Page 47 of Such Low Connections

“It seems I may have been very wrong about Mr Wickham, Charlotte,” she confessed. “I am trying to take your advice and be more moderate in my views. In the future, I shall not declare strong opinions in cases where my knowledge and understanding are so incomplete.”

“Truly, I am blessed with a wise wife in my dear Charlotte,” Mr Collins pronounced stentoriously. “A clergyman’s wife must possess excellent judgement of character and of situations as well as discrimination in her acquaintance and —”

“Thank you, dear,” Charlotte said shortly, cutting off his speech before it could reach any higher flights of fancy. “Would anyone like more fruitcake?”

∞∞∞

Elizabeth’s remaining weeks in Hunsford passed quietly. As well as social calls with Charlotte and Maria around the neighbourhood, she enjoyed long rambles through the grounds of Rosings Park. Her heart always seemed to race on the spot near the hunting lodge where Mr Darcy had approached and pressed his letter into her hand, but still she often returned there and relived that moment of sensation.

There was also some amusement to be had in supper, tea and card invitations at Rosings Park itself, if not perhaps of the kind Elizabeth would have chosen, and she was storing up quite a collection of anecdotes of Lady Catherine and Mr Collins to share with her father and Jane. After her own verbal tussles with Lady Catherine, Elizabeth still wondered whether or not Mr Darcy would prevail against his aunt in a battle of wills.

How would he react if Lady Catherine ever chose to push marriage to Miss de Bourgh in earnest? Elizabeth herself chose her battles strategically, conceding when politeness was the greatest priority or benefit to Charlotte, and holding her ground when it made a material difference to her own life and plans.

“You must write to your mother, Miss Bennet, and tell her you will stay at least another fortnight with Mrs Collins,” Lady Catherine had announced imperiously at supper one night towards the end of Elizabeth’s stay.

“I regret I cannot, Lady Catherine. The pleasures of this visit must be contained in the time allowed for them. I am grateful already for your Ladyship’s kindness during my stay in Kent and would not presume to impose on it any longer.”

“With five unmarried daughters at home, your mother can certainly spare one for a few more weeks,” insisted Lady Catherine. “You shall write to her tomorrow and come to dine again at Rosings next week with Mr and Mrs Collins.”

“Alas, while my mother might spare me longer, my father cannot,” Elizabeth returned mildly.

“Surely not. I have not been accustomed to see fathers take such interest in their daughters,” Lady Catherine proclaimed. “I fail to see what your father could want of you that your sisters might not provide.”

“You have not met all my sisters, Ma’am,” pointed out Elizabeth. “With my eldest sister still in London and me in Kent, my father is starved of our conversation. The young ones have interests too dissimilar to my father’s.”

“The younger Miss Bennets are very high-spirited and somewhat ill-disciplined,” Mr Collins clarified unhelpfully. “They have not yet attained the decorum and graces of the elder Miss Bennets.”

“Yes, I recall what you told me of the younger Miss Bennets, Mr Collins. I suppose your parents wish your return as a role model for them, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Well, still, I fail to see that two more weeks here in Kent could make so great a difference in that regard.”

“I must return to Hertfordshire as planned, Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth said calmly but implacably. With careful policy, she focused on her food rather than on the determined gaze she knew would now be directed towards her.

“Miss Lucas, as Miss Bennet is departing and my nephew and his friend have also seen fit to pay only a short visit, we shall be relying on you to entertain us.”

At this sudden diversion of Lady Catherine’s attention, shy Maria gave a small squeak of alarm, while Mr and Mrs Collins promised their hostess that their whole family were entirely at her disposal.

At her mother’s side, Anne de Bourgh ate little and spoke even less.

∞∞∞

Of all the faces waiting to greet her on return to Longbourn, Jane’s was the one Elizabeth was happiest to see. Their letters having crossed again in the mail, she had not known that Jane’s return from London would precede her own. Only the sight of four little Gardiners rushing outside to greet the carriage as it brought her up the lane prepared her for this pleasant surprise.

“Jane, Aunt, Uncle!” Elizabeth exclaimed after greeting all of her little nieces and nephews. “I am so glad to find you all here. Now I shall be able to tell everyone together of my impressions of Rosings Park and the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Charlotte sends her love to all, of course.”

Her uncle chuckled.

“Ah, yes, Charlotte Lucas is Mrs Collins now. I understand from your father and Jane that Mr Collins is a most amusing gentleman.”

“If he did but know it,” Elizabeth pronounced archly and followed them towards the house where Lydia, Kitty and Mary were waving from the doorway.

Briefly, the world felt right again, as though it contained no George Wickham, Fitzwilliam Darcy or Charles Bingley to disturb its peace. For an hour or two, Elizabeth would let it be so.

∞∞∞

In Jane’s bedroom that evening, however, and in confidence, Elizabeth revealed what she had learned of George Wickham’s character from Mr Darcy. Her sister was even more shocked than Elizabeth herself had been, perhaps because she remained in ignorance of the proposal that had preceded and precipitated the revelation.

“So, you see, Jane, I shall have to be far more careful in future about believing the stories of amiable men,” Elizabeth concluded.

“Oh my, Lizzy! Poor Miss Darcy! How can it be – Mr Wickham a wastrel, a gambler and a fortune hunter? Yet his countenance is so amiable and so trustworthy. It seems wrong that anyone without goodness should possess so much the appearance of it. Do you think perhaps he might be reformed since the time he did such injury to the Darcy family?”