Page 29 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“Yes. Mrs. Collins opened my letter and answered it herself. Until then, she had no idea her husband was heir to Longbourn.”

Mary leaned forward. “Then who inherits?”

“His son, William. He is five years old.”

Kitty stared at him. “Five?”

“Your father rarely spoke of Mr. Collins, and I never met the gentleman, so I cannot tell you much about him. His widow says he spoke very little of his family.”

Mr. Phillips glanced down at the letter.

“Mrs. Collins was left comfortably situated by her father and has no wish to live at Longbourn. She has consulted her solicitor, however, and intends to lease the estate until her son is old enough to decide whether he wishes to live here. An agent will be appointed to find suitable tenants.”

Kitty’s face lost its color. “Then we must leave.”

“I am afraid so. Her solicitor will contact me about the arrangements. Mrs. Collins appears willing to allow us a reasonable time, but Longbourn now belongs to her son.”

Jane reached for Kitty’s hand.

“We always knew we would have to leave when Mr. Collins inherited,” Mary said.

“Unless he invited us to remain in our home.”

Mr. Phillips folded the letter. “Mrs. Collins must consider her son’s interests. She will not leave a valuable estate standing indefinitely.”

Jane looked around the drawing room. “Where shall we go?”

“Your uncle Gardiner and I have already discussed it. He and your aunt would be pleased to have you and Elizabeth with them in London. Mary and Kitty will come to us.”

Kitty’s eyes filled with tears. “We are to be separated.”

Jane put an arm around her. “Only for a time.”

“We have never been separated.”

Mr. Phillips reached across and took Kitty’s hand. “You will have a home with us for as long as you need one.”

Elizabeth rose and crossed to the window.

Outside, Longbourn looked unchanged. The lawn stretched green beneath the summer sun, and the roses remained in bloom. Beyond the trees lay the fields she had walked since childhood.

Soon strangers would live here.

Had Lydia not run away with Wickham, Papa would still be alive. Mamma would still be mistress of Longbourn.

Elizabeth covered her face and wept.

Jane came to her and put her arms around her.

“Oh, Lizzy.”

Elizabeth clung to her sister as weeks of grief broke free. When she could bear the room no longer, she pulled away and hurried from the house.

She did not stop until she reached Oakham Mount.

There, beneath the open sky, she wept until she had no tears left.

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