by C. J. Hill
“I would, therefore, advise against such a course of action, William; after all, Lady Catherine will never know if you have or have not sent the expected letter. It will all blow over very soon, I am sure, and you do not want to aggravate your cousins further!”
William paused as he digested her words, but then stated.
“I will consider what you advise, my dear, and will not immediately act upon her ladyship’s wishes, but I believe I must endeavour to promote Lady Catherine’s preference and opinion against the possibility of an unequal marriage. It is my duty as her clergyman to assist her wherever I am able and, in a case such as this, I would be remiss not to use all of my influence to help her succeed. We shall never hear the end of it if, against all probability, my cousin and her nephew do marry!”
Charlotte merely smiled, secretly hoping against hope that, even as they spoke, her friend was in the company of the gentleman in question and that he continued to be as enamoured with her as he previously had been.
Peace settled upon Hunsford parish for the following few days and, looking back, Charlotte realised that it was the proverbial calm before the storm which they had been enjoying.
Lady Catherine recovered her equanimity and resumed her accustomed superiority of manner, condescending to invite the Collins once more for dinner, basking in Mr. Collins clear relief and delight with the restored favouritism placed upon him and Charlotte. Anne continued to be her new self whenever she was present, much to her mother’s chagrin, and actively sought out Charlotte in order that they might continue their work together instead of her mother. However, Lady Catherine reluctantly acknowledged that this was a far more reasonable use of the de Bourgh beneficence and allowed the situation to continue; it asked very little of her and ensured that charitable works were still being seen to be done.
The storm quickly arrived at the Parsonage in the form of a letter from Mr. Bennet, alerting the Collins to the happy news of his second daughter’s engagement to Mr. Darcy and recommending that Mr. Collins try to console Lady Catherine as well as he can.
When Charlotte read those words, she was overcome with delight for her friend; all of Elizabeth’s hopes and dreams for a loving marriage, and her patience in waiting for the right man with whom to enter into that marriage had materialised in the highly esteemed form of Mr. Darcy! What utter joy she felt for her friend!
Contrastingly, the news from his cousin threw Mr. Collins into a frenzy of despair! What could he say to console Lady Catherine now? Her worst fears were realised and there was nothing that could be done to reverse the outcome. He had not even written the letter! He could offer no hope, no possibility for a reversal of the situation!
Charlotte listened to his lamentations for a while until, wearied once again by his fears and solely personal interest in the situation, reminded him of Mr. Bennet’s parting advice in his letter.
“He says to favour the nephew as he has more to give, my dear! What do you think he means by that?”
William could think of nothing in that advice which would relieve his present suffering.
“Think logically, William! My dearest friend, your cousin, is marrying one of the wealthiest and most influential men in England! This is surely something to be thankful for on so many levels. That she loves him, I am in no doubt; that he loves her cannot be denied, since he is willing to cause this level of distress to his immediate and only family through his choice of wife. This, then, is to be a happy and mutually respectful marriage; both parties have waited almost a year to be sure of their affection and esteem for one another!”
William still did not see any relief in all this for him personally, although he did concede that his cousin had manufactured a remarkable match.
Charlotte continued pressing her case.
“And while it will be distressing for Lady Catherine and her long-held plans for Anne when she hears the news, clearly she has no power to dissuade even her favourite nephew from his course when he has decided upon it. She is not his equal in matters of the heart, nor of the world!
“Perhaps, with our joint connections to the happy pair, it would behove us to favour them rather than her ladyship; we cannot honestly agree and remain friendly with both parties – it would be deceitful and unworthy to try to do so. Because of your situation, Lady Catherine will expect absolute loyalty from us in this matter when she hears of it but I, for one, am not willing to put her wishes above my lifelong friendship and absolute happiness for my friend’s situation. It is not reasonable that I should be expected to feign horror and disgust for an event about which I am truly delighted!”
William sank into the nearest chair in despair; not only was his distant family against him but also now his wife! Had he no friends upon whom he could count and expect their support? His situation, nay, his whole life was hanging over the abyss! If he could not count upon Charlotte’s support in condemning the match, which, as she had pointed out, Lady Catherine would most certainly demand, he was doomed as far as remaining in his present position. And with a child on the way, how would he provide for them all?
Charlotte was watching him, delight for her friend still clearly in her eyes he could see, but she did not have to brave the wrath that was surely coming from Lady Catherine. She could stay cosily at home and leave the ugly work to him; he did not feel up to such a confrontation. He decided to voice his concerns.
“I am, truly, delighted that my cousin has made such a happy match. Of course it is much more than she deserves but, as you say, she has held out for love and respect, and you are convinced that she has it from Mr. Darcy, so I shall be convinced also. However, please also understand the predicament it causes for our situation. I must be seen to be completely loyal to Lady Catherine, if I am not then what is to become of us?”
“But that is what I mean, William, by favouring the nephew! He has more to give! He has many livings associated with Pemberley and its surrounds and I am sure that when one becomes vacant, if we let it be known we are interested and in need of a new situation, he would appoint you in one of them! Elizabeth would assist us in that endeavour, I am sure, especially once she hears of our circumstances and how we took her side rather than with her aunt-in law!
“But we rush ahead of ourselves, my dear! We have not yet heard from Lady Catherine; we do not yet know what her reaction will be to the news! Perhaps she will accept her defeat graciously, not wanting to completely alienate herself from her nephew, visiting Pemberley, and his house in London! Why do we not pay her a call this morning to discover, firstly, if she has heard the news and secondly, how she has taken it before we make any more premature plans about our future!”
William nervously agreed and they set off for Rosings Park forthwith, not without some fear and trepidation as to what their welcome would be.
Fear and trepidation were sensible emotions in preparation to withstand the onslaught that greeted them in the Rosings’ morning room: anger, uncontrolled and bitter, poured forth at the sight of them.
Lady Catherine could not sit still; she could barely speak, so infused with rage was she at the information she had just read. The servants promptly left the vicinity in fear and trembling after they had introduced the visitors, and Anne appeared to be the only one brave enough to provide her mother with company in the flood of her rage. Upon seeing them enter, Lady Catherine paused in her pacing, and waved the offending letter at her guests.
“My nephew has done me the courtesy to inform me of his engagement to Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” the words were hissed out even more thoroughly than the last time the name was mentioned, “and the date of the impending nuptials is to be within the next fortnight!”
This last piece of information had been omitted from Mr. Bennet’s missive and Charlotte was glad to receive it, even from this source.
“He has been lured in by the pretensions of a headstrong and selfish upstart young woman. She will ruin him and his great family name; he will be censured, slighted and despised by taking such
a wife! No one will ever visit him, he will be ignored and laughed at; the connection with her family will ensure it! I warned him against such a liason, he seemed to heed my warning but now it seems she has lured him in again! Oh! Is this to be endured, and after all of my hopes and plans!”
At this Lady Catherine seemed to lose her will to stand upright and sank into the nearest chair; Charlotte rang the bell to request some water for her ladyship, and then moved to assist her comfort in the seat she had chosen.
Mr. Collins watched on anxiously as his wife tended to his employer and rather wished himself far, far away from the whole unpleasant matter. Nods and commiserating looks were useless this time and he certainly could think of nothing to say, either for or against her ladyship’s opinion; in deference to his earlier conversation with Charlotte, he felt obliged to remain silent rather than choose a side from which he could not retreat safely. On one hand was Lady Catherine and on the other was Charlotte; he did not like to be so much torn about, and unable to express his opinions freely - it did not suit his nerves at all.
Eventually, Lady Catherine emerged somewhat from her rage-induced stupor and curtly thanked Charlotte for her ministrations. She sipped the water and seemed revived enough to fix a stern stare upon Mr. Collins as she now demanded what he had most feared.
“You, Mr. Collins, must cast off your family in light of this disgraceful association that your cousin has made. It is unthinkable that the clergyman in the living of Rosings Park should be in any way seen to look upon such a match with approval; I expect you to make your disapprobation immediately clear and to acquaint them with my sincere ill wishes should the marriage take place.
“I shall not demean myself so far as to make any contact with that family but they shall know how their ignorant and selfish actions affect the state of proper society; first one daughter who elopes disgracefully, another ensnares an unwitting young man, and the third manages, by who knows what arts, to capture a most eligible man who is so far above her sphere that she cannot understand the enormity of her error in aspiring to it.
“I expect you to send those sentiments immediately to your cousin, and in the strongest terms. Tell them that they have managed single-handedly to reduce to ridicule the name and reputation of one of the greatest houses in England, and they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.”
Mr. Collins could do nothing in the face of such a demand, he was speechless, and it was left to Charlotte to remedy the situation as she saw fit.
Rising quietly and with much dignity, quickly joined by her husband, she bowed slightly to Lady Catherine, feeling some sympathy for her angry impotency.
“We are both most sorry for the distress your ladyship is currently enduring and we hope, also, that in time, and after some reflection, you will be able to see this as less of a tragedy than you consider it to be at this moment. With the passage of time all things take on a more agreeable tone, and what makes us most angry now will eventually fade to distress and then, hopefully, acceptance for what it is.
“I beg your ladyship’s leave, but we must return to our home as I have urgent preparations to make; I intend returning to Lucas Lodge to await my confinement.”
At this announcement, William looked startled at his extremely calm wife who had clearly made another decision about which he had absolutely no knowledge.
Charlotte continued addressing Lady Catherine without acknowledging her husband’s astonishment.
“Mr Collins has yet to decide whether his duty is with his wife at this time or with you, your ladyship. He, of course, does not like to desert you in your time of such distress, when your need for his counsel and support is so great. I, however, feel I must return to where I shall be the most supported as my time of confinement approaches, as I am sure your ladyship can appreciate. Perhaps you would be so good as to consider your feelings on this matter and convey them to my husband when you have come to a conclusion.”
At this, William, who had remained silent throughout Charlotte’s address, felt obliged to confirm his willingness to remain at Hunsford to provide ecclesiastical support to his benefactress in her time of extreme need and to happily forego being on hand for the birth of his first child. For what, he asked the room in general, could he materially do to help Charlotte as opposed to the many comforts he could bestow upon Lady Catherine?
Lady Catherine needed no such allowance of time; she saw an advantage, perhaps two, of having Mr. Collins return with his wife to Meryton immediately.
“I have no need of your assistance, ecclesiastical or otherwise, Mr. Collins, such as you could possibly provide in the circumstances. What has been done, is done and clearly cannot be easily undone with words, commiserations, or prayers. No, far better that you accompany Mrs. Collins to Meryton where, more effectively than a letter, you shall be able to deliver my feelings personally and with the appropriate vehemence, and receive a direct response from those who should feel some embarrassment at the chaos they have wrought.
“You may leave as soon as you please but ensure arrangements are made for another clergyman to take your place while you are away. I expect to hear from you very soon as to the response you have received and whether your interference has had any effect. I shall, in the interim, while my mind is still reeling with indignation, compose a letter to my errant nephew, explicating, so he can have no doubt of my feelings, exactly the outrage I feel at his dereliction of duty, and the ensuing treatment he may expect from all affected by it.”
Relieved to be released, William and Charlotte lingered no longer than necessary to collect their coats, and made their way rapidly back to the Parsonage.
“My dear!” William panted as he tried to keep up with Charlotte’s rapid pace. “When did you decide to return to Meryton for the birth of our child? I do think you might have informed me about your decision; were we not going to tell each other everything from now on? You said that you were very happy to have Mrs. Betts assist you when the time came. What has happened with that idea?”
“Why! I only just thought of it, then and there, as an excuse to escape from old Lady Catherine’s wrath for a few weeks. You can see she will not be appeased easily, and certainly not for a very long time; she will hold her grudges. I do not want to listen to her continually abusing my friend; it will upset me before the baby comes and that is not a beneficial thing for a woman in my condition!
“Now she has told us to go! What a wonderful solution for us! I could not think how I would be able to attend my friend’s wedding without informing her of my going; I was trying to decide how to arrange it all last night, for miss it I absolutely refuse to do! And then it came to me suddenly, in the middle of listening to her ladyship! If I phrased it as a necessity on account of the baby, and offered your services as a trade, which she could only refuse, for who would make a man miss the moment of his becoming a father? And so, now, she has time to calm down on her own without us to fuel her indignation, which would be what our continued presence would do, and, hopefully, she will reflect upon the situation. My only regret is that I leave Anne to bear the brunt of her mother’s anger and bitterness.
“But think!” she continued. “Not only are you relieved of her demand to write a letter which would only cause distress and division within your family, and fuel more disagreement, but also we will be present at the wedding of the year and can share our joy with everyone there when our baby is born! Is it not the most elegant solution to the whole problem, my dear?”
William, now that he understood the benefits, agreed absolutely.
“I believe you may be correct, my dear, in your sensible arrangements. Lady Catherine is not going to take any comfort or advice from anyone for the foreseeable future and, with us out of the way, it prevents her from being reminded on every occasion of our connection to what incenses her. I shall start arrangements immediately for our departure. Will tomorrow be too soon for you, Charlotte?”
“Tomorrow? If I could, I would leave tonight! I am so exc
ited for my friend I can hardly wait to return to Lucas Lodge where we can speak together as we used to. I have missed her company terribly; she will be so surprised to see us!”
XXXVI
That prediction of surprise on the part of her friend was correct; as soon as Elizabeth heard that Charlotte was back at Lucas Lodge, she wasted no time in calling upon her friend, their reunion a source of delight to both sides, their conversations running long and deep.
“How happy I was to hear of your news, Elizabeth! I could not wait to return to Meryton to offer my congratulations in person.”
“And, I am sure, how distressed Lady Catherine was to hear the same!” laughed Elizabeth. “Darcy thought it best to inform her in as concise a manner as possible about the engagement, knowing as he did her thoughts upon the subject. He cares not for her good opinion or blessing but felt it his duty as her nephew to allow her at least the distinction of being informed.”
“Well!” laughed Charlotte. “Advise him to expect a vitriolic response, just as soon as Lady Catherine can put pen to paper without breaking the nib at every word she writes! She was incandescent with rage, Elizabeth! I do not think she will recover very soon. We felt we must escape at least until after the baby is born. We could not, in fairness, have stayed to listen to her opinions on a subject about which we were in such dissimilar minds! We were unable to console, and our presence merely fanned the flames of her outrage.”