Author's Note: Wrapping up. Hoping to be done in another 3-4 chapters, or so. The writing is slow going right now but I'm plodding away. Thanks for your feedback!
Chapter 37
Just after the new year, Collins proposed to Jane and was accepted. Initially, the two planned to wait to marry until summer when all her sisters would be home, but Mrs. Bennet made it necessary for the marriage to occur sooner. Her insistence that the wedding be some grand event that surpassed all other events in Meryton was a constant cause of strife at Longbourn. After only a month of this, Collins and Jane came to a decision.
By marrying while Longbourn was still technically in mourning, they would be able to settle both the argument about the extravagant wedding and move Mrs. Bennet into the dower cottage earlier. When Mrs. Bennet was informed of these plans, she had been incensed.
"Mama, I have decided I no longer wish to argue with you in regards to my marriage ceremony," she began, looking over at her intended and her aunt for support. Both had decided it was necessary for them to be present, hoping to provide any assistance that might be needed as Jane confronted her mother.
Mrs. Bennet's smile grew, thinking that Jane was ready to give in to her insistence that the wedding be the largest event ever held in Meryton. However, the smile fell almost as soon as Jane continued.
"Mr. Collins and I have decided that we will purchase a common licence and marry as soon as it is valid. We have already spoken to Mr. Allen, and he has agreed to perform a quiet ceremony. Since you are still in mourning, we will forgo any celebration, especially since you have refused to listen to any of us in regard to the type of wedding breakfast we wished to have. Not only that, but as soon as we are married, you will move into the dower cottage. The renovations are finished, and you will have two maids and a cook, along with one manservant, who will also serve as the housekeeper. You do not have the need for any other staff and will do quite well with what we are providing.
"Since you are still in mourning for some time, you will have no need for you to entertain. When we are all invited to an evening entertainment, we will gladly offer you a ride with us if you wish to attend, but bear in mind that the carriage will not be made available to you every time you wish it. If you need the carriage, you can send a note requesting it though my soon-to-be husband will be the one to determine if you might use it."
"And what of my allowance, Jane? Am I expected to pay for the servants out of my pin money? It is already limited as it is, unless your husband intends to offer more?"
"Longbourn will pay for the four servants that were mentioned. The home farm will supply your home as they do the manor house and will cover reasonable costs for other foodstuffs. You will need to pay for purchases outside of the ordinary out of your own pocket money for the butcher and other suppliers in town will be informed of the limits on your purchases," Mr. Collins informed the lady.
"My clothing? Other necessities?" she asked.
"Will come out of your own pocket money. I have approved the purchase of three new dresses in June when your mourning is over, but I understand from Jane that only a few pieces from your wardrobe were dyed black so you have several dresses that can be altered for everyday use. When it is time for you to purchase these items, Jane will accompany you to inform the dressmaker what we will cover. The amount will depend somewhat on our harvests and the income I receive on that quarter day. The estate's income has steadily been increasing, but I have been investing into the estate to ensure that we continue to do so. Unlike the former master, you cannot cajole me into spending more."
Mrs. Bennet scarcely knew what to say to this and immediately began to flutter her handkerchief, growing steadily more shrill as she spoke "You cannot mean to do this to me, Jane. Surely you must realise that you will need me at Longbourn to assist you. I have always been known as an excellent hostess and you will need my advice on how to manage the house and the servants. You have no experience with these matters and my counsel will be invaluable."
"Mama, I have been running Longbourn since Papa died. You were not even the one who taught me how to manage the household; Mrs. Hill did. And Mrs. Allen was the one who taught me how to be a proper mistress since you have never been bothered with the tenants. I remember Grandmama taking Lizzy and I with her on the occasional visit, but I had mostly forgotten. You were critical of Mary when she started visiting though you largely ignored me since I began. But that was after you declared me ruined due to the scars on my face. It seemed to me that what I did mattered far less after that. Though you have continued to dissuade me from marrying Mr. Collins while at the same time harassing me to hold a grand celebration to rival royalty."
Mrs. Bennet pressed her lips together as she made yet another attempt to get the couple to give in. "But you will disgrace the entire family by marrying so quickly and without your sisters present. Our neighbours will believe you are marrying quickly to hush up some scandal …"
"Enough, madam," Mr. Collins said, cutting off her complaints. "You have said quite enough. We are tired of your refusal to listen to anything we say. The best solution is for Jane and I to marry and move you into the dower house. Perhaps then you will cease your useless complaints. I know you are against my marrying your daughter, but frankly, I love her and we are a good match. We will marry and you will depart to the dower house. No one will say anything since no one will be surprised by our decision since most of those in town are well aware of how difficult you have been about the wedding."
Realising her soon-to-be son was adamant and unlikely to be moved, Mrs. Bennet did what had served her well in her marriage; she began to wail and cry. Instead of being tended to, she found herself being roughly carried up the stairs and to her room. Abruptly, she stopped crying as she realised that no one was going to give in to her tantrum. She quieted as she allowed herself to be carried into her room and accepted the smelling salts brought to her by the housekeeper. For the rest of the afternoon and into the night, she heard maids move about her dressing room as they packed her things. She listened to the noise and contemplated the reason why nothing was going as it should.
Before too long, she fell asleep there on her bed. It was late when she woke, but the sleep had brought her clarity. Her life had been good prior to that no-good Elizabeth returning. Within months of that girl arriving at Longbourn, ruining all her plans, nothing had gone as she hoped. Lighting a candle, she sat down at her small writing desk, one she had rarely used since she preferred the one in the drawing room since it was nearer to the rest of her family. Since Jane had taken over the running of the house, there had been little for Mrs. Bennet to do other than sew and gossip with her friends, though she scarcely realised it.
Determined, Mrs. Bennet took out paper and began writing a letter to Elizabeth.
It was the middle of February when Elizabeth received a slew of letters from Meryton. As usual, she sat in her husband's study, their two-month-old child in a bassinet near the fireplace that had been brought down soon after Elizabeth had been released from her rooms. The couple always enjoyed their time together, and while Elizabeth had a study of her own, she could often be found in her husband's when reading her letters.
She smiled upon recognising the handwriting of two of her sisters. The tenor of the letters from Jane had changed over the last few months and it seemed to Elizabeth that the two might be able to be something like friends again. They would never be close, not after the way Jane had acted in the past years, but perhaps they would be able to exchange letters and see each other on occasion. Elizabeth would remain wary of her, particularly given the way Jane flirted with Fitzwilliam that night in Meryton, but since he had offered to host the newly married Collinses in the autumn, Elizabeth could only hope the apparent change in the letters equated to a real change in her oldest sister.
Opening the letter from Jane first, she read the account of the confrontation with Mrs. Bennet and then the wedding. Elizabeth was surprised to learn how the wedding came to pass, though knowing what she did about the former mistress of Longbourn, she supposed the result was not that unexpected. Still, Elizabeth was pleased to learn the two were able to be married sooner than they originally planned and it seemed they would do well together at Longbourn.
Mary's letter informed her that she had returned to Longbourn for a brief visit. The Winters were very kind to her, but without Mrs. Bennet at home and with Mr. Collins now married to Jane, it seemed best to return, at least for a time. The Gardiners had invited Mary to London, and they would collect Catherine from her school on their way north for the summer. It would be the first time her sisters had visited her new home, and the first time she had spent a significant amount of time with them since she left Longbourn all those years ago. Elizabeth looked forward to spending this time with her sisters, and hoped the visits would go well.
The last letter was written in an unfamiliar hand. Immediately upon opening it, she scanned down to the end to read the signature. She gasped audibly, causing her husband to look up in alarm. "Are you well, dearest?"
"I am. Mrs. Bennet sent me a letter and I was surprised."
Darcy's face darkened and his voice was cold. "You do not need to read it, Elizabeth, not if you do not want to. That woman has no claim on you."
Elizabeth stood, moving to stand directly in front of her husband. He leaned back to give her room and wrapped his arms around her waist as soon as he could. "I know, Fitzwilliam. There is little doubt in my mind that she intends to complain about Jane marrying and relegating her to the dower cottage on the estate. Jane opted to marry without a fuss and has refused to give in to her many complaints and demands. I will read what she wrote, but her words no longer have the power to hurt me. She is a lonely woman who seeks to blame others for problems she herself has caused."
His hold on her tightened. "I cannot suppose it has always been this easy for you to ignore her, but I suppose you have had years of practice by now. May I read the letter with you?"
"Promise not to get upset at anything she might say?"
Sighing, he nodded, so she moved to perch on his lap. Together they read the missive:
Lizzy Bennet,
How is it that you are still creating problems for me all these years after I had your father send you from Longbourn? I thought that would fix things, but you jinxed me so I could never have a son. Then, years later, when I finally found a way to keep Longbourn in the family by promising you in marriage to the heir. But somehow, you managed to trick a man into marrying you before you arrived home, though I doubt it is the love match your uncle tries to claim. No, I still think you ensnared him somehow, for why would such a wealthy and handsome man want you? It is a shame he did not have the chance to meet Jane first, for she would have made a far better mistress of an estate than you. It is shameful that you have not invited any of your sisters to join you in London for the Season.
To add insult to injury, not only did you manage to claim such a husband, but you gave him a son on your first attempt. I do hope that nothing happens to the child, though you know that children often do not survive to adulthood. It is best you give your husband a spare as soon as possible …
Darcy snatched the letter away from Elizabeth's hand. "Dearest, I cannot continue to read such drivel. She seems almost mad in her ramblings. Are you certain she is well?"
Elizabeth shuddered. "I cannot be sure, in large part because I cannot and will not spend any time in her presence. She is bitter, unable to see her own role in her present unhappiness. We can toss the letter into the grate and be done with her. If she sends any other letters, I will throw them away unread. Perhaps you can suggest to Mr. Collins that any letters she attempts to send to me are discarded before they even make it into the post."
Pressing a kiss to her head, Darcy sighed and tightened his hold on his wife. "She is a fool, and it seems she will never learn any better. What of your other sisters?" he asked, turning the conversation toward more pleasant topics.