Clever Compromises

by APRIL FLOYD

  Mr. Bennet stood aside as the man lifted his own trunk and gave one last look about the room. “Will you not reconsider and offer for Mary? I shall give my blessing.”

  The words moved his heart and for a brief moment he dreamed of doing just as Mr. Bennet suggested but he could not delay his return to Kent. “Perhaps after some time has passed, I shall return and seek her hand. I cannot face her just now.”

  Mr. Bennet understood the man’s position. Had Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy not been present, Mr. Collins might have been able to make his offer for the sister he seemed to prefer instead of the one he had proposed to in error.

  The two men made their way downstairs and Mr. Bennet called for the parson’s conveyance to be brought round. Mary appeared at the top of the stairs and Mr. Collins heard the quiet whimper of the lady he truly loved. He wanted to go to her but she buried her face in her hands and turned away.

  Mr. Bennet moved to stand between his cousin and the stairs. “You must not offer her sympathy without a proposal, sir. She is my daughter and I would not see her given false hope.”

  Mr. Collins wished he might push her father aside and climb the stairs but he must warn Lady Catherine first and then he might return to Longbourn for Miss Mary. “I would stay and marry her if it were in my power but I must return to Kent for a time.”

  Mary wanted to run to Mr. Collins and leave with him no matter the scandal it would bring. Instead, she returned to her room with a glimmer of hope that someday he might return.

  Elizabeth remained in the parlor with Mrs. Bennet and Jane though she wished she might escape. Mrs. Bennet had nearly exhausted herself in her admonition of her second born child. “Lizzy, a lady would not behave in such a fashion! Mr. Collins is certainly not the handsomest man but a nice living on a lovely estate is more than most young ladies might expect. You cannot hope to marry as well as Jane for you are not as lovely as she. What is this nonsense Mr. Collins spoke about Mr. Darcy? Has he given reason for you to refuse a perfectly acceptable offer?”

  Glancing to Jane for relief before speaking the words that haunted her, Elizabeth twisted her hands in her lap. “Mother, Mr. Darcy is a gentleman. If he held an interest in securing my hand do you doubt he would have spoken to Father by now? Our cousin gave him an opportunity to confirm or deny his interest and the man simply left out of an abundance of embarrassment. I would be completely surprised if he ever crossed our doorstep again.”

  Mrs. Bennet was not satisfied with this answer but before she might launch into yet another tirade, Mr. Bennet entered the parlor. “Mr. Collins has gone. Mary is in her room pining away, I suppose. I must make our apologies to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. It is my hope that Jane’s beauty is enough to make her suitor forget all that has passed here today.”

  Jane grew worried at her father's words and Elizabeth went to her side. “Mr. Bingley would never allow the actions of our cousin to diminish his regard for you, Jane. Still, Father is right to seek forgiveness.”

  Mrs. Bennet rose from her chair and fixed Elizabeth with a piercing stare. “I do not care if the next man to seek your hand is the drover’s son, you shall not refuse another offer of marriage young lady.”

  Elizabeth held her tongue as Mrs. Bennet quit the parlor. She hoped her next offer of marriage came from none other than Mr. Darcy though she could not see how he might wish to align himself with such a family as her own after the terrible embarrassment of the day.

  Chapter 13

  The morning of Jane’s wedding to Mr. Bingley dawned fair in her window and Elizabeth sat up in bed with a smile of deep contentment. Her most beloved sister would marry the man of her dreams on a glorious winter’s day. If that were not cause enough for celebration, there was the added knowledge that the Bingley sisters would leave Hertfordshire for London not long after the happy couple departed on their wedding trip.

  Mr. Collins’s sudden departure had left poor Mary more removed from her family than before and even Jane could not coax her from her room. Today, she would have to accompany the family to Netherfield for the wedding but Elizabeth suspected Mary would simply find a quiet corner of the large home and easily escape notice.

  The whole of Hertfordshire had likely heard of the terrible blow suffered by the Bennet family for Mrs. Bennet had been sure to share her troubles with not only her sister in Meryton but with Mrs. Long and Lady Lucas. Mr. Bennet’s voice had thundered in the parlor enough to shake the rafters when he learned that his own wife had given the gossip.

  Rising from the warmth of her quilts, Elizabeth went to the window and pushed aside the curtains. It was a lovely day for a wedding and her heart squeezed in her chest as she thought of Jane leaving for months on her wedding trip. Kitty had been chosen to go along so that Lydia might not have a willing accomplice in her quest for the handsome yet dangerous Mr. Wickham. The lieutenant had made a call to Longbourn a few days after Mr. Collins departed and Mrs. Bennet seemed to think him the perfect match for her youngest daughter.

  Elizabeth had been forced to confide Mr. Darcy’s warning about the man to her father and Mr. Bennet had decreed that she must keep Lydia from the man. The strident whine of her youngest sister in the hallway outside her door interrupted Elizabeth’s thoughts and she gave a deep sigh. Of course Lydia would argue and antagonize Kitty until the moment the Bingley carriage pulled away from Netherfield after the wedding.

  Waiting with her door just cracked open until the terrible twosome passed on their way downstairs, Elizabeth tiptoed behind them to Jane’s room.

  Her eldest sister stood beside her wedding dress smoothing the fabric of the skirt. Elizabeth entered the room and went to stand beside her. “Though my heart is full with joy, I shall miss you my dearest Jane. Why must wedding trips last for months?”

  Jane turned and pulled Elizabeth into a warm embrace. Her words were a mere whisper laced with much emotion. “I shall miss you too, my Lizzy. We have never been parted since the moment you were born.”

  Elizabeth had not meant to bring her sister to tears. “Hush now, love. We must not be sad today of all days. You cannot meet Mr. Bingley in such an attitude. He might think you do not truly love him after all.”

  Jane smiled through her tears and dabbed at her eyes. “I am such a silly goose today, Lizzy. Just wait until your wedding day, you shall find yourself so afflicted.”

  Elizabeth did not doubt her sister’s word. The idea of joining with a man she both loved and respected made her heart skip a beat as she guided Jane to the dressing table. “I do not doubt what you say is true but had I been made to marry Mr. Collins my tears would have been sorrowful instead of sentimental.”

  Jane gave a look of reproach as Elizabeth undid the braid she wore each night. “I cannot think how truly sad our poor Mary is this day. I wish Mother would allow her to remain at Longbourn. Attending a wedding seems such a terrible punishment in her current distress.”

  Of course Jane Bennet would think of the pain of another even on her own wedding day. Elizabeth separated the strands of golden hair she so admired and began the serious work of making her sister presentable. “Father confided that he believes Mr. Collins does love Mary and will likely return to make an offer for her in time.”

  Jane’s eyes widened in surprise but Elizabeth gave her a pointed look. “You must not say as much to her, Jane. Father does not wish for her hopes to be dashed if he is wrong about our cousin.”

  “I could not imagine why he offered for you instead of Mary, Lizzy. Like Father, I believe he did harbor affectionate feelings for our sister. Why would he leave so soon and not mend her broken heart with assurances?” Jane was genuinely puzzled by Mr. Collins’s rash and irrational behavior.

  “I suspect he has run back to Kent to deliver gossip to his patroness. Remember he mentioned that Lady Catherine’s daughter is promised to Mr. Darcy? He must think I am a threat to that alliance. Why else would he become incensed whenever Mr. Darcy would pay me the least attention?”

  Jane’s mouth fo
rmed a perfect O at this conjecture. “Why Lizzy, you must be correct. Do you think he shall return with his patroness? Mr. Darcy must be warned!”

  “I am certain Mr. Darcy would not worry over a visit from his aunt but I shall make a point of sharing my suspicions with him. Mr. Collins would be wise not to meddle in the affairs of the family he serves but the man did not strike me as particularly intelligent.” Elizabeth chuckled and continued the brushing of her sister’s hair.

  Moments later, Mrs. Bennet interrupted the quiet that ensued as each sister became lost in private thoughts. “Ladies, Hill is sending up breakfast so that Jane might not waste a precious moment this morning of her wedding.”

  Their mother came to stand behind Jane and took the brush from Elizabeth. “Off with you, Lizzy. See that your sisters are dressed and gather them in the parlor. I wish to speak privately with Jane and do her hair myself.”

  Elizabeth wished she might stay and send Mrs. Bennet away but it was not her place to usurp her mother’s position. Leaving a light kiss on Jane’s upturned cheek, Elizabeth whispered a promise. “I shall return once the girls are settled downstairs.”

  After the wedding ceremony was completed, Elizabeth followed the many guests of Netherfield Park into the wedding breakfast. The Bingley sisters had been the perfect hostesses and for that if nothing else, Elizabeth was grateful. She had not expected Miss Bingley to behave with such grace and dignity, for she had yet to see the woman behave with anything approaching the hospitality she now displayed.

  Before she might join her family, Mr. Darcy arrived at her side and took hold of her elbow most gently. “Miss Elizabeth, might I have a word with you before the breakfast begins?”

  Elizabeth glanced to her father and mother but both were otherwise occupied. Mrs. Bennet was introducing her daughters to a pair of gentlemen from London, friends of Mr. Bingley Elizabeth supposed. Mr. Bennet was accepting congratulations from the men of Hertfordshire.

  Allowing Mr. Darcy to guide her to a corner of the vast dining room, Elizabeth breathed deeply to clear her mind. Jane was now Mrs. Bingley and Longbourn was at last free of Mr. Collins. Recalling that she wished to warn Mr. Darcy of her cousin’s plans, Elizabeth did not wait for him to begin the conversation.

  “Mr. Darcy, you must know that Mr. Collins left Hertfordshire shortly after your departure that terrible day. I imagine he only offered for my hand because he believed I might pose a threat to the promise you have with your cousin, Miss de Bourgh.”

  Mr. Darcy’s brow raised and he let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “I wondered how I might begin such a conversation but now that you have begun it let me say I believe you are correct, Miss Elizabeth. Mr. Collins is quite mistaken about my cousin Anne but it is only because he heard the lie repeated by my Aunt Catherine so often.”

  Elizabeth’s heart fluttered in her chest at this news. Before she might think better of her question the query left her lips. “Do you mean to say there is no engagement between yourself and Miss de Bough, Mr. Darcy?”

  “There is no such promise, I assure you. My aunt has always held that her daughter and I should be wed but that is not my intention. I have told Lady Catherine repeatedly that I shall not marry my cousin and yet she holds onto hope.”

  As the heat crept across her cheeks, Elizabeth dropped her gaze. “Please forgive my impertinence, Mr. Darcy. I simply meant to share the suspicions my cousin’s proposal raised. Father believes he will return to propose to Mary soon.”

  Mr. Darcy glanced to the crowd now settling at the dining table and moved to give them his back. Gently lifting Elizabeth’s chin, he gazed into her eyes now gone round with surprise at his actions. “Miss Elizabeth, I find your impertinence most refreshing. I have no concern for Mr. Collins nor his intentions. I shall remain at Netherfield until the newlyweds return and hoped I might call upon you at Longbourn during that time.”

  Elizabeth could not form the thoughts in her head into a complete sentence and Miss Bingley’s voice interrupted any attempt to do so. “Tis time to celebrate the bride and groom, Mr. Darcy. You must come and speak for a moment of the groom.”

  Mr. Darcy’s fingers lingered on Elizabeth’s face only a moment longer before Miss Bingley took his arm. If she saw the tender moment, she gave no sign.

  Chapter 14

  Mr. Collins arrived in Kent two days after leaving Longbourn. The return trip had been much easier since the cursed heat had abated and the typical chill of November returned. However, each mile that passed gave him much regret and filled the man with trepidation.

  He would never forget the look of utter devastation on his beloved’s face as he stood at the bottom of the stairs with her father before leaving without giving her so much as an apology for his betrayal. While the thought of informing his patroness of Mr. Darcy’s peril at the hands of Cousin Elizabeth had heartened him as he set out from Hertfordshire, now the fear grew in his heart.

  Lady Catherine would not wish to see him married to Miss Mary if Elizabeth Bennet won Mr. Darcy’s affections! It was a terrible mess his headstrong cousin had made for all concerned.

  As Rosings Park came into view, he gathered his courage and thought of how he might best present his case. He would simply tell the truth and hope Lady Catherine might be grateful enough for his interference to allow him to finally offer for the young lady he truly loved.

  In moments, he stood before his patroness in her parlor with the dust of the road shaken hastily from his clothing. Upon reflection, he ought to at least have gone to the parsonage and freshened up but the news he carried was much too urgent to delay.

  “Your ladyship, I offer my most sincere apologies for my appearance but I could not in good conscience delay. Tis terrible news I bring from Longbourn, news I fear that shall take you quite by surprise.”

  Lady Catherine sat stiffly in her chair and cast an eye to her invalid daughter briefly before addressing her parson. “Mr. Collins, out with it before I expire from curiosity.”

  The parson hesitated for he did not think it wise to speak of Mr. Darcy’s betrayal before the young mistress of Rosings. Seeing the man’s discomfort, Lady Catherine lost her patience. “Whatever you wish to divulge, Anne may hear it. Though her health is fragile she is not a weak-minded child.”

  Mr. Collins bowed slightly towards Anne de Bourgh and strove mightily to maintain his composure. “No, your ladyship, she is not weak. I did not mean to suggest such a thing. It is only that my news involves Mr. Darcy, her betrothed.”

  The young mistress struggled to sit up straighter in her chair and her companion moved quickly to assist her. “Mr. Collins, what news have you of my Fitzwilliam?”

  Her eyes were unusually bright and Mr. Collins was certain the young lady was feverish. She often was but Lady Catherine would not abide her lying about in her rooms. For the half of each day, her presence was required in the parlor. He supposed the mistress of Rosings sought to convince herself that her daughter was truly not as ill as she appeared.

  “I fear it is not good news, Miss. My cousin, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, has captured his attention and though I made an offer for her hand before one and all, she refused me in a most embarrassing exchange. Mr. Darcy himself was present with his friend Mr. Bingley.”

  Lady Catherine’s cane rapped sharply against the thickly carpeted floor of her parlor as a strangled cry arose from her daughter. His patroness was no longer the energetic, lithe woman she had once been, he supposed, but her spryness as she leapt from her seat surprised Mr. Collins.

  “How might the young lady refuse you? Are not her parents alive? What father would allow such insolence from a child, a daughter nonetheless? An entailment hangs over the home and she was able to dismiss you out of hand?”

  Anne de Bourgh was weeping openly, her wailing a most terrible noise that made Mr. Collins struggle to hold his ground. The whole of his being wished to flee from the room. “Her eldest sister, Miss Jane Bennet, has likely married Mr. Bingley by now, your ladys
hip. There was no concern on Miss Elizabeth’s part, nor that of her father, for a marriage to save Longbourn.”

  “Mother,” Miss Anne wailed as Mr. Collins fell silent, “you must go and bring Fitzwilliam home to me. Stop this terrible hoyden from stealing him away!”

  Lady Catherine nodded to her daughter’s companion and the woman pulled the bell by the fireplace for assistance. In a moment, Lady Catherine’s own maid appeared with two others and the women whisked a howling Miss de Bourgh from the room.

  Mr. Collins offered his apologies for he was quite disturbed by the emotional display. He had never once been privy to such an outburst from the young lady. “I am deeply saddened to have spoken such news before Miss Anne.”

  Lady Catherine seemed not the least surprised by her daughter. “Tis nothing a dose of laudanum will not relieve Mr. Collins. I cannot blame her for her fit of despair. It is past time my nephew fulfilled his duty to this family. We shall leave for Hertfordshire as soon as my maid has packed a trunk.”

  Mr. Collins had not thought he might be made to return to the scene of his embarrassment and defeat so soon. “I shall take my leave, your ladyship and return refreshed to travel with you.”

  The parson turned and was hurrying to the door of the parlor when the voice of his patroness drew him up short. “There is no time for such dawdling, Mr. Collins. You may wait here with me until my trunk has been brought down. 'Tis your fault I must go and sort this mess your family has caused. Pray that my nephew has the good sense to come away from that cursed hamlet and heed my advice, otherwise you may find yourself without the living at Hunsford.”

  Mr. Collins bit down on his tongue until his eyes watered from the pain. There was no need to challenge Lady Catherine after such a pronouncement. He had not only failed to save himself by delivering the news of Mr. Darcy and his cousin Elizabeth Bennet, but had nearly achieved the loss of his living and surely the chance to offer for the one lady he truly loved, his cousin Mary.