6. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

The house seemed very quiet, Mr. Collins realised after he had sat and pondered for a little while. One of the girls must have said something that had silenced Fanny Bennet, thank the good Lord. She was properly deferent to him but the woman could make an appalling racket. Getting up, he paced out into the hall and frowned to see the parlour door open. Hopeless servants. Bad enough that there should always be kept a fire burning in the parlour, even when everyone was keeping to their rooms, but leaving the door open to let the heat out – he walked over to close the door, glanced in, and froze.

"Unhand my cousin at once, Sir! What do you think you are about!"

Elizabeth jumped as Mr. Collins erupted into the room and snatched her hand back from Darcy's grasp, but it was Jane and Bingley upon whom his attention was focused.

"I am seeking only to offer Miss Bennet a measure of comfort, sir!" Bingley was on his feet at once, defending himself. "In this time of great distress, I am here to assure her that I stand ready to be of service in all ways!"

Mr. Collins had never seen Mr. Bingley irate, and it gave him pause. Bingley was a tall man, after all, a broad-shouldered sportsman, and he towered over Mr. Collins. And then his eye fell on Darcy and Elizabeth.

"This is not at all appropriate," he glanced around the room, determined that no one else was present, and frowned sternly at Elizabeth.

"Mr. Collins, my sister and I are adequately chaperoned by each other," it was Jane who stepped forward. Elizabeth had just realised that Mr. Collins had the power to ban Darcy and Bingley from the house if he chose, and, suddenly terrified of just that, could not find words to defend herself.

"Two courting couples together is not appropriate," Mr. Collins said sharply, and Jane spoke again, leading Bingley to look at her more admiringly than ever.

"Sir, you are aware of my character, and that of Elizabeth. I assure you nothing untoward will happen while we remain together. Nor indeed, knowing Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, could anyone expect anything less than the most upright behaviour from either of them."

Mr. Collins spluttered. After a moment he regained his composure and said; "Nevertheless, Miss Bennet, while you remain under my roof you will abide by my rules. And why was I not informed of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley's arrival?"

"Hill told us that she knocked on the library door, Mr. Collins, and there was no answer. As you have given strict instructions that no one may enter your library unless you summon them, she chose to obey your wishes," Jane said, realising that standing up to the little toad got easier every time she did it. She could feel Charles standing beside her, a warm, comforting presence that gave her great strength.

Again Mr. Collins could make no response to such a perfectly reasonable answer.

Darcy watched as Mr. Collins regathered himself for what was evidently going to be another reproach, and decided he could take no more. "Your concern for the Miss Bennets' reputation does you credit, sir," he said then. "I have no doubt my aunt will take pleasure in hearing of it when next I write to her."

"Ah – yes," Mr. Collins suddenly realised that while he was no longer beholden to Lady Catherine de Bourgh for his living, it would certainly be to his advantage to have her good opinion, and annoying her nephew might not be the best place to start. Barring Darcy from the house, much though he wanted to do it, would not benefit him at all. Of course, it was quite possible that her ladyship would not be best pleased to hear of Darcy's courtship of Elizabeth. In fact, that would likely be the best way to nip the whole thing in the bud. Lady Catherine would not hear of such an alliance. No, Elizabeth would not be marrying Darcy after all.

Darcy had a sudden urge to punch that smug smile off the little man's face. Collins was looking at Elizabeth and smiling, a nasty, knowing smile that said he knew something she did not.

Elizabeth was not at all insensible to the smirk, and unconsciously she moved closer to Darcy. She could not hide behind him, that would not do at all, Elizabeth chided herself, but just stand close enough to feel the warmth emanating from his tall frame – just close enough that his coat sleeve brushed her arm – she found a tiny bit of courage from that closeness and lifted her chin bravely. To her astonishment, as Mr. Collins turned to look again at Jane and Bingley, she felt Darcy's arm move and his warm hand pressed very lightly against the small of her back.

"Be brave," his deep voice murmured above her head, so softly that she was sure no one but herself could possibly have heard, and then he stepped forward.

"Mr. Collins, while we are not yet family..." he could see that Collins was struggling whether to be angry at the insinuation that Darcy intended to marry Elizabeth, or astonished pride that he might one day be able to claim a familial relationship with the Darcys of Pemberley, "I would nonetheless ask your indulgence, and your permission to attend Mr. Bennet's being laid to rest. The ladies of course cannot, and Bingley and I would wish to stand in their stead, to support you as you farewell your cousin."

There was no way that Collins could graciously refuse such an offer, and within moments Darcy had him out of the room, insisting that he wanted to know all the arrangements, that Mr. Collins could not possibly wish to bear such a heavy burden alone, and that of course the ladies would be far too distressed to hear it.

Bingley, Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other quite astonished for a moment, and then Jane came hurrying across to her sister, Bingley on her heels.

"Oh, Lizzy, are you all right? He was quite horrid to you..."

"No, Mr. Darcy was very kind," Lizzy mumbled, rather shocked.

"Lizzy, I meant Mr. Collins ! Mr. Darcy is, well..." words failed Jane, and she looked at Bingley for support.

"Darcy is very concerned for the welfare of you both, and all your family," Bingley said, "as am I. Miss Elizabeth – your sister and I are aware that this is not the time, but we have come to an understanding..." he gazed adoringly at Jane as she gave him that blinding smile again.

"Oh – you mean..." Elizabeth looked at Jane for verification, and, when her sister smiled and nodded, embraced her gladly. "I am so glad." She allowed Bingley to kiss her cheek, and then asked "But when...?"

"It will have to be some few weeks at least," Bingley said glumly, "of course. But I am not willing to wait six months. Nor do I think it appropriate for you both to remain under Longbourn's roof for long. I intend to appeal to Mr. Hurst's uncle, who is a bishop, for his assistance in obtaining a special licence..."

Jane's mouth opened into a wide O, and her eyes sparkled. Bingley saw, and seized her hand in his. "Some may disapprove, but I find I cannot care. While I intend no disrespect to your father, God rest his soul, my concern is for those he has left behind. If we travelled to London, with prior arrangement Hurst's uncle could marry us on the same day and you could remove to my townhouse – along with any of your family members you wished to have with you. Six weeks, perhaps – or at most eight...?" he gave Jane a hopeful look. "In London, away from Hertfordshire, there would be no one to say that you were married too quickly after Mr. Bennet's departure, and you could go into half-mourning – for as long as you feel appropriate," he rushed on, not wanting Jane to think ill of him for wanting to cut her mourning short.

It was Jane's turn to hesitate, and Elizabeth's to step in. "Jane, if you are thinking of Papa, think only of how happy he would be so see you so well settled," she said softly, "and to be quite certain that we should all be taken care of, as Mr. Bingley so kindly offers."

"And that you should not be forced into something you do not want," Jane found her justification for that which she so desperately wanted. "Yes. Yes, Charles, yes."

He grinned, glanced at Elizabeth, and said "Knowing how dear your sister is to you, and aware that we should have a witness, I am sure you will not mind Elizabeth's seeing this..."and he lowered himself to one knee, taking Jane's hand in his. "Miss Bennet, say that you will make me the happiest of men, agree to take pity on this wretched fool who cannot do the decent thing and wait for you, and say you will marry me?"

"Yes," said Jane, again, unable to find more words. "Yes, yes, yes! "

Elizabeth could not help but let out a laugh of joy, looking from one to the other of them, Bingley's face suffused with joy and Jane's with happy, loving relief. "I am so happy for both of you!" In a moment, though, her face saddened, and Jane knew that she was thinking of their father. They embraced, happy tears mingled with sad, both so confused they knew not what to think.

Bingley understandingly withdrew a little way, giving them privacy in this moment, though all he wanted to do was sweep Jane into his arms, claim her soft lips with his own and then carry her far away. To gain Jane's true happiness Elizabeth's must also be secured, that had become evident to him many weeks ago seeing the regard between the sisters, and he liked Elizabeth very well, himself. To marry her to that idiot Collins merely to secure Longbourn for the family would be an utter waste. Far better that she should marry Darcy: she would be good for him.

Bingley grinned to himself, remembering the many times he had seen the sprightly country miss walk away from Darcy leaving him with an utterly confounded look upon his face, shortly to be replaced with unwilling admiration. Oh yes, Elizabeth Bennet would shake Darcy's world up quite thoroughly, and, if Bingley was not much mistaken, very soon have him eating out of her dainty little hand.

Darcy kept Mr. Collins away for a full twenty minutes. By the time they returned, the two sisters were sitting beside the fire, holding hands, tears still quite visible on both faces, and Bingley was tactfully standing by the window looking away from them. He turned as Collins and Darcy entered the room and walked over.

"I do beg your pardon, Mr. Collins, for intruding on your family's grief," he said with a disarming smile. "Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth are grieving for their father, and I fear Darcy and I have forgot that in our desire to be of service and comfort to those whom we hold in deepest affection. If I might have a private word?" And he shunted Collins back out of the parlour and into the library, the erstwhile parson again unable to object to such inoffensive words.

"What is it, Mr. Bingley?" Collins decided he needed a brandy. It was difficult enough to deal with a family of such foolish, headstrong women, without having to try and manage these strong-willed, powerful men at the same time. He poured, saw Bingley looking at him, and offered the decanter with poor grace.

"I thank you, no. Mr. Collins, I am aware that my timing could hardly be worse. But I will be entirely honest with you; my intention on coming to Longbourn yesterday was to ask Mr. Bennet for his blessing on my becoming engaged to Miss Bennet."

"That is of course inappropriate at this time!" Collins was righteously indignant.

"Of course!" Bingley agreed at once. "But the fact is that Miss Bennet and I have already come to a private agreement, and, if I may be frank?" He ploughed on without waiting for Collins' agreement. " I am deeply in love with Miss Bennet, and I am in no mind to wait out a full year of her mourning."

"I can see that," Collins allowed, thinking that he could in no way stand having that bitch in his house for a year. If Bingley wanted her sooner, more power to him.

"I thought that perhaps after six weeks or so of mourning with her family, Miss Bennet might remove to London to visit with my sisters. While she should of course continue to wear black for a while" – a day or so if I get my way , Bingley thought – "she might begin to shop for her wedding clothes. And, of course, at some point you will need to return to Hunsford to settle matters there, so that might be an appropriate time. If Miss Bennet is in Town with my sisters – I of course will reside elsewhere – you need not be concerned about your guardianship duties of her. Mrs Bennet I am sure will be up to the task of taking care of her younger daughters for some little while by then."

Bingley was thinking that he might not get another opportunity to get Elizabeth out of the house, and out from under Collins' watchful eye. Taking the whole family to London for a quiet wedding, and then Jane insisting she needed Elizabeth by her – Collins could not possibly insist that Elizabeth be returned to Longbourn under such circumstances. Especially not if Bingley decided to take his wife away on a wedding trip, naturally accompanied by her dearest sister. Why, if he was vague enough about their planned itinerary, it could be weeks before any letters caught up with them. And meanwhile – he suppressed a grin at the thought – they could be comfortably ensconced at Pemberley, giving Darcy absolute access to Elizabeth without fear of interference.

Mr. Collins sighed, interrupting Bingley's train of thought. "Yes, I suppose so." Inwardly, he was dancing a gleeful little jig. He could get rid of Jane and her annoying chaperonage of Elizabeth, plus make quite sure Lady Catherine was apprised of Darcy's defection from Miss De Bourgh at the same time! Quite innocently of course. Foolish though he was, William Collins had realised quickly that he could not send a letter to Lady Catherine warning of Darcy's interference; Darcy would instantly realise that he was the culprit and likely take offence. For all his sycophantic praise of Lady Catherine, Mr. Collins dimly realised that Darcy was the more powerful of the two and it could be potentially very dangerous to cross him. But an innocent remark while visiting his former patroness about Darcy always hanging about Longbourn, paying a lot of attention to Collins' intended – well, that would surely have the right effect.

"As a vicar, I cannot approve of your haste, in this time of grief," he said in his best sermonising voice. Then he paused, and gave Bingley what he felt was a brotherly smile, not noticing the other man's recoil. "But as a man, I quite understand your desire to alleviate your intended's distress."

The oily grin, and the horrible emphasis on the word desire , made Bingley feel like vomiting. Instead, he forced a smile and clapped a friendly hand on Collins' shoulder. "That's settled, then! Well, we shall arrange a mutually convenient date to travel after the funeral."