Chapter 19
“You will accompany me to visit with the Lucas’,” Mr Bennet instructed Elizabeth. She nodded and went to retrieve her pelisse.
Her father did not speak during their walk, and Elizabeth did not break the silence. They were greeted with more than the usual warmth on their arrival. Elizabeth felt sure that this was due to her mother’s unexpectedly positive reception to Charlotte’s news the morning before. Mr Bennet made the expected congratulations to Charlotte and her family.
And just as Elizabeth felt sure that this was the purpose of the visit her father said. “William, may Elizabeth and I have a private word with Charlotte.”
“Why, yes, yes of course,” Sir Lucas replied flustered by this request. But he directed them to the morning room. Lucas lodge not being as large as Longbourn, did not have a second reception room.
Charlotte’s face became apprehensive and she looked to Elizabeth. Who merely shook her head. She had no greater idea of her father’s purpose.
“I would like to reiterate my congratulations my dear,” he reassured her, taking a seat at the breakfast table. “I merely wish to ensure that you are fully cognisant of all matters which will affect you as Mr Collins wife.”
Charlotte nodded and waited. Elizabeth was impressed, she knew that with an opening such as this, she would not have been able to keep her countenance.
“Lizzy has no foreknowledge of what I am about to reveal. And in truth, I would not reveal it to any other lady who was to marry Mr Collins. I trust you, and you Elizabeth will not share what I tell you with Mr Collins, your family. Or your sisters Lizzy, including Jane,” he added.
“I agree,” Charlotte confirmed and Elizabeth echoed her.
Her father nodded in acknowledgement and continued. “As you know, our family hosted the Prince Regent not three months gone.” Charlotte nodded, and Mr Bennet continued. “The Prince Regent offered to break the entail on Longbourn. Thereby disinheriting Mr Collins,” Mr Bennet paused to allow this to sink in. Elizabeth had gasped at this news, but Charlotte remained unaffected. Elizabeth wondered if this was why her mother had behaved so well when hearing of Charlotte marriage. Had she known that Mr Collins would never inherit Longbourn?
Mr Bennet continued. “I forestalled him from taking such a drastic action. Deciding instead, to get to know the man who would inherit Longbourn. Hence my invitation to Mr Collins to visit our family.”
Charlotte nodded, and Mr Bennet went on. “I wanted to assess if he would be a good steward to Longbourn. Unfortunately, he has proved that he would not make a good master of the estate.” He paused here, giving Charlotte time to comprehend what she was being told. When she remained stoic and silent, he continued. “That being the case, the entail will be broken and Longbourn will remain with the Bennet family.”
“I understand,” Charlotte said, appearing unaffected by this news.
“I wish to enquire if this in any way affects you decision to become Mr Collins’ wife?” he asked.
“No,” Charlotte confirmed. “Longbourn was never my goal,” she explained. “I am not so young, and you Mr Bennet are not of such as great age that I would have foreseen your passing in any short number of years.”
Mr Bennet gave a small chuckle at this.
“Mr Collins has a good living as parson to Lady Catherine de Bourge. And I understand a good home, which has been updated to Lady Catherine specifications.” She then looked Mr Bennet directly in the eye. “I have had no intention to spend my life awaiting your demise!” An unexpected arch look on her face which brought a relieved laugh to the whole party.
Elizabeth wondered if this was why her Mama had behaved so well on hearing of Charlotte’s marriage.
“Well,” Mr Bennet said with a small smile at the corner of his mouth. “That being said. Having met Mr Collins, I believed him not to be a bad man. Therefore, I wrote to the royal household saying that I did not think he would be a good master of Longbourn. But I could not acquiesce to his being disinherited. The crown has agreed that he will be adequately compensated for the loss of Longbourn.”
This drew a gasp from Charlotte, as noting else which had been revealed had.
“I will reiterate. That no part of this conversation is to be revealed to anyone not at present in this room. Not Mrs Bennet,” he looked at Elizabeth thus dispelling her earlier surmise, about her mother’s behaviour. In this instance, she was glad to be wrong. “Not your father or mother, Charlotte. And not Mr Collins. It will all come clear in time.” He finished.
“Thank you for telling me,” Charlotte said.
“Well,” Mr Bennet said. “You are a good girl,” he smiled as he said this. “And you gave grown up in my household asmuch as your own.” Charlotte owned this was so. “I could not be easy with you not having all the information about your future marriage at hand. And I know you well enough to trust in your discretion. And with that he stood and offered an arm to Elizabeth. Charlotte was so shocked she did not rise to seeing them out.
“Ask me no questions Lizzy,” her father told her on exiting Lucas Lodge.
