Chapter 11
The following morning, Elizabeth and Georgiana met at breakfast, lamenting in every possible way how little they could do besides wait for news.
Unhappy to have left London, they felt useless so far from where everything was happening.
There was little chance of any news reaching Netherfield, whilst the waiting itself had become unbearable.
“Perhaps we could talk to your friends and ask for some advice,” Georgiana proposed, but Elizabeth shook her head. She did not see any benefit in letting anybody in Hertfordshire know of Darcy’s disappearance.
In Meryton, everybody knew everybody else, and the chief occupation was gossip.
And what could provide greater amusement than seeing the Bennet daughters once again at the centre of a scandal?
Lydia had married Mr Wickham, but only after eloping and consummating her love with the handsome officer who had proved to be nothing more than a dishonest and unscrupulous man.
“We shall use this morning to go to Meryton, see Aunt Phillips, and send a message to Charlotte. Or perhaps even pay a visit to the Lucases once we are in town.”
Elizabeth would be deeply sorry for Charlotte if it proved true that she had fled her home in such haste.
It seemed she had been unfortunate enough to discover the true nature of her husband.
Not merely the servility or hypocrisy that Elizabeth had always regarded as weaknesses, but something far more repugnant, a character marked, she had little doubt, by harshness and a complete lack of remorse.
In the past, especially during the spring when she had visited the Collinses at Hunsford, Elizabeth had hoped to find a better man than she had imagined.
Her opinion of him had always been influenced by the knowledge that, upon Mr Bennet’s death, he would inherit Longbourn.
She would gladly have discovered herself mistaken, for she cared deeply for Charlotte.
Yet she feared that Mr Collins was less a man to despise than one to fear.
Since Lady Catherine’s letter could not be expected before late afternoon, Elizabeth decided, in the end, to pay Charlotte a visit.
She asked Georgiana to accompany her, and the young lady readily agreed, secretly pleased at the prospect of having Elizabeth to herself whilst Mrs Annesley spent the day with Mrs Bennet and Mrs Phillips.
“Yes, anything rather than sit in this empty house. Besides, it may be a good idea to see Mrs Collins, now that she has returned from Rosings. She may know more about Lady Catherine or have heard something concerning Fitzwilliam.”
Elizabeth looked at Georgiana as though suddenly awakened.
“Of course!” she exclaimed. “How did I not think of that before? Mama and her stories made me forget that Charlotte lived barely half a mile from Rosings.”
They decided to hide their grief behind calm expressions, at least whilst they were in Meryton, and discreetly enquire about the latest gossip and local news.
As they walked towards Meryton, they continued talking, intending to stop for a few minutes in the town centre before taking the carriage on to Lucas Lodge. Georgiana instructed the coachman to wait for them at the crossroads leading to the Lucases’ house.
“We shall invite Charlotte to tea, or perhaps even to dinner. I am sure the atmosphere in her parents’ house must be unbearable after her flight,” Elizabeth said.
“The Lucases are kind people, but strict parents who are certain to disapprove of a daughter leaving her husband. In the past, there was some strain between us because of her marriage to Mr Collins. However, many of those feelings have faded. Now I can only feel sorry that she has been obliged to live with such a husband.”
“It would be lovely to meet Mrs Collins,” Georgiana replied.
“I have a confession to make,” Elizabeth continued.
“I resented Charlotte for marrying Mr Collins because she abandoned a conviction we had shared and discussed so many times, that a woman ought to marry out of respect and affection, not merely to satisfy society’s expectations.
But unfortunately, Charlotte had no choice.
Her father decided upon the marriage, and in their household his word was law.
Her wishes would never have been heard, much less granted. ”
Georgiana was fascinated by Elizabeth. During the last few days, what had once been a rather superficial acquaintance had grown into a true friendship.
Grateful that they were facing this tragedy together, she felt blessed not to have to bear her brother’s disappearance alone.
There were also so many things she could learn from Elizabeth, who was by far the most intelligent and accomplished woman Georgiana had ever known.
“It is a privilege to be with you during these terrible days,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “I only hope my brother returns, and that we truly become sisters.”
Touched by those simple words, Elizabeth drew Georgiana into her arms, and for a long moment they stood quietly, comforting one another.
∞∞∞
Elizabeth’s plan to meet Charlotte was unexpectedly fulfilled, without any effort on her part, when they arrived in Meryton.
They saw Charlotte talking with an elderly lady and her husband at the far end of the main street.
Charlotte had also seen them and, with a polite but firm curtsey, excused herself from the couple and almost ran towards Elizabeth and Georgiana.
It was a strange reunion, filled with sadness on both sides.
Charlotte’s face was carefully concealed beneath a thick veil.
Elizabeth felt sorry for her friend, imagining that her eyes were red from weeping and that she wished to hide them from the curious eyes of the town.
Nothing remained between them now but friendship and compassion.
As Elizabeth made the introductions, Charlotte appeared somewhat disconcerted. She had hoped to be alone with Elizabeth so they could speak at length, as they had often done in the past.
They hesitated for a few moments in the middle of Meryton. Elizabeth took Charlotte by the arm and said, “We have the carriage nearby. Please come and have tea with us at Netherfield.”
Seeing Charlotte about to protest, she added, “Do not worry. Only Georgiana will be there…and she is completely trustworthy. We need to talk.”
“My God, I am so ashamed that you both know everything…indeed, everyone knows by now!” Charlotte almost cried.
Elizabeth stopped her with a whisper.
“It is not only about you, my dear. It is also about us…Georgiana and me.”
She gently but firmly led her astonished friend to the carriage. Once they were seated inside, she said, as simply as she could without breaking into tears, “Mr Darcy disappeared several days ago in London.”
The news left Charlotte in complete disbelief.
Distressed by what she had heard, she almost forgot her own troubles and, once they reached Netherfield, lifted her veil.
Only the horrified expressions on her friends’ faces made her remember her own appearance and the bruises that the powder had scarcely concealed.
The shock was so great that they stared at one another for several seconds, none of them knowing who should speak first, for each had a tragedy of her own to tell.
Charlotte struggled to hold back her tears.
“I am so ashamed,” she whispered, trying once more to cover her face.
Elizabeth recovered first from the shock.
“You have no reason to be ashamed,” she said, almost in tears. “Please tell us what happened. Afterwards, we shall tell you more about our story. Your secret is safe with us. Be certain of that. I know the same confidence exists between us.”
“Of course it does. My hesitation comes not from distrust but from embarrassment. Yet I do need someone to confide in, Elizabeth.”
Charlotte hesitated for a moment, taking a sip of tea. She glanced towards Georgiana, but it no longer mattered. The young lady had already seen the bruises and could easily imagine the rest.
“I had a dreadful quarrel with Mr Collins. I had been angry with him for several days, but our conflict reached its height two nights ago. I felt deceived. To him, Lady Catherine’s wishes always came before any concern for our family, and lately it had become almost unbearable.
We had a couple of close friends staying at the parsonage.
The lady is Mr Collins’s cousin on his mother’s side, one of the few relatives who still thinks well of him.
We had invited them many months earlier to stay with us for about a week. ”
Charlotte tried not to cry, but her eyes filled with tears as she continued.
“Any other man would have arranged his duties differently whilst relatives were staying in his house. But not him. The day after they arrived, late in the evening, long after nine o’clock, Lady Catherine summoned him to Rosings, just as she always does.
We had only just finished dinner when a servant from Rosings arrived. ”
Charlotte paused to wipe away her tears.
In doing so, she removed most of the powder, revealing injuries even more shocking than Elizabeth had imagined.
One cheek was badly bruised, blue and crimson beneath the fading cosmetics, and Elizabeth noticed that Charlotte also moved her left hand with difficulty.
They wished to ask her to stop, or at least postpone her confession, but Charlotte made a firm gesture.