“Hush.” Mary told her.
Mr. Collins swallowed hard. His wild eyes moved to the younger girls at the sound, and he choked in a saliva-filled breath.
“As you wish, Miss Bennet.” he croaked, “We shall leave without you. You other ladies must pack your things at once. We will leave within the hour. I shall not stay in this house for a moment longer than that, and neither shall you.”
“What?” Elizabeth burst out, snapping free of her daze. Collins raised a superior eyebrow at her, clearly rallying at the sight of her dawning comprehension.
“Miss Bennet can of course stay here. She can disobey her mother’s wishes. As she so eloquently pointed out, she is of age. Your younger sisters, however, are not. They shall not stay here and be corrupted by your wicked, progressive notions as dear Jane has been.”
Elizabeth’s heart sank. It was clear what Mr. Collins intended to do next. The glint in his eyes was too obvious to ignore. “So, you intend to… if you cannot have Jane, then…”
Collins looked pained, “If I have to, Mrs. Darcy. It is up to Miss Bennet to decide. Either she comes with us, or they do, but either way one of your sisters will return to their father’s side before the week is out. What say you, Miss Bennet?”
Jane tried to speak, choked, and then burst into tears. Bingley leapt to his feet, fists clenched. He helped her to stand and quickly led her from the room, his arm an iron bar around her trembling shoulders. He looked back at Collins with a glare as the door slammed behind them.
“Mr. Collins, may I make a gentle suggestion?”
This time it was Fitzwilliam who spoke. His voice was so relaxed and cheerful that everyone flinched. Mary’s hand tightened painfully around his, where she had instinctively clutched at him after Mr. Collins’s counterattack. The colonel squeezed her hand reassuringly and gave the rector his most charming smile.
He usually used this technique on gamblers, using their frustration and greed to make them over-wager and take risks. Now the stakes were stacked against him, but he would never forgive himself if he did not make the attempt.
“Mr. Collins, we are all tired and overwrought. Nobody can think sensibly at dinner - that is why we are in desperate need of cigars and musical distractions when it is over. I cannot imagine a worse time to press a young lady into making such a difficult decision. I, personally, only blackmail people before noon.”
“I disapprove of your levity.” Collins growled, “This is not a joke.”
“I will cherish your disapproval, sir. I am proud to earn it from a man whose mere presence reduces young ladies to tears.” Fitzwilliam sank in the dagger with skill and then smiled disarmingly, “My advice, sir, is that if you continue to press Miss Bennet tonight you will only strengthen her dislike. She needs time and space to consider your proposal. Further, sir, you cannot assume you will make any better progress with any of the younger girls. Miss Bennet has, at least, accepted you once. Perhaps you can win her back, given time.”
“The ball is in four days.” Mary chimed in, still anxiously squeezing Fitzwilliam’s hand. His fingers were going numb. “Jane can tell you her decision then, surely? A few days will make little difference.”
“Yes,” Mrs. Bennet cried eagerly. She was as white as a sheet and all of her arrogance had gone. Indeed, she looked as appalled by Mr. Collins’s savage attack as anyone else. “What a splendid idea. I shall not bid the girls to return until after the ball. You need not pack, children. In fact, perhaps you might show me what you intend to wear. Lydia? At once, dear. I feel quite overcome.”
They left. A flash of concern made Mr. Collins falter. He suddenly seemed aware that, without Mrs. Bennet’s connection to Jane, he had no power over the woman he desired. If Mrs.Bennet turned on him then he would be alone amongst hostile, powerful men. Squaring his scrawny shoulders, the man played his last card.
“I think it is only right to inform you that my patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, supports my cause. She will be attending the ball, of course. I had planned to leave before then to spare her and yourselves the discomfort of a confrontation. If you insist on keeping us here, Mr. Darcy, then you must be prepared to accept her judgement. I imagine she has some decided opinions about your lurid past, sir.”
“I shall listen to her, certainly. I need not abide by her opinions, and they will definitelynotbe about me. My aunt’s judgements are only voiced around those whom she considers beneath her. If she has any thoughts about myself and my conduct, sir, then that is a private matter which will have no bearing on your own petition. The only opinions she will draw upon are those of her rector - and his recent, damning conduct towards the most sweet-natured woman that I have ever been privileged enough to meet.”
Collins’ eyes narrowed. “I would not be so sure. I have heard her speak ill of you many times, sir.”
“Of small matters, I am sure. I can guarantee that they are nothing compared to the strong feelings she sometimes expresses about her cringing, intolerable rector. But I shall not continue, sir - I am above such pettiness. Remove yourself from my home at once, Mr. Collins. You are giving me indigestion.”
Fitzwilliam guffawed at that. Mary flinched at the volume and then let out a nervous, helpless cackle of her own. Kitty, eyes still teary, dissolved into hysterical giggles.
Chased out by a chorus of laughter Mr. Collins, stood, bowed, and fled.
Chapter 64
Jane barely knew where she was. After her impassioned speech at the dinner table her head had pounded like a drum. For a moment she truly believed that she might have bested her conniving cousin. Hot relief had made her feel sick, for she considered it most wickedly won. For the sake of her small happiness, she had destroyed her dear mother’s hopes once more.
The shame she had confessed to was not intended to sound sarcastic, nor to inspire guilt. It was quite, quite real and it twisted in Jane’s chest like a blade.
Odious, sinful daughter! Your parents spent their youth and their fortune raising you. They gave you expensive toys and fine clothes, an education and their regard - a rare prize, indeed, for a female child. They wanted only one thing in return, and yet you refused! They gave you a safe childhood; you have denied them a safe dotage! They gave you security, you gave them fear. Oh selfish, wicked Jane!
Mr. Collins’s blackmail had seemed quite reasonable. Jane had plainly stated that she loved her sisters more than she honoured her parents. It was only right that he use that against her, asGod cast down the golden idol when his commandments were ignored.
Sisters could not protect one another. They had no rights, and no control over their most vulnerable years. Only a parent or a husband had the power to command them. Since Jane had rejected both of them, she had no recourse but her own resolve. Her dear little sisters didn’t even have that.
Her heart was broken by her own awful disobedience. Jane felt reason crumbling around her. For a plummeting heartbeat she wondered if she might meet Georgiana in the darkness. Then…
