Chapter Twenty-Three
Charles, you have spent a good many days visiting Miss Bennet.”
“I have, Louisa, yes. What of it?”
“Well, what stops you from offering for Miss Bennet? It seems clear to everyone that you intend to do so.”
He hesitated.
“Go on. I shall keep your confidences.”
“I do not know.” He bit his lip as he spoke. “She speaks warmly, she invites me to sit beside her, but…I do not know. It seems that something is missing. I suspect that she does not truly harbor any affection for me.”
Mrs. Hurst shrugged. “She would accept you in any case.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Have you not seen the condition of the house? The furniture is worn, the wallpaper torn, the rugs frayed. And I have it on good authority that the estate is entailed.”
“Entailed?” He scoffed. “What good authority is this? The kitchen maid, I suppose?”
“Actually, no. My source is Lady Lucas, who visited here yesterday. The cook confirmed it. Evidently, it is common knowledge that Longbourn is entailed to the male line, and the heir is the cousin who is now visiting.”
“Mr. Collins is the heir to Longbourn?” Mr. Bingley looked as if he was having some difficulty understanding the situation.
“Precisely. And it is also common knowledge that the Bennet daughters have almost no dowries. The eldest is in London even now, hoping to find a husband. None of the daughters have dowries.”
Mr. Bingley opened his mouth and then closed it again. “I do not need my wife to have a dowry,” he managed. “But I do need her to have some affection for me.”