Chapter 14
Charlotte frowned as the costly equipage pulled into the drive to Longbourn. She had accompanied her mother to Longbourn in the guise of seeing Jane. What she really was doing was gauging Mr. Bennet's resolve. Her mother had come to share the gossip that Mr. Bingley's carriage had been seen in Meryton that afternoon and had then taken her leave, leaving Charlotte behind. Jane had been about to lead her to the library so she could "borrow" a book. While selecting the book she had planned on addressing Mr. Bennet about Elizabeth.
"Lordy, who could that be?" Lydia asked with curiosity.
"No one we know. It isn't Mr. Bingley's carriage," Kitty responded, wide eyed as she looked out the window. Joining her daughters in time to see Mr. Collins descend, Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, "What's this? It is Mr. Collins! And that dratted girl still in town. I do not know what your father was thinking sending her off to town and then the minister claiming he could not read the banns without that Lizzy present. Hurry we must greet him!"
"Who is that with him?" Kitty wondered outloud.
"Likely Lady Catherine," Mrs. Bennet admonished her daughter. "I like the look of her. She certainly won't put up with Lizzy's nonsense. A firm hand is what that girl needs. Your father has always been to soft on her, but she shall learn her place," Mrs. Bennet said gleefully. "We must greet them."
"You can go greeet them," Lydia said. "I am for Meryton. Mr. Collins is a bore and I doubt his Lady Catherine is any better. There will be more fun to have elsewhere."
"But papa said we were not to leave Longbourn without Jane or Mary," Kitty said. "Mama has insisted Jane wait here for Mr. Bingley to call and Mary won't go."
"Mama, papa has no right to curtail my fun. Do say I can go into Meryton," Lydia whined to her mother.
"He certainly shouldn't. I never saw him refuse that Lizzy the opportunity for a walk or a bit of amusement. You go on and have some fun. I am sure the officers are missing you," Mrs. Bennet said.
Charlotte stiffled a sigh, Mrs. Bennet unsurprisingly had given into Lydia. The restrictions Mr. Bennet had placed on Lydia and Kitty where completely ignored. Quietly to Jane, Charlotte said, "Come let us stop in your father's book room." She had not expected Lady Catherine and Collins so soon after Mrs. Gardiner's express or she would have requested her father accompany her to Longbourn.
Jane silently agreed and the two made their way there. Jane knocked on the door and when her father bade her enter she opened the door and said, "Papa, Charlotte was hoping to borrow a book."
"My library is at your disposal, Miss Lucas," Bennet said. "If that is indeed why you have come."
"You have found me out," Charlotte admitted. "My true wish is to speak to you about Elizabeth. I know that Mrs. Bennet is enthusiastic about the match with Mr. Collins," she started to say.
"But you are well aware of Elizabeth's initial refusal and have come here to see if I really intend to force her to marry my heir? Is that the latest gossip? I would have thought your father would have made you more aware of the true situation."
"My father mentioned to me that you had requested his help in selling a few of your more rare editions," Charlotte said neutraly.
"Yes. I care for my daughter more then my books, Miss Lucas. You may rest easy on that front. I have no intention of changing my mind and keeping my books at the cost of my daughter. Your father kindly did not ask why I needed to sell my books, but I know he guessed that my sudden support of Collins when at Netherfield I told him I would never consent to such a match had something to do with it."
"And if Mr. Collins were to bring more pressure to bear?" Charlotte asked quickly.
Hearing the commotion in the hall, Mr Benent motioned the two girls, further into his study and said, "I assume you know something I do not yet?"
"Mr. Bennet," Lady Catherine boomed as the door flung open. "I demand to know where your daughter, that grasping hussy is. She was not in London where my parson left her when we arrived to collect her for the ceremony here."
"Collect her for the ceremony?" Mr. Bennet said camly, raising an eyebrow. "What's this? I find it hard to believe she has completed her shopping for her trousseau already. I was under the impression these things took time."
"Do not play games with me! Your wife reports that the banns were not called on Sunday. You agreed your daughter would marry my parson. I wish to provide a common license so they may do so right away, dispensing with the need for the banns. The banns that you failed to have called."
"Our parson wished to have Lizzy present for them," Bennet said with a shrug.
"Where is your daughter?" Lady Catherine demanded.
"Which one? I have several," Bennet quipped back.
Narrowing her eyes, Lady Catherine said angrily, "Do not attempt to make sport of me. I have the consequence to see you ruined. Your daughter, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, will marry my parson right away or I will bring a breech of promise suit against you. I will ensure you loose everything and that your life is miserable."
"My, my," Bennet said goading her."That is quite the threat. Your esteemed parson has already made his threats to obtain my consent to his request for my daughter's hand. He did not mention he was on such a tight time frame. I assumed things would progress in the usual manner. An engagement period where my daughter assembled a trousseau."
"Your daughter was not in town. The tradesman's wife said she was not at their residence. I know she is attempting to flee her commitment to Mr. Collins in hopes of gaining a richer husband, my nephew! Who is engaged to my daughter! I willl not stand by and let some trollop come between me and the wealth and power or Pemberley, " Lady Catherine shouted angrily.
"Did you verify she was not in town? Or was she merely not at my brother-in-law's? Afterall she was to be shopping, it stands to reason she would need to leave his house to do so."
"Cousin Elizabeth must marry me or your family will be ruined," Mr. Collins proclaimed. "My patroness desires that I get her with child as soon as we are wed. If you do not wish your family shamed, you will call her back to Longbourn immediately. "
"Very well. I shall send an express to my brother Gardiner requesting he send her on her way," Bennet said. "Does that satisfy you?"
"If she isn't here by tomorrow, it will go poorly for you," Lady Catherine declared. "We will be staying at the neighboring estate. I expect Miss Elizabeth back in a timely manner and prepared to wed."
Seeing Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins sweep out the front door, Miss Bingley stepped quickly towards the bookroom unnoticed amd let herself in. Taking a deep breath she said before the occupants could say anything,"Mr. Bennet I caution you against sanctioning a union between Miss Eliza and Mr. Collins. It is my belief your daughter would be most unhappy. While this may seem like a golden opportunity to rid yourself of an undeserving daughter I wish to offer a better option. I will collect Miss Eliza from her realtives and launch her into society during the Christmas season, where she is likely to receive a much more palatable proposal. Perhaps a gentleman with his own small estate already."
"Miss Bingley," Jane said in surprise.
"You had best go join your mother before she comes looking for you," Bennet said, assuming Miss Bingley had arrived with Mr. Bingley.
"Miss Bennet," Miss Bingley said acknowledging her. After Jane left, turning back to Bennet said, "Well, Sir? I believe with some style help and a few acrouments, I can find Miss Eliza a match she will be content in."
"Your offer is rather unexpected, Miss Bingley," Bennet said wryly. "I was unaware you considered Lizzy a friend."
"I do not," Miss Bingley said with a sniff.
"Then why do you wish to assist her to a better match than Mr. Collins?"
"My reasons are my own. Come now, will you not accept my generous offer? "
"I wish I could, Miss Bingley. I really wish I could. It is certainly unexpected and fascinating, but I am afraid my hands are tied in this matter and I must continue on my original course. You may go," he said dismissing her with a wave of his hand.
Once Miss Bingley was gone, Bennet turned to Charlotte and said, "Well Miss Lucas?"
"Thank you, Mr. Bennet, " Charlotte said with a smile.
"Don't thank me yet. I suspect we have not heard the last of Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine. It appears tomorrow I will need to begin looking for my daughter in earnest. Or at least appear to. My natural nature should make doing nothing easy. My wishes and affections for my daughter have not changed. I suggest you communicate that to Lizzy at your next opportunity. If your father could pen a note for me to wave dramatically around and arrange for it to appear as from my brother in response to my supposed summons tomorrow stating Lizzy has disappeared I would be obliged."
…
Miss Bingley frowned as she made her way to the carriage in time to see it leave her behind. She had not expected Mr. Bennet to refuse her without even considering her offer. She had never offered to help another female find a husband and had assummed Mr. Bennet would leap at the chance she presented. Could it be that he sanctioned the marriage because he desired to see his daughter as Mistress of Longbourn someday, she wondered. It would appear she would need to be more explicit about how unhappy Elizabeth would be and how Lady Catherine intended to abuse her. Frowning she turned to go back in to request the Bennet carriage to convey her to Netherfield and attempt to make Mr. Bennet reconsider his refusal. Before she made it back in she spotted a horseman in the distance coming from the direction of Netherfield. Impatiently she waited until her brother rode up and hailed her.
"Caroline!" Bingley exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I find myself wondering that very thing," she said with a sniff. "I have come to join you at Netherfield."
"Then how did you end up at Longbourn?"
"Wretched luck," Miss Bingley snapped. "And you did not have the decency to come calling in a carriage, leaving me stranded here still."
"You do not have a carriage? What's this? How did you arrive?"
"Lady Catherine conveyed me here," Miss Bingley said with a sniff.
"Darcy's aunt?" Bingley asked his eyes widening.
"Unfortunately. I shall insist in cutting the connection once we wed."
"Where is she now?" Bingley asked looking around in confusion for a carriage.
"On her way to Netherfield. As if we would host her and her odious parson. Is Mr. Darcy here?"
"Do you see Darcy with me?" Bingley responded cheekily.
"I mean here in Hertfordshire!" Miss Bingley snapped. "I can see he is not with you."
"No."
Miss Bingley breathed a sigh of relief. Darcy catching wind of the parson's intentions and his aunt's attitude toward Elizabeth would not do. He was already entirely to taken with the girl, Miss Bingley thought bitterly, who knew what he would do if he found out such a thing. He might offer for her without thinking through the ramifications of such an action. "Well I insist you return to Netherfield at once and send the carriage for me. I shall finish my business here while you do so. While there you may inform Lady Catherine that she is not welcome to stay with us."
"I came to call on Miss Bennet, and call on Miss Bennet I will, sister dear. I'll have you know I have Darcy's full support. Nay, his encouragement. A word to the wise, Darcy has every intention of marrying Miss Elizabeth, regardless of any schemes of yours. He has advised me not to let your schemes ruin my happiness."
"Marry her?" Miss Bingley shrieked.
"His note was brief, but very firm on that point."
"Where is he? Where is she?" Miss Bingley demanded frantically.
"Is Miss Elizabeth not at Longbourn?" Bingley asked in surprise.
"No! The girl is somewhere in London it would seem while her father schemes to marry her off to that ridiculous cousin of theirs and Mr. Darcy is missing as well."
"Well I cannot imagine they are eloping," Bingley said with a chuckle.
"It isn't a laughing matter, Charles!" Miss Bingley shrieked.
"Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley," Jane said with a blush stepping outside. "Hill was uncertain if you ever planned on ringing. I fear your conversation is not apropriate for my mother to hear. She is very sensitive about matters pertaining to Lizzy. I could not help but overhear, why would you think my sister was with your friend?"
"While I do have reason to believe my friend is currently or has been recently in company with your sister, I can assure you that not only are his intentions honorable he would never play fast and loose with her reputation by eloping," Bingley earnestly assured Jane.
"I thank you for your assurances, sir, but I can assure you, I did not consider such a thing. I only asked because Mr. Darcy's aunt has been here demanding Elizabeth's whereabouts."
"Yes. I understand my sister traveled with her," Bingley said uncomfortably.
"I had not realized you arrived with Lady Catherine," Jane said in surprise.
"Lady Catherine and I do not see eye to eye. Come now, Miss Bennet, you must make your father see reason. It will not do to allow Mr. Collins to marry your sister. Surely you can explain to him the drawbacks of such a match. Lady Catherine was quite explicit in how she intends to treat your sister once she is married to Mr. Collins. I know that I can find her a match in town. Someone she would be happy with rather than miserable. You owe it to her as her sister," Miss Bingley entreated Jane.
"You wish to matchmake Miss Elizabeth?" Bingley asked his sister in disbelief. "Do you really think you can thwart Darcy by doing so? Marrying her to another will not cause Darcy to turn to you. He has every intention of marrying her himself."
"I am afraid I cannot sway my father, Miss Bingley," Jane said serenly. Inside she wondered what Mr. Bingley apparently knew about Mr. Darcy's interest in Elizabeth. Charlotte had claimed that Mr. Darcy admired Elizabeth, but no one else believed it. If she understood Mr. Bingley correctly, Jane thought, then it would appear Charlotte had the right of it. If so, then once her father resolved Lydia's situation, Elizabeth might have another suitor presenting himself.