Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Elizabeth went out early Monday morning. She walked out early each day, and Darcy usually met her somewhere along her walk. It had become a game to both of them to see when and where he would find her, for she walked in different directions every time, but she was never disappointed.
When he found her, she would give his horse the core of the apple or pear she enjoyed as she walked, then the two would stroll the lanes or the coast before he escorted her back to the Bennets’ cottage.
Today, Charlotte wished to attend the warm salt-baths in the morning, but it was Mary’s turn to accompany her.
Elizabeth would do something with her two youngest sisters after breakfast, then walk to Nethercourt House to read to Lady Barry.
Or perhaps they would only giggle mischievously about the events of the previous Saturday.
Then Darcy and Georgiana would pick her up in their carriage, and they would visit the confectioners.
Perhaps they might walk back along the promenade, or visit other shops.
They were planning a journey farther afield soon, perhaps to Margate or one of the other small nearby seaside resorts.
Elizabeth did not see the Darcys outside of church the day before. Mr Bennet preferred the family to remain home quietly together, and they never issued or accepted invitations to dine after church on Sunday.
Elizabeth finally recognised the pattern Darcy's family followed in support of his pursuit of her. It had begun with the invitation for a daily confectionery adventure with Georgiana. That had assured Darcy’s ability to spend time with her each afternoon.
Then in the evening, Priscilla was his accomplice in finding her and remaining in her company in the assembly rooms.
His family is certainly devoted to helping him keep me in his sights, Elizabeth mused as she walked near the coast, relishing the brisk air. Suddenly, a man in a clergyman's garb stepped into her path. She stopped short.
The man stood before her with an obvious air of self-importance. She recognised him as the man who accompanied Lady Catherine the night she arrived at Darcy Cottage. Darcy had told the butler not to admit him again, she recalled.
Mr Bennet had regaled them all with the tale of the visit which Mr Collins paid him.
The pompous little man listed his expectations that Mr Bennet would declare his own son illegitimate to make way for him, and promise him the hand of the daughter that his patroness deemed appropriate.
All of this was expected in lieu of the distress and inconvenience Mr Collins had experienced since the birth of Lucas.
Mr Bennet had laughed at him and thrown him out, refusing to consider the matter further. Charlotte was outraged by the man’s claim regarding her son and had taken great pains not to insult Lady Catherine intentionally at the theatre on Saturday night.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, I presume.” Mr Collins appeared extremely pleased with himself.
“I believe you must be Mr Collins, sir. I saw you arrive in Ramsgate with Lady Catherine, but we have not been introduced, so you must permit me to continue undisturbed.” Elizabeth stepped to the side to pass him, but he blocked her path.
“I assure you, Miss Elizabeth, that ordinary civilities may be dispensed with, for I am a representative of the church, and my business is sanctioned by Lady Catherine de Bourgh herself.”
“That does not excuse either of us from the expectations of society, sir. You will let me pass, and if you wish for an introduction to me, you will approach my father.” Elizabeth folded her arms stubbornly and glared at the man. “Your behaviour is presumptuous and beneath the office you hold.”
“You should be kinder to me, Miss Elizabeth. I come in the spirit of noble generosity.” He bowed in self-importance.
“You may keep your generosity, sir. It is of no use to me.” She nimbly attempted to pass again, but he was faster and more determined than he appeared.
“Miss Elizabeth, you are short of sight. Allow me to explain your circumstances to you,” he said.
“The legitimacy of your brother is shortly to be investigated and revealed to be fraudulent. The dowries that are rumoured to be settled upon yourself and your sisters are obviously from investments made with funds stolen from Longbourn, which will one day be rightfully mine. I ought to be offered your elder sister, whom I have seen from afar. As the heir, I should be entitled to the most beautiful daughter, but I will accept the hand that my patroness chose for me.”
“It is impossible for my parents to steal funds from my father’s own estate.
The income is his to do with as he chuses in his lifetime, whether his choice is to spend it upon books, his table, or to settle on his daughters.
But I digress. The matter of Longbourn, its income, and the succession is a matter to discuss with my father, not with me. ”
“You have not had time to consider the privilege that I bestow upon you,” he insisted.
“That is true, but I have no interest in those privileges, so you must bestow them upon someone else, sir.” Elizabeth’s expression was exasperated and not a little apprehensive.
She was bold indeed to speak to a man in such a manner, but she was determined to hear as little of what he had to say as possible.
“Miss Bennet, your refusal to hear me is hasty and disrespectful of me as your better, of the office of the clergy that I hold, and the wishes of my patroness, the esteemed Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
“Perhaps, but that is a risk I am willing to take. If you take one more step towards me, sir, I shall scream loud enough to bring half of Ramsgate down upon you.” Elizabeth warned.
“But that would ruin you and all of your sisters, walking out alone, meeting with a man in secret, being accosted, whether by your own will or that of another. Would you risk such an event?” Mr Collins seemed pleased by the power he perceived that he held over her.
“You seem to have thought of everything, or more likely, your patroness did, but it is a risk I shall take. My sisters and I have ample portions to provide for us in such an event. I would rather see all of us living upon our dowries in comfort, unmarried, than submit to you in any fashion. I am not unprotected, sir. To say that my father will be displeased that you approached me is an understatement.”
She made another attempt to evade him, but his hand shot out, grasping her wrist hard enough that pain shot up her arm.
Elizabeth screamed so loudly that she hurt her own ears, and a flock of herring gulls took flight from a nearby hilltop.
She twisted her arm away and in doing so, caused her own loss of balance.
She fell, slipping upon loose stone and landing on her knee.
Her bonnet fell askew, and as she struggled to rise, she was pulled up by her arm by Mr Collins.
With her other hand, she grasped at anything she could, and her hand fell upon a large rock.
As he pulled her body to his, she hit him as hard as she could with it across his head and face.
Mr Collins, astonished and enraged, bellowed something incoherent and fell upon the ground. Elizabeth prepared to flee before he could gain his bearings, but another sound was heard from nearby.
Male voices; loud, familiar-sounding boots. Officers. The sound of officers was impossible to mistake. There were thousands of them in Ramsgate. One could not go ten yards without encountering them in large groups, marching, training, and going about the business of His Majesty's army.
At least twelve men in uniform crested the nearby hill from where the herring gulls had been disturbed.
They approached, rapidly, and with obvious intent.
The two who reached them first took in the scene.
Elizabeth, bonnet lost and blowing away, her gown scuffed with dirt from falling on her knee.
Her hair in disorder, her gloves ruined, gripping the rock in her hand, and out of breath. Her eyes were wild with terror.
A junior officer was sent to chase Elizabeth’s bonnet while two other officers dragged Mr Collins to his feet.
“Explain yourself, sir!”
“She…she…struck me!” Mr Collins cried. “That vile, pernicious vixen, she hit me! All I wanted was to speak to her!”
“Looks like he wanted more than talking!” an officer called out.
“My conversation never left any woman so badly used!” shouted another.
“Did the innocent, sweet lady who never bothered a soul injure your dignity, sir?” a third jeered from the back, to the taunts and laughter of several others.
A captain pushed his way to the front. “I agree with the lieutenant. This lady is known to us. We see her often, walking in the early mornings when we are out on manoeuvres. She never disturbs anyone. Is she likely to have just attacked an innocent man for no reason?”
Angry voices and shouts of dissent rippled through the group as the private ran back to them, out of breath.
“Your bonnet, miss. It’s in a fearful state.”
“I am a clergyman!” Mr Collins cried indignantly to the jeers of the men.
“Congratulations.” The captain replied. “What has that to do with your obvious disturbance of this gentlewoman?”
“I am not to be disobeyed by the likes of this she-devil!” Mr Collins shouted in anger. “My business with this woman is sanctified by my patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh!”
“And that, sir, is the least compelling argument you could make for accosting a lady.” The captain’s face was grim with anger.
“Tarlton! Sanford! Take him to camp and throw him in lock-up! Colonel Holton and the magistrate can deal with him! Walmsley, you will accompany us to Miss Bennet’s home.
The rest of you are dismissed to camp. Not to the pubs, mind you! You know the colonel’s orders.”