On Monday at precisely four in the afternoon, a gig pulled to a halt in Longbourn’s drive. Bennet could not but smile. He had intelligence from one of his tenants that the gig had been waiting in the lane near the turn off into the estate for at least two hours based on when Mr. Black had seen it there. Bennet had remembered a sentence in Mr. Collins’ letter about how his patroness demanded punctuality.
Next to the driver sat a man the five Bennets present to meet him correctly guessed was their distant cousin, William Collins. While the driver of the gig went to unlash the trunk tied to the rear bench, the passenger began to stir.
Once the man climbed down from the bench, it was observed he was tall—not quite as tall as Mr. Bingley—and was a little portly, but not overly so. He was dressed in the black garb one would expect of a clergyman and wore a broad-brimmed hat, also in black. His shirt and cravat—not intricately knotted—were white.
Collins was impressed, first by the manor house which would be his one day, and then by his fair cousins he noted standing next to the older woman, he assumed was their mother. All three were pretty, but the one closest to her mother was exceptionally beautiful. It was easy to see where their looks came from as their mother was still a very pretty lady for one of her age.
His brow creased slightly, were there not five daughters? Why had two of them snubbed the future master of the estate? ‘Mayhap,’ he told himself, ‘the other two are homely and their parents did not want to present them to one of my status.’ Collins mused silently. He gave a low bow to those greeting him.
As Mr. Collins gave a bow—one which would be expected to be given to nobility or even royalty—he removed his hat exposing a head of thinning hair.
Bennet gave a bow and the ladies all curtsied. “Mr. William Collins, I presume,” Bennet drawled.
“At your service. Mr. Bennet, I assume,” Collins responded. “If I may be indelicate, do you not have two more daughters and should they not have been here to greet the future master of this estate?”
Although he could have drawn on an acerbic retort, Bennet chose not to at this time. “Our two youngest daughters are not yet out and are at their lessons. I am sure you can understand why we would not want to disturb their schedule of classes.”
“Of course Cousin, I apologise for raising the issue of their absence. As Lady Catherine would say…” Collins did not complete his thought about his beneficent patroness because his cousin cut him off.
“Standing next to me is my wife, Mrs. Frances Bennet, and our three eldest daughters, Miss Jane Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Mary. At some point later you will meet Kitty and Lydia who are but seventeen and fifteen respectively.”
He automatically bowed to each lady as she was introduced. Collins no longer felt slighted that the two youngest were not present as he understood the reasons, especially as Lady Catherine had pontificated more than once on the importance of a gentlelady’s education. It was a point in his cousins’ favour that they held to one of the tenets Lady Catherine held dear.
It took him but moments to decide Miss Bennet would have the honour of being the recipient of his addresses. She was after all the oldest and most beautiful; no less than he deserved. He was sure it would be the work of a few days until he was engaged to the blond, tall beauty.
“Mrs. Hill, our housekeeper will show you to your chamber,” Fanny told her guest. “Please let her know if you need water to wash. When you are ready, we will be in the drawing room.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bennet, that is most kind of you. Some water will be appreciated,” Collins bowed to the mistress of the estate in thanks.
He followed Mr. and Mrs. Bennet into the house where he was introduced to the butler and housekeeper. After the mistress told her the guest required some water, Mrs. Hill led the man up to his chamber.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Collins arrived in the principal drawing room, which like the rest of his future property was comfortable—nothing like the luxury of Rosings Park, but then nothing would be like that magnificent house—he was surprised to find only his cousin and Mrs. Bennet present.
“Would you like some tea and shortbread?” Fanny offered.
Collins loved the Scottish biscuits and accepted a cup of tea, with milk and three spoons of sugar—he had a serious sweet tooth—and four of the delectable biscuits on his plate.
There was no conversation until the tea service had been cleared away by one of the maids. Bennet waited until the door was closed. “Mr. Collins, are we to understand your allusion in your letter toadmiring our daughtersand theolive branchfor the crime of being the possible recipient of the estate via the entail, it is your intention to make one of our girls your wife?”
“Yes, but I desired to get to know more about your daughters before I proposed,” Collins explained. “All who I met were very pretty, especially the one on whom I have chosen to bestow the honour of being my wife, that being Miss Bennet.”
“As much as I hate to disappoint you, Jane is in an unofficial courtship and we expect an offer from the man, one Jane is very happy with, in the near future,” Fanny informed Collins delicately showing some put on contrition.
“In that case, I will select Miss Elizabeth, she is next in line after all…” Anything else Collins was about to say was lost when his cousin raised his hand.
“As much as we love our Lizzy, I am afraid I must as a matter of honesty and honour inform you she would never make a good parson’s wife,” Bennet related with put on sadness. “Allow me to confirm something. In your letter you alluded to the fact your patroness is much involved in dispensing her wisdom in the running of your home and the parish in general, is that accurate?” Collins nodded emphatically. “It is what I feared.” Bennet shook his head sadly.
Now he was alarmed. “What do you fear?” Collins asked fearfully.
“It is my fault really, my wife told me I was erring, but I did not heed her warnings,” Bennet sighed.
“Very true Mr. Bennet, but there is no advantage to crying over spilled milk,” Fanny agreed.
“Please speak plainly Cousins, to what are you referring?” an alarmed Collins wanted to know.
“Lizzy is highly intelligent and over the years I have educated her like I would have a son. She has received an education similar to one a man would at university and due to that she is rather opinionated. Mrs. Bennet warned me no man would accept a woman who wasfarmore intelligent and learned than himself, but I did not pay her heed.” Bennet shook his head in fake contrition. It was time to play the trump. “I am ashamed and afraid with her outspokenness she will never submit to your patroness and therefor be most unacceptable to her as your wife…unless you are willing to engender the wrath of Lady Catherine by bringing an impertinent wife back to Hunsford with you, that is.”
