“Yes, but for me as well, it turns out,” Mary said soberly. “As the eldest at home now, Papa has asked me to assume many of my mother’s duties. It is now I who consult with Hill on the day’s menu and I who must remind our maid to again dust the parlor after a first, careless attempt. And soon it will be time for me to supervise the making of jams and preserves from the fruit of our orchards. I am learning there was much Mama did of which I was blissfully unaware with my nose stuck in a book.”
“I am sure your father must be grateful and proud of you for helping.”
Mary gave a short laugh. “If he is, he keeps his opinion to himself for the most part—unless he does not like the dinner I ordered. I most definitely hear from him if that is the case.”
The two walked on mostly in silence until they reached Meryton, where they began their quest for supplies. Mary was flattered that Mrs. Withers asked for her opinion on all the paper and fabric samples, even as she noted the way her friend cleverly promoted patterns clearly to her own taste.
“The rug I have chosen is in medium blue and cream tones, so I believe this fabric will go perfectly with that for the chairs, don’t you agree, Mary?”
Mary gave a short gasp; Mrs. Withers had addressed her by her first name! She had not dreamt that their newfound friendship would presume such a step of intimacy.
As if knowing her thoughts, Mrs. Withers turned a kind face to Mary. “I hope you will forgive me for using your Christian name so early in our acquaintance. But I truly feel we are kindred spirits, and our friendship is such that I should like to use first names between us. Unless that is not acceptable to you—you need only tell me. I shall not take offense.”
Mary swallowed and firmly nodded. “No. I…I would very much like such familiarity.” She smiled. “Indeed, I count you as a dear friend now…Amelia.”
Amelia gave a satisfied nod and reached over to pick up two more paper samples. “Very good. Now…which of these do you prefer? I think the one with the birds most attractive, don’t you?”
Mary, feeling a warm glow of happiness inside, nodded in agreement.
Chapter 8
“Charlotte! Welcome home, my dearest girl.” Lady Lucas’s husky voice called to her daughter as an elegant carriage arrived at the sweep in front of Lucas Lodge. Her younger daughter, Maria, bounced up and down on her toes in clear anticipation of seeing her elder sister.
Charlotte fairly bounded into her mother’s waiting arms, then gave Maria a hug.
“It is so good to be back, Mother,” she said warmly. “Thank you for taking us in on such short notice.”
Mr. Collins, who had been directing the servants to unload the luggage, joined them. “Indeed, we are quite beholden to you, Lady Lucas. Your beneficent ways will be much appreciated and never forgotten, I assure you. We hope we shall not be too much of an inconvenience to you. I expect to be settled in a new situation quite soon, be assured. Oh yes, quite soon. My previous employment under the patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh will no doubt have great influence for any future applications.”
“You are always quite welcome in our home, Mr. Collins,” Lady Lucas replied evenly. “Whether it be a few weeks or…longer. We have plenty of room and look forward to a happy visit with you. Come! Let us go inside. Please direct your coachmen to the stables. I assume they will spend the night?”
“Yes, although we can return them immediately if you like,” Mr. Collins said stiffly. “Although it is only her third-best carriage, Lady Catherine will surely wish it back promptly.”
“But the horses need a rest, my dear,” Charlotte said in a firm voice, then added with a pointed look, “Lady Catherine would be most displeased if they were returned to her in poor condition, would she not?”
Her tone knocked Mr. Collins out of his pique, and he nodded sullenly.
“Good!” Lady Lucas said brightly. She turned to the driver. “Our man will show you where you will stay tonight.” Then she took Charlotte’s arm and swept her into the house. “How are you feeling, dear? The first few months can be rocky for an expectant mother—as I well remember.”
***
Following refreshing cups of tea with freshly baked currant cake, Charlotte continued to sit with her mother, although Mr. Collins, upon learning that Sir William was in London and not expected back for another week, announced he would go up to their guest room to settle in. His wife and mother-in-law nodded, barely pausing in their conversation to reply. Lady Lucas’s other children were excused to go outside and play.
“Now, my dear,” Lady Lucas began, when everyone had left, “we are all alone, and you can unburden yourself to me with no one to overhear. This is such shocking news you share. We have all been so proud of your husband’s position at Hunsford. How did your husband come to be in the basket and lose the patronage of Lady Catherine?”
Charlotte gave a long exhalation before replying. “I fear my longtime association with Eliza is to blame.”
“How so? What can she have to do with it?”
“Lady Catherine still hopes that Mr. Darcy will end his marriage to her and marry Miss de Bourgh. It is absurd, of course. By all accounts, he and Eliza are quite happy and she is pregnant with their second child. He would never set her aside that I can see. But for some reason, Lady Catherine has turned her disappointment into anger towards my poor William.”
Lady Lucas shook her head. “But in most cases, only the bishop has the power to end a living. And there must be sufficient cause.”
“Indeed, and she wrote that his lack of attention to the parish roads was cause enough. Frankly, such motivation for dismissing him seems a trifling excuse at best. But we all know how much power Lady Catherine wields. Perhaps a timely donation to the bishopric was all she needed for her wishes to be fulfilled.”
“Well, no matter her motives, the result is the same. The most important thing now is for us to cut any malicious gossip firmly in the bud. Your husband’s reputation is sullied, but so is ours by association. Therefore, we shall say that you are having a difficult pregnancy and that your husband brought you home so that you could be under my care. We shan’t even speak of his dismissal but simply let people think he is taking a leave of absence. Such things are not unheard of; many a rector has left things in the hands of a curate for lengthy periods. With luck, word of Lady Catherine’s actions will not reach Meryton for many months. And by then, he may well have a new position and you will be happily settled.” She nodded and took a sip of her tea. “I know it is early days, but what are his prospects, do you think?”
“I have written to Eliza, asking her assistance in finding William a position. His new living might not come from such an illustrious patron, but that matters not. I also have suggested to my husband that he write to his former professors at Oxford. That university endows many livings, and perhaps one is vacant. A good word from a professor might secure it for him. Oh, Mama, I am so saddened to lose our home, but what counts most to me is that my husband put this disappointment behind him as soon as possible. William has a tendency towards a morose nature, you know.”
