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“Tired. Catherine, actually before we go on. Please remember to make the effort and call Catherine by her proper name. She took your advice and has made it clear she wishes to be known as Catherine now but neither Mama or Lydia are complying with her request. It is one more thing to make her sad. It would be good if you would do that.”
“I will try every time. I might not be perfect but I will try.”
“Good. Anyway, as I was saying. Catherine is being dragged round the neighbourhood by Mama and so much of the work with the tenants has fallen to me. But I have made no fuss about it, because I do not want it to be an excuse to refuse me staying with Jane.”
“No other help?”
She shook her head.
“My arrival will distract them both until Charlotte is married. And Mrs. Bennet will have plenty to say all next week as well. Get into Jane’s coach next Saturday and come to London.”
“I worry that they will demand I return.”
“Not a word until Jane arrives but there will be a surprise when she steps down from the carriage. If there are demands for you to return Jane will write to Mrs. Bennet saying she needs you.”
“Oh my. Really?”
Elizabeth nodded her head.
“How are you doing? Other than being busy.”
Mary shrugged.
“I think I spent the years from 12 to 18 in a fog, living at Longbourn but not really seeing what was going on. The last year has been one shock after another. I was absorbed in practicing at the piano, constantly reading, not bothering to help round the estate. It took your leaving right after Jane’s wedding for me to understand what was really going on. Every day since then has been busy, occasionally with Mama but mostly just dealing with the demands of the estate.”
She was silent for a moment.
“Mr. Collins is an odd man, full of odd quirks in his character. But I would have liked to be the wife of an ordained minister. But I was not even considered. Mama ignored me and Catherine and pushed Lydia to him. Mr. Collins ignored me and Lydia and focused on Catherine. Lydia ignored everybody and is still focused purely on redcoats. I worry that will not end well. I know I am plain but.”
The words failed her and the tears started. Elizabeth held her sister in her arms for a long time. The shoulder of her dress was soaked by the time Mary got herself back under control. Elizabeth waved away the dampness. Mary’s mood was much more important.
“I was going to wait until you were in London before revealing my plan. Jane’s husband is the third son and both he and the heir are married. The second son is not married, and has no intentions of marrying. He is good friends with several of the ministers who are on the staff of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace. Jane and I are going to work to get you married while you are in London.”
Mary’s mouth opened and closed but no words came out. Finally, she was capable of speech.
“Really? Just like that?”
“Yes, just like that. From all that you have told me about this Mr. Collins you would be wasted with him. I am sorry that Catherine has to marry the man, but there is nothing I can do about that. Members of the Archbishop’s staff need an intelligent wife, one who understands the role of the wife of a clergyman, but also the dynamics at the apex of the Church. Both Jane and I think you will do very well.”
“Lizzie, it is not as simple as that!”
“I think you will find that there will be a marriage in London before the end of March.”
Elizabeth had performed a miracle. Mary was no longer feeling sorry for herself, suddenly a whole new range of possibilities opened up in front of her. Married to an ambitious young parson? She did not realise that she was sitting there, silently smiling. Elizabeth was feeling very smug.
--
“Jane’s letter helped me deal with the idea of being married to Mr. Collins. I am only 17, it feels too soon but she talked about how there is so much pressure for young ladies to get married. If there was an alternative locally then I think I would be more upset. But there is not, so I am more resigned to it.”
Catherine looked at her devious sister with gratitude.
“And your letter was totally fantastic. I had felt totally powerless, all but sold off by our mother, and there was no point in expecting any assistance from our father. Your words allowed me to not just get some power back but go beyond that and actually have some power for the first time. I know that it will be in the future but I am going to be the Mistress of Longbourn. Neither of our parents were ready for me to be so blunt. Mama harps on at me every single day about how cruel it will be for me to supplant her as the Mistress. Ignoring the irony that she all but forced me into this position. What is the phrase? You reap what you sow?”
Catherine Bennet was resigned to marrying William Collins, but the inadequacies of the man were more than made up for by his position as heir. Elizabeth stirred the pot.
“I have made a small list that you can share with your new husband once you are settled in Kent. It is important that the heir to the estate communicates with the current Master about all the important, and long neglected, matters.”
She handed over the single sheet of paper. Catherine read it aloud.
