Chapter 3 #2
When they arrived at the parsonage, Elizabeth was surprised to see a hired carriage waiting and more surprised to learn the carriage would convey her to London as soon as she was ready.
Charlotte was relieved that her friend would not be stranded without any protection or care for her reputation and thought she could guess who sent the carriage.
For a moment, she considered what Elizabeth was likely not saying regarding her relationship with Mr Darcy but chose not to ask any questions.
While Elizabeth’s things were packed, the two friends spent a few minutes talking about their disappointment in being unable to finish their visit.
Elizabeth begged her friend to prevent Mr Collins from sending any letters to Longbourn about her being summarily dismissed, and her friend agreed to try her best.
Arriving at the cottage a few minutes after the ladies, Mr Collins was upset and annoyed; the carriage’s presence interfered with his plans.
He was looking forward to Elizabeth’s ruination and believed she deserved it for rejecting his proposal and Lady Catherine’s accusations that she was trying to capture her esteemed nephew, Mr Darcy.
He allowed Charlotte to invite her to the parsonage in the hope that his cousin would realise what a fortunate match her friend made and feel some regret at her dismissal of him.
Since she did not seem to be affected as he would have liked, it was only fitting that she should suffer, and he was pleased to kick Elizabeth out of his home without care for how and where she was to go at the express wishes of his patroness.
During his walk back from Rosings, Mr. Collins pondered his cousin’s plight and comprehended Lady Catherine’s intention to tarnish Elizabeth’s reputation as a means to dissuade her nephew from proposing to her.
When Lady Catherine proposed the notion of compelling Elizabeth to depart in the middle of the afternoon, thereby leaving her without a chaperone either at an inn or in the woods overnight, Mr Collins had found a sense of satisfaction in the idea that both the lady who had rejected his generous offer and her father, who would not compel his daughter to fulfil her duty, would face the consequences they merited.
Mr. Collins remembered the moment she refused him.
He was so convinced of his acceptance that he condescended to ask the lady despite her meagre dowry.
After soliciting Mrs. Bennet’s opinion, he settled on his second oldest cousin, who was nearly as beautiful as her sister but far more impertinent.
Mr. Collins didn’t understand half of what she said, but she was lively and, with his direction, would have made him an admirable wife.
However, he chose her friend. Charlotte was not as beautiful as his cousins, but she willingly accepted his offer.
Nevertheless, his anger continued to simmer at his rejection, and when Charlotte asked to invite her friend, he readily agreed.
He hoped to see Cousin Elizabeth regret him, but instead, she attracted the interest of Mr Darcy, and now his patroness was livid—blaming him for bringing her there in the first place.
However, this carriage appearing at his door circumvented the plans they hatched that morning.
Mr Collins tried to insist it would be improper for Elizabeth to use the carriage of an unknown person, but she ignored him.
He told the carriage driver to leave without his passenger, but the man refused, stating he was there to convey Miss Bennet to London and would not go without her.
The maid seated in the carriage to protect Elizabeth’s reputation was unknown to everyone and would only speak to Miss Bennet.
Like the carriage driver, she would not leave the carriage despite all of Mr Collins’s considerable efforts.
Continuing to ignore Mr Collins, Elizabeth hugged Charlotte and assured her friend she would write soon to let her know she arrived in London safely.
Elizabeth was surprised by the carriage’s arrival, but somehow, she knew Mr Darcy planned this in case his aunt became too unreasonable—which she did.
She was simultaneously grateful for his foresight and slightly vexed by his high-handedness in making the arrangements without consulting her.
However, she immediately knew she was being silly, as there was neither the time nor the opportunity to consult with her before he departed.
A footman had pressed a note into her hand as they were escorted out of Rosings, and she was anxious to read it but had not dared to do so while Mr Collins or anyone from Rosings might observe.
Finally, she took her and was assisted into the carriage by the footman accompanying her.
Once the carriage started moving, the maid finally spoke, introducing herself as Claire and handing Elizabeth another, thicker note.
Claire asked Elizabeth to read that note after she read the first one.
Elizabeth pulled the first note from her pocket and sat back to read.
Dearest—
Please forgive my presumption, but after my confrontation with my aunt, I worry she may have somehow recognised my interest in you and might blame you for my departure.
Richard, Colonel Fitzwilliam, pointed out as that I was not as discreet in paying you attention as I believed.
My aunt can be vindictive when she thinks she has been crossed, and if she does anything in retribution, like confronting you and insisting you leave immediately, I wanted to ensure you would not be stranded or ruined.
If she does not act, you will never know of any of this, but if she does, please know my only goal is to provide you protection so you are not injured by me or my family, regardless of the outcome of my suit.
FD
Any negative feelings Elizabeth held towards Mr Darcy melted away as she read his note.
He expended significant effort to protect her if his aunt acted badly.
His actions mitigated the potential for harm, and she could only appreciate his effort on her behalf.
Of course, the endearment he began the letter with gave her a sense of contentment she had never imagined before, and she began to think of a future with the gentleman as a certainty.
When Elizabeth read the second note given to her by the maid, she was surprised further at its contents.
Darcy wrote the letter from his London townhouse that morning and informed her he had visited her uncle’s home the previous afternoon and learned they were away from London.
If Lady Catherine behaved as he feared, he expected Elizabeth to arrive in London late in the evening in need of accommodation.
He invited her to be his sister’s guest at Darcy House until her aunt and uncle returned, or, if she preferred, he would request that his aunt, Lady Matlock, host her until her relatives were available.
Should she be travelling to London, he requested she send an express to his sister at her first opportunity to inform them of her expected arrival and whether she preferred to stay at Darcy House or with Lady Matlock.
Darcy closed the note with yet another apology for his aunt and another subtle reminder of his affection for her.
Feeling a sense of relief and finally having a moment to contemplate the events of the past few hours, Elizabeth settled comfortably into the carriage’s squabs, her heart lightening.
Her thoughts drifted towards the prospect of being married to Mr. Darcy, envisioning what it might be like to have someone care so deeply for her and provide such careful attention.
Mr Darcy had taken great care to protect her reputation and uphold propriety during her uncertain journey to London, even requesting that she inform his sister of her arrival instead of him and ensuring she would not be forced into a marriage with him.
Though everything he had said and done indicated his desire for their courtship to progress towards marriage, was that his intention?
For the first time in their acquaintance, she allowed herself to contemplate what it would mean to be the wife of Mr. Darcy, and she devoted much of her thoughts to pondering the potential realities.
It proved to be a most enjoyable way to pass the afternoon.
When they stopped in Bromley to refresh themselves, Elizabeth purchased paper and ink, quickly wrote a note to Miss Darcy, and arranged for an express rider to deliver it to Darcy House.
In her missive, she apologised for contacting Miss Darcy without an introduction and explained that Mr Darcy requested she inform Miss Darcy that she was happy to accept her invitation to stay for a few days until her aunt and uncle arrived back in town and would arrive later that day.