Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

The folly stood at the edge of the garden. While it resembled an ancient tower and gatehouse, it was an illusion of cement, plaster, and thin stoneface. Still, it provided a place for privacy. She knew he was there the moment she stepped through the arch.

" John Barleycorn must die ," she sang out, the sound echoing in the small space.

"Not too bad," he said with a wink as he stepped out of the shadows. "Maybe you're better in a duet. "Shall I join you?"

"I don't feel much like singing. Anne knows we met the other night. She chose to tell Lady Catherine I was having a tryst with the gardener. I've been trying to get a note to you. How did you know to come here?"

"I got a note to Mrs. Jenkinson asking her to send you here. My mother finally told me the name of my bride. It wasn't your name."

"Who was it?"

"Anne De Bourgh."

"I… I… she's sickly, weak, and cruel. So cruel. She'd perish on the boat to Montreal."

"She doesn't know about Lower Canada, and neither does my mother. If I marry Anne, I will not only be under my family's thumb but under Lady Catherine's as well. I'd be a kept man, no better than a cicisbeo."

"What are we going to do about it?"

"How do you feel about an elopement?"

"Oh, the scandal. Redmond," she said, reaching out for his hand. "We can't hurt your family. My sister's elopement nearly ruined my family. I worry for your sisters."

"It's kind of you to think of them. You're a better person than I."

"No," she shook her head. "I want this to be real. I want to do it right. You might not believe in love, but I still do." They stared at each other for a moment without speaking until Redmond bowed his head and placed his forehead against hers.

"Hello, the folly! Are you there?" a voice called out. Mary froze with fear. They were found out. It was all over now. Redmond took her hand and led her back into the daylight.

"Mrs. Collins?" Redmond exclaimed with a measure of disbelief. "Fancy seeing you here."

Mary relaxed knowing Charlotte was an ally.

"Mrs. Jenkinson sent me out as soon as Mr. Collins and I arrived," Charlotte said. "Mary, I don't know what to say. I feel so guilty. I talked you into this. It hasn't been formally announced, but Mrs. Jenkinson told me Lady Catherine would present her daughter Anne as the bride. I never saw this coming." Charlotte hung her head.

"We were just discussing an elopement." Redmond pulled Mary to his side. "I will not marry Anne."

"Your mother might be her special friend, but Lady Catherine would burn the world down to champion her daughter." Charlotte shook her head. "We need to think of something else."

"I went to London yesterday and procured a license with our names on it," Redmond interjected. "It's only a common license. No banns to be read, but there are restrictions. We need a willing clergyman. You are married to such a man, are you not, Mrs. Collins?"

"My husband would never go against Lady Catherine's wishes. She dotes on him, and he worships her. I accepted the situation when we married."

"Wait," Mary said as her brain spun with possibilities. "Lady Catherine does want a wedding. Has Mr. Collins been told of the change of bride?"

"Not as far as I know. We are attending the wedding only as guests. My husband is to play no role in the ceremony as it is to take place at the Naismith's parish, not Hunsford."

"Perhaps he'd help us out with a rehearsal then. A very, very, detailed rehearsal. One that might be mistaken for real. A rehearsal as a surprise for Lady Catherine. One to make certain everything goes as planned. Without outright lying to him, of course." Redmond squeezed Mary's hand as he spoke. His excitement was contagious.

"If he thought it pleased Lady Catherine, he'd do it." Charlotte nodded her head. "I won't lie to him. Believe it or not, he's a good husband." Charlotte stepped away and began wringing her hands. "Mr. Collins takes his work very seriously. He enjoys demonstrating all the rituals, ceremonies, and prayers he performs. He'll make it appear quite real, but you'd have to have it performed by noon and sign a parish register to be legal."

"If I'm already married to Mary, I can't be wed to someone else the next day. Lady Catherine will still achieve her goal, and my mother wouldn't dare cause another scandal." Redmond smiled nervously. "Noon gives me a few hours to steal a parish register."

"Deep down," Mary added, "I don't think Lady Catherine wants her daughter to wed and leave her. Otherwise, she would have picked Anne from the start."

"I think you're right." Charlotte agreed. "There's an old chapel here at Rosings Park. It isn't used anymore since Mr. Collins was installed in Hunsford but, as far as I know, it's still considered consecrated ground and it is within your home parish, Mr. Naismith."

"We can't get everyone together without your help, Mrs. Collins." Redmond began to pace in frustration. "We're so close to a solution. We have to figure it out."

"Luckily, I've been relieved from any more fittings and lessons. I've slipped below their notice, at least for today." Mary approached Charlotte and placed her hand on her arm. "You're so much braver than I ever gave you credit for."

"If this all goes to piss, we never spoke, and I barely know you," Charlotte said with a nervous laugh. "Mr. Collins visits the old chapel every time we visit. He practices his sermons there. It's up to you two to find him and convince him. I can have no part of it."

"We'll need witnesses." Redmond slapped his hand against his forehead. "I forgot about witnesses."

"Mrs. Jenkinson?" Mary offered. "Do you think she would do it?"

"We need two. I'll work on that," Redmond said, placing his hand on the small of Mary's back. "It's still early. We have time. Get Mrs. Jenkinson and Mr. Collins to walk with you to the chapel at 11:00. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"I wish you luck," Charlotte said, reaching out for Mary's hand. "We need to get back to the house and pretend everything is normal. Mr. Naismith, you should sneak out before you're seen."

"One more thing." Redmond ducked back into the folly and walked out holding a book. "A wedding gift," he said, handing Mary the book. "It isn't much, but I thought you'd appreciate it. It's the seventh volume of Arabian Nights , the one with the story of the flying carpet."

"Whoever sitteth on this carpet and willeth in thought be taken up and set down upon another site will, in the twinkling of an eye, be borne thither," Redmond recited .

"It's perfect," Mary said as tears came to her eyes. "I'll cherish it always." She was too shy to kiss Redmond goodbye in front of Charlotte, but he pressed his lips against her cheek before she could protest.

"I'll see you later."

"Come." Charlotte pulled at her arm. "I've news from Longbourn." Redmond was already out of sight before Charlotte revealed her news.

"Your parents send their best wishes. Your mother is, understandably, beside herself with excitement. She sent you something to wear for the wedding." Charlotte reached into her reticule and pulled out a small, delicately fashioned platinum brooch fashioned in the shape of a feather.

"It's from my father's mother." Mary placed the brooch in the palm of her hand with a measure of reverence. "I thought they'd given it to Jane or Lizzy."

"They must have saved it for you." Charlotte stopped and helped Mary pin the brooch to her bodice.

"Did my parents say when they were arriving for the wedding?"

"Not until tomorrow," Charlotte replied. "I don't believe Lady Catherine offered them a place to stay."

"Do you think Lizzy and Jane will come?"

"Nothing could keep them away."

"How am I to get through this morning until 11:00?"

"Needlepoint. I do piles and piles of needlepoint. No one questions a woman doing needlepoint. You just need to appear as if you're very serious about it. I'll loan you some of mine if you'd like."

"I can do it." Full of renewed hope, Mary smiled and hugged the book to her chest.

It had been surprisingly easy to convince Mr. Collins and Mrs. Jenkinson to walk with her to the chapel. Mary, wearing the light blue dress with lace trim that made her feel pretty, raised her chin and marched in the door with high hopes.

Redmond was already there, along with a woman Mary had never met but could be none other than Mrs. Jenkinson's sister. They had their two witnesses.

Mr. Collins needed little convincing to agree to a rehearsal of the wedding ceremony. He wanted everything to be just right for Lady Catherine's grand gesture. Redmond's insistence on hearing the exact words that would be spoken only urged Mr. Collins to greater levels of authenticity.

Mary stood beside Redmond as Mr. Collins had them repeat the vows, word for word.

"Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?" Mr. Collins spoke the words confidently and looked to Mary for her response. "This is where you say, ‘I will'," he reminded her.

"I will," Mary replied, turning to Redmond. "I will," she repeated.

"Once is sufficient," Mr. Collins chided her before continuing. "Here is where you repeat after me, Mr. Naismith.

"I Redmond Albert Naismith, take thee, Mary Bennet, to my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth."

"Will there be a ring?" Mr. Collins asked. "It is customary but not required."

"I have one," Redmond surprised her by saying. "Here," he fished in his pocket and pulled out a simple gold band. After a few more words from Mr. Collins, Redmond slipped it on her finger.

Whether it was a real ceremony or not, Mary knew she was now married in all ways save legally. Nothing else mattered. Nothing else would ever matter. The complete ceremony took more time than she thought it would. It was nearly past noon before Mr. Collins closed his prayer book.

"For as much as Redmond Albert Naismith and Mary Bennet have consented together in holy Wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen," Mr. Collins paused, then added, "Of course, I'd read one of the Psalms and give a few blessings for future generations at this point."

"I believe we're required to sign something." Redmond backed away a few steps and bumped into a small table with a quill, ink, and a large ledger book.

"After the final blessing." Mr. Collins was momentarily confused but quickly reverted to the doting instructor again. "I prefer to give three blessings, while some only do one. They are optional, more or less. Now this," he said looking at the register. "Is simple enough. You would sign here and here and the witnesses there," he pointed to a blank space.

"Where would you sign Mr. Collins?"

"This line right here," he said, pointing to a black line on the page.

"I see," Redmond said as he picked up a curiously ready quill and dipped it into the ink. "You get this line here, but we're only given these blank spaces. So I sign anywhere in this area?"

"Yes." Mr. Collins nodded and pointed to the space. "Right there. Don't want to mess with this part. This is what makes it all legal."

"Like this?" Redmond asked, as he signed the space and handed the quill back to Mr. Collins with a wide smile. As if it was the most natural thing in the world, Mr. Collins took up the quill and signed his name on the blank line.

"Oh, dear," he said when finished. "What have I done?"

Redmond handed the quill to Mary and slid the register in her direction. "If it's ruined, we might as well have fun with it."

"Not completely ruined, Mr. Naismith. It is little known, but a register may be amended by a bishop. This register has fallen into disuse. See here," Mr. Collins pointed to the register's frontispiece, "This register was closed to entries, but a bishop, with all his ecclesiastical power, could easily amend this new entry."

"Excellent," Redmond said. "I dare think we'll get through tomorrow's wedding without any problems. Lady Catherine will be more than pleased."

"Of course, there's no need to tell anyone we needed a practice run at it," Mary said. As she spoke, she passed the register to Mrs. Jenkinson to sign.

"It's just a little embarrassing," Redmond explained as he placed his arm around Mr. Collin's shoulders to distract him. "Here I am, a grown man who's attended dozens of weddings, and yet, I'm so nervous."

"My wedding was the greatest day of my life. I nearly forgot my own name," Mr. Collins said with a wistful smile. "Goodness, it must be noon, I should get back to the house for tea. Lady Catherine so enjoys our little talks."

The old chapel fell silent for two minutes as Mr. Collins walked away. When they were assured of his absence. Mary turned to Redmond.

"He is absolutely going to tell Lady Catherine," Mary blurted out. "I don't know where you found the parish register, but you better take it back."

"Damn and blast." Redmond slammed his fist on the table. "He's going to squeal like a piglet the moment she scowls at him. His silence might have saved us."