I suppose 9 reviews is enough. Lol, nobody tried to guess who the "unimportant visitor" was. That was supposed to be Lady Catherine.
I want to thank n/a for reviewing last chapter. As for her reading the letter, I suppose we shall soon see…..
I also want to thank Minna. I'm glad you like my story and like my plot and characters. I'm not offended by the constructive criticism, though perhaps a little disappointed. I thought I was doing pretty well with my grammar and I have been fussing over it a bit to make sure it works. I admit grammar is frustrating and probably NOT one of my stronger points. At the same time I've always thought it was above average, or at least average. However, you said my syntax is bad, and I don't like that. Admittedly, I had to look up the word syntax, haha, to find that it means sentence structure. I am trying to make it sound more…old fashioned and sophisticated because I don't want it to sound too modern. So I'm not really writing it the way people would write and structure sentences nowadays, and therefore I'm not writing it in my natural tongue. I'm probably not pulling it off. I am, truthfully, mostly "winging it" and following two rules: does it sound good to me and are there no green "bad grammar" lines. Okay, so I do occasionally leave sentences with green lines if I like the way it sounds (and sometimes the green line IS wrong). And, perhaps even I don't think my sentences are perfect but I can only fuss so much. Lol. I will try to do better but I can't make any promises. I can only do my best and fuss over it so much until it loses all enjoyment.
All that being said, I don't really see what is wrong with it. Could you give me a bit more clarification on what you mean? Maybe you could give me a few examples from my story and maybe even provide a better way of saying it? Also, you said I'm "amazing with the deeper aspects of the writing". I would also like to know what you mean about that so I can continue with it. Anyway, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it even if I continue to struggle with the grammar.
If anyone has suggestions, ideas, or insights on the matter, let me know as well.
It took a whole page for my author notes. LOL.
Miss Mary Bennet,
If you are reading this letter I must express my gratitude for your taking the time to listen to a worthless friend such as I. I urge you to continue reading, if not for my benefit that my explanation will be known but for your benefit so that you may know the truth. If you choose not to then you may not know the truth for quite some time. I am leaving for London Tuesday, October 13th on business with your uncle and Mr. Jensen. I do not know how long I will be gone nor do I have knowledge of my future location. I hope to know sooner to my departure and I will inform you if you express interest. If you do forgive me I beg that you will inform me before I leave. My sentiments towards you are still the same, they always will be. However, I am not asking for your love, your friendship, or your forgiveness as desirable as they all may be. I only ask for the opportunity to explain, again if not for my benefit than for yours. I leave everything up to you now; as much as I wish to always be in acquaintance with you I cannot attempt so any longer contrary to your will. If I do not hear from you I will succumb to your wishes and never bother you again.
When you told me of Mr. Collins considering you I was devastated. Yes, I confess I was devastated for myself, devastated with thoughts that the one I loved would find union with another. However, I was more devastated for you. How could you find happiness with a man who didn't love you? I was convinced that he, foolishly, did not. He had gone so quickly from one of your sisters to the other and behaved so charmed by the latter I was convinced he had no true affection for you. There was also the matter of his only taking you into consideration. It would be hard to see you joined with another, a fate I would have accepted if I knew it would achieve your happiness. However, to see you marry one who had no love and little regard for you would have been unbearable. I considered your possible temporary happiness in such a union but I doubted there would be any lasting. There was still the possibility that he would have learned to love you and so I investigated the matter for myself.
After speaking with you that day I went home and thought about what I should do. I figured I would need to speak with him personally to completely understand what sort of regard, if any, he had for you. I wrote a letter urging Mr. Collins to speak with me and he came about an hour later...
"Good afternoon, Mr. Collins." Mr. Singleton said gravely as the other man entered the room. "Thank you for coming to speak with me. I am Mr. Singleton, if you do not remember."
"Oh, hello hello!" Mr. Collins said cheerfully. "I do remember you; somebody, I forget who, had introduced us at the ball."
Mr. Singleton flinched.
"I must say, I like the property your house sits upon. It reminds me of a moor not far from my Patroness Lady Catherine DeBourgh's property."
Mr. Singleton raised an eyebrow.
"Such grand moors that surround Lady Catherine's property!" Mr. Collins exclaimed rapturously.
"Oh? Well, thank you, I suppose."
"Ah yes, Lady Catherine DeBourgh…" Mr. Collins trailed off. "The most wonderful Patroness I've ever had…well, I suppose she's the only Patroness I ever had but, well, you know what I mean."
"Mr. Collins, please have a seat." Mr. Singleton offered. Mr. Collins looked at him in shock; he had, after all, not been finished speaking.
"Yes, yes, of course." He said sitting down. Mr. Singleton followed his actions.
"Mr. Collins," Mr. Singleton said, noticing the man about to speak again. "I wanted to speak with you about Miss Mary Bennet. Is it true that you are considering a union with her?"
Mr. Collins scrunched his face.
"Miss Mary…Miss Mary…is that one who is constantly talking or constantly giggling?"
Mr. Singleton flinched again.
"Neither, she is the one constantly reading."
"Constantly reading! Which one is that?" Mr. Collins said. "How many daughters does my cousin have?"
"Five." Mr. Singleton said sharply.
"Five?" Mr. Collins said scrunching his face up in confusion once more. His face lit up. "Ah yes! I do remember now; the little mousy one I always forget."
A low growl, unnoticed by the oblivious Mr. Collins, emanated from Mr. Singleton's throat.
"Yes, the quiet one who enjoys studying and has particular regard for morality and theology." Mr. Collins said. "I do believe she would make a suitable clergyman's wife."
"Yes, she'd make a suitable wife indeed." Mr. Singleton sneered.
"It's a pity the thing is so plain though."
"The thing?" Mr. Singleton said darkly.
"And her singing is atrocious! And when she does speak she is too forceful in her opinions. I will have to command her to neither sing nor speak much. Wives should be seen not heard you know."
"Oh do I?" Mr. Singleton grunted.
"And she was always bothering me with theological questions or to listen to her dull piano playing-"
"Mr. Collins!" Mr. Singleton exclaimed sharply. Mr. Collins ceased speaking and stared in surprised at Mr. Singleton.
"Mr. Collins, do you love Miss Mary Bennet?"
"Love?" Mr. Collins said. "What is this talk about love? That is merely something you feign to keep the ladies happy. You know how it is; they're easier to live with when they feel wanted. It doesn't mean anything."
Mr. Singleton stared in surprised at Mr. Collins.
"Do you have any regard for her, any respect at all?" he finally sneered.
"Regard, respect?" Mr. Collins said. "Oh, that is all unneeded. A man needs a wife and a lady needs a roof over her head; each provides what is necessary for the other. Love, regard, respect? That is all merely pretend, some fantasy we build up to keep the insignificant sex happy."
Mr. Singleton took a deep breath to calm himself; he was now determined to keep the man away from Mary at all costs.
"Mr. Collins, are you sure marrying Miss Mary is best?" he said.
"Marrying Miss Mary?" Mr. Collins questioned. "What does it matter? I need a wife and she would be lucky to have anybody. I had hoped for somebody prettier but I suppose she would be fine; she's not a complete disaster after all."
Mr. Singleton had to muster all the self-restraint he had not to lunge at the man. He sat there for a minute or two, breathing deeply. Finally, he spoke, putting his plan into action.
"Think of your honor!" Mr. Singleton finally exclaimed. "You aimed for her older sister, two of them in fact! And to be stuck with the third, is that not unfair?"
"Yes…yes I suppose…"
"And think of the dishonor her sister gave you in her refusal! That family is nothing but trouble!"
"That would be true."
"And what of her pitiful, nonexistent dowry?"
"Yes…it is not much."
"What would your patroness say to all this?"
Mr. Collins gasped.
"L-lady Catherine Debourgh?"
"Yes, Lady Catherine Debourgh!" Mr. Singleton said dramatically.
Mr. Collins sat in quiet contemplation. Mr. Singleton smiled. Hook, line and-
"And why is it any concern to you?" Mr. Collins asked, eyeing Mr. Singleton critically.
"Pardon?" Mr. Singleton asked in surprise.
"Why is it any concern of yours whether I marry Miss Mary or not?"
"Well I…I," Mr. Singleton said. "I was just…looking out for your well being. We men have to stick together, you know…from the, uh…wicked wiles of the other sex."
Mr. Collins was still eyeing him critically.
"You love her, don't you?"
The color drained from Mr. Singleton's face. This man wasn't as stupid as he looked; that didn't mean much, however.
"Well I…"
Mr. Collins chuckled.
"Far be it from me to come between two young lovers." He said. "For love is God's greatest gift…"
"I thought you said it was something you feign to keep the ladies happy?" Mr. Singleton asked, interrupting another monologue.
Mr. Collins chuckled again.
"Yes, yes. Most of the time…but when you actually have it, it is something you should hold on to."
Mr. Singleton stared in confusion. He had no idea what Mr. Collins thought and he wasn't sure Mr. Collins knew either.
"Well, anyway, consider her safe from me." Mr. Collins said.
Mr. Singleton smiled.
"Thank you." He said.
Mr. Collins looked at him expectantly.
"Yes?" Mr. Singleton asked.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
Mr. Collins sighed.
"As a clergyman I do not like to solicit but also as a clergyman I feel it my duty to remind people to keep their word. Don't you have something for me?"
"Something for you?"
"Your letter stated this meeting would be to my monetary benefit."
"I believe I said to your benefit. I meant to the benefit of your name and honor."
"It was implied-"
"It was not intended."
Mr. Collins' face darkened.
"How dreadful! How absolutely dreadful!" Mr. Collins exclaimed. "How can I believe all that you said about my name and honor if you cannot keep your word to a simple promise?"
"Just what are you saying…"
"How dreadful for you! Considering I am the better candidate for Miss Mary. I am to inherit the very estate she resides in while you are a mere clerk…I don't even have to guess which of us her mother would choose."
"Wait a minute-"
"Never mind the fact that her own interests lie more with myself!"
Mr. Singleton growled and stood up. He stalked out of the room, came back, and handed Mr. Collins a sack of money.
"As I give this to you do I have complete trust that you will not marry Miss Mary Bennet?" Mr. Singleton said.
Mr. Collins gave a slimy smile.
"Mr. Singleton, I am a man of my word."
Miss Mary, I felt wretched enough preventing your very desires from occurring; I only felt more despicable paying him for it for no price will do you justice. I know I should not have meddled. If anything, I should have expressed my concerns to you instead of meddling without your knowledge. But, knowing how much you loved him I had to be sure it was worth your disappointment to detach him from you. While speaking to him and discovering his character I knew one thing only: to get him away from you as soon as I could, even at the expense of your hating me forever. If I must see you with another man may he be good and love you as you deserve, but I cannot bear seeing you with one as Mr. Collins. I hope his character was clarified and you understand why I kept him from you. I know I should have told you sooner, but I could not so soon after it happened for you were upset enough over the engagement. As for not telling you later, I believe I must confess my selfishness. I was a coward and wanted to put off your hating me. I was conflicted, however, for I knew I had to expose my secret before I confessed my affections or attempted to pursue yours.
I understand if you can never forgive me. I have lived a lie against you, my dearest friend, for far too long that I cannot blame you if your trust in me is forever broken. I do, however, wish you find happiness and love with someone who is worthy of you.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Richard Singleton
Mary lowered the letter and stared blankly at the wall, unable to think of anything for several minutes.
"Liar!" she finally said, crumpling the letter and throwing it down. "Mr. Collins is a good man!"
This thought lasted a few seconds as she thought of what she knew of Mr. Collins and his relationship with women. It was true that he had gone quickly from Jane to Lizzy and Lizzy to Charlotte, and that day in between Lizzy and Charlotte he had considered her. And, as memory served, it had taken her mother an hour to convince Mr. Collins to consider Mary; an hour of her mother's nagging could convince anyone to jump off a cliff, or at least after an hour of her mother's nagging Mary wanted to jump off a cliff. Most of the account of Mr. Singleton's letter would hold up to the knowledge Mary had of Mr. Collins. It should be no surprise that he had this view of Mary or of love. Mary wondered at how she ever thought she would be happy with him. She must have been blindly struck by his title, his seemingly good character, and the possibility that he might find her a candidate for marriage. Most of it had been in her head, however. She had always truly known he didn't love her but she had hoped he would learn to. Now, though, she was discovering she had never loved Mr. Collins either, merely in awe of his image. She couldn't have for it was mere months when she realized she was over him.
She realized she hadn't been hurt because of her detachment from Mr. Collins but rather that Mr. Singleton had done the detaching. He was someone she had trusted and he went behind her back and done something to betray her. But, after studying the letter several times, she couldn't help but be happy he had done so. There was, of course, some doubt of Mr. Singleton's honesty. However, why should she have doubted his words? He had never proven himself to be dishonest, other than this one instance however significant it may have been. Should she doubt the character of one she'd always known to be good while upholding the character of another whom she hardly knew? He had recognized Mr. Collins for who he was and kept him away from her, the woman he claimed to love. Should she condemn him for rescuing her from a despairing fate? Perhaps he had gone about it the wrong way and perhaps he had kept it from her for far too long, but would that have fallen short from what she was capable of doing if placed in such a situation? Perhaps Mr. Singleton's actions weren't completely honorable but they were forgivable especially considering how dear a friend he was.
She shuddered to think about Mr. Collins soliciting money from him and was frustrated that Mr. Singleton did not disclose the amount. Mr. Singleton was not in position to throw his money around. But, she was growing in appreciation and affection for how he had looked out for her. She had at times thought herself to be in love with him and now she knew she was.
"Oh Mr. Singleton!" She cried and buried her head in her hands. "What have I put you through? I have been an unforgiving, selfish, self-pitying brat! I am nowhere near as good as I think myself to be. Rather, I am a monster!"
Mary thought of her sickening actions towards him, how she had not allowed him to explain. With a sudden pang she remembered he had said he was to leave for London. Mary grabbed the letter, thrust it open forcefully, and read it with violent anticipation. She crumpled to the floor and let out a sob. She was three days too late.
Please don't hate me! He WILL be back. But I have some things for Mary to go through before he does. Please have patience, I will try to get through it all as quickly as possible (however, it will probably take a few chapters). Please continue reading. Just remember, there was plenty of times in P&P were darcy and lizzy weren't together. (look on the bright side...at least she read the letter and forgives me...heh heh...)
I don't really know if Mr. Philips would take his clerks with him to do business in London, but I needed both Jenson and Richard to leave for a while and that was the best option.
I hope I wrote Mr. Collins well. I'm not sure if I did or not, but I find him funny, and sickening, in this chapter.
So far the next two chapters are kinda short. I'm still editing them, and HOPING that this plot will work. I am struggling a bit with them so it might be awhile before next chapter. I just hope I don't lose my patience in Mr. Singleton's absence.