Wretched Beginnings Chapter 8 – end of November
Saturday after the wedding, November 1812
The fires had been a bit sullen today, almost not wanting to be roused. Lizzy dressed quickly, planning to get a warm roll and coffee in the kitchen before she walked to the farm. Lizzy appreciated the day only turned grey, not misty or rainy. The sunless sky and the bare trees warned her this would be one of her last long rambles before Christmas. The cold only bothered Lizzy until she walked briskly. She wanted to walk to Mt. Oakham, but she promised Mrs. Hill she would go to the farm for eggs, milk and a basket of white willow bark.
Mrs. Hill took Papa a tray of coffee and pastries. He waved to Lizzy on her way out.
The gardeners trimmed the white birch trees in the copse. They peeled the bark from the cuttings and set aside a basket of bark for Lizzy to take to the stillroom. Mrs. Hill promised to teach the Bennet girls how to use the white willow bark. This green bark would dry for a year. The basket of dry willow bark would be powdered, and the shards boiled in white wine. Then Mrs. Hill would teach the Bennet girls to make headache draughts for Mrs. Bennet.
~X~
Mr. Collins paced impatiently while the carriage prepared to depart. The small four-person carriage held bandboxes, her dressing case, her valise, his reading satchel and several lap robes. The wagon master from Gardiner's Emporium waited patiently for the carriage to be loaded for the Collinses. The dray wagon held his and her trunks, crates of coal, household items, foodstuffs, stillroom items and materials. Additionally, the dray wagon held crates of wines, ports, and sherry, along with barrels of apple cider.
During the carriage ride to Hunsford, Mr. and Mrs. Collins discussed the household. Mr. Collins understood Mary's need to establish a schedule. He could not fritter his days away in his book room, eating cold meats, cheeses and sweets. The servants needed structure; the gardens needed tending; the parish needed guidance. Mr. Collins remembered Mr. Bennet's advice to walk more and to eat less. Mr. Collins refrained from expressing his dismay with a heavy sigh.
They took their rest at The Bell in Bromley, heating the bricks for the carriage and seeing to the horses. Once warmed, fed and rested, they resumed their trip. Mary enjoyed the landscape of Kent. She hoped for a large garden in the spring.
Mr. Collins helped Mary down from the carriage. The grey stone parsonage, with a dark grey painted front door, did not exhibit well on a grey day like today. However, Hunsford Parsonage would provide an excellent prospect when everything greened and bloomed in the spring. Mary could envision her white lilac bushes blooming by the front door. "Welcome to Hunsford Parsonage, Mrs. Collins. Come inside and rest after your journey. I had an express from Lady Catherine; she ordered the décor of your room. I'm sure your room will be quite pleasant since Rosings is decorated with such elegance and refinement." Mr. Collins introduced his new bride to the servants who stood outside to greet them.
Mrs. Manning gave Mary a quick tour of the parsonage while the men unloaded the carriage and wagon. Mary observed the bare room, which Mr. Collins suggested for an herb stillroom. A lone farm table sat in the middle of the room. Mary sighed to herself. At least with an empty room, she could organize properly from the start. She kept her opinions to herself…but the parsonage was in dire need of organization. The first floor rooms were laid out in an orderly fashion, but poorly decorated. Mary didn't examine the rooms, she just observed them from doorways.
"I believe you will enjoy this back parlor as your sitting room." Mrs. Manning opened the door of a room about one-third the size of the drawing room. "This room is not as fine as the drawing room at the front of the house…however, it does not face the road."
"What a favorable prospect!" Mary exclaimed. She kept a running list in her head of tasks to do.
Mr. Manning, with the help of Mr. Collins, the coachman and the wagon master, emptied the carriage and dray wagon upon their arrival. When the coach and wagon were emptied, Mr. Collins thanked them for their help, gave them a coin for their help, and sent them to the kitchen for food and drink before sending them on their way. The coachman and wagon master plotted their return to London before midnight. They would visit the inns at Hunsford and Westerham to collect return passengers or goods bound for London.
Satisfied with the quick tour of the lower level and the first floor, Mary needed time to refresh from her travel before joining Mr. Collins for tea in the morning room. When Mrs. Manning showed Mary to her room, Mary stood there in shock. "What is this – a storage room or sleeping quarters?" She observed the bed for one, the work table for six, and a linen press. She could barely enter the room, which almost burst with furniture.
"Lady Catherine sent furniture when she heard Mr. Collins married and would return home today. She ordered the arrangement of the room." Mrs. Manning stood in the hall. "Sarah and I prepared the room across the hall for you. The other bedrooms have Holland cloths over the furniture." Mrs. Manning showed Mary a north-facing room, bigger than her room at Longbourn. The clean and cheerful room presented pale primrose walls with dark primrose bed curtains and counterpane on a large bed. A laid and lit fire welcomed Mary.
"This will do until I can empty the green room and rearrange it. In its current state, the green room will not suit. Please have the men deliver my things here." Mary looked out the window. The overcast grey sky did little to improve her disposition. She appreciated the large chest of drawers, large armoire and a large washstand. She would move them to the green room when she rearranged. She could store bandboxes and some of her accessories on the shelves fitted up in the closet. However, the shelves negated any possibility of hanging clothes. 'What a waste of effort and space.'
"Sarah will bring you a pitcher of hot water and clean towels. I will prepare tea for you, before we begin to unpack those crates," Mrs. Manning disappeared.
Mr. Collins bounded up the stairs, "You ordered a room change?" His voice took on a grating shriek, much like Mrs. Bennet's voice.
"Please go look at the green room…fitted up with my comfort in mind." Mary removed her redingote and bonnet, laying them on the chair in the room. They needed a good brushing from her travel. Unless she removed shelves from the closet, she would need a second armoire to hold her outer clothes. She wanted to hang her day gowns in the closet, and her better gowns in the armoire. She could put folded gowns on the shelf, but disliked the wrinkled look created when folding the gowns.
Two steps into the room and Mr. Collins returned to Mary's side. "Mr. Manning and I will bring your things up immediately. Lady Catherine's workers must have misunderstood her excellent directions."
Mary stared out the window towards Rosings Park. She sincerely doubted anyone ever misunderstood Lady Catherine' excellent directions. Mr. Manning and Mr. Collins brought her trunks, bandboxes, valise and dressing case. She asked them to tuck the library table from the hall into a spare bedroom until she could rearrange the parsonage. When Mr. Collins expressed doubts about moving the table, Mary asked if the library table stood there when he left Hunsford Parsonage. Receiving a negative answer, Mary showed him how ill placed the table was. When he realized his access to her sleeping quarters would be impeded, he eagerly moved the table with Mr. Manning.
Sarah brought Mary hot water and helped Mary change into the new brown with cream stripes day dress she purchased from Mrs. Gardiner's modiste. Mary asked Mr. Manning take her old trunk to her new sitting room. The contents belonged in her sitting room and the stillroom. She left Sarah to empty clothing trunks and make the room habitable. Mr. Manning unpacked for Mr. Collins. She and Mr. Collins had tea and refreshments in the morning room, so they were accessible while Mrs. Manning and Rose unpacked household crates. Mr. Collins eventually returned to his bookroom, leaving Mary to settle the house.
"We're pressed for time. Tomorrow is Stir-It-Up-Sunday. We must make Christmas puddings, if they are to have time to cure. I need to make fruitcake also. I have the receipts. I bought everything in London which we need to make two Christmas puddings to serve four – one for Mr. Collins and me and one for the staff. I brought good brandy to cure both the puddings and fruitcake." Mary shared her receipt book with Mrs. Manning. 'Christmas is in a few weeks. I've been making lists. Perhaps Mrs. Manning and the benefice society will help ensure I am attentive to all details like Lady Catherine.'
"Mrs. Tucker makes the candles specially for the Advent Wreath. She will prepare the wreath next Saturday. She will teach you how to arrange it." Mrs. Manning admired the ribbon Mary bought for the advent wreath and the rectory greens.
"Thank you, Mrs. Manning. Will you tell Mrs. Tucker I will be at the church at two o'clock next Saturday, and ask her to tea afterwards?" The quality of brown tea Mary brought from London did not impress. She sifted the bag of tea through the strainer. She gathered tea in a medium-sized tea caddy and muslin bag. Siftings were placed in a separate caddy.
"We use tea leaves four times at Longbourn. After leaves are dried for the third time, I add them to the siftings and make herbal tea for an afternoon respite." Mary named the herbs which she used for herbal tea.
There were a dozen bottles of wine at the parsonage, but Mary appreciated the crates of wine, port and sherry and the barrels of apple cider which they brought with them. Mr. Collins felt they should not serve beer or ale at the parsonage.
Once emptied, crates could be used in the cellar to separate and store items. Mrs. Manning explained garden stuff and fruits were delivered weekly from Rosings. Mrs. Manning inventoried while they unpacked the household crates. She showed Mary where the coal, candles and soaps were stored in open air storage to harden them to make them last longer. Mary appreciated the existing soap, candles and coal supply, but she brought additional supplies with her. "What is this?" Mary asked about the two dozen lumps of coal which sat by itself on a shelf in the coal room.
"Coals from the Yule log. They been hardening since Christmas last year. We'll use them to light the fire for the Yule Log this year." Mrs. Manning showed the cold pantry to Mary as they toured the cellar level. "I helped the Rosings kitchen staff prepare crocks of mincemeat the first of October. I stored one crock in the cool room of the cellar to cure."
"Thank you, for I had not considered it. I know Mrs. Hill, the cook at Longbourn, prepared her mincemeat the first of October also. Harvesting the gardens, orchard and the honey kept me busy. I did not help prepare mincemeat this year." Mary added to her mental list of things to do.
Mrs. Manning explained there were three dozen eggs in cold storage in the cellar. Mary asked how Mrs. Manning stored her eggs. She boiled a few quarts of water and let the water cool. Then she gently placed cleaned eggs in a crock and covered them with cold boiled water. A crock lid finished the task. She suggested they would use all the eggs for baking over the next week.
Foodstuffs were stored in the dry pantry and the cool pantry. The items for the stillroom were piled on the table or in the center of the stillroom. "Maybe Monday or Tuesday we can organize the stillroom." Mary suggested to Mrs. Manning. Things were completely unpacked, but not completely put away by dinner time.
"Staff is off from after midday to half past five on Sundays, but tomorrow is Stir It Up Sunday. We will all take a few hours after preparing Christmas puddings and fruitcakes. The staff will have an early night tomorrow night after dinner and setting the kitchen to rights." Mrs. Manning explained.
Purchased materials, sewing items, books and music sat on the work table in Mary's sitting room. Mary's trunk with her workbox, art box and lockbox with ledgers sat on the floor next to the table. Mary bought five premade fine white cotton lawn handkerchiefs. If she applied herself, she could have them embroidered by Christmas and sent to her sisters and Mother for Twelfth Night. Red flame violets and F for Mother, blue jasmine and J for Jane, yellow everlasting daisies and E for Lizzy, pink carnations and C for Kitty, and wine lady slippers with L for Lydia. Mary purchased a length of tapestry ribbon to make three bookmarks for Papa. She put the items with the materials she purchased on the table in her sitting room. Aunt Gardiner gave her an old mob cap which she admired. She could take the mob cap apart and make ones for herself. Until they were made, she would do her own hair daily. She explained the bolts of fabric for new bed linens and kitchen and bath linens. Mrs. Manning offered to help sew when she had time.
Dinner consisted of hot soup, hot rolls, cold ham and cheese, and apple pie. Mary arranged for a hot bath for her, followed by an extremely hot bath for Mr. Collins. She helped herself to a generous glass of medicinal sherry while he bathed. The hall floor boards creaked when he walked to her room. She felt embarrassed to know his tread announced his arrival. Perhaps she could have a lie in tomorrow morning. She had slept alone for years; sleeping in the same bed in the inn was difficult for her. She would be grateful when Mr. Collins returned to his room at the end of the evening, despite the creaky floor boards. She felt gratitude for his desire to maintain separate bedrooms.
Mary knew she had not married for love…but married for Longbourn. Returning there as its mistress was preferable to remaining there as a nurse, drudge, and musician for Mother. Returning as mistress meant she would never give way for Mother nor allow Lydia to demean her.
Sunday after the wedding
Church for the parishioners of St. Albans proved interesting. Although the marriage announcement appeared in the Hertfordshire Gazette yesterday, Vicar Nelson announced Mary and Mr. Collins married in London and returned to Hunsford Parsonage in Kent. Mrs. Long and Lady Lucas were surprised because Mary became the first Bennet daughter to wed. She wasn't a shelf sitter…but all of Mrs. Bennet's friends believed Mary would never marry. They were also surprised because Mrs. Bennet had not called to gloat about marrying off one of her daughters. Mary seemed difficult, and Mrs. Bennet despaired of ever marrying the girl to anyone. However, Mrs. Bennet celebrated when Mr. Jones, the surgeon, and Mr. Locke, the apothecary, were both disheartened about Mary's news. If Mrs. Bennet could interest Lizzy and Kitty in Mary's stillroom activities…she could marry off two more daughters. If one of the girls married a medical man, she would be quite content.
Now Mrs. Bennet had the odious task of monthly missives to educate Mary about her duty to her family, especially after the demise of Mr. Bennet. She fretted about Mr. Bingley's return to Netherfield. She planned a grand wedding for Jane, who could not be so beautiful for nothing. However until Mr. Bingley returned, all her dreams were for naught.
~X~
"Everyone," Mr. Collins stood at the pulpit. "I would like to introduce Mrs. Collins. She is quite accomplished on the pianoforte and will play special music for religious days like Christmas Eve, Christmas, and Easter. We thank Miss Harrison and Miss Smithem for continuing to play the pianoforte for Hunsford Rectory." He indicated Mary who sat in the first pew near the pianoforte. She rose and curtsied to the parishioners before sitting back down. Her position near the pianoforte provided warmth from the close fireplace, but did not provide a view of Lady Catherine or the parishioners.
Mary did her best to listen attentively to Mr. Collins' sermon. How would she help him trim the fat from his sermons? Vicar Nelson's sermons at Meryton came to mind. Introduce the topic, three points of biblical reference and then a closure designed to keep the sermon in mind for the week. Whittling the chaff from the sermon would keep the Sunday morning service to two hours. Mary tuned out Mr. Collins, making lists of things to do in her head.
Eventually the service ended. Mary joined Mr. Collins outside the rectory to say goodbye to the parishioners. The first parishioners to depart were Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh, with Miss de Bourgh's companion, Mrs. Jenkinson. Mary barely received an introduction and performed a curtsey before Mr. Collins abandoned her to escort the ladies to their carriage. 'So, my husband abandoned me to venerate his patroness. I know where I stand in this marriage.'
Curate Stevenson introduced himself to Mrs. Collins. "Miss de Bourgh is of an uneven constitution," he explained. "Lady Catherine and her daughter are the last ones to arrive for services and are the first to depart. Due to her precarious health, Miss de Bourgh attends intermittently. Sexton Tucker warms their pew box before their arrival and provides heated bricks for their departure. I bid the parishioners goodbye until Vicar Collins returns from escorting Lady Catherine to her carriage." Curate Stevenson introduced Mary to parishioners as they departed the church. Eventually Mr. Collins returned.
"Lady Catherine invited us for tea today at half past five." Mr. Collins reported when he returned to Mary's side. "You needn't worry about your appearance, Mrs. Collins. Just wear your best. Lady Catherine will understand if you do not own the newest London fashions. She likes having the distinction of rank preserved."
"Thank you, Mr. Collins, but my first best is a satin ball gown, which is inappropriate. I will wear the silk gown I wore for our wedding. I purchased my gown in London, which is more fashionable than my Hertfordshire gowns. If you are finished saying goodbye to your parishioners, Sexton Tucker and Curate Stevenson can lock up the rectory. We will walk home and partake of a lovely midday meal. Mrs. Manning, the girls and I are making Christmas puddings and fruitcakes for Stir-It-Up-Sunday."
Mary wondered about the quality of patronage Lady Catherine provided. Did she meddle but mean well? Mr. Collins, a little pompous and very conscious of the dignity of his office, did not seem terribly clever nor completely stupid. She prayed his parishioners would not gossip about her, but gossip formed the backbone of many small towns and villages.
~X~
Mary felt pleased when she saw Mrs. Manning and the girls in the kitchen with clean aprons, bowls and all the ingredients for both Christmas puddings and fruitcake.
"Why did you have me toast day old pound cake crumbs?" Mrs. Manning inquired. "The green tea steeped overnight. I strained the tea and sweetened with honey as you asked."
"Instead of bread crumbs, our cook at Longbourn, Mrs. Hill, used dried pound cake crumbs. I like the texture and flavor of the Christmas pudding with cake crumbs. She used green tea, steeped overnight, instead of brown ale. I sweeten both with honey, instead of sugar," Mary explained. "I think the changes improve the flavor. I also like to boil my raisins, so they are plump and juicy when I add them to the batter. The cake crumbs and green tea are not the only changes to the original ingredients. Her spice mix didn't use caraway seeds as my father doesn't like the taste of caraway. She used extra portions of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger."
Everyone gathered in the kitchen, even Mr. Collins and Mr. Manning. "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people, that they bring forth the fruit of good works, and may by thee be plenteously rewarded, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Mr. Collins intoned, and they began."Everyone stir from this side of the table," Mrs. Manning directed, "for that is east and that is west. We will each stir three times and remember to make a wish."
Mary wished for a child, an heir to Longbourn, in 1813. Mr. Collins prayed for a good relationship with his new family. Sarah wanted lots of dance partners at the December assembly. Mr. Manning desired a mild winter. Mrs. Manning and Rose wished Mrs. Collins would be a good mistress. The Christmas puddings were full of plump raisins, dried apple bits, nut bits, suet, eggs, crumbs, green tea and spices. Mary scored the puddings before inserting the silver three pence, thimble, anchor and wishbone charms in the puddings. "Success, thrift and economy, safe harbor and luck." Mrs. Manning tied the puddings and put them to boil.
They laughed and chatted a great deal while stirring the fruitcake. "I like to decorate my fruitcakes with white icing and with fondant or marzipan holly leaves and berries for decorations." Mary entrusted a bottle of brandy to Mrs. Manning to cure both the Christmas puddings and fruitcakes daily until Christmas.
Mary requested Mrs. Manning join her in her sitting room for tea. "I don't know what you expected of a new mistress, so I believe we should talk and become acquainted. I may be the daughter of a gentleman, but I know how to clean a home, cook a meal, lay a fire, and sew. I like creating and cooking new receipts. I have grown an herb garden since I turned two and ten. I've cared for my own setting hens and piggy sow since I turned two and ten. I've been keeping my own beehives since I turned five and ten. I traded extra herbs, honey and eggs for flower or herb seeds or for personal things I need. The stillroom is no longer your responsibility. I enjoy working in the stillroom. I have receipts for tonics, tissanes, healing broths, healing teas, medicinal sherry, lotions, and water infusions. I would be pleased to see your stillroom receipts, however."
"And I yours. I have not had time to establish a stillroom here, as there is no herb garden or beehives. Mr. Collins has been excessively healthy, as have the staff. There has not been time to create candles or soaps. As I explained in my letter to you, we purchased soaps, candles and coal at Michaelmas. They have been hardening all summer. I appreciate you bringing more with you." Mrs. Manning admitted.
"I have an apprentice apothecary education and assisted the local apothecary, surgeon and midwife since age eight and ten. I can set bones, stitch wounds and birth babies. I can reduce a fever, relieve a headache, or remove an inflammation." Mary watched the surprise on Mrs. Manning's face.
Mary reached for her household ledger and writing implements. "Please forgive the questions, but it is imperative I learn about each of our staff." Mary turned to the back of the new household ledger and turned to the last six blank pages. On the first page she wrote Michael Manning, his age, his birthday, and the name and direction of his closest relative. Mr. Manning would be a man-of-all-things in addition to valeting for Mr. Collins. He would care for the animals when they arrived in March. He would be responsible for the upkeep of the outside of the parsonage, and the outbuildings. He would ensure an adequate supply of firewood and would carry water from the well to the parsonage. He would function as coachman or wagon master when needed. He would function as butler when they had guests. Mary noted his work tasks and his current wages in her ledger. She suggested he be paid an extra two pounds per annum for acting as valet. Mrs. Manning felt he would agree to the increase in duties and salary.
Mary entered Mrs. Mannings pertinent information in her ledger including her current wages. Mrs. Manning, her cook and housekeeper, would supervise female staff. She would control the pantry, ensuring an adequate supply of goods. She would keep an orderly home for the Collinses. Each staff member would keep their own sleeping room clean. Mary suggested an increase in wages for Mrs. Manning, as her duties increased also. She appreciated the increase in her salary.
Sarah Barlow, her maid-of-all-things, would help Mary dress and do her hair. She would care for Mary's clothes. She would announce visitors, and bring tea for Mary and her guests. Barlow would help with the stillroom and gardens. She would help clean the parsonage, especially Mary's room, her sitting room and the stillroom. Mary would call Sarah by her surname, Barlow. She and Mrs. Manning discussed the increase in Barlow's wages since she would perform personal services for Mrs. Collins. Mrs. Manning opined Barlow would appreciate the increase in duties and wages, along with the use of her surname.
Rose Ploughman, the new scullery maid, would help in the kitchen with cooking, baking, preserving, and washing dishes. She would help clean the house under Mrs. Manning's tutelage. She would help in the gardens and orchard. Rose would lay and light fires first thing in the morning, except for the sleeping quarters for the master and mistress of the house. Those would be laid and lit by Mr. Manning and Barlow.
"We need additional help with the laundry, sewing and mending," Mrs. Manning advised. "We've gone from four people in the parsonage to six, which has increased the laundry task."
"I propose we teach Rose to help with Barlow's tasks. I propose to teach Barlow to help with your tasks. If you are ill, Barlow can help with the cooking and necessary housekeeping. If Barlow is ill, Rose can help. I am determined to teach Rose and Barlow how to read and write. I am determined to teach them sewing and embroidery. I am also determined to teach them stillroom and gardening skills." Mary announced. "I know the worth of learning everything you can."
Mrs. Manning approved because the maids should be able to read receipts and tradesman bills. "About the laundry, there is a laundress who works three days a week for Rosings. She is Sarah's, sorry, Barlow's cousin. She works Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Rosings. Her name is Maryanne Lowe." She rang for Barlow.
Mary discussed the increase in Barlow's tasks, wages and calling her by her surname, like a proper lady's maid. Barlow agreed to Mary's proposal. "Barlow, will you ask your cousin Maryanne to call on the parsonage on her next available day? We are in need of a laundry maid, but not one full time. I hope to share her time with Rosings. I am willing to pay half her salary to assume laundry maid and seamstress duties on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday." Mary requested, and smiled at the nod of Barlow's head. Mary dismissed Barlow and returned to the task of conferring with her housekeeper.
"We should discuss the week's menus," Mrs. Manning passed a slate to Mary. "I prefer keeping the menus listed on a slate. I keep another slate listing donations from Rosings, and a third slate with inventory items so we know what is in storage."
"These menus require excessive work," Mary shook her head. "Whatever you fix for Mr. Collins and me is what you will serve to the staff. However, I want the girls to have a hot breakfast from Michaelmas to Lady Day. Prepare porridge with apple bits and nuts, honey to sweeten and milk for their porridge and to drink. Saturdays, I prefer a hot breakfast for all of us – eggs, ham, bacon or pork chops, roasted potatoes, hot rolls, and a sweet. Mr. Collins likes your apple tart for breakfast and I like plum cake. Coffee for breakfast for both of us. Extra cake or tart can be served at midday or with tea when we take a respite. We will need to have biscuits or pound cakes for callers." Mary wrote out a new menu for the week. "I have no problem with you making inn or pub bread daily, using rye, barley or oat flour with a mixture of wheat flour. I would prefer to use only wheat flower for bread on Sunday. Through the week, we can eat the heartier loaves. I believe my honey biscuits are better when they are three-quarters wheat flour and one-quarter oat flour."
"Yes, ma'am," Mrs. Manning hid her astonishment.
"A cold collation may be prepared for midday, so everyone can serve themselves as they have time to take their leisure. Tea will be served between one and three when we have callers, otherwise we'll take a respite at half three with tea and refreshments. Dinner is to be served at seven. If we have guests, dinner will be served at eight. When we have guests, Mr. Manning will serve. We will not plan a light late supper unless we have guests."
"Rosings donated livery when Mr. Collins became vicar." Mrs. Manning informed her new mistress.
"New or used?"
"Used."
"In good condition?"
"Mr. Manning required a new shirt, but it will not shame you."
"Color?"
"Dark grey, ma'am, with silver frogs."
"Do the rest of the staff have uniforms to match Mr. Manning's livery?"
"No ma'am, it was never considered by anyone before."
"I would prefer Mr. Manning wear the livery if he serves as an extra footman at Rosings. We aren't from the peerage; livery is too grand for the parsonage. He can wear his best Sunday black when he serves at the parsonage. I charge you to commission the modiste of Hunsford to make a black cotton dress for you, Rose and Barlow with deep seams and hems for the girls. We can readjust as they get older. I want you to have fine white cotton aprons and fine white caps for when we have guests. We have much to do. I will gladly pay the modiste to make the dresses, aprons and caps within a week. Should we be required to entertain Rosings, I want us to put our best foot forward. If we hire Maryanne for laundry maid, she will also need a black dress and white apron and cap. I want her to learn Barlow and Rose's tasks so she can help in times of need. I will teach her to read and write also."
"I understand Mrs. Collins. Would you like me to tell you when we receive deliveries? Several times a month there are deliveries from Rosings." Mrs. Manning offered the slate with the list of donations from Rosings.
"Yes, please, for we shall rearrange our menus to guarantee the best usage. Do we share our excess with parishioners who need aid? There may be days when I need Barlow to accompany me while we visit parishioners. I can operate a one-horse gig to deliver baskets." Mary explained.
"In the past, we split the excess between Curate Stevenson, Sexton Tucker and the staff families. We have done what we could, but Mr. Collins should have been more concerned about the excess. Oftentimes Mr. Collins never had me cook an evening meal for him. He had a tray of cold meats, cheeses, fruits, breads and tea or wine delivered to his bookroom." Mrs. Manning explained.
"Since he is a married man, I expect he will keep regular hours and meals unless he is calling on a parishioner. I require Barlow to lay and light a fire in my sleeping quarters and my sitting room by half six. I require a pitcher of hot water each morning at seven. After dressing, I will conduct my morning tasks – which will be tending the herb and kitchen gardens, working in the stillroom, sewing, my accounts or writing letters in my sitting room."
"A pitcher of hot water every morning?" Mrs. Manning verified the request to ensure she heard properly.
"Yes, Barlow can bring hot water to me and help me dress. She may bring me coffee while I am busy in my sitting room. Mr. Manning will lay and light a fire in Mr. Collins' room by eight. He will bring hot water to Mr. Collins and help him dress by half past eight unless Mr. Collins has a different schedule. I am an early riser. I don't waste daylight lying in bed. I want Rose to lay and light a fire in morning room and Mr. Collins' bookroom by nine. Breakfast will be at ten in the morning room. Where do we put the ash from the fires?" Mary added task notes to staff pages in her household ledger.
"We have special bin for ashes in the distillery, which is in the outbuildings." Mrs. Manning explained. "Barlow helped staff at Rosings make soap and candles the week after Lady Day this year. They hardened in the open air this summer. Rosings staff shared with our staff families at Michaelmas."
"After the stillroom is fitted up, I have tinctured waters to make. Mr. Collins needs bay or bergamot water to bathe and wash his hair. I need rose or lavender water. We both need mint water for rinsing out our mouths in the morning and at night. All will be in labeled casks in my storeroom. Please have Mr. Manning and Barlow keep the decanters on our wash stands filled. Please inform me when they draw the last of the waters from the casks, so I can make more."
"Yes ma'am," Mrs. Manning added the decanters to her list of household tasks.
"Mr. Collins and I will take our meals in the morning room unless we have guests. Then we will use the dining room. There is no need to keep a fire burning in the dining room, unless we expect dinner guests. Mr. Collins will have a tray in his bookroom at midday if he is present. I will take a tray in my sitting room at midday. I will continue to work in my sitting room unless we have callers. I want a low fire kept in the drawing room from midday through dinner. The fire can be easily revived if we have guests. Mrs. Manning, please understand as Mr. Collins and I pay the wages for the staff at the parsonage – we expect and require your silence and loyalty. I have no desire for Lady Catherine, her staff or the entire village to know my business."
'Perhaps you should stuff Mr. Collins mouth full of hot roll…for he is the most indiscreet man I have ever met. He gossips more than the shopkeepers in the village.' Mrs. Manning's head spun. "Understood, ma'am." The timid, last mistress of Hunsford Parsonage never crossed Lady Catherine. She constantly sought her ladyship's interference in running the parsonage. The new mistress seemed to know how to run a home without brooking interference from anyone.
"Please ring for Barlow and Rose," Mary consulted the list of items to discuss with them.
"I propose to teach both of you how to read, write and calculate sums. People read for assorted reasons, depending on the reader's level of understanding and what they seek. Some read for pleasure, some for education. One of Papa's tenants learned to read the Bible to his parents. Useful reading and learned conversation will improve your mind. If you can read and write, you could teach your family. Perhaps, if you attend your education, you might become an accomplished lady's maid or companion." Mary informed the girls.
"Yes ma'am, thank you ma'am," Barlow and Rose replied.
"Mrs. Manning and I will teach you to sew and turn a fine seam. We can teach you to embroider also. I will give you stillroom lessons and herb garden lessons." Mary discussed lessons with her maids before releasing them to return to their work.
"Christmas shall soon be upon us. I want time to discuss the rituals observed by the rectory. I need to know what her ladyship does for the parish. While I want to become acquainted with everyone, I don't wish to forward myself. I need to know the poor and needy of the parish." Mary explained to Mrs. Manning.
"Understood Mrs. Collins." Mrs. Manning suggested she check the fruitcakes which were baking.Mary planned to rest before dressing for Rosings Park.
Once the puddings and fruitcakes were finished, Barlow helped Mary dress for Rosings. She brushed Mary's hair before braiding. She wove one of Lydia's gold ribbons through the braid as she fashioned Mary's hair into a coronet.
"Perhaps as I get time this week, I can work on the mob caps I need. Until then, I need you to dress my hair daily, and a simple bun will do fine," Mary praised Barlow. "Please let staff know to take a rest until we return from Rosings. We should not be gone more than an hour, but I cannot guarantee our schedule."
~X~
Having been admitted by Lady Catherine's butler, Gerard, Mary silently observed the interior of Rosings. After leaving their outerwear in the retiring room, they followed Gerard down a wide hall and into the drawing room where Lady Catherine waited for them. Mary expected the drawing room to feel crowded, given the condition of the overstuffed rooms at the parsonage. The generously proportioned room felt crowded from the overabundance of possessions. The furnishings, mirrors and useless porcelains were pretentious…not elegant or stylish. The walls were filled with gilt-framed paintings from the wainscot to the tops of doorways. The heavy red wallpaper matched heavy red velvet drapes. A dozen candelabra lit the room, but did not dispel the oppressive feel.
'I appreciate the parsonage's simpler furniture. This heavy, gold gilt and ebony furniture is so oppressive.' Mary projected Jane's serene countenance, thankful for someone to emulate.
Lady Catherine sat in a large chair, which resembled a throne. The tall back faced arched windows. Lady Catherine, a tall and sturdy woman, wore an imperial countenance on a handsome face. Lady Catherine de Bourgh acted on her own interests for so long, she did not appear companionable. Her regal bearing, her elegant dress, and her artfully arranged hair announced the pride of her station and title. Instead of a mob cap, Lady Catherine wore a black silk gauze and lace mantilla over her hair. Instead of crossing the mantilla over her neck with the ends draped over opposite shoulders, the mantilla appeared like a shawl over her head with the ends draped over her bodice.
Mr. Collins bowed ridiculously low and appeared pleased at Mary's deep curtsey when he re-introduced Lady Catherine to his new wife. His effusive greeting turned to a frown when Mary simply said, "It is an honor to meet you again, Lady Catherine." She turned to Miss de Bourgh and flashed a small genuine smile and a curtsey. "It is pleasant to meet you again, Miss de Bourgh."
"Please call me Miss Anne," she corrected Mary.
Mr. Collins led Mary to the settee closest to Lady Catherine and encouraged Mary to sit.
Mary thought the great lady should have invited them to sit. She seated herself as far away from Lady Catherine as possible, while Mr. Collins sat as close to his patroness as possible. Mary stifled a smile, for she had no doubt Mr. Collins would play the part of an attentive lap dog. Mary caught an arched brow and a small smile from Miss Anne. Mary wished she sat closer to Miss Anne to converse easier. Obviously, Lady Catherine allowed no conversation other than her inquisitive and condescending monologue. Mary hoped she and Miss Anne might become friends, despite the disparity of their social standing.
Mrs. Jenkinson was introduced to Mary again. She presided over the tea cart, preparing tea in order of importance before passing serviettes and plates containing two sugar biscuits.
"I have changes to your sermon for next week, Mr. Collins," Lady Catherine set her tea cup aside.
"Your ladyship is all graciousness and condescension to offer such excellent suggestions to improve my humble attempts to edify the members of Hunsford Rectory." Mr. Collins flattered with excessive words, and groveling, which turned Mary's stomach.
'Lord, I will need guidance and help to change this. There should be more understanding and praise for you. There should be less fawning and adoration for Lady Catherine.' Mary's eyes noted a flash of mirth on Miss Anne's face over her tea cup. 'She obviously entertains the same thoughts as me.'
"Do you normally submit your sermons to Lady Catherine ahead of time?" Mary inquired.
"Of course, I do," Mr. Collins replied. "Lady Catherine is gracious with her guidance. She suggests the message to be delivered. As she knows the members of the church and community better than I do, her suggestions are exactly what they need to hear. Do you object, Mrs. Collins?"
"Oh no," Mary assured him. "I apologize for my surprise, but we did not discuss it. I realize I have many tasks ahead of me as your new wife." 'I hope Lady Catherine does not impose her opinions, thoughts and gossip about the members of the rectory and the community on me. I do not want to be prejudiced against anyone. Lady Catherine might prefer the distinction of rank be observed, but I disapprove of how she treats her daughter and her servants. I do not approve of Mr. Collins bowing and scraping to a member of the peerage who has great possessions, but little else to recommend her. I thank Lady Matlock for the warning.'
"You are the first of your sisters to marry," Lady Catherine observed Mary. "Why did you not offer for one of the older Miss Bennets?" She addressed Mr. Collins. He gulped but did not answer.
"Mr. Collins and I knew we were meant for each other within a few hours of meeting. We understood one another's essentials. We had no need for caprice or delay." Mary prayed Mr. Collins would not mention their compromise and forced marriage.'
"Indeed, your ladyship. I live at a pretty parsonage, well situated with a pleasing prospect, and a prosperous living. As I am well suited, I felt anxious to share with Mrs. Collins." Mr. Collins replied. "Miss Bennet is being courted by Mr. Charles Bingley…"
"Bingley?" Miss Anne interjected. "He is a particular friend of Darcy."
"Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy?" Mary confirmed.
"Do you know him? I am all astonishment! Mr. Darcy is engaged to Miss Anne." Mr. Collins viewed Mary with overt interest.
Mary observed a look of distaste color Miss Anne's face, quickly followed by a sedate look.
"How did you meet my nephew?" Lady Catherine demanded.
"Mr. Bingley leased Netherfield Park, an estate next to my family home, Longbourn, in Hertfordshire. Miss Bingley and the Hursts joined Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy visited them to offer estate advice to Mr. Bingley." Mary replied.
"Taking advantage of his expertise at running an estate," Lady Catherine commented. "Anne, when you are mistress of Pemberley…"
"Are you settling in, Mrs. Collins?" Miss Anne interrupted Lady Catherine.
"We're attempting to do so," Mary commented. "I may take a little time to arrange things to suit our lives and our needs."
"Such as?" Lady Catherine sounded surprised. "I sent furniture to the parsonage and ordered its placement. How do you like your sleeping quarters? I am excessively attentive to details."
"I thank you for your attentions, Lady Catherine. The furniture is a blessing. However, I am certain the servants misunderstood your orders. I use the largest north-facing room, the primrose room. The green room, intended for me, does not suit."
"How does the green room not suit?" Lady Catherine demanded.
"The linen press was placed in the green room. I am sure you intended to place the linen press in the hall between Mr. Collins and my rooms for the ease of the staff. Or place the linen press in the cellar near the sewing room. I don't know what to do with a worktable for six persons in the green room. I think once the inappropriate furniture is removed and the room rearranged, I will be able to use the room properly. Until I have time to do so, I will use the primrose room."
"I will attend the parsonage this week to help you rearrange it," Lady Catherine announced.
"Thank you for your kind attention, Lady Catherine. However, Mother taught me how to run a household and deal with servants, along with responsible stewardship and use of resources." Mary sipped her delicious green tea which she had not tasted in several months. The sugar biscuits were lightly sweet and delicious also.
"Then I will come to tea next Sunday and educate you on your household accounts," Lady Catherine announced.
"Your ladyship is all kindness and graciousness…" Mr. Collins began to say.
"Thank you again, for your marked attention, Lady Catherine," Mary replied. "However, Papa taught me to be responsible for accounts. I have overseen my personal funds lockbox and ledger since the age of two and ten. For the last two years, I ledgered the household accounts with Mother, and reviewed them with Papa. This year, Papa taught me how to balance the estate books."
"Domestic instruction," Lady Catherine snapped. "The finer points of running a home and insuring domestic felicity cannot be ignored."
"Indeed," Mary agreed. "As in all successful endeavors, one must practice to obtain a full understanding and achieve excellence. I have practiced domestic instruction at Longbourn since I turned two and ten. Longbourn, being larger than Hunsford Parsonage, proved an excellent opportunity to gain experience."
"Still, I will instruct you on the best ways to arrange your pantry, and what size haunches of meat you should purchase from the butcher," Lady Catherine announced.
"Thank you for your generous offer, Lady Catherine, but I must decline. Our housekeeper at Longbourn taught me how to arrange a dry pantry and a cool pantry. Mother taught me how to order supplies from shopkeepers." Mary heard a gasp from Mr. Collins and Mrs. Jenkinson, and observed a quiet small smile grace Miss Anne's face. "Mr. Collins impressed me with the depth of your involvement with Rosings Park. I know how much time is expended to run an estate the size of Longbourn. It would be unchristianly of me to allow you to neglect your duties to ensure I complete mine. I cannot be so selfish as to take your attention away from Rosings Park."
"Excellently articulated," Miss Anne's eyes twinkled. "Mother is quite busy with managing Rosings Park and ensuring my care. I thank you for not taking Mother's excellent administrations away from me or our home."
Lady Catherine pressed her lips together and motioned for Mrs. Jenkinson to refresh everyone's tea. "You seem to have a marked sense of independence which I do not find pleasing in a vicar's wife. I think ill of your governess for not teaching you correct attitudes and manner of deportment, especially when addressing members of the peerage."
"I cannot compare myself to the vicars' wives before me." Mary held her tea cup and saucer quietly. She would not allow a tremble of fear to make her tea cup rattle. "My sisters and I did not have a governess."
"No governess and five daughters?" Lady Catherine scoffed. "Your mother must have been a slave to your education."
"My Cambridge-educated Papa shared his excellent education with his daughters. If I am not immodest in saying so…Mr. Collins choose the most accomplished of the Bennet girls as his wife. I can read, write and calculate sums. I learned classical literature, history, geography, science and botany. I speak, read and write French, and read Latin. I draw and paint. I sew and embroider. I play the pianoforte. I can play cards, cribbage and chess, in addition to popular parlor games. I learned outdoor lawn games and can field a bow. I can ride a horse and ribbon a one-horse gig. I can care for an herb and a kitchen garden. I have experience caring for fruit and nut trees. I am a beekeeper and can care for small farm animals. Of all my accomplishments, I feel my apprentice apothecary skills are the most valuable. I believe my abilities to work with parishioners and staff will be valuable to Mr. Collins. I will teach him what he needs to know to manage Longbourn and be a gentleman."
"Will you play for us, Mrs. Collins?" Miss Anne interjected before Lady Catherine could comment. "I cannot play. I have new sheet music, which Mrs. Jenkinson claims is beyond her abilities."
"Let us have a look then." Mary rose and offered her arm to Miss Anne. "I have never claimed to be truly proficient, but I do enjoy playing. I also enjoy practicing classical pieces. I used to practice daily when I lived at Longbourn. When you marry, other tasks take precedence."
"You will never be truly proficient unless you practice daily, Mrs. Collins," Lady Catherine predicted. "If I had ever learned, I would be a true proficient. No one in the ton enjoys music as much as I do. I attend every possible opera or concert when I am in London. You may come to Rosings daily and play on the pianoforte in the housekeeper's quarters. You will be in no one's way there."
"Thank you for the offer, Lady Catherine, but as a new wife and helpmate to my husband, my days are quite filled. We need to visit every parishioner. The holidays approach. I need to plan for spring. I will plant seeds this week to grow seedlings for spring. I intend to create an herb garden and kitchen garden. I need to review the orchard and prepare trees for pruning. The growth cycle of the trees should not be wasted on branches which do not produce. My family will visit in March, bringing my chickens, my piggy sow and newest farrow, garden cuttings and seeds."
"If you practice in the mornings, I will rouse myself to join you. Perhaps we can come to an arrangement where you teach me how to play." Miss Anne's voice did not carry to Lady Catherine.
Mary nodded and patted Miss Anne's hand. "I shall call on you then, daily through the week, between breakfast and midday break."
Mary did not see Lady Catherine's calculating look while she spoke to Mr. Collins.
Shortly before an hour lapsed, the tea party ended. Lady Catherine ordered a carriage to convey the Collinses back to the parsonage. They retired to the hall to accept their outerwear but did not have a quick and easy escape. Lady Catherine followed them with loud pronouncements of the weather expected the next day. Mary believed the carriage would cool before Lady Catherine deigned to let them leave.
~X~
"One pence to guard your funds, a three pence for wealth, a ring for marriage, a thimble for thrift, an anchor for safe harbor, and a wishbone for luck." Mrs. Hill intoned as she laid out twelve silver trinkets for two Christmas puddings.
Lydia wished for a grand adventure. Kitty wished to be noticed by a militia man who had no use for Lydia. Lizzy wished for Darcy and Bingley to return. Jane wished for happiness for Mary. Mrs. Bennet wished for wealthy husbands for her daughters. Mr. Bennet wished for a quiet year. Of course, no one revealed their wishes, because they wanted their wish to come true.
"I have a very low feeling," Mrs. Bennet claimed during tea after Stir-It-Up activities. "I didn't have a chance to say goodbye to Mary, or to give her the type of advice a mother gives her daughter before she marries." She had yet to forgive Mary for spiriting away the silvered jelly dish, the silk pillow, or the fine white linen tablecloth and serviettes for twelve. Additionally, she didn't understand why Lydia traded her nice workbox for Mary's tatty old one. Mrs. Bennet would counsel Mary in the next few letters she sent. If she exhibited selfish manners and attitude to Mr. Collins' patroness, Mrs. Bennet predicted the Collinses would turned out of Hunsford Parsonage and return to Longbourn to live. She would not be able to bear it. They simply could not support eight persons on Longbourn's per annum funds.
Mr. Bennet refused to listen to Lydia whinge about needing new clothes and accessories since Kitty took the best things from their shared quarters to her own. "You shared a room not a wardrobe. Kitty has her own things in her room. I see no reason to give you extra pin money to replace what you took or used of your sisters. I see no reason to replace your things you ruined."He admonished Lydia. "Despite your Mama's assurances, I will not allow Mary's portion to purchase silk gowns and dancing slippers for you. Mary needs things for her new life, which Longbourn should provide for her. You need to live on your pin money, take care of your things, and learn manners and deportment."
"As Lydia's mother…" Mrs. Bennet interjected.
"As Lydia's father, and the father of the other young ladies in this house, I apologize for neglecting you and allowing you to run hoyden with Mrs. Bennet's permission." Mr. Bennet provided a written schedule to Mrs. Bennet, the Hills and his four remaining daughters. He laid out the new schedule for his daughters' education and for learning the tasks which Mary previously completed for the family. "The girls must help with Mary's duties in the gardens, and with the bees and chickens. I am required to hire a maid-of-all-things to work in the stillroom, distillery and dairy. I will miss Mary's efforts at expanding our living."
Dismayed, Lydia learned she would not be allowed to accompany Mama, Jane and Lizzy for calls or while entertaining callers. With Jane as chaperone, Lydia would walk into Meryton once a week to receive French and drawing lessons. Excitedly, Kitty learned she would sit individual lessons with Papa and the Hills. Lizzy would chaperone Kitty's trips into Meryton for individual lessons from Mrs. Phillips.
Papa banned Lydia from any amusements until Twelfth Night. Papa punished Lydia because she took her sisters' belongings before the Netherfield Ball. Mama argued Lydia should not be penalized because her sisters didn't know how to share.
"Mrs. Bennet, since you demanded Mary return items which belong to her, which you used and claimed as your own…I feel you should share Lydia's ban on amusements. No entertaining, no callers, no making calls, no card parties, no assemblies until the Gardiners and Phillips come to us at Christmas." Mr. Bennet sipped his wine. "Objections to my edict will result in a longer punishment."
Mrs. Bennet flapped her handkerchief…and pinched her mouth closed.
Mr. Bennet observed the current air of quietness. "Mrs. Gardiner had the talk with Mary and helped her purchase and arrange her trousseau. She helped Mary purchase household supplies. Indeed, Mary left the receipts for your medicinal broths, teas and sherry. Mr. Locke has agreed to give our daughters herb garden lessons during the spring and summer, in exchange for eggs and honey."
"If Mary would delay their occupation of Longbourn until I pass, I would be well pleased." Mrs. Bennet announced with a nod of her head and smoothing her skirts. With one difficult daughter married, she could concentrate on acquiring Mr. Bingley for Jane. If Jane were advantageously married to Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet would not be solely dependent upon the £200 per annum living from her marriage settlement. Jane would ensure her dearest mama lived comfortably, not in penury.
"Why should that be?" Mr. Bennet observed his silly wife. "How is that fair to Mary and Mr. Collins? I see no reason for Mr. Collins to stay at Hunsford Parsonage with wages and food baskets instead of acquiring Longbourn with its per annum living with farm goods."
"Yes, Mary was very attentive to that also," Lizzy silenced her tongue when Papa shook his head at her.
"What does that mean?" Mrs. Bennet demanded.
"I am referring to Mary's directives on how to keep the gardens lush and insure the productivity of the gardens and the orchards. Longbourn should be ashamed if the gardens and orchard fell into disarray before Mr. and Mrs. Collins take possession of Longbourn." Lizzy replied, avoiding Mama's glare.
"Indeed, I find I have been lax about maintaining Longbourn. In the spring, I will seek someone to conduct routine maintenance both at Longbourn and at the tenant farms." Mr. Bennet decided to put the Steward's House in good order. If Mr. Collins inherited Longbourn, the Steward's House would be needed for Mrs. Bennet and any unmarried daughters. His family resided there before his mother died. The Steward's House would provide shelter for one silly woman and any silly unmarried daughters. Mary suggested repairing the Steward's House, then renting it. The rent would reimburse the repair costs. Tenants would insure the Steward's House would not fall into disrepair though disuse.
Franny Bennet sniffed. Yes, she would send Mary a letter. She would review Mary's duties to her family and Longbourn. Additionally, Mrs. Bennet would suggest Mary make the most of the connection to Rosings Park while the opportunity presented itself. She regretted issuing a Christmas invitation to the Collinses, but Mary could return the pilfered items when Longbourn entertained at Christmas.
~X~
"Pray, Lizzy, do not tell your Mama she is only the mistress of Longbourn for ninety days after my passing. She will learn what she needs to know when I pass. I don't want Mrs. Bennet nagging at Mary about future living situations. She will soon learn her emotions, her tears, and her nerves will not sway Collins or Mary once they control Longbourn." Mr. Bennet laid out his ledgers. Perhaps when he finished with them, there would be time for the new philosophical treatise which the bookseller in Meryton acquired for him.
"Mary will be a good mistress for Longbourn," Lizzy agreed. "She loves Longbourn and will do her best to keep the boards intact to pass down to her heirs." Lizzy would write a long letter to Mary to tell her about the ball, Kitty moving into her own room, messages from everyone who missed Mary, and Mr. Locke's offer for herbal lessons in the spring.
~X~
"I do not understand your reticence," Mr. Collins lectured Mary. "Lady Catherine offered to help you with your accounts. You acted as if she demanded the key to the silver plate closet, so she could purloin it."
"I'm sorry, but I will not present my personal and household ledgers for Lady Catherine's perusal. The amount of my pin money, or my trousseau funds are my concern. Profit and expenditures from selling my eggs, herbs and honey are my concern. I see no reason for Lady Catherine to view my ledgers unless you feel I am incapable of running your household." Mary understood she would receive a lecture or a scolding the moment Mr. Collins clasped his hands behind his back.
"Lady Catherine provides excellent guidance; it would behoove you to heed Lady Catherine," Mr. Collins insisted.
"Please excuse me," Mary abruptly stood. "I am fatigued and require a rest before dinner. I find this lecture on Lady Catherine's virtues to be exhausting." After Barlow helped her undress for a short nap, Mary locked the door to her quarters.
~X~
"MR. COLLINS, the lady of the house leads the conversation during meals. I am excessively tired of hearing of the amenities of Rosings Park…where we do not live. I do not care how much the fireplaces cost. I do not care about the number of glazed windows nor their cost. I do not care how well turned the staircases are. I do not care how many liveried footmen work at Rosings Park. I do not care of the number of crested carriages Lady Catherine owns. I do not need to know the number of rooms at Rosings Park. I do not need to listen to the number of tenant farms or acreage at Rosings Park. I am pleased Lady Catherine has the funds to enjoy such luxuries and amenities. One simply does not discuss the status of their funds, nor do they comment on the funds of others. I should like very much to have a quiet dinner. We started our day quite early. We should end our day pleasantly in a warm, comfortable abode with a delicious dinner prepared for us. The wine we brought from London is quite excellent. I propose a toast to us, to our future felicity." Mary held her glass aloft until Mr. Collins joined her in the toast to them.
'After seeing the poor preparation of the sleeping room for my arrival, I am not interested in hearing how Lady Catherine has such elegance and taste. I am excessively tired of hearing you fawn and exclaim over your patroness. I dislike your pompous conceit, your subservient deportment, and your low manners. I have much work to complete with you.'
"Be sure to thank Mrs. Manning for the delicious roast chicken. I believe she said we have baked apples with vanilla custard for dessert." Mr. Collins helped himself to more baked sweet potatoes. Dinner continued quietly until…
"Excuse me?" Mary thought she misunderstood what Mr. Collins mumbled while they ate baked apples.
"While you were talking with Miss Anne at tea time, Lady Catherine explained she requires my attendance during the London assizes. When Hunsford is required to hold assizes, she prefers each session be started with a prayer. She wants me to condole with the accused in prison during the London assizes. Lady Catherine believes you will be more comfortable visiting your parents while I am at the assizes with her. While Mr. Manning packs for me, Barlow may pack for you. When I return from the assizes with Lady Catherine, I will send a letter to Longbourn. You may return to Hunsford Parsonage at that time." Mr. Collins repeated himself. "Lady Catherine will take you to the Hunsford Inn tomorrow morning. She inquired; there is a seat available for you on the post coach headed to Hertfordshire."
"Is there a seat for Barlow? For a lady does not travel by post coach alone!" Mary exclaimed. Overwhelmed with the urge to stab something, she carefully set her knife and fork down.
"No, there is only a seat for you," Mr. Collins explained.
"I'm sorry, but Lady Catherine's plans do not suit. I do not intend to travel alone by post to Longbourn. Lady Catherine may be your patroness, but she does not know me and does not know what will or will not make me comfortable." Mary argued.
"Do not make me order you to return to Longbourn until I have completed my duties, Mrs. Collins!" Mr. Collins shouted, throwing his napkin on the table.
"Mr. Collins, one of your husbandly tasks is to protect and defend me. Ordering me to travel fifty miles, unattended, in a post coach is neither protection nor defense. I will not be ordered to endanger myself nor act in a manner contrary to my station as a gentleman's daughter. Ladies do not travel post coach alone." Rarely seen, Mary Alice Bennet Collins' stubborn side manifested itself in a raised chin, and stern set of her mouth. 'Oh, if Lizzy could see me now!'
"I am sure if Lady Catherine approves of you traveling alone, there will be no censure from society for your actions. When you pack for Longbourn, follow Lady Catherine's directives about packing. She says maids have no clue how to pack trunks. Gown, folded in fourths or fifths and laid parallel to the short end of the trunk, develop excessive wrinkles. She opines maids should fold dresses in halves or thirds, depending on your height and layer them at the top of the trunk parallel to the long sides to forestall excessive wrinkles. She recommends a separate trunk for shoes and outerwear." Mr. Collins parroted Lady Catherine's travel directives to Mary.
"So, I'm expected to travel alone, for fifty miles, and manage two properly packed trunks? In addition to the dressing case, and a bandbox with a bonnet for church. I need a third trunk with books to read, my art box and sewing box to entertain me at Longbourn unless I am severe with the clothes I pack." Mary stared at her husband. She interrupted before he could reply. "Mr. Collins, please think of words like pence. You would not waste your funds…stop wasting your words. Remember the Bible phrase about serving two masters…you cannot serve God and Lady Catherine." 'Lady Catherine is an old busybody. She is the most un-Christian woman I ever met.'
Mr. Collins gasped at Mary's blasphemy.
"I am a gentlewoman, the daughter of a gentleman, descended from generations of gentlemen. My parents raised and educated me as a gentlewoman. I know how to behave properly. My marriage to you did not reduce me to the social status of an indentured servant. How dare you allow, nay, encourage Lady Catherine to treat me thus? I will not be sent home to Longbourn, alone and unannounced." Mary replied. "When you are not here, what happens if a parishioner seeks you?"
"Curate Stevenson will manage any emergencies while I am gone. We always conduct rectory business this way," Mr. Collins stated.
"Has he been notified of this situation?" Mary interpreted his silence as confirmation. "You notified him before notifying me? This is insupportable! This discussion is over." Mary rose and rang the bell pull. "Have a safe trip, Mr. Collins. I will see you when you return."
"This discussion is not over!" Mr. Collins shouted. "You are my wife and will do as I order!"
"Is it too late to send an express post to Longbourn, outside of Meryton? I believe Longbourn is about fifty miles from here." Mary asked Mr. Manning while ignoring a fuming Mr. Collins.
"The rider could not leave until after midnight. With a fast horse, he could be at Longbourn before breakfast. There is partial moon and a clear night which will speed his journey. The issue will be finding someone who does not fear highwaymen setting upon him." Mr. Manning stated.
"I need to send an express to Papa. He needs to know my husband's patroness is shipping me home. I will pay extra for an armed express rider to reach my father by early morning." Mary explained to Mr. Manning before addressing Mr. Collins. "Since you insist I return to Longbourn, I will take the Tuesday post coach with Barlow. Or, I will rent a horse and take your one-horse gig to Longbourn with Barlow as my companion. Be aware, if you demand I go home to Longbourn, Mama may fall ill. She will worry about you abandoning me to spend an unknown time in London with your patroness. Mama will need to be nursed through her vapors and nerves. She might require my presence in Longbourn until spring."
Mr. Collins paled at her words. He left the room abruptly and Mary could hear the bookroom door slam.
"Please pack for Mr. Collins to attend the assizes with Lady Catherine. I know he has not gone before, but I am sure you know what to pack." Mary told Mr. Manning. "I believe he might be in London ten days."
"I do not know what to pack for the assizes, ma'am," Mr. Manning explained the judicial structure in Hunsford and Kent. Upon the demise of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, the next largest landowner, Squire Horace Rehman, became the magistrate for the area. Lady Catherine has not been involved in the Hunsford or Westerham assizes, neither before nor after the passing of Sir Lewis. "The vicar before Mr. Collins attended the judicial inquiries in Hunsford or Westerham. They offered prayers at the beginning of each session. They condoled with any prisoner before transport to the London assizes. Lady Catherine has never attended assizes in Kent or London while we've worked for the parsonage."
"Very well, please ring for Mrs. Manning to clear. Please pack Mr. Collins' clerical clothes and robes, in addition to his personal necessities." Mary sighed. 'Attending the assizes in London is obviously a ploy to embarrass and humiliate me.'
Mary knew a country parson's wife administered to the physical and medical needs of the parishioners while her husband ministered to their spiritual needs. Mary talked to Mrs. Nelson, the vicar's wife of St. Albans, when she delivered medicines from Mr. Locke to Mrs. Nelson. A vicar's wife needed organization to run one's house, while seeing to the needs of the family, while seeing to the needs of the parishioners. Mrs. Nelson had two female servants to help run the home and watch the children, and a man-of-all-things to help for tasks with drawing water, chopping wood, and caring for animals and the grounds. Mary admired Mrs. Nelson who never complained and always had a pleasant smile no matter how busy her life became.
Mary felt she started her life at Hunsford Parsonage on the back foot. They were terribly busy yesterday when they arrived. Her plan to take a restorative rest after tonight's evening meal evaporated. The discord would haunt her during the night. 'I must learn to ignore the slights and cuts from Lady Catherine and smile serenely. Jane…yes…I must be more like Jane.'
~X~
"Manning," Timothy Talfort frowned as he spotted Michael Manning in the common room of his coaching inn in Hunsford.
"Talfort," Manning addressed him. "Is there somewhere we could speak, privately?"
Talfort led Manning to his office and closed the door. "I've never seen you here on a Sunday, or alone."
"I need help. Lady Catherine purchased the last seat on a post coach headed to Hertfordshire tomorrow morning?" Manning watched Talfort for confirmation. "I need you to sell the seat to a single man who can travel to Hertfordshire."
"I felt quite surprised at Lady Catherine's inquiry and purchase. She sent a footman who insisted on securing the last inside seat." Talfort admitted. "What is the situation?"
"Lady Catherine intends to put Mrs. Collins on the post coach and send her home to her family in Hertfordshire. Lady Catherine decided she and Vicar Collins will attend the assizes in London. Lady Catherine is angry with Vicar Collins for marrying Mrs. Collins before she had the opportunity to meet and approve of the young lady. Lady Catherine attempts to embarrass Mrs. Collins, in hopes of turning the community against her. Perhaps such actions would give her reason to end Vicar Collins' living for someone who will be more malleable." Manning angrily brushed at imaginary lint on his jacket. 'How could Lady Catherine find someone more malleable than Mr. Collins?'
"My wife and I enjoyed meeting Mrs. Collins at church today. We were quite surprised…" Talfort paused for a minute.
"You were quite surprised Mrs. Collins is nothing like the previous vicar's wife?" Manning suggested with a sly wink. "You were quite surprised a fool like Mr. Collins married a lady like Mrs. Collins?"
"Indeed," Talfort admitted. "I will send a messenger to the parsonage tomorrow morning explaining Mrs. Collins' seat is needed by a wounded soldier, Colonel Flynn. He has orders for Colonel Forester at the militia in Meryton. I will reserve two inside seats on the Tuesday coach if Mrs. Collins decides to travel with her maid. Lady Catherine should not attempt a compromise of Mrs. Collins' character or endanger her person."
"I would like to send an express rider to the Longbourn estate, in Meryton. The rider must leave after midnight, travel in the dark, and be at Longbourn before breakfast. Mrs. Collins will pay extra for an armed express rider." Manning considered Talfort.
"You want to warn them Mrs. Collins is coming?" Talfort asked.
"No, I want to inform Mr. Thomas Bennet, Mrs. Collins' father, of the situation. I will urge him to come to Hunsford Parsonage as soon as possible. I want him to stay until Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine return." Manning explained how Lady Catherine ordered Mr. Collins to Hertfordshire to examine his future inheritance and offer marriage to one of his cousins.
"Since I am the innkeeper, I will explain the situation to Mr. Bennet in an express." Talfort withdrew paper, quill and ink. "I will make arrangements for Colonel Flynn to take Mrs. Collins' seat. I will send a message to Mrs. Collins tomorrow morning. Just to avert suspicion, have her trunks packed, as if she intends to leave."
"Thank you for your help," Manning gave Talfort the information he knew about the location of Thomas Bennet, Longbourn, near Meryton in Hertfordshire.