Aunt Madeleine tells me to be patient and just see what happens, but it is so very difficult! How I wish I had my Lizzy here to advise me! Do write to me, dearest, and tell me what you think I should do!
Your always loving sister,
Jane
Elizabeth stared at the letter for a long time. Oh, how she wished, how very desperately she wished that she could confide in Jane! But was it not odd that they were both facing similar situations, thirty miles apart? The two of them, who had always sworn to marry for love, were now in situations where they might be forsworn. Though Jane had the choice to say “no” to Mr. Stanford, while Elizabeth had no such option.
“What does Jane say?” Mrs. Bennet asked, putting her needlework aside.
“Just that she is still seeing a good many art exhibits.” Elizabeth folded the letter and put it in her pocket, just in time for Mr. Bingley to be announced. Mrs. Bennet still did not know about the Honourable Michael Stanford, and Elizabeth would not be the one to tell her. She pasted a smile on her face and rose to her feet as Mr. Bingley walked into the parlour.
“Miss Bennet! How lovely to see you today!” he said, enthusiastically.
“And you as well, Mr. Bingley,” she replied. “May I present our cousin, Mr. William Collins? Mr. Collins, this is Mr. Bingley, who is the new tenant of Netherfield Park, the estate closest to Longbourn.” Should she mention that Mr. Collins was the heir to the estate? Did Mr. Bingley even know thatLongbourn was entailed? It was common knowledge in the neighbourhood, so it would not surprise her in the least if Mr. Bingley knew of it.
She glanced at her mother, who caught her eye and shook her head, ever so slightly. Well, that answered that question; it was not to be mentioned.
“Good morning, Mr. Collins,” Mr. Bingley said, politely. He sat beside Elizabeth, while keeping his eyes fixed upon Mr. Collins.
Elizabeth felt nothing but irritation at this; was Mr. Bingley trying to show Mr. Collins that Elizabeth was spoken for? Could he not see that Mr. Collins’ attention was engaged by Mary? And what right did Mr. Bingley have to – Elizabeth stopped herself. There was no point in going any further down this path.
Her mother was speaking. “…Mr. Collins has a parish in Kent, and his patroness has kindly spared him for a fortnight so that he might meet us at last.”
Mr. Bingley nodded, solemnly. “Family is important. I wish I had more of it.”
Mr. Collins replied, equally solemnly, “As do I. My parents have passed on, and I have no siblings. The Bennets are the closest relatives I have.”
“I have two sisters, and I would happily give one of them to you, Mr. Collins! No, no, I am not serious, of course.”
Elizabeth smiled at this; she had not been at all certain that Mr. Bingley had a sense of humour, but evidently he did. This was encouraging. She had always found it interesting that some of the most jovial people in the world actually had no sense of humour. Sir William came to mind. He was always smiling, but she had never heard him say anything the least bit amusing.
“May I guess which sister came to mind, Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth said, teasingly.
“Not in company, Miss Bennet!” he said, laughing.
“How do you find living at – is it called Netherfield?” Mr. Collins asked, politely.
“Oh, I like it prodigiously! I know little about estate management, if I am honest; my good friend, Mr. Darcy, is to come and help me. He should have come weeks ago, but there was some sort of illness among the tenants that prevented his arrival.”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to say that her sister in London had actually met this gentleman, but Mr. Collins spoke first. “Is that Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley?”
“Why, yes, it is! Do you know him?” Mr. Bingley said.
Mr. Collins suddenly looked rather absent-minded. “I have heard the name, I think, but I know nothing of him.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jane was glad that Elizabeth was such a good correspondent. She was certain that her sister was keeping her informed of everything that was important.
Dearest Jane,
Our Cousin Collins is not a bad sort at all. Not the slightest bit handsome, sadly, but he is well-spoken and well-mannered. He has been paying quite a bit of attention to Mary. I have not yet asked Mary how she feels about him, as I think it best that they get to know each other rather better first, but it all seems quite promising. I need not tell you that Mama would be in alt for Longbourn to be kept in the family.
Kitty seems to think that Mary should marry Mr. Collins so that she might take Mama’s bedroom upon becoming mistress of Longbourn; happily, Mama was not in the room when that silly remark was made!
Mr. Collins seems to have heard of Mr. Darcy, the man you met at the Stanford’s home, but he was rather vague about it, so I learned nothing more.
Your loving sister,
