Instead of accepting this outright censure, Fanny shook off her husband’s hand, and spotting Elizabeth, began imploring her. “Please, Elizabeth, for old Mr Ashwood’s sake, will not you please allow me to explain, to ask forgiveness for my-my misjudgement?”
Sighing, Elizabeth held up her hand when Mr Collins opened his mouth in what was plainly to be a refusal. She did not like the woman, it was true, and could care less for whatever she had to say. But Fanny was determined, and time was wasting. It would probably be fastest to hear her out and send her on her way. “Please, sir, let us allow her to say her piece. But we have an appointment elsewhere, Fanny, and must leave in a very few minutes. We will not sit.”
Eagerly, she came all the way into the chamber. “Dearest Elizabeth, it has all been a vastly wrong impression, you see. I was confused…I thought you wanted…we believed you wanted your privacy, a house of your own where none would disturb your grief. We supposed you enjoyed the-the rustic nature of the dower house, and would not have wanted it changed. I have learnt…wehave learnt that we were wrong in that. It is all a misunderstanding! We shall order workmen to begin renovation to the dower house tomorrow! A new roof, complete refurbishment, anything you like! You need only say that you will accept our apologies for our misapprehensions, and begin choosing fabrics! And wall-papers! Oh, and furniture, I am certain you will wish for new furniture! And dishes!And…and rooms for servants to attend you most comfortably!”
Abruptly, everything was clear to Elizabeth. Fanny had not simply received the cut direct from the inhabitants of Longbourn today, but in the past weeks, from most everyone. Caroline Bingley had replaced her as the principal hostess of their neighbourhood, and had used her power to lead a revolt. Not only was she not to be invited to the Bingleys’ ball, but she was being treated as a pariah, shunned by the scandalmongering crowd she had once controlled by the fickle finger of gossip.
It was all so silly and stupid. Fanny’s weak, foolish husband stood behind her, as was usual for him—discomfited, and possibly ashamed, but unable to do anything except pluck lamely at her sleeve.
“Thank you. I no longer require a home, however,” Elizabeth replied evenly.
“Oh, but you must! Surely you do not want to live upon the charity of your family when you could have a place of your own! You must accept our-our offer, allow us to-to atone!”
“Must I?” Elizabeth’s voice was cold in the extreme. She did not doubt that Fanny was desperate to save face and make visible amends, but she knew the woman’s nature was a grasping one, and she was grateful she no longer required a charity she might have once been tempted to accept. With Fanny, there were always strings—or even chains—attached.
“Oh, but…but…”
Surprisingly, it was Mr Collins who interrupted whatever weak excuse or apology she was about to present. “I take it you have finally remembered your responsibility towards your uncle’s widow, Mrs Ashwood? And you, Mr Ashwood?Is it only your wife who has realised this lapse, or do you wish reconciliation as well?”
Mr Ashwood looked startled at finally being addressed. “Ah! I, um, yes, we certainly wish to do right by the girl. Never meant to, um, overlook her needs. As my wife said, we did not, um, pay enough attention. Careless of us, but now we realise. All a misunderstanding, yes.”
“Very good,” Mr Collins continued. “As Mrs Ashwood has already stated, she no longer requires your home or your servants. However, it is incumbent upon you as a gentleman, to do as her husband, your uncle, would have wished, and indeed what she was promised in the way of a future. If you are willing to make right the very great wrong that has been inflicted upon her since his death, I suggest you take whatever monies you intended to spend upon the refurbishment of the dower house, as well as all other cumulative costs of running a household, and pay her outright for what she ought to have received already. I have seen the despicable state of the home to which she was relegated, and I estimate it would require a good ten thousand to restore it to a property worthy of her.”
“Ten thousand!” Mr Ashwood cried. “Ten?”
Even Elizabeth gaped at her brother-in-law; Jane, however, smiled at him admiringly, nodding her approbation.
“At least ten,” Mr Collins continued, clearly encouraged by his wife’s approval. “That sum does not begin to take into account the last year and more of neglect, in fact. Perhaps?—”
“Ten thousand!” Fanny said, elbowing her husband. “Yes, I am certain that can be arranged. And you would then…then let it be known that we are…we are all on the best of terms?”
“I daresay we could speak to others, once we are convinced of your generosity,” Jane agreed.
Fanny, obviously leaving nothing to chance, turned to Elizabeth. “And you, Elizabeth? You would be satisfied?”
Elizabeth felt like laughing. All her savings, all those hard-won earnings that she had thrown away into a failed investment, returned to her, doubled, by Mr John Ashwood of all people! Nonetheless, she kept her expression solemn. “Yes, Fanny. That would do.”
“Well, then, very good,” Mr Ashwood said, rubbing at his ribs where Fanny had elbowed him. “We shall be on our way, then. Thank you for receiving us.”
“You will, of course, wish to leave us with your note of hand,” Mr Collins interjected into the farewells. “I am happy to lend my signature in witness of its verity.”
“Oh! Um, well, um…I say, one might need to think about?—”
Fanny swivelled to give her husband a gimlet stare; he wilted beneath it. “Yes, yes, naturally. Have you a pen?”
Mr Collins produced writing materials, and the note was soon signed and even witnessed, indicating a debt of ten thousand due to Elizabeth.
A few minutes later, they were left alone and the Ashwoods, with a future ten thousand pounds poorer, were on their way back to Stoke.
“I thank you, Mr Collins,” Elizabeth said. “I would never have believed it possible.”
“My husband is very good with sums and figures,” Jane said fondly, taking his arm.
Mr Collins beamed beneath her praise.
38
MR AND MRS DARCY
