Chapter 31

Chapter Thirty-One

M rs. Bennet was displeased.

All of her plans to ensure her security had fallen through. She had intended to have a daughter married before Christmas which she did, but that daughter was not married to Longbourn's heir. That terrible Elizabeth was married, and she had managed to marry far better than she deserved, the matron thought. Moreover none of her other daughters had any suitors. No one in Meryton was worthy of her most beautiful daughter Jane, for there was a lack of wealthy men. Despite her efforts, the Gardiners were unwilling to let Jane visit them after her disastrous visit several years before.

She has been disappointed when Elizabeth did not show up as expected, willing to marry Mr. Collins. Instead, she showed up married, and, according to gossip, married very well. Gossip in town reported that Mr. Darcy had a large estate in Derbyshire and had titled relatives. However, Mrs. Bennet knew nothing firsthand; all her letters to the Gardiners and Elizabeth went unanswered.

Now, she learned that Mr. Collins was dead and his son, the next in succession, was injured. She began to worry about what would happen if this man died, but then she heard he was recovering. Jane was to marry higher, so Mr. Collins would have to do for Mary. She wondered if her husband would think Mary too young to marry at just sixteen, or if they would have to wait. If nothing else, she could ensure the marriage contracts were signed immediately, and the pair could marry when Mary turned eighteen.

However, Mary was away from home. She had been at first incensed at her daughter’s letter stating that she had accepted an invitation to remain where she was for several more months, but soon decided that it was serendipitous since it would allow her to make plans without her daughter’s inference. Perhaps, Mary’s absence was not the problem she initially thought it was. If she could get Mr. Collins to sign the contracts before Mary returned home, he would not be put off by her looks, forgetting that Mary had already made the gentleman’s acquaintance.

She burst into her husband’s study to inform him of the plans she had made. “Mr. Bennet, when is Mr. Collins going to arrive at Longbourn?” she demanded.

“In a sennight. I understand from his letters he is mostly recovered and will be well enough to travel in a few more days. He is looking for a position as a curate so he can take orders when he comes of an age to do so,” Mr. Bennet answered, slowly setting down his book and looking at his wife, trying to figure out what she was hoping for.

“When he comes, he must be made to marry Mary.”

“Mary is but sixteen, and Mr. Collins cannot afford a wife at present unless you would like them to move into Longbourn. Perhaps that would be advantageous for then you can teach Mary how to be mistress of the estate,” Mr. Bennet replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Mrs. Bennet either ignored or missed his tone. Instead, she wrung her hands in apparent frustration at his failure to understand. “I am not suggesting they marry immediately, merely that you have him sign the marriage contracts. They can marry when Mary is eighteen. Then, we must see about convincing my brother to host Jane with them in London. If Lizzy could manage to catch such a wealthy husband, then surely Jane will do better. Now that Lizzy is married so well, she could even introduce her sister and then Jane can marry a peer.”

Mr. Bennet stared at his wife in surprise at her audacity. “Your brother will not host Jane, nor do anything else you demand of him. You might ask, but as I recall, you recently complained that they had not answered your letters.”

"Now that Lizzy is not living with them any longer, they can have no objection to hosting Jane for a time. If they will not, perhaps Lizzy will. We will send Jane to town, and they would have little choice but to keep her at least for a brief time."

Mr. Bennet could only shake his head at her lack of understanding. “At your insistence, we sent Elizabeth away. You wanted nothing to do with your second child, and I did not argue with you.” His tone was resigned. “Elizabeth might be willing to make amends with her sisters, but I do not think your demand that she host them in London will bear fruit.”

"Of course she will host her sisters in London. Why would she not want to? She must want to help her sister find a match at least as good as her own," Mrs. Bennet cried.

"Jane has written to her already. Elizabeth will not invite Jane to town but is willing to correspond with her. Jane told me about the letter she received, and while she was disappointed, she did eventually come to understand what you apparently will not. Elizabeth has absolutely no reason to want to assist the family that cast her aside. I received a message from her husband, demanding that you cease sending letters to her and the Gardiners."

“How do you know all this, Mr. Bennet?” his wife asked, her tone demanding and shrill .

“Jane and Mary both came to me not long after Elizabeth left Meryton. They both wrote to her in secret and received replies in return. Jane did much as you would have done and asked for Elizabeth to host her in town. Elizabeth agreed to continue the correspondence, but not to host her sister. She is newly married and establishing her own self in society, nor do she and her husband intend to remain in London for long. They will spend the holidays at their estate in Derbyshire.”

Mrs. Bennet scowled at that. “She should remain in London to host her sister. Jane deserves a much better match than her ungrateful sister has managed.”

Shaking his head, Mr. Bennet ceased his attempts to explain to his wife. “Regardless of what you think she ought to do, she and her husband have determined to act as they will. I will sign no more marriage contracts unless both the groom and my daughter agree to the match. I cannot and will not force Mr. William Collins to marry one of my daughters unless he wishes to. He is also in mourning and will be for six months to a year. As I understand it, his father left him little, and until he finds a position, the gentleman is in no position to marry.”

“What does that matter?” Mrs. Bennet waved away her husband’s protestation. “You must encourage him to wed Mary, preferably before she returns home, and he can meet her. He will not want to marry her if he sees her first since she is not as beautiful as Jane. If only Lydia was older and of a suitable age to marry. She is a very pretty girl, and I have little doubt she will be just as beautiful as Jane. She is far more lively, taking after myself as a girl, and I am certain she will have all manner of beaux when she is older.”

Mr. Bennet repeated that he could not force Mr. Collins to accept any of his daughters and coldly sent his wife from his room, shaking his head at her foolishness before returning to his book.