Chapter 9:
"I believe you were correct, Colonel."
A bit confused, the Colonel questioned, "in what respect, Mrs. Collins?"
"It was too lovely a day to be spent indoors with only myself for company. I have never felt alone when outdoors."
"Whereas you may be alone at the parsonage, I have my aunt to contend with. Being outside has never had as much appeal to me as when I am at Rosings. Quite a coincidence, is it not, Mrs. Collins?"
Charlotte laughed. "Oh yes, Colonel. Though I find myself with a similar coincidence."
The Colonel's only response was a raised eyebrow in question.
"I often find that I have no need to stare out of windows unless I am dining at Rosings. Peculiar isn't it?"
The Colonel laughed and she joined.
"Oh forgive me, Colonel. I should not speak so of your aunt who has been nothing but kindness and solicitude to myself and Mr. Collins."
"You have forgotten to mention mettlesome, intrusive and high-handed in your description of my aunt. Take care, Mrs. Collins, or you shall begin to flatter her as your husband."
Charlotte could not help but smile at such candidness.
After a few moments of silence, the Colonel began, "I was never too fond of visiting Rosings when I was a child. I found the manor and its occupants much too oppressive for my liking. Anne was often sick and unable to play with Darcy and myself and my aunt was adamant against childish behavior."
"Weren't you and Mr. Darcy children?" Charlotte questioned.
"Yes, but that seemed to have escaped my aunt's notice. With time, however, we learned to make the best of our visits. We often sat with Anne when she was too sick to play or fled to the park and gardens to escape our aunt's attention. As we grew, the journey became even less favorably viewed. Darcy, by then, had become my aunt's chosen one; the one who would wed Anne."
"And what did you become?" Charlotte questioned softly.
With a rueful smile, the Colonel answered, "dispensable... to her at least. Darcy counted on my presence for our yearly visits to keep him sane and I could never say no. For years, my only solace and company was the park. Until, five years ago."
There was no mistaking his meaning. He had found solace and company in her during his stays at Rosings. Charlotte had made Rosings more bearable.
She smiled at him. "You have made a wonderful companion at Rosings as well, Colonel."
After that, they talked of trivial things. He amused her with childhood stories about climbing trees and scaring his aunt, swimming in the river with Darcy in their church clothes and sneaking Anne sweets when she was ill.
Most importantly, he listened to her. He listened as she spoke of her life in Meryton and how her final years there, she had felt herself to be a burden to her family. She told him of feeling second best to Elizabeth; the proof, she had said, was in her marriage. Had her husband not proposed to Elizabeth before turning to Charlotte as a consolation prize?
They walked and talked for hours.
As they made their way back to the parsonage, Charlotte was so engrossed in the Colonel's latest tale of his boyhood misadventures, she did not notice the tree root that was sticking up from the ground and so, she tripped only to be caught by the Colonel.
Their faces were mere inches from each other. She could feel his heartbeat, see the flecks of green in his eyes. Most of all, she could feel him. She felt his strong arms circling her waist. His body pressed against hers.
As she stared into his eyes, there was no mistaking it, he was an incredibly attractive man and she was incredibly attracted to him. If she wasn't mistaken, he was also incredibly attracted to her.
"It seems, Mrs. Collins," he whispered, "that I wrong after all. The mischief isn't only indoors." and with that, he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek.
It was hours before Charlotte resumed breathing normally and even longer before the smile left her face.
