Charlotte returned to Lucas Lodge and headed straight towards the fireplace to soak in the warmth and solace that it offered. She wrapped a blanket loosely around her shoulders and let out the tight bun that held her dark tresses secure. She knew the exhaustion from the previous night's ball and the long morning walk would stay with her for days, and cherished the few moments of rest that the privacy might afford her. It was not long before she was lost in reflection.
By her twenty-fifth birthday Charlotte had resigned herself to the fact that she might never marry, and almost certainly would not marry for love. She took comfort in the knowledge that her father's success in trade and her mother's economy at home assured that, though she would never be rich, she also would not be poor. She might never be happy, but she would at least always be respectable.
She accepted this as a matter of fact and so approached each day with a rationality and efficiency that those who did not know her well might mistake for indifference or bitterness. But those who truly understood the eldest Lucas daughter knew that the walls she had built to protect her from disappointment and resentment - though solidly forged - were not impenetrable.
As she rested, she became keenly aware that it was not only a physical exhaustion that she was suffering from this morning. She gently rubbed her temples and attempted to massage out the confusion that was clouding her mind. On her return home she had contemplated how she could not recall a happier or pleasanter morning. And now, only moments later, she had sunk into a melancholy which she had defended against for so long she could hardly recognize such feelings.
At length, Charlotte pushed these unwelcome thoughts from her mind and set to her daily schedule with determination and steadfastness. She headed to the kitchen to confirm the menu with cook and check on the staff. The rest of her family was just sitting down to breakfast in the large dining room, but she took her tea and toast to a table in the library and jotted out a few short notes and gave her mother's ledgers a second review.
Within the pages of these books were the careful observations of Mrs. Lucas, detailing which servants had been late, those shopkeepers that had recently raised prices, along with any and every other action of their tenants and neighbors which Mrs. Lucas thought significant enough to warrant inclusion.
Like her mother, Charlotte was watchful and practical, looking for opportunity in every situation. But where Mrs. Lucas was calculating and cold, her daughter was clever and considerate. She knew that the gardener had an ailing wife at home, that the baker was recovering from a flood in his cellars, that their southern tenants were preparing for the marriage of their eldest son. She could now add to that list the knowledge that their nearest neighbors were recovering from a failed proposal and most likely were preparing themselves for a most uncomfortable afternoon.
After speaking with the housekeeper, she arranged to have a basket delivered to their tenant, a salve from the apothecary sent home with the gardener and had a note given to the Bennet family relaying that her father would very much enjoy Mr. Collins company that evening if he could be spared.
To the relief of all parties involved Mr. Collins was very soon headed towards Lucas Lodge and the ladies of Longbourn, excepting the youngest, had the sitting room all to themselves.
"Oh, girls!" Mrs. Bennet wailed. "What will become of us? Jane, you must promise to take care of us. Mr. Bingley must be made to see that we need his protection just as much as any sisters of his."
"Mama, Mr. Collins is a good man. Also, Father is in perfect health and master of this estate still. I am sure we are not yet in need of Mr. Bingley's protection." Even as she spoke, Jane looked down to conceal a rising flush and hint of a smile as she thought of that gentleman.
"Yes, yes. But this business with Lydia and Mr. Collins is very vexing! Why would she be so cruel to me when I have always loved her best of all you girls. No one could ever say I did not. Isn't that true Lizzy?"
"I'm sure that she did not refuse Mr. Collins merely to upset you, Mother. Perhaps she is thinking of both her and his happiness. Really, they do not seem to be well matched."
"Nonsense! Sweet Lydia is exactly what Mr. Collins needs. And - oh - to image her taking my place as the mistress of Longbourn someday. It pains me greatly that she could be so selfish. I blame your father, for had he taken a greater interest in her education she would surely see the sense in this match."
"But Mama," Kitty protested, "you do want Lydia to marry for love, do you not?"
"I'm sure she will love an estate of her own and a husband who can provide for her and her family. If she does not love Mr. Collins now, she certainly will after they have a son or two." Mrs. Bennet spat back at her second youngest in anger. "Hill, Hill! Where is Mr. Bennet? Find him and tell him I must speak to him at once," she hollered. And then in an act of rebellion never before witnessed by any of the Miss Bennets, their mother let herself into the library - uninvited - and waited for her husband's return.
In the absence of their mother, an uncomfortable silence descended on the drawing room. Each sister was unsure what to do or say, and none wanted to be the first to attempt to break the tension. Finally, Jane took charge. "Kitty, please bring Lydia something from the kitchen. She has not been down from her room since breakfast, and I'm sure she didn't eat anything then. Mary, could you please check to see if any progress has been made in locating Father. Perhaps you could check in the stables?"
With the two younger sisters gone, Elizabeth took in a deep breath to clear out her mind. "Oh, Jane! What a day."
"And to think that you missed the real excitement, I only wish you could have seen Mr. Collins as he stormed out of the kitchen. I daresay, I have never seen a man turn so red in all my life!" Jane exclaimed, just barely controlling her laughter.
"Dear Sister, I don't believe I have ever heard anything so uncharitable from you! As penance, you must spend the afternoon reciting from Fordyce's Sermons. Perhaps Lydia will be so moved by your performance that she will have a change of heart." At this, all control was lost, and the two girls erupted into laughter. After several failed attempts to regain their composure, the sisters wiped the tears from their eyes and were able to begin a serious conversation.
"Do you think him so bad, Lizzy? I know that Mr. Collins could not make you happy, but perhaps Lydia could adjust to such a situation in time, and even come to be content in it?"
Elizabeth turned this thought around in her mind. She acknowledged that, as unthinkable as it might seem, a better offer might never be made to her spirited, selfish younger sister. "Until Lydia has had an opportunity to experience some of the harshnesses of the world she will never appreciate the security that Mr. Collins' offer provides. I have no wish for any of my sisters to encounter that ugly side of life from which we have been so sheltered. But I fear for Lydia. I am afraid that she will not learn until it is too late the price of her recklessness."
"But she may still fall in love and marry well. She is very young to have to make such a choice."
Elizabeth longed to share in Jane's optimism and faith in that which is good and right in the world. "Yes, Jane, you are right. She is full young to have to make such decisions. But as all of us young ladies must learn, decisions such as these are not always ours to make. I do wonder what father is thinking."
Elizabeth would not have to wait much longer before her curiosity was satisfied, for within moments her father was led into the house by Mary and was soon headed to the library. Thirty minutes later their mother rushed out of the room and upstairs with Hill quickly trailing behind to see to the needs of her mistress.
"Lizzy, come here," her father ordered in a troubled tone. She entered the room hesitantly and turned to find Mr. Bennet looking out the window at their gardens with a pained expression. "Tell me, what do you make of this Collins business?" Before she had an opportunity to reply, he continued. "Your mother insists I make Lydia marry the man. She says she will never speak to her again if I do not. If it were you or Jane, there would be no question what I must do. But Lydia is such a different creature - I hardly know what kind of man could be happy in such a marriage. And Mr. Collins is convinced he loves her. But, oh, he is such a man!" He fell into his chair and covered his face with his hands in exhaustion.
"Father, must you make a decision right away? Lydia is so young. Surely Mr. Collins understands that some time may be needed for her feelings to develop."
"Time is your answer! How much time do you think it would take for a girl such a Lydia to fall in love with that man? He will not wait an eternity. No! I have days, a week at most. And what a miserable week it shall be. He will be lurking around corners waiting to persuade me - to convince me - that for the sake of all the rest of my daughters I need only offer the sacrifice of one."
Lizzy longed to tell her father that such a sacrifice was not necessary, that even without Mr. Collins and Longbourn their family would be protected. But she was not yet at liberty to offer such assurances. No proposal had been made, no promise spoken. Even as these thoughts crossed her mind, she was ashamed of herself. Was she any different than her mother, contemplating a marriage to Mr. Darcy out of safety and security? No, she reminded herself, I love him as he loves me. A smile unconsciously appeared as she thought of that gentleman's warm breath on her bare skin. Her eyes closed as she relived scenes from the morning, imagining what may have happened had they never been interrupted. Her heart began racing, and her breathing quickened.
"What say you, Lizzy? Lizzy!" Her father stared at her curiously.
His favorite daughter startled and attempted to pull herself back to the present. "I think, Father, you must take advantage of what little time you have. Perchance, another solution will show itself."
"Yes, yes, dear. You are right I am sure. Mr. Collins may very well fall in love with some other young lady and forget about Lydia altogether." Mr. Bennet regained some of his usual humor and poured himself a drink. "Now run along, Lizzy. I'm sure that you and Jane have your hands full keeping the house in order today. And I understand you are expecting the inimitable Miss Bingley and her retinue this afternoon. Go, go and make sure that your sister is engaged before night falls!"