aunt was not the smartest person of their acquaintance.
She had more wit than Mr. Collins, but that in itself was an exceptionally low threshold to meet.
Georgiana Darcy could not wait to arrive.
It was not her aunt or Anne she wanted to see—although she did like Anne and corresponded with her—it was Miss Elizabeth Bennet that Georgiana wanted to meet most of all.
The fact the lady knew about Ramsgate and still wanted to make her acquaintance boded very well for their becoming friends, despite there being five years between them.
As the coach passed the parsonage, the parson seemed to be on the lookout for them and bowed so low as they passed that the occupants were sure he had planted his face in the grass. “What was that?” Georgiana asked.
“That, Gigi, was one Mr. Collins, Aunt Cat’s latest in a line of sycophantic and vastly stupid clergymen she has installed at Hunsford,” Richard informed his young cousin, his tone not so very acerbic as his thoughts. He grinned when Darcy smirked at him, for it was naught but the truth.
“Do you suppose he was seeking worms in his lawn?” Georgiana giggled.
“Georgiana!” Darcy warned, although his smile let his sister know he was not upset at her irreverent remark.
“Come now, William,” Richard called to his cousin, “Gigi merely spoke the truth, and we always want her to speak the truth, do we not?”
“I have no issue with the truth, as long as she keeps it respectful while she tells it,” Darcy retorted.
“Here we go into the dragon’s lair,” Richard teased Gigi as the carriage come to a halt under the portico at Rosings.
The three arrivals stopped by the drawing room to make their obligatory greetings to their relations. “Fitzwilliam, Richard, Georgiana, you are late!” Lady Catherine claimed.
“No, Aunt, we are not,” Darcy responded shortly.
“Is your betrothed not looking good…” A shocked Lady Catherine was speechless as her nephew dared interrupt her by raising his hand.
"Aunt—Lady Catherine—I have been remiss in making myself clear in the past, and I will not make that mistake again. Anne and I have never been, nor will we ever be, betrothed!” Darcy stated with unmistakable steel in his voice.
Before his aunt could respond he turned to Anne and gave her a wink that his aunt could not see. “Anne, have I ever proposed to you?”
“No William you have not,” Anne said, trying to suppress a smile at this finally coming to a head.
“Do you desire to marry me, or anyone for that matter,” Darcy asked.
“Anne does not know her own mind, I will…” Lady Catherine was astonished when her nephew raised his hand once again to demand her silence.
“As you are not the one asked the question, you will refrain from answering.” Darcy warned her calmly, the undertone of warning not missed by any in the room.