“It sounds to me, Cousin, as it has since you arrived, that Lady Catherine’s expectations often oppose what is expected by polite society. I hate to sound as if I am insulting the woman, but I fear the lady might be over-puffed with her own importance, and possibly even an embarrassment to her own family in company. I am told that elderly noblewomen often are, with their demanding and imperious ways.”
“You cannot think so!” cried Mr Collins.
“It is presumptuous of me to say it, but from what you and Mr Darcy have let slip, I would shudder to have her behaviour observed in company if she weremyaunt.” Elizabeth shook her head. “If I were you, when I think of what Lady Catherine would expect, go and ask one of us – or your wife when you have one – what is proper.”
“Is it proper for a man to ask his wife’s advice for every little thing, Cousin?” worried Collins. “I do not wish to act like a boy, running to his mama all the time.”
“Mr Collins, Mary has been raised as a gentlewoman all her life, with a concentration the last several years on what proper behaviour and attention from a man looks like, and what it does not look like. She is also very pious, and traditional in her beliefs and behaviour. She knows just how to expect a true gentleman, and a respected man of the cloth to behave in all situations,” Elizabeth insisted. “The Lord would expect you to make the most of the resources available to you. If he sent someone to educate you, who are you to judge their sex?”
He looked anxious, wringing his hands as he replied. “Cousin, I find myself most distressed that I have already estranged myself from your suitor,” Mr Collins cried. “You have been kinder to me than anyone ever has been in the whole of my life, except Mary, and perhaps my dear mother. I am grieved to think that I have shown myself to be so terrible in the eyes of your admirer. Mr Darcy is so angry at me. I fear I shall never make it right. And I feel so stupid and loathsome for snivelling about it, but whatwillLady Catherine say? Even if I am to learn how to conduct myself properly rather than how she always expects, she can still make my life very difficult. Not only my life, but that of my wife as well. Heaven and earth, why do I ruin everything?”
“Sir, you will apologise to Mr Darcy like a gentleman. Do not grovel, or beg. I shall take the liberty of introducing youproperlyto my new suitor. You will stand straight, and look him in the eye and you will explain that you are learning to be a gentleman already, and beg his pardon for the misunderstanding. If he is the man I hope that he is, then he will be generous and forgive you,” Elizabeth assured him.
“And if he does not?” Mr Collins asked nervously.
“Then I shall not marry him,” she declared. When her cousin began to object that she should not make such a sacrifice for him, Elizabeth replied, “It is not for you, Cousin. I wish to marry a kind man, who is generous in understanding. I sense that Mr Darcy might be such a man, but if it turns out that I am wrong, my interest in knowing him better will be at an end. Now… What was it you wished to speak to me about before I returned from my walk?”
Collins explained to Elizabeth that he was certain that he wished to ask Miss Mary to marry him, and he wondered whether her father might look kindly on the match. “When I wrote to Lady Catherine that I was courting your sister, she gave me leave to remain for some weeks and allow my curate to take on my duties, but I cannot stay forever. I shall have to return to Hunsford soon, and I should not like to leave matters with Miss Mary unresolved.”
“I should think that if my father did not approve, he would have mentioned it by now, for your affinity for one another has been marked since you entered the house,” Elizabeth pointed out. “You should ask Mary first, to ensure that she is amenable, and that she is ready for you to approach our father.”
Collins thanked Elizabeth profusely for her advice, and the pair returned arm in arm to the house. Mr Darcy had just emerged from her father’s study, obviously having received the answer he desired. Mr Bingley and Jane had emerged from the drawing room, and Mrs Bennet was in raptures. Before MrBingley could go to Mr Bennet’s study, Elizabeth reached out her hand to Jane, who led Mr Bingley over to them.
“Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley, may I beg the privilege of making our cousin properly known to you?” she asked.
The gentlemen both tipped their heads in agreement, Mr Darcy looking at Mr Collins rather warily. “Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley, may I present my cousin, Mr William Collins of Hunsford Parsonage in Kent. Mr Collins, may I introduce Mr Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire, and Mr Bingley of Netherfield, whom you met briefly last night in the receiving line. Mr Collins has been courting my sister Mary, and is next in line to inherit this estate,” Elizabeth finished.
Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley both tendered polite greetings, then Mr Collins spoke, his spine ramrod straight. His demeanour was quite obviously nervous, but he took his cousin’s advice, and met Mr Darcy’s eye steadily. “I owe you both an apology, sirs. Mr Darcy, I must admit that my father was reclusive, and though weoughtto have been minor gentry, his refusal to allow us into the society of our neighbourhood resulted in my difficulty in company. My good cousins have been generous beyond measure helping me learn what I must know, and I am attending their advice as diligently as my abilities will allow, but I fear that upon hearing Cousin Elizabeth’s news this morning, I became terrified by the thought of the reaction of my patroness. I panicked and spoke out of turn, and you were right to be outraged, Mr Darcy. Mr Bingley, I am certain that you must have been rightfully shocked by my speech. I humbly seek both of your pardons. I apologise most sincerely, sirs.”
Elizabeth watched Darcy closely. Would he snub her cousin? The courtship would be over before it began, no matter how silly the man was. Mr Collins had good intentions, and he was trying. Any gentleman that wished for Elizabeth’s approval must show a decided abundance of generosity of spirit.
Darcy did not hesitate, not even long enough to meet Elizabeth’s eye first. This man might be ridiculous, he may even have insulted Darcy greatly, but he was Elizabeth’s relation, and she obviously valued him. Darcy also respected any man who could openly admit when he was wrong, and those who sought to help and better themselves. He immediately stuck out his hand, and Collins shook it in shock and wonder. “I thank you for your apology, Mr Collins. I hope that your efforts continue, and that you find much gratification in your self improvement,” Darcy said.
Elizabeth smiled and let out a breath she did not know she was holding. Perhaps Mr Darcy was a kindred spirit in disguise after all.
CHAPTER 14
Mr Bingley had asked Jane for a courtship and had been accepted. Mrs Bennet, beside herself with joy, refused to accept that her daughters had acceptedcourtshipsand notengagements. They were as good as married in her eyes. Mr Bingley could not bear to tear himself away from Jane, and decided to postpone his journey another day. Both gentlemen agreed to stay for the rest of the day, and for dinner. Messages were sent to Netherfield informing Bingley’s sisters of their plans, and inviting them to the celebratory dinner Mrs Bennet was, even as they wrote their missives, planning in the kitchen with the cook. A message returned from Hurst that the ladies had both taken to their beds, and would not attend.
Darcy told Bingley that he would accompany him to London the following day, and bring Georgiana back with him, so that his sister might get to know Elizabeth as they courted. Darcy also planned to bring Richard, and the vowels that he held of Wickham’s. After this last defamation of his character, Darcy was determined to do the right thing now, and have the man locked up where he could hurt no one. Elizabeth had shared with him an account of Wickham’s lies, and also his attempt to seduce young Lydia, and Darcy was provoked beyond all measure. Howdare the man continue his behaviour, and worse, on girls who had nothing of value to offer him but themselves, and could not even provide him with the financial security he sought so desperately? The man was not even seducing for the sake of his financial security. He was doing it for no other reason than to satisfy his own carnal desires. It had torn Darcy’s heart when Elizabeth spoke with anxiety about the safety of her sister and the other young girls in the neighbourhood. Darcy decided that it was time he and Richard finally ended Wickham’s reign of terror.
Mr Collins, wishing for less attention than the other men had received when he askedhisquestion, managed to secure a private moment in the garden with Mary that afternoon, when he proposed marriage, and was accepted with great joy. He then quietly sought Mr Bennet’s approval, which was given, and the announcement was made to the family at dinner, which increased the joy of all the family tenfold.
“I knew how it would be!” cried Fanny Bennet, as Mary blushed, and Collins accepted the congratulations of the men and his future sisters. The two would not marry immediately, but enjoy a long engagement. Mary expressed a concern that she had not yet learnt all that she must in the kitchens and with the housework that she needed to be a proper wife to a parson, and asked if they might marry at the end of the summer, giving her ten months to prepare. Mr Bennet had concurred wholeheartedly, and informed Collins that it was good for him as well, to continue to work on his self improvements, and prepare his home for his bride before he wed.
Mr Bennet had an idea, and he told no one of its conception, only sent an express to Sir Henry Maulver, the local baronet, who lived in London and owned Netherfield, then informed Darcy that he had business to attend to in London, and beggeda ride in his carriage to his brother Gardiner’s house. Darcy invited Bennet to stay at Darcy House, but he declined.
“I shall not intrude on you young bucks,” Bennet chuckled. “You have better things to do in town than spending time with an old recluse like me.”
“I am rather a recluse myself, so weyoung bucksare probably more boring than you imagine.” Darcy smiled. “The invitation stands, should you change your mind.”
“I shall certainly visit this great library I hear so much about from the Bingleys,” said Bennet in earnest.
“Thegreatlibrary is at Pemberley, and well worth the trip if I may say so myself, though the library at Darcy House is still well worth a visit. My butler will be ready for your arrival, and whether or not I am home, you are welcome to enjoy it as long as you like, sir,” the younger man said. Darcy would move a bed for Mr Bennet into his library if the man allowed him to marry his second daughter.
Early the following morning,when the two men were riding to Longbourn to break their fasts with the family and collect Bennet, Bingley asked, “Darcy, do you still keep that gelding in your London stable? The one you rode when Alastor was laid up? What did you call him?”
“Bartholomew,” Darcy answered as they slowed their horses to a walk. “He is still kept in London, though I believe I will send him to Pemberley to work on the farms and serve as an extra riding horse soon. Why do you ask?”
