Chapter Twenty-Five
T he journey was tedious, as journeys of any particular length must be. The majority of Elizabeth's morning was spent alone in the carriage with only her thoughts to occupy her. The novel she had brought with her was quickly tossed aside for lack of concentration. The manservant her uncle had sent sat beside the driver on the box. The weather was decidedly grey, with the sort of damp air that intensified the cold .
The murky conditions made the new coat and bonnet Lizzy had purchased in town feel almost garish when she stepped out onto the foggy courtyard of the first posting inn. She felt desperate for the distraction of fresh air, even for twenty minutes, if it prevented her from thinking endlessly about Mr. Darcy of Pemberley. She had seen him only once more in London before she had left, and had felt quite unaccountably shy in the face of what had not quite been said at the ball.
Slow to reconsider her impressions Elizabeth might be, but when faced with Jane's concise summary of his regard for her, she was not fool enough to remain obstinate in her opinion that he hated her. Every interaction, each look was to be reevaluated and scrutinised. It was a pity that the task must be done alone, for upon occasion she found herself arguing with herself and wishing for Jane's good sense and clarity.
There was one particular memory that plagued her: the resolution in his countenance when he had told her on the night of Mrs. Lambeth's soiree that whatever she feared beyond the card room door, he would not permit it to harm her .
A bold claim, she scoffed initially, for how could he possibly protect her from a disaster he could not specify ?
And yet, he had meant it. It had not been mere gallantry — that was obvious with hindsight. If ruination had awaited her in the card room, Elizabeth fully believed that he would have kept his solemn promise to stand between her and it .
That was a thought that made her hang her head and press the heels of her gloved palms to her eyes. At length, she raised her head to examine her gloves .
How much had happened in this year alone! She had an annual income she could not have previously fathomed, and had enjoyed spending some of it already on a few pieces that caught her fancy. The primrose yellow of her new coat and bonnet cheered her on this grey morning and she knew that she looked well in them. As plain Elizabeth Bennet she had never lacked confidence, but as Elizabeth Bennet in possession of a modest competence, she enjoyed the choice of feminine armour she now had at her disposal. That Mr. Darcy might think she looked pretty in so bright a hue was not to be thought of — she had selected the fabric to please herself and no one else .
A straw bonnet had been purchased for Charlotte, with a fine grey velvet ribbon on it that Lizzy felt would bring out the colour of her friend's eyes admirably. It was a well-shaped headpiece and by no means inexpensive. It was an apology of sorts for the unspoken disapproval she had felt for her oldest friend's choice, never mind that Charlotte had not known how strongly Lizzy felt about her engagement. Jane was correct — Charlotte Lucas, Charlotte Collins now, she supposed, must decide for herself what course her life should take. If Mr. Collins was her choice, then who was anybody to decry that ?
Jane, it seemed, was often correct. It was lowering, really, Elizabeth reflected, just how wrong she had been in her opinions, in that judgement on which she had previously so prided herself .
Had she been headstrong and vain? Guilty of prejudice, perhaps? Jane had not said so, of course, but then Jane Bennet would not speak so harshly of anyone. It would have been better to have followed her elder sister's less hasty example .
This led her thoughts, naturally, to her sister. Elizabeth was content in Jane's contentment. Miss Bennet was not of a disposition to dance about the house in celebration, but it was clear that she was very well pleased at the thought of her future .
She would no longer be Miss Bennet of Longbourn but instead would take on a new name — Mrs. Charles Bingley of Netherfield Park. That consideration made Elizabeth happy and glum by turns. She did not regret Jane's engagement but she felt a little strange and empty at the idea of her dearest sister going away. Jane would no longer be nearby at night, ready to welcome a younger sister into her room for a comfortable talk, no longer quietly sitting at her place as they ate. The dining room chair beside Lizzy's would be empty .
There was nothing for it, she decided, after she had wiped away a few stray tears with a well-worn handkerchief, but to distract herself thoroughly whilst in Kent. Mrs. Collins must be watched carefully and her comfort and pleasure reported back to Hertfordshire with accuracy. Mrs. Houghton would be written to, desirous as she was of Miss Lizzy's impressions as she travelled, and whilst she was to be tied to a writing desk of an evening, it would do her much good to pen letters to her younger sisters. She hoped Charlotte would not begrudge the candles .
Supposing Mr. Darcy came, as Jane said he would, he would prove a distraction of an entirely different kind. She briefly allowed herself the thought that she was beginning to understand what he had meant by being unable to concentrate, but she shook her head at herself and swiftly banished it. The scenery behind the layer of grey fog was probably charming and deserved her attention.
This new determination to follow Jane's example led Elizabeth to examine, without prejudice, Charlotte's new home when she arrived. The parsonage was a pretty, stone-built house, with well-tended and surprisingly tasteful gardens. The weather had brightened sufficiently in Kent to allow her to see their extent. Charlotte's home was by no means so large as Longbourn, but neither could it be termed a cottage. It was of a moderate size, and Lizzy could see in Charlotte's pleasure at their greeting that the new Mrs. Collins enjoyed having her own establishment. Whether or not she enjoyed the marriage that came with it remained to be seen.
Mr. Collins, she found, was as he ever was. He could hardly have been expected to improve, nor could her opinion of him. He talked endlessly in long flowing orations as he led her, with his quiet wife, about the house. He pointed out the excellences of each feature found in his home, should she not have noticed them herself, and was evidently disappointed by the measured praise with which she responded. He took it upon himself to make up for her lack of rapture by eulogizing. It made for an interesting tour and more than once did Elizabeth conceal her smile. Eventually she was shown to her bedchamber, in which Elizabeth detected Charlotte's hand. It was a comfortable room to spend three weeks in, and, Lizzy noted as she instantly went to the window, the view was really very lovely.
Mrs. Collins smiled. “I pictured in my mind, Eliza, as I was readying this room for you, that you would first go to the window. I see a few months have not altered your habits.”
“Have they altered yours, Charlotte, or is Mrs. Collins a staid and respectable character who would never run down Oakham Mount with me as she once did?”
Again a smile, this time with barely repressed amusement. “I would remind you that incident occurred only once . ”
“Yes, for you had your fifteenth birthday the week after and declared yourself far too ladylike for my escapades.”
“It was rather that you preceded me to the bottom so undeniably that I decided I had better become more ladylike so as to have an excuse. Come now, Elizabeth, let us be about unpacking — John has already brought your trunk up, as you will observe, and I am eager to open it and see if the rest of your clothes are as charming as your coat and bonnet.”
“You may sit down as I put my things away, my dear, but you shall not wait upon me. At any rate, I have a gift for you that I would like you to open. Jane and my aunt were called upon for their approval and I fancy you will like it very well indeed.” She found the hatbox and presented it to Charlotte, who had sat obediently in the chair beside the window. “Here, I will put away a few gowns and you must see if you cannot untie the knot little Isobel took it upon herself to make — she had thought to practise on my bonnet but happily she was redirected. ”
Elizabeth turned, and quickly opening the trunk, put three of her better gowns away whilst Charlotte's concentration was engaged in her attempt to open the lid of the hatbox. She did not care to flaunt her new things. An exclamation of pleasure informed Lizzy of her friend's success and she paused in her task to watch as Mrs. Collins lifted out the bonnet .
“Eliza! It is a delightful bonnet — and lined so prettily with this grey lace. I think it very fine indeed. I do not think I have seen even Miss de Bourgh wear a more elegant hat, you know.” She hesitated and bit her lip, before smiling again. “I thank you. You must report back to London that I am eager to wear it. I shall use this mirror in here and try it on directly.”
It suited her well, framing her face, and the grey embellishments, as suspected, matching well with her grey eyes. She looked young and pretty and Mrs. Collins admired the effect before removing it and placing it gently back into its box.
“I must wear it with my dark green pelisse when we go for a walk around the village. You must see it all, but perhaps not this afternoon if you are tired.”
“I am rarely too weary to walk. We did not come through Hunsford itself. I should like to see it — the countryside around here is picturesque. Even on so grey a day I can see that.”
“Mr. Collins says that it is at its finest in the spring when the snowdrops come. It has been too cold thus far, but I thought perhaps there might have been some coming up in the more sheltered hedgerows yesterday. Perhaps Kent will bloom before you leave. It is a pity that your visit will be so brief.”
There was something a little wistful in her friend's tone, and Elizabeth frowned briefly before answering with cheer, “Jane has dictated that I must return to be her bridesmaid and I tremble and obey.” Lizzy laughed then. “I have three weeks to assure myself of your wellbeing, and then I am afraid we must be confined to letters again, my dear. ”
“I am very well treated.” Charlotte's response was immediate. “We dine with Her Ladyship every single week and the food is particularly fine. The parishioners are pleasant and mostly well mannered — I shall introduce you when we walk out — and the few shops we have are quite sufficient. When we must find larger shops, there is Westerham that Mr. Collins will take me to in the trap.”
“It sounds ideal.”
“Come now, let me help you finish unpacking and we will go downstairs to my own private parlour to have tea. I have a cook, as you know, and she has a way with a ginger cake that I think you will approve of. ”
If Lizzy feared that Mr. Collins would come into the parlour and make a nuisance of himself with his incessant civilities, she was corrected fairly swiftly as his wife carefully poured the tea.
“Mr. Collins tends to keep to his bookroom on a day such as this. It affords a good view of the road, you see, and sometimes Lady Catherine will drive by, or apparently even Miss de Bourgh with her companion. Not, I think, that Miss de Bourgh will drive out in her phaeton until the weather warms a little.”
“It is cold still. Perhaps when the spring comes.”
“Yes, perhaps,” said Charlotte. “Miss de Bourgh has delicate health and Her Ladyship does not like to see her over-exert herself or become chilled. ”
Unbidden, Elizabeth's thoughts flashed quickly to Mr. Darcy as they had stood alone on the balcony. It had been too cold there for her, he had said, evidently concerned. Had she submitted and let him lead her back inside, would an argument still have ensued ?
Charlotte was still speaking. “And I do hope you did not spend all of your pin money in London, Eliza, for in order to win the favour of the local populace one must purchase at least one item in Mr. Palmer's shop.”
Recollecting herself, Elizabeth shook her head. “I have sufficient left for that, I trust. I suppose I ought to mention to you that we Bennet daughters have come into a little money of our own — it is in trust for those of us who have not attained our majority, of course, but it means we have an increase in our quarterly funds to spend recklessly on ribbons and lace. ”
Charlotte's brows rose. “I am pleased for you, of course. I hope that no one has died in the family — that is the usual way of things when people come into increase.” She was too well mannered to display obvious curiosity.
“No, nothing like that. Our Uncle Gardiner has the charge of it — Jane understands the working out of it all better than I, of course, and it is her money really, but she, being Jane, must make sure that her sisters benefit.”
“Ah,” replied Charlotte, “from your mama's side rather than the Bennet side, I see. Well, my dear, is that not typical of Jane, to share what she has with her sisters? Mr. Bingley will not object, I do not suppose, if his wife shares what is hers. ”
Another laugh sprang from Elizabeth. “At present, he appears to have the makings of an ideal husband, largely inclined to give Jane everything she wants. It is well that she is so good natured, or she might become spoiled — I know I should.”
Charlotte nodded. “I have long thought that a husband who would suit Jane would not suit you at all.”
Blushing, Lizzy shook her head. “I wonder if you are right — do you recommend a husband who would take a firm hand and beat me when I err?”
“Certainly not — that would be the worst fate. Surely no true friend of yours would recommend such a thing.”
“I jest, dear. At any rate, this imaginary husband does not exist.”
“I wonder, Eliza,” Charlotte mused, “if you will one day fall headlong into love with a man and then say yes and amen to every utterance he makes.”
“Charlotte! ”
Her retort was cut short by the tap of fingers on the door, and at Charlotte's word of admittance, the maid entered .
“Mrs. Blake called, ma'am. She asked if you might spare her a moment if you would.”
Charlotte stood. “I will come directly. Ensure that Miss Bennet has sufficient ginger cake, please, Hetty, and then I think we shall step out for a walk once Mrs. Blake has gone, so I will need my new bonnet and green pelisse brought down.”
She quit the room, and the servant looked at Miss Bennet curiously. Lizzy nodded to the tray. “I will not require any more ginger cake. As delicious as it is, I feel some ought to be saved for another day.”
“Very good. Shall I fetch a bonnet and coat for you, Miss Bennet?” Hetty was evidently burning to see what other clothes her mistress's guest might have brought.
She was to be disappointed. “There is no need. I will go up myself once I have finished my tea, and then I suppose you might clear the tray if Mrs. Collins will not want it again.”
It was half an hour later before the ladies stepped out through the garden gate onto the lane. Mr. Collins had tentatively suggested that he might join them, but the idea was cleverly put off by his wife, who mentioned that one of his parishioners might have urgent need of his counsel .
The gentle slopes and well-kept hedgerows were very much to Elizabeth's taste, and her praise of the countryside might have pleased even her cousin, had he been privileged to hear it .
Once away from the house, Charlotte’s demeanour was cheerful. “Yes, I rather thought that the height of the hedgerows might appeal to you in Kent, Lizzy — even you are able to see over the tops of them and there is no concealment from your eyes.”
“I have no shame in my pleasure that I can see into the gardens of all of these pretty cottages on this side of the road — but the high wall prevents me from indulging my penchant for spying on the other. I suppose it is Rosings Park beyond that? Mr. Collins said once that his home was separated only by a lane, if I recall correctly.”
“Yes, almost all of the parkland is marked by that wall — it stretches for many miles. There is one section to the north that you might see over, as it is being repaired, but we will not pass by there today.”
“The wall there is too low for Lady Catherine de Bourgh's taste?”
A reproving glance from Charlotte was her only reply, and Elizabeth ducked her head in apology.
“You will likely see Lady Catherine and her daughter at church tomorrow. She rarely misses the morning service. I think Mr. Collins told me that in his memory there is only one occasion in which she was absent.”
“Is she a handsome woman? Will I admire her countenance?”
“She wears a veil to church, Elizabeth, but I understand she is widely held to be a striking woman. Her Ladyship has mentioned that she and her daughter favour the Fitzwilliam line.”
“I attended the Matlock ball while I was in London. It will be interesting to see if there is much resemblance. I met the earl and Colonel Fitzwilliam also. Perhaps Lady Catherine will even put me in mind of Mr. Darcy, though one hopes she does not look so masculine as he.”