Chapter Seventeen

Wednesday had come quickly for Mr. Collins and Mary. Mary was feeling an extreme amount of jealousy.

Even now, as she watched Charlotte walk down the aisle, it took every single fiber of Mary's composure to keep calm. She wanted to spring from the pews and tackle Charlotte. However, that would have been very unladylike. And Mary always thought of herself to be a lady.

Mr. Collins tried to numb himself throughout the ceremony. He did not want to be in his right mind as he married this girl. He wanted to be with Mary. He did not even want to be with Charlotte in title. However, it was essential to the plan that this marriage took place.

The ceremony came to a close and Mr. Collins had to snap out of his dreamlike trance in order to kiss his bride. Mr. Collins looked down at Charlotte and her thin, colorless lips. He sighed as he gave her a quick, mandatory kiss. Charlotte looked disappointed, but Mr. Collins did not care.

After the wedding, Mary went to go greet Charlotte, or as people referred to her as "Mrs. Collins". It sickened Mary to hear this. She was going to be Mrs. Collins. Not Charlotte. Charlotte did not deserve any man.

"Charlotte, dear, please indulge me if you will," Mary said, putting on a smile. She went over to her and took her arm, "Take a walk with me, I wish to speak with you."

Charlotte smiled and nodded, "Of course, Mary." She curtsied to her mother and left with Mary out of the church.

It was a snowy day. The snow covered the ground up the girls' ankles. The height was ever growing as each snowflake touched the ground. Mary led Charlotte to the wooden area.

"Your wedding dress is beautiful," Mary told Charlotte as they went into the woods.

"Thank you, Mary. It was my mother's. It is a bit snug, but she insisted," Charlotte said.

"So, how does it feel to be married," Mary asked as she looked to Charlotte.

"I still feel single, if that is what you are talking about," Charlotte said, "It still has not really registered that I am now a married woman."

Mary stopped by a large, snow-covered tree, "Mr. Collins is a good man. You should feel lucky to have him."

Charlotte said, "Mary, I know that you are fond of him. Fondness causes blindness I'm afraid. Mr. Collins tends to be very pompous, silly and narrowed minded. Truth be told, I would rather have married someone else."

This infuriated Mary to no end. She tried to keep herself calm. She put on a smile as she looked to Charlotte. She then looked up at the icicles on the tree. They were nice and thick.

"Charlotte, he is not all that bad. He is intelligent and very cultured," Mary told her.

"If you insist, Mary," Charlotte said, simply, "Now, what is it you want me to talk to you about?"

Step Three….

Mary just smiled and asked, "Charlotte, my dear, I wanted to tell you how much I valued your letters. They were a great help to me."

Charlotte smiled and nodded, "Anything I can do to help a friend."

Mary smiled as she grabbed a branch and pulled an icicle off. Her smile turned into a frown as she said, "You don't deserve him." She then stabbed Charlotte in the heart with the icicle.

Charlotte gasped in surprise as she looked down at the blood pouring out of her body. She couldn't even register what had happened before her lifeless body fell to the ground.

Mary dropped the icicle on the ground and shook the branch, making snow fall on Charlotte's body. Mary knew her body would not be found for a long time. The snow would hide it and no one went out this way.

Mary sighed as she went back to the church.

Mr. Collins saw that Mary came back alone and he felt a smile.

Mary went over to Mr. Collins and said, loudly, "Mr. Collins, Charlotte gave wanted me to give this to you."

All eyes turned on Mr. Collins.

Mary pulled out a note from her pocket and gave it to Mr. Collins.

Mr. Collins pretended to read the note. He knew what it said.

"Charlotte has denounced her marriage. She's leaving me her dowry and she plans to go to Spain," Mr. Collins said, making sure that he was heard.

Lady Lucas went over to them, "That cannot be!" She took the note from Mr. Collins' hands and read over it, "This! This is not my daughter's handwriting."

Elizabeth came over and looked at the note, "Yes it is. See the way the "y" looks like an "x", that is how she writes it."

Lady Lucas shook her head, "No, it can't be."

Elizabeth was beside herself. She knew nothing about Charlotte wanting to run away. She felt betrayed.

And as the gossip and sadness spread throughout the group, the only smile was on Mary and Mr. Collins' lips as they slipped into a carriage.