“Anne is bringing three thousand pounds to Charlotte’s wedding to give to our father!”
Mr. Collins’ brows rose to his hairline. “Miss de Bourgh is planning to give three thousand pounds to your father?’ He was clearly horrified.
“Well, she offered it, and we did not know at the time that Mr. Bingley would propose to Jane,” Mary said, shakily.
“Does her ladyship know?” he asked, quickly.
Elizabeth hastened to respond. “I think not; Anne took the money from her mother’s safe, but the estate is actually Anne’s and the money is therefore hers.”
There was a strained silence in the room. Finally, Elizabeth said, “Well, it is simple enough. We just tell Anne that the money is no longer needed, and she is to put it back in the safe.”
“Is there anything else I should know?” Mr. Collins asked, his voice a bit tight.
Both sisters shook their heads, vehemently.
***
Anne was rather put out when Elizabeth told her that the money was no longer required. “It is not often that I am able to come to someone’s rescue,” she said. “And I admit that I wasquite looking forward to being the white knight, riding in to save everyone.”
“Anne, the fact that you werewillingto be the knight means that youarethat knight,” Elizabeth assured her. “And you are never to forget it.”
“So your sister is to marry for love after all!” Anne mused. “That is very, very good news. Now we must getyoumarried for love as well, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth reddened and looked down.
“Aha!” Anne chortled. “So there is someone!”
Elizabeth did her best to demur, but sharp-eyed Anne was not about to let it go. “Is it someone at home?”
Elizabeth shook her head.
“Is it someone I know?” Anne persisted.
Elizabeth hesitated.
Anne’s hand flew to her mouth. “It is Darcy! I did think there was something odd in your voice when you asked about him!”
Elizabeth’s red face told Anne everything she wanted to know. “Oh! Lizzy! We could be cousins!”
“No, we certainly could not,” Elizabeth replied at once. “He has scarcely even looked at me; I have no reason whatever to hope.”
“Why, you are everything perfect for him! You like the country, you enjoy being out of doors, you love to read, you are the daughter of an estate owner – how could he not have looked at you?”
Elizabeth could not reply.
“Well, I tell you this,” Anne said. “When we all gather for Reggie’s wedding, I will make certain that he looks at you, I promise you that! Can I stay with you, Lizzy?”
“Stay with me?” Elizabeth had not yet become accustomed to Anne’s rapid changes of topic.
“When we go to Meryton!! I want to stay with you at Longbourn, not with everyone else at Netherfield.”
“I am certain that would be fine,” Elizabeth replied.
“And I will convince Mother that we may leave Mrs. Jenkinson at home!”
***
Dear Mama,
