Chapter Seven
Mrs. Bennet could not believe that Mr. Collins had not proposed. She was almost in tears later that night when she came to Elizabeth's chamber to find out what had happened on her walk.
"Mama, we went into Meryton and conducted our errands as arranged," explained Elizabeth as she unpinned her hair and started to brush it.
"But did you not talk?" asked Mrs. Bennet, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Yes, we talked about many different things," said Elizabeth truthfully.
"But did he not propose?"
"Mama, I think he had a lot on his mind," said Elizabeth, trying to avoid giving Mrs. Bennet any details.
"Then perhaps he will tomorrow," said Mrs. Bennet, looking a little more cheerful. "I do hope he hurries up, Lizzy. There are a lot of arrangements to make if there is to be a wedding."
"I would wait and see, Mama. You must not anticipate anything."
"Of course I must, Lizzy. Weddings don't just happen. I will go and talk to Mrs. Phillips tomorrow. She has some experience in these matters."
Elizabeth looked alarmed. The last thing she needed was word getting out that a wedding was imminent. Her aunt was almost as indiscreet as her mother.
"Mama. You cannot. Mrs. Phillips has enough worries just now. Her eldest has a bad chest cold. The wedding will be the last thing on her mind."
"Oh, he is recovering," said Mrs. Bennet, who had no interest in her nephew's health. "My dear sister will be glad to have something cheerful to talk about and what better than a wedding, pray?"
Elizabeth despaired. She realised not for the first time that if her mother was set on a plan of action there was nothing she could do to stop it. It was a pity, because on this occasion her mother was going to feel sorely disappointed when she found out there was to be no wedding.
Elizabeth did not tell Jane what she had done as she suspected that Jane would not entirely approve. However, she was desperate to share with someone what had occurred and the next day she went to visit her best friend Charlotte Lucas and told her what had occurred. Like herself Charlotte was unmarried and being three years older than Lizzy was already viewed as an old maid. Her single status did not seem to unduly upset Charlotte.
"I am sorry that I have not seen you for several days, Lizzy," said Charlotte as they sat in the garden at Lucas Lodge. "We have had my aunt staying and she takes up a great deal of time."
Elizabeth laughed. "I have missed you, Charlotte. It doesn't matter. We too have a guest. Mr. Collins."
"So I heard from Kitty and Lydia. And have you found him as difficult as you have on other visits?"
"Yes, I have, and that is what I wanted to talk to you about."
"What is it, Lizzy?"
"Mr. Collins proposed to me," announced Elizabeth.
"And did you accept?" asked Charlotte curiously.
"Oh Charlotte, you should know me better than that. No, I did not. I managed to persuade him that I was not the wife for him."
"And how did you do that?"
Elizabeth blushed. It was not easy to confess to Charlotte even though she was not as easily shocked as Jane. "I implied there was madness in the family and as such he would not want me as his wife. It was most fortunate he seemed to agree with me."
Charlotte looked as if she was struggling not to laugh. "Oh Lizzy, that was not kind."
"No, it wasn't, but what else could I do? Mama is so desperate for us all to get married. And if one of us married Mr. Collins she would still have a home at Longbourn.
"And has Mr. Collins asked Mrs. Bennet to leave?"
"No, not at the moment, and he keeps saying he won't. He has a home in Kent. He would not want to live at Longbourn. He is too attached to Lady Catherine."
"And have you told Mrs. Bennet what have you done?"
Elizabeth looked at her friend in mock horror. "No… Mama would be furious. She keeps wondering why Mr. Collins hasn't proposed. She has gone to visit Aunt Phillips today about wedding plans."
"That must be rather awkward," said Charlotte thoughtfully as she poured a drink for Elizabeth. "And how is Mr. Collins?"
"Relieved that he has not wed himself to a madwoman I think, though I notice he is feeling a little awkward. Last night he was looking at all of us while we dined as if we had suddenly grown two heads. Hopefully he will soon take his leave and return to Kent. He is not an easy guest."
"Do you think he would like to join us at Lucas Lodge for dinner tonight? It would give you all a break from him."
"Oh Charlotte, we could not foist him upon you."
"I do not see it in that light. I thought you would enjoy a peaceful dinner, and I know there are things my father would enjoy discussing with him."
Elizabeth thought that was doubtful. It was impossible to discuss anything with Mr. Collins because he was always talking. "I'm sure he will be happy to come and get away from Mama's prying eyes and innuendos."
"Then I shall walk back to Longbourn with you and invite him," said Charlotte calmly.
As Elizabeth had suspected, Mr. Collins accepted the invitation with alacrity and arranged to leave with Charlotte at once.
Mrs. Bennet was offended at his sudden desertion. "But sir, we were expecting you to dine with us," she said.
"Mrs. Bennet, I would not like to cause offence, but it is so kind of Miss Lucas to invite me, I cannot decline such a pleasant invitation."
Mrs. Bennet shot Charlotte a look of anger. Kitty and Lydia looked delighted at the prospect of not having to endure Mr. Collins for the rest of the day.
"Well, when will you be back?" Mrs. Bennet asked ungraciously.
"I have invited Mr. Collins to spend the night at Lucas Lodge," said Charlotte calmly. "We tend to dine very late and I would not want him to travel back later on unfamiliar roads."
"Very well." Mrs. Bennet had no choice to accept the new arrangements, but as soon as they had departed she began to rail at Lizzy in an agitated voice. "How could he do that? Charlotte Lucas is a snake, she had no right to invite him."
"Of course she did, Mama, and it was very kind of Charlotte to do so."
"Kind, the Lucas family are never kind!" spat Mrs. Bennet. "She must have some ulterior motive."
"Mother, of course she doesn't."
"Well, we will see," said Mrs. Bennet, refusing to be mollified.
"Lizzy, has something happened between you and Mr. Collins?" asked Jane later as they were picking roses in the garden.
"Nothing of note," said Elizabeth cautiously. She hated lying to her sister, but she really didn't need any more questions from anyone. "Let us not talk about him. It is too nice a day. Did you know I had a letter from Mr. Gardiner this morning? He is passing through Meryton and hopes to call."
"What a lovely surprise," said Jane. They were both very fond of Mr. Gardiner, their mother's brother. He lived in London with his wife and children and he was as unlike his sister as any brother could be. He was bright, well educated, and a very successful businessman. Both sisters enjoyed spending time with him and his family.
"We have not seen enough of them since Father died."
"No, we haven't. He has suggested that I go and visit."
"You should go, Lizzy. It will be good for you to get away."
"I'm not sure," said Elizabeth. "I would not want to leave you with Mama nor having to take responsibility for Kitty and Lydia."
"And Mary," said Jane, snipping off a deep red rose and placing it carefully in her basket.
"Mary looks after herself. As long as she has her books and her piano she is content, but she would benefit from spending a little more time in society and realising there are opinions other than her own."
"Lizzy, that is not kind," said Jane with a smile.
Elizbeth snipped a rose and held it to her nose. Not only did it have a beautiful scent, the velvety petals were quite perfect. She laid it with the others she'd already picked and looked for another. "I know, I do not sound nice Jane, but you must admit Mary can just be as silly as the others and she considers she has talent where there is none."
Jane would not be drawn. "Mary is very different from the rest of us," she said carefully.
Very different indeed, thought Elizabeth to herself, and yet that was not necessarily to be admired.