Meryton, near Hertford, St Albans, and Hatfield
Hertfordshire
Collins did not see the sarcasm and mocking in the way his cousin had addressed his missive. He thought it was a compliment to himself.
Mr Collins:
I am not sure how things are done among clergy, but among landed gentry, wewaitfor an invitation and do not invite ourselves anywhere, regardless of the orders from anyone else.
I had thought to deny your visit tomyestate, but I decided we needed to speak face-to-face; therefore, I will expect you on the date you listed in your letter. There is one change that I will make now and that is the following:
I have 5 daughters at home, only three of whom are out. They range in ages from 15 to 22, and I am not in the habit of allowing a single man to sleep in the house with my daughters.
Before you say you are exempted because of your profession and our family ties, let me disabuse you. There are far too many lecherous clergymen in this great country of ours, and although we are cousins, it is a very distant relationship.
I may allow you a single night in my house, but if, when we meet, any of my daughters feel any level of discomfort with you, to the inn you will go.
Before you run to your patroness and haveher command me to do her bidding, know that will only result in any permission for you to visit being rescinded, while at the same time you and she will discover that she has no power outside of the environs of her estate.
I am warning you ahead of time that I will not allowanyman to importune my daughters. You will behave with decorum around them, or your stay at Longbourn will be even shorter than I have stated.
T Bennet
Collins could not decide what angered him more, the disrespect aimed at his beneficent patroness or at himself. His first inclination was to reply to the insolent epistle, refuse to marry one of his cousin’s daughters, withdraw his offered olive branch, and break with the Bennets again.
Before he began to write, he heard his patroness’s voice in his head. He could remember her words clearly. Everything he was about to do was expressly contrary to what she had commanded him to do.
But surely if she read the letter from his cousin… Collins stopped himself. Seeing such a missive, expressly flouting her authority and insulting her, Lady Catherine would be furious, and her anger would be directed at him. One thing he had learnt well since being preferred to the living was that he could never gainsay Lady Catherine.
As such, he would make his way into Hertfordshire as he planned to do. One thing he would change was that he would not offer for one of his cousins. Rather, he would find someone very close to them and marry her, so they would see what they missed. When he told Lady Catherine how his cousins disrespected her, she would agree that he could not in good conscience marry one of his cousins. Then, as soon as Cousin Bennet died, hopefully very soon, he would have thepleasure of casting the Bennet progeny from the estate into the hedgerows.
He would make sure that the daughters paid for the sins of their father and all the Bennets before him who had wrongfully kept Longbourn from the Collins line.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Darcy entered the suite he had been assigned in the guest wing, Carstens was already busily unpacking the trunks. The valet assisted him to change after he had a quick wash. Thereafter, Darcy made his way down the grand staircase to the drawing room where he had greeted Miss Hildebrand Bingley and Miss Louisa Bingley on his arrival. Thankfully, at that time, Miss Caroline had not been present.
The longer he could defer seeing her, the better.
Unfortunately, he was not so lucky when he rejoined the Bingleys in the drawing room. Miss Caroline was with them. As soon as he entered, she jumped up from her seat, began batting her eyelashes at him, and walked towards him at speed. As she got close, she reached out for his arm. Darcy shook his head to Bingley, who was about to remonstrate with his younger sister.
As Miss Caroline reached out to grip his arm, Darcy took a step back and locked his arms behind his back. “Miss Caroline, I heard you are very proud of that seminary where you studied,” Darcy stated evenly.
“Indeed, Mr Darcy, they produce proper ladies there,” Miss Caroline cooed as she preened.
“What is the school’s name?” Darcy enquired.
“Miss Hathaway’s School for Young Ladies,” Miss Caroline purred.
“Thank you, Miss Caroline. Now I know what school to tell my family and friendsnotto use as it seems that they donot teach anything of value. Either that, or you just were not able to assimilate the lessons,” Darcy opined.
That was not what Miss Caroline expected or wanted to hear. How could Mr Darcy say that? “But, Mr Darcy,” Miss Caroline purred as she reached out to touch one of his arms, which were firmly behind his back. “I am a perfect lady.” Whatever Caroline Bingley expected, it had not been a bark of derisive laughter.
“Your sister is a well-behaved lady, but you, Miss Caroline, do not have any idea how to behave like one,” Darcy barked. “Noladyattempts to latch onto a gentleman’s arm without it being offered. Noladysets her cap at a man who willneverhave her. So no, Miss Caroline, you are not a perfect lady, just a perfectlybadone.”
It was then Miss Caroline saw the way her relatives were looking at her, disdain dripping from their countenances. She ran out of the drawing room, up the stairs, and into her bedchamber.
“Darcy, if it would make your stay with us more pleasant, I will send her north and be done with her,” Bingley offered.
