Chapter Six
Kitty and Lydia soon put some distance between Mr. Collins and Elizabeth as they walked towards Meryton. Elizabeth didn't blame them. As silly as they could be, a conversation with Mr. Collins was extremely trying. He seemed to have an opinion on everything he saw and every observation led back to Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Elizabeth tried to say as little as possible. Not that it mattered because Mr. Collins didn't notice.
"What beautiful blooms these are," he said, pointing at some tiny yellow flowers.
"Do you know what they are?" asked Elizabeth, who recognised them as a wild rose.
"No," said Mr. Collins, who was no more well informed about flowers than he was about many subjects. "Naturally, if I had the time to study, I would increase my knowledge. However, I do believe I have seen similar flowers at Rosings. Lady Catherine would know what they are. She has a great deal of knowledge about many things and I look to her to point out where I am lacking."
Elizabeth was amused. "And does she?"
"Well yes, quite often." Mr. Collins looked embarrassed. "However, I am always grateful when Lady Catherine takes the time to offer her advice and broaden my knowledge. She is very kind. We meet daily and she instructs me on her interest of the day. She also helps with my sermons."
"You mean she writes them for you?" asked Elizabeth.
"Oh no, Miss Elizabeth, but Lady Catherine has a strong faith and she always knows the exact right Biblical passage that I should use."
"She does sound quite perfect," said Elizabeth, not quite truthfully.
"You are right, Miss Elizabeth. I do believe there is no one with more knowledge, generosity and felicity of nature than Lady Catherine. That is why she has taken such interest in my taking a wife."
Elizabeth cringed. So this was it. It was coming. As much as she was ready for it, she wished the silly man would not propose. Even if she did want to get married, it would not be to someone like Mr. Collins. Behind the unctuous utterings was someone who was ill-educated, ignorant and selfish.
"My dear Miss Elizabeth. Do you think we could stop for a moment? I do have something that I would ask you."
"Here, Mr. Collins?" said Elizabeth, stopping and staring at him. "Sir, I thought you wanted to go to Meryton."
Mr. Collins looked awkward. "Indeed I do, dear lady. However, I do have more pressing matters to discuss at the present time. My business in Meryton can wait."
"What did you want to discuss with Lizzy, Mr. Collins?" asked a voice. It was Lydia. Neither of them had noticed that Kitty and Lydia had turned back.
"Oh, it is nothing, Miss Lydia." said Mr. Collins, his cheeks tinged with red.
Lydia grinned. "Lizzy. Kitty and I were wondering if we could turn off here and go and see Maria Lucas."
Elizabeth thought quickly. Perhaps it would be better for her not to have an audience. "I thought you wanted to get some ribbon for your bonnet, Lydia?"
"I did, but it can wait until another day. Do say yes, Lizzy. We have not seen Maria for some weeks because she has not been well."
"Yes, you can," said Elizabeth, "but do not stay too long. You must come home straight after your visit."
"Oh thank you, Lizzy. See you later. Goodbye, Mr. Collins."
The two girls quickly disappeared down a lane towards Lucas Lodge, the home of Elizabeth's best friend Charlotte Lucas, her parents and her younger sister Maria. She wished she was going there herself instead of being with Mr. Collins.
Once they could be seen no longer, Elizabeth continued to walk.
"And you allow them to go alone," said Mr. Collins, looking perturbed
"And why not, Mr. Collins?"
"Well, I do not think Lady Catherine would approve."
Elizabeth found it very difficult not to make a rude retort. "My sisters are quite familiar with these lanes."
"Yes, but I do not think it is seemly for them to be wandering around unaccompanied. I know Lady Catherine would never like that for Miss Anne de Bourgh. No indeed. She likes her daughter to act as a lady at all times."
Elizabeth took a sharp intake of breath. She was very aware that her younger sisters' behaviour was sometimes lacking in propriety but to hear a man as silly as Mr. Collins criticise them was almost more than she could bear.
"My sisters will be very careful, Mr. Collins," she said in a tight voice. "Now should we proceed to Meryton?"
"Well yes… but first, Miss Eizabeth, may I speak with you?"
Elizabeth stopped and turned towards him. "What is it, sir?" she asked, looking at him directly.
Mr. Collins flushed under her intense gaze. "As you know, Lady Catherine has said that it is time I look a wife and I wholeheartedly agree. A man in my position should have a wife who can accompany him wherever needed and keep a suitable house. It is not a decision that can be made quickly, and it is something I have been pondering about for many months."
Elizabeth sighed. She wished he would make haste.
"And what conclusion have you come to in your ponderings, sir?"
Mr. Collins looked annoyed at being interrupted. "I have been contemplating finding someone who is suitable. I have a comfortable home, a position in society that many would envy and of course the estimable patronage of Lady Catherine. Any wife would be grateful for what I can offer."
"I'm sure they would," fibbed Elizabeth, trying not to laugh.
"And so after much consideration, Miss Elizabeth, I have chosen you for the position."
"The position, Mr. Collins?"
Mr. Collins looked awkward. "Perhaps I could have put it better," he said quickly. "However, I think you can agree how fortunate you are, particularly in your current circumstances, that I want you to become my wife. I don't believe you will get a better offer."
Elizabeth inwardly shuddered. It was a good thing she was not sentimental and had no urge to be wed. Mr. Collins' proposal was not an act of love, it was merely a business proposal. If her heart had been involved it might have hurt.
"Mr. Collins," she began, "I am flattered that you have asked me."
"I knew you would be," he said quickly.
"However, before I accept, I do think there is something you should know."
"What is it?" asked Mr. Collins curiously.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and dug her fingernails into her hand. She must not laugh or she would spoil everything. "Yesterday, I do believe that I became confused about your room."
"Yes, but it was nothing. It has all been forgotten."
"Has it, sir? Well, I don't think it should be. It happened again later, did it not."
"Yes," said Mr. Collins, looking puzzled, "but Mrs. Bennet explained that you'd had too much sun. As my wife, you will be expected of course to take more care of yourself."
Elizabeth was almost in despair. She wondered whether he was ever going to stop long enough for her to finish what she wanted to say.
"I would take care, Mr. Collins, but if I was to become your wife, I would need you to take great care of me."
"What do you mean, Miss Elizabeth?" asked Mr. Collins curiously.
Elizabeth kept her eyes fixed firmly on Mr. Collins. "There is an affliction among my mother's family that I think you should know about. It is a deep secret that is never talked about, however, if you are to propose marriage it is something I think you need to know about."
"What do you mean, madam?" said Mr. Collins, taking a couple of steps backwards.
"It is something that has happened to my mother's cousin and I believe a number of other relatives. They have become confused. It happens quite naturally, but it then increases with age. It is not something that anyone can do anything about. I believe that one of the relatives was incarcerated in an asylum because of it."
Mr. Collins could not hide his horror. "Are you certain, Miss Elizabeth?"
"Oh yes, but I do not have all the details," said Elizabeth quietly. "As I said, it is a secret that is rarely talked about. I have been worried because of my confusion whether there is a chance it is something that I too could be touched with."
Elizabeth found her lips twitching. Mr. Collins had grown pale and he was evidently lost for words. She continued to press home her advantage.
"Sir, I would not like to deceive you, but I wondered what Lady Catherine would think if you took a wife where there was a chance there might be some sort of affliction in the family."
Elizabeth watched Mr. Collins trying to gather his thoughts. "You are right, Miss Elizabeth. Lady Catherine would not approve at all. She wants me to have a woman who would make a suitable wife and support me in the parish."
"And I would want to do that, Mr. Collins, if I became your wife, but what if I fell ill? That would make things very difficult indeed for you."
"You are right. I cannot see how that would work," said Mr. Collins hurriedly. "Miss Elizabeth, I am very grateful for you bringing this to my attention."
Elizabeth smiled, wondering how he was going to withdraw his proposal.
"Miss Bennet, I did offer you my hand in marriage and I would have been very fortunate if you had accepted. However, I believe you did not accept?" He looked at her hopefully.
"Indeed I did not, sir, and I hope that did not upset you."
"No, no…" Mr. Collins started to walk in an agitated manner and Elizabeth quickly followed. He was almost muttering to himself. "What would Lady Catherine say, she would be most upset if she knew."
"But this is not something that you will be sharing with her ladyship, is it? Or even my mother. We would not want to upset either lady or any member of my family."
"No… I think discretion is called for. You are correct as always, Miss Elizabeth. As for my proposal, I hope that will not be spoken of again."
"What proposal, Mr. Collins? I don't believe there was one."
Mr. Collins looked relieved. He stopped walking and turned towards her and gave a small bow. "You are most kind, Miss Elizabeth."
"And you too, sir. Shall we proceed to Meryton?" asked Elizabeth, who was satisfied with what she had achieved.
"If your health is good enough, Miss Elizabeth. I would not wish you to over exert yourself?"
"Do not worry, Mr. Collins. I am feeling in good health today."
And so they carried on to Meryton. Elizabeth could not help noticing that Mr. Collins was slightly quieter than normal which pleased her. She felt a little guilty at her deception, but she had known it would take something drastic to ensure she did not find herself married to Mr. Collins. There would be no danger of that now. She wondered who he would turn to next. At least she knew it would not be one of her younger sisters now that she had planted the seed that there could be madness in the entire family. Hopefully he would return to Kent imminently. Now all she would have to worry about was what her mother would say when she realised there was going to be no proposal from Mr. Collins.