Chapter 14 Cast Adrift
August had arrived gentle and fair and now drew toward its close, and with no word from Mr. Collins, the sisters began to fret. Had some misfortune befallen their father's heir? If so, to whom would the estate pass?
The answer came a few days later when Mr. Phillips arrived at Longbourn with a letter in his hand.
Elizabeth and her sisters joined him in the drawing room. Their uncle took his seat and unfolded the letter.
“I have received an answer to the letter I sent Mr. Collins. It was written by his widow. Mr. Collins died in March after a brief illness.”
“In March?” Kitty said. “But you wrote to him in May.”
“Yes. Mrs. Collins opened my letter and answered it herself. Until then, she had no idea her husband was heir to Longbourn.”
Mary leaned forward. “Then who inherits?”
“His son, William. He is five years old.”
Kitty stared at him. “Five?”
“Your father rarely spoke of Mr. Collins, and I never met the gentleman, so I cannot tell you much about him. His widow says he spoke very little of his family.”
Mr. Phillips glanced down at the letter.
“Mrs. Collins was left comfortably situated by her father and has no wish to live at Longbourn. She has consulted her solicitor, however, and intends to lease the estate until her son is old enough to decide whether he wishes to live here. An agent will be appointed to find suitable tenants.”
Kitty’s face lost its color. “Then we must leave.”
“I am afraid so. Her solicitor will contact me about the arrangements. Mrs. Collins appears willing to allow us a reasonable time, but Longbourn now belongs to her son.”
Jane reached for Kitty’s hand.
“We always knew we would have to leave when Mr. Collins inherited,” Mary said.
“Unless he invited us to remain in our home.”
Mr. Phillips folded the letter. “Mrs. Collins must consider her son’s interests. She will not leave a valuable estate standing indefinitely.”
Jane looked around the drawing room. “Where shall we go?”
“Your uncle Gardiner and I have already discussed it. He and your aunt would be pleased to have you and Elizabeth with them in London. Mary and Kitty will come to us.”
Kitty’s eyes filled with tears. “We are to be separated.”
Jane put an arm around her. “Only for a time.”
“We have never been separated.”
Mr. Phillips reached across and took Kitty’s hand. “You will have a home with us for as long as you need one.”
Elizabeth rose and crossed to the window.
Outside, Longbourn looked unchanged. The lawn stretched green beneath the summer sun, and the roses remained in bloom. Beyond the trees lay the fields she had walked since childhood.
Soon strangers would live here.
Had Lydia not run away with Wickham, Papa would still be alive. Mamma would still be mistress of Longbourn.
Elizabeth covered her face and wept.
Jane came to her and put her arms around her.
“Oh, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth clung to her sister as weeks of grief broke free. When she could bear the room no longer, she pulled away and hurried from the house.
She did not stop until she reached Oakham Mount.
There, beneath the open sky, she wept until she had no tears left.
* * *
Elizabeth returned to Longbourn late in the afternoon.
She found Mary and Kitty together in the drawing room.
“Where is Jane?”
“Upstairs,” Mary said. “She has been crying ever since you left.”
“Because of Mr. Bingley.”
Kitty looked down at her hands. “She says she cannot bear to leave him.”
Elizabeth sank into a chair.
“We have lost everything, Lizzy,” Mary said.
“No. We still have one another.”
“For now,” Kitty whispered.
A carriage drew up outside, and Kitty went to the window.
“It is Mr. Bingley.”
Within minutes, Hill showed Mr. Bingley and his sister into the drawing room.
His smile disappeared when he saw them. “Miss Elizabeth, what has happened?”
“We have received word regarding Longbourn, sir. Mr. Collins died in March, but he left a five-year-old son. His widow intends to lease the estate, and we must leave.”
“Leave Longbourn?”
“Yes. Her solicitor will write to Uncle Phillips with the arrangements.”
Caroline came to Elizabeth and took her hand. “Oh, Miss Elizabeth. I am so sorry.”
“Thank you.”
Bingley glanced toward the door. “Where is Miss Bennet?”
“Upstairs. She is very distressed.”
His brow furrowed. “May I see her?”
“I will ask her.”
Elizabeth went upstairs and found Jane sitting on the edge of her bed. Her eyes were red from crying.
“Mr. Bingley is downstairs. He would like to see you.”
Jane looked at her.
“He knows about Longbourn?”
“Yes.”
Jane pressed her handkerchief between her fingers. “I cannot let him see me like this.”
“He is worried about you.”
Jane looked down at the handkerchief, then rose. “Very well. I will see him.”
Elizabeth took her hand and squeezed it before they went downstairs together.
Bingley crossed the drawing room as soon as Jane entered. He stopped before her, his concern plain.
“Miss Bennet.”
Jane managed a small smile. “Mr. Bingley.”
Hill brought in a tea tray.