Chapter Sixty-Five
All the trunks had been unloaded, and the carriage sent back to Lady Catherine. The estate, Elizabeth had learnt, was called Rosings Park. From what she had seen from her bedroom window, it was a very good name for what looked like a very lovely estate.
The three of them spent a quiet evening together, and Elizabeth then professed herself very tired and went up to her room.
She was not, in truth, particularly weary, but she was well aware of the fact that this was Mary’s wedding day – and wedding night – and she needed to be alone with her new husband.
She unpacked her trunk, finding her drawers and wardrobe quite spacious, and got herself ready for bed.
A lovely wax candle was at her bedside, so she was able to read for a time.
Evidently, Mr. Collins could afford wax candles for reading; it had been many weeks since she had enjoyed such a luxury at Longbourn.
When she finally blew the candle out, she lay awake for a long while, thinking about Jane, Mr. Bingley, Jane, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy…and then she fell asleep.
***
When next she opened her eyes, the sun was shining through the curtains. With her customary energy, she dressed quickly and made her way downstairs. Mary and Mr. Collins were already at the table. Mr. Collins rose when Elizabeth entered.
“I trust you slept well, Cousin?” he enquired.
“Very well, indeed! I cannot recall a more comfortable mattress,” Elizabeth said, gaily. “I thought to take a walk before breakfast; might that be permitted?”
“It will all be cold by the time you get back,” Mary warned.
Elizabeth took a napkin and wrapped two biscuits in it. “This is all I need. After sitting for so many hours yesterday, I must move!”
Mary smiled at her sister, and waved her off.
“I hope she will not get lost,” Mr. Collins said, staring after her.
“Lizzy never gets lost; you need not fear.”
The two finished their breakfast; then, without warning, Mr. Collins rounded the table, pulled Mary up into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. “There!” he said, grinning widely. “Now I believe the day can begin.” With that, he went to his study.
Mary giggled and stared after him, her lips turned up in a smile.
“Excuse me, ma’am.”
Mary whirled around.
Maeve had just entered the dining room. Her eyes were laughing, but she managed to keep her voice respectful as she handed a folded message to her new mistress and curtsied. “This just came from Rosings; the messenger says he is to wait for a response.”
“Thank you, Maeve,” Mary said, blushing from head to toe. There could be no doubt that Maeve had witnessed the caress.
Mary opened the folded paper.
Dear Mrs. Collins,
I trust you and Mr. Collins are not overly fatigued by your journey and are able to come to Rosings Park for dinner this evening at seven o’clock. I understand that your sister is with you; of course, she is included in the invitation.
I await your response.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Mary ran to Mr. Collins’ study and handed him the note.
“We will attend, of course,” he said. “But do not be alarmed at the prospect, my dear. It is in our best interests to be in accord with her ladyship, but there is no reason to be afraid of her, as she cannot remove me from my post. Nor you from yours, for that matter.” And he put his arms around his Mary and kissed her again.
Emerging from the study, a rosy-cheeked Mary went at once to her writing desk.
Lady Catherine,
We would be most honoured to attend. My sister and I very much look forward to meeting you.
Mrs. Mary Collins
Handing it to Maeve, she went into the kitchen to inform Mrs. Watkins that they would be at Rosings Park for dinner. Then she went into her drawing room – her very own drawing room! – carefully closed the door, and then whirled around in excitement before collapsing onto the sofa.
How glad she was to be in her own home! How glad she was to be away from her mother, and the endless comparisons with Jane’s beauty! And how very, very glad she was that she had a husband who loved her, as had been very wonderfully demonstrated the night before.
***
Elizabeth did not get lost as she wandered around Rosings Park, as she was careful to keep the big house in view at all times, but it was, on occasion, a near thing.
The gardens were lovely, the forest dense with sycamore, oak, hazel and blackthorn.
She was certain that, come spring, there would be wildflowers everywhere, though she hoped very much that there would be no need for her to still be in Kent in the spring!
There were a number of walking paths, though many of them looked as though they had not been used for some time. They would be grateful for her presence, she thought, laughing at her own folly.
She wondered at her own happy mood. She should feel guilty, should she not?
Had she not abandoned her family in their time of need?
After all, helping Mary set up her new house had been no more than a flimsy excuse for getting herself out of an unwanted marriage!
Though, in her own defense, she believed with all her heart that Mr. Bingley wanted Jane, not herself, and would offer for Jane soon enough.
She hoped that she would hear from Meryton quite soon.
The one sour note in her happiness was Mr. Darcy.
She found herself missing him, far more than she had imagined that she would.
She reminded herself that she had resolved to put him from her mind, as much as she was able, because he was simply unattainable.
Instead she focused on the beauty around her, and the joy she would experience from being able to walk in this park every day.
When she finally returned to the rectory, Mary was eagerly awaiting her. “Lizzy! Lizzy! Such news!”
“Jane is to be married?” Elizabeth gasped. It was the first thing that leapt to her mind, of course.
“What? Oh, heavens, no. Lizzy, we only arrived here yesterday. Be patient! The news is that we have all been invited to Rosings Park for dinner tonight!”
“How very kind of Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth said.
“Is it not? I was ready to be quite nervous, Lizzy, I must tell you, but Mr. Collins informed me that it is in our best interests to be in accord with her ladyship, but that she cannot remove him from his post, so there is no need to be frightened.”
“Truly, the more I know of your husband, the better I like him,” Elizabeth said. “Now then, it is time to consider serious matters.”
And, laughing, they chorused, “Whatever shall we wear?”