Chapter Twenty-Six
A s had been promised, Elizabeth saw Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her daughter at church on the following morning. It amused her that whilst she looked with interest about the pews as they filled, an equal number of curious glances were being cast her way. It seemed that Kent did not differ so much from Hertfordshire in that respect. Newcomers must be examined and the conclusions drawn then discussed at length in the various parlours around about .
She leant a little nearer her friend beside her and whispered with a smile, “Did the congregation stare at you so when you arrived, Charlotte?”
Looking quickly to the door and then in her husband's direction before she answered, Mrs. Collins responded softly, “There is a natural desire to observe something new, Lizzy. Now hush, my dear, Lady Catherine is coming in.”
Privately, Elizabeth found it ridiculous to set so much store by one member of the congregation entering, but did not say so. Instead, she watched as two heavily veiled figures made their way up the aisle to the screened box that belonged to the de Bourgh family. Behind the shorter of the two figures — Miss de Bourgh, Lizzy supposed — was an older woman wearing a fretful expression and a lower-quality bonnet .
Her inquiring look to Charlotte proved unfortunately fruitless for Mrs. Collins was engaged in dipping a curtsey as Her Ladyship passed. Lizzy bit her lip .
She was obliged to continue to hold her tongue for the rest of the time in the church, for Mr. Collins's sermon, although sounding eloquent and impressive with his fervour and range of vocabulary, referenced very few passages of scripture, and indeed, seemed rather more focused upon impressing the common masses with the need for gratitude in the face of poverty. Particular and significant attention was given to respect for one's superiors and Elizabeth wondered if the congregation paid much heed to more than one word in ten .
Mr. Collins concluded his discourse with a raised hand and an impassioned declaration that death would find each one present quite unexpectedly and therefore it would be better to heed his words now rather than come to regret it later. He seemed to find this conclusion pleasing to his ears for he repeated it twice and upon the third saying, Lizzy struggled to keep her countenance as he bowed apologetically towards the de Bourgh box as though to suggest they might be exempt from soon-coming fatality.
It was a relief to step out into the churchyard and meet a few of the local populace. One or two of them Charlotte had introduced the day before, and Elizabeth was happily engaged in conversation with Mrs. Patterson when Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh proceeded down the path .
Lady Catherine, flanked by a half-bowing Mr. Collins, paused and addressed her rector. “Mr. Collins,” said she in deep, authoritarian tones, “this young lady was seated beside your wife, I believe. I am to assume that she is the same cousin that Mrs. Collins spoke of coming from London.”
Mr. Collins’s bow became fully fledged for no reason whatsoever, and he marvelled at Her Ladyship's ability to notice even the smallest detail .
“You may introduce us, Mr. Collins,” Lady Catherine commanded .
This might have been done more efficiently, but eventually Mr. Collins succeeded in performing his allotted task .
Lady Catherine barely waited for him to finish before speaking again. “You are welcome to Kent, Miss Bennet.”
Never one to be overawed, Elizabeth made a pretty curtsy. “It is a pleasure to be here for the first time, ma'am — and most especially to see my friend, Mrs. Collins, once again. ”
“You have come directly from London, I understand, Miss Bennet. My brother the Earl of Matlock recently held a ball there — perhaps you read about it in the papers.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship,” replied Lizzy calmly. “I had the privilege of attending. It was quite the sizeable event.”
“Did you indeed, Miss Bennet? I had not known you were acquainted with my family.”
“Only slightly with the earl and countess, Lady Catherine. I was introduced to Mr. Darcy during the autumn. His friend is to wed my eldest sister.”
Staring at the young woman with a fixed gaze, Lady Catherine appeared to determine that the girl required further puzzling out .
“You must bring Miss Bennet to dinner on Tuesday, Mr. Collins. We will speak more then. Good day, Mrs. Patterson. Good day, Miss Bennet. Should you feel the desire to wander in my park, you need not hesitate."
She then made her stately way, with her daughter and the unknown companion, down the churchyard path to where her carriage awaited, occasionally nodding to those she deemed worthy.
Elizabeth considered the exchange as Mr. Collins prattled at length on the subject of the immense grace and condescension of his patroness.
Tactfully, Lizzy remarked that she would indeed enjoy wandering around the park when the weather was fine enough to walk .
Once Mr. Collins had completed his duties and Mrs. Collins had spoken properly to those who had attended, the three of them made their way on foot, passing the pillars that marked the entrance to Rosings before stepping through the gate that led to the parsonage .
“I suppose Her Ladyship does not care to walk herself,” Elizabeth said to Charlotte as they went upstairs to remove their bonnets, “as her carriage was used for such a short journey. Does she suffer from ill health?”
“Not at all, Lizzy. Lady Catherine often remarks that she enjoys excellent health — it is Miss de Bourgh who is very delicate.”
“Is she indeed? I did not speak to her today. Who was the older lady with them?”
“Mrs. Jenkinson — a very good family but her branch of it is in sadly straitened circumstances, from what I gather. Lady Catherine engaged her as Miss de Bourgh's companion when the governess was released. She is a well-mannered lady — she occasionally comes to this house when a message must be delivered. Miss de Bourgh speaks but little.”
Elizabeth wrinkled her brow. “I feel that I have met a family of Jenkinsons when I was in town. Perhaps they attended an event at the same time as Jane and I.” She shook her head. “It is no matter — I daresay there is no relation. How soon shall I present myself downstairs, my dear? I offer myself as a willing helper to you.”
“Come down in ten minutes, Lizzy, and by then I shall have nothing for you to do but sit at the table and wait for Mr. Collins to carve for us. I had a nice piece of beef from the butcher's in your honour and I daresay even your mother would think I had chosen it well.”
Elizabeth laughed and went into her room. She pondered the strangeness of the morning. The notice she had received from Lady Catherine had not seemed extraordinary to her, but, judging from Mrs. Patterson's expression and Mr. Collins's pleasure, she had been singled out. It quite remained to be seen whether that distinction was to be a pleasant experience for her, but there was little she could do about it now. It seemed that Mr. Darcy's aunt desired to honour her with a little civility.
Quitting her reverie with a slight shrug, Lizzy made her way down to the dining room. Mrs. Collins set a good table and with her husband too occupied with his repast to talk, the two friends were well able to enjoy themselves.
The dining room at the parsonage was, naturally, a far humbler room than the one they made their way into on the following Tuesday. There, gilt-framed portraits and mirrors decorated the burgundy wallpaper, and the proportions of the room were designed to impress. Elizabeth, walking in alone on account of too few gentlemen present, recalled Colonel Fitzwilliam's tale of the Chinese wallpaper and repressed a smile.
It was the second smile she had needed to conceal that evening, for when they had retired upstairs to dress, both Mr. Collins and his wife had taken pains to assure Elizabeth that she must not be troubled if her gowns seemed shabby in comparison to those they would see at Rosings. Lady Catherine, it transpired, did not object to her lessers properly submitting to the disparity of rank between them. Miss Elizabeth could, said Mr. Collins sonorously, wear whatever she had brought along that was her best and be well satisfied by that.
Elizabeth, a spirit of mischief overtaking her, had nodded soberly and disappeared behind the door of her bedchamber. She had originally intended to wear a simple muslin gown that she knew suited her, but her cousin's words prompted her to take out one of the white silk gowns that she had worn in town .
Charlotte's brows had risen at the sight of her friend descending the stairs later and Mr. Collins had well nigh gaped .
Mildly, Lizzy had addressed the two of them. “I apologise if I have kept you both waiting. I followed your instructions, sir, and have bedecked myself in the best gown that I have with me. I do trust it will not look too shabby.”
After their arrival at Rosings, a quarter of an hour had been spent in the salon before going in to dine. Their hostess had somewhat monopolised the conversation and seemed to require very little contribution unless she had specific questions she desired an answer to .
Miss de Bourgh said very little other than to agree with her mother and to confirm all that the great lady said. She occasionally tilted her head in consideration of what her response ought to be before deciding upon “Yes, Mama,” or a single tipping of her chin that might have been a nod.
“Did I tell you, Mrs. Collins, that two of my nephews are to visit very shortly? They are most eager to come to Rosings again, for we do not usually have their company until March at the earliest. Darcy in particular is a most attentive nephew. I think,” she said, fixing her gaze upon Elizabeth, “that you claimed an acquaintance with Mr. Darcy, Miss Bennet? I am by no means pleased by it for I do like to make introductions myself, but it is not to be helped. I suppose that you also met the younger of my brother's sons in town while you were there?”
Lizzy was on the cusp of denying that Mr. Darcy and she had anything that might be termed an acquaintance, but then she recalled that he was coming to Rosings to follow her and checked herself. “Mr. Darcy introduced the colonel to me at the ball, Your Ladyship. I understand he recently returned to England. He appeared to be in good health.”
“Of course he was in good health, Miss Bennet — no nephew of mine is ever not, you know. We of Fitzwilliam stock have excellent constitutions.”
Lizzy glanced at Anne de Bourgh who seemed to recoil a little further into the seat. “How fortunate you are then, Your Ladyship. I always think it a fine thing to be ill only rarely — the earl also, I seem to recall, possesses a healthy constitution. Mrs. Houghton remarked upon it once, I believe. You are indeed happy in your lineage.”
“Mrs. Houghton?” Lady Catherine's tone was coloured by surprise. “It seems, Mrs. Collins, that your friend is excellently connected. But perhaps, the acquaintance there is only a trifling acquaintance, Miss Bennet?”
Lizzy considered this. “I hope I would not claim more than there is, Lady Catherine. I can only speak for myself and state that I like Mrs. Houghton enormously. She was most kind to my sister and me when we were in town and has instructed me to write to her. I believe she was interested in my impressions of Kent, it being my first foray into this county.” She smiled then. “I must naturally report that I like it very much thus far.”
Lady Catherine nodded, as though this were her due. “Do pass on my greetings to Mrs. Houghton, Miss Bennet. I believe we were widowed at much the same time.”
At dinner, which was admittedly very good indeed, Lady Catherine once again dominated the conversation as she instructed her guests to try a little of this dish or that. She was equally commanding over which dishes they ought not to touch.
“You had better avoid the duck, Mrs. Collins. I believe that duck does not suit a newly married lady — it is far too tender a meat. You had much better keep to the beef or the chicken. The chicken here, Miss Bennet, is dressed in a sauce known only to my chef. I do not think you will have had the equal of it, even in town.”
“Indeed, Lady Catherine, the chicken is most acceptable. What a pity it is that Mrs. Collins may not try the duck, however.”
“You will know now, Miss Bennet, that when you marry, you must also avoid duck for at least the first few years.”
Elizabeth laughed lightly. “An excellent reason not to marry. I thank you, Your Ladyship.”
A stillness descended upon the table. Miss de Bourgh, to Elizabeth's right, laid down her silver fork very carefully and turned her head to regard Miss Bennet.
It was, naturally, Lady Catherine who broke the silence. “Not marry! Miss Bennet, what can have possessed you to say something so shocking? You need not be modest, you know, for you are a well-enough looking young lady, and by no means without friends, it seems. Your fortune may be only moderate but that is no cause for you to suppose that you will remain a spinster all your days. No, I will not have it — I applaud the fact that you do not assume that every young man must offer for you, but there is no need, in my view, for your statement to go so far. There will be somebody,” she said airily, “who will overlook your small portion and make you a wife.”
Lizzy carefully cut a small slice of the duck breast and looked up after she had completed her task. “I am grateful for the encouragement, madam, but what inducement is there for me to become a wife? My portion is not large, I suppose, but it is sufficient that I need not wed for fear of starvation, and neither do I lack company, given the friends you have noted I have.” She speared the morsel with her fork. “No indeed, there can be nothing a young man might offer me that could atone for my having to avoid this delightful dish for so long a period.”
Lady Catherine de Bourgh's expression conveyed her astonishment that a young lady should speak in such a way. Her Ladyship looked down to her own food and took a mouthful, perhaps considering her sally. Mrs. Collins looked quizzically at her friend and laid a hand upon her husband's arm. He appeared both mortified and scandalised. It was possible, Elizabeth thought, that he recalled his inability to tempt her into wedlock. Mrs. Jenkinson's countenance was guarded. She carefully watched her employer even as she cast nervous glances to Miss de Bourgh's plate .
Miss de Bourgh did not appear to regard her plate. Elizabeth was close enough to notice that her eyes had widened and that her breath seemed to have hitched with excitement. Anne de Bourgh, it appeared, was quite caught by the wonder of a new idea .