Unforgiving Temper (20 page)

“Still, it seems most peculiar! One cannot be
too careful. A young lady's reputation is a fragile thing and
Miss Elizabeth has shown herself to be entirely too
independent on many occasions. It is my belief that young ladies
should be kept at home, their virtues assiduously safeguarded
through the constant, judicious supervision of an ever-vigilant
male relation.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I am
confident this is all a simple misunderstanding.” Jane was
desperate to dissuade him from a course of inquiry so certain to
bring disaster and ruin down upon her family. “Really, there is no
need to make inquiries, nor indeed to mention the matter to anyone.
Please, do not exert yourself, Mr. Collins!”

“It is my duty as a clergyman and as your
cousin to assist you. My excellent powers of deduction, cultivated
through constant study and application, have led me to the
conclusion that Miss Elizabeth has not written at all. Very
strange, I must say, for I know her to be a great letter writer.
Indeed, she wrote many letters when she was lately with us at
Hunsford.”

“Yes – yes, she did! She wrote several
excellent letters describing the beauty of Kent and the grandeur of
Rosings Park.” Seeing her cousin swell with self-importance, she
hurried on in her attempt to distract him. “I have not yet inquired
about the health of your esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de
Bourgh. Is she well?”

“Why, she is in excellent health. And you
have called to mind an admirable idea, cousin! I shall apply to
Lady Catherine for her advice at once. She will know exactly
how to trace Miss Elizabeth. Her ladyship is excessively
attentive in matters such as this.”

“But Mr. Collins,” cried Jane in horror,
“surely we cannot impose – ”

Mary's sudden entrance into the room forced
Jane to swallow the remaining words. It was now impossible to
pursue the conversation with her sister in the room. Unhappily,
Jane saw her chances of discouraging Mr. Collins fade
completely away as Mary revealed the purpose of her coming.

“Oh, Mr. Collins, I did not know you
were here,” she observed with an abrupt curtsey. “I am sorry to
interrupt, Jane, but Mama is asking for you. She says I do not read
to her as well as you and begs you come at once.”

“I see that you are needed,” Mr. Collins
said, rising to take his leave. “I shall not detain you any longer;
however, please know that I am most obligingly always at your
service. I flatter myself that I am particularly attentive to the
sensitivity of all matters regarding familial responsibilities.
Thus, as to the matter of your sister, you may be assured that I
will proceed with the utmost discretion.”

Anxiously, Jane followed him out to his
carriage, desperate to convince him that he need not concern
himself with finding Elizabeth; but the man stubbornly avowed his
obligation to assist. His final condescending farewell left her
standing in the drive, thoroughly frustrated and afraid.
This is
horrible! His interference is sure to cause trouble. If I cannot
find a way to stop him, there will be a dreadful scandal, I know
it!
She moaned softly to herself.
And Lady Catherine!
Who is to say what will happen if she is informed of our
troubles?

Turning back into the house, she paused at
the foot of the stairs, unable to make herself climb the steps to
her mother's room. Tears flooded her eyes and the crushing weight
of her situation made it nearly impossible to breathe. The
sustaining thread of hope that Lizzy would come home soon had been
cruelly severed with Mr. Collins' visit. Never in her life had
she felt so utterly alone. Her beloved Lizzy, the only one she
could truly count on in such difficult times, was missing – and
under very mysterious circumstances. There was no address, no
proper names, nothing that could be used to find her! What could
have happened and how had their father come to be so dreadfully
mistaken about his own relatives?

Lydia and Kitty's animated voices, shattered
the solitude of the house as they entered, snapping Jane back from
her dismal reverie. Quickly wiping away her tears, she willed her
feet to carry her up the stairs. There was no one to help her now;
she could only pray that Uncle Gardiner would have some useful
counsel when he arrived. In the meantime, she had to find a way to
keep Mr. Collins' unwelcome meddling from destroying their
family’s reputation!

Netherfield's creamy façade fairly glistened
in the bright afternoon sun as the carriage from Longbourn slowed
its pace and gradually came to a halt. Jane Bennet's heart
fluttered anxiously at the prospect of what she was about to do and
she offered up a silent prayer that the brief note she had sent
ahead would not be rejected out of hand. Murmuring softly to
herself, she rehearsed one last time the words she had
prepared.

Before she had any time to reconsider, she
was out of the carriage and following Wilson to the morning room.
There was no turning back now. Jane drew an uneasy breath and
forced a smile that looked far better than she actually felt.
Stepping into the room, she cast a quick glance around and was
relieved to see only one other person present. Even so, it was
difficult to maintain her composure as Miss Darcy came to
greet her.

“Miss Bennet, I am so glad to see you. I
was pleasantly surprised to get your note. How is your father?”

“He is still very ill, but makes a little
improvement each day,” Jane replied tentatively. Seeing her report
was met with genuine concern, she could only hope the kindness
would continue once she revealed the true purpose of her visit.
“Miss Darcy, I apologize for my forward manners, but I have
little time and must come directly to the point of my visit. I
realize what I am about to say is quite presumptuous, particularly
since our acquaintance is so newly formed; however I find myself in
desperate circumstances and am in great need of your particular
help.”

Georgiana's initial bewilderment gave way to
a kind and gentle smile as she listened to Jane's impassioned plea.
“I shall be happy to assist you, if I can. How I may help?”

A faint pink colored Jane's cheeks and her
eyes glanced nervously at the door. She prayed that any report of
her arrival would not reach beyond this room. The risk of
encountering Mr. Bingley had made the whole endeavor nearly
unbearable; but since Miss Darcy was a guest at Netherfield
and she was Jane's only hope, there was no other way. She could
only plead her case and leave as quickly as possible.

“Are you acquainted with Mr. Collins,
Miss Darcy? I believe your aunt, Lady Catherine, granted
him the living at Hunsford last year.”

“I have not had much occasion to be in his
company; but, yes, I do know him. Has he done something wrong?”

“Not exactly. Not yet, at least,” Jane
answered carefully. “First, I must tell you that he is also my
cousin and will one day inherit Longbourn. He called on me this
morning, and in the course of his visit decided the circumstances
of my sister Elizabeth's absence was not to his liking. He has now
taken it upon himself to investigate the matter; an event which I
fear will invite gossip and speculation of the worst kind. If he is
allowed to proceed, my sister's reputation and that of my family
will be called into question and perhaps even ruined!”

“Oh, dear, that is a problem indeed; but I am
at a loss as to what I can do. I do not think it is in my power to
influence the man. My limited experience with him tells me he would
hardly listen to a girl of sixteen.”

Jane sighed miserably. “Nor to one of three
and twenty, I am afraid. I have begged him not to trouble himself,
but it is apparent he listens to no one except Lady Catherine
and…” Steeling herself for disappointment, she faltered and then
resolutely finished what she came to do. “…and perhaps your
brother.”

“My brother?” Georgiana's eyebrows rose.
“What has he to do with Mr. Collins?”

“Mr. Darcy is a man of considerable
standing, as well as nephew to Lady Catherine. I was hoping I
could persuade you to speak to him on my behalf; that he might
speak to Mr. Collins. Perhaps Mr. Darcy would succeed
where I have not.”

“Of course!” Georgiana cried with sudden
understanding. “My brother is just the person to assist you! Wait
here one moment and I shall fetch him.”

“No!” The panicked cry was out before Jane
could stop it. “Forgive me, Miss Darcy. I only meant
that…well, I had hoped you would speak with your brother after I am
gone.”

“Miss Bennet, you would do much better
speaking directly to him. He is sure to have questions only you can
answer.” Georgiana reached out a comforting hand. “I know this is
very difficult for you, but please do not distress yourself. My
brother seems a bit severe to those who do not know him well, but
he is very kind and I am certain he will be happy to do what he can
for you.”

Before any further argument could be made,
Georgiana hurried away giving every assurance that she would return
with her brother directly.

Jane began fretting at once. She had not
anticipated having to face Mr. Darcy in person! Exposing her
family's troubles and seeking Miss Darcy's help had taken
every bit of courage she could muster. How could she now explain
her difficulties to an unrelated gentleman, especially one as
imposing and severe as Mr. Darcy? The only thing keeping Jane
from abandoning her plan and fleeing at once was the certain
knowledge that Mr. Darcy was the one person who could have any
effect on Mr. Collins; the only one who could save Lizzy and
her whole family from certain ruin.

At the sound of Georgiana's return, Jane rose
with a trembling determination. She would do whatever it took to
safeguard her family's reputation. Her resolve, however, was
completely swept away at the sight of Mr. Bingley entering the
room close on Mr. Darcy's heels. All color drained from her
face, bringing her as close to fainting as she had ever been in her
life. She sank back into her chair, quite unable to stand.

“Miss Bennet!” Darcy started in alarm,
“I had not thought things as bad as this. What exactly has
Mr. Collins done?”

“Mr. Collins? Oh, yes…He…I am not sure
I…” her words stumbled to an awkward halt as a deep shade of pink
quickly replaced the whiteness in her cheeks. She stared mutely at
Mr. Darcy, struggling not to look in Mr. Bingley's
direction. This was dreadful! There was no possible way to explain
her troubles without exposing her family to further censure in
front of Mr. Bingley. After their conversation in the garden
she had hoped to at least retain his good opinion, but now he would
surely congratulate himself on his narrow escape from such a family
as hers.

Mr. Darcy looked searchingly into Jane's
face and she felt as if he could read her mind. He did glance at
Bingley, and for a moment she thought he would address him; but
after a short hesitation, he turned back to her with a
compassionate smile. “Can I get you something, Miss Bennet –
some tea, or a glass of wine, perhaps?”

“No, I will be fine, thank you. I just…I had
not thought it would be so difficult, and I am uncertain of where
to begin.” She felt the weight of Mr. Bingley's eyes on her
and was powerless to keep her blush from deepening.

“Perhaps you can you start with
Mr. Collins,” suggested Darcy. “Georgiana has told me he is
being troublesome. What exactly has he done to cause you so much
distress?”

“As I told Miss Darcy, he is intent upon
pursuing a matter regarding one of my sisters. If he is allowed to
do so, the undertaking could very well damage our family's
reputation and respectability. I have implored him not to; however,
he esteems it his duty, and will not oblige me. If you are at all
acquainted with my cousin's eccentric nature, Mr. Darcy, you
will understand the distress I feel at this moment.”

“Yes, unfortunately I do know him,” Darcy
muttered distastefully. “May I ask what it is that has excited his
interest?”

Casting a furtive glance in
Mr. Bingley's direction, Jane took a deep breath and began,
forcing the words out quickly before her courage could fail
her.

“It is all a terrible misunderstanding,
really. A little more than a month ago, my sister Elizabeth was
asked to be traveling companion to a distant relative, a woman by
the name of Mrs. Augusta Whitestone, who we supposed to be a
relation of Mr. Collins as well. We have not heard from Lizzy
since she left Longbourn and I wanted to write telling her of our
father’s condition. Thinking it a simple thing, I sought
Mr. Collins' assistance. He informed me he has no such
relation and my confusion at his reply was enough to stir his
imagination. Although I told him nothing of my own concerns – for
it is highly unusual that Lizzy has not written a word to us since
her leaving – Mr. Collins begins to suspect her situation may
not be entirely respectable. He declares he will not rest until he
has discovered every detail.”

Hearing herself tell the tale, Jane could not
help the tears that welled in her eyes as she thought of her sister
and how desperate it all seemed. “He says he will consult
Lady Catherine de Bourgh on the matter, and then who knows
what will happen? Do you see how desperate I am,
Mr. Darcy?”

“Indeed I do, Miss Bennet; but I beg
you, do not be distressed. I will pay a visit to Mr. Collins
as soon as we are finished here.”

“Do you think he may be dissuaded?” she asked
hopefully, brushing the anxious tears from her cheeks.

“I can assure you, he will not speak of this
to anyone.”

The relief in Jane's face was evident. “Thank
you, Mr. Darcy! I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your
help.”

“I am honored to be of assistance,” he
assured her calmly, “and if you will permit me, I should also like
to assist in finding your sister and bringing her home.”