Chapter 39

Chapter Thirty-Nine

JANUARY 1810

J ust after the new year, Collins proposed to Jane and was accepted. Initially, the two planned to wait to marry until summer when all her sisters would be home, but Mrs. Bennet made it necessary for the marriage to occur sooner. Her insistence that the wedding be some grand event that surpassed all other events in Meryton was a constant cause of strife at Longbourn. After only a month of this, Collins and Jane came to a decision.

By marrying while Longbourn was still technically in mourning, they would be able to settle the argument about the extravagant wedding and move Mrs. Bennet into the dower cottage earlier. When Mrs. Bennet was informed of these plans, she had been incensed.

“Mother, I no longer wish to argue about my wedding,” Jane began, glancing at her intended, Mr. Collins, and her aunt for support. They had decided to be present to help her confront Mrs. Bennet.

Mrs. Bennet smiled, thinking Jane was ready to yield to her insistence for a grand wedding. But Jane continued, “Mr. Collins and I have decided to purchase a common license and marry as soon as possible. Mr. Allen has agreed to perform a quiet ceremony. Since you are still in mourning, we will forgo a celebration, especially since you have not listened to our suggestions for a wedding breakfast. After we marry, you will move to the dower cottage. The renovations are complete, and you will have two maids, a cook, and a manservant. You will manage just fine with this staff.”

Mrs. Bennet’s smile faded. “What of my allowance, Jane? Am I to pay for the servants out of my pin money?”

“Longbourn will cover the servants’ costs. The home farm will supply your food, but you will need to pay for anything extra out of your own pocket,” Mr. Collins explained.

“What about my clothing and other necessities?” Mrs. Bennet pressed.

“Those will also come from your own funds. I have approved three new dresses for June when your mourning ends. Jane will accompany you to the dressmaker to discuss what we will cover,” Mr. Collins replied. “The estate’s income is improving, but unlike the previous master, I will not be coerced into spending more.”

Mrs. Bennet flailed her handkerchief. “You cannot mean to do this to me, Jane. You will need me to manage Longbourn. I am an excellent hostess, and my counsel is invaluable.”

“Mother, I have been managing Longbourn since Papa died. Mrs. Hill taught me how to run the household, and Mrs. Allen showed me how to be a proper mistress. You have ignored my efforts while pressuring me to host a grand celebration. You declared me ruined due to my scars, and it seemed what I did mattered less after that.”

“Your rapid marriage will disgrace the family,” Mrs. Bennet protested.

“Enough, madam,” Mr. Collins interrupted. “We are tired of your complaints. The best solution is for Jane and me to marry and for you to move to the dower house. No one will be surprised by our decision, given how difficult you have been. ”

Seeing her future son-in-law was resolute, Mrs. Bennet resorted to wailing and crying. Instead of receiving comfort, she was roughly carried upstairs to her room. Her cries ceased when she realised no one would indulge her tantrum. Accepting the smelling salts brought by the housekeeper, she fell asleep on her bed.

When she awoke, clarity washed over her. Her life had unraveled since Elizabeth arrived at Longbourn, ruining all her plans. Lighting a candle, she sat at her small writing desk—rarely used since she preferred the one in the drawing room. Determined, Mrs. Bennet began writing a letter to Elizabeth.

In the middle of February, Elizabeth received a slew of letters from Meryton. As usual, she sat in her husband’s study, their two-month-old child in a bassinet near the fireplace that had been brought down soon after Elizabeth had been released from her rooms. The couple always enjoyed their time together, and while Elizabeth had a study of her own, she could often be found in her husband’s when reading her letters.

She smiled upon recognising the handwriting of two of her sisters. The tenor of the letters from Jane had changed over the last few months, and it seemed to Elizabeth that the two might be able to be something like friends again. They would never be close, not after the way Jane had acted in the past years, but perhaps they would be able to exchange letters and see each other on occasion. Elizabeth would remain wary of her, particularly given the way Jane flirted with Fitzwilliam that night in Meryton, but since he had offered to host the newly married Collinses in the autumn, Elizabeth could only hope the apparent change in the letters equated to a real change in her oldest sister.

Opening the letter from Jane first, she read the account of the confrontation with Mrs. Bennet and then about the wedding. Elizabeth was surprised to learn how the wedding came to pass and, knowing what she did about the former mistress of Longbourn, she supposed the result was not that unexpected. Still, Elizabeth was pleased to learn the two were able to be married sooner than they originally planned, and it seemed they would do well together at Longbourn.

Mary’s letter informed her that she had returned to Longbourn for a brief visit. The Winters were very kind to her, but without Mrs. Bennet at home and with Mr. Collins now married to Jane, it seemed best to return home at least for a time. The Gardiners had invited Mary to London, and they would collect Catherine from her school on their way north for the summer. It would be the first time her sisters had visited her new home as well as the first time she had spent a significant amount of time with them since she left Longbourn all those years ago. Elizabeth looked forward to spending this time with her sisters, and hoped the visit would go well.

The last letter was written in an unfamiliar hand. Immediately upon opening it, she scanned down to the end to read the signature. She gasped audibly, causing her husband to look up in alarm. “Are you well, dearest?”

“I am. Mrs. Bennet sent me a letter, and I was surprised.”

Darcy’s face darkened, and his voice was cold. “You do not need to read it, Elizabeth, not if you do not want to. That woman has no claim on you.”

Elizabeth stood, moving to stand directly in front of her husband. He leaned back to give her room and immediately wrapped his arms around her. “I know, Fitzwilliam. There is little doubt in my mind that she intends to complain about Jane marrying and relegating her to the dower cottage on the estate. Jane opted to marry without a fuss and has refused to give in to her many complaints and demands. I will read what she wrote, but her words no longer have the power to hurt me. She is a lonely woman who seeks to blame others for problems she herself has caused.”

His hold on her tightened. “I cannot suppose it has always been this easy for you to ignore her, but I suppose you have had years of practice by now. May I read the letter with you?”

“Promise not to get upset at anything she might say?”

Sighing, he nodded, so she moved to perch on his lap. Together they read the missive:

Lizzy Bennet,

How is it that you are still creating problems for me all these years after I had your father send you from Longbourn? I thought that would fix things, but you cursed me so I could never have a son. Then, years later, I finally found a way to keep Longbourn in the family by promising you in marriage to the heir when somehow, you managed to trick a man into marrying you before you arrived home though I doubt it is the love match your uncle tries to claim. No, I still think you ensnared him somehow, for why would such a wealthy and handsome man want you? It is a shame he did not have the chance to meet Jane first, for she would have made a far better mistress of an estate than you. It is shameful that you have not invited any of your sisters to join you in London for the Season.

To add insult to injury, not only did you manage to claim such a husband, but you gave him a son on your first attempt. I do hope that nothing happens to the child, for you know that many children do not survive to adulthood. It is best you give your husband a spare as soon as possible …

Darcy snatched the letter away from Elizabeth’s hand. “Dearest, I cannot continue to read such drivel. She seems almost mad in her ramblings. Are you certain she is well?”

Elizabeth shuddered. “I cannot be sure, in large part because I cannot and will not spend any time in her presence. She is bitter, unable to see her own role in her present unhappiness. We can toss the letter into the grate and be done with her. If she sends any other letters, I will throw them away unread. Perhaps you can suggest to Mr. Collins that any letters she attempts to send to me are discarded before they even make it into the post.”

Pressing a kiss to her head, Darcy sighed and tightened his hold on his wife. “She is a fool, and it seems she will never learn any better. What of your other sisters?” he asked, turning the conversation toward more pleasant topics.