by Ola Wegner
Mrs. Collins raised her pained face at the taller man. “It is not she. Yesterday, just after we returned from Rosings, an express came with such dreadful news. Elizabeth's father decided to go to London to fetch his daughters home himself. There was a carriage accident just outside the town. He survived, only to pass away from his injuries the very next day,” Mrs. Collins paused and tears rolled down her cheeks. “Poor Lizzy. She loved him so much. She is devastated,” she said in a broken whisper.
For the next few moments, the prolonged silence remained in the parlour. Seeing that Darcy did not intend or, perhaps, rather was not able to say anything for the time being, Colonel offered his condolences on behalf of both of them and asked her to repeat them to Miss Bennet.
“When did it happen exactly?” Darcy’s harsh voice was heard unexpectedly.
Mrs. Collins seemed startled by the question, but she answered promptly. “The accident happened the day before yesterday. Mr. Bennet’s last wish was to be buried in Longbourn. Lizzy wishes to go to London by post early tomorrow morning. She should be able to arrive in London by the early afternoon.”
“There is no need for that!” Fitzwilliam cried vehemently. “She can go with us instead of travelling alone with strangers.”
Charlotte shook her head slowly. “It would be very convenient, but you must see that it would risk her reputation. You are bachelors, after all, and she is unrelated to you in any way. I thought about going with her, but it could be read wrongly by her family. After all, Longbourn is entailed to Mr. Collins. I think that maybe Lady Catherine would allow one of her manservants to go with her tomorrow.”
Colonel would have nothing of this and cried with great energy, “Damn the propriety! I cannot imagine anyone seeing anything improper if she travels with us. Time is crucial here, and by going with us today, she would be with her family much earlier. Darcy, support me on this!”
“My cousin is right. There is no point for Miss Bennet to travel by post,” Darcy said absently, as if thinking about something else. He turned to Mrs. Collins and spoke calmly. “Madam, could you please talk with your friend and inform her of our offer to take her to London? Perhaps she would reconsider her decision. We shall stop our carriage here in about an hour and a half.”
“Yes, of course, I shall speak with her, but I cannot promise anything.”
“We do understand that. I think that under these sad circumstances, we have taken your time long enough, Mrs. Collins.“ Darcy bowed and headed energetically towards the door, a surprised Colonel Fitzwilliam following him promptly.
The cousins were already outside when Fitzwilliam managed to catch up with the other man. “Darcy, why are you rushing so much?“ When his cousin did not answer, nor slow down his pace, he added. “This is a sad affair with Miss Bennet, is it not? Poor girl.”
They were outside the small gate when Darcy suddenly stopped and said loudly. “I believe I have forgotten my gloves. I shall go back there to fetch them. This is my favourite pair.”
The colonel's dark blue eyes looked searchingly into his cousin’s, and after a moment, he gave him a small reassuring smile, speaking quietly. “I shall see that the carriage will be ready on time.” Then he turned around and walked in the direction of the manor, leaving his cousin alone, facing the parsonage.
Chapter Three
Darcy knocked energetically at the parsonage door. He did not wait long before it opened with Mrs. Collins standing on the other side. Without a word, she let him into the small foyer.
“Forgive me, Mrs. Collins, for interrupting you again, but I believe I have forgotten my gloves in the parlour,” he spoke in a decided, emotionless tone.
“Have you, sir? I have not noticed. Let me check in the parlour,” Charlotte replied, visibly confused. She did not even manage to move in the direction of the parlour’s door before Darcy came close to her, taking her arm with a gentle firmness. Mrs. Collins raised her bewildered eyes as he leaned towards her, speaking in a hushed whisper.
”Let me see her,” he paused a little and added. “Please.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened, and she whispered back uneasily, “Mr. Darcy..., I truly cannot. She is so upset. She is not in any condition to receive visitors, not to mention your presence in her room would be far from proper.”
Darcy shook his head. “Mrs. Collins, please allow me see to her. I ensure you that my intentions are nothing but honourable. I want to help her.”
Charlotte searched his face, asking calmly. “Honourable? Do you mean honourable enough to marry her?”
Darcy nodded instantly, his expression earnest. Charlotte stared for a long moment into his dark eyes. Looking to the side, she whispered, “Second door on the left.” She felt her palm being squeezed, and she heard a quiet “Thank you.” When she lifted her head, he was already on the stairs. Watching his large frame on the narrow staircase, she whispered to herself, Do not ruin this, Elizabeth.
***
Darcy stopped before the simple, white painted door which had been pointed out to him. He wished his heart would stop racing so much. He needed to calm down and compose himself. Inhaling deeply, he raised his hand, knocking lightly.
There was a silence for what seemed an eternity, when a weak, unnaturally high pitched voice was heard saying, “Come in, Charlotte.”
Darcy entered, closing the door behind him soundlessly. Elizabeth was turned with her back to him. Bent over the bed, which was strewn with various items of feminine clothing, she was folding some lacy garment. Her travelling trunk was wide open. Darcy looked over the pale blue room, his eyes first resting on the unfortunate closet in which his aunt had advised how to arrange shelves. His eyes returned to Elizabeth. She was wearing a simple cotton, light mint green dress, the same she often wore during her walks. But her hair was not pinned tightly at the top of her head as always. It was hanging down her back, in a rich, tangled heavy curtain of curls. He was surprised to observe how long those tresses were. He knew from Georgiana that most of the ladies wore hair not longer than reaching the shoulders. She had explained to him that it was much easier for a maid to arrange it when it was shorter. What am I thinking about? He scolded himself. Closets and hair length in such a moment!
“I saw through the window Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy coming in,” Elizabeth said listlessly, focused on arranging what seemed to be her stockings in a neat pile. “Charlotte, pray tell them I will not go with them to London today. Please thank them for their kindness, but I simply cannot go with them unchaperoned. I shall go tomorrow by post.”
“Miss Bennet,” Darcy spoke gently. Elizabeth stiffened immediately, her whole body stilled, her hands stopped in motion over her clothes.
At last she spoke in a trembling voice, still turned with her back to him. “Mr. Darcy, what are you doing here?”
“Elizabeth…,”
She leaned even more over the bed and whispered brokenly, “I appreciate your concern, Mr. Darcy, but you do not have to feel that you owe me anything. You are not obliged to me in any way. You should not have come here….” Her last words were barely heard. She sniffed and raised her palm to her nose in a quick movement.
Darcy walked behind her and whispered softly. “Elizabeth, how could you think I would ever leave you alone at such a moment. I still remember how devastated I felt when my own parents...,” he paused, “…as if it were yesterday.”
Elizabeth cringed even more into herself and started weeping brokenly, choking so hard that her entire small body shook violently. Darcy put his hands on her delicate shoulders and, leaning over her, whispered. ”You are not alone with this. You have me by your side. We will go through this together. I shall help you. I want to help you. Please allow me to do so, Elizabeth..., please.”
He turned her gently to him. Her head was lowered, but he could see that her eyes were puffed, eyelashes wet and her lips swollen. She was biting her lower lip, tears running quickly down her pale cheeks. Darcy stood silently for a while, just looking at her
steadily and rubbing her shoulders with his thumbs, just the way he had done the day before in the grove. At last she raised her eyes up to him. His heart sank when he saw the amount of pain painted in those beautiful dark pools that had captured his very soul almost from the first moment he had known her. Suddenly she stepped into his arms with a force he did not expect, hiding her face in his chest. Darcy’s arms went instantly around her. She was crying uncontrollably, almost hysterically now, wetting his shirt and coat. He just held her tightly, rocking her gently and kissing the top of her head from time to time.
A quarter of hour later, on entering her friend’s room, Mrs. Collins saw Mr. Darcy sitting in the armchair beside the window. He held Elizabeth closely cuddled to his chest, her face hid into his neck. Her eyes were closed and she appeared asleep.
***
The elegant barouche carriage stopped in front of the parsonage. Mr. Collins emerged from the house, hurrying along the path, half bent in his usual subservient pose. Stopping before the vehicle, he held out his hand to help his noble patroness, Lady Catherine, to step down. When the lady was safely on the ground, he closed the carriage door and ran forward to open the small gate. The moment Lady Catherine was on the walk leading to the entrance, Mr. Collins rushed ahead of her, crying excitedly. “Mrs. Collins, my dear, come and see who has honoured us with a visit today!”
Stepping over the threshold he looked around the small foyer. “Mrs. Collins, where are you? We have the most honourable guest! Make haste! Make haste!”
“What are you crying so, my dear? Has something happened?” Charlotte’s calm voice came from the landing of the stairs.
“Her Ladyship decided to visit us today! She is right behind me!” Mr. Collins exclaimed, all thrilled and beaming.
“I have already come, Mr. Collins. Lower your voice. It is not proper for a man of your profession to use such a loud tone.”The moment she spoke those words, the parson closed his lips tightly and bent in half before her.
Lady Catherine turned to Charlotte, who curtseyed before her politely. “Good morning, Mrs. Collins. I have heard from your husband what has happened to Miss Bennet’s father. Poor girl. I always say we never know the moment when the Lord will call us to Him.”
“We thank you for your visit, Lady Catherine. Let us go to the parlour.” Charlotte invited, trying not to think how her ladyship would react should she discover her nephew was alone upstairs with Elizabeth.
Lady Catherine settled herself in a most comfortable armchair in the small room. She looked around, carefully examining every single detail, as if everything all belonged to her, and said. “I am glad, Mrs. Collins, that you have obviously listened to my advice and arranged the curtains in such a simple way. Elaborate draperies would not suit the parsonage.”
“I ensure you, your ladyship, that both I and my dear Charlotte always follow all your excellent…” Mr. Collins started but was immediately silenced when Lady Catherine raised her hand at him in dismissive gesture.
“I feel very sorry for poor Miss Bennet,” Lady Catherine started in a clear melancholic voice. “What a tragedy. Her situation is desperate now, is it not? With her father’s estate entailed to Mr. Collins… Well, I could never understand the sense of passing the estate to the male line. But it is too late now, Mr. Collins.” She turned to the parson, whose face immediately took the expression of eager anticipation. “It is my wish for you to go to Hertfordshire immediately and take care of your matters there. I still want you to be the parson here though. You will hire a steward to run the estate.” As she announced her will, she returned her gaze to the lady of the house. “And Miss Bennet, how is she?”
“Not well, I am afraid,” Charlotte answered evenly. “She is resting upstairs. She does not receive any visitors.”
Lady Catherine nodded her head sympathetically. “It is understandable in her situation. I remember only too well my own grief when my own dear father, the earl, left this world. I was not able to speak to anyone for weeks, I was so shaken.” Lady Catherine sighed quietly, waiting for Mr. Collins to nod in understanding, and continued. “As for Miss Bennet, I wish to do something for her. Mr. Collins tells me she wants to go to London by post on her own. That is highly improper, and I cannot allow it. I feel responsible for her. I shall allow her to travel in one of my own carriages. My daughter’s companion shall go with her so she will not be alone.”
“That is very generous of you, Lady Catherine,” Charlotte said assured.
“Oh, yes, my dear, most generous!” Mr. Collins exclaimed.
“I am afraid that Miss Bennet will not be able to accept your offer, Aunt. She is going today with Fitzwilliam and me.” Darcy’s steady voice was heard from the door.
Her Ladyship raised her eyes to her nephew in astonishment “Darcy! You know very well she cannot go with two unmarried men, unrelated to her in any way! What nonsense is that? And what are you doing here?”
“Miss Bennet is not unrelated to me anymore, Aunt. I proposed to her and she has accepted me. I cannot see anything improper in escorting my fiancée to her father’s funeral.”
Lady Catherine stared at him in apparent shock for a few moments, before she stood up abruptly and cried with great force. “What nonsense is that! I demand an answer! You cannot be engaged to her! You are engaged to my Anne!”
Darcy looked steadily at his aunt for a moment, then turned to Charlotte. “Mrs. Collins, I believe it would be for the best to leave us alone for a few minutes. Lady Catherine and I have some important family matters to discuss.”
“Yes, of course, Mr. Darcy,” Charlotte replied quickly.
She hurried out of the room, dragging her obviously disoriented Mr. Collins. along with her. Upon closing the door to the parlour, Charlotte spoke to her husband. “Come, my dear, we should give them some privacy.”
“But…,” the parson mumbled.
“Come, Mr. Collins,” Charlotte said decidedly, taking her husband firmly by the arm and leading him outside.
For the next several minutes, only the raised voices were heard coming from the parlour. After the first shock, Mr. Collins wished to go back inside, probably to be able to hear better what they were debating; but his wife held him firmly, close to herself as they sat on the small garden bench.
The sound of a carriage drew their attention. Even before it had stopped next to Lady Catherine’s phaeton, Colonel Fitzwilliam jumped out of it. He opened the small gate leading to the front garden, with the obvious intent of entering the parsonage without delay. However, upon noticing the Collinses sitting on the bench, he turned and approached them.
“Is my Aunt here?” he asked without preamble in an agitated voice.
Charlotte stood up and said worriedly, “Yes, she is. She came to offer her help so Lizzy could go tomorrow by her coach, with Miss de Bourgh’s companion.”
The parson lifted to his feet as well. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, allow me to express something which you surely know; your Aunt has been most cordial, such extraordinary kindness is rarely to be seen…”
“And Darcy?” Colonel asked, interrupting Collins, ignoring him completely.
“He was upstairs with Lizzy, in her room, when Lady Catherine arrived.”
“Dear Charlotte!” Mr. Collins exclaimed, clearly shocked. “Alone in one room? How could you allow this? It is no wonder Lady Catherine is so seriously displeased. Mr. Darcy does not need to feel obliged to marry my cousin just because of that. He is, after all, engaged to Miss de Bourgh.”
Colonel’s eyes went from the parson to his wife. “Darcy said he wants to marry Miss Bennet?”
Charlotte nodded, her eyes worried. “Yes, he came to the parlour when we were there with your aunt. He announced that Elizabeth was going to London today with the two of you as she was his fiancée.”
Colonel furrowed his sandy coloured eyebrows. “I take it my Aunt has been rather disturbed with this news?”
Charlotte pointed with her head to the parlour’s windows overlooking to the gard
en. “They have been alone there for some time already. They are talking.”
“Yes, I can hear that,” Colonel offered sarcastically, referring to the sound of Darcy’s raised baritone coming from the house. He walked decidedly towards the entrance, the Collinses trotting closely behind him.
On entering the small hall, Colonel heard his aunt’s voice, crying with great force. “You will not dare! I demand that you do your duty and marry Anne as was your mother’s wish.”
“I have nothing more to say on this matter.” Darcy’s much quieter voice was heard. However Colonel could detect from the tone of it that his cousin was furious.
Colonel was about to enter the parlour when the door opened and Darcy came out. His lips were pressed tightly together and his eyes narrowed into dark slits.
“Darcy, come back here! Where are you going? We are not finished!” Lady Catherine’s voice carried through the small house as she marched after him. Noticing her other nephew, she turned instantly to the colonel. “Fitzwilliam, good you are here! Get him to see reason, for he has lost all his sense because of that impertinent hussy.”
“What has happened?” Colonel asked, hoping to sound indifferent and composed.
“Can you imagine that Darcy insists on marrying that chit, Miss Bennet?” Lady Catherine cried indignantly. “He dares to tell me they are engaged. Tell him, tell him that... that... low class country nobody shall never be acknowledged in our family. Tell him.”
Not looking at his count, Colonel slowly stepped closer to Darcy, and pulling his right hand said calmly. “I congratulate you on your choice, Cousin. I hope you and your lady are going to be very happy, even under these sad circumstances of Mr. Bennet’s death.”
Darcy immediately shook his cousin's hand and spoke, his voice grateful. “Thank you, Cousin. I shall never forget this.” Fitzwilliam smiled and they hugged shortly.
Their aunt stood silently, red in the face, looking from one man to the other, as if she was about to succumb to an apoplexy.