Page 1 of United By Happenstance
ONE
Still caught in a maelstrom of turbulent feeling brought about by Mr Darcy’s revelations in his letter, Elizabeth felt wholly unprepared to read yet another epistle as disastrous so soon. The very morning after receiving his letter, she unfolded a new note from her aunt in London in no trepidation of its contents; immediately she felt her spirits plunge as she read the report from Gracechurch Street that declared a shocking illness making its way through her younger relations there. Her aunt’s distress over their need to cloister themselves until it passed was palpable in every line; her apologies to her niece and to the Collinses profound. But the firmness of the Gardiners’ apothecary had made it clear: Elizabeth would need to prepare herself to stay on in Kent for at least three weeks until all the children had in their turn overcome this sickness.
Her hopes for her upcoming escape dashed themselves to pieces upon the page she held. Elizabeth released a quaking sigh as she folded the missive. Her longing for her removal could only increase when facing such a long delay of her reunion with Jane and more time to steep in her unhappy and unsettled spirits, away from the calm and kindness to be found with theGardiners, in whose care she had hoped to understand herself again.
“Eliza, you sound troubled. You are still not yourself,” Mrs Collins observed as she leant over the table to pour into her teacup.
Here at least, Elizabeth could give answer to some of her friend’s concern, for her close guard of Mr Darcy’s privacy had heretofore left her unable to divulge to Mrs Collins the contents of Mr Darcy’s letter.
“My little cousins are ill. My aunt says the apothecary believes it is severe and catching. I cannot return to London as planned, perhaps for three or more weeks.”
“Ah, such a blessing!” Mr Collins cried in delight, even as his wife tutted in kind dismay. “For now you and my dear sister Maria shall experience the fulfilment of her ladyship’s benevolence! Lady Catherine’s word is as good as her deed, and did she not express a wish to convey you to London herself if you completed the month at Hunsford?”
“Mr Collins, I could never impose?—”
“Oh, but you must, Cousin Elizabeth! Once it is clear that you intend to remain, your refusal would cause her ladyship far greater disappointment than any inconvenience your acquiescence may create,” Mr Collins replied stoutly. “And further, to refuse such generosity, and such anhonouras her ladyship’s own company in a barouche?—”
“You are quite right, my dear,” seconded Mrs Collins. “And how it would ease my heart to know that my little sister and my dearest friend will travel safely into town among her ladyship’s retinue.”
Elizabeth sighed. While she anticipated no reward for herself in indulging Lady Catherine, she was forced to see the practicality of accepting such an arrangement: a journey undertaken with every human comfort, attended andchaperoned at every turn. Such luxuries meant that she would not need to trouble her uncle Gardiner with arrangements for a manservant to meet the travel-weary girls at a coaching inn.
“Very well. If her ladyship wishes to make good her offer to bring us back to London, I must feel very obliged to her.”
Mr Collins eagerly excused himself from the breakfast table and capered into the hall, his intent clear even before he declared it. “I shall go at once to inform her ladyship of this development, for her plans are perfected, wisely, quite far in advance. Let us hope such notice does not come too late, for it would not do to overset the arrangements of her ladyship’s household.”
His wife followed him into the hall calmly, offering him his hat. “Go on then, my dear, and give our regards to her ladyship.”
Once the door had banged shut behind Mr Collins, Elizabeth took up her teacup and let out another sigh. So much of her energy in Kent had been devoted to keeping herself content despite her uncomfortable positions as houseguest and visitor in the territories of men whose offers she had refused. She now pondered how best to make herself equal to her homeward journey in the company of a woman whose very presence—and her connexion to Darcy especially—precluded her full escape from the burden of such recent history. For how could Elizabeth truly leave what transpired in Kent behind her if Lady Catherine must remind her of it at every turn in the road?
Every stage of Elizabeth’s farewells to the place dragged on. There were days and days left to her in Hunsford. Mr and Mrs Collins felt they must fill them by bringing Elizabeth and Maria to visit nearly every parishioner to receive their well-wishes before leave-taking. Lady Catherine called at the parsonage several times, staying only long enough to pontificate on the plans already decided. Mr Collins contributed by fretting over every detail of the arrangements and giving unsolicited adviceabout the best ways to travel unobtrusively in her ladyship’s company while giving every show of gratitude. Amidst all this, Elizabeth wisely sought the best possible means to achieve some equanimity, in the form of frequent walks to enjoy the blooms of Rosings Park and the lanes leading to the parsonage.
TWO
On the final morning of her farewell, Elizabeth lingered in a grove in the dew of the morning for as long as she dared before she was summoned back to collect her reticule and neaten her appearance for the journey.
Lady Catherine’s barouche had come at last. The shallow frame of the equipage was designed to be commodious, with room enough to seat all their company comfortably—but Elizabeth felt stifled nearly as soon as she had greeted Lady Catherine and sat down. Next to her, Maria Lucas quivered as her eyes took in the sumptuous fabric of their upholstered seat, the pounded brass trim around the doors, and the lovely clamshell of the folded top spread for shade overhead.
Her ladyship’s maid had adjusted herself on the box seat when the driver called out to the team, and the barouche lurched rather inelegantly forward. Elizabeth suppressed a smile as her fellow occupants swayed in their seats. All elements considered, it was a beautiful day in the full swell of spring, they had an open-air carriage to enjoy, and Elizabeth was determined to find every possible reason to laugh at herself and her companions as they undertook the journey.
Maria Lucas squeezed her arm. “I daren’t speak,” she squeaked under her breath. “Whatever am I to say to her ladyship whilst we are trapped here for hours? Will you please try to speak to her, Elizabeth? I know you are not afraid of her.”
“I despise whispering,” declared Lady Catherine sternly from across the cabin where she sat in the forward-facing seat. “Whatever are you talking of?”
Elizabeth offered a smile that was as much determination as courtesy. “Of our journey, ma’am. I understand we are at your leisure until your driver is able to take us to Gracechurch Street.” Elizabeth did not say what she had already presumed—that Lady Catherine’s sense of rank would forbid her from ever entering the vicinity of Cheapside.
“Yes, I suppose you must be,” nodded that elder lady. “And without my Anne here with us—for she is still far too delicate to come into London during such a wet spring!—I shall be more at leisure. We need not rush to House de Bourgh for its quiet, nor await her physician to send the draughts.”
Elizabeth glanced at Maria, uncertain whether this portended well or ill for their adventure. She had hoped that Lady Catherine might grow weary enough of their company to have them sent to the Gardiners’ home rather immediately. Lady Catherine instead seemed to be considering them with an almost patient air that spoke equally of sufferance as scrutiny.
“I am not unaware of your situations in life,” said her ladyship at last. “Nor am I ignorant of mine, and the privileges I enjoy. There is a duty in my rank which I must claim in widening your acquaintance. You are dressed suitably for travel, perhaps, although too plainly for a call. However, the journey must be your excuse, if I am to introduce you to anyone of notice in town today.”
Unable to resist the ironic notions provoked by such an offer, Elizabeth answered with arch humility, “I am not unaware thatthe inferiority of our families’ connexions might prevent your acknowledging us among others, your ladyship. Some may say it would be wiser that we not seek to impose, nor presume to encroach, upon your sphere.”
Lady Catherine seemed surprised at such conscious self-disdain. Her knotty brow crinkled further as she replied, “There may be wisdom in not reaching too high, nor beckoning the high-born to stoop. It is quite inappropriate in either case. However, there is no harm in having your station and situation generally made known.”
The dowager once again took hold of her cane where it rested beside her, tapping it upon the carriage floor as she looked with directness at Elizabeth and added, “You might very well find yourself granted another kindness with an introduction to another clergyman, or to a second son of some lesser dependence. You may have lost your opportunity in securing Mr Collins, but it need not be the tragedy of your life, Miss Bennet. Indeed, I believe the example of Mrs Collins has taught you a valuable lesson: that a young woman of your birth and fortune isinducedto marry; your security and complacency in life are bound up in this fact. You cannot afford to refuse any man, ever again.”
Elizabeth felt a sting of mortification, and her mind immediately conjured scenarios of the scolding she might receive had Lady Catherine any knowledge of thelastman Elizabeth had refused. Unwilling to betray anything of this secret while under her ladyship’s remonstrating gaze, Elizabeth enfolded herself in silence and lowered her eyes.
