Vol 2, Chapter 3 #2
Anne watched as the fight went out of her mother and she seemed to visibly age in front to her. She told Elizabeth, who was holding Georgiana tightly, and Charlotte, that she would return forthwith, then made her way to the study to write to her uncle.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The doctor confirmed what was already obvious to the two cousins, Mr. Collins was deceased.
When asked for his opinion on the cause of death, the doctor opined the clergyman had choked on food which had stopped his ability to breath.
The magistrate was informed of the doctor’s findings, and it was over.
There was no need for an inquest as the probable cause of death was accepted.
Once the two men departed, Richard instructed the butler to have some footmen take the body to the icehouse until they had spoken to his widow about burial arrangements.
It took four footmen to move the heavy body, and then the cousins joined the ladies in the drawing room.
While Darcy went to sit with his sister, Anne, and Miss Elizabeth, Richard sat near Charlotte.
“Did your husband have any family other than the Bennets?” he asked gently.
“Just my family through marriage,” Charlotte answered without any trace of sadness. She was feeling guilty that she felt nothing for the man who had died—only relief. “Richard, do I have to mourn him?” she asked quietly.
“My belief is mourning is a deeply personal ritual, so it would be up to what you feel.” Richard hoped his words helped.
“In that case, I will give him the same length of time we were married. One month full mourning and one month half,” Charlotte decided. “When my mourning is complete, we need to talk, Richard,” Charlotte spoke plainly and Richard nodded, offering a private smile that proved he felt the same.
“Anne, may I use your study? I must send an express to my father,” Charlotte asked.
“Anything you need, Charlotte,” Anne replied.
“I will accompany you Charlotte, I need to write to my father as well,” Elizabeth stated.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Miss Caroline had hardly slept in days. The more she considered her behaviour, she discovered her actions were perceived as wanting by others who she needed to impress.
She looked at the pile of correspondence on her dresser; it was obvious she did not have one true friend.
The realisation was as hard to swallow as was the acknowledgement of others seeing her behaviour as despicable.
Then she started to rethink things, had it been her behaviour, or were others simply jealous of her?
She did not know if any of the recipients would believe her words, or even read her letters, but she had to write to them.
She started with her brother, then one to her sister and brother-in-law.
She wrote both to Mr. Darcy and his sister.
In each of the letters, she laid out the offenses she believed they held against her and begged their pardon for any she had forgotten.
The last letter she wrote was to Jane Bennet.
She apologised seemingly sincerely, laying out her behaviour and acknowledging the wrongs she believed would be held against her.
It grated on her to write to the country miss, but one never knew when she might be of use.
Not being aware that Miss Bennet was in Town, the letter was posted to Longbourn, where it was forwarded to Gardiner House in London with the post on the day it was received at the Bennet estate.
By the time Miss Caroline sought out her Aunt Mathilda and requested an audience, she had already decided she was the one who was wronged.
She only needed those around her to believe she had changed if she were to have a chance to achieve her aims. “Aunt, I have come to see how selfish and damaging my behaviour has been, and I now understand why Charles and Louisa want nothing to do with me. To say I used to behave selfishly is an understatement,” Miss Caroline showed contrition she believed her aunt would want to see.
To say her aunt was surprised would not go far enough.
She was also sceptical but decided to give her niece the benefit of the doubt—for now.
The older Miss Bingley thought mayhap the change was genuine, until her housekeeper delivered the tea service, and her niece thanked the servant politely.
Her aunt noticed that although she said the words, there was a look of distaste her niece did not hide fast enough not to be noticed.
“Caroline, it pleases me vastly that you have started to see your actions through the eyes of those they affected, but I have to ask. Why now, and not last month, or even last year?” her aunt asked pointedly.
“You know how Mama and Papa indulged me before their accident do you not, Aunt?” Miss Caroline repeated what her aunt and others had said over the years.
Her aunt nodded her agreement. “I was always given anything I wanted, even if it were something belonging to Charles or Louisa. I was spoiled and never had any consequences for my own actions or behaviour. I learnt the wrong lessons at the seminary and exploited Charles and Louisa, who I knew liked peace.” Miss Caroline said more of what she believed her aunt wanted to hear.
“Until first being kicked off of Pemberley’s lands, Charles losing his friend, and my living here, I had never had to suffer the consequences of my choices.
This time, no amount of lying or manipulation changed the result.
At first, I blamed everyone else, but I eventually had an epiphany—I am the problem and only I can make the decision to change, to attempt to repair some of the damage I wrought.
I need your help, Aunt,” Miss Caroline asked softly, looking down at her hands.
Inwardly Caroline Bingley thought she had delivered a stellar performance.
“With what, Caroline?” Miss Bingley asked. Initially, she had almost started to believe her niece, wanted to believe her until she saw the calculating look as Caroline glanced down. When added to the look of distaste her niece had directed toward the housekeeper, it was clear this was an act.
“I need to learn to be worthy of the name Bingley again. I care not if Charles, Louisa, or any of the others I wrote to believe me or ever forgive me. I need to learn to forgive myself! Will you help me, Aunt Matti?” Miss Caroline used the name she used to call her aunt before she had started to become the person others found so objectionable.
She would deal with this situation, then show them all how wrong they were.
“Yes Caroline, I will help you.” Miss Bingley pulled Caroline to herself and enfolded her niece in a hug as Miss Caroline decided that tears would make her performance that much more believable. No other method had succeeded in getting her back into society, what had she to lose?
After Caroline returned to her chambers to reflect on her past behaviour, her aunt shook her head slowly. She sadly accepted her niece’s attempt at manipulating so many was indicative of the fact that she was long past redemption.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The courier Anne had dispatched with the expresses to Town and Meryton made his first stop Gardiner House on his way to Grosvenor Square, only to find that, to his luck, two of the recipients were present.
The Fitzwilliams were there with the Bennets, as they often were with the planning of the wedding.
After the betrothal, the Bennet and Fitzwilliam parents had met with Jane and Andrew and informed them of the impending change.
Neither indicted them for not informing them sooner, understanding Jane’s parents wanted to give their children a last little bit of normal life they were used to before the change that would bring about a new normal.
“Cilla, we must leave for Rosings,” Bennet informed his wife. “Is the courier still here?” Bennet asked. The Gardiner’s butler confirmed the man was eating in the kitchens as he was tasked with waiting for any replies.
“Us too, Bennet. we must leave for Rosings as well. My niece needs me to help assert her rights. Why are you needed there?” Lord Matlock asked quizzically.
“My cousin, the one Richard calls a buffoon, has choked on his food and is deceased. I was his only family. I am sending an express to Longbourn with instructions to make one of my travelling coaches available to Sir William Lucas and his family. They are Charlotte’s family,” Bennet clarified.
“I am sure Sir William and Lady Lucas will want to be of comfort to their daughter; it has been but two months since the wedding.”
“I am not sure if this will be a tragedy or a blessing for Charlotte,” Priscilla wondered aloud.
“Jane, will you and Andrew accompany us?” Lady Elaine asked?
Jane looked at Andrew who nodded. “Yes, Mother Elaine, we had already determined to be among the party as I would not leave Charlotte in such a moment as this, and Andrew is pleased to assist his cousin in any way she needs.”
“What say you, Bennet? Shall we depart at first light on the morrow?” Lord Matlock asked. Bennet agreed, and a note was dispatched to Bedford House.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Charlotte and Elizabeth had accepted Anne de Bourgh’s invitation to move to Rosings from the parsonage with little encouragement.
Anne provided maids to assist with the packing of the friends’ trunks and footmen to load them onto a cart.
Charlotte thanked the housekeeper and other two servants for their service for the short duration she was the mistress as she left the parsonage for the final time.
She had no regrets about never seeing the house again.
It represents two wasted months of her life.
Try as she may, she could feel nothing but being grateful she was no longer married to Mr. Collins.
She suspected that Richard’s honour would keep him from approaching her for many months as he did not know how she felt about him, and she was sure that the last thing the dear sweet man wanted to do was feel like he was pressuring her.