by Kay Bea
I had forgotten, or perhaps had never noticed, how very quiet are the halls of my home. Miss Addison departed with her brother the day after he proposed to Anne, and our remaining guests made for Kent this morning. It is now only Georgiana, Mrs Annesley, and I in the estate, and the silence echoes loudly around me. My greatest consolation is the knowledge that I shall see Miss Elizabeth again in six weeks’ time when we travel for Anne’s wedding. Until then, I am content to remember her smile as she played a duet with Georgiana, the gentle music of her voice, and the sunlight in her hair as she wandered through my mother’s rose garden or strolled around the lake. Though we naturally could not speak of such a thing, I believe Pemberley had started to work its restorative magic on her and she had begun to heal. Certainly, there were fewer shadows in her eyes, more smiles on her lips, and in her conversation, a greater semblance to the woman of my memory. If all I may have of her are these moments, I am determined it will be enough.
Your cousin,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
July 6, 1813
Rosings Park, Kent
Dear Mary,
I have been returned to Kent these ten days and I find my thoughts are very often turned northward. I hope I do not disappoint you, dear sister, but the weeks I spent in Derbyshire were the happiest I have known since the day of my marriage, and I find I cannot help but dwell on them. I am fortunate that my presence is often required at Rosings to assist with preparations for the wedding, and my cousin finds himself very much engaged with his duties, else I fear he would be most displeased with my distraction.
I am pleased to know you expect the Darcys to be once again at Netherfield in the autumn. Georgiana spoke of all my sisters with great fondness, and I believe she shares your eagerness to visit. Georgiana spoke especially of your talent on the pianoforte and how she enjoyed playing with you. I am afraid I was but a poor substitute though she was very kind not to say so.
We are all looking forward to Anne’s wedding, which is only weeks away.
You will think me quite ridiculous I am sure, but as we have been sorting through fabrics and patterns for Anne, she has insisted I am to have a new gown. ’Tis a silly thing, I know, but I am quite pleased as it will be the first new gown I have had since my marriage. Though the bride most certainly could have travelled to London for her trousseau, she has insisted on purchasing everything locally. She claims it is a necessary show of good will. Additionally, she said that, as she will soon depart on a journey of some weeks, she does not wish to be parted from my company any more than necessary. I teased that she has been without my presence these many years and she cannot have grown accustomed to me in so little time. She begged to disagree and insisted she was in earnest. I had not the heart to tease any further.
In truth, though I should admit it to none but you, I am rather touched at her attachment. There are few people whom I love and fewer still of whom I think well. Anne is counted among those few.
I must close as we are departing even now for the dressmakers. Hug all of my sisters and my father.
With love,
Elizabeth Collins
August 1, 1813
Pemberley, Derbyshire
Dear Anne,
I commend you, cousin, for your ability to out-manoeuvre your mother’s parson. I had forgotten the bishop is one of your de Bourgh relations. It was very clever of you to enlist your mother’s aid in convincing him to perform your wedding ceremony. Not even that obsequious idiot in the parsonage could object to such a scheme. I daresay he finds the situation only right for the—what did he call you?—Oh, yes, the brightest ornament of the British court.
Richard will soon sell his commission. I believe he has determined at long last to formalise his status with Lady Amelia. To that end, he has found an estate in Nottinghamshire he intends to purchase as soon as may be. As he has been staying here whilst he searched for an estate, he will travel with us to your wedding. Georgiana, Richard, and I plan to arrive on August 14.
I have given considerable thought to an appropriate gift for my once-presumed betrothed as she becomes the wife of another. I cannot give you happiness, for that you have already found. You are in no great need of money or an estate. At last, I determined I would provide your accommodations on your wedding trip. You will recall perhaps that the Darcy family owns a small property in Bath. I have written the staff and instructed them to prepare for your arrival. I know you had planned to stay with various friends and relations on your wedding trip, but I thought a bit of privacy might be more desirable.
Your cousin,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
August 17, 1813
Hunsford Cottage, Kent
Dear Jane,
I wish you joy on the coming addition to your family. Little Charlie will be an excellent elder brother.
Mr and Mrs Addison have left for their wedding tour. They will travel the country for three weeks before returning to Kent to take up their lives. Mr Addison is a pleasant, cheerful sort of fellow, and he exhibits every possible kindness to his wife and her mother. They will make a merry party. It was not long after they departed that Lady Catherine was called to London. There is apparently some legal matter regarding the estate that can only be resolved in person.
In the absence of both Anne and Lady Catherine, I have returned to Hunsford Cottage. Indeed, once Anne returns, I think it will be difficult to contrive a reason she should need my companionship, and I shall likely spend less time at Rosings than I should like.
My cousin is unchanged from the earliest days of our marriage. Though Lady Catherine endeavours to keep him very much engaged with his duties to the parish, when he is home he continues in his plan to improve my character and, in fact, has redoubled his efforts because of what he terms my relapse in the months of our separation.
I cannot regret my time away, difficult as it is to reconcile myself to my present circumstance. I find that even the memories of my friends at Pemberley bring a certain peace to my mind. I hope, sister, that you treasure your dear Charles. I believe that he and his friend Mr Darcy are the rarest of men, and you are extraordinarily fortunate in his love for you. Kiss my nephew and give my regards to my sisters and father.
Your affectionate sister,
Elizabeth Collins
September 20, 1813
Rosings Park, Kent
Dear Mr Bennet,
Forgive this abrupt introduction. I am Matthias Addison, husband to the former Anne de Bourgh and newly master of Rosings Park. I have taken the liberty of writing to you on your daughter’s behalf. At the insistence of my wife and her mother, and indeed I offered no objection to the scheme, your daughter has been removed to Rosings Park. We anticipate her stay with us to be of some duration. I fear, sir, that I have given you cause for some alarm. I shall not trifle with you; though Mrs Collins is now recovering, she was in very poor condition when she first arrived.
Mrs Addison and I had not long returned from our wedding tour when she observed Mrs Collins had yet to pay a call. It is my understanding this was quite unusual as it was their established routine for Mrs Collins to call daily. As my mother-in-law has also been absent, it was initially assumed Mrs Collins, perhaps, was allowing time for the three of us to recover from our travels. However, when three days had passed with no word from Mrs Collins, my wife and her mother, Lady Catherine, set forth immediately to call upon the parsonage.
When they were announced to Mrs Collins, she was able to stand to greet them only with great difficulty. Though she attempted to hide her circumstances, it did not take long for the ladies to determine Mrs Collins was seriously injured indeed. Though she would not speak a word against Mr Collins, the housekeeper and the servants of that house, who have no love for their master, did not scruple to give a full account as to the cause and nature of the injuries to their beloved mistress. The full force of my esteemed mother-in-law’s will was brought quickly to bear, and with the assistance of a few trusted servants and a small dose of laudanum
, Mrs Collins was bundled into our carriage and brought directly to Rosings. Here she has remained these ten days.
It is the express wish of my family to offer shelter to Mrs Collins for so long as it is needed. While her husband certainly retains the right to claim his wife, it is our belief that he will not do so as long as she resides in the home of his patroness. We did extend an offer to assist your daughter in obtaining an ecclesiastical separation, but she would not hear of anything that might attach scandal to your good family. The story that has been circulated in the village is simply that Mrs Collins has taken ill and requires constant care for her recovery. Her husband’s reputation is such that the story has not been questioned, and any censure has been reserved for the gentleman. Our only regret is in not taking this action sooner.
Your daughter had no wish to inform her family of her situation. She is experiencing no small amount of mortification and does not want her family to share in her shame. My wife works diligently to disabuse her of such notions but to no avail. It is for this reason I have taken it upon myself to write. I believe your daughter to be in need of her family, but we cannot risk sending her to you. I shall leave it to you to determine which of her family would be of greatest benefit. If you will consent to a visit, please send your reply, and we shall assist with all the arrangements.
Your Servant,
Matthias Addison
September 20, 1813
Pemberley, Derbyshire
Dear Richard,
Allow me to wish you joy on your betrothal to Lady Amelia. She suits you well, and I have every expectation of your future happiness. Though after seeing the two of you together, I know not how you will survive a four-month engagement. Your plan to remove to Finmere Park is a sound one, I think. Certainly your staff will need time to prepare for a new mistress and, as I recall, there was some work yet to be done on the master’s and mistress’s chambers.
I would advise you not to make any changes to the mistress’s suite without first consulting your betrothed. My time with both Georgiana and the Bennet sisters has taught me nothing if not that knowledge of the preferences and tastes of a lady is no excuse to arrange things on her behalf without first seeking her opinion. To do so is, according to the ladies, “officious, presumptuous, and rude,” regardless of how well intended the action may be. Please do not seek further explanation as I fear I cannot give it.
Georgiana and I were pleased to learn that Lady Hargrove is safely delivered of a daughter. Hargrove seems not disappointed in the least in not having an heir and, instead, appears to rejoice in a daughter who strongly favours her mother. Your father, naturally, had much to say on the point but was kind enough to limit his audience to myself. A wise decision on his part, for I do not think Hargrove cares to hear any strictures against his wife or child. For my part, I am in agreement with Hargrove. To have both mother and child safe and well must be cause for celebration.
I shall pause here as Georgiana has come to remind me of a promised afternoon ride.
September 21
If ever I have the grave misfortune of encountering that snivelling, pathetic weasel, I shall kill him with my bare hands. But, of course, you do not know of whom I speak. I shall tell you—it is that insolent, reprehensible parson of my aunt’s.
I received an express from Addison last night. As you know, Aunt Catherine has been in town for some weeks and only just returned to Kent. Matthias and Anne had been some three days returned from their wedding trip when our cousin became concerned at the absence of Miss Elizabeth. Prior to the wedding, it had been her custom to call on Rosings every day. When Miss Elizabeth had not visited after three days, our aunt and cousin determined to call on the lady to discern the reason. Mr Collins had barred all visitors, but the servants of that house are loyal to their mistress and to our aunt, thus Lady Catherine and Anne were admitted at once. What they found at the parsonage was too horrific to bear repeating. Miss Elizabeth refused to speak against Mr Collins, but I am given to understand the servants had no such qualms. Upon confirming the source of Miss Elizabeth’s injuries, my aunt summoned the local apothecary to administer laudanum to Miss Elizabeth and then immediately arranged for her removal to Rosings Park. There she has remained these many days.
Addison has notified her family in Hertfordshire, and I can only hope Mr Bennet has the good sense to travel with one or two of his daughters and to leave his wife at home. I would wish the woman to see and perhaps finally feel the true effect of her decision, but I fear her presence would only distress my precious Elizabeth at a time when she most needs peace. Miss Elizabeth has been offered permanent sanctuary at Rosings. It is the belief of my aunt, and I cannot disagree, that Mr Collins’s sycophantic tendencies towards herself will prevent his acting to reclaim his wife. Would that such actions had been taken months ago!
I have written to Addison to suggest a guard for his new guest and offered to bear the cost. I am certain that, as Miss Elizabeth begins to recover, she will at some time or other wish to wander the lanes and paths of Rosings. This cannot but end in disaster for her. I shudder to think what that hateful man would do should he chance to have the opportunity.
I wish to travel to Rosings immediately, but I know I cannot. What possible excuse could I give for such a visit and how would I stay my hand and not disgrace my family? I am in need of your counsel—or perhaps just your sword.
Yours, etc.
Fitzwilliam Darcy
September 21, 1813
Rosings Park, Kent
Dear Mr Bennet,
It is with gratitude and relief we have received your reply. We shall expect you and your daughters on the morrow.
Matthias Addison
October 1813, Longbourn
“Oh, Mr Bennet, you are too cruel! You cannot force me to leave my home!” Mrs Bennet cried. “I only did what was necessary to secure my future and that of our girls. We would have been cast into the hedgerows if you had not lived!”
Mr Bennet would not be moved. “You will find, Mrs Bennet, that I can do that and worse. Your actions, against my clearly expressed wishes I might add, nearly resulted in the death of my daughter. I have ordered repairs on the dowager cottage to be completed immediately. Until then, you are not to leave your rooms. If I find you have defied me in this, you will find yourself cut off from every possible manner of support and protection afforded you as mistress of this estate.”
Mrs Bennet turned wild eyes to the others in the room, coming to rest first on Mary who said solemnly, “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” She then returned her attention to her father, hoping he would stand firm.
Mrs Bennet looked next to her youngest daughters for support. “Lydia, child, surely you do not wish to be separated from your mama? Catherine, who will teach you to catch a fine husband?”
While Catherine could only look at her mother and walk away, Lydia replied, “I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands,” and joined her sister above stairs.
October 15, 1813
Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire
Dear Richard,
I am pleased to know everything is progressing as planned at Finmere. Until you wrote of it, I had not considered how difficult it might be for two people to agree upon so simple a thing as wall fabrics and paints. It should, I suppose, be expected that a military man and a woman of fashion might have disparate tastes. Having heard your story, I can only advise that you yield to the preference of your betrothed in these things except, perhaps, as it pertains to your study. In that space, I can see no reason why your choices should not prevail. I look forward to viewing the completed rooms and can only hope to be as conservative with your brandy as you have always been with mine.
Though I have not yet conquered the desire to harm that miserable toad in Kent, I have taken your advice and travelled to Hertfordshire. We plan to remain here until we travel to Ashford for the Christmas season. Georgiana was especially pleased as this has afforded her the opportun
ity to renew her friendship with the Bennet sisters. I must confess I am no less pleased to be here. To be in the company of Elizabeth’s family is an unexpected joy. Two years ago, I could not have been prevailed upon to make such a statement and would have dismissed any suggestion of association. Now I find myself quite content to be amongst them and to share in their daily trials and triumphs. I anticipate Miss Bennet’s radiant smile after having a successful debate with her father, Miss Catherine’s pleasure when the afternoon light is precisely as she wished for her newest sketch, and Miss Lydia’s glee at mastering a new piece of music. I have learnt Mr Bennet was an accomplished student of debate during his time at Oxford. He has proven to be an excellent conversationalist and a worthy chess adversary. I daresay even your father would be hard-pressed to defeat this gentleman in either debate or a game. How very much poorer I should have been without these delightful ladies and their estimable father.
