Thanks for all the reviews! Much appreciated!
I think Charlotte would need to be a little insane to marry Mr. Collins. She is also OOC. Extremely.
She did not know what to think. Her friendship with Charlotte had been a bit strained since her marriage, they had had a bit of a falling out, but surely Charlotte would never lower herself to marrying Mr. Collins?
"Are you sure?" She whispered. He nodded sadly.
"Has she not written to you?" He asked.
"We had a falling out, a fight really, before you and I were wed. She refused to believe that Mr. Collins had tried to compromise me."
"Miss Lucas, well, Mrs. Collins included a letter for you." He passed her the small piece of parchment.
"I cannot read it," She told him. "Will you read it aloud, please?"
"Of course, if that is what you wish" She nodded and he broke the pale wax seal. The letter was not particularly long.
"Dear Lizzy" He read,
"I know this will shock you, but I am now a married woman. I should have informed you earlier, but I could not find the courage. It was a small ceremony, just family. Do not blame Jane, she knows as little as you. I am deeply sorry about our last meeting. Rest assured I have since forgiven you. It is ironic that our lives have thus turned out. I once had no hope of marrying for love, while you decreed you should only marry for love. And now I am the one married to the man I love, with all my heart, while you married that arrogant man to save yourself the shame. It is my understanding that the Darcy's come to Kent for Easter, I am sad to say that Mr. Collins and I shall be still on our honeymoon in Bathe. I am inconceivably happy, I hope you shall be half as happy in your marriage as I am in mine. Although that is quite unlikely, I wish it all the same. Much love, Mrs. Charlotte Collins" He finished, shaking in anger.
"Lizzy?" He questioned, looking towards the figure of his young bride.
"I do not feel so well," She told him; she was trembling. Tears were falling down her cheeks yet again. She tried to stand, but swayed dangerously. He quickly stood and caught her before she fell. He lifted her in his arms, intent on carrying her to her chambers. To his surprise, she wrapped her arms him, resting her cheek against his chest.
He carried her up the two floors to her chambers. As he went to put her down upon the bed, she refused to let go of his shirt.
"Please, stay" She begged. He nodded, and instead sat them down against the headboard, shoes and all. She sagged against him, her sobs muffled by his chest. He contented himself with rubbing small circles upon her back.
"It will be okay Elizabeth," He whispered. She nodded against his chest. She felt so betrayed by Charlotte. She had told Charlotte the truth, but Charlotte had simply laughed it off.
"You need not tell me this falsity Lizzy, dear, I am your friend, I understand. Mr. Darcy is a very powerful man, but you needn't marry him. Mr. Collins has told me of your love, and of his romantic proposal. Oh, it sounded so marvelous." Charlotte had said.
"Charlotte, I am not lying. Mr. Darcy has saved me quite literally"
"Oh Lizzy pish posh. You always scolded me for not thinking to marry for love, and look at you! Marrying another man, when you had a perfectly romantic proposal at your feet. Mr. Collins would have married you still, in spite of your compromise, but you chose to be practical and save yourself the shame"
"Charlotte, think of what you are saying. Do you not see the bruise upon my cheek, nor the scratches beneath my sleeve?" Lizzy showed her the marks, but Charlotte pushed her away.
"This is getting quite ridiculous Lizzy. I believe you simply do not want to live with the shame of what you actually did with Mr. Darcy to get those bruises" Charlotte spat.
"Believe what you will," Lizzy stated after several terse moments. "I cannot believe this is truly you Charlotte, whatever have you done to my best friend?"
"Best friend?" Charlotte looked at her, angry tears in her eyes. "You come crying to me about how dreadful it was to have a man who loves you propose marriage, and then proceed to go capture Mr. Darcy with your charms and force him to marry you! I should be so lucky as to receive one proposal of marriage from the poorest man in London!" Charlotte was delirious now. There was a mad look in her eye that she had never seen before. "You do not know how lucky you were Lizzy, to have a man of the cloth, the man who is set to inherit your fathers estate, offer marriage to you! But no, that was not enough, you had to have Mr. Darcy as well"
"I cannot believe the things you are saying Charlotte. I never asked for this!" Lizzy was almost in tears. She had hoped to find comfort in her best friend, but she could see she would find none.
"I cannot believe you either Lizzy. I cannot stand to be in your presence any longer" And with that, Charlotte walked out of the parlor.
Lizzy told Mr. Darcy the whole, sordid tale, sparing no details. At the end, he hugged her closer to himself.
"I am so sorry Lizzy, you never deserved this mess," He murmured. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. She twisted about in his arms, looking up at him.
"Thank you William, I do not think I deserve such a husband as you," She whispered. She yawned after saying this, causing him to chuckle.
"Rest Elizabeth, you've had a trying day," He told her. She nodded, and agreed with him. He went to remove himself from the bed, but she stopped him.
"Please" Was all she needed to say. He gently unlaced her slippers, before sliding his own boots off. He resumed his position of sitting against the backboard, while she cuddled against his side. He pulled the thick knitted blanket around her small frame. Within minutes, she was fast asleep against him.