Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice Sequel Bundle: 3 Reader Favorites (73 page)

I am always your affectionate friend,

Charlotte

As Elizabeth read Charlotte’s letter, Darcy and Georgiana sat before her watching her countenance carefully. This scrutiny was ultimately unsuccessful, for they could not quite make out by her expression alone just what information the letter revealed.

Initially her face beheld astonishment, followed quickly by disbelief, horror, then yes, they were certain they saw (however she endeavoured to stifle it) a look of confounded amusement. Thereupon, just as hastily her features arranged themselves into a look of solemn and reverent sadness.

When Darcy inquired just what the mysterious letter contained, his usual firm voice was considerably more stentorian than one nescient of his recent infirmity might expect. Owing to his afflicted ears, however, his misapplication of modulation remained unbeknownst to him. Therefore, Elizabeth chose not to tell him he spoke too loudly; she knew it would abuse his dignity. Reminding herself to speak more firmly (understanding one insensible of the circumstance might well think they were witnessing a shouting match), she declared a summarisation of what she had just learnt.

“I think Mr. Collins has, in dying, done the only thing he could possibly do to make one cease to loathe him.”

“What?”

It might have been inferred that he did not hear her, nevertheless, in this case it was not merely auricular, more a matter of comprehension. The echoing of their voices in the cavernous room persuaded Elizabeth to hand him the letter. Thereupon, she watched his countenance take the exact trip of emotions had her own.

When at last the letter was finished, he set it aside. They looked at each other a long moment. There was a thoughtful consideration before he ventured a comment.

When he did, it was not particularly profound.

“I see.”

The sympathy Elizabeth harboured for such an untimely leave-taking had various shadings. It was her Christian duty to pray for Mr. Collins’s soul (and pray fervently she did). However, she could not help but suspect that Charlotte might find the office of Widow Collins a far more felicitous occupation than that of wife.

Georgiana was only given to muse, “I am in a quandary, Elizabeth. Does this mean I will or will not have to dedicate my next book to him?”

Forthwith of learning of Mr. Collins’s departure from this earth, Elizabeth and Jane journeyed to Hunsford to console the bereaved Charlotte. It was upon this altruistic trek that Elizabeth reminded Jane that their father’s estate would thenceforth be entailed to Mr. Collins’s unfortunate son. (Charlotte was always “Poor Charlotte.” Chauncey was always spoken of as the “unfortunate son.”) Both were quite content that they had not to weather their mother’s company when she heard this perverse turn of events.

If Jane and Elizabeth were saved from their mother’s unhappy eruption initially, they were not ultimately, for she was yet in a barely contained snit when they all gathered at the vicarage upon Charlotte’s behalf. And Chauncey Charlemagne Collins’s now three-year-old bald pate was of no particular consolation.

“Perhaps I should knit him a cap,” Jane wondered solicitously.

Indeed, it was an inglorious sojourn. The Bennet family all travelled together from Longbourn and although Mary made the trip with her Bible pressed to her bosom, Kitty was bored senseless in Hunsford. Lydia too had come, but without Wickham.

It was a mystery of sorts just why the egocentric Lydia felt the need to comfort Charlotte, but that was eventually unravelled. Initially, it was presumed she merely wanted to be out of society for at least a part of the six weeks that the death of a cousin demanded. (Black, she believed, made her skin look sallow.)

Lydia’s motives, however, were often as well-layered as an onionskin and just as transparent. For, howbeit Elizabeth made a concerted effort to avoid Lydia’s company, they had not been there but two days when she suggested an exceedingly ill-advised visit upon Lady Catherine. Having heard Mr. Collins’s lengthy description, she was quite curious to see the fabled decorations of Rosings.

“You are her niece, Lizzy,” she cajoled, “Surely she will offer us an invitation if you request it, even if she does not like you.”

Subtlety a much abused product in the face of Lydia’s obtuse sensibilities, Elizabeth spoke to her plainly and with no little vehemence.

“Out of the question.”

Knowing it would be added bother, Jane did not even consider bringing other than her newborn and wet-nurse to Hunsford with her. It was of no great surprise that such heedfulness did not enter Lydia’s mind. Her three boys were handsome, but she was too impatient to mother them properly. Rambunctious and ill-mannered, they partook of far too much cake (“It’s the only way I can quiet them,” Lydia said defensively) and absolutely refused to bathe. The Collinses’ unfortunate son was frightened of their rowdy behaviour and insisted upon standing in a chair when any of the three were in the room. Mrs. Bennet was, as always, her favourite daughter’s most loyal supporter and did little to corral them.

After they played with a dog that had chosen to acquaint himself with his surroundings by rolling in the remains of a long dead animal, the stench was overwhelming.

This distasteful adventure was uncovered when the boys came to the supper table ready to partake. Everyone threw down their silverware to hold their noses in disgust. Lydia remedied the affront by sending them off with their plates to the kitchen.

Unhappy to be the proprietress of decorum under any circumstance, Elizabeth took it on nonetheless.

“I hardly think it fair to make the help ruin their suppers to spare our own.”

At this rebuke, Lydia flung down her napkin in a huff.

“What would you have me do, Lizzy?”

“I would have you bathe them.”

Lydia gave a heaving sigh, tilted her head, and gave her mother an imploring look,

“Oh Mama! You know what bother it is to get them clean. I have no nurse. What am I to do?”

Brightening under the influence of a notion, Mrs. Bennet said, “Perchance Chauncey’s nurse could do it.”

With the exact same tilt to the head, Lydia and Mrs. Bennet turned in synchronic query to Elizabeth upon this possibility.

“They are not her children to bathe.”

As always, Jane was the peacemaker. “I shall go.”

Knowing full well the entire contretemps was escalating into an outright squabble, Elizabeth nonetheless held firm. There were times when one must simply stand one’s ground lest no one be safe.

“No, Jane, they are Lydia’s children, she should see to them herself.”

Lydia, annoyed, “Mother!”

Elizabeth looked at her father. He sat at the head of the table, his spectacles upon
the end of his nose, reading (more than likely rereading) a letter. It was a pose quite familiar in him. He always seemed to have something to take his attention when bickering commenced. Often he would simply remove himself. Rarely did he abandon his food. A previously read letter was ideal in this specific situation. He was present but otherwise occupied.

Elizabeth looked upon him with exasperated affection. In spite of the semi-grievous (she knew it should be wholly grievous, but could only grant Mr. Collins’s passing a limited amount of sorrow) circumstances, she was happy to be able to spend some time with her father.

He looked to her quite thin. Was it lack of seeing him more regularly or a sincere dissipation of his constitution, she had no objective opinion, for Darcy had not accompanied them, decrying his hearing deficiency. Elizabeth thought it a perfectly good excuse, for she despaired of him having to deal with her relatives and loss of hearing concurrently. That Rosings Park was across the hedge from the Collinses’ was reason enough to plead infirmity. (Neither did Bingley come. His reason was not quite so grave, and a little suspect. Elizabeth concluded it was a matter of Bingley refusing to weather Mrs. Bennet if Darcy did not have to.)

The entire bath confrontation was solved by Jane “helping” Lydia bathe her children.

“You have servants for such things, Jane. We are too poor,”Lydia complained pitifully.

Upon hearing this lament, Elizabeth made a mental note to query Jane if she was slipping Lydia money, then hastily dismissed it. If she was giving Lydia help, certainly kind-hearted Jane was. Elizabeth came perilously close to reminding Lydia she was in no worse circumstance than her own parents. And she might be in better had she been even a little prudent with money. But she did not. It would begin an even greater argument and round of rebuke, reproof, and complaint.

Elizabeth had simply had enough for one meal and was certain her father’s stomach was paying him as well.

In an unusual attack of poor judgement, Elizabeth inquired of her mother about their father’s health. A hypochondriac of unrivalled eminence, Mrs. Bennet plaintively enumerated her own many ills (for she enjoyed her own nerves and spasms more than any other diversion). Sourly, Elizabeth held her tongue. She believed, nevertheless, if her mother truly was in fear of loss of circumstance upon her husband’s death, she might do a better job of looking after him.

After a week of unremitting solicitude, the Family Bennet took their leave. Lord and Lady Lucas were yet at Hunsford, hence there were enough condolences remaining.

Lady Lucas, for one, was quite happy to have them go. For, although one of her dearest friends, Mrs. Bennet caused her considerable consternation. Not a day passed without that lady reminding her at least once how well her own daughters had married. This, always couched midmost in a statement of sympathy for Charlotte (e.g., “Poor Charlotte, had she married half so well as Lizzy or Jane, she might not have such worry now!”).

Lady Lucas, in turn, and with the identical measure of sincerity, pitied Mrs. Bennet’s situation at the death of her husband, thus reminding Mrs. Bennet that her grandson (the unfortunate son) was to inherit Longbourn (e.g., “But at least, dear Mrs. Bennet, her son shall have a nice entailment coming to him in time.”).

This tender compassion very nearly came to blows.

In light of this thinly veiled animosity, any respite was welcome. The Bennets fled and the Lucases waved tear-stained pocket squares as they did.

As Elizabeth and Jane were actual friends of Charlotte’s and not merely unwilling relatives of her late husband, they stayed on. It was a compleat bafflement as to why Lydia wanted to stay also. Lydia, so far as Elizabeth had known, had never harboured any particular regard for Charlotte. Indeed, Lydia mocked her linen cap.

“She ties it under her chin! I shall not wear one until I am thirty!”

“Charlotte is thirty,” Elizabeth dryly apprised her.

But Lydia was not of a mind to return home forthwith, for her boys were going to visit Longbourn.

Not that Mrs. Bennet was a particularly attentive grandmother. Quite the opposite, looking after them would be relegated to the servants. Mrs. Bennet would merely take to her room and complain to Mr. Bennet of the inconvenience when that opportunity arose. But for Lydia, a holiday was a holiday.

When Lydia made the announcement that she was to stay on, it was not mitigated by the understanding that her children would not. Therefore, Charlotte’s countenance overspread with a look of barely concealed horror. So profound was her expression of distaste, Elizabeth was not certain it did not rival one she might have presented at the apparition of her dead husband risen from the grave.

In that Lydia stayed, the Lucases quit Hunsford as well (Lady Lucas unable to tolerate the Bennets’ youngest).

Hence, the first order of business for Charlotte in this respite from unrelenting sympathy was to take to her bed to recuperate.

Thereupon, save for Chauncey, the three sisters had the house to themselves. And that dear boy was not about long. Forthwith of displaying the unique talent of inserting his entire right hand inside his mouth, the nurse took him to his nap.

Which was just as well. Although Lydia did say “ick,” no one else had a comment upon that lad’s proclivities other than those that were best not shared.

In the silence that followed his leave-taking, Jane was moved to note that it was the first quiet they had enjoyed for a fortnight. Evidently, this comment reminded Lydia of the true motive she had for remaining at Charlotte’s.

“Lizzy! I thought I would burst lest Mama and Papa not take their leave!”

Elizabeth surmised this exclamation did not introduce a subject upon which she would look with favour. She was not to be disappointed.

“I have only just learnt that when your coach was robbed that day, the bandits stole you! You related it was merely highwaymen bent on thievery! But Wickham says not. He says he learnt Mr. Darcy murdered them for it!” She turned to Jane and repeated for her benefit, “Murdered three men!”

The lace Jane was working upon fell to the floor in a dainty clump.

No, Elizabeth did not favour this discourse. She peeked at Jane, not unwitting of what she would witness. Had her forsaken handwork not, Jane’s astonished expression betrayed her innocence of the unabridged story of the attack. That dastardly Wickham. Bingley had kept his silence with his wife. Why could not have Wickham?