Chapter 30. Lady Catherine’s Trip to Town
Mrs Gardiner celebrated Elizabeth’s news and much to Mr Darcy’s surprise, he was embraced by both Jane and Mrs Gardiner.
“Bring Georgiana to tea this afternoon,” Elizabeth said. “We can begin to make plans then.”
There was no word from Mr Collins regarding his return to the parsonage, but the maids scurried to make the future mistress happy.
With the clean sheets on the beds and the house set to rights, Jane and Aunt Gardiner sat with Elizabeth in her bedroom as she dressed for tea with her future husband and his sister.
At teatime, the Darcy carriage arrived, and Mr Darcy escorted his sister inside where there were more smiles and hugs amid a few tears of happiness.
“Elizabeth! You will be my sister! Jane, will you be my sister as well? I should so like to have all these wonderful sisters!” Georgiana said as Mrs Gardiner smiled indulgently in the background.
During tea, Mr Darcy told Elizabeth, “I shall go to town tomorrow morning and then travel to Longbourn in the afternoon to see your father. Lady Catherine announced this morning that she must go into town to consult with her solicitors, and she insisted that I accompany her.”
Georgiana leaned over and explained, “Aunt Catherine is being sued by the artisans who created the stain-glass windows in the church. She ordered three extra windows and refused to pay the price, but she signed the papers, and they will take her into the courts if she does not remit the amount due.”
“My aunt hoped that I would provide her with the monies, but I refuse to rescue her from her spending.”
“Then I... we shall not have your company tomorrow,” Elizabeth said. “I do not...”
Darcy smiled and asked, “Will you miss me?”
Lifting her chin defiantly, Elizabeth said, “Not in the least. Georgiana can come to visit; we shall read Shakespeare and not notice your absence.”
Leaning closer and making the other ladies giggle, Mr Darcy whispered just a little too loud to be private, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, will you not miss me, even just for a moment? Perhaps if I escort you through the gardens again and propose a second time, you will miss me for a moment or two?”
Darcy and Georgiana stayed until it was time to return to Rosings to dress for dinner. Mr Collins continued to be absent from their table at the parsonage, so Mrs Gardiner and her nieces had Edward and Emily sit with them for dinner and they made a happy party.
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In the morning, Elizabeth met Mr Darcy in the gardens and gave him a letter to take to her father. Their discussions and moments were private that morning and Elizabeth planned to write several more letters to pass the time until Mr Darcy returned.
Once Lady Catherine and Mr Darcy departed for London, Georgiana walked to Hunsford to spend the day at the parsonage, and she brought an invitation for supper from Miss de Bourgh.
When Mrs Gardiner inquired, Georgiana denied any knowledge of Mr Collins and his plans to return to Hunsford.
Late in the afternoon, the de Bourgh carriage arrived at the parsonage to carry the ladies to the house.
While they waited for Georgiana to change for supper, Miss de Bourgh and Mr Collins entertained the visitors with a discussion of the meaning of the Sermon on the Mount–the topic for the coming Sunday’s sermon.
Jane remained relaxed and seemed content to allow Mr Collins to pay all his attention to Miss de Bourgh.
No one made mention of Elizabeth’s engagement to Mr Darcy.
When the evening came to an end, Anne turned to her cousin.
“Georgiana, I think you should return to the parsonage for the evening. I see that you are enjoying the company of your friend, and I believe you should spend the night with Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth at the parsonage. But Mr Collins will remain here at Rosings. He has to meet Mr Livingston this evening and with my steward early in the morning.”
Suddenly Mrs Gardiner endorsed the suggestion. “You are indeed thoughtful Miss de Bourgh. Miss Darcy can spend the evening with my nieces and Mr Collins will be safe here at Rosings–it would not do for Mr Collins to trip and fall in the darkness.”
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