After enduring her inept lover of a husband the previous night, Jane woke up in a sombre mood, but since Anne had told her today would be the day of reckoning, she felt happier than she had for a very long time. Jane realised she had felt like this in the past before she allowed her mother to stoke her jealousy of Lizzy. When they had been true friends and sisters was the last time she had felt this good.
Anne also shared her cousin and Lizzy had married in February. Jane was pleased to hear about the wedding and felt no envy whatsoever. Lizzy had always been a good and faithful person, and good people deserved good things.
Jane did not know how much longer she would reside in the parsonage. The thought of leaving saddened her. She did not grieve for the house, but for the people she had met, helped, and come to love. In Anne de Bourgh she had a true best friend, so no matter where she went, Jane was determined to maintain a correspondence with Anne.
Anne had told her, the first of her relatives would be arriving before midday. Jane readied herself to walk to the manor house; Anne had requested she be there to support her, so be there she would.
As Jane started her walk, the sound of carriages caught her attention. All of those travelling to Rosings Park had met in Bromley, including the Bishop and his two emissaries, and then journeyed in a convoy, arriving together.
Jane did not recognise many of those she saw through the windows of the carriages. Her first shock was seeing a Gardiner conveyance, followed by Sir William’s. Then she saw her former sister Elizabeth and her whole world went black.
Elizabeth and Darcy rode in a coach with Charlotte and Richard. Elizabeth was looking out of the window when she saw a lady with blonde hair sticking out of a dingy cap. She did not recognise her at first, but as she watched Jane faint dead away, she saw her deep blue eyes staring towards her.
“William! Stop the coach,” Elizabeth almost shouted. Darcy struck the ceiling. Elizabeth was out of the coach before it had stopped fully. Richard, Charlotte, and Darcy were hard on her heels. By the time they reached her, they saw Elizabeth had a prostrate lady’s head in her lap as she sat on the ground and was talking soothingly to the lady.
“My goodness,” Charlotte exclaimed as she recognised who was lying there. “It is Jane, Mrs. Collins.”
Jane’s eyes flickered open and she was looking directly into her former sister’s emerald-green eyes. “Lizzy, is it you? Am I dreaming? If it is you, I have so much for which to beg your pardon.”
“There will be time for that soon enough, Jane. Are you well?” Elizabeth asked with concern.
“It was the shock of seeing you. I was on my way to support Anne, Miss de Bourgh, at her request.” Jane reached up and touched Elizabeth’s cheek to make sure she was real and she was not a dream.
“Jane, I promise you I am real. You know my husband, William. The other gentleman is Richard Fitzwilliam, Charlotte’s husband. Come now, we need to get you to Miss de Bourgh,” Elizabeth stated as she and Charlotte took Jane’s hands and helped her to stand.
Elizabeth had heard Jane had spent her money anywhere except on herself, but until she saw the dress with patches, the holes in the shawl and shoes, and the state of her bonnet, she had not realised just how much Jane had put the needs of others ahead of her own.
“Come, you will ride with us.” Elizabeth reached her hand out to Jane.
Jane looked at Mr. Darcy and felt mortified all over again. “I would not want to impose. I am able to walk; I feel much better now,” Jane told the four as she looked at the ground.
“Come, Mrs. Collins, I insist,” Darcy assured her.
The last time Jane had been in a carriage was the rented gig that had brought her to Hunsford. She had never been in such a comfortable one. It was nothing less than Lizzy deserved.
“Where is your husband, Mrs. Collins?” Richard asked as they started to move again.
“It was suggested he should be with hisexaltedpatroness when her nephews arrive,” Jane informed them. “I saw the Bishop’s crest on the coach following this one. Do you know what the determination is?”
“My father, Lord Matlock, informed us when we all met at Bromley. I am sorry to say your husband is to be defrocked and excommunicated,” Richard reported.
“Do not be sorry to say so, Mr. Fitzwilliam; it is no more than he deserves,” Jane stated firmly.
“We know you wrote to the Bishop; will you not suffer along with your husband?” Elizabeth asked.
“It is no less than is due me for all that I did in the past. It is very true what they say, we reap what we sow,” Jane replied.
Before anyone could respond, the coach came to a halt behind the others, which had arrived a few minutes ahead of them. Everyone was waiting for the last two carriages. Madeline and Edward Gardiner rubbed their eyes as a blond they hardly recognised stepped out of the coach after Elizabeth. Even more amazing was the possessive way their daughter took her former sister’s arm.
The butler had been forewarned by Miss de Bourgh, so he showed the arriving group to the drawing room containing Lady Catherine’s throne. Anne awaited them just outside of the door, as Lady Catherine was spewing some nonsense her lapdog Collins was lapping up.
“Hello, Cathy,” Lord Matlock greeted his flabbergasted sister as he entered the room.
Collins, who was never proficient at reading a room and, not knowing who the older man was, stood and looked at the Earl with disdain. “Who are you to talk to my magnificent patroness in such a familiar manner? I will have the butler throw you out.” Collins blustered.
It was then Collins and his patroness saw the others enter the drawing room—Lady Matlock, Mr. Darcy, and the hated Miss Elizabeth who had rejected him among them. “Reggie, what is the meaning of this?” Lady Catherine asked in a more subdued tone than normal.
Collins was confused; Lady Catherine knew the man who had addressed her so disrespectfully and yet she had not called him to account. “That will become clear anon, Cathy,” the Earl stated menacingly. Lady Catherine was not happy with what she saw before her, especially seeing Richard out of uniform. “First we must deal with that.” The Earl pointed at Collins.
