Chapter 6 #2
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When the Bennets ate dinner, Collins was again conspicuous by his absence, which no one repined. At the end of dinner, instead of making for his study as had been his wont, Bennet accompanied his daughters to the drawing room.
“There are going to be some changes around here,” Bennet announced once everyone was seated.
“Lydia, if you are thinking of climbing out of your window at night to go flirt with officers, know that I have hired extra footmen to be on duty. If you even make an attempt, you will be back in the nursery, and you can forget the Netherfield Ball,” he held up a hand to stop her protest, “or any other opportunity to dance for many years!”
“Kitty, you tattletale!” Lydia screeched and made a move to get to her sister to scratch her, but Bennet stood between the two before she could reach Kitty. She sat back down in a huff.
“Lydia, how could I have told? I have been with you since you told me. We walked down to dinner together,” Kitty proclaimed her innocence.
“Lydia, Kitty said nothing, but you just did. Your choice: try your reckless plan, which will ruin you and you sisters if you succeed, or dance at the ball,” Bennet said calmly.
Lydia stamped her foot in frustration. She really wanted to dance at the ball, so her plans would have to be put on hold, but only on hold. “I will not attempt to leave the house!” Lydia exclaimed petulantly, proving again how young she was.
Just then the door opened, and Collins was shown in, accompanied by Mr. Dudley and his daughter. “Dudley, were we supposed to meet?” Bennet asked in confusion.
“As they are to be my family, I invited them, Cousin,” Collins announced.
“Mr. Collins, when you are a guest in your patroness’s house, what would she say if you invited another without her permission?” Bennet asked calmly.
“I-I-I would never. I am to inherit…” Collins spluttered, and Bennet cut him off.
“Until the day I leave the mortal world and you are notified you are indeed the heir, you have no rights here. I would ask you to leave tonight, but as there are only two days left before you depart, I will not have you thrown out of my house!” Bennet stated.
The steel in his voice was unmistakable.
“Bennet, I apologise, I tried to inform my future son-in-law it was not done, but he insisted,” Dudley stated contritely.
The statement was met by silence from all the Bennets in the drawing room, until Lydia burst into unrestrained laughter, soon joined by Kitty. “Miss Dudley, you accepted him?” Lydia managed between laughs.
This was not the reaction either Dudley expected. “Y-yes, Miss Lydia, Mr. Collins requested my hand and I have accepted him,” Matilda confirmed.
“Lydia and Kitty,” Bennet commanded, as you are not able to behave as ladies, go up to your bedchamber!
” Seeing Lydia was about to protest, Bennet added and emphatic “Now!” His two youngest daughters decided not to test his resolve as he had just threatened one of them with not going to the upcoming ball.
“When I am head of this family…” Collins began his familiar rant once again.
“Mr. Collins did not both myself and my daughter Elizabeth explain to you that regardless of the eventual disposition of the estate after my death, you will never be the head of the Bennet family? There is only one who can make that determination, me! My will is very specific; however, I will be amending it on the morrow so there is no ambiguity. In it I will state you are disqualified from guardianship of any of my daughters who are not of age or not married when I go to my final reward. If you inherit Longbourn, that will be the only thing you will have control over.” Bennet stared at the man who soon had to look away.
“What do you mean if, Cousin?” Collins asked, having finally heard that word.
“You never know what will happen between now and then, and, with the vagaries of life and death, there is no guarantee you will survive me. As I understand it, that is knowledge to which only God on High is privy,” Bennet replied dryly.
It irked Collins to find out the impertinent one had been correct.
He would not have any control over them, and worse, he would not be able to touch their dowries.
As his cousin’s words sank in, he realised for the first time he could predecease the man, and then he would never inherit.
He reassured himself with the knowledge that God would never allow such an injustice to occur.
Matilda seated herself with Jane and Elizabeth. “Matti, are you sure this is who you want to marry?” Elizabeth asked quietly.
“Just because he would not offer for one of you, Lizzy, does not mean I should not be his choice,” Matilda said with some asperity.
“Did he tell you that, Matti?” Jane asked quietly and Matilda nodded. “He wanted to offer for me, but our father barred him from offering for any of us.”
Matilda knew both Jane and Elizabeth well enough to know they were not lying to her. “Then I suppose I must be grateful to your father, as he gave me the opportunity to become betrothed when I had given up hope of it ever happening,” Matilda stated.
“In that case, you need to thank Charlotte as well, Matti,” Elizabeth revealed.
“He did not,” Matilda was shocked.
“She refused him this morning,” Jane confirmed.
Matilda had heard Collins tell her father about his patroness and her order to marry, but she had thought mayhap he was jesting.
It seemed he was not. Miss Dudley rationalised that without his offer she would have died a spinster, so, as much as she disliked his misrepresentation of the facts and the humiliation of being his third choice, she wanted to be married and have a home of her own, she would not break off the betrothal.
Collins was sitting in a chair and sulking again, but at least his odour was bearable.
He heard his cousins reveal his humiliation to his betrothed, and so far, it did not seem as if she was moving to withdraw.
He was deeply relieved, as he did not want to return to his parsonage without being able to inform Lady Catherine he was married or betrothed.
“Dudley, will you attend me in my study? There is something I need to discuss with you,” Bennet requested. Mr. Dudley stood and Collins made to stand as well. “Only Mr. Dudley, thank you.”
Bennet stationed Hill outside his study door before he joined his friend within. “Given your daughter’s news this day, what I need to ask you may be awkward, and before I do ask, I need to ask your complete confidence as a member of the clergy,” Bennet stated.
“I will reveal nothing of our conversation to anyone save my Lord and Master,” Dudley vowed.
“After the Netherfield Ball, once your future son-in-law has departed, I will be marrying. Miss Lucas has agreed to be my wife,” Bennet revealed.
“Now I understand your need for secrecy. It puts me in a difficult position as it affects my daughter’s future prospects,” Dudley steepled his fingers.
“Possible prospects. We have tried to point out to Collins on several occasions there are some possible factors that may preclude his inheriting the estate. Regardless, he talks and behaves as if the estate is his by wrote and I am already in the ground, his impertinence at inviting you to a house not his being merely one example.” Bennet poured two glasses of port and offered one to the vicar.
Dudley decided he would not counsel Matti to withdraw. Even without Longbourn, Collins had a good income and livings were for life. He would support her in whatever decision she made. “Besides notifying me, I assume you want me to perform the marriage rites?” Dudley surmised.
“After I speak to Sir William on the morrow, I will need a common licence. If this puts you in an awkward position, I will go see Hinkley at St. Alfred’s in Meryton,” Bennet offered.
“I am Matti’s father and I know nothing is being done with an eye to harming her, so, as your pastor, it will be my pleasure to conduct the ceremony and issue a licence when you require it.
” Bennet expected nothing less from Dudley.
He was a jovial man, but one who took his pastoral duties extremely seriously.
“You should know, I issued a common licence today. Collins will marry Matti, if it still her choice, on Friday before they depart for his home.”
Bennet said nothing; he had heard something of this from Collins but took it with a grain of salt until his friend confirmed the news.
He knew that, unlike Collins, Dudley would never repeat anything told to him in confidence by a parishioner.
Bennet would not go into Collins' deficits unless and until Dudley asked him a direct question on the subject. Thankfully, his friend asked nothing.
Not long after, the two men returned to the drawing room, the Dudleys departed, thankfully taking Collins with them. “Should we not warn the Dudleys?” Elizabeth asked.
“No, Lizzy. I decided that unless asked direct questions about Collins, we will not interfere,” Bennet stated unequivocally.
“Understood, Papa,” Elizabeth returned as her sisters nodded. Bennet would make sure his two youngest were informed that no further comments were to be made about their cousin.