Chapter 3: Pommeled

Wednesday, 25 March 1812

Rosings Park

Richard laid on the charm as he walked beside Elizabeth, causing her cheeks to glow. When they paused, she began to look suspicious, then shocked. As she tumbled, Richard reached to catch her, only to be met with a tree limb connecting with his head. Grimacing in sympathy as he watched their exchange, Darcy deduced she had not agreed to the plan.

He could see the tears rolling down her cheeks as she retreated. She wouldn't be returning to Rosings Park. He hurt for her but felt relief for himself. The decision was made for him.

Darcy turned away from the window, seeing Lady Catherine and Anne looking at him expectantly. He shook his head. His aunt started to bluster, trying to end their tea, but Anne squeezed her mother's arm. Richard had failed. It meant Anne must work quickly and stealthily or Miss Bennet may well decide to leave Kent the next day, ruining all her carefully laid plans.

Anne turned to their guests. "Mrs. Collins, how long have you known Miss Bennet?"

"Since she was a babe. I lived on a neighboring estate. We have been close friends for many years." Charlotte responded, noting that Miss de Bourgh, who was never interested in much, seemed much taken with her friend.

"How lovely it must be to have such a lively and witty friend. I do love Miss Bennet's visits, she is so entertaining. You must miss her dearly now that you are so far away."

"Yes, but we write often," she said.

Mr. Collins, excited to speak, tried to chime in, "Cousin Elizabeth does have an energetic spirit…"

Anne interrupted. "Yes Mr. Collins," then paused as she recognized how useful the parson would be. He would be the easiest way to reverse Richard's failure. Fully engaging him for the first time, she asked, "Have you heard Mrs. Jenkinson is leaving me next week?"

"No, madam! How awful and unbelievable that anyone would want to leave the noble service of the de Bourgh family…"

One could only tolerate so much mindless blather. She interrupted again. "Yes Mr. Collins, her daughter's child will be born soon, so she leaves to help her family."

"Family is the foundation of our lives. It is the only reason for her to leave your illustrious service. Myself…"

"Mr. Collins, I'm glad you think so highly of family. I have an announcement. I will be expanding my own family. Darcy and I will marry three weeks from Monday. You will begin reading our banns on Easter Sunday." Anne looked toward Darcy who refused to turn away from the window.

Mr. Collins turned toward his esteemed patroness as they began smothering one another in joy and adulation. Anne could no longer concentrate with so many senseless words crammed into so few breaths. She prayed that her mother would not expose her plan in the ebullience.

Miss de Bourgh leaned toward Mrs. Collins. "I need your help," she confided. "With Mrs. Jenkinson leaving, I wish to convince Miss Bennet to stay with me for some months."

Mrs. Collins' eyes widened in shock while she tried to ascertain Miss de Bourgh's reasons. "I'm not sure that it would be possible. Her mother would certainly agree, but her father would not wish to sacrifice her company for so long."

"At some point, Miss Bennet must leave her father. She's too lively to remain unattached," Anne noted.

Mrs. Collins laughed softly. "Her mother would love to hear such a thing! Eliza is the only person capable of convincing her father to allow her to stay away for a year." Was Miss de Bourgh trying to match Eliza with the colonel?

Anne motioned Charlotte closer. "You realize I am sick, do you not?" she whispered.

Charlotte hesitated, not wanting to offend.

"The doctor believes I will not last beyond two years." Anne reached out to grasp Mrs. Collins' hand. "Your friend brings such happiness to a room. She has become a candle shining through the gloom of my life. I hope to have her here to make my end more bearable. As a gentlewoman, I would not deign to offer her a salary, but I am prepared to improve her situation, give her a home, in exchange for her time."

Charlotte gasped. Elizabeth may be able to secure the Bennets! "If she would be able to care for her mother and sisters, Eliza would have no choice but to stay with you! My husband is to inherit their estate, it has caused discord between our mothers."

Anne squeezed Mrs. Collins' hands. "It is good to be destined for an estate, but possession could be many years in the future. Or a son could be born."

Charlotte frowned. "Yes, those cannot be helped. But as Mr. Collins is the rector, we have the parsonage for his life."

"It is regretful," Anne bemoaned. "That women's fortunes depend on a man." They silently acknowledged the cruelty of it, before Anne brightened. "What if I were to give you the property I am to purchase? You can have your husband relinquish his claim on Miss Bennet's estate. It would allow you to collect the estate earnings directly and there will be no doubt of it remaining in the possession of your family."

"That would be…," Charlotte turned the option over in her mind a moment. "Yes, that would be preferable, if the property is comparable."

"My steward will bring you to survey it. From there we will decide," Anne said. "If the property suits, I will arrange for Miss Bennet to inherit Longbourn. But first, she must agree to stay with me."

"You are giving my friend Longbourn in return for companionship!"

"Yes. Do you think she will agree?"

"She must! It will secure them all! I will speak to her tonight."

Anne smiled gently at Mrs. Collins. "I would very much like for you to tell her how I adore her company, and that it distracts me from my pain."

Upon hearing Miss de Bourgh's admiration of Cousin Elizabeth, Mr. Collins quickly joined their conversation. Moving from adulating the illustrious betrothal to lauding his cousin's many charms.

Anne encouraged Lady Catherine to keep the Collins' engaged (and away from Hunsford) long enough to allow Miss Bennet a chance to recover.

Darcy remained a statue staring out the window, forgotten by the others in the room. Richard never returned, going instead to clean and bandage his face. Anne realized that Richard had approached Miss Bennet in the wrong way. Rather than appealing to her sensibilities, he appealed to sense.

Anne had put too much faith in him. If she wanted this job done correctly, she must do it herself.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Back at the Hunsford Parsonage

Elizabeth was mortified. Once out of sight of the colonel, she ran the rest of the way to the parsonage and up to her room. Throwing herself on her pillow, she sobbed violently.

How could she have so misjudged the colonel! She thought him gentlemanly and proper. But he was a rake, asking her to… What did that say about her? Was this to be her fate? What other offensive offers would she have to endure? Jane never had such offers! Finally, exhausted from the tears, she fell asleep.

She awoke to find Charlotte gently nudging her shoulder. "Eliza, are you well?"

She could not share what had happened, it was too humiliating,. She scrambled for a reason, saying only "I am well" for the moment.

Charlotte sat on her bed. "This was the most curious visit. You know how odd Lady Catherine is." Elizabeth forced a smile. "After you left, Miss de Bourgh rhapsodized about how much she enjoys your company. I rarely hear her speak; she just sits quietly beside Mrs. Jenkinson. I have always thought her sickly due her looks, but today she admitted as much. She said your company brings her joy and distracts her from her pain."

Elizabeth wondered, "How could I bring her joy? She's barely spoken to me!"

"I thought the same. It was very odd. Even odder, she told us she is to marry Mr. Darcy, despite her ill health. Lady Catherine has often spoken of it. She told Mr. Collins to read the banns this Sunday. Mr. Darcy did not disagree, though he did not look pleased."

Elizabeth scoffed. "Mr. Darcy never looks pleased. Maybe he's passionately in love with her, but his face is frozen in that expression."

"True!" Laughed Charlotte. Growing more serious, she confided, "After considering it, I believe the marriage is Mr. Darcy's way of growing his wealth. Once he marries Miss de Bourgh, Rosings Park and all its holdings combine with his own estate."

Such a thought raised Elizabeth's ire once again. The proposition from the colonel must be Mr. Darcy's doing. The selfish, prideful Mr. Darcy wanted to ruin her to enrich himself.

"Then they deserve one another," Elizabeth said, heartbroken by their cruelty. "May they live miserably ever after!"

"That is unkind," Charlotte laughed. "Come join us downstairs. You look like you have an allergy. We wondered why you and the colonel did not return. Mr. Darcy said he saw you walking toward the parsonage while the colonel continued inspecting the garden. It seemed odd, but if pollen irritated you, I understand the need to wash. "

"Thank you, Charlotte. I would like to wash my face. It will cool my eyes." Elizabeth did not want to be in company with Mr. Collins, but could no longer dwell on her hurt feelings.

After hours of conversation and distracted needlework, Elizabeth finally retired for the night, though her mind refused to rest. The proposal was so insulting, and so shocking coming from a man who had initially charmed her. Given her current, relatively calm state, she was able to think more rationally about the offer.

It was a great reward for her sacrifice. No longer having any faith that she would find someone to marry, maybe trading her virtue for her security was reasonable. (1)

But to sacrifice it to Mr. Darcy? A man who thought her only tolerable and looked at her only to find fault? Though he was obviously a rake, she would much prefer to bed the colonel. He would at least charm her. He would offer her lively conversation and he seemed to be attracted to her. She had found the colonel delightful until he decided to "follow orders," but was disgusted by Mr. Darcy's arrogance. Who would want to participate in such an intimate act with someone they were not attracted to and held no affection for?

Charlotte. For the rest of her life (or his) Charlotte must participate in such intimate acts with a man she held no attraction to or respect for. Charlotte, and every other woman who married for security, would have to continue doing such acts until they or their husband passed.

For Elizabeth, it would only be required until a child was conceived. She would secure her future, then never again be near the repulsive man.

Additionally, Charlotte had only secured herself. Elizabeth would be securing her mother and sisters as well, giving them all a comfortable future in her ancestral home. Mr. Darcy may be repugnant in action and demeanor, but he had the benefit over Mr. Collins of good grooming and tolerable looks. As a perk, Mr. Darcy would likely not interact with her beyond what was necessary.

To become pregnant without a husband. Elizabeth would be ruined, as would her sisters if it became known. But they would have the means to live well, so there would be no worry of the hedgerows or service or genteel poverty. The Rosings residents must have a way to keep Elizabeth's part a secret, else the child could not pass as Miss de Bourgh's. If no one knew, her sisters would still have the chance to find joy.

It would ruin her chance to marry, yet being honest with herself, she had never anticipated marriage. Her attractions were too few, her dowry to small, her impertinence too great, her society too constrained.

With her only offers being either offensive or obscene, any small hope she may have once held had been shattered.

How would they keep it a secret? They must have a way. Maybe they would be sent away? But Miss de Bourgh was so ill, how could she travel to hide such a thing? The more Elizabeth considered what it would take to make the subterfuge work, the more she believed it impossible. Once she believed it impossible, she could free her mind to think on other things.

She explored what it would be like to have fifteen thousand pounds and be the owner of Longbourn. Her mother would have nothing more to complain about, As if that would stop her, Elizabeth scoffed. She could send her younger sisters to seminary, teaching them both skills and manners. It would be nice not to be embarrassed by their antics. Such schooling would increase their chances of marrying well, which would please her mother. Mary could have a master teach her the pianoforte—that would please them all.

As she envisaged the life such wealth would give her, Elizabeth mused upon the silliness of it all. Oh so nice to dream, but if it sounds too good to be true, it is. She was convinced that Colonel Fitzwilliam had been pressed into making the offer because he was the most pleasant person in the great house. Having finally satisfied herself that the offer was one of greed on the part of Mr. Darcy and Lady Catherine and that there was no way to make such an offer come to fruition, Elizabeth was finally able to get some much needed rest.

Thursday, 26 March 1812

Awaking looking toward a quiet day at Hunsford, Elizabeth's previous day seemed to have been a nightmare. Putting it behind her, she dressed for a morning walk.

Charlotte greeted her. "Another lovely day. Would you mind my joining you, at least for part of your rambles? The fresh air will do wonders for me."

Surprised, but always happy to walk with her friend, Elizabeth joined arms with Charlotte as they traipsed along the lane.

Initially, they wandered along the bank of the stream, enjoying the song of the birds and the bloom of the flowers before Charlotte began to talk. "Eliza, as I mentioned yesterday, Miss de Bourgh informed me her companion leaves after Easter and her hope is that you will fill a similar role." Charlotte clasped her friend's hand. She knew Eliza didn't care for the de Bourghs but was unable to let her friend's pride cause her to pass up such an offer. "I know Miss de Bourgh's invitation is unusual and one you may not feel disposed to, but I pray you accept, Eliza. One year is a meager sacrifice to ensure the future of you and your family."

"Charlotte! You are an accomplice of the de Bourghs!" It was astonishing that her friend had been recruited to their scheme.

"Yes. It will keep your family from one day having to rely upon Mr. Collins for support. You know you have little patience with him."

Despondent at being reminded once again of her dismal prospects, yet incapable of fully discussing the offer, Elizabeth felt she had to voice her concerns. "I would have to live with such a family for a year! How can I keep my spirits up being constantly around Lady Catherine? What if I don't feel so lively one day – will they rescind their offer? Besides, who wishes to watch a young woman die!"

With growing convection, she delivered her final blow, "And, that young woman will be married to Mr. Darcy! I don't wish to be forced into his disapproving company again. It would be like Jane's illness at Netherfield Park, only without Jane. I felt like a caged animal who had been freed when we left, and that was only four days. To be so caged for months!"

"Eliza. Let us address these concerns. We may be able to resolve them. Have them put the offer in writing, noting you may have bad days as all normal ladies do, it will keep them from being able to rescind their promise."

Elizabeth listened morosely to her very practical friend. Having the agreement in writing would offer her some small protection. But she would need additional provisions, like what if she were unable to conceive? Charlotte's marriage was three months old, yet there were no signs of a child. What if something happened to the child? She remembered her mother losing babies after Lydia's birth. (Elizabeth secretly thought Lydia poisoned her mother's womb so she would be the last.)

"Next was…watching Miss de Bourgh die. Yes, it will be a difficult thing to do, but it shouldn't be sudden – like a friend falling from a tree." Charlotte looked pointedly at Eliza—who had one time fallen from a tree and been knocked unconscious. Her family had thought her dead until she roused a few minutes later. "We all experience the death of friends and loved ones at some point, but few are offered such a reward for doing it. You will know, even though the gloom, that when you leave Rosings Park you will return to your home secure. Keeping that in mind should help lighten your spirits."

Elizabeth could see the sense but wasn't reconciled to believing it would work.

"Last…Mr. Darcy. Honestly, Eliza, you make much more out of him than there is. He's just a wealthy man who is used to acquiescence. Yes, he's arrogant. Yes, he's unpleasant to be around. But I think his worst offense was the insult at the assembly, it made you determined to forever dislike him. That is your choice."

Elizabeth glared at her friend. "He's insufferable, all eaten up with pride and arrogance. Being in his company is misery."

Charlotte smiled, "Your father is insufferable as well, all eaten up with pride and arrogance. Being in his company is misery—ask your mother!"

Eliza dropped her head to signal defeat. "La! Every sensibility screams at me to not do this."

"But your sense screams you must," Charlotte countered. "You must do this for yourself and your family. You may also look at it as a year without your mother's haranguing. Besides, I am across the lane. Though not Jane, I will always be your respite when you need it." Smiling, she added, "I will be happy to have you near for a whole year rather than just a few weeks."

Charlotte would be across the lane; they would see one another often. How could she bear a child without her friend knowing?

Having to turn back, Charlotte stopped and faced Elizabeth. "No matter the difficulty you see now, if you reject their offer you will regret it forever." Then she began her return to the parsonage.

Elizabeth continued to wander, savoring the time alone. Yesterday morning on this same path she tossed in a few rocks, watched birds, and held no cares in the world. Yesterday was a different life.

Her mind wandered, but always ended in the same place: it could not be done. There would be no way to hide one pregnancy and fake another. Charlotte would see her, as would Mr. Collins. He would expose her, then her mother or a younger sister would tell the town. Beyond Charlotte and Mr. Collins, there were the servants. How could they not know?

No matter, even if she did wish to agree, it couldn't be done. Elizabeth perched herself upon a small rock, and tossed a few stones into the stream, completely lost in thought for a time before finally returning to the parsonage.

Charlotte greeted her as she walked in the door. "You have a letter from Jane."

Elizabeth opened it immediately. A letter from Jane was just what she needed to calm her spirits!

Gracechurch-street, March 25

Dearest Lizzy,

I'm writing to inform you of something of a most serious nature. On Monday, Papa was thrown from his mount. He has injured his head falling upon a stone, leaving him bleeding and unconscious.

I will be returning home after completing this letter so I may meet with the doctor and see Papa for myself. I send you this note, as well as enclosing the note Mama sent me. Mama was distraught—please do not take her reprimands to heart. She asks that you remain in Hunsford until more is known. I will send an express with news once Papa's condition is determined.

Oh Lizzy, pray for us all. If Papa dies, I do not know what will happen. We can only pray the Collins' will have mercy on us and allow us to stay. I must sign off now as the carriage is ready. A letter on Papa's condition will be sent as soon as I arrive home.

Sincerely, etc

Jane

Elizabeth gasped, jumping up to do something—but what was there to do?

"Eliza, what's wrong!" her friend cried.

"My father. He's been injured. Jane is returning home to help but has asked that I stay. She will write immediately once she sees him."

Unfortunately, Mr. Collins happened to be entering the room and overheard. His eyes glowing, he began to ejaculate over Mr. Bennet's tragic injury and the sadness of a shortened life, then directed Charlotte in the things she needed to prepare to claim his entail.

Icily, Elizabeth stared at Mr. Collins. "There is no word my father has passed. He is injured. Tomorrow we will learn of his condition."

Mr. Collins agreed happily before rushing out of the room, Elizabeth assumed, to start packing.

Sitting down again, Elizabeth took a deep breath before opening her mother's message.

Longbourn, March 24

Oh Jane!

You must come home as soon as you receive this letter. Mr. Bennet was thrown from his horse. He hit his head on a stone. He spoke nonsense for a while but now lies unconscious in his bed. I do not know what to do! The doctor fears he will not live much longer! We will be ruined! The Collins' will throw us out after how Lizzy treated Mr. Collins=. That girl should have secured us, but now we've lost our chance. I give you leave to let Lizzy know what happened, but tell her to remain with the Collins'. She needs to make amends as best she can. She owes it to our family to make sure they don't throw us into the hedgerows!

F. Bennet

Looking at Charlotte with tears in her eyes, Elizabeth retired to her room with a headache.

~~~oo0oo~~~

(1) According to MeasuringWorth dot com, £15,000 in 1810 would be the same as about a minimum of £1 million ($1.3 million) to a max of £58 million ($77 million) in 2016 money. Combine that amount with free and clear ownership of an estate making £3,000/year (in 2016: between £200k and £11.7million or $265k and $15.5 million). The huge variances depend on which economic factors you look at. Even using the lowest of these: she would receive £1 million, a home, and a yearly income of £200k (not including interest on the £1 million). That would be a tempting deal to many women in Elizabeth Bennet's situation, as the income from her mother's dowry would only be about £40k/year in 2016 money and it would have to provide for their residence and support.