“Um…well, once Papa’s mourning is over, I suppose they will make their intentions known to the general populace.”
“So sweet. And, how old is Mrs. Withers, again?”
“Nearly thirty-four—why?”
“And your dear father is what—fifty-nine?”
Mary frowned. “This month, yes. To what end do these questions lead, Mr. Collins? What concern are their ages to you?”
“Nothing, nothing. I note just a bit of an age difference between the two, but it should not be insurmountable. True love should see that as no impediment, to be sure.” He glanced at the clock standing in the hall. “Gracious, is that the time? I must bid you adieu, Cousin Mary. Do give your father my best wishes, and—perhaps do not mention that I am aware of his relationship with Mrs. Withers—in case he thinks I spoke out of turn in bringing it up. I should hate to offend him. Mr. Yarby took me into his confidence, you see.”
“You may be assured of my discretion,” Mary said earnestly. “Good day.”
***
After Mary left, Mr. Collins went into his father-in-law’s library to think.
Thirty-three, eh? The same age as my dear Charlotte. And if she was able to bear me a son, Mrs. Withers might well be able to do the same for Mr. Bennet once they marry. Of course, Mr. Bennet has only managed to produce girls, but I can’t take a chance of losing Longbourn if he gets a son. I must find a way to sever this relationship.
He thought about spreading the gossip of Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Withers’s early and improper relationship throughout Meryton, but he knew that might not be enough to force Mr. Bennet to release Mrs. Withers and fire Yarby. He had often seen how little his cousin cared for the good opinion of others. Money allowed one to do that. And what did it matter if the romance was a bit hasty? Once he married her and installed her as the mistress of Longbourn…the speed of it would likely soon be forgotten.
No, I must find some other way. Perhaps I need to focus on my co-rector. What do we know about Yarby anyway? Perhaps there is some scandalous behavior that led his rector to encourage him to move on. Yes. Mr. Bennet might well have been taken in by a deceitful parson, unaware of his true character. Indeed, it is my obligation to Longbourn to source out any disreputable behavior of Yarby’s past. I shall write a letter at once to his former rector in Dorset and see what may be learned that I could turn to my advantage.
Unwilling to walk back to his rented rooms in Meryton for this task, Mr. Collins sat at Sir William’s broad mahogany desk, pulled out a sheet of paper, dipped a pen in the inkwell, and began to compose.
Chapter 26
Birthdays were not something ordinarily much celebrated in the Bennet household. A favorite dessert might be prepared, and note of the anniversary date made at dinner with a small gift or two. However, Mary felt it would be only proper and right to mark the occasion in a bigger way for her father this year in light of the fact that, had the shooting accident ended in a different result, he would not be celebrating a birthday at all.
Knowing her father would likely not want a big fuss made, she proposed a simple dinner party and suggested that he choose the guests. He immediately listed both the Yarby gentlemen, and Amelia as his desired attendees.
“Not the Phillipses?” Mary asked hopefully. The more people who attended, the more Mr. Bennet would have to circulate and therefore not be able to spend much time with Amelia in close conversation. “What of the Collinses, or at least Sir William and Lady Lucas?”
“No,” her father replied. “I believe a smaller party will suit me quite well.”
The sole invitation was duly written and hand delivered with a happy and grateful acceptance immediately issued.
***
The day of the celebration arrived, and throughout Longbourn House the aromas of roasting beef and parsnips mingled with the scent of the spice and fruit cake baked earlier that morning. Mary and Kitty made decorations of colorful paper streamers and hung them in the dining room, hoping their father would not think them too silly. As they worked, Kitty muttered that she would have preferred to have this celebration be “family only”; however, she allowed as how she was “resigned to it” and would do her best to be a gracious hostess.
That evening, Mary again wore her maroon dress with the garnet necklace and made Sarah rework her hair style twice until it was exactly the way she wished. Satisfied, Mary went downstairs where she found Kitty looking quite elegant, dressed in one of their mother’s more beautiful gowns that had been cut down for her. Their father was wearing his finest attire as well. They all moved into the drawing room to await their guests.
The Yarby brothers and Mrs. Withers arrived on time and bearing gifts. Mr. Yarby’s present was obvious from its wrapping: a bottle of spirits of some kind. However, Mary could not discern what was in the long, flat package Amelia carried. Acting as hostess, she took both offerings and added them to the gifts from Kitty and her that she had already set out, then invited her guests to take seats and tried to steer the conversation to safe and uncontroversial topics. Mr. Phillip Yarby sat next to Kitty, and he was as charming as before, paying her attentions that were solicitous without being too flirtatious.
Mary could not help but note that her father had sat, not in his favorite chair, but on one of the two settees, likely in the hopes Amelia would join him. But she had chosen to sit by her brother Robert on the opposite settee—a place Mary herself had hoped to claim. No matter, she would have him on her right at the table during dinner, she thought as she joined her father on the settee.
And once Amelia becomes mistress of Longbourn, she will take her place at the head of the table across from Papa, and I shall once more be relegated to a place somewhere in the middle.
***
Following the dinner—declared “utterly delicious” by all—the party moved back to the drawing room for dessert, tea, brandy, and the opening of gifts.
“I should have advised everyone in advance not to buy me presents,” said Mr. Bennet. “It was not necessary; your attendance here at this little celebration is more than enough.”
“Nonsense, Papa, you certainly deserve all you can get this year after what you went through in the accident,” declared Kitty. “Even though, if we are going to be honest, you did receive a goodly number of Christmas presents.” She giggled.
“It is true that most people make little mark of their natal day with a grand celebration and presents,” Phillip Yarby noted. “But if such a meal as we just enjoyed might become a tradition, then I can only hope to receive an invitation every year to honor you, sir.”
