Chapter 6
Chapter Six
COLLINS
How embarrassing that was!
Walking out of Meryton’s church, Mr Collins felt downright huffy on behalf of his noble patroness.
She had informed him many times about the betrothal of her daughter with the estimable Fitzwilliam Darcy.
How was it that that exalted man had not married his own cousin Anne but had, instead, married Collins’s cousin Elizabeth?
Collins had found Elizabeth beautiful to look at when he first met her, but he had not realised that it was the serpent’s sort of beauty—temptation incarnate, meant to lure men into sin. Or…perhaps it would be better to call it the siren’s sort of beauty, meant to lure men to their destruction?
Whichever way it went, Collins was determined to write to Lady Catherine as soon as may be. She must know of this union while it could still be annulled.
He only had a vague idea about annulment, but he knew that Lady Catherine would know all the ins and outs of the topic, just as she knew about everything else. He merely had to inform her. Speed was of the essence.
Although, if he hurried to write and send an express, he would miss a substantial portion of the wedding breakfast. That would not do—he had been tortured with nothing but a plate of toast and two cakes, and tea and coffee, while smelling all the sweet and savoury foods that were being prepared for the wedding breakfast that would be underway just minutes from now.
He needed to fortify himself for the onerous task of alerting his beloved benefactress of something that would horrify her.
What a terrible situation! That he would have to tell her of such a betrayal. And—and he should likely also tell her of the betrayal by her own brother. And that man’s wife, as well!
Collins had just climbed into the Bennet carriage, which was even more crowded because Mr Bennet was riding with them this time. But Collins could hardly be bothered to think about being crowded—he must try to sort out what he remembered of Lady Catherine’s relations.
He clearly remembered that Lady Catherine’s brother was Henry Fitzwilliam, Earl of Matlock.
That was the man who had stood and denunciated what Collins had said about poor Miss de Bourgh.
The earl was married to—he fought to remember—oh, yes!
Lord Matlock was married to Helen Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock. She had spoken, as well.
Their sons were named…again, he had to think and think of the names Lady Catherine spoke of with such frequency…
yes, the elder son was Reginald Fitzwilliam, and the younger was Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.
Lady Catherine’s sister had been Lady Anne—he remembered that name easily—but who had she married?
Lady Catherine always ranted about her sister having wasted herself on an untitled man.
The name George Darcy finally rose in his mind, and of course their son, Fitzwilliam Darcy—his name was mentioned most of all, as Lady Catherine stated over and over that he was engaged to her Anne.
With all of that sorted, Collins felt the trepidation of having to implicate in his letter not only Mr Darcy, but also Lord and Lady Matlock! He did not envy himself that task!
The carriage had just pulled up to Longbourn, and Collins was the first to scramble out. As he entered the manor house and stepped into the opened-up public rooms—oh, my! The sight of so many tables—indoors and out—piled high with foods and beverages caused in Collins a surge of joy.
Forgetting all about betrayed betrothals and a letter of lament, Collins felt that his life was quite charmed.