“Mr Lucas, this is not the proper time or place for such a conversation,” answered Bennet reasonably. “My cousin and I will call upon your father after breakfast tomorrow, as is proper. For now, I think it is time for my family to depart.” Bennet left to call for his carriage, as Elizabeth and Jane began to herd their younger sisters and mother to the hall. As they departed, Elizabeth caught a glimpse of Charlotte in the hall, covered by her father’s coat and accompanied by her mother.
Elizabeth had known Charlotte Lucas her entire life, and she knew when her friend was distressed or frightened. The expression upon her old friend’s face had been neither of those emotions. Charlotte Lucas was triumphant.
CHAPTER 8
The following morning, which was Saturday, Mr Collins sat rather sullenly at the breakfast table. He and Mr Bennet had been up very late the night before, discussing the matter in Bennet’s study, and they had both agreed that there was nothing else to be done, Mr Collins must offer for Charlotte, or be called out by John Lucas. Mr Bennet assured Collins that he had never suspected the Lucas family of being capable of such machinations. It was true that Charlotte was ageing, and likely desperate, but chances were, she would not make him a terrible wife.
“Is she at least an intelligent woman? Would she be of any use at helping to run an estate?” he whined rather pathetically, but no one could blame him.
“Charlotte is a sensible woman who can make a little go a long way. It is true that the Lucases have only held land since she was fourteen, and their estate is much smaller than ours, only having two tenants, but she knows the area, and she knows enough to be a helpmeet,” admitted Elizabeth.
“We are all dreadfully sorry, Cousin,” said Kitty, surprising everyone. “Though it might have been nice if you had decided on Mary andbeen our brother, we would wish you the joy of making your own choice.”
This was echoed by everyone at the table, including Mrs Bennet. “Even if you had not selected one of my girls, we will be well enough looked after by our own dear Lizzy. Those Lucases are out for whatever they can get!” she cried.
“And you all would have been and still will be welcome to remain at Longbourn, Mrs Bennet, regardless of my choice or lack thereof,” promised Collins. “You have all been exceedingly kind to me.”
“Come on, Collins, let us go to them, before they pretend they had to come to us,” said Bennet, rising from his place and leaving the dining room.
“What will Lady Catherine say?” Mr Collins muttered to himself as he picked at his plate for another long moment. At length, he threw down his napkin and left for Lucas Lodge with Bennet.
Some hours later, he returned an engaged man, though he seemed to be putting a braver face on it. “She is a very genteel woman, which Lady Catherine will appreciate, and does seem to have a great deal of sense, at least in household matters,” he said, attempting to convince himself that it was not that bad. “She was in the kitchens when we arrived, and I visited her there. It looks as if she makes an appetising pie. That is good, since, living in a parsonage, she will find herself helping in the kitchens. I think she will be properly respectful of Lady Catherine’s rank, that is important. That will be very important. Do you believe that she will be appropriately deferential to Lady Catherine, Cousin Elizabeth?”
“I think that Charlotte can be counted upon to always do whatever is in her own best interests, Cousin Collins,” promised Elizabeth truthfully. “And as her husband, what is best for her will also be good for you.”
“It is hard to consider such self-interest to be good for me, but I shall have to take what I can get,” answered her cousin.
The following day,the banns were called in church for Mr Collins and Charlotte Lucas. The Lucases were all as triumphant as Charlotte had been in the hall at Netherfield.Mama is right, the Lucases really are out for whatever they can get. thought Elizabeth.Who would have guessed that Mama would be such an astute judge of character?
A week after the first banns were called, the marriage settlement was signed, though Mr Collins had little to promise to Charlotte until he inherited something. The marriage settlement only stated that anything Mr Collins owned that was not entailed would become Charlotte’s upon his death.
Lady Lucas held a dinner in honour of her daughter’s engagement, and invited the entire neighbourhood. Though relations between the Bennets and the Lucases were currently rather hostile, they could not exclude them, considering that Mr Collins was related to them and residing in their house.
Dinner was tolerable, though Elizabeth could see that the neighbours were strained from pretending that all was well between the two families. It was after dinner that everything suddenly became markedly awkward. Charlotte was standing near her mother, assisting to pass out cups of tea, as she chatted on the side with Mary King and the Long sisters.
“Of course that ghastly blue wallpaper with the birds in the drawing room will have to go,” Charlotte said to her friends. “The current mistress will have to go before it, but I assure you that once she is gone, Meryton will learn what it is like to see Longbourn done in style. I can hardly wait!” The other young ladies, who had developed a strong dislike for Elizabeth after her good fortune, all tittered unkindly.
“You can hardly wait for my cousin to die?” asked her betrothed in as much disbelief as everyone else except the young ladies his betrothed was speaking to.
Charlotte glanced over at him and gave him a small shrug, and then went on talking to Miss King. “After the drawing room, I shall naturally attack the dining room next. Those chair cushions!”
Elizabeth grasped her indignant mother’s elbow and dragged heraway. “I have known that girl since she was born. I have worried about her prospects quite as much as your own,” said Mrs Bennet sadly. “I cannot believe she could be so cruel.”
“You have always been right about those Lucases, Mama,” Elizabeth comforted her. “But remember, though leaving Longbourn might be hurtful when the moment arrives, we have nothing to fear from it.”
“You are right Lizzy. Forgive me for being so difficult? I know you are not stingy. You are only trying to protect us all,” said her mother.
“I shall remind you of that the next time you pester me to give you funds to decorate the drawing room,” said Elizabeth. “Why ought we to waste money on Charlotte Lucas?”
Thankfully, many of the older guests took offence at Miss Lucas’s manner, and took their leave early, allowing the Bennets to do so as well.
“I am so sorry to connect you all to that woman!” exclaimed their cousin the following morning.
“It is not your fault, cousin,” Jane assured him. “We do not blame you.”
Mr Collins moped around quietly for several more days. When he was asked if anything else was wrong besides the obvious, he only answered, “I have a great deal to consider.”
Three days before his wedding, he approached Bennet and asked him to accompany him to the office of Mr Phillips.
