Chapter 12:
Elizabeth could not believe her eyes, Charlotte actually looked happy. Mrs. Collins came in running to meet her, her face flush with excitement for her dear friend was visiting her and though she would not admit it out loud, she was looking forward to the intellectual stimulation that such a friend (and not her husband) could provide.
After a verbose welcome from her cousin, Elizabeth found herself shuffled from room to room, where Mr. Collins eagerly showed his cousin his humble abode. Though he had not made it to offering for her hand, he still wanted his fair cousin to admire his situation.
"It is also very charming, Charlotte" said Lizzie, sinking into one of the seats in Mrs. Collin's drawing room. Charlotte sat next to her friend and called for some tea, relishing in being a mistress of a home, albeit humble, that could call upon servants to serve on her and her friend.
"Are you happy?" inquired Lizzie, looking closely at her friend, who was still smiling.
"I am" said Charlotte very composed, "I was never a dreamer like you, I do not fancy myself in love, but Mr. Collins has provided me with the security that only marriage could provide and for that, I am grateful."
"That does not sound very romantic" teased Lizzie, reaching for a scone that one of the maids had brought in.
"It is not" chucked Charlotte, "Alas, I never pretended to be."
"No, you did not" said Lizzie, smiling with her eyes. The rest of the afternoon was passed in easy conversation. Charlotte told her that her sister Maria and her father would join them in a week and they would make a very nice party.
"Charlotte!" a voice bellowed from another part of the house.
"What is ever the matter?" she asked, startled, standing up to find her husband running to find her.
"Cousin Elizabeth, make haste! Lady Catherine has invite us to dine with her tonight" he said, out of breath. Lizzie almost laughed—this was the reason for being startled? She would have thought they would at least meet the Queen with that type of fanfare!
"Do not fret on your attire, dearest cousin, Lady Catherine is very generous and understanding of social standing" he mumbled, looking at her with an apologetic smile. Lizzie raised an eyebrow at Charlotte who held back from laughing.
"Come, let us get ready" said Charlotte, linking her friend's arm and showing her to her rooms, where a maid was ready to attend her.
"Thank you" she said to the young maid, who curtsied and was already busy unloading her trunks.
"Would this do ma'am?" she asked timidly, taking out a hunter green dress from her trunks.
"I suppose" said Elizabeth, "I hope it will do" she teased, but the maid responded with a nervous smile. "Do not fret, I am not easily intimidated though I am quite curious on meeting this grand Lady Catherine."
"May the Lord be with you" whispered the maid, giving Lizzie a weak smile, to which she responded by laughing and reaching for her brush, to help the maid get on with her preparations.
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On another part of England, another Bennet sister was getting herself ready for an intimate family dinner.
"My dear" said Mrs. Gardiner, softly knocking on her door. "Oh Jane, you look beautiful as always" she said, smiling fondly at her beloved niece, "I am afraid we are to be having a later supper. Your uncle is having a conversation with a tradesman and they might not be finished on time. I have asked the children to be put to bed, you may likewise eat earlier if that is what you prefer."
"I thank you Aunt, but I would be happy to wait for both of you, if that pleases you. There is a book I was reading earlier that I would like to finish and perhaps this time will be ideal for such an endeavor" she said.
"Wonderful, I shall join you once I have visited the children" said Mrs. Gardiner, picking up her skirts and going up the stairs to the children's area.
Jane Bennet looked at herself in the mirror and smiled at her reflection. She looked lovely, if she was honest, she looked lovely always but there was something about the yellow dress that she was wearing that went nicely with her complexion. Lizzie always told her yellow was a good color for her.
Jane made her way to the drawing room, found the book she was looking for but was distracted by a baby carriage in the middle of the room. She looked around and found no one was there. Her aunt and uncle did not have a baby and she could not imagine who would have brought one.
She was about to sit when she heard the baby rustling, the warm covers moving all around her. Without warning, the baby began to cry, slow at first and then with an earth-shattering noise.
"Oh my" whispered Jane, using her instincts to pick up the baby and sooth her, "It is quite alright, little one" she said, holding the baby in her arms and rocking her, "Shhh" she cooed, calming the baby down. The baby had stopped crying, her eyes closing softly to Jane's soft movements and calming voice.
"Mrs. Ford!" bellowed a voice from the entrance, walking into the room. A gentleman stopped at the doorway, looking at the baby and then at the beautiful young lady who very lovingly held her.
"Forgive me, I was calling for the baby's nurse—have you not seen her?" he inquired, taken aback by the lovely sight infront of him.
"I have not" said Jane, "I came to read and found this adorable baby. I am sorry, I perhaps should have not carried it"
"No, not at all, thank you" he said, at a loss for words, "She seems to have taken to you"
"She is angel, her mother must be very thankful" she said lovingly. Something shifted in his expression but she could not make out what it was for her uncle soon walked in.
"Oh Jane" he said, chuckling, "I should not be surprised that the baby has taken to you—you always have a way with children. Allow me to introduce you, this is Mr. Weston, we were having a business meeting, a very nice proposition on...well, I will not bore you with those details, he is a great chap. This is my niece, Miss Jane Bennet from Hertfordshire who is staying with us for the time being."
"How do you do?" said Mr. Weston, nodding his head towards her. Of course, she is a gentlewoman, he said to himself.
Jane smiled and slowly put the baby into her bassinet, when a frazzled looking woman walked in, who Jane surmised to be a Mrs. Ford.
"What was all that noise? Oh Mr. Weston, are you both finished? Would you like to join us for a late supper?" said Mrs. Gardiner, taking in the scene in front of her.
"I thank you Mrs. Gardiner but we must be on our way. We had stopped at the doctor's residence on the way here, you know Doctor Shermy, the old man who lives near you? But we must be back. I would not want my dear Emily to catch a cold" said Mr. Weston, speaking very rapidly. Jane noted how different he carried himself then the easy manner that gentlemen usually spoke with. He seemed very direct and forthcoming.
"Perhaps another time?" asked Mrs. Gardiner.
"Perhaps" he answered, bowing in response. "I thank you for your time, Mr. Gardiner, we shall continue the conversation at another time, I apologize for calling on you so late, it was a decision that needed an answer as soon as possible."
"Of course" said Mr. Gardiner, who was very pleasant and gentlemanly.
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bennet and I thank you for putting my angel back to sleep" he said, before motioning to Mrs. Fords, bending down and picking up the bassinet, and went out the door.
Jane watched him go, surprising herself that she wished to know more about him. With that thought, she joined her aunt and uncle for a late supper, where much to her dismay, they did not mention him at all.
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Elizabeth's first impression of Rosings was that she would loath to live there. The place looked like palace, that was certain, but it was cold and full of windows that instead of inviting beauty, seemed to be ostentatiously pushing it out. They had walked there, since the walk from Hunsford was not far and the weather was chilly, albeit pleasant.
They were received in the drawing room where a Lady who had the look of someone who had once been very handsome, looked Elizabeth over.
After formal invitations, she invited them to sit. Immediately, refreshments were brought out and Lizzie could occupy herself with tinkering with her cup, instead of looking at the interrogating eyes of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
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Short but hopefully sweet? Alas, that is all I can do right now but the story is alive in my head and I can't wait to keep sharing it with you :) As always, reviews feed my enthusiasm ;)