~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On their return from Rosings Park, Collins saw an express on his desk. Per his instructions when he was not home, all post was to be placed there. He saw from the return direction it was from a Mr Phillips in Meryton. He seemed to remember that Mrs Bennet’s sister was married to a man by that name, but why would the man be writing to him?
Collins sat down and opened the epistle. There was some official document from the Court of Chancery. Was he to receive his birthright now before Mr Bennet was called home? He was almost ebullient as he read Mr Phillips’s letter. Soon enough he was calling out, “No! This cannot be! They are stealing from me!” Then he read the document from the court which confirmed what the solicitor had written. He felt a searing pain in his upper left arm and then the same in his chest. He clutched at the pain, trying to pull it out of his body, but it only intensified.
Those seated in the back parlour heard Mr Collins yelling out about something followed by a loud crash. Charlotte stood and made her way to her husband’s study. He was lying on the floor, on the flat of his back; one hand was on his chest, and his eyes were wide open and unseeing.
Keeping as calm as she could, Charlotte picked up the letter from Mr Phillips. After she read it, she could not decide if her corpulent husband’s constant overindulging any time he could eat had ended his life, the shock of discovering no Collins was ever in line to inherit Longbourn, or a combination thereof. She closed his eyelids and walked out of his study to her parlour.
“Charlotte, what was that noise?” Elizabeth asked worriedly. Her friend looked as if she was shocked.
“I am afraid my husband is no more,” Charlotte said before she sat.
Maria began to cry, not because she felt anything for Mr Collins but out of worry. Charlotte just sat staring ahead. Elizabeth took charge. She sent the manservant to the manor house to request the doctor attend them and to inform the butler what had occurred.
The physician confirmed what was already known. Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam began to assist as was needed and did what was required to be done. The undertaker was summoned, and the body removed.
All the while, Charlotte sat as she was. Only after Elizabeth insisted her friend drink heavily sugared tea did Charlotte show emotion, but none of it was sadness.
Chapter 19
“I need to write to my Uncle Edward to send his carriage and a maid to come collect me as soon as may be,” Elizabeth told a still-dazed Charlotte. “With first Miss de Bourgh’s passing and now Mr Collins’s, it is the right thing to do.”
Charlotte Collins was not in the state she was because she missed her husband’s company. To the contrary, she felt free for the first time since she had married the man. She would never admit this to Eliza, but her friend had been correct when she had admonished her about marrying one whose intellect was so inferior to her own.
No, her ennui was caused by the suddenness of the changes in her life. Even though being married to Mr Collins had been a chore, she had gained her own home, and the burden on her family had been relieved. What was she supposed to do now? Was she to return to Lucas Lodge and be a burden on her family again? She was no longer thespinsterto be felt sorry for; now she was awidowwho would be looked upon with pity.
Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy had arrived a half hour previously to condole and inform Mrs Collins of the arrangements for her husband’s funeral service and interment.
“Miss Bennet,” Darcy stated. “There is no need to trouble your uncle. We will all be travelling into London. That is, aside from Lord Hilldale, who will remain here to administer the estate until the heir is informed and claims the property. Between the Fitzwilliam coaches and mine, there is more than enough room so there is no need to inconvenience your uncle.”He mentioned both families’ vehicles because he did not want to make it seem like he was forcing her to ride with him.
Elizabeth appreciated the offer. She still wanted to convey her apology to Mr Darcy for the impolitic and rude words she had unleashed when she had allowed her vitriol to rule her. Given the recent events, she had not walked out like she normally did. She also felt somewhat confused. The Mr Darcy who had returned to Kent was nothing like the man she had believed him to be based on her admittedly erroneous sketch of his character. It seemed she needed to make a new sketch, and this time without any prejudices or preconceived notions.
“Charlotte, what do you plan to do?” Elizabeth turned to her friend. “Colonel Fitzwilliam did say that as the new rector will be preferred to the living by the heir, you have as much time as you need before you must vacate the parsonage.”
“Eliza, I have not thought that far ahead yet,” Charlotte responded. “I suppose that Maria and I should travel with you when you depart.” She looked at Colonel Fitzwilliam. “That is, if there is room for us in the conveyances?”
“There is more than enough space, Mrs Collins,” Fitzwilliam insisted. “In addition to my father’s equipage, we are taking the de Bourgh travelling coach with us to deliver to the heir for when said heir is ready to travel to see their new estate.”
As inquisitive as she was about the identity of the new heir, Elizabeth did not think it was her place to ask.
“In that case, I will see to the packing so Maria and I will be ready to travel with you when it is time to depart. Then, we only need to get from London to Meryton,” Charlotte decided.
“That will not be a problem, Charlotte. Maria was to remain with the Gardiners for some days before we travelled home; now it will be one more. You know my aunt and uncle will welcome you with open arms. To make sure they are not caught unawares, I will send them an express regarding ourtravel plans,” Elizabeth said. “I will help you with whatever you need.”
“Thank you, Eliza,” Charlotte replied warmly.
“Mrs Collins, do you know if your late husband had a will?” Darcy enquired. “Do you happen to know if he used a solicitor locally?”
“As to a Last Will and Testament, I know not. He used the services of Mr Jacoby in Hunsford because he was who Lady Catherine recommended. I am sorry I know no more than that.”
“Mrs Collins, you have suffered a great shock so please do not apologise,” Darcy returned as he and his cousin stood to take their leave.
“Are you sanguine with the arrangements for Mr Collins’s funeral?” Fitzwilliam asked.
“I am. However, do not expect many in the church. Thanks to his allegiance to Lady Catherine, my late husband was not popular among the parishioners in Hunsford,” Charlotte revealed. “But yes, being interred in the graveyard of the church he oversaw would have pleased him.”
Based on comments from some of the members of the parish they had spoken to, the cousins were aware that Mrs Collins’s words were nothing but the truth.
