CHAPTER FOUR #3
Mrs. Trenwith had Lizzy enraptured with her descriptions of the varied and dissimilar landscapes, the strange smells, the flavourful and sometimes revolting foods, the dramatic colours, the eccentric and at times scandalous clothing, the fascinating customs, and remarkable people.
Lizzy did not mark the time till the miniature clock tower on the fireplace mantel struck the hour.
Lizzy gasped. “Oh my! I am to dine at Rosings tonight!”
“With the Lady Catherine de Bourgh?”
Lizzy nodded, calculating that she would be hard pressed to walk the length back to the Parsonage and be dressed in time to stroll the half mile to Rosings.
“My chaise is at your disposal, and I will brook no protest. I feel responsible for your lost time, having insisted upon your company and then regaling you with descriptions of my travels.”
“If you bear any culpability, it is only because you have been exceedingly kind and allowed my fascination of your travels to encourage the tête-à-tête. I accept your offer as I am certain to be tardy without the convenience of a horse and wheels.”
Mrs. Trenwith rose and rang once more for a servant. “I have both a carriage and the curricle. You seemed to enjoy the ride in the latter.”
“I did.”
“I would drive you myself, but…you will have an easier ride with my man Lee.”
Lizzy wondered at the pause and what Mrs. Trenwith had intended to say. She replied, “Your skills with the ribbons seem more than adequate, Mrs. Trenwith—Abby.”
“I like driving myself whenever possible. It seems a waste of effort for someone to drive me so that I can have the luxury of boredom while I sit.”
Impressed by Mrs. Trenwith’s show of independence, Lizzy was sure she could have stayed hours at tea with the woman.
“It has been a delight meeting you, Miss Elizabeth,” Mrs. Trenwith said as she walked Lizzy out. “If you are to be in Hunsford for some time, you are welcome to pay me a visit anytime. Indeed, I hope you will.”
Lizzy secured her bonnet. “Thank you for your hospitality. My fall, it would seem, has turned into a fortunate incident.”
“I hope the sentiment to remain.”
The statement struck Lizzy a little odd, but Mrs. Trenwith had turned from her to stroke one of the horses.
The ride back to the Parsonage passed almost too quickly, for Lizzy had much to reflect upon her new acquaintance. After arriving, however, she better understood what Abby might have meant by her cryptic words.
Mr. Collins had been standing in the front of the house engaged in his frequent pastime of watching the road.
“Miss Elizabeth, this is a surprise,” he noted of her transportation and the slender Chinese driver.
“I took a long walk and had a fall upon some rocks at the end of it,” Lizzy explained as Lee assisted her from the curricle.
Instead of being impressed by the vehicle, Mr. Collins eyed the whole of it with a certain amount of vexation. “I do not recognize this chaise and did not think Lady Catherine to possess a curricle.”
Lizzy thanked Lee, who tipped his hat before taking the ribbons. She turned to Mr. Collins. “Perhaps because it belongs to Mrs. Abigail Trenwith. She happened by me after I had fallen. It was quite the lucky coincidence. She is a most interesting and cordial person.”
The distress increased upon her cousin’s features. When the curricle had left the Parsonage, he said hastily, “That may be, upon first impression, but there is more to Mrs. Trenwith than meets the eye.”
This only served to intrigue Lizzy more. “Do you mean to warn me against her?”
“I have not heard Lady Catherine speak well of her, and Lady Catherine is most discerning. Her assessment of a person has never been wrong. Indeed, she can ferret the true worth of an individual within minutes of meeting them, no matter how obliging or honest they may appear. I do not think she would approve of any association with Mrs. Trenwith.”
Mr. Collins did not know it, but the disdain of Lady Catherine only improved Mrs. Trenwith in Lizzy’s eyes. “And what qualities or activities of Mrs. Trenwith fail to meet the approval of Lady Catherine?”
When Mr. Collins could only respond by looking further vexed, Lizzy determined she would indeed attempt to pay another visit to Mrs. Trenwith. Lady Catherine was as proud and impertinent as her nephew, Darcy, and Lizzy placed little stock in what her ladyship thought.
“I know not the particulars,” Mr. Collins said at last, “but know that you may utilize Lady Catherine’s sound and learned intelligence without fear. Indeed, Lady Catherine would be greatly satisfied that her opinions were adopted by others to good effect.”
I am sure she would, Lizzy said to herself as she turned from the road. Aloud, she said, “Nonetheless, I prefer to render mine own judgment and not shirk from the labor of it.”
He followed her inside the house, still vexed. “You do not mean to see her again? She lives on the far side of the parish—fortunately.”
Lizzy toyed with the idea of teasing her cousin with the notion, but as she anticipated a long evening at Rosings, she wanted only to go to her chamber for some peace and quiet.
“I will take what you have told me under advisement.”
Mr. Collins looked relieved for the moment, then brightened. “The topic had so disturbed me that I nearly forgot to report that Mr. Darcy is expected at Rosings.”