Although he had no evidence, Mr. Collins was persuaded that Mr. Darcy’s inability to help was due to the influence of Lady Catherine. Could she have instructed her nephew not to assist him? He had had such hopes of help from Pemberley. Mrs. Darcy was his wife’s dearest friend, after all. Why had she not been able to do more?
“Bosh!” he exclaimed, abruptly striking a bush hard with his cane, causing the leaves to fly off. “She has poisoned his mind and heart against me, no doubt. What am I to do? What kind of a man cannot support his own family? Oh, the humiliation!”
He stood, fuming for a moment, and was about to turn back towards Lucas Lodge when he spied a couple crossing a nearby field. He squinted, trying to discern their identities. A man and a woman, that much was clear. And they were heading his way. For some reason, Mr. Collins felt an impulse to hide himself in a grove of trees off the main path. From there, he observed the couple strolling together, and snatches of a clearly comfortable conversation and laughter floated on the wind towards him. Still, he could not identify them.
The two reached the end of the field at the stile, and the gentleman—for it seemed apparent that it was a gentleman, Mr. Collins thought—gave his hand to assist the lady up and over the fence. The man then followed, jumping down beside her, laughing when he nearly lost his balance. Mr. Collins heard the lady join in with the merriment. Then the gentleman held his arm out, and she took it, but they did not continue walking at first. Mr. Collins’s mouth fell open as he watched the gentleman reach over to remove a bit of leaf from the lady’s bonnet near her face. He showed it to her, and she laughed again and took his hand, pressing it to her cheek.
The two turned towards the still-hidden Mr. Collins, and he gasped as their identities became clear to him.
Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Withers! Such intimate behavior between them. And him still in full mourning. Shocking! Well, well, well.
He continued to stay hidden as the couple walked up the path towards Longbourn, their hands just brushing each other as they strolled. When they were gone, he left the grove of trees, a small smile of satisfaction upon his face.
This might well be the answer to my securing a new position.
***
Mary was more than ready to go down to dinner precisely at six thirty. She was used to dining earlier at Longbourn in the autumn—around four o’clock. Consequently, she was famished. However, she knew it was fashionable to dine later.
Especially when one has the means for enough candles to light the dining room, as my brother does.
She had dressed in her nicest black gown and taken pains with her hair, thanks to her maid, Julia, who had proved quite adept at styling. Still, as she had looked at her pale image in the mirror, she had frowned. Black was so unflattering to her.
Not much longer until our mourning period is done. Then I wish never to wear black again.
She pushed her glasses up securely on her nose and, with a final nod, went downstairs. As she entered the impressive dining room, brightly lit with candles on every table and sideboard as she had expected, she saw Mr. Darcy and his younger sister, Georgiana, standing together, conversing softly.
The young lady, seeing Mary, smiled brightly and crossed over to take both her hands.
“Welcome, Mary. My brother and I are so dreadfully sorry not to have been here when you arrived. What must you think of us? But he had sudden business to attend to on the estate, and I returned too late this afternoon from taking foodstuffs to an ailing tenant to greet you. I hope you have not been too bored.”
Mr. Darcy joined them, bowing his head in greeting. “We are pleased to have you, Mary. I was just speaking with Lizzy, and she looks forward to your visiting her tomorrow.” He frowned a moment before continuing. “Today was…not a very good day for my wife. She had but little energy for conversing and slept much of the time. But I assure you she is glad—as we all are—that you have come.”
Mary tried to think of a proper response. Why did the words never come easily to her when she was around Mr. Darcy?
“I am…happy to be here. Yes, indeed, please be assured of it,” she said. “I hope that I may be of use as I believe that is the most vital thing in life—to be useful.”
She saw the siblings exchange a startled glance. Then Mr. Darcy gestured to the table and invited her to take a seat. She was seated on his right, and Georgiana sat across from her. Mr. Darcy took his chair at the head of the table and nodded to the staff to begin serving.
So much food! Mary was unused to so many courses for a family meal. Generally, they served but two courses at Longbourn unless there was company. She recalled with pride the five courses she had meticulously ordered when Mr. Yarby and Amelia came to dine the other week. But that meal was nothing to the bounty she saw before her now. Mary enjoyed the leek soup and the venison, which was then followed by roast capons. She began to eat as little as possible as plate after plate was served, but by the time the second fish dish was plated and after no fewer than four platters of vegetables had been offered, she had to wave away any more portions.
“Do you not care for fish?” Georgiana asked politely.
“I do enjoy it; however, I am unused to such abundance at dinner. You must understand: I practice mortification when it comes to food. I believe in concentrating less on the material things before me and, therefore, keeping my mind open to dwell on more spiritual matters.” Seeing the stunned expressions on her hosts’ faces, she quickly added, “Everything is quite delicious, however. I thank you.”
She saw Mr. Darcy try unsuccessfully to hide a smile as he took a large swallow of wine. “Of course, even our Lord was not above enjoying a good meal, true? And did he not turn water into wine for his guests? While you are correct, Mary, that overindulgence is never a good thing, I do hope you will not deny yourself the many pleasures that Pemberley has to offer.”
Mary blinked a moment, trying to come up with a reply. “Yes. My father urged me to explore your library, if that is agreeable to you.”
“Completely.”
There was a long pause before Mary turned her attention to his sister.
“Georgiana, your housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, mentioned to me that you were recently visiting your aunt at Rosings Park. Did you have an enjoyable time?”
“Yes, thank you, my visit was quite pleasant. I enjoy my cousin’s company very much. Like me, Anne is on the quieter side, and we spent many hours reading in the warmth of the greenhouse. Lady Catherine does not care to sit in there, you see, so we had a good deal of privacy. I had planned to stay longer, but then, of course, your sister had such a trying time with her delivery, so I returned sooner than expected. But I know I am welcome to return to Rosings Park at any time.
“I remember hearing Lizzy speak quite a bit about that great estate after her first visit with Mr. and Mrs. Collins at Hunsford rectory. They, of course, are no longer at the parish.”
