“Which isnotwhat I am advocating.”
“Then what?”
“When you are with him, make sure your smiles are for him alone and not like you offer to anyone else. Also, you could hint at your esteem without being improper. I am not advocating standing up in a room and announcing your preference. Mr. Bingley is an intelligent man, he will understand your meaning and it will give him the encouragement he needs. To me, he seems like a modest man who would not proceed unless he was assured of the success of his application.”
Jane was silent for some moments again. “I suppose I could do something like that without crossing any lines of propriety.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mary and Mr. Collins had been walking with Kitty but the latter sped up and joined Jane and Lizzy. “Miss Mary, you seemed concerned when I spoke of introducing myself to my patroness’s nephew,” Collins stated quizzically.
“Based on what I have seen of Mr. Darcy, he would not be well pleased with your introducing yourself,” Mary opined.
“But I am his aunt’s clergyman and am well favoured by her. Why, I dine at Rosings Park above twice a week,” Collins puffed up with pride.
“That may be true, but how does that make you an intimate of Mr. Darcy such that you would approach him without his requesting to know you? What would Lady Catherine say if Mr. Darcy reported what he would see as your rudeness? Did you not say he is supposed to marry her daughter?” Mary posed.
The very last thing Collins wanted was to fall out of favour with his beneficent patroness. The worry produced some beads of sweat on his forehead, which he mopped up with his handkerchief.
“Yes, Lady Catherine often speaks of the engagement,” Collins confirmed. “But I must thank you, Cousin Mary, for warning me and stopping me from committing afaux paswhich would have angered my patroness. Your good sense and sensibilities only highlight why you would make an ideal parson’s wife.” Collins paused as he marshalled his thoughts. “Miss Mary, I know we have not known one another for very long, but may I request permission from your father to address you in private on a delicate subject?”
Already having resolved to accept him if he asked, Mary smiled. “Yes, Mr. Collins, you have my permission to make that request of my father. I thank you for the courtesy of doing so.”
Collins beamed. She was not the most beautiful of the three eldest Bennet sisters, but she had all of the attributes he would ever want in his future mate, and more importantly, he was sure Lady Catherine could not but approve of her.
It was with a much lighter step William Collins walked the rest of the distance to Longbourn.
Chapter 15
No sooner had the walkers who had been in Meryton been relieved of their outerwear did Collins make his way to the study door and rapped thereon.
Bennet put the ledger he had been working on down and called out, “Enter.” His eyebrows raised when he saw his cousin respond to his call. “Mr. Collins, did we have a meeting set for today?”
“No Cousin, we did not. I have come to see you to gain your permission to address Miss Mary in private,” Collins requested.
“Have you gained Mary’s permission for such an interview?” Bennet queried. As advantageous a match it would be with regards to the estate, he wanted to be sure Mary was choosing of her own free will.
“That I have. We spoke on this subject on the return from the town,” Collins confirmed.
“In that case, I have no objection. You may use the small parlour opposite the drawing room and Collins—the door willnotbe fully closed,” Bennet insisted. “As the parlour is across the hall from the drawing room and its door is open, I will not require a maid to be seated outside of the room.”
A beaming Collins gave his cousin a low bow and headed for the drawing room where he knew Miss Mary was seated with her mother and sisters. He stood at the door of the room, caught Mary’s eye, and nodded.
Mary stood and started to leave the drawing room. “Mary, to where are you off?” Fanny enquired.
“Mr. Collins has gained Papa’s permission to have a private interview with me, one to which I agreed as well,” Mary informed her mother.
As hard as it was for her to restrain her desire to loudly proclaim her approbation, Fanny simply nodded her permission. “You do not have unlimited time,” was all the Bennet matron stated.
Silently she was giving thanks to on high that it seemed the threat of the hedgerows was about to be permanently removed and more importantly, one of her daughters would be mistress of the estate after her. The estate would remain in the family.
Jane and Elizabeth both smiled at their younger sister. Separately and together, they had canvassed the subject of William Collins with Mary and they had been convinced no one had pressured her into accepting him. If he offered for her, she would reply in the affirmative.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Per his cousin’s conditions, Collins left the door partially open. Mary waited for him in the centre of the parlour. “You must know why I have requested leave to speak to you,” Collins began.
“Not being one who likes to presume, I do not,” Mary averred.
