Chapter 28

"Dwink!" Little Will demanded holding up his empty cup.

"Now, now, Master Will, mind your manners," Becky said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Dwink?" Little Will giggled.

Becky laughed, took the cup and filled it from the pitcher. Elizabeth laughed inwardly at such a display. She took a sip of coffee from her cup, then resumed going over her letters. Though most of them were addressed to her husband, he had all but delegated the duties to his wife. He was still learning to be a country squire, his riding lessons coming along, and currently he was out shooting grouse with Sir Lucas and a few other gentlemen. She had said a fervent prayer as he left that morning that his shots would be true, and no harm would come to him.

Collins lessons on land management, however, were not going over so well. He would get frustrated when looking at the long columns of numbers, being unable to add them on paper, let alone in his head as Elizabeth could. He claimed the numbers swam together and after a heated argument, he finally said she could take care of the books herself.

As for Mary, Elizabeth believed she had the perfect solution for her. She had written to her Aunt Gardiner to ask whether Mary might stay with her for a bit of the Season. Her Aunt had written back saying she would be delighted to have Mary for a visit. Now all Elizabeth had to do was convince her Mother it was a good idea, especially while Kitty still with Jane, who had written to her Mother of her condition and that she had all the help she could ask for with Charles' Mother and Kitty by her side.

"Young Master William," Mrs. Bennet exclaimed upon entering the room, "would you care to join your Grandmama on a walk?"

Becky looked towards Elizabeth for her approval. "Are you going into Meryton?" She asked.

"Yes, my sister Phillips told me yesterday that there is a new shipment of ribbon from London."

Elizabeth tried desperately not to reprimand her Mother. Though Longbourn now wholly belonged to Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet occasionally acted as if it were still hers, along with any money coming in.

"Did you not just buy new ribbon?" Elizabeth asked, knowing full well there was a length of ribbon purchased just last week inside her Mother's work basket.

Mrs. Bennet scoffed, "Yes, and what a waste it was. It did not go with any of my outfits. I gave it to Mary."

Elizabeth sighed, "You may take Will, Mama, but please return before the afternoon."

Mrs. Bennet and Becky left the room with Will to get him ready to leave, and Elizabeth took her papers to the study to finish her work. She had just made a nice profit from some of the wool and had added it up to that which she was saving. Just a year or two more and they would have enough to expand Longbourn!

She went through the rest of the letters, setting aside those she would reply to later, when one caught her eye from Rosings. It was addressed to her husband, but was from Anne.

"Mr. Collins," it started, "My Mother recently fell ill and has been confined to her room. The Physician says there is nothing he can do except help ease her pain. I fear she is not long for this world and beg you to come to her. She refuses to see Mr. Parsons and though she does not say so aloud, I believe she would find comfort in your presence."

Elizabeth rose from her chair slowly, the letter clutched in her hand. "Hill!" She called, as she stared at the words swimming in her vision.

"Yes, mum?" Hill asked as she came to the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Please, Mr. Collins needs to be fetched immediately."

"Yes'm," Hill left her.

When Mr. Collins returned Elizabeth could do nothing but hand the letter to him. After he read it two times he looked up at Elizabeth, his face blanched. "I must leave now," he said.

"Yes, of course," Elizabeth called for their maid and asked for a bag be packed for her husband. "Henry can take you in the carriage, we shall manage with one horse."

Mr. Collins nodded his head, re-reading the letter for a third time. Elizabeth was silent, not knowing what to say. Lady Catherine was one of those people who seemed would live forever by sheer force of will. That she had fallen ill had rendered her speechless.

"Do you wish me to accompany you?" She asked, placing her hand gently on his arm.

He looked up from the letter and shook his head, "No, you should remain here, with Will and your Mother."

Once a bag was packed, Mr. Collins left Longbourn to tend to his Patroness for perhaps the last time.

Mrs. Bennet took the news of Collins absence quite well. She declared the house would be much cozier without him reading from his sermons he had given in the past.

"One goes to church on Sunday to be sermonized to, not every evening of the week at home!"

Elizabeth wished to rebuke her Mother, but felt not up to the task. Mrs. Bennet had even asked for more money to have a new dress made over for Lydia, not even noticing the look of defeat on Mary's face.

"Mother, Lydia had a new dress at the beginning of the year and you have nearly gone through your entire allowance!"

"Elizabeth, I am not a child!" Mrs. Bennet yelled. "Do not treat me so."

"Mother, your allowance is more than enough for you and Lydia and Mary. I am sure Jane is taking care of Kitty."

"Yes, but now that your husband is away, I am sure you can loosen the purse strings yourself?"

"No," Elizabeth shook her head, "It is I and not Mr. Collins who is adamant you stick to your allowance."

Mrs. Bennet huffed, and stormed away, Lydia sticking her tongue out at Elizabeth declaring she has become some dowdy old woman. "Mary," Elizabeth said, fighting back the pain in her head, "will you please read to me?"

A few days had gone by before Elizabeth received her first letter from her husband.

"My dearest Elizabeth, Lady Catherine is well in spirit, though ill in body. I sit with her most afternoons, listen to her make plans for a future I am afraid will not be hers. I know she is deeply concerned with Miss de Bourgh and her prospects. Though Rosings already belongs to her, having achieved her majority, Lady Catherine has always managed it with her help from Mr. Darcy and the Colonel. She refuses to write to Darcy and the Colonel is away. I have written to Lord Matlock to see what help he could provide his sister.

Miss de Bourgh informed me just this morning that she has written to her Uncle Tobias who lives in the Caribbean. When he was young he took his inheritance and bought a sugar plantation and has lived there ever since. Since Miss de Bourgh is convinced she will never marry and have an heir of her own, she has told me Rosings would pass to her Uncle Tobias, and that he might as well take an interest in the lands now.

I confess, I do not know what to do other than what I have already done. I have never heard Lady Catherine mention this Tobias, or what his temperament is. I fear to disclose this news to Lady Catherine for fear it might finish her.

I pray that all will come out the way God intends."

Elizabeth set the letter aside and prayed to God as well.