by Alexa Adams
“Yes, sir,” Mr. Collins continued. “You may recall that she and my dear Charlotte are intimate friends?”
“Indeed,” Darcy replied, proceeding to pace before the fireplace under his aunt’s suspicious gaze.
“Well, these are happy tidings!” exclaimed Colonel Fitzwilliam, also with an eye on his cousin. “Hearty congratulations to you, Mr. Collins, and to us as well. We have gained three new ladies with whom to extend our acquaintance in neighborhood. I do think that felicitous news, do not you, Darcy?”
“What? Oh yes. Yes, indeed.” He paused in his pacing. “I think ... perhaps I had better return to Hunsford with Mr. Collins and pay my respects to Miss Bennet. I grew to know her rather well while in Hertfordshire, as she and her sister were in residence for some days at Netherfield Park. I should hate to slight the lady by not properly acknowledging her presence in the neighborhood. Indeed, I have often dined in the company of all three ladies.”
“And I shall come, too,” Colonel Fitzwilliam eagerly seconded the notion before their aunt could protest her abandonment.
“We shall be delighted to offer you what humble hospitality we have at any time, my good sirs. Mrs. Collins will be honored by your attention.”
“But as I understood from the ladies in question,” Lady Catherine interposed herself upon this atmosphere of male enthusiasm, “the acquaintance was just a passing one. Surely there is no need for such prompt attendance.”
“I am sure delicacy prevented them from presuming upon the connection, but the Bennets and Lucases are amongst the most prominent families in the vicinity of Netherfield Park. It was inevitable we should associate a great deal, particularly as Bingley is a very social gentleman and was anxious to establish himself in the neighborhood. I do not think the acknowledgement ought to wait. If you are ready to depart, Mr. Collins, we shall give you time to forewarn the ladies, and then follow in your wake.”
“Yes, yes. Of course, Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Collins will be most honored. I shall set off at once.”
After the rector departed, Lady Catherine turned on her nephew. “Well! I suppose you know best, Darcy. If you feel a prompt visit necessary, then who am I—?”
“I had best change my coat,” he interrupted. “If you will excuse me, Aunt Catherine,” and with a bow, he exited the room.
“I ought not let Darcy outshine me with the ladies. Better follow his example. We shall return shortly, dear Aunt,” said the colonel, pursuing his cousin out the room.
“I supposed,” piped up Anne, who had been discretely observing the proceedings, “that Miss Bennet must have made quite an impression upon my cousin for him to show such obvious interest in her.”
“You may keep your suppositions to yourself, Anne,” replied Lady Catherine curtly, and she took up her nephew’s abandoned path, tracing his steps back and forth before the fireplace.
**********
It had been her ladyship’s intention to enliven their evenings by continuing to have the Collinses and their guests for dinner twice a week, but her plans quickly altered following Darcy’s extraordinary reaction to news of Miss Bennet’s presence at the parsonage. No matter how much she believed the lady would prove a suitable match for the colonel, the notion was not worth jeopardizing her own daughter’s prospects. Miss Bennet would have to fend for herself.
However, as the week preceding the holiday passed and Darcy made no attempt to again see the lady, even as the colonel made a point of regularly calling at the parsonage, Lady Catherine began to believe she might have been hasty in her conclusions. It seemed only natural, with the benefit of hindsight, that Darcy should see in Miss Bennet the same potential as his aunt: that of an admirable military bride. The cousins were quite close, almost like brothers, and Darcy, in his natural benevolence, could be trusted to keep an eye open on the colonel’s behalf. Perhaps he, too, intended to bestow a settlement upon the couple, rendering Lady Catherine’s contribution unnecessary. She felt it relatively safe to resume her previous intentions of furthering such a match and ventured a cautious invitation following church on Easter Sunday —not for dinner, just for the evening.
The invitation was accepted, of course, and at a proper hour they joined the party in Lady Catherine's drawing room. Her ladyship received them civilly and was pleased to note how glad Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed to see them. He seated himself by Miss Bennet, and together the two talked agreeably, with spirit and flow. Lady Catherine congratulated herself on having accurately assessed the characters of each, and she endeavored to keep Darcy by her side, that he not interfere with the romance blooming across the room. It was with chagrin that she noted his eyes repeatedly turn towards the animated couple with a look of curiosity, and her ladyship, anxious to maintain his attention, did not scruple to call out, "What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking of? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is."
"We are speaking of music, madam," he said after her repeated entreaties.
"Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music. There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient,” she rambled on mindlessly, and not very truthfully. Upon seeing that she had regained Darcy’s attention, she was quick to add, “And so would Anne, if her health had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed delightfully. How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?"
“Georgiana’s performance is such that can only bring pleasure. She has the same natural talent my mother possessed.”
"I am very glad to hear such a good account of her," said Lady Catherine, "and pray tell her from me that she cannot expect to excel if she does not practice a great deal."
"I assure you, madam," he replied, "that she does not need such advice. She practices very constantly."
"So much the better. It cannot be done too much, and when I next write to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times that she will never play really well unless she practices more, and though Mrs. Collins has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told her, to come to Rosings every day and play on the pianoforte in Mrs. Jenkinson's room. She would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part of the house."
Mr. Darcy made no reply, and Lady Catherine trusted she had made her point, highlighting Miss Bennet’s proper place even while elevating her daughter’s superiority.
When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of having promised to play to him, and she sat down directly to the instrument. He drew a chair near her. Lady Catherine listened to half a song, found the execution wanting, and resumed her discourse with Darcy. Unfortunately, she proved no competition against the lure of a pretty lady at the pianoforte and was exceedingly vexed to see him suddenly rise and walk away, moving with his usual deliberation across the room and stationing himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer's countenance.
Lady Catherine watched through narrowed eyes as the music ceased, Miss Bennet turned a coy smile upon Darcy, made some remark with eyes all a sparkle, and laughed heartily at the response. Darcy smiled back, and the threesome engaged in some sort of banter, much to the amusement of each, until Lady Catherine could bear the spectacle no longer and called out to know of what they spoke. Rather than reply, Miss Bennet immediately began playing again, so her ladyship approached and, after critically listening for a few minutes, said to Darcy, "Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practiced more and could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have been a delightful performer had her health allowed her to learn."
Rather than allowing the three young people to resume their happy discourse,
Lady Catherine continued her remarks on the performance, mixing with them many instructions on execution and taste. Yet no opprobrium on her part worked to dissuade the gentlemen from requesting piece after piece, keeping Miss Bennet at the instrument for the remainder of the evening until, in desperation, her ladyship called the carriage to take the troublesome young woman and her hosts away.
Part Six
Lady Catherine’s nephews remained at Rosings much longer than was their wont, and her ladyship steadfastly avoided all contact between her party and that at the parsonage for nearly two weeks. However, she could not keep two active and independent young men from calling on Mrs. Collins and her guests, as she had reason to believe both did on numerous occasions. Furthermore, the colonel particularly and repeatedly requested that the residents of the parsonage should again be invited to the Park. Feeling the lack of invitations to be somewhat conspicuous and tired of fording off her nephew’s insistent pleas, she finally conceded and asked them to join her for tea.
It was with relief that she welcomed only the Collinses and Miss Lucas, who arrived bearing excuses for Miss Bennet. She was not well and stayed behind. Lady Catherine, having never before witnessed the slightest bit of indisposition in the lady, wondered if it was not her own good sense that kept her away. That was what her ladyship liked in her; she knew Darcy was meant for Anne and would not trespass where she did not belong. Lady Catherine strengthened her determination to try and find a means of bringing Miss Bennet and the colonel together, sometime when Darcy was not around to interfere.
The gentleman in question was unusually withdrawn and quiet as they greeted their visitors. His aunt noticed his perturbation and silently thanked Miss Bennet for keeping her distance. She did not think much of it when he excused himself from the company. Darcy’s eye might have strayed from its intended path, but time and reflection would set him back on the correct course.
Her nephews departed two days later, during which time Darcy remained withdrawn and sullen. However, as he made no motion to join the colonel on what proved to be an extraordinarily long parting visit to the parsonage, Lady Catherine felt sanguine that any dangerous attachment was under regulation. She really could not blame him for the attraction, for Miss Bennet combined a natural ease and grace with strong intelligence and no small degree of beauty. She only hoped any lingering affection for the lady would not come between the two cousins when the colonel made her his wife.
The house was quiet on the morning her nephews departed, Anne never being much of a conversationalist, and now that the danger had passed, Lady Catherine had no hesitation in inviting the Colllinses to dine that very evening. The invitation was readily accepted, and Lady Catherine found great consolation in pouring forth her sense of loss at the departure to her attentive audience.
"I assure you, I feel it exceedingly. I believe nobody feels the loss of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly attached to these young men and know them to be so much attached to me! They were excessively sorry to go, but so they always are. The dear colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just at last, but Darcy seemed to feel it most acutely, more I think than last year.” Lest such an observation be misunderstood, she added with an expectant smile at her daughter, “His attachment to Rosings certainly increases."
“Who would not be sorry to depart your felicitous abode, Lady Catherine? No doubt Mr. Darcy will soon have an excuse to again venture hither, not just to bask in the perfections of the house but also to relish the joys of the company it offers.”
Lady Catherine smiled graciously in acknowledgement of the compliment, all while keeping an observant watch on Miss Bennet, who seemed unusually detached from the conversation. Gone were the secret smiles of amusement, and her ladyship hoped it was not due to any heartache, at least not for the wrong nephew.
It was less than a week until Miss Bennet and Miss Lucas were set to depart for home, and Lady Catherine did not like to see the former go in such a dejected state. Perhaps, if she might hold the visitors in Kent for a longer stay, their continued presence might lure the colonel back and all would be made right. Or even better, maybe there was a means of bringing Miss Bennet to London, where the colonel would shortly be stationed. With this goal in mind, after dinner she shared her observation that Miss Bennet seemed out of spirits and, accounting for it by supposing that she did not like to go home again so soon, added, "But if that is the case, you must write to your mother to beg that you may stay a little longer. Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your company, I am sure."
"I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation," replied Miss Bennet, "but it is not in my power to accept it. I must be in town next Saturday."
"Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came. There can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet could certainly spare you for another fortnight."
"But my father cannot. He wrote last week to hurry my return."
"Oh! Your father of course may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay another month complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as far as London, for I am going there early in June for a week, and as Dawson does not object to the barouche box, there will be very good room for one of you, and indeed, if the weather should happen to be cool, I should not object to taking you both, as you are neither of you large."
"You are all kindness, madam, but I believe we must abide by our original plan."
Lady Catherine saw the girl’s determination and resigned herself to the inevitable. Perhaps her father really did value her presence. If so, Miss Bennet was a most fortunate lady. She herself could recall the superior claims paternal affection played upon her heart and felt a slight stirring of envy at the suggested closeness of their relationship. Still, she was determined to show Miss Bennet some extraordinary favor and did what she might in that direction by attending to the details of her journey.
"Mrs. Collins, you must send a servant with them. You know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of two young women traveling post by themselves. It is highly improper. You must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world for that sort of thing. Young women should always be properly guarded and attended according to their situation in life.” And if Miss Bennet’s situation were to be elevated, it would never do for word to get around that she had been left to travel unescorted in her maidenhood. “When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of having two manservants go with her. Miss Darcy, the daughter of Mr. Darcy of Pemberley and Lady Anne, could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner. I am excessively attentive to all those things. You must send John with the young ladies, Mrs. Collins. I am glad it occurred to me to mention it, for it would really be discreditable to you to let them go alone."
"My uncle is to send a servant for us."
"Oh! Your uncle! He keeps a manservant, does he? I am very glad you have somebody who thinks of those things.” She searched her mind for some other way to be of service. “Where shall you change horses? Oh! Bromley, of course. If you mention my name at the Bell, you will be attended to."
Miss Bennet seemed to feel this attention just as she ought, and her ladyship contented herself with the notion she had done all she could for the lady, and further proved her regard by taking an interest in all the other details of her travel arrangements. By the end of the evening, she believed Miss Bennet to be less sullen than upon her arrival, attributing the change to the extraordinary notice the lady had received from herself. She would find another means of bringing the colonel into her path, but just in case no obvious method soon arrived, she made sure Miss Bennet knew she was welcome to visit the Collinses again whenever the opportunity arose.
The visitors to the parsonage were gone the following Friday, and Lady Catherine settled herself back into the routine of everyday life: visiting
her tenants, overseeing the lives of the villagers, and advising Mr. Collins on his sermons. As Mrs. Collins and Miss Bennet were in regular communication, she was privy to a great deal of the happenings in the latter’s life, and as she always showed an interest in such news, Mr. Collins took particular care to make sure all such reports came her way. The lady would spend the summer exploring the Lake District with her aunt and uncle; but no, the journey was sadly curtailed to just so far as Derbyshire. Neither of her nephews were in the area at the time, so there was no reason to worry about her presence, nor was there a way to utilize it to advantage. Lady Catherine thought complacently on her young friend, enjoying the pleasures of a summer outing. Unfortunately, the next round of information coming from that quarter was of a distressing nature and threw all of her ladyship’s plans for Miss Bennet into upheaval.
It was an early August morning that brought Mr. Collins in haste and agitation to Rosings bearing the disruptive news. “Oh! Lady Catherine,” he began, “we have received the most dreadful tidings from Longbourn. A disgrace most ruinous to the family’s prospects has occurred, and I can only hope that my association with them has not tainted my own good name!”
