Chapter 31
USEFUL PONTIFICATION
Mrs Bennet had often pushed up against Jane’s management of the household over the years, but Jane was patient, and of course had the full backing of her husband, who would not tolerate Jane’s unhappiness.
Her mother’s feelings for Mr Collins might be mixed, but she would never out and out defy the master of the household.
Lizzy did not expect to have the same support—she had heard enough complaints upon her failures since her widowhood—and in this, she was soon proved correct.
Jane, Mr Collins, Elizabeth, and Mrs Bennet were gathered round the table in the breakfast parlour, only a day after moving back to Longbourn.
Elizabeth was occupied worrying a little about Jane’s colouring.
She had only toast upon her plate, and appeared pale in the morning light.
Was she with child? Or was her former illness a lingering one?
Her mother, however, paid no notice to Jane’s appetite.
“Lizzy, is that all you are eating for breakfast? Here, I shall add some kippers. You are looking gaunt,” her mother informed her, interrupting her thoughts and spooning a couple of fishy figures onto her plate.
“Mr Robinson has been a widower for almost a year now. If you are wise, you will put some meat on your bones. Surely your settlement was enough that you could have been eating proper meals before this. Besides which, I have not seen you in anything except last year’s fashions since Ashwood’s death. It is time to look to the future.”
“I am not interested in Mr Robinson, Mama,” Elizabeth said calmly but with an internal sigh. “Not now, not ever.”
“It is just like you to reject the idea out of hand,” Mrs Bennet retorted. “You have already lost one estate, and now think to languish on this one without making any effort to redeem yourself.”
“Mama!” Jane snapped. “You will cease speaking to Lizzy in this manner.”
Elizabeth’s brows raised. This was a very un-Jane-like tone of voice.
“She speaks to me in any manner she chooses! I am her mother, and my ideas for her future ought to be treated with respect!”
“I daresay she will respect your ideas when you behave respectably. Suggesting she throw herself at every widower in the county is disrespectful in the extreme. William,” Jane said, turning to her husband, her voice still full of emotion.
“Please help Mama understand your views upon the pride and greed of Mr and Mrs Ashwood, and how their most selfish actions have resulted in Lizzy’s current circumstances, which Christian charity and upright, honourable thinking ought to have prevented. ”
Mr Collins entire face lit up. “Now?” he asked. “Is it time?”
“It is time,” Jane said, her voice quieting.
As he withdrew several pieces of paper from his pocket, she turned to her sister.
“Lizzy, take your plate, and let us finish breakfast in the orangery. We have a little table in there, where we can enjoy finer views than currently supplied by our weather.”
Elizabeth, slightly bemused, took up hers, but when Mrs Bennet began to do the same, Mr Collins laid a hand upon her shoulder.
“Dear lady, I feel required, by the morals imputed to us by a merciful God, to increase your understanding upon certain basic tenants of the creed and convictions we both must share. Please, resume your seat.” His touch was gentle but unyielding. Mrs Bennet sat down again.
Elizabeth said nothing until she and Jane were both seated in the small orangery, breathing in the unseasonable fragrances of a hundred blooms. “What was that about?”
Jane wore a small smile. “As you have recently reminded me, William trained for the church.”
“Yes.”
“It has been a regret of his that he was unable to ever serve in that capacity. He has always wanted to sermonise, but of course, under usual circumstances, such lectures lead to nothing more useful than a megrim and I cannot abide them. However, after yesterday’s silly conflict over bedchambers, I gave him to understand that he might prepare several orations on the subjects of charity, pride, forgiveness, and the like.
I asked him to begin with one upon the pride which rules Fanny and John Ashwood’s meagre hearts, and that he ought to instruct Mama in all of the principles she has obviously failed to learn at church.
He stayed up quite late last night preparing his first one.
I do not think either of us believed he would have the opportunity to preach it quite so soon, but worry not.
He will soon have his discourses resupplied. ”
Elizabeth covered her mouth to prevent a giggle. “Do you mean to say that any time Mama speaks out of turn, she will be subject to a sermon?”
“I do. I am the only one who can stop William from moralising, once he has commenced. I have no interest in interrupting him, at present.”
“Why, that is incredible! You are brilliant, Jane!”
Jane sighed rather than smiled. “William is a good man, Lizzy. Sometimes I feel I should pay more attention to what he says.”
Elizabeth felt a shaft of guilt. “We must never forget, must we, that Papa ended Mr Collins’s dreams too.
I am sure that what he received in exchange was more than worthwhile, however.
And I do not think we are opposed to what he says, so much as the length of time he takes to say it.
I believe that most people can truly pay attention for only a few minutes at a time in usual conversation.
At least, I cannot take in long lectures, which may be only a personal flaw. ”
“It is true for me as well.”
“But I shall not feel any pity for Mama, who needs to restrain her tongue far more than Mr Collins ever should. Thank you, sister dear, for helping him to help her.” Seeking a change in topic, Elizabeth asked, “Would you care for these kippers? You are the one who likes them, I recall, and Mama can never remember how I detest them.”
Jane glanced at the fish, and abruptly turned rather green.
“No—no thank you.” She looked away from the table and held her napkin to her lips; she seemed to be taking several deep breaths.
Elizabeth sat in silence for several moments before deciding to speak. “You are with child, are you not?”
Plainly startled by this observation, her sister’s eyes widened. “Oh…I am not quite…I mean…it could be another…” she trailed off into mild incoherence.
Placing her hand over Jane’s, Elizabeth spoke gently. “You do not need to confirm it; I am sure it is early days yet.”
“It is only…if things do not turn out as I hope…”
“I completely understand. You need say nothing. Only know that if there is anything I can do to help, you must only say the word.” She covered the kippers with her napkin, so that they were no longer in sight.
A tear escaped Jane, and then another. “You are too good to me, Lizzy. I do not deserve to have you in my life.”
“You will always have me, and I am grateful to have you. We have agreed to let the past go, have we not?”
“Yes. I would like to, but I feel so ashamed.”
Elizabeth squeezed her sister’s hand. “Only remember the past as its remembrance gains you wisdom. Both of us still have much to anticipate, do we not?”
At this, Jane’s expression eased. They shared the smile of co-conspirators, both filled with hope, excitement, and expectation of a future far better than the prospects of the past.