Chapter 4
The next morning, a heavy autumn storm overturned the peace and the plans at Longbourn.
Thunder, rain and wind ruined everyone’s hopes, making it impossible for the eldest Miss Bennet to honour Miss Bingley’s invitation to tea.
Jane was disappointed, but her sadness was nothing compared with Mrs Bennet’s distress.
“This is a most unfortunate turn of events; such ill weather precisely when Jane was about to spend the day at Netherfield must surely be a curse. I wonder who harbours such ill will towards us!”
“Mama, it is almost winter; bad weather is expected. Do not be so upset, I am sure other opportunities will arise soon,” Elizabeth attempted to calm her.
“Indeed, I agree with my fair cousin Elizabeth,” Mr Collins interjected. “The weather was cold and wet even when I left Rosings and, although it was only fifty miles, the condition of the road was not as good as I had hoped for.”
“Well, one should not travel a long distance in the winter unless absolutely necessary,” Mrs Bennet replied. “But Jane would have ridden only three miles, not fifty. Perhaps you should go anyway. You may take the carriage, and there will not be much damage to your appearance.”
“Mama, I will certainly not do that!” Jane answered decidedly. “I am sure Caroline will understand and will not take offence. Nobody should travel even one mile in this storm.”
“Well, I am retiring to my library. I expect not to be disturbed unless something of great urgency occurs,” Mr Bennet addressed his family.
“If you do not mind, I would rather stay with my cousins this morning. I would like to know them better before returning to Kent,” Mr Collins declared.
The girls’ despair matched their father’s relief; Mr Bennet hurried to his library while his daughters remained trapped in the drawing room, with a man preaching about the importance of a good education for ladies.
“I confess, my dear Mrs Bennet, that the purpose of my visit was beyond my wish of becoming reacquainted with my cousin and seeing the estate that will one day belong to me.”
Mrs Bennet’s face darkened and her eyes narrowed in anger.
“My noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, insisted I should find a proper wife. She insisted that a man of my age and position must be an example for his congregation and that I am old enough to consider marriage an urgency. So I came to Longbourn with the determination to comply with my patroness’s request–which has also been my greatest desire for some time now.
Meeting my charming cousins, I grow more hopeful every day that my purpose will soon be accomplished,” Mr Collins concluded with a large grin.
Mrs Bennet’s expression lightened and a smile twisted her lips. She spoke animatedly, moving closer to Mr Collins.
“Well, this is sound reasoning from a wise gentleman. Lady Catherine had every right to trust you with her preferment. And I assure you that one cannot possibly find more charming young girls prepared to become worthy wives than my daughters. Even Mr Bingley admitted that, and he had no restraint in showing his admiration for Jane. But then again, Jane is admired everywhere she goes, so we expect Mr Bingley to declare himself any day now.”
“Mama!” Jane cried, tearful from embarrassment. “We only met Mr Bingley a few weeks ago. We cannot guess his feelings, nor presume his intentions!”
“Of course we can–they are obvious to anyone,” Mrs Bennet continued unaffected.
“Well, I confess I am a little bit disappointed, as my eldest cousin was the first who drew my interest,” Mr Collins admitted.
“I understand that, but I am afraid you are a little late regarding Jane. However, I am sure you will find much to interest you in my other daughters too.”
The youngest girls glanced at each other with apprehension. Jane blushed and looked at Elizabeth, who was torn between misery and laughter. A moment later, the second Miss Bennet became the recipient of the gentleman’s attention.
“My dear cousin Elizabeth, I have heard that you enjoy reading. This is an admirable quality in a woman, even if her beauty is not flawless. Even Mr Darcy said yesterday that he very much approves of women who expand their knowledge by extensive reading.”
The statement shocked Elizabeth and she stared at the man wordlessly.
She could not decide if she was more offended by the remark about her beauty being wanting or more surprised about Mr Darcy’s comment–if it was accurate.
Of course, it would be foolish for her to imagine that he had made such an allusion with her specifically in mind.
He must have stated his opinion in general.
But the revelation that they had talked about her enjoyment of reading in the library the previous day, was still strong and puzzling.
Even more surprising for Elizabeth was that she cared about Mr Darcy’s opinion.
She could not stop thinking of him lately, and that notion was disturbing.
She did not remember harbouring such ill feelings about a man ever before.
Each time she saw him, her heart beat in a strange, restless way.
Perhaps it was because she expected him to say something to offend her or to throw her one of his judgmental gazes.
She knew she was far from perfection and could accept the critique from Mr Collins.
Mr Darcy said far less but conveyed far more.
A single look from him was more unbearable and hurtful than his comment about her being ‘tolerable’.
And his strange way of smiling at her from time to time was even more tormenting, as she could not guess his meaning.
Unexpectedly, her father’s opinion of him had improved after their short encounter the previous day. But then again, her father’s opinion about any man would be very high after spending so many days with Mr Collins.
“My dear Miss Elizabeth, would you be so generous as to tell me what other preferences you have? I would be happy to find out as much as I can about you,” Mr Collins continued.
“There is not much to say, I assure you,” she responded coldly.
“In fact, I would beg you to excuse me, I do not feel well. I might have caught a cold and I would rather rest a little bit,” Elizabeth declared, hurrying out of the room.
Her mother called to her but she decided to face the consequences rather than return.
She rushed to her chamber and collapsed on the bed.
Her worst nightmare had just begun. Mr Collins had apparently decided to choose her as the means of satisfying Lady Catherine’s demand to find a wife, and she had few chances to deter him from his purpose.
It was sure to provoke a major fight with her mother–there was no doubt about it.
But it was a battle she would happily wage.
Thank God he was so easily convinced to give up on Jane.
With a quiver, Elizabeth wondered if, without Mr Bingley’s presence at Netherfield, Jane would have the strength to reject Mr Collins.
She knew her sister’s sense of duty would have induced her to do anything to secure her family’s future.
If there were no other prospects, Jane would have probably accepted Mr Collins to secure her family’s future.
Elizabeth shivered and pulled the covers around her. She heard the door and then Jane’s sweet voice.
“Dearest, are you truly unwell?”
“I am. I am sick and nauseous and I do not expect to get better anytime soon.”
Jane sat on the bed.
“Come now, Lizzy. Do not be so harsh on poor Mr Collins. He will suffer a great disappointment if he proposes and you refuse him, but he is no worse than other men.”
“True. I fear my nausea comes from Mama’s readiness to marry us to anyone who may come along. I am horrified that she might make similar statements in the presence of Mr Bingley or Mr Darcy.”
“Lizzy darling, now you are being harsh and unfair on our mother too,” Jane said gently. “Mama loves us and wants nothing but what is best for us. You cannot doubt that. She only wishes to secure our future and to ensure us a happy life.”
“I know I am being unfair. And I know Mama loves us and she wants what she thinks is the best for us. But her best is the worst for me. I would rather sleep in the woods and work as a servant than marry Mr Collins. Nobody could convince or force me otherwise.”
“And nobody will. If Mr Collins has any admiration for you and a little sense, he will quickly see that there is no encouragement on your part.”
“I am sure he has no true admiration, nor any sort of sense. But I will do everything in my power to show him that any pursuit would fail. Let us hope he will quickly change his mind and will search for a life partner elsewhere. Longbourn is not a good place for such a quest.”
“Oh Lizzy, if I could help you to calm and relax a little bit…You are so flushed and distressed, and for no reason, I am sure.”
“I am just happy that Mama told Mr Collins that you are almost engaged. Otherwise, he would have declared his preference for you. That would have distressed me even more!”
“Lizzy, darling…”
“On second thoughts, you may help me: charm Mr Bingley and make him propose to you as soon as possible. That way, Mama will be too happy about your engagement to be bothered by my refusal and will no longer fear we will be thrown onto the street by Mr Collins. One daughter so successfully married will allow the rest of us a little liberty to choose.”
Jane blushed. “Lizzy, we are imagining more than is there. I have seen no indication that Mr Bingley will propose to me soon–or at all. And we have nothing but suspicions about Mr Collins’s intentions too.”
“I like your tendency to see only the good side of each situation,” Elizabeth embraced her sister lovingly.
“I cannot wait for you to marry so I can live with you. I will raise your handsome children and teach them to play the pianoforte very poorly and climb trees very skillfully,” she mocked her elder sister. Jane laughed with obvious uneasiness.