Chapter 1 #2
He stared at the letter and shook his head. His father knew he had cancer and never told him. Darcy would have stayed with him at Pemberley until the end. The loss of his father was a constant stabbing pain in his heart. How can I manage Pemberley without him?
~~~
1811
Longbourn, Hertfordshire
“I hope, my dear, that you have ordered a good dinner for tomorrow. I have reason to expect an addition to our family party.”
Elizabeth Bennet’s curiosity compelled her to listen more closely after overhearing her father’s comment to Mama at breakfast.
“Who do you mean, sir?” Mama asked.
“A month ago, I received a letter from my distant cousin, a Mr. William Collins. When I am dead, he may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.”
Mama shrieked and gained her daughters’ attention to the conversation. “How horrid to settle our estate away from a family with five daughters in favour of a man whom no one has ever met.”
“Nevertheless, his message expresses his desire to heal the breach between the two families by marrying one of his cousins. He was ordained a year ago and he has been presented with a living in Hunsford, Kent under the patronage of Lady Catherine deBourgh. He goes on and on praising his benefactress without end, and with her approval, we can expect his peace-making arrival tomorrow afternoon.”
Elizabeth tried not to listen to her sisters continue to discuss their cousin’s visit and his desirability as their future husband.
She paid no attention to their conversation since Mr. Collins would never consider her as a wife.
The second Bennet daughter had been born with a large red birthmark on her cheek, and no man would wish to court her.
She did not care about his opinion; she was content living at Longbourn.
Her family loved her and defended her whenever strangers made an offensive comment about her appearance.
~~~
Elizabeth was amused by her youngest sister as she rose from the dinner table that evening.
Lydia puffed out her chest and marched around the table using the deepest voice she could muster.
“I am William Collins, and my patroness is the most remarkable person in the world. Any young woman in the country would be honoured to be my wife. Of course, the lucky lady will have to overlook my stout figure, numerous facial warts, and aversion to bathing!” Her entire family laughed so hard they could not continue their meal.
Elizabeth treasured the conviviality the Bennet family enjoyed.
~~~
Mr. Collins arrived the following day and was welcomed by the Bennet family. He followed them into the sitting room and carefully inspected each of his cousins, as if deciding which one he would take as a wife.
However, when he observed Elizabeth’s birthmark, his eyes bulged, he jumped from his seat, and wordlessly pointed to her face.
Mr. Collins backed up, then shrieked as he scurried away from the house simultaneously running and pointing at Elizabeth behind him.
“That mark. . .that mark is a symbol of evil from G-d. You should have warned me. Keep that wicked woman away from me!”
How could he say such dreadful things? The shock made Elizabeth sob and flee to her bedchamber.
The pain in her heart when accused of being evil was agonizing.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she wrapped her arms around herself and groaned.
People had made disparaging remarks about her face in the past, but this was the worst. Those people had been unkind, but Mr. Collins was cruel.
He was the wicked one, speaking of another person that way.
And he a clergyman! She climbed into her bed, curled herself into a ball and wept.
~~~
The following day
Elizabeth was apprised that when Mr. Collins left Longbourn, he took a room at the Red Fox Inn in Meryton.
What a relief that he was gone! While there, he was offered a warm welcome to the area by Sir William Lucas and invited to dine with the Lucas family that evening.
Sir William told everyone he met that within moments of meeting his eldest daughter, Mr. Collins was heard boasting that Lady Catherine would most heartily be “satisfied with his choice.” Thank goodness that none of her sisters would be the object of Collins’s attention.
But what about Charlotte’s future contentment living with such a ridiculous man?
The bride’s best friend was asked not to attend the wedding, and Elizabeth was relieved to comply.
About a week after the marriage of her friend, Elizabeth entered Longbourn after an early morning walk and found her father sleeping at his desk.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” He did not stir. “You have spent the entire night in your study.” She grabbed his arm and gave it a vigorous shake, only to gasp as it slipped from the desk and hung limply beside his chair.
Copious tears filled her eyes and her heart beat loudly in her chest. Papa, tell me what to do!
I need help. She could not think and poked her head out the study door.
Prompted by the sounds of the housekeeper preparing the dining room for breakfast, she rushed to Mrs. Hill and reported the situation.
When they reached Mr. Bennet’s seemingly lifeless body, Hill placed her hand on his neck and felt for his pulse. “He is alive. Miss Elizabeth, ask one of the stable boys to ride to Meryton and fetch Mr. Jones.”
An hour later, the apothecary opened the door of Mr. Bennet’s chambers and ushered Elizabeth and Jane inside. “Your father has suffered an apoplexy and cannot move; he does not respond to speech or touch. I doubt he will ever regain any of his faculties or that his condition will improve.”
Elizabeth paced the room. “We must do something to help him! Surely he could benefit from some medicine or treatment!”
“I fear no curative is available to aid his recovery. Some people never awaken and die peacefully.” Her heart broke upon the offer of his opinion.
“Others suddenly open their eyes and ask why their loved ones are gathered at their bedside. I always advise families to pray for the best but prepare for the worst. I have known Mr. Bennet my entire life and I regret I do not have better news. I shall return tomorrow.”
Elizabeth clutched her hands to her chest and shook her head. “No, no, no! This cannot be happening.” She hugged her sister as tears flooded her eyes. She cried and cried and eventually squeezed her eyes shut to stem the flow. “Jane, it is time to tell Mama of Papa’s condition.”
~~~