We both would have been interested in seeing Mother’s eruption when she heard the news, but I agreed with Jane that Mother would have travelled directly to Hertfordshire to express her disapproval most vociferously. Neither of us thought any of you deserved to have your peace shattered to that extent.
On the subject of the worst rector in the Church of England, Mr. Collins, the Bishop’s men have interviewed both Jane and me. Although she knows how materially she would be affected were he to be defrocked, Jane was forthright about his contravention of canon law.
When I spoke to the two clergymen, I confirmed the man was appointedAFTERmy birthday, when Rosings Park became mine by law; therefore, it seems his appointment is not valid. They have additional investigations to complete here before they report to the Bishop in a sennight.
My request to them was if there is action to be taken against Mr. Collins, and I cannot see how there will not be, they do nothing until all of you arrive here in March.
Please let my cousin-to-be know her former sister wants nothing more than to apologise for her past wrongs, but she believes she will never see Miss Gardiner again. I have not told her that Miss Gardiner, or possibly by then, Mrs. Darcy, will be part of the party which is coming to Rosings Park.
I look forward to seeing you all when we have removed my mother from her self-anointedthrone.
With best regards to all of the family, and to my soon-to-be family,
Anne
“Do you intend to see Mrs. Collins when we are at Rosings Park, Elizabeth?” Darcy enquired.
“What kind of Christian would I be to deny her a chance to apologise?” Elizabeth asked, rhetorically. “Everything I have heard indicates a true change to Jane’s character. I would be a hypocrite if I only considered who she used to be and not who she is today.”
“Remember, you will be my wife by then and I will support you whatever you decide,” Darcy stated as he took his betrothed’s hand into his own and interlaced his fingers with hers.
Elizabeth was hopeful the Jane she would find in Hunsford would be closer to the person with whom she had believed she had grown up. She did not know what kind of relationship, she would have with Jane Collins in the future, but she was certain there would no longer be animosity between them.
By the time they retired to their bedchambers, both Mary and Bingley believed they had the basis for a warm friendship. With the attention Mr. Bingley paid her, Mary was able to expunge the last vestige of Mrs. Bennet’s voice in her mind telling her she was too plain to ever attract the attention of a man.
As Mary fell asleep, Mrs. Bennet was expelled from the consciousness of the last daughter who recalled, sporadically, the nasty and degrading words the woman used to direct towards her.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mr. Collins was in his study working on the latest masterpiece his exalted patroness had written for him to deliver from the pulpit on Sunday. It was a warning about how the wrath of God would be swift to those who did not respect and obey their betters. The sermon went on to detail how it was the duty of those of lesser rank to answer any questions an exalted personage or her emissary asked of them.
He heard a knock on the door but thought nothing of it until his housekeeper informed the master of the house that he had guests. Collins entered the drawing room, his patroness’s wisdom in his hand still, as he was unable to put down her brilliant sermon.
“We are two pilgrims touring churches in Kent,” the one man stated by way of introduction. “Part of our pilgrimage is to interview the honoured parsons in each parish and see how they execute their duties to promote the church and God.”
Collins puffed up and preened at being so honoured by these poor uneducated men, who wanted to learn from him. “Is that your sermon for this Sunday?” the other pilgrim asked.
“It is. It could not have been better had I written it myself,” Collins replied proudly.
“Do you take your sermons from one of the many books of sermons, as many other clergymen do?” one of the pilgrims asked.
“No, my exalted patroness writes them for me,” Collins preened even more than he had before. “It is my honour to be a vessel to deliver her wise words to my parishioners.”
“As we will not be here on Sunday to hear her wisdom, would you object if we read it before we leave?” Collins handed it over without hesitation, happy to have his patroness’ words so honoured by those who would not have the privilege of hearing him deliver the sermon on Sunday.
Although they schooled their features, the two men were appalled by what they read. One of them handed the offending paper back to Mr. Collins. It seemed the sycophant before them placed his patroness above the church, and worse, over God Himself.
All it took were a few probing questions for Collins to admit, proudly, how he shared his parishioners’ confidences with his magnificent benefactress. When one of the men asked if doing so contravened church law, they were both astounded by his reply.
“If it were someone of lesser rank asking me, I would not oblige them, but as Lady Catherine is a peer of the realm, I am authorised by my Lord Bishop of Kent himself to honour anything the great Lady Catherine asks of me.” Collins added the part about the Bishop to impress the simple men before him.
He did impress them, but not in the way he intended. The men soon departed. They would honour Miss de Bourgh’s request with regard to timing, but they were now certain the man needed to be defrocked. Or worse, excommunicated for heresy.
Chapter 28
Mr. Bingley devoted more and more of his attention to Miss Bennet during the week since he arrived. The Saturday before the ball, his attentions became so marked Gardiner asked Bingley to join him in the master’s study.
The first thing Bingley noticed when he entered the room, was the bookshelves full of well-worn books; these were new additions—he had not kept reading material in this same study when he was leasing Netherfield. Netherfield’s library now also contained a good selection of books. Like his friend Darcy’s homes, books were read in this household, not merely displayed to impress guests.
