“Thank you, Mrs. Collins,” Elizabeth returned, grinning and curtseying to the floor.
Elizabeth chose the room with the largest windows. It was not the biggest or best decorated of the available rooms, but she liked the view of the nearby park – doubtless belonging to Lady Catherine de Bourgh – very well.
Mr. Collins was clearly delighted to show off his home, and he could not have wished for a better audience. Mary was delirious with joy at the idea of managing her own home, and Elizabeth, grateful that she had been allowed to accompany them, was happy to add her own praise.
It was not, in fact, difficult to find things to praise. Mr. Collins had clearly done his best to make the home as warm and welcoming for Mary as was possible. The floors and furniture shone with polish, the windows were free of dust and cobwebs, the kitchen had been scrubbed to a fare-thee-well.
Mary thanked Mrs. Watkins quite sincerely for her efforts, and the cook blushed as she curtsied and replied. “Dinner will be ready at seven, ma’am, if that suits. Usually the master takes his dinner at six, but we thought you might be late getting in.”
“That is perfect, Mrs. Watkins. I agree that six in the evening will be our usual time.”
Tea was served in the parlour for the travelers, and then everyone repaired to their own rooms to rest before dinner.
Chapter Sixty-Four
Do you mean to tell me, Lady Lucas, that Charlotte will wed the Viscount?” Mrs. Bennet’s voice rose a full octave by the end of her question.
“That is exactly right, my dear Mrs. Bennet,” Lady Lucas said. If there was a good deal of smugness in her voice, she could hardly be blamed. She had listened to Mrs. Bennet boast about Jane’s beauty for many years now, and it was high time the worm turned.
“Why, I can scarce believe it!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. “Jane, Jane, come here.”
Jane had been about to enter the parlour, but had paused upon seeing Lady Lucas there. She did not much like witnessing the competition between the two ladies who purported to be good friends, but there was no escape now. “What is it, Mama?”
“Lady Lucas wishes me to believe that Mr. Fitzwilliam, who is really the Viscount Worthing, has proposed to her Charlotte!”
“Congratulations, Lady Lucas,” Jane said, sweetly. “I am certain Charlotte will make a wonderful Viscountess.”
Mrs. Bennet turned to her eldest daughter. “Jane, you believe this preposterous tale?”
“I do indeed, Mama, as I had already heard it from Sarah.”
Mrs. Bennet threw her hands into the air. “Surely the Earl and Countess will forbid such a match!” she declared, almost feverishly.
“On the contrary, they visited us yesterday and told us they were everything delighted, and wished to help plan the wedding! Such lovely people, and such good manners. I shall be quite pleased to be related to the Earl and Countess of Matlock.” The self-satisfaction in Lady Lucas’ voice was almost more than Mrs. Bennet could bear.
“He is quiteodd, though, is he not?” Mrs. Bennet did her best to sound disdainful.
Lady Lucas shrugged. “He is a Viscount and will someday be the Earl of Matlock. He may be as odd as he likes.”
There could be no reply to that, and Lady Lucas took her leave soon after. No sooner had the front door closed behind her then Mrs. Bennet burst into tears.
“Why, Mama!” Jane hastened to put her arms around her mother.
“It has all gone wrong, Jane,” Mrs. Bennet sobbed. “You were supposed to make the best match, and now there is no money and no gentlemen, and Charlotte will one day be a Countess! No, there is no justice in the world, that is certain.”
“Mama, please, listen. Mary has married Mr. Collins, and we will never have to leave Longbourn; we just have to get through this next few – well, six or so – months, and then there will be another harvest, and –“ And here Jane broke down as well, and the two women clung together.
***
In the last days before Christmas, everyone did their best to pretend that all was well at Longbourn. The Gardiner’s food hampers were raided, and the girls worked as long as there was daylight to finish the gifts they were making. Even wax candles were occasionally put into use. Mr. Gardiner had madea few attempts to speak with Mr. Bennet privately, but he was stymied by Mr. Bennet’s unwillingness to engage, and so finally ceased his efforts.
Mr. Bingley came to call, and he was alone. Mr. Darcy did not accompany him, nor did his sisters. He immediately took a seat beside Jane. Her heart beat fast and her face blushed beautifully as she looked up at him. Was this to be the day? Oh, how she hoped it was!
“Miss Bennet,” he began. “I am not certain I understand recent events.”
“Do what do you refer, Mr. Bingley?” she asked.
“Why, simply the disappearance of Miss Elizabeth. I did see her go off to Kent with Mr. and Mrs. Collins, did I not? I begin to wonder if I imagined the whole thing!” He laughed a little.
