Chapter Eighteen
“Miss Poole and Mrs Forest, ma’am.” Mary’s first callers were announced to her parlour.
“My, you do have the parlor done up quite cheerfully, I recall that it was quite dark in here when Mrs Lyndhurst was mistress.” Miss Poole looked about the room greedily, as if for tidbits of information to carry to others in the village.
“But recall that Mr and Mrs Lyndhurst left nearly two years ago, and it was many years before that since the parsonage was done up for a new bride,” Mrs Forest reminded her friend.
“Oh, it is a happy day to see a young couple back in the parsonage, Mrs Collins, and God willing, soon a lovely young family.”
“Thank you,” Mary blushed. “Allow me to introduce my guest. Miss Poole, and Mrs Forest, may I present my sister, Miss Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire.”
“A sister! How many are you?” Miss Poole asked with keen interest.
Mary and Elizabeth eyed one another in amusement as Miss Poole skillfully extracted their entire background, how Mary and Mr Collins met, and why, precisely, Elizabeth’s stay would be so short.
After twenty-five minutes of interrogation, Miss Poole and Mrs Forest rose as the Misses Jenks were announced.
It was quite obvious to Elizabeth as she was introduced that the elder Miss Jenks was the harbinger of propriety that Mary had been warned of.
Elizabeth was certain that no one, no matter how stern, could disapprove of Mary, and smiled at her sister to calm her nerves.
“How was your call with Miss Poole and Mrs Forest?” Miss Matilda asked. “They are dear friends. We have known them all of our lives.”
“Miss Poole reminds me a great deal of my aunt, Mrs Phillips of Meryton. I am certain that she will be a balm and a comfort when I am missing my home,” Mary answered tactfully.
Elizabeth watched as Miss Jenks took stock of Mary’s acceptability.
“Do you read, Mrs Collins?” the elder lady asked.
“I read a great deal before my marriage. I am certain that I will resume my interests when I have become accustomed to my new duties. Perhaps in the evening after dinner, when we have no guests, Mr Collins and I might read to one another,” Mary answered thoughtfully.
“I read far too much Fordyce as a young lady when I was still exploring morality and propriety. Now I prefer the works of Dr Johnson, though lately I also enjoy Thomas Sherlock and Cowper.”
Miss Jenks nodded in obvious approval and turned her attention to Elizabeth.
“Miss Bennet, I understand that your other sister has married the Denny boy. How did he turn out? He has spent little time in Derbyshire since he began school. His mother was a dear woman. Always so active in her parish and society.”
“My new brother-in-law is everything kind and honourable. My sister finds herself devoted to his happiness already, and he is a good and thoughtful husband to her.” Elizabeth allowed Mary to refill her cup.
“And you have stayed with Mrs Denny since you all arrived because poor Joseph Denny is failing of cancer.” Miss Jenks tutted. “You must be a most devoted sister, to help Mr and Mrs Denny through this trial, and still be here to support Mrs Collins on her first day accepting callers.”
“Yes, she is.” Mary interrupted Elizabeth’s attempt at humility. “Lizzy is the bravest of all of my sisters. Whenever I must face something new, I always feel more courage when she is with me. Mrs Denny and I are both grateful that she consented to move to Derbyshire with us.”
“You will not return to Meryton, Miss Bennet?” Miss Jenks asked with interest. “Are you planning to make your stay permanent?
“I can return to Longbourn if I choose, but I have reached my majority recently, and all of my parents’ five daughters have lately married but myself.
My sisters have need of me, and my mother and father now have time to themselves to pursue their own interests.
I have also been invited to live with my aunt and uncle in London if I like, but I do so prefer the country to town. ”
“Our aunt lived in Lambton in her youth, perhaps you know of her,” Mary said to Miss Matilda. “Her name is Mrs Madeleine Gardiner, Miss Abingdon as was.”
“Of course we recall Miss Abingdon, and the young man who came to the village on business and back again to court her as often as he was able until she married and went away with him,” Miss Matilda answered.
“You must send Mrs Gardiner our regards, and tell her that we are delighted to know her nieces.”
“Indeed, but any niece of Madeleine Abingdon’s is certain to be delightful.
” Miss Jenks returned her cup to Mary. “A more refined and pleasant young lady one was hardly likely to know. Mr Gardiner was certainly fortunate in his choice of a wife. Mrs Collins, we take our leave of you, but we are at home to callers on Monday afternoons.”
“I look forward to returning your call. Thank you for your kind reception to Lambton, I feel quite welcomed by the ladies of the village.” Mary rose and curtsied to the two guests, as did Elizabeth as Mary rang for the maid.
“Miss Bennet, will we see you again in the village and church this week, or will you return to Hawthorne Vale?” Miss Jenks inquired.
“I return tomorrow, and I plan to remain there as long as Mr and Mrs Denny have need of me. But I will stay in Derbyshire for some months at least, and I am sure I will visit Mary again before long, just as soon as things become easier for Kitty.”
“That is quite right of you, please give Joseph Denny our regards, and our sympathies to Mr and Mrs Denny, insufficient as they are. We hope to meet them when the time is appropriate.” Both the Miss Jenks dipped into curtsies and left.
Mary sank into her chair. “We did it. They did not disapprove of me.”
“Whyever would they disapprove of you, Mary?” Elizabeth shook her head in amusement.
“You may laugh at me all you like, Lizzy, but one must be accepted by Miss Jenks to be well-regarded in Lambton. Do you know, they were raised in this very house? Their father was the parson here until he died when they were in their twenties. The Darcy family has given them a cottage in the village ever since, for their brother went away and never returned, and they have no other family.”
“I understand why their approval means so much to you.” Elizabeth hugged her sister. “And you had no need of me. Your neighbours approve of you on your own merits, for you are a respectable lady of good family and a lovely person.”
That night, they dined at Pemberley, and Elizabeth was quite overawed by the size and grandeur of the place.
“Well, Miss Bennet? Do you approve of Pemberley?” Mr Darcy asked once she had settled into a chair in the drawing room.
“Approve? Mr Darcy, I cannot think of anyone who would not approve. Though I should be delighted to see it properly in the daylight and explore your park, what I have seen has been perfection. I cannot think of a place where nature has done more, or where natural beauty has been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.”
“But your good opinion is so rarely bestowed, that it is more worth the earning.” Mr Darcy replied, smiling.
“Georgiana and I would be very happy if you returned during the day for a proper tour, including the library, for if you were to see it tonight, I fear you would not return to the parsonage.”
“But we have prepared a number of books for you to borrow and take with you back to Hawthorne Vale,” Georgiana said excitedly.
“I recalled some of the books you said that you wished to read when we discussed them in Meryton. You must take them back with you, and I hope that they bring you and the Dennys some distraction from the troubles there. You must please tell Kitty that I wish to travel there with my brother to pay a visit more than anything, but I understand that it is a terrible time to impose myself.”
“Kitty will greatly appreciate your sentiments, Georgie, and I am certain that she would like to accept a call from you once things are more settled.” Elizabeth replied.
Dinner was served, and Elizabeth sat at Darcy’s right, with Mary to his left.
Miss Darcy had Mr Collins to her right and Mrs Annesley on her left.
It was an intimate setting, and there was a great deal of animated conversation.
Georgiana spoke to Mary about the calls that were paid to her that day, while Mrs Annesley asked Mr Collins questions about an interest he intended to bring to the parsonage, bee-keeping.
“My brother-in-law has expressed his appreciation that you extended the hand of friendship to him, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth observed.
“He and my sister face many challenges at Hawthorne Vale, and Matthew says that you have already been a wealth of knowledgeable advice. Indeed, before we left yesterday, he seemed more relaxed than he had been since we arrived!”
“I am gratified to know that I could relieve any anxiety he is experiencing.” Mr Darcy was grave but sincere.
“He is younger than me, and Pemberley was not encumbered or in trouble when I inherited, but I will never forget the difficulty of caring for my father at his end, and the weight of responsibility I felt for every obligation he left me. I spent the first two years making so many mistakes, and I was well prepared. I have learned a great deal since then, and if I can offer Mr Denny any advice that he finds useful, I am glad to give it. He seems to have a devoted wife in your sister. She has matured a great deal since I met her last autumn.”
“We have all been obliged to mature a great deal since Jane became betrothed to your friend,” Elizabeth said openly.
“You helped your sister receive her first callers today. I hope you found the parishioners respectful.” Darcy stated, concern lacing his voice.
“Of course,” Elizabeth assured him. “The ladies who called received Mary with welcome and sincerity, and obviously approved of her on her own merits. I believe she will be very happy here.”
“I do not doubt it,” Darcy smiled. “In fact, I will consider it a mark of personal failure if Mrs Collins is anything less than delighted with her new circumstances.”
“You must take your responsibility to your incumbents very seriously,” Elizabeth teased.
“I take the well-being of every person I am responsible for very seriously, I assure you.” His demeanour was all sincerity.
Elizabeth smiled at the gentleman. “I know that you do, Mr Darcy. I have seen what a marvellous brother, cousin, and friend it makes you, and I am sure that you are just as devoted a patron and landlord.”
Mr Darcy blushed. “That is high praise, coming from you.”
“I assure you that it is well deserved.” Elizabeth then turned, for Georgiana was asking her a question from across the table.
The ladies had just left the men at the table and were on their way to the music room when a carriage was heard in the drive.
Mr Darcy emerged from the dining room with the other men.
The footman opened the door and everyone peered out to see Bingley stepping down from his carriage, quite uninvited.
“Bingley, what on earth are you doing here?” Darcy hissed as he emerged from the house. “This is not the way to force your wife upon my sister, who is just inside.”
“I assure you, Darcy, I had no such intention,” Bingley promised.
“Jane and I were travelling north so that I might introduce her to some of my relations. But once we were too far away from Meryton to turn back, Jane began to fall ill each morning, and has only become worse each day in the carriage. She suspected that she was in an interesting condition, but never thought that she would react so poorly to travelling. All we could do was press on for Derbyshire, where I have friends and she has some family, in the hopes of finding a place where Jane might obtain a few days rest. She has been too violently ill for us to continue, she must rest for some days and recover her strength.”
“Oh, my poor sister.” Mary Collins, having heard all about the Matlock’s decree and Darcy’s unwillingness to entertain Mrs Bingley from Elizabeth, swept out the door to the carriage.
“Dearest Jane, of course you may seek shelter with me. Mr Darcy, I shall travel with Mr and Mrs Bingley to the parsonage with all haste so that I might make my sister comfortable as soon as may be. My husband and my sister Elizabeth may follow.”
“Of course, Mrs Collins, that seems eminently sensible.” Darcy understood immediately that Mary was removing Jane Bingley from Pemberley before she became a problem.
Bingley stood and stared at Darcy in disbelief. No, his friend had not denied them a place to stay, precisely, but it was obvious that it had never been his intention to offer one, and that Darcy regarded Mrs Collin’s interference with relief.
“Bingley, would you like to go for a ride in the morning?” Darcy asked his friend.
“I am afraid that even when not in a carriage my wife is unwell all morning and half the day. I dislike leaving her in such a condition,” Bingley answered. “Perhaps in the afternoon when she is resting.”
“Just send a note when you are ready, and I will meet you on the village green,” Darcy bowed as the others returned to the house.
“Ought we to call for the carriage and follow immediately, Cousin Elizabeth?” Collins asked Elizabeth anxiously in the hall when they returned indoors.
“Honestly, Cousin William, the smaller Jane’s audience, the easier it will be for Mary and Mr Bingley to manage her, I think.
” Elizabeth was blunt. “The more of us that are there, the greater will be our sisters’ complaints.
I believe that if Mary has an hour to settle Jane into a room, the fewer dramatics we shall all have to hear tonight.
I do not believe that Mary will be hurt if we do not follow immediately.
She knows Jane as well as I. Jane will complain more tomorrow that we did not rush after them to see to her health, but Jane is going to complain all day tomorrow no matter what happens. ”
“That does sound like Mrs Bingley,” Georgiana agreed as she led them to the drawing room for tea and conversation.