“I will tell you later.” Charlotte whispered back.
There were murmurs around the room. “Apology accepted, Mr. Collins.” And “Very well, Mr. Collins.”
But Mr. Darcy walked to Mr. Collins’ chair and said, “I must demand, Mr. Collins, that you not repeat that gossip again. I struggle to believe that I need caution a rector against gossiping, but needs must.”
Mr. Collins nodded, vigorously. “I understand, Mr. Darcy. I apologise for any injury I caused your sister.”
Mr. Darcy seemed satisfied, and returned to his seat.
There was a strained silence in the room, which Mrs. Bennet finally broke by saying, “Well! I think I should call for tea, should I not?”
Somehow, this mundane comment broke the tension in the room, and there was a good deal of laughter as the tea trays were brought in.
***
Elizabeth elected to walk Charlotte Lucas home, thereby managing a private conversation. “Tell me what happened! I saw him look at you while he was stumbling through his apology.”
Charlotte tried to look nonchalant as she replied. “I met him when he was out in your back garden, and we had a little talk.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “Then I am guessing that the apology was your idea, Charlotte.”
“It was, yes; but he was able to accept my advice.”
“You believe, then, that he might become an acceptable husband?”
“If he is able to accept good advice, then yes.”
Elizabeth noted the tension in her friend’s voice; perhaps it was galling to look for so little in a husband. So she said, quickly, “You would be mistress of Longbourn someday; that is worth a good deal.”
“Not enough for any of the Bennet girls to accept him, though.” There was no doubt; despite her assurances on the subject, Charlotte’s feelings were injured.
Elizabeth sighed. “Charlotte, Jane is on her way to becoming engaged to Mr. Bingley. Mary, for some reason, has it in her head that in marrying Mr. Collins, she would be a maiden sacrificed for the family good, and once she had the image in her head, it was impossible for her to view the prospect with equanimity. And certainly no one could seriously consider Kitty or Lydia as Mr. Collin’s wife.”
“And you?” Charlotte’s words were clipped.
“You know I have always said I would marry only for the deepest love, Charlotte.” Mr. Darcy’s face briefly appeared in Elizabeth’s mind; she dismissed his image at once.
Elizabeth stopped walking; Charlotte did the same. Elizabeth took Charlotte’s hands in hers and said, “Charlotte, I beg you; do not take it amiss that the Bennet girls turned him down. We, each of us, had our reasons, and those reasons appeared valid enough that even my mother did not press the issue. Mr. Collins is, if I may use the term, fair game for anyone, and that anyone may as well be you. I assure you that the Bennets would far rather lose Longbourn to you than to anyone else in the world.”
Charlotte felt comforted by these words, and turned to hug her friend. “Thank you for understanding, Eliza. It is hard enough to be on the shelf without feeling that you are taking the one man that no one else wants.”
“There are many young ladies who would be happy to take him on, but more importantly, he would be lucky to have you,” Elizabeth replied, staunchly.
They resumed walking. Elizabeth said, in a teasing voice, “If Jane will not house me, then perhaps you will let me stay on at Longbourn? I can teach your children to play the piano, though not well.”
“Perhaps you can teach them to play chess, Lizzy,” Charlotte replied. And so the conversation continued, each enjoying the light-hearted repartee, until they reached Lucas Lodge, whereupon Elizabeth hugged her friend and then headed home.
Chapter Forty-Four
Netherfield Park
When the Bingleys and the Darcys returned to Netherfield Park, it was necessary that everyone gather in the drawing room to discuss the events of that afternoon. The Hursts joined them. They were then, of necessity, made privy to the events of Ramsgate and were gratifyingly horrified at Mr. Collins’ rudeness.
“You poor child!” Mrs. Hurst said, gathering Georgiana into her arms. Georgiana was startled, but soon relaxed into the hold, finding comfort there.
“And Miss Bingley was amazing,” Mr. Darcy said, smiling at that young lady. “She slapped Mr. Collins right across the face!”
“Caroline, I confess that I was never more astonished in my life!” Mr. Bingley said. “I applaud you, of course, but I must ask – what on earth possessed you?”
