Chapter 11 Leaving Longbourn #2
“Well, what say you, Collins? Will you visit me again at the end of the quarter and review the accounts? Lizzy and I always examined them together and planned the coming year’s strategy. I invite you to come and begin learning what it will take to manage the estate.”
Collins leaned back, studying him. Bennet was sincere. “I will save my time off and plan to come one week each quarter. Will my wife be invited as well?”
Bennet nodded gravely. “Yes. Your wife will also be tied to my wife should Frances outlive me. It is best that they begin to get along now. If they do not, I will be forced to make alternate arrangements for Frances. Still, I mean to work with her starting today. She shall learn gentility if it is the last thing I accomplish. Your visits may help her to understand why such a change is necessary.”
Collins inclined his head. “Very well. I will ask my patroness for permission to take leave. She is a stickler for family duty, and it was she who advised me to seek a wife from among my cousins. For that reason, I believe she will allow me to make these quarterly visits. I am sorry that the plan failed, but that is water under the bridge now.”
Bennet replied, “If you wish to invite Mrs. Tolbert and Miss King to dine with us, let me know. I will have Frances send the invitation.”
The man’s brows knit. “Let us invite them tomorrow. I have less than two weeks to secure a betrothal and must now use every minute wisely.”
Bennet then sat down to compose a letter to his brother, Edward Gardiner.
“Edward,
I cannot explain all, but Lizzy has been compromised and will be married later this week, possibly on Friday. Please ask Madeline to purchase a gown suitable for a marriage to a very wealthy man. We would be grateful for your presence and support.
Best regards,
Thomas Bennet.”
He wrote out a draft on his bank, inserted it into the folded paper, and then sealed the letter. He handed it to Mr. Hill, who took it to Meryton and arranged for it to be dispatched by express.
At two o’clock, Mrs. Bennet appeared at the doorway of the study. Mr. Bennet looked up and motioned for her to enter. He gestured to the chair where Lizzy had always sat, and a pang of sadness passed through him. Reaching for a book on his desk, he said quietly,
“Mrs. Bennet, I have selected this volume as our first subject of study. It is a book of poetry by Felicia Hemans.”
He opened to a marked page and read aloud:
“There is in all this cold and hollow world,
No fount of deep, strong, deathless love;
Save that within a mother’s heart.”
“Tell me your thoughts on this passage,” he said.
The couple discussed the poem for nearly an hour.
When they had finished, Mr. Bennet handed her the book.
“Read the next poem, my dear, and we will discuss it tomorrow at the same hour. As for your lessons in propriety, we shall begin with the fundamentals. During the dinner hour, you will refrain from speaking except as necessary. You will offer no opinions, judgments, or unsolicited remarks. Mr. Collins and I will carry the conversation; you will listen and learn. If you have a question regarding anything said, you may ask, but otherwise, you will learn the art of silence.”
He regarded her steadily. “My dear, I fear that silence is a condition you have never learned, but you will learn it now. Once you have mastered restraint, we shall proceed to the art of polite conversation. Do you have any questions regarding this task?”
Mrs. Bennet drew herself up, affronted. “Mr. Bennet, are you implying that I do not know how to make polite conversation?”
He raised a brow. “I am not implying anything, madame. That is precisely what I am saying. I cannot tell you how often you have embarrassed our two eldest daughters.” He hesitated, then added, “Indeed, I correct myself for Mary has also understood your failings. Our three eldest have all suffered shame on account of your public remarks. If you do not learn to govern your tongue, I will not permit you to leave my side during Sunday services, and you shall remain home on assembly nights.”
He gave her another steady look. “Do you have any other questions?”
“Mr. Bennet, I do not understand why you are making such a great matter of this now.”
He considered how best to explain. “Mrs. Bennet, your company is acceptable only to your elder sister. Everyone else has merely tolerated your foibles. But now you must learn to ingratiate yourself with the heir to Longbourn. In your case, this will best be accomplished through silence until you learn to converse with grace. That begins with learning to think and reason, which may best be cultivated through the study of poetry. Have you any further questions?”
She rose. “No, sir. I understand. I am to keep silent.”
“Ah, one last thing, my dear. Mr. Collins wishes to dine with Mrs. Tolbert and Miss King on the morrow. Please send the invitation and plan your dinner accordingly.”
Frances Bennet flushed a deep red, but she pressed her lips tight, curtsied, and withdrew.
A few moments later, he heard the front door open and close.
From the window, he saw his wife walk slowly into the rose garden, where she seated herself and remained for more than an hour, apparently deep in thought.