She did not have long to wait. Thirty minutes had passed after Mr. Darcy departed when she heard voices outside. Mr. Collins could be heard speaking quite loudly. His words were indiscernible until the door opened.
“…harboring such a Jezebel beneath my roof! I will not have it! She must be gone immediately, and Miss Lucas along with her! Both are despicable, seeking to entrap men with their wiles.”
“I take exception to your insinuations, Mr. Collins. It was notIwho sought to entrap you! You soughtmycompany before throwing me over. And Elizabeth did not entrap Mr. Darcy either!”
Charlotte’s defense warmed her heart.
“You will not speak such falsehoods in my presence again, Miss Lucas! Lady Catherine’s word on the matter is final and can be nothing but the truth. You and my devious cousin will pack your trunks and go immediately to the coaching inn at Hunsford. I shall not have you as my guests for a moment longer.”
“You have said quite enough, sir.” Charlotte said icily. “Your words and manner have illustrated the type of man you are. I can only pity Mrs. Collins, for you are no gentleman.”
“What would a plain spinster with nothing to recommend her know about what constitutes gentlemanly behavior?” Mr. Collins spat angrily. “You have never had the attention of one long enough to understand the intricacies of our sex.”
“Enough, husband.” Jane finally spoke. “I believe our guest comprehends you fully. Charlotte, go pack your trunk. I shall find Elizabeth. Mr. Collins, we must make haste if they are to be gone this evening.”
Elizabeth stood and Jane pushed the door open. Her husband’s protests at her interference could be heard in the hall. “Come with me, Lizzy.” Jane took her hand and led her from the room and up the stairs, Mr. Collins still squawking in the background.
Safe in her chambers behind a closed door, Jane drew Elizabeth close in a tight embrace. When she pulled away, there were tears in her eyes.
“You act as if we shall never see each other again,” Elizabeth jested. She sobered when Jane’s tears came faster. “What is it?”
“Miss de Bourgh fainted after you and Mr. Darcy left. Sir Andrew and the colonel carried her from the room. Lady de Bourgh followed with Mrs. Jenkinson. After they had gone, Lady Catherine demanded Mr. Collins turn you out. He has included Charlotte in her edict. I tried to convince him to wait until the morrow, but he insisted during our walk back that you be gone tonight. He felt Lady Catherine’s disapprobation keenly, for she did not call the carriage for us.” She gasped a sob. “Oh, Lizzy, he says I cannot write to you.”
“Surely, you will not comply!” Elizabeth said in shock.
“He is my husband. I shall do what I can to find a way around his commands, but, as I told you earlier, Lady Catherine is his first love. His loyalty is to her before me, and I have not had enough time to change his allegiance.”
“You must not let him command you so, Jane! You cannot let him keep you from my company!” Elizabeth felt her eyes fill with tears. “Please!”
“I will do what I can,” Jane promised. “Do not count on me to stand up with you. Lady Catherine will not attend, andmy husband will follow suit. And promise me you will show Charlotte compassion. Invite her to Darcy House. Introduce her in town. She is worthy of some gentleman’s regard, though my husband disdains her so. I shall try to send a message to Mr. Darcy, informing him of the situation.”
Elizabeth nodded, tears falling freely now. Jane’s advice to pack her trunk proved to be inspired, and she helped her sister shove the last of her belongings into the top as Mr. Collins banged on the door.
“Come, wife!” His manservant stood waiting to take the trunk. Elizabeth secured her reticule to her wrist, following Jane and her husband from the room and down the stairs. A cart awaited outside the garden gate. Charlotte’s trunk had already been secured and Elizabeth joined her friend in the garden.
Mr. Collins took Jane’s arm and retreated into the house. He tucked his wife behind him and stood in the doorway. “I take no leave of you, ladies. I send no compliments to your relations in Meryton, for you—and they—deserve no such attention.” He slammed the door, leaving both ladies standing in the garden in the fading light.
They glanced at each other. The manservant cleared his throat and gestured to the waiting cart. Both Charlotte and Elizabeth climbed into the back and sat on their trunks, for there was no place for them next to the driver. With a crack of the reins, the cart set off. In ten minutes, the ladies and their trunks were deposited before the coaching inn. It took no time to learn that the last coach to London had departed an hour previous.
Charlotte and Elizabeth paid for their tickets and a room for the night. Elizabeth pretended her older friend was her paid companion, hoping to lend the whole debacle an air of respectability.
They spent a restless night in a shared bed and before eight in the morning, they were aboard the coach to London. Elizabethsighed in relief. They would be safely at the Gardiners’ residence before tea.
Chapter Twenty-Three
April 11, 1812
Hunsford, Kent
Jane
Jane clenched her utensils tightly as she ate her breakfast. The tense atmosphere was almost palpable. Her husband sat across from her, eating his meal with his usual zeal.Did I really tell Elizabeth I had grown fond of the man? Yet, how can those sentiments, so new and untried, withstand what has occurred?
She knew a lecture was imminent, likely to come soon after he finished his bacon. Sure enough, when he had swallowed, Mr. Collins placed his utensils on his plate and removed the serviette from around his neck. Tossing the white linen onto the table, he pushed his chair back and stood. He clasped his hands behind his back and moved around the table to stand over her.
As he came toward her, Jane calmly put her utensils down, though she had not finished eating.
He laid a piece of paper before her, and Jane recognized it as the note she had sent to Mr. Darcy the night before.
