by Linda Phelps
Charlotte, who did not often rely on the reports of the village for information, made an early visit to Longbourn, but with Elizabeth also vacant from the house, she was unable to come to any conclusions about Jane’s state of health. Mrs. Bennet was so elated by the fact that her eldest daughters were guests in Netherfield that she could spare no words for any other concern. Charlotte was invited to stay for dinner, but since she knew not to expect any sensible conversation or information, the invitation was declined.
Then it was known that Mrs. Bennet and her two younger daughters had visited Netherfield, but Jane Bennet was not yet, in her mother’s judgment, in a state of health to be removed from the attentions of the Bingleys As she explained to Lady Lucas later, “I found her a great deal too ill to be moved. She suffers a great deal, but she has such a sweet temper that she never complains.”.
“That is so,” said Lady Lucas. “Indeed, we all admire her fortitude in such circumstances.”
“I am determined that she must stay until she has been there a week. Anything less would be very dangerous.”
Lady Lucas nodded. “And what a fine opportunity for her to become more intimate with the family,” said she.
As it happened, Charlotte and her family saw Jane and Elizabeth at church that Sunday. Although pale, Jane seemed not to have undergone anything other than the bad cold which had first been reported. She and Elizabeth returned to Longbourn that very day. That they had ridden to the church in Bingley’s carriage and that Bingley had himself helped Jane step down was duly noted and whispered by the congregation before more spiritual matters took the focus.
Two days after Jane’s removal from Netherfield, Charlotte, Lady Lucas, and Maria walked to Meryton to search for the makings of winter_hats. Immediately upon entering the town they saw Mrs. Phillips gesturing to them from an open window. “Come,” the lady called
Maria, who had fancied they might encounter some officers, pretended not to hear.
“We must greet Mrs. Phillips,” said Charlotte.
“She is making a spectacle of us by hooting through the window like that”, said Maria.
“And you may be sure she will not stop until we have accepted her invitation,” said Lady Lucas
Mrs. Phillips met them at her door. “You have heard, have you not, that the Bennets have a guest?”
“No indeed,” said Lady Lucas. “We have seen none of them since church on Sunday”
“Who is the guest?” asked Maria, who felt always on an equal footing with the matrons when in the presence of Mrs. Phillips. “Is it someone we know?”
“No it is not. It is a Mr. Collins, cousin to my sister’s husband. It is he who will inherit Longbourn when Mr. Bennet dies. The sisters and he came to town yesterday, and I met him. He is a clergyman, and if you ask my thoughts, he means to marry one of my nieces.”
Lady Lucas and Charlotte immediately saw the great benefit such a match would provide the Bennet sisters. Through marriage, the entailed property would remain their home even after the death of their father. “Which one do you think he fancies?” Charlotte asked. “Jane, since she is the eldest?”
“Of course. My sister has hopes that Jane will make a match with Mr. Bingley, but I think this is a surer thing, if, of course, he makes her an offer.”
“So what can you tell us of this man,” Charlotte asked. “Do you think he will be a good match for Jane—or any of the others?”
“Oh, yes, I do. He speaks with so much elegance that one who didn’t know him would be surprised that he was a mere clergyman. And his patron is a Lady Catherine de Bourgh—have you heard of her? She owns a large property called Roseland—no—well something like it, and Mr. Collins has the parish house near her house, which is large and beautifully furnished. Roselands, I mean, although possibly he meant his own rectory. He said something about the windows, although I do not recollect, and was kind enough to say my drawing room reminded him of the smaller breakfast room in the great house.”
“That does not seem quite kind to me,” said Lady Lucas.
“He made me understand what a fine room the smaller breakfast room is. Indeed, I am quite pleased with the comparison.”
“And have you spoken of other matters with him?” asked Charlotte.
“I invited him and my nieces to a small party after dinner last night. He was very amiable. He joined in the whist game—although he is quite a poor player as yet, and as he took his losses as if they were nothing, I think he has a very adequate income.
Maria, who had wandered to the window which faced the street, called, “Mrs. Phillips, are there any newly arrived soldiers? I see some I do not recognize.”
“Well, child, you are not in town so much as my nieces that you can be as acquainted with all of the officers, as they are. The most recent addition is a Mr. Wickham, a very handsome and amiable man. Indeed, the women seem to dote on him. And no wonder. He looks very fine in his red coat.”
“Is he near now,” asked Maria. Obligingly, Mrs. Phillips joined her at the window.
“I do not see him, but I assure you he is all that I have said. Mr. Wickham was also a guest here last might.” She turned back to her callers. “I tell you this in confidence, but I believe he may have an interest in my niece Elizabeth. He was quite attentive to her.”
“I wish I could see him,” said Maria. “He sounds much more interesting than this Mr. Collins.”
“In time you shall,” said Mrs. Phillips. “I will make a party and be sure to invite you and your sister.”
When Lady Lucas and her daughters arrived home, they were told that Mr. Bingley and his sisters had called to issue an invitation to the promised ball at Netherfield, fixed for the next Tuesday. Despite regrets that they had not known of this when in Meryton, where they might have shopped for something other than warm bonnets, they were gratified by the kindness of the Bingleys in honouring them by a personal call.
Maria at once walked to Longbourn to discuss the upcoming delights with the younger Bennet girls, who, she knew, would have nothing else on their minds until they were actually dancing. She returned with descriptions of the intended finery for the occasion and a description of Mr. Collins.
“He is a very grand talking man,” said Maria.. “He used large words and long sentences so that I did not always understand him. Lydia and Kitty exchanged such glances with each other and me while he spoke that it was all I could do to keep from laughing.”
“That was very wrong of you,” said Lady Lucas. “He should be respected for his profession and his friends at Roseland. I hope you did not disgrace us.”
“I did not, but you too would have been tempted to laugh had you seen Lydia”
“Mama,” said Charlotte, “we must call ourselves to meet Mr. Collins. At the least we can demonstrate to him that there are some well-bred people in the neighbourhood.”
“You are right, daughter. We will go tomorrow, and Maria will remain at home.”
But all Maria’s protests were soon drowned out by the coming of a rain that continued until the very night of the ball. Not until then did Charlotte have the pleasure of meeting this cousin of Mr. Bennet.
Chapter Eight
THE NETHERFIELD DRAWING ROOM had been equipped with musicians at one end and many small chairs around the periphery. Charlotte entered, feeling herself grow tense as she moved forward in the line of guests to greet the Bingleys. He and his sisters each shook her hand with great congeniality and then moved her forward and into the large room. Charlotte retained the smile she had assumed for this ceremony and looked for a place to be her home during the ball.
She chose her seat carefully. She needed to be near enough to the dance area to be available for any partner who wished to find her, but not so near that it would be obvious that no one had asked her to dance. She must be near enough to follow the activities of Mr. Bingley, but not so near that one could tell that she observed him.
Charlotte was quickly joined by Elizabeth Bennet. “I have not
seen you to talk in almost two weeks!” she said. “First we were imprisoned here at Netherfield, and once home, we were imprisoned by the rain. What have you been doing?”
Charlotte told of her few occupations, aware that Elizabeth waited with little patience for her to finish so that she could begin a lively narration of her own activities. “Surely” said she, “your imprisonment here was not so unpleasant as that. Did you not find Mr. Bingley and his sisters to be amiable hosts?”
“Oh, amiable enough, I suppose, and all were very kind to Jane. But of course Louisa Hurst’s husband is not good company, and then there was Mr. Darcy to avoid as best I could.”
“I am sorry that being in close company with Mr. Darcy did not make him more tolerable to you,” said Charlotte.
“If anything, I have even less patience with him than I had earlier. Have you met Mr. Wickham?”
“I’ve not had that pleasure. Is he one of the officers?”
“Yes, newly arrived,” said Elizabeth, “and he has known Darcy from childhood. It seems that Mr. Darcy cheated him out of an inheritance left him by Darcy’s father.”
“That is reprehensible,” Charlotte said carefully.’
“Surely it is worse than that”
“I may favour your view more strongly once I have seen Mr. Wickham. I expect he is very handsome,” said Charlotte.
“He is most surely the handsomest of all the officers in Meryton.”
“As handsome as all that!” Charlotte said.
“You may tease me, Charlotte,” said Elizabeth, “but I think you will agree with me.”
“Then show me which one he is,” said Charlotte. “You know the officers much better than I do.”
“Sadly, he is not here tonight. He had pressing business in town.”
At that moment the musicians made their preparations to play. To Charlotte’s amazement, Elizabeth moved her chair until she was absolutely behind her.
“What are you doing?”
“You will have heard that my father’s cousin is with us. He has asked me for the first two dances, but perhaps if he cannot find me, he will ask someone else. He would provide us with much amusement if we did not have to dance with him, for surely he will ask you too, once there is a necessity for me to introduce you to him. See, there he is, the tall man who is talking to Sir William.”
Charlotte eyed Mr. Collins with interest. Once Mr. Bennet died, this man would be her neighbour, the master of Longbourn. His appearance did not recommend him to her, but she was less particular in that matter than Elizabeth was. “He seems a well-mannered, gentlemanly person,” she said.
“Oh, Charlotte. Wait until you hear him speak!”
He had apparently asked where Elizabeth might be found, for Sir William directly walked him over to where the two friends sat. “Here is your partner, Mr. Collins, sitting with my daughter Charlotte, who, I am sure, would like to meet you. Charlotte, this is Mr. Collins, cousin to Mr. Bennet.”
Mr. Collins bowed and took Charlotte’s hand. “May I express my gratitude to your father for allowing me to present myself to you, and to you yourself, for accepting my addresses. I continue to rejoice in the hospitality of the people I have met here. It is a cordiality not surpassed even by that rendered to me by my patron, Lady Catherine de Bough, of whom you have surely heard.”
“Indeed, Sir,” said Charlotte. “I have never heard the name until this minute, but I am sure you do honour to her favour. In any case, I am very pleased to meet you.”
“Ah, Miss Lucas, I would happily inform you of the many splendours of Lady Catherine and her house, Rosings, which is separated only by a park from my own home. But now, I see my cousin Miss Elizabeth Bennet, is anxious to dance, and as I have claimed her hand for these first two dances, I must bid you farewell until a later time. Perhaps we can ourselves have a dance.”
“I should be honoured, sir,” Charlotte said, hiding a smile as the reluctant Elizabeth was summoned forth from her secluded place.
Charlotte was now occasionally able to take her attention away from the spectacle of Jane and Mr. Bingley, for poor Elizabeth in partnership with Mr. Collins was not having a happy time. Mr. Collins did not know the proper steps, and, what was worse, he did not know he didn’t know them. He must use much of his time apologizing to those into whom he crashed and those who must interrupt their partnerships to avoid his awkward movements. Much as Charlotte liked to dance, she did not look forward to taking the floor with Mr. Collins.
At length he returned Elizabeth to her seat next to Charlotte and lumbered off to claim a turn with Jane Bennet. Elizabeth was directly approached by one of the officers and another offered Charlotte a dance. Then they were returned to their seats, whereupon they resumed their discussions of the dancers and other notables in attendance.
It was Charlotte who first noticed the approach of Mr. Darcy. She thrust her elbow into Elizabeth’s ribs to awaken her to his presence.
“Miss Elizabeth,” said he, “I would be honoured if you would share the next dance with me.”
Without thinking, Elizabeth replied as she always replied to such requests. “I would be delighted, Sir.” Mr. Darcy, nodding to Charlotte, walked away until the music would start again.
“Oh, what have I done?” moaned Elizabeth.
“Come. I daresay you will find him very agreeable.”
“Heaven forbid!—That would be the greatest misfortune of all!—To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate!”
“Don’t be a simpleton” said Charlotte. “.A man of such consequence should not be treated rudely. And who is to say. You might begin to like him in any case.”
The dancing recommenced, and Darcy approached to claim Elizabeth’s hand. Since her dislike of this man was generally known to the assembled guests, the pair was briefly the focus of all eyes. Had Elizabeth Bennet not said she would never dance with this man?
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth made an elegant couple, for both were handsome, and both danced with skill and grace. Jane Bennet moved easily up the room, somehow unhindered by the unseemly actions of her partner, Mr. Collins. Maria and the younger Bennet girls had paired up with various officers. Charlotte had nothing to do but watch Mr. Bingley dance with Mary King and prepare herself for her own two dances with Mr. Collins.
Chapter Nine
“YOU WILL BE WONDERING, Miss Lucas, how I, a clergyman and a man beholden to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, have chosen to engage in the dance. Lady Catherine, as I am sure you recognize, is the owner of Rosings, a fine estate to which my humble cottage, part of my sinecure, is all but attached.”
“Indeed, Sir, I have heard of your good fortune, although I am sure it is no more than you deserve.”
“You are very kind, Miss Charlotte. I hope I do not appear too familiar when I use your Christian name, but since we will likely someday be neighbours, I flatter myself I am not taking too great a liberty.”
“No, Sir, I am not offended in the least.” Charlotte could say no more, for Mr. Collins was about to perform a movement so shockingly outlandish that she grasped his sleeve to direct him correctly.
“Of course, you will understand that should Lady Catherine have ever hinted that she considered dancing to be improper for one of my profession, I would certainly have heeded her. On the contrary, she has often suggested I participate more in the entertainments of the parish, although at present I am largely occupied with preparing my sermons and calculating the tithes. This journey to Longbourn, for which she gave me much gracious encouragement, is practically my only respite from the iron discipline by which I habitually perform my duties.”
“That is commendable, Mr. Collins. I am sure that Lady Catherine rejoices in your having this opportunity to have relief from your responsibilities.” Once again, she took his sleeve, grateful that they had finished their journey down the set, and must now retreat to await their next chance. Charlotte, now understanding completely of what Elizabeth had warned her, heartily hoped that the musicians would
take a recess before she and her partner need again make such a display. The awareness that Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet had been among the dancers who watched her and her partner as they stumbled about the floor had only made the experience more unpleasant for her.
.“I am aware that some members of my profession consider dancing a frivolous or even wicked activity, but I accept the view of Lady Catherine, that a clergyman such as myself may do what he can to increase his familiarity with the more favoured of his parishioners”
“So you often enjoy this type of amusement?
“As yet, no balls have been held in our neighbourhood, and although Rosings has a ballroom which is, I am told far larger and better furnished than this one, the delicate health of Lady Catherine’s daughter precludes her presenting such an entertainment in her honour, as she would otherwise be very happy to do.”
“That is exceedingly unfortunate, Mr. Collins,” said Charlotte. “But we must be grateful that you are enjoying this evening here at Netherfield with us.”
“There is, of course, no one of the rank of Lady Catherine in attendance, but several of the people here have a certain air of distinction.”
Charlotte felt challenged by this criticism of her family and friends. She did not remind Mr. Collins that Sir William Lucas had been knighted, but she did take the opportunity to turn his attention to a particular partnership, now proceeding up the floor. “But, Sir, do you not see that very handsome man dancing with our hostess, Miss Bingley? That is Mr. Darcy, who, I understand, has a fine estate in Derbyshire.”
Mr. Collins stopped his mismanagement of the dance steps. “Mr. Darcy of Derbyshire? But that is the name of the man who is Lady Catherine’s nephew. I had overheard the gentleman himself mentioning Lady Catherine, but I did not credit the relationship at that time. What an amazing coincidence! I must speak to him.”
Charlotte, aghast at this proposed breach of etiquette, said merely, “I suggest, Sir, that you discuss your plan of speaking to Mr. Darcy with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She is a particular friend of his and can perhaps introduce you or advise you in the matter.” Lizzy would correct him if anyone could.