Chapter 35

Chapter Thirty-Five

M ary and Mr. Collins left together, headed toward Longbourn. Mr. Collins had begun to spend more of his time at the estate, learning all he could about its management. Mary occasionally helped with her limited knowledge about its workings. She did, however, know much about the tenants and their needs, and she still frequently visited the tenants to provide what assistance she could.

Mr. Collins was already familiar with the tenants through his position as curate. Since he first arrived in the area, he made particular efforts to come to know Longbourn’s tenants, preparing for his eventual position as master of the estate. He had become master far earlier than anyone had expected, for no one had anticipated an outbreak of smallpox affecting the estate and claiming the disinterested former master so soon after his arrival.

“Mama will not be pleased about the decisions made today. She has scarcely left her room since Papa’s funeral. Even after you and Uncle Phillips came to tell her that we would not be immediately forced from Longbourn as she feared, she has not been content. She continues to speak of our marriage as a foregone conclusion and berates me when I try to put her off. I am afraid that my only escape will be by going to Maidstone to the Winters again for a time although I hate to impose myself upon them. Is it not improper of me to beg for a visit so soon after my father’s passing?”

“Perhaps in some instances, but, truly, Miss Mary, you can only benefit by being with a friend during your grief. I know that your father was not the father he ought to have been, and perhaps your grief is more for what you wish could have been rather than what was, but no one who knows you can fault you for wanting some separation. Despite your short acquaintance, Mrs. Winters is more of a mother to you than your own has been. You can only benefit from some time with her,” Collins said.

Mary nodded, and the two walked in silence for several minutes. “I will write to her as soon as I arrive at home to ask for a short visit at least. I should return before Kitty and Lydia leave for school, and I have little doubt that Mr. Darcy will ensure they both receive the education they so desperately need. I think Kitty will improve with a little attention, but Lydia might prove more recalcitrant.”

Collins chuckled briefly. “I do not envy the uncle who will have to take her to school when the time comes. I am pleased that Mr. Darcy offered to fund the endeavour—I think I might have managed it, but it is good not to have the need to find the funds. Perhaps without them at Longbourn, it will be easier to set money aside for what will need to be done.”

Agreeing, the two finished their walk in companionable silence. As usual, only Jane was below stairs when Mary and Mr. Collins arrived at Longbourn. Mr. Collins joined the young ladies for tea before going into the study to continue to sort through the papers on Mr. Bennet’s desk as he attempted to understand what condition the estate was in.

This had proven to be a more difficult task than he expected. Due in part to Mr. Bennet's illness before he died, he found several unpaid bills that needed to be settled, but at the moment, Collins lacked the funds he needed to ensure they were all paid. The next quarter day was approaching, but since several tenants had been sick, he was uncertain what he would be able to collect from them. One of the biggest problems was that the former master was not particularly diligent in keeping records of who paid what and when the money was collected.

So many papers and receipts cluttered the desk that it was difficult to tell exactly what was important and what was not. In the days following Bennet’s death, Collins spent several hours each day going through the desk and the papers that surrounded it. He let out a cry when he discovered an account book that appeared to be the most current one. It was shoved in a drawer and covered by several papers.

Eagerly, he opened the book and began to examine its contents. Mr. Bennet's record keeping was haphazard, and the ledger was at times difficult to read, but the book detailed the rents received and expenses paid over the past year. It was still a significant improvement over the random notes and loose receipts he had been dealing with. As he painstakingly deciphered the entries, Collins began to piece together the financial situation of the estate more clearly.

He could see that more than one tenant had fallen behind on their rent, particularly in the last few months. The accounts also showed that the estate had been running at a deficit with expenses regularly exceeding income. This was troubling news, but at least now he had a clearer picture of what needed to be addressed.

Collins decided he would need to speak with the tenants personally to understand their circumstances and to encourage them to pay what they could. He also made a note to consult with his cousin Darcy, whose advice and financial support could prove invaluable in navigating this difficult period, and Mr. Phillips, who might know of another account that could be used to cover some of the estate’s debts .

As he continued to work through the account book, Mary entered the study quietly and observed him. She had seen how diligently he was working and felt a mixture of pity and admiration for him. Though she had never held her father in as high regard as some of her sisters, she knew how much his neglect had burdened the family and now Mr. Collins.

"Mr. Collins," she began softly, "I see you have found the account book. Is it helping you make sense of things?"

He looked up, a little startled, but then smiled gratefully. "Indeed, Miss Mary. This book is a godsend. It will take time, but I believe I can bring some order to the estate's finances with its help."

Mary nodded. "If there is anything I can do to assist, please let me know. I am not well-versed in such matters, but I am willing to learn and help where I can."

Her offer was genuine, and Collins appreciated her kindness. "Thank you, Miss Mary. Your support is most welcome. Perhaps you could assist by organising these papers into categories. It would make my task much easier."

Together, they set to work, sorting through the piles of documents. Mary’s methodical nature proved to be a great asset, and soon the study began to look more orderly. As they worked side by side, a quiet camaraderie grew between them.

By dinner time, Collins and Mary had made significant headway in understanding the papers they found. On a few occasions, they discovered accounting errors that were actually in their favour. Some expenses had been recorded twice, and mistakes had been made in calculations. These errors, though small, added up and provided a glimmer of hope to the new master, who had been worried about how to keep the estate afloat given the poor management of its previous master .

The most significant find came a few days later. As Collins was continuing to clean out his desk, he found a drawer with a false bottom. When he lifted the false bottom away, he found a stash of cash and coin which amounted to a little over five hundred pounds. This money was not accounted for in any of the ledgers, as far as Mr. Collins could tell, and provided the estate with enough income to see them through the end of this year. The tenants needed relief after the outbreak, and many were struggling to pay their quarterly rent. With this influx of funds, Collins could afford to forgive at least a portion of the debt owed for those who could not pay.

Just after the quarter day when this was announced, Mary departed for Maidstone. Mrs. Bennet had begun to venture from her room more often, frequently berating Mary for her continued refusal to marry Mr. Collins. Even when Mary attempted to explain that would not be the case, Mrs. Bennet insisted that none of her daughters could possibly take her place as mistress.

When Mary had enough arguing with her mother, she wrote to Mrs. Winters to beg for an invitation. Mrs. Winters sent a carriage with her reply, offering Mary refuge at their estate for as long as she wished. In fact, the invitation stated if Mary wanted to pass the remainder of her mourning with them, she was welcome to do so.

With Mary away from home, Jane began to do more to assist the tenants of Longbourn. Jane had not thought much of the idea when Mary first presented it to her sister, choosing to believe her mother’s words that Jane would marry well and did not need such accomplishments. However, the three small scars which now marred Jane’s otherwise lovely face were enough to cause Mrs. Bennet not only to cease praising her daughter, but to decry her as ‘disfigured’ and unlikely to ever make a match .

Without the usual effusive compliments, Jane began to pay more attention to those around her. She saw the work that Mary did and recognised that many in Longbourn, Meryton, and the surrounding areas spoke well of Mary for her actions toward others. Soon, Jane realised that Mary had more friends than she, both in the community and without, for no one had come forward to offer her refuge from her family during this time.

Realising this, Jane began to do far more for Longbourn, working with Mr. Collins for the betterment of the estate. She took an active role in overseeing the welfare of the tenants and ensuring that their needs were met and their grievances heard. Jane overcame her selfishness and began to display kindness and empathy toward the tenants, which quickly endeared her to them. They had not expected any of the Bennet ladies to help with Mary gone, so they appreciated this new concern for their well-being and prayed it was genuine.

One afternoon, as Mr. Collins was reviewing the accounts in the study, Jane came in to ask a question and happened to note a discrepancy in the records. "Mr. Collins, it seems that the entry for Mr. Thompson's payment has been recorded twice," she noted gently, as she scanned the ledger while she waited for Mr. Collins to finish. Among other things she had been doing that autumn, she had been working with both Mrs. Hill and Mr. Collins to learn about the accounts.

Mr. Collins peered over at the ledger she was looking at, squinting at the handwriting there. "Indeed, Miss Jane, you are correct. I am most grateful for your careful eye. Such an error might have gone unnoticed and caused no end of trouble when I attempted to reconcile my accounts at the end of the quarter."

Jane smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "I am happy to help. Perhaps I could assist you by double-checking the rest of the entries for similar mistakes while you take a brief respite. It is very tedious work, is it not? "

"An excellent idea," Mr. Collins agreed. "Your assistance has already been invaluable. I must admit, I would be quite overwhelmed without your help. When Cousin Mary left, I had not thought you would be interested in assisting, or I would have invited you to do so before now."

As she immersed herself in the management of Longbourn, Jane found a new sense of purpose and fulfilment. She no longer felt defined by her beauty or her prospects for marriage. Instead, she discovered a deep satisfaction in contributing to the well-being of the estate and its tenants, and a growing tenderness toward her cousin. Despite his awkwardness and tendency to ramble, Jane saw his genuine effort to manage the estate responsibly and unfailing kindness toward others.

One evening late in the autumn, after the other two girls had been away at school for some time, Jane sat with Mr. Collins in the drawing room chatting while Mrs. Bennet sat in one corner of the room, working on her sewing. "I think it would be beneficial to establish a small school for the tenant children," Jane suggested. "A little education, at least knowing how to read and write, could greatly improve their futures. Mrs. Allen mentioned it was a need in the area."

Mr. Collins nodded thoughtfully. "It would be a worthy endeavour, Cousin Jane. I believe we can allocate some funds for that purpose in the spring. The partnership with the Darcys has enabled me to get our stables up and running, and we have brought on a few additional workers to help. There are several new families who have come to replace some of the older tenants, and a school would be a worthwhile investment in the community."

Mrs. Bennet, overhearing their conversation, put down her sewing and looked up. "A school? For the tenants' children? What an odd idea, Jane. You should not waste your time on such an endeavour."

"Not so odd, Mama," Jane replied gently. "Educating them could help improve their lives and, in turn, benefit the estate. Literate tenants can manage their affairs better and contribute more effectively. Mrs. Darcy has written to me of the school at Pemberley for their tenants that was started by her husband’s mother."

Mrs. Bennet huffed softly but returned to her sewing, muttering something about Jane spending too much time on such matters, especially if they were suggested by ‘that ungrateful girl.’ Jane and Mr. Collins exchanged a glance, and Jane gave him an encouraging smile.

"Cousin Jane," Mr. Collins began, "your compassion and forward-thinking are truly admirable. I must confess, your influence has greatly benefited Longbourn these last months."

Jane blushed at the praise. "Thank you, Mr. Collins. I believe we make a good team."

Over the next few months, they spoke of their plans for establishing a school in the spring once the planting was finished. One afternoon, as they walked through Longbourn village to check on a few of the new families who were setting in, Mr. Collins turned to Jane. "Cousin Jane, I cannot express how much your presence and assistance have meant to me and to Longbourn. You have a rare gift for bringing people together and inspiring them."

Jane smiled warmly. "I have simply followed my heart, Mr. Collins. I am glad to be of service."

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke with uncharacteristic sincerity. "Jane, I must admit that my feelings for you have grown beyond mere gratitude. Your kindness, intelligence, and beauty have deeply affected me. I would be honoured if you would consider ... perhaps, a closer partnership."

Jane was taken aback by his candour but felt a warmth in her heart. "Mr. Collins, I am touched by your words. Let us continue our work together and see where our path leads. I value our partnership greatly."