~~PoP~~
Close call
The next morning the weather, though cool, was bright and sunny, tempting Elizabeth and Mary to walk into Meryton. They planned to stop at the bookshop to enquire if a book, which Mr Bennet had ordered, had arrived.
Collins requested, and was granted, permission to accompany his cousins into Meryton. 'Since Mr Bennet is graciously allowing me to spend a few days at Longbourn, I am hoping to see something of the neighbourhood while I am here,' he justified his wish.
As he had been gracious in accepting that he had been misinformed about his expectations, Elizabeth took pains to be pleasant and pointed out various features along their walk.
Collins could not help but compare the state of Longbourn's fields and tenant's cottages to those of Rosings. 'I do not understand how it is that the manor house at Rosings is so much grander than Longbourn, yet your estate appears to be more prosperious than Rosings Park.'
'I have no wish to denigrate your patroness, but from comments by Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, I understand that Lady Catherine is more concerned with her own comfort than that of her tenants and staff.'
Collins frowned as he said, 'Lady Catherine has often lamented on the laziness of her tenants. They frequently claim to be sick and unable to work.'
'If the lady lived in a drafty cottage with a leaking roof, she too would get sick and be unable to work,' Elizabeth pointed out. 'I always ensure that the cottages are in good repair to minimise the chances of illness. But when any of the tenants get sick or injured despite all precautions, we make certain that they have access to medical assistance. Because of that, our tenants are healthier which makes them more productive, which in turn benefits them and us.'
The look of awe and consternation which crossed Collins' features were unmistakeable. 'I think it was a great good fortune for Longbourn that I was not given the opportunity to inherit. I was under the impression that being a landowner meant that all that was required of me was to collect the rents. At least according to the instruction which I received from Lady Catherine.'
'At least you recognise that is the case. With the right education you might have done quite well.'
Collins bowed towards Elizabeth. 'You are too kind.'
~PoP~
They had walked only a little further and were almost at the edge of the town when they came to the entrance to Lucas Lodge and encountered Charlotte Lucas.
'I had hoped that you would come along so that I could walk with you to the shops. My mother has sent me to run some errands for her,' Charlotte explained after their greetings.
'We would be delighted to have you accompany us, but first I would like to introduce Mr William Collins to you, who is our distant cousin. Mr Collins, this is our dear friend, Miss Charlotte Lucas.'
Charlotte and Collins had barely finished the customary civilities when two riders approached. As soon as Darcy and Fitzwilliam reached the party, they dismounted and allowed Elizabeth to perform the introductions.
Discovering the connection between Collins and Lady Catherine, the gentlemen were curious about the kind of man to whom their aunt had granted the living.
They felt that their worst fears had come to pass when Collins asked almost immediately, 'Mr Darcy, please forgive me for mentioning this, but Lady Catherine de Bourgh informed me that you and Miss de Bourgh are engaged, and yet my cousin informed me that you are not. I wondered how such a misunderstanding could have occurred.'
By the time Collins finished speaking, Darcy sighed. At least the man was asking for information, rather than assuming that his aunt was the font of all wisdom. He therefore politely answered, 'Lady Catherine wishes to have control of Pemberley as well as Rosings. Thinking she would gain such control if I married her daughter, she has demanded our union ever since my father died. I am pleased to say that my cousin Anne is as little interested in marrying me as I am in marrying her.'
Fitzwilliam added with a grin, 'Lady Catherine likes the sound of her own voice and refuses to countenance anything which contradicts her wishes. She will be most unhappy when Darcy marries as he pleases.'
Collins watched both men carefully as they answered his question and bowed with a tentative smile. 'Thank you for explaining. I greatly appreciate your forbearance to my impertinent question. But even though I met my cousins only yesterday, I felt duty bound to enquire.'
'I appreciate your concern and am pleased we have put your mind at ease,' Darcy replied. Even though he thought the man to be somewhat officious, he could not blame him for wanting to ensure Elizabeth's safety. He turned to the lady, 'Might I enquire where you are bound?'
When Elizabeth explained their errand, Darcy asked, 'Since we were on our way to Longbourn to call on you, would you permit us to escort you?'
Permission was granted and the party set off for the short distance to Meryton. It just so happened that Collins ended up walking with Charlotte as the other two gentlemen claimed their own ladies.
~PoP~
As the three couples strolled toward Meryton, Charlotte engaged Collins in pleasant conversation. It was but a few minutes when she said, 'Please forgive me for saying so, but I am all astonishment in seeing how different you are from your father.'
'You knew my father?'
'Not personally, of course, since I was but a child of eleven. But I did see him about town when he visited just after the death of Mr Bennet.' Charlotte gave him a somewhat embarrassed smile. 'I am afraid that I found him to be rather intimidating and was pleased when at last he departed.'
'If you were pleased by his departure, did you have reason for your fear?'
Charlotte sighed, wondering if she should answer fully. On consideration she thought that it would benefit her friends if Collins knew the truth. 'Although I did not witness the event personally, I did overhear my father telling my mother that he had observed your father lunging at Mr Bennet with a knife. Apparently, your father wanted to remove the obstacle preventing him from inheriting Longbourn, as Mr Bennet was next in line ahead of your father. Although if Mrs Fanny Bennet had been delivered of a son, he would have taken precedence.'
'So, Mr Bennet was fortunate that his sister by marriage only had only daughters.'
'You would not think that if you knew Mr Bennet. To him Longbourn was a duty which he did not appreciate rather than something to which he aspired. Are you aware that prior to inheriting Longbourn he was a professor at Oxford? A situation which he loved.'
'No, I was not aware of his previous occupation, but it does explain the extent of his library.' Collins nodded to himself as he considered the information Charlotte had imparted. 'It also explains his ability to learn estate management as well as he did. Longbourn is a picture of prosperity.'
Charlotte grinned as she replied, 'I am afraid that has more to do with Elizabeth than Mr Bennet. Did he not mention that for almost ten years, Elizabeth has been administering the estate?'
'I confess that I had not known, and I am all astonishment that a young woman could be allowed such masculine pursuits.' Collins said while shaking his head in disbelief. He was now grateful that Mr Bennet had immediately stopped him from paying attention to Elizabeth, as he would not have been comfortable with such an unconventional lady.
Charlotte left him to absorb the information. If she judged correctly, Collins was becoming ever more reconciled with his situation in regard to Longbourn and its inhabitants.
'It appears that my cousin is reluctant to share information. I wonder if Mr Darcy is aware of Miss Bennet's ah… accomplishments,' Collins said with a significant look at the leading couple.
'Even if Mr Bennet did not mention it, I am certain that Mr Darcy is fully aware of the situation at Longbourn,' Charlotte reassured him. 'But what of you, Mr Collins. What are your plans now that you know that the estate will remain in the immediate family?'
'I shall spend a few days getting to know my family before returning to my own home at Hunsford. While the parsonage is not as grand as Longbourn, it is mine for life and provides me with a good living.'
'Will Mrs Collins be terribly disappointed that you will not inherit an estate?' Charlotte asked, trying to steer the conversation to discover more about the gentleman.
'I am afraid that I have not yet been blessed with the delightful companionship which a wife can provide. That was one of the reasons why Lady Catherine de Bourgh sent me to Longbourn. It had been in her mind that I should marry one of my cousins to keep the estate in the family. She said, Mr. Collins, you must marry. A clergyman like you must marry. Choose properly, choose a gentlewoman for my sake, and for your own; let her be an active, useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small income go a good way. This is my advice. Find such a woman as soon as you can, bring her to Hunsford, and I will visit her. That of course is not an option now.'
Seeing an opportunity, Charlotte said, 'Perhaps you shall meet someone suitable while you are here.' She then spent the rest of their time making herself agreeable to Collins.
~PoP~
When they arrived at the shops, the party split into two groups.
Since Collins had been enjoying the company of his new acquaintance, he offered to accompany her on her errands, an offer which Charlotte was only too happy to accept.
The others went to the bookshop where Elizabeth discovered that the book Mr Bennet had ordered was indeed awaiting collection.
While they were there, Mary checked to see if any new sheet music had arrived. Fitzwilliam stayed by her side on the excuse that he wanted to see if there was some music which would appeal to Georgiana.
Elizabeth was only too happy to have some time to look for new books for herself since Darcy was pleased to keep her company. He used the opportunity to browse the shelves and he bought several volumes to stock the library at Netherfield, which he arranged to have delivered.
Half an hour later they met up with Charlotte and Collins outside the haberdashery.
'Mother asked me to pick up some fabric,' Charlotte told her friends. 'As Maria's birthday is coming up, I thought to buy some ribbons for her while I am here.'
Elizabeth turned to their companions with an arch smile. 'Gentlemen, since I too wish to make some purchases, perhaps you would prefer to wait out here. Based on my father's attitude, I expect you would not be interested in browsing through ribbons and lace.'
Her words were received with relieved expression from all three men. 'I have no desire to suspend any pleasure of yours, Miss Bennet, but since it is a fine day, I should be happy to remain outside to bask in the sunshine,' Darcy said with a smile and a small bow, a sentiment which was echoed by Fitzwilliam and Collins.
They remained near the door in conversation, while occasionally checking the ladies' progress through the window.
~PoP~
The post chaise stopped at the Meryton inn across the road from the haberdasher's and the passengers alighted. George Wickham stretched the muscles which had become rather stiff from sitting in the carriage and being bounced over the various ruts in the road.
He wished he could have afforded a better conveyance, but beggars cannot be choosers. While he had been lucky the previous night and he had managed to fleece a drunk yokel at cards to the tune of a hundred pounds, he was not going to waste that money on expensive transport.
He was pleased to have arrived and hoped that Denny had been correct in his report about life in the militia and the lovely inhabitants of Meryton. It seemed that the militia needed officers, and Wickham with his gentleman's education had the bearing of a gentleman, despite being a scoundrel of the first water. But since Denny only saw the friendly demeanour, he had waxed lyrical about the joys of serving in the militia and recommended that Wickham should join.
As London was currently an unfriendly place for Wickham due to the number of debts he had accumulated, he had come to Meryton. Based on Denny's description, as an officer he would be in a position to enjoy everything the town had to offer… gullible merchants and their even more gullible and willing daughters.
On first appearance this town seemed to be everything he had been promised and he smiled in anticipation as he looked around.
That smile disappeared the moment he spied the party across the road. How the devil could he be so unfortunate that the haven he had expected would contain the one man of whom Wickham was terrified.
Yet, on the other side of the road, large as life, there was Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, the bane of Wickham's existence. Next to him was Darcy and the two of them were talking to another large man.
Wickham instantly decided that discretion was the better part of valour. Pulling down his hat to cover more of his face, he quickly arranged for passage to the next town and reboarded the vehicle.
The only saving grace was that for the next stretch of the journey, there was only one other passenger, which meant that they each could stretch out on a bench.
It was surely an unfortunate accident when on a particularly deep pothole, the carriage bounced, throwing the passengers off their seats, causing Wickham to land badly and breaking his neck.
The people at the next village were not pleased that the corpse had only a few coins on his person. Not even enough to cover the cost of a funeral.
~PoP~
~~PoP~~
A Plethora of Peers (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2023