And then her third born, her most difficult. Mrs. Bennet had often been at a loss as to what to do about her middle child. She had had the most difficult childhood, what with her health being such a struggle. A sickly child she’d been born, and a sickly child she remained until she reached her middle-teen years. Mrs. Bennet had often feared that she would end an old maid, but then fortune smiled on her dearest daughter! A clergyman, who would make her the mistress of Longbourn! A man who would enjoy listening to her quote Psalms and the words of famous vicars. Mr. Collins had been giving Mary a great deal of attention, and had even engaged her hand at the first dance of the Netherfield ball, to Mrs. Bennet’s satisfaction. She had believed him to be an odiously-rude man, especially after he had left her table in such a hurry because her Lizzie had managed to capture his patroness’ beloved nephew! Hmmph! One should think that he would be glad for the connection! However, he had redeemed himself quite well in his attentions towards Mary.
All that was needed now was time. She would have three daughters married by the new year, make no mistake.
***
After the horrors of the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth had never been so glad to be within the walls of her own home. The preceding week, where she and Mr. Darcy had quarreled and revealed each of themselves quite plainly to one another, had done little to cool their anger towards each other. Oh, it was not as palpable, but she could not forget, and neither could he. Their exchanges had been polite and curt, as had their letters--which contained their wedding plans. She was surprised her mama had not badgered her papa to interfere, but there was still time. Mr. Darcy’s lawyers were still in the process of drawing up the marriage articles, something that caused her mama no end of stress and anxiety over. In the end, though, Elizabeth knew she would not win. They would most likely be married within a month, and then she would never be able to see her family unless she came to them.
If Mr. Darcy would allow it. How often would he, she wondered, her mind drifting to more evil, fearful thoughts. He was a man of contradictions, each more loathsome than the other. She could hardly believe that only a few days before, she had been somewhat happily planning a future with him, that may have eventually led to love.
She snorted softly to herself, quite bitterly, she was afraid. She knew now that he loved no one but himself, his sister, and those he deemed to be of his social circle. Her family, her friends in Meryton, her true friends, did not rate at all with him. The arrogance of it, she thought furiously. As though his manners had been any better, no matter their judgements or castigations.
Elizabeth had once resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood, and now it seems that she would resign herself to a bitterly-cold marriage.
***
“You have heard my answer, Sir.” Mary answered as directly as she could, under the present circumstances.
Mr. Collins smiled gently, his tone soft and accommodating. “I know that it is the practice of the fairer sex to reject the first, nay, even the second proposal that they receive, to display their modesty and virtue. You have indeed stolen my heart, Miss Mary, and I have sung your Christian virtues to my patroness, Lady Catherine, from the very beginning of our courtship.”
Here he stepped forward, closing the gap between them, in an effort to force intimacy.
Mary stepped back. “You are mistaken, Sir. We have not been in a courtship at all. You were merely acting as my cousin, in escorting me into town. That is all.”
Still, he smiled. “I shall speak to your mother, Miss Mary, to give you a few moments to comport yourself for my second proposal.”
With those parting words, he left the room, and Mary followed. To no one’s surprise, except for Mr. Collins, as her mother and younger sisters had been listening at the door.
Before Mr. Collins could speak any more foolishness, Mary interjected. “Mama, please tell him. I have already refused his proposal.”
Mrs. Bennet looked anxiously between Mary and Mr. Collins.
“Are you quite sure, Mary?” she inquired, rather confused. Mr. Collins was a clergyman! He should have been Mary’s perfect match. Heaven help her child.
At Mrs. Bennet’s words, Mr. Collins abruptly marched down the hall, to where Mr. Bennet’s study was located. He would get to the bottom of this matter, with the true master of this household! The Bennet women followed.
A sharp knock later, and the five of them spilled into Mr. Bennet’s sanctuary.
“What may I do for you, Mr. Collins?” Mr. Bennet asked, his mouth twitching in amusement as he could well guess the reason for the storming into his study.
Mr. Collins drew himself stoutly, for as his heir, he had no wish to disgrace himself in front of the master of the house.
“I have made an offer of marriage to your daughter, Sir, and she has refused. Indeed,” he continued rather hotly, “I had informed her that I was familiar with the ways of modest young women, yet she has insisted that she will not marry me!”
Mr. Bennet leant back in amusement.
“Well, what am I to do about it, Mr. Collins? You have been refused. I will not force the matter.” He stated plainly, folding his arms to emphasise his point.
A silence reigned, and Mr. Bennet thought that Mr. Collins was about to excuse himself, when he drew himself up even further than before. He was coiled tight. Perhaps it was his disappointment within himself, or the disappointment his patroness would find in him. Mr. Bennet had no doubt that his cousin and heir had been ordered to find a wife as soon as possible, why else travel all this way and propose mere days into his visit?
“I shall accept her refusal, Sir, and I do not pretend to understand your insinuation that I would force a woman.” he started imperiously, “I shall take my leave of your family, but before I go, I shall give you words of advice, as a man of God, and I pray most heartily that you shall all heed my warnings.”
By this time, wondering what had happened, as the house was quiet, Elizabeth and Jane had wandered downstairs and joined them.
“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Collins greeted, “you are both just in time--especially you, cousin. Indeed, I would not be surprised if your betrothed has already made this point of fact. I accept Miss Mary’s refusal of marriage,” he stated again, this time ignoring Lydia and Kitty’s hushed squeaks of hilarity, “although I do not believe that another offer shall ever be made for her. Despite her older sister’s most fortunate engagement to the nephew of my esteemed patroness, I have little doubt that your kind shall ever be accepted within gentle society.” Here he cast a hard eye on the still giggling Lydia and Kitty, who had not been paying enough attention to even grasp the meaning and insult of his words. “Your youngest daughters,” he now spoke directly to Mr. Bennet, who had gone strangely still, “disgrace themselves within society wherever they go. God help them if they should move in a society that does not coddle them as infants!” His gaze turned sorrowful, as he considered Elizabeth’s figure. “As I have stated before, Madam, I have every confidence that Mr. Darcy has counselled you against the continued association with such wild, out of control siblings. Indeed, they would only shame the Darcy name, as well as the de Bourgh name. That is why--”
Mr. Bennet stood. “We have heard you, Sir. I would ask that you leave now. My daughter has refused you.”
Sputtering, Mr. Collins did just that.
***
When Mr. Collins had left, for Mr. Bennet had escorted him to the door, the pall cast over the household had not abated.
Lydia and Kitty, for all their ignorance, understood when they were being insulted, even when they could find no fault in their manner.
Mary was still in shock, as she had received a proposal, and then had refused it.
Twice!
Jane had not the slightest idea as to how Mr. Collins, a man who served God and the people, no matter their station, had ended up with such a cold, unfeeling heart.
Mrs. Bennet was incensed that he had dared insult her daughters, although she wishe
d she had the wit of Mr. Bennet and was able to give him a set down worthy of the Bennet name. To think that such an odious man could have been married to her daughter, but will be the next master of Longbourn! She thanked God that Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley had come to Netherfield.
Mr. Bennet was not ignorant of the comments made about his daughters behind his back. He had laughed at many of them, as well as been some of their originators. However he was slowly beginning to understand that life had quickly caught up to his wit, and it was not pleasant. His second born had been forcibly engaged due to rumours, that were no doubt spread with such vigour due to the conduct of her younger sisters. His eldest may well be onto her own engagement, if the man’s sisters could not tear him away, due to the conduct of her younger sisters. Due to his own conduct, his own indolent parenting. If one could refer to it as parenting.
Elizabeth, for her part, had felt frozen in fear, for in every word, she saw Mr. Darcy’s face. What would his relatives think of her? Of her family? Early on, she had reassured herself that Mr. Darcy would explain to them that it was all a misunderstanding, a flight of fancy within a small town, that had been quickly misconstrued. She believed that Mr. Darcy had understood this. Yet again, she could not be certain.
Was his anger and disgust at her family the result of feeling trapped by her? Miss Bingley had often made allusions to her family that she believed Elizabeth too stupid, too backwards to understand. Did Mr. Darcy feel the same way? Miss Bingley had often parroted his beliefs as her own. He had behaved the gentleman with her, but he always had--even when his behaviour had been boorish and arrogant. She could never say he was not a gentleman, for he was.
Each day that passed, drew closer and closer to the end of her time as Elizabeth Bennet--a Bennet sister, a Bennet daughter. She would miss it.
Mr. Bennet returned, his face grave. He addressed Mary first.
“I do not believe I have ever said this to you, my dear, but I will say it now. I am proud of you, and pleased. Such a man could only be amusing for a short time, but alas you have discovered his true character before you had been completely shackled to him. I commend you. Not many do.” he stated slightly wistful, as he considered his own marriage.
Mary offered him a small smile in return, unused to being given her papa’s undivided attention.
Mr. Bennet studied his second born; she seemed slightly ill. “I take it Lizzie,” he started delicately, “that Mr. Collins was onto something when he spoke of your betrothed’s disgust at our behaviour?”
His Lizzie said nothing. Never before had he seen her at a loss for words, not his Lizzie. The apple of his eye had learnt very well at his knee. However, she did not need to speak to provide an answer to his question.
“Well, I shall call on Mr. Darcy tomorrow at Netherfield,” he decided rather quickly, “for this is a matter that we need to put to bed before your marriage.” Mr. Bennet felt as though a breath had been knocked out of him. Of all his daughters, he had assumed Lydia and Kitty would end up in a situation like this, not his Lizzie. To see her so unhappy! He had, of course, noticed her change in mood the afternoon Mr. Darcy had come to visit, but had kept himself back because he did not wish to pry into a quarrel that may last only an afternoon or a few days at most. Yet now he could admit to himself that he had not wished to go into the matter, for he had all but considered his work with Lizzie, and Jane, as well, finished.
He had forgotten that he would always be their father, he would always be concerned for them. And that they would always need his care and support, even if they lived far away from him.
Mr. Bennet turned to his younger daughters, who, mercifully, had stopped giggling, although he was sure that was due to their need to breath regularly, and not out of any display of proper manners.
“I know neither of you listened very closely to Mr. Collins, as you were rather more focused at laughing at your sister for refusing him, but we shall be discussing your conduct tomorrow morning, shall we not, Mrs. Bennet?”
Mrs. Bennet, for her part, seemed a bit confused, as he had just agreed that Mr. Collins was no gentleman at all. “Indeed, Mr. Bennet, however, Mr. Collins--”
“We shall not give Mr. Collins another thought,” Mr. Bennet admonished gently, “but we shall think of our daughters. You do wish for them to marry as well as Elizabeth and Jane, do you not?” At his examples, Mrs. Bennet nodded eagerly, as any woman would. “Well, we shall have to refine their manners and guide them into partaking into much more ladylike activities, such as Jane’s work in the greenhouse or focusing on their embroidery and sewing in their gown designs.” She surprised them all with the knowledge that his two youngest daughters spent the time they were not flirting with the militia encampment on tearing apart the old gowns that had been passed down from Jane and Lizzie. “An introduction to some serious reading materials, I am sure we shall be able to get a list from Mary.”
Mrs. Bennet smiled broadly. “Of course, Mr. Bennet, we shall most certainly discuss this later tonight!” With that, she walked to him, bestowing a gentle kiss on his lips, one that he enjoyed.
“May we be excused, Papa?” Lydia pouted, and then flounced from the room as her papa waved her off.
“Lizzie.”
“Yes, Papa?” He had caught her before she could slip away with her sisters. “We shall need to have a discussion, after dinner.”
“Yes, Papa.”
Chapter Ten
After dinner, Elizabeth hurried into her papa’s study, eager to get the Inquisition over. She welcomed the change of her heart her papa had, as well as his increased interest in the welfare of her sisters. As much as she loved him with all her heart, as she did her mama, she could not say that they were the best of parents. Loving, but entirely inattentive. The whole of Meryton knew, and tolerated it, as she had found out. The real test had come when Mr. Bingley, his sisters, and Mr. Darcy had arrived. And they had failed.
When she entered the study, her papa was already waiting for her, and did not hesitate to get into the meat of the discussion.
“Mary has been rather tight-lipped, she claims she did not hear much of what was said, and while I could ask you, I do not believe we need a blow by blow of what was said, do we, Lizzie?” At her acquiesce, he let out a hearty chuckle, and continued wryly, “After all, Mr. Collins has done that for us.”
Elizabeth forced a smile, as she often had these past few weeks.
“What I want, Lizzie, is to ask you how you feel. We have all known Mr. Darcy to be a proud man, and I had had some hope, due to his coming so quickly and offering marriage. It seems I was mistaken.” His last words, filled with so much sadness and regret allowed Elizabeth to crumble even more quickly than she thought she would. She was soon sobbing quietly into her hands, and it was only a few moments later that she had registered her papa’s presence, as he held a handkerchief in one hand, and had wrapped his arm around her with the other. His presence was warm and soothing.
She wiped her eyes and blew her nose, tucking the handkerchief into her pocket.
“Now tell me what is wrong, Lizzie Girl.” he cajoled softly, his thumb softly coming to rest on her cheek.
Elizabeth tried to speak, but felt hoarse. She wanted to cough, as she felt something was stuck in her throat. Breathing deeply, she steadied herself.
“I tried so hard, Papa, to like Mr. Darcy.” she finally admitted in a whisper. “But he--”, here she paused, wishing that she could go to bed, and awaken to a new day, one where she was not engaged to such a man, “on our walk, he told me that I would not be allowed to receive any of you at his estate after we were married.” she confessed. “He believes that Mama will only seek to take advantage of his connections, and that my sisters will shame us. He wanted to be married within the next month, so that we might leave Meryton and never return. He thought I would agree.” she stated, her voice finally hardening, no longer soft and cautious.
“Papa, I don’t know what to do.” she confessed. “We argued over this, a
nd I informed him that I would not tolerate such treatment. But we both know that I will have to. What if we were wrong about Mr. Darcy?” she asked, laying her fears out for her father.
“Are you referring to Mr. Wickham’s tale of woe?” Mr. Bennet queried.
Elizabeth shook her head. “I did not believe Mr. Wickham’s tale, as it seemed insensitive and rude to seek me out to attempt to scare me with a story.” I discussed it with Mr. Darcy, it was the only subject upon which we could agree.” At her papa’s inquiring look, she replied, “It is not my story to tell papa, you shall have to ask Mr. Darcy. It is a matter of some delicacy, and he did not wish for me to tell anyone else. But we must dissociate Lydia and Kitty from Mr. Wickham, if not the officers entirely.” She would have gone on, but her papa stopped her.
Consequence of Jealousy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 11