“I suppose you have the right of it. Only Mary would consider this man as a future husband,” Jane agreed. “I am happy you spoke to Mama in private and you plan to speak to Mary.”
Just then there was a knock at the door. “Come,” Elizabeth called out, and Mary in her dressing gown and slippers, her hair down entered. “Sit Mary dear,” Elizabeth cocked her head to the bed next to her and Jane. “Mary, Mr Collins is seeking a wife…” Elizabeth explained all.
“So, if I do not accept him Papa will not force me and Mama will not harangue me?” Mary verified.
“Yes, you have the right of it,” Elizabeth confirmed. “I only thought of you as I know you would be well suited as a clergyman’s wife.”
“I would be, and as you know, I am not as romantic as you two, however, I must be able to respect the man, and at this point, granted I hardly know him, I am not sure I could respect our cousin as I should,” Mary stated honestly.
“If he tries to court you, learn about him with an open mind, if he is not for you, then you tell Papa,” Elizabeth advised.
Mary agreed and after a hug from each of her older sisters, she made her way back to her own chamber.
Chapter 15
On Saturday morning Fanny asked Mr Collins to join her in the drawing room after they had broken their fasts. Bennet looked on disinterestedly as he made his way back to his study and his book.
“Mr Collins, you can be at no loss to understand the reason of my requesting you join me here. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I desire to speak to you,” Fanny began.
“Indeed, you are mistaken, Mrs Bennet. I have not been at all able to account for the honour of your requesting to see me now,” Collins averred.
“Let us not trifle one with the other. One of your aims in coming hither was to take a wife from among my daughters, was it not?” Fanny asserted.
“In that you are correct, I intend to honour Cousin Jane with my…”
Fanny held up her hand. “Jane is not an option for you, Mr Collins.” There was no missing the outraged look on the man’s face. “She has been unofficially courted for some time, and I expect an offer to be made for her any day now.”
Although he was disappointed the beauty of the family was out of his reach—Collins was aware Lady Catherine would not approve if he attempted to interfere in another’s courtship—at least there were still four very comely girls left, so he would naturally look to the next in line, Miss Elizabeth, who in her own way was also a beauty. “In that case, I will begin tocourt Cousin Elizabeth.”
“You may attempt that if you so choose,” Fanny responded cooly. “Ifshe accepts you, what would you do when you bring a lady to your parsonage who Lady Catherine will not approve of?”
“W-why w-would m-my b-beneficent p-patroness d-disapprove?” Collins stammered.
“Did you not regale us with stories of how your patroness makes manysuggestionsabout how to run your home, and assists you with your sermons?” Fanny reminded the dullard.
“Aye, I did, what of it?”
“Elizabeth is highly educated, in fact, she has been educated much as a son would be.” Fanny noted the look of horror on the man’s face. “As such, she will not follow your patroness’ssuggestions,and if she thinks Lady Catherine is wrong about something, she will not hesitate to tell her.”
“No, no! Cousin Elizabeth will never do. I could never bring such a woman before my great and wise patroness,” Collins decided.
“Then I suggest that you get to know Mary,” Fanny stated. She well knew this was not the time to speak of Mary as the plainest of her daughters, besides, since Mary’s hair had been styled, her spectacles had been left in her chamber, and she changed the colour of the dresses she wore, she looked quite pretty. “Mary too is educated, but in the accomplishments one would expect from a lady. She practices the pianoforte with diligence, studies the Bible, and you share an interest in the writings of Reverand Fordyce.” Fanny was not aware her middle daughter no longer read the sermons she had mentioned,
‘Cousin Mary is pretty enough to tempt me, and from what Mrs Bennet has said she will be acceptable to Lady Catherine,’ Collins cogitated. Aloud he said, “I thank you for setting me onthe correct path as far as your daughters are concerned. I shall take your advice to heart and honour Cousin Mary with my proposals.”
“One last word of advice,” Fanny stated as Mr Collins was about to stand. He sat back down. “Get to know her first, and allow her to know you. Court her, woo her, and then make your offer. I must tell you if Mary refuses you, her father will support her, just as he will if she decides to accept your hand.” Fanny of course hoped Mary would accept the man so she would not have to vacate her house when her husband went to his final reward. She had promised not to berate Mary if she refused the man. As hard as it would be, if that came to pass, she would attempt to stand by her word.
Collins stood, bowed to Mrs Bennet and scurried out of the drawing room to find Miss Mary. He heard the pianoforte and followed the sound of the notes.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~~
“We want to walk into Meryton to see the officers,” Lydia demanded.
Jane and Elizabeth looked at one another. They had the same thought that they could not allow the two youngest Bennets to make their family ridiculous. “Lizzy and I will join you,” Jane announced.
Just then Mary entered the drawing room with Mr Collins in tow. “Mary, we are all walking to Meryton, would you like to join us?” Elizabeth invited. She was both happy and somewhat confused that it seemed her talk with Mama had born fruit. Cousin Collins was clearly interested in Mary and had not importuned either herself or Jane in the least. She began to wonder how much better things would be if she and Mama worked towards the same goals rather than being at loggerheads. Her train of thought was interrupted by Mary’s reply.
“Yes, thank you Lizzy, I will walk with you. I would liketo see if any new sheet music has arrived at the book store,” Mary accepted.
