Chapter 48 Charlotte
The following morning, Elizabeth and Georgiana were on the lawn playing with their puppies while they waited for Charlotte to arrive for her haircut.
They had been outside for about an hour when Georgiana left to bring water for the dogs.
Elizabeth remained where she was, with one puppy on her lap and the other attempting to chew on her hand.
She was kneeling on the grass when both dogs suddenly grew alert and turned their heads toward something behind her.
Cinder began to bark, and Chocolate followed.
Both puppies ran behind Elizabeth and barked with such force that she turned to see what had alarmed them.
Mr. Collins stood just inside the hedge, looking down at the two dogs.
Though the puppies were only three months old, they already stood a good twenty inches tall, and their bark was loud.
Elizabeth scrambled to her feet, and that was how Fitzwilliam found her, rooted to the spot while the puppies did everything in their power to protect her.
He called the dogs to heel, then approached Collins to greet him.
“Excuse me. I ought to have told Elizabeth that you were expected. Come this way. I have prepared the information you requested.”
Elizabeth bent to pick up Cinder just as Georgiana and a footman returned with the bowl and a pitcher of water. The young girl scooped Chocolate into her arms. Both puppies quieted at once. Collins bowed to them.
“Mrs. Darcy. Miss Darcy.”
The ladies curtsied, and then he followed Fitzwilliam into the house.
Georgiana buried her face in Chocolates hair. “What an amazing puppy you are. Somehow, you know you are to protect us.”
Elizabeth laughed. “They were so dear. Barking as if their lives depended on it.”
“They are very loud,” Georgiana replied. “I heard them all the way in the house.”
“I had no idea Mr. Collins was near,” Elizabeth said. “But Cinder woke and ran behind me barking, and then Chocolate followed.”
Just then, they heard a carriage approach. Elizabeth peered over the hedge.
“Charlotte is here.” She waved to Peter, who stood near the edge of the garden. He came at once, slipped collars and leashes on the puppies, and led them toward the stables.
“Charlotte, come. We are ready for you upstairs.”
“Agnes is with me,” Charlotte said. “She can watch as your maid cuts my hair, for she will be the one who will maintain it going forward.”
“That is good,” Elizabeth said. “Come, let us go inside and begin.”
They entered by a side door and climbed the staircase. Ellis had placed a chair near the window for the best light and motioned for Charlotte to sit. Ellis walked around her twice.
“Miss Charlotte, you have a high protuberant forehead, which draws the eye. But the shape of your head is pleasing, and your features are good. Your hair is straight, and each strand is fine, but you have an abundance of it. It will appear fuller once it is shortened. I recommend a fringe to soften your brow. We shall leave it long enough to cover your eyebrows. Because your hair is fair, your lashes and brows are hardly visible. Do any of your shops carry henna to darken them?”
Shaking her head, Charlotte said, “I have never heard of it, and I doubt I would be allowed to buy it, for I would become the latest subject of gossip. But I will look for it when we next shop in Harpenden, if I can contrive to slip away from my mother for a few minutes to purchase it.”
Elizabeth asked, “How about her lips, Ellis? Is there anything she may use?”
“Yes, miss. She may purchase a small pot of carmine in the lightest shade, so that she will not draw notice. Use a light hand, Miss Charlotte, or people will know you are wearing it. Once they grow accustomed to the effect, they will ask no questions. When the correct stain is used, the result is very natural.”
“What are your plans for the rest of the morning, Charlotte? I can ask Fitzwilliam for the carriage and take you into Harpenden to shop. I have wanted to visit the bookshop. Ellis will accompany us, and she can assist you in choosing the proper shade.”
Charlotte’s eyes lit. “I have no plans, Lizzy. I shall bless you forever, especially if I may hope to attract a man once my appearance is improved.”
Ellis said, “Come, let me begin. Miss Charlotte, your hair is untidy. It looks like a bird's nest. It will never remain pinned in an elegant chignon while it is this long. I think you will be pleased with the change.”
Georgiana, Elizabeth, and Agnes watched as Ellis cut away years of hair.
It had fallen below Charlotte’s waist, and Elizabeth thought it resembled pale, dry straw.
When Ellis finished, she handed a looking glass to the woman.
Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears, and she rose to throw her arms around Elizabeth’s neck, laughing and weeping both at once.
“Lizzy, I do not recognize myself. I am so altered. My mother will either throw a tantrum because I cut my hair, or she will faint at the improvement. But either way, it is too late to stop me. It is done.”
The three women laughed with her. “Come, Ellis will help you dress, and I will run down to order the carriage. I shall wait below.”
Elizabeth hurried down the stairs in high spirits. At the bottom, she ran directly into Mr. Collins, who had stepped out from beside the staircase with deliberate purpose. She fell back, but he seized her upper arms and steadied her. She tried to pull away, but he did not release her.
“Mrs. Darcy, are you well?”
“Yes, I am perfectly well. Release me at once.”
He released her.
“Elizabeth, I have repented of my ill-judged decision to allow Mr. Darcy to have you. I ought to have fought for you. You and I were perfectly suited.”
“Sir, you will desist. Excuse me. I have an errand.”
She walked around him and hurried to the door. The footman was not present. She opened the front door and saw no one. She called out, “Grayson?”
Collins chuckled. “No one to rescue you, cousin?”
“Grayson?” she called again, raising her voice.
Collins stepped forward, closing the space between them. She retreated and struck the small table that held a silver platter stacked with the post. He advanced another step, his gaze fixed upon her.
“You are so beautiful,” he said softly. “Captivating. Any man who sees you must be drawn to you.”
She edged away until her back met the wall. He followed, lifting his arms and placing a hand on the wall at either side of her, looming close and hemming her in.
“Cousin, I have wondered what it would be like to kiss you. I have thought of it since the day I first saw you.”
Elizabeth pushed her hands against his chest, but he stood firm.
He was too large and too strong for her to resist. Frantically glancing about, she thrust the silver platter away with all her strength.
It crashed upon the floor, scattering the post. He paused, listening, but no one came.
Thinking they were alone, he pressed in.
She was straining away from him, turning her face aside to avoid his kiss.
Then she heard footsteps. She knew that tread.
“Fitzwilliam!” she cried, her voice breaking.
Collins straightened, stepping back, but Darcy had seen everything. He moved forward at once.
“Collins, I warned you I was well known at Jackson's.”
He struck the man squarely on the jaw, and because he had been caught off guard, he fell heavily. Elizabeth threw herself into Darcy’s arms, then turned and looked at the man who was rubbing his jaw and struggling to his feet.
“I did not touch your wife, Darcy.”
“Because I arrived in time to stop you.”
“She was mine before she was yours.”
“You may have seen her first, but she was never yours.”
Darcy’s voice hardened. “Since you are family, I shall not call you out. But you must leave at once. If ever I find you troubling my wife again, I shall call you out on the field of honor. Do not approach her or think of speaking to her at the Wedding Breakfast. Keep your distance, and all will be well.”
Grayson appeared from the cellar and stared at the mess.
“Oh my, what happened here?”
“My mistake, Grayson,” Darcy said. “I stumbled into the table and overset it. Allow me to assist you.”
Collins let himself out while Elizabeth and Darcy helped gather the scattered post. When they finished, Elizabeth drew her husband into the drawing room and shut the door.
“I had come down to order the carriage. I wished to take my friend to Harpenden, and Georgiana asked to go with us. But after what just passed...”
“Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head, though she had been unnerved. “Only shaken.”
“I have letters of business I must finish and send out, but I can dispatch the Miller boys with you. I believe the outing will provide a beneficial distraction.”
“What was he doing here?” she asked.
“He is exceedingly intelligent,” Darcy replied.
“We spoke last night about weather patterns and how the crops may be affected. He asked many insightful questions. I offered to prepare a list of figures for him. All would have been well if he had not found you alone, but it was an opportunity he could not resist. I ought to have warned you. I know how greatly you dislike him, and now I understand why. This was entirely my fault. I was searching for a journal that would help him. Are you well, Elizabeth?”
“Yes. He did not touch me, though he intended to. Thankfully, you arrived in time. There was no footman, Grayson was not within calling distance, so I pushed the platter to the floor, hoping someone would hear the noise and come.”
“If this should ever happen again, a knee to the groin will disable a man long enough for you to escape. I will teach you when you have time. But you should go to your friend. Being with her and Georgiana will do you good.”
He kissed her forehead. “I asked him to come because he must learn how to manage an estate. Your mother will most likely outlive your father, for he is ten years her senior. A well-managed estate will support both the Collins family and the widow. Yet I regret that I invited him here. I ought to have gone to Longbourn instead.”
He kissed her then, a lingering, gentle kiss. “Go up, darling. I shall wait here for the carriage. I will make certain he does not return.”