by C. J. Hill
When Charlotte mentioned the planned morning’s visit, Elizabeth regretfully declined the offer, intimating that she had several letters to write, and so they set off on their own. William carried his jar of honey proudly before him to allow any persons interested enough to be glancing out of their windows to see clearly the product of his labours as they passed.
Upon arrival at the Betts’ cottage, they were engulfed by the children who wished to show Charlotte what had been done, and how, and where. Their enthusiasm was infectious and Charlotte allowed herself to be carried away into the newly built area where the children now slept and saw that, although still cramped by the Parsonage or Lucas Lodge standards, they now had enough beds and warm blankets for all of them. The children and, indeed the Betts themselves, could not say enough about their gratitude to Mrs. Collins and Lady Catherine who had personally chosen the bedsteads and bedding herself, so they had been told.
The visitors were pressed to stay for tea and presented their gift which was gratefully received and admired by the family; they then stayed a while longer as Mr. Collins explained about his gardening and home sufficiency measures in which he was now engaged. The Betts listened politely, making various interjections and asking interested questions when he seemed to have reached the apex of his knowledge; nothing he imparted was new to them but they were good people and wanted to repay his kindness in whatever manner they could. Listening to ideas about planting and compost, with which they had been familiar all their lives, seemed to be the least they could do, and Mr. Collins certainly enjoyed the attention paid to his lecture.
After about an hour, Charlotte decided they had imposed themselves long enough, knowing what busy lives the Betts lived and that she and William were now hindering their work. She gently broke in upon his strong opinions of the benefits of a new strain of bean.
“Mr. Collins! Did not you mention as we were leaving that you must allow time to visit Lady Catherine this morning, knowing how desolated she will be without her nephews to keep her company?”
“Of course, Mrs. Collins! How time flies when we are enjoying such good company. My felicitations to your entire family, Mr. Betts. How delighted Mrs. Collins and I are to see your domestic arrangements so very much improved through the auspices of our dear Lady Catherine. She has outdone herself in this endeavour, and I flatter myself, that it was not only through Lady Catherine’s condescension that it came about. No, pray, do not discomfort yourselves with thanks. No more are necessary, I assure you! I shall make all haste to Rosings Park, where I am always made most cordially welcome, and inform her ladyship of the utter and complete success of her beneficence. Although I should not expect it, if I were you, but her ladyship may condescend to visit to see for herself the outcome of her most generous gift, she is of a most thoughtful nature and frequently has visited Mrs. Collins and myself at our home to ensure that her gifts to us have been correctly placed and appreciated. So it may be that she very well could pay you a visit in the near future but, be not alarmed, if she does condescend to visit, no lavish refreshments will be expected of you.”
This leave-taking was promising to be even more prolonged except that, during it, Charlotte had quietly said her goodbyes to the Betts, assuring each of them separately that if Lady Catherine did call it would be fleeting, and probably conducted from her carriage door, had picked up her husband’s coat and hat and was even now waiting for him outside the cottage door without any expression upon her face other than that of patience and tranquillity. Elizabeth, she thought, would be astonished!
Mr. Collins realising this, quickly bowed before stepping outside with his wife.
“Thank you, my dear, for collecting my coat! Mr. and Mrs. Betts, be assured that we shall return and visit with you again in the very near future! My sincere congratulations upon a successful outcome for both sides in this matter; I know that I speak for Lady Catherine herself when I say that she is most delighted to have retained the services of a respectable and loyal family and that you, I am certain, are relieved to have such a prudential outcome for your family.”
Mr. Collins was as good as his word and immediately went to console Lady Catherine for her loss; he knew how much she must be suffering from a lack of company. He returned quite quickly with an invitation to dine that very night as, just as he had suspected, her ladyship was very much out of sorts.
During the evening though, Charlotte noticed, as did Lady Catherine, that Elizabeth’s thoughts certainly did not remain within the walls of the Rosings parlour and frequently had to be recalled into the conversation. Charlotte, however, was content to keep her observations of her friend to herself whereas Lady Catherine was not one to accept a lack of attention from anybody, especially not one who had been invited specifically for the purpose of relieving her dullness.
“You do seem to be out of spirits this evening, Miss Bennet, and of course, why would you not be? You also are to leave your friends and Kent to return home. You must write to your mother and beg that you may stay a little longer. Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your company, I am sure.”
Charlotte watched as Elizabeth revived herself with enough energy to convince Lady Catherine that staying any longer would not be possible. This took several determined attempts on Elizabeth’s part as Lady Catherine did not like to have her ideas disputed. However, once she had finally accepted Elizabeth’s protestations as fact, Lady Catherine then pursued a line of questioning which enquired intimately into her route home, who was collecting her, and then propounded what should be done to ensure their comfort and safety.
To all this, Charlotte noticed, Elizabeth paid only scant attention, never rising to contradict as she had been wont to do in past interrogations, merely supplying the answers required at the correct time.
This in itself worried Charlotte; she had never known her friend to ignore an argument. Something was not quite right with Elizabeth but as she had not confided in Charlotte, she could only surmise that it had to do with one or other of the gentlemen who had left that morning. Charlotte had hoped for but not noticed any serious attachment to either but, as she reflected upon the last weeks, she knew that Elizabeth had been the focus of attention for both gentlemen: Colonel Fitzwilliam overtly, but also Mr. Darcy with his frequent visits to the Parsonage and accidental meetings upon the bridle paths when he had felt obliged to escort Lizzy safely home. No; Charlotte was convinced that something had transpired and felt somewhat hurt that Elizabeth had not made Charlotte her confidante. Now more than ever in the entirety of the visit, Charlotte felt the gap between them - a woman married to someone her friend despised, however hard she tried to hide it, and a single woman’s hopes and fears which she could no longer share with Charlotte.
The final week of Elizabeth’s visit drew to a close and although she was dreading the solitude that would inevitably descend upon the Parsonage, Charlotte put on a brave face when the time came to say goodbye. Her home and her housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their dependant concerns, had not yet lost their charms and she knew that, as before her guests arrived, she would be content with her situation and grateful for everything that she had brought about by what she still considered to be her small slyness.
“Well, my dear, how quiet we shall be once again now that our guests are gone away! But it is pleasant, is it not, to have one’s home to oneself and to appreciate the regularity of our former days? Much as I enjoyed having my cousin and your father and sister visit, having visitors tends to impose different activities upon us as their hosts.
“We tended carefully to their needs, I believe, and they were made most comfortable and welcome to our humble abode; they did not lack for anything even though our provisions are perhaps not what they could have expected at home. But our most prestigious acquaintance with Lady Catherine must have more than made up for any inconvenience they experienced. What an honour for them to be so noticed and with so much affability – they must have been invited to dine more than ten times, I am
sure!
“Yes, indeed, our fortunate connections are what not many could boast! What do you think, my dear? Do not you agree that the visit was a splendid success and that your friend and family will be able to convey a happy account of our lives here?”
Charlotte smiled at her husband as they entered the hall and closed the door behind them. She agreed with his observations in that the visit had gone well on all counts but was still rather put out about Elizabeth’s reticence regarding what was troubling her on the last days of her visit.
“I am sure that a full and complete account will be furnished in Meryton to all who are interested, and even those who are not! Mamma will be happy to see Maria again and hear her impressions, as I am sure that father will have given the bare bones of the matter upon his return. Maria was suitably impressed with everything and she will tell Mamma, and also, I am sure, Kitty and Lydia, even though Lizzy will have already told of her experiences. You are right, my dear. They were very comfortable indeed, thanks to Lady Catherine’s generosity just before they arrived; had she not, their accommodations would not have been quite so pleasant. I must accompany you today to thank her once again for her kindness, both for the gifts and the many dinners we have shared.”
“I have already thanked her, Charlotte! Of course I have! As soon as she insisted upon making her generous offer; you know that I like to observe immediately any politeness necessary. But I think she will be grateful for your company now that our guests have gone, and hers also; we both will be feeling rather deflated, I think.”
Charlotte watched her husband close the door to his book-room and continued down the passage to speak with Mrs. Hall regarding the household receipts and requirements for the rest of the week. She found that lady up to her elbows in flour as the weekly baking was well underway with every counter filled with trays and pans.
“My goodness, Mrs. Hall! I do hope that you have remembered to reduce the amount necessary now that we are back to only two of us! It looks as though you are baking to feed an army here!”
“If you’ll forgive me, ma’am, I am doing more than I usually would on account of a wife in the village is indisposed, if you catch my meaning, and has no family to support and help her with her work while she is in bed. She was insisting to be up as usual this morning but this here is her third child and the last one near enough killed her getting back to work too early, and I said to myself that I would help when the time arrived. Do not concern yourself over the ingredients - I have made most of the baking from my own stores and from hers. But if you’ll forgive me, I need to be pressing on otherwise there will be a hungry family in the village tonight without any bread for their dinner.”
“Of course, Mrs. Hall. Please use some of our stores also, we have more than sufficient. Who is the woman? Do I know her? Is she someone we tended through the Winter?”
Charlotte rolled up her sleeves, happy to be busy, as she asked her questions and began mixing ingredients to make her seed cake – one delicacy which she knew she made well, better than her mother’s cook and certainly better than Mrs. Hall. She would take it along with the bread as a present for the woman and her family.
As they worked, Charlotte took the opportunity to ask Mrs. Hall how she came to be working for her husband and, much to her surprise, she learned that Mrs. Hall had lived in the Parsonage for many years and that Mr. Collins was the third pastor for whom she had cared. She mentioned that the last pastor, an older gentleman with manner to match, had met an untimely death after catching a disease from one of his parishioners and had suffered quietly for several weeks before he succumbed.
“He died as he lived, and lonely too. He had no family, nor wife; his servants were his only companions in this house.”
“And does Lady Catherine always choose her own pastor, Mrs. Hall?” Charlotte asked with interest, as she had often considered the question as to why, of all of the pastors looking for a living, Lady Catherine had fixed upon one so young, with no experience and coming from a lowly sort of family as her husband. She listened with interest as Mrs. Hall eagerly responded.
“Oh, yes, Lady Catherine certainly does choose her own pastor, and why would she not? She has the living to give now that her husband has passed away and it is for her to do with her livings as she pleases. Apparently, word has it that Mr. Collins was known to her ladyship by a prior connection! Don’t ask me how, for I don’t know, only enough to say that there were several names put forward for her to approve, and some with great experience, if you don’t mind me mentioning ma’am, but she would have Mr. Collins.
“We were very interested to meet him, was Dawkins and me, as he was chosen so particular-like. He has been a good choice though, after all is said and done; he is young enough to breathe new life into the church if he’s the mind to, and he appears very devout and eager to please her ladyship which augurs well for him, I am sure! And of course he has you now, which is a blessing for him and all of us. You have improved the parish already with your caring ways and decisive manner with her ladyship; I am sure never has so much been accomplished within so little space of time as what you have managed since your arrival. Ah, a thoughtful and kind wife is a lucky partner for a man in his position.”
Charlotte smiled quietly at the compliments and finished her cake wondering once again just how her husband had indeed been chosen from such a list of worthy candidates; she knew very well that William was not yet the most effective parson that he could be. He was too afraid of losing favour with Lady Catherine to perform independently within his sphere of influence; too pompous, too afraid of appearing lower than he was which caused him to be overly condescending with those his inferior, and overly servile with his superiors, as she had had plenty of opportunity to observe in the months that she had known him. The true William was shown only to her in their moments alone when he finally allowed his vulnerable side to show: his misgivings about his worthiness to be a pastor for such a prestigious benefactress, his concerns about his future and his immaturity in his profession, and his ever-present concerns for her happiness which he never seemed to forget and by which Charlotte was the most moved.
“I am happy to be able to be of service to those who need help, and it is I who am lucky to be in my position, Mrs. Hall. Many women would be glad to be so esteemed by so many in so short a time and it is because Mr. Collins allows me to be of service and shows me what must be done. What he cannot do himself, I am more than willing to do on his behalf!”
In this way the two women worked side by side in happy companionship until the baking was completed and lunch was due, at which time Mrs. Hall shooed Charlotte out of the kitchen, thanking her for her help but insisting that she return to the parlour and the fire, and await her meal which she so rightly deserved.
William emerged from his book-room as soon as he heard the table being laid in the dining room and Charlotte greeted him in there.
“And how does your sermon come along, my dear? I find that each week you are improving your style and manner in the pulpit. I am sure that everyone agrees with me.”
“Thank you for enquiring, my dear, but it comes along slowly today. I shall put in some great effort in the garden this afternoon to aid my thinking. What have you been occupying yourself with this morning without your usual company?”
Charlotte smiled as she served his plate first and then her own; fresh home-grown peas and potatoes from the garden - how delicious!
“I have made a seed cake, my dear, for the wife in the village who is lying in. I had a wonderful chat with Mrs. Hall as we worked; she spoke a little about your coming here and the excitement you caused being so new to the profession and known to her ladyship already!” Charlotte ended her speech with a miniscule question in her tone.
“Oh, the connection is very slight, I assure you. Do not be so amazed at such news. My father was, I understand, somewhat acquainted many years ago with the younger sister of Lady Catherine and so, when she heard that I was in need of a living, she of
fered it to me. I do not know the particulars of the matter but I understand that, for once, my father’s meagre contacts worked to my benefit. I was, of course, unaware of the connection and most bemused by her ladyship’s unexpected attention at first but, after my father’s slight revelations about our past connection, I attributed everything to that.”
Mr. Collins began eating his lunch with relish and Charlotte forbore to continue the conversation; to ask more about the father and the interesting connection would clearly only incite irritation in her husband. But the questions remained, and she resolved to uncover the reasons why her husband should have a tenuous connection to the family of de Bourgh as well as to that of the Bennets.
XXIV
Her inquisitiveness utterly alerted by the recent innocent revelations from both Mrs. Hall and William, Charlotte resolved, where she could, to further her understanding of the situation. Her husband may be perfectly sanguine regarding his connections, happy to accept his good fortune without question, but Charlotte preferred knowledge to ignorance, whatever the outcome.
Therefore, as soon as she was able to leave her duties, she decided to walk to Rosings one afternoon, so as to learn what she could of the connection between her husband’s father and her ladyship.
If she scrutinised her innermost feelings she would certainly have to allow that her heart became more anxious the closer she drew to the grand front door, causing her to question her motivations and how her husband would react to her underhandedness should he discover it. But she forced her courage to rise and pulled the bell with resolution. After enquiring if her ladyship was receiving visitors, she was most cordially welcomed into the parlour where Lady Catherine and Anne were seated opposite each other, appearing to have nothing better to do than sit in silence; Charlotte’s entry was a cause of much relief on both sides.