Chapter 16 The Harvest Home Festival
Elizabeth was shown into the foyer of the parsonage.
“Lizzy!”
Mary threw herself into her sister's arms.
“Mary, I am sorry I did not come sooner, but Miss de Bourgh keeps me close. How do you go on?”
“Allow me to fetch my wrap, and we shall walk out together.”
“I am doing well. Mr. Collins remains much occupied with his parishioners, and when he is at home, he spends most of his time in his study writing sermons, or in the garden.”
“I am surprised he has taken so readily to the garden. I do not believe he knew anything of plants or their care before Papa suggested it.”
“He has acquired a taste for Mamma’s sauces, which require fresh herbs. Whole days pass in which we scarcely speak. I find myself quite contented with my situation.”
“Yet, you appear dispirited, sister. What troubles you?”
“Lizzy, he frets that I have not yet conceived. He fears he will have no heir.”
“That need not concern us now, Mary. Did not Papa and Uncle Phillips conclude the entail?”
“Yes, the documents are signed, and Uncle Phillips saw everything properly settled, but Mr. Collins does not wish Longbourn to pass to my future husband, should I remarry.”
“I do not understand. He will have gone to his reward and will know nothing of it.”
“Lizzy, once a worry takes hold of him, he cannot be rid of it. He frets, and then I fret, and I have no peace.”
“So, you have exchanged Mamma for Mr. Collins.”
“Yes. Lizzy, there is another matter that causes him great anxiety.” Mary lowered her eyes and wrung her hands.
“He fears that I shall commit a gaffe and bring dishonor upon his house?”
“Yes.”
“He has rung a peal over your head because of me, has he not? Not for some fault already committed, but for some imagined impropriety yet to occur.”
“Yes. He raises it every evening at dinner, and it has grown so severe that I cannot eat, and it robs me of sleep.”
“Shall I request that Lady Catherine release me? If I come back to you, it may lessen his fears.”
“No, you must stay until she chooses to release you. Mr. Collins would not, under any circumstance, deprive her of your society if she desires it.”
“Very well, sister. I shall remain. It comforts me that you are well, and we shall hope for the best. From what I have gleaned in conversations between Mamma and Lady Lucas, a woman may experience signs of being expectant very early, as soon as four weeks after she has missed her courses.”
“What signs, Lizzy?”
“I do not know much, but Lady Lucas said a tenant’s daughter suffered from tender breasts and excessive fatigue within a month of running away with the butcher’s son. Have you missed your courses?”
“No, not yet.”
She pressed her sister’s hand. “You know, my dear, when you are with child, you may insist upon taking your dinner on a tray in your room, owing to your delicate condition. That would spare you at least one daily sermon on my account.”
Mary laughed. “Perhaps I shall take a tray this evening. If I am not already increasing, I am more likely to fall with child if he would show some compassion for my poor nerves.”
Elizabeth sat at her dressing table later that morning, arranging her hair, when there came a tap at the door. “Come in.”
Georgiana entered in high spirits, with Miss Anne close behind. She approached the dresser, took up two bottles of scent, and applied a little of each to her wrists. “Lizzy, I have never owned a scent.”
“Whyever not?”
“My mother forbids it. She declares it suitable only for wantons.”
Elizabeth lifted a shawl from her dresser. “Wantons? Shall we earn a reprimand for wearing scent? Will she hold me responsible for leading you astray?”
Miss de Bourgh laughed. “No, indeed. She rose with a headache, and Richard persuaded her to remain at home. If she recovers, she may join us in time for supper.”
“I am glad of it. I have a great fear of committing some error and causing difficulty for my brother-in-law and my sister.”
“Lizzy, you place too much weight upon my mother’s disapproval. I would never permit my mother to injure the rector’s income. We must go. Fitzwilliam has sent for us. The carriage stands at the front entrance, and their mounts stand ready.”
Seated in the carriage, Miss Anne fixed Elizabeth with glowing eyes. “Richard has not asked me to dance with him yet, but I am determined to ask him myself.”
“Is that not very forward, Cousin Anne?”
“It is indeed forward, my dear Georgie, and not at all the thing. Our situation, however, is of a peculiar kind. My cousin earns his living and must therefore marry with some attention to money, yet a man in his position cannot aspire to an heiress of large fortune and a grand estate. He knows, too, of my mother’s expectations.
She is resolved that your brother shall be my husband, which stands as a barrier to Richard.
He would not place himself in Fitzwilliam’s path.
For all these reasons, I must give him some encouragement, and I shall begin this very day by asking him to dance. ”
“He likes you very well, Annie. I expect he will ask you to dance without your intervention. He is neither backward nor shy,” Elizabeth said.
“Very true, Lizzy. But I shall not risk losing him, for want of encouragement.”
“Cousin Anne, you have only been in company with Richard for a few days. How can you already wish to marry him?”
“You are mistaken, my dear. I have known Richard since we were children. I was about five when I first played with my cousins. By twelve, they took me riding. Philip was much older and took little notice of me, but Richard always looked to my safety, and I remember thinking even then that I wished to marry him one day. The four of us spent hours together, fishing the creeks, and Richard taught me to handle a pistol while the others practiced at targets.” She brushed away a tear. “Those were happy years.”
Elizabeth asked, “What happened? When did they cease their visits?”
“My father took a chill that settled in his lungs, and he died within a fortnight. The physician called it pneumonia. After that, my mother would not permit me outdoors. No more riding, fishing, or shooting. Around that time, my cousins stopped coming. They went away to Harrow, then to university, and afterward to the Continent. Richard has been absent for several years, serving in the Peninsular War. But now he is here. I love him, and I wish to marry him. I only hope he wishes the same.”
“I do not understand why he would not wish it, Cousin Anne. You are beautiful, your gown flatters your lovely figure, and your hair shines like gold in the sun. You remind me of a fairy princess.”
Elizabeth added, amused, “You do look like a princess, Annie, and you are wealthy. What more could a man require?”
“Permission,” Anne said plainly.
When they arrived at Lord Barlow’s estate, the ladies fell silent as the carriage entered a broad drive.
To Elizabeth, the grand house seemed more like a mansion than a manor.
The carriage passed beyond it and continued for some distance until they reached the barn.
The green and the surrounding woods were filled with activity.
Open spits turned with roasting pig and oxen, and stalls for food and crafts lined one side of the field.
The carriage drew to a halt, and Richard came at once to the door and handed the ladies down.
“We have arrived in time to observe the Harvest Maiden procession.” He offered his arm to his cousin and led her, with Darcy following with Elizabeth and Georgiana.
They found a place among the tenant farmers and their families.
Children played and laughed along the lane while the young reapers from the surrounding farms marched in procession.
Many of the sheaves were adorned with ribbons and flowers or woven into intricate patterns.
The young men passed, bearing the sheaves and calling out, “We have it! We have it! We have it!”
“What have you?” came the reply.
“The Neck! The Neck! The Neck!”
All about her, voices rose in song and laughter, and some even danced. Elizabeth joined in the chant. As the reapers moved on, the crowd followed until all were gathered in and around the barn.
Mr. Darcy kept her close at his side as he guided the two ladies through the crowd. She lifted her gaze and found his fixed upon her. She smiled, and he returned it. He appeared pleased.
Darcy secured chairs for Elizabeth and Georgiana before serving their plates. Miss Anne joined them in high spirits. “Richard is quite a wit. He can offer an amusing remark about everyone and everything he observes.”
“What has amused you, Anne?”
“My cousin observed that, had my mother been present, she would have stared the children out of countenance and sent the farmers’ daughters packing.”
“Is my aunt so severe?”
“She is, when she believes people behave improperly or attempt to gain an advantage with one of her nephews.”
“Was someone making eyes at Richard?”
“Yes. She was flirting with him, and she was not alone. Many of the women were. He is a very handsome man, is he not?”
Georgiana and Elizabeth both agreed.
Elizabeth lifted her gaze in search of Mr. Darcy. He approached, carrying a plate in each hand.
“Here you are, Miss Bennet. Georgiana. May I bring you something to drink?”
“No, sir. Pray serve yourself. I shall take something later, perhaps when the dancing begins.”
His eyes rested upon hers with an intensity she could not dismiss. They held warmth, and a quiet thrill stirred within her, and she could not help herself. She smiled at him again.
“Miss Bennet, may I have your first dance?”
Her smile deepened. “Yes, sir, with pleasure.”
Richard returned with two plates. Darcy said, “Pray begin. Do not wait on me. I shall return with my own.”
They began to eat, and Georgiana, eager to assist her cousin, said, “Richard, have you secured a partner for the first dance, or has my brother anticipated you?”
“Indeed, my dear, the first dance has been claimed by that young farmer’s daughter in the blue gown, standing there.”