Folly and Forgiveness: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 14

  Elizabeth and Jane looked awkwardly to one another before Elizabeth spoke. “I thought our Aunt Gardiner had spoken to you.”

  Mary crimsoned and looked to her feet. “Not about that.” After a moment to collect herself, Mary looked back to her sisters. “I meant that I know little about running a household. I know Mamma taught you both, but I do not believe she thought I would ever marry and must have deemed teaching me as wasted time.”

  “That is not true, Mary. I am sure that Mamma expected us all to make good marriages.”

  Elizabeth disagreed with Jane, but kept her thoughts to herself. Mary would appreciate sound advice more than soothing nonsense.

  “What do you wish to know?”

  “Everything,” Mary replied, wringing her hands as she again checked to be certain no one was listening. “I should have sought guidance sooner, but I had not quite grasped the enormity of the changes coming to my life. Mr. Collins has a cook and a maid, so I suppose they must already know what to do. I fear that I shall disappoint him if I appear unable to handle my role.”

  “Let us get Aunt Gardiner. She will be able to tell you the most important things to remember as you are setting up your household. She can write some lists for you, the way she did as we prepared for the wedding.”

  “She has already talked to me and taught me a few things, but I still fear I shall make a fool of myself. Will you come to visit me, Lizzy? I do not think Uncle Gardiner would mind you accompanying him when he brings the rest of my things. I would feel much better if I had your assistance as I learn to manage the household.”

  Elizabeth thought such a visit was certain to be awkward at best, but could not outright refuse her sister’s request.

  “That is but a fortnight from now. Do you think Mr. Collins would welcome my presence? I would not wish to be a cause of discontent in your new household, especially so soon.”

  “I will speak to him to be certain, but I do not believe he would take issue with your visiting us. He holds no grudge against you. In fact, he sees that God saved him by guiding you to refuse him, as it provided the opportunity for us to come together.”

  While Elizabeth was amused to be a tool of God’s divine plan in providing for Mr. Collins happiness, she saw no way to gracefully refuse the visit. Her sister needed assistance and Elizabeth would gladly offer whatever help she could. If she had to tolerate a visit with Mr. Collins to do so, then that was a price she would pay.

  “If your husband permits, I would be glad to come and see you. I doubt you will need my help. You have always been an earnest student and I believe you will have mastered your role long before my arrival.” Elizabeth took her sister’s hand, pleased she could offer anything Mary needed.

  Mary, in turn, was overcome with unnecessary gratitude and quickly procured her husband’s blessing for the visit. While he admonished Mary that she was quite competent and that she would have the assistance of Lady Catherine de Bourgh in every matter, he seemed to understand her desire for a familiar face as she transitioned into her new life. More surprising, he seemed eager to take any steps that would make his bride more comfortable.

  Elizabeth thought that Lady Catherine was likely to overwhelm her sister, but there was little Elizabeth could do there. She would go to Kent and help her sister adapt as best she could. Elizabeth had never been especially close to Mary, none of them really had been, but she was honored that her sister had requested her presence.

  ~ ~ ~

  Changes to Mr. Gardiner’s business plans delayed Elizabeth’s visit and she arrived at Hunsford parsonage little more than a month later. She was determined to provide all the guidance she could. Her mother had covered the basics of household management and accounting with her eldest daughters. Elizabeth and Jane had also shared management of Longbourn since their mother’s passing. Whatever Mary needed, Elizabeth was ready to provide.

  Mr. and Mrs. Collins approached the carriage as it came to a stop and waited for Mr. Gardiner and Elizabeth to exit. Mr. Collins was profuse in his greetings to Mr. Gardiner, but Elizabeth heard little of what he said as she embraced her sister.

  “You look well, Mary.”

  “And you as well, Lizzy. I am glad you are come. I have learned much since arriving here, but I shall feel more confident with you here.”

  “Then I am glad I came. First, you should direct the servants on where to place the trunks.”

  Mary blushed nervously before turning to the waiting manservants Mr. Gardiner had brought. She quickly directed them and turned back to her sister.

  “Would you care to refresh yourself? I can show you to your room.”

  Before Elizabeth could respond, Mr. Collins had hurried over.

  “Cousin Elizabeth, nay, you are Sister Elizabeth now, I offer my most fervent welcome and gratitude that you could come to our humble home. Please, allow me to show you to your room.”

  Elizabeth hid a smile and nodded, following the man into the house.

  Mr. Collins pointed out the arrangement of furnishings in each room while providing the history, usually quite detailed, of how each had come to be. Most seemed to involve Lady Catherine’s direction and Elizabeth gauged her sister’s reaction. Mary appeared satisfied with the arrangement, so Elizabeth said nothing other than the obligatory compliments.

  “And see here, Sister Elizabeth, is your dwelling for the duration of your stay. Is this not a most excellent room? You must check the closet, are the shelves not perfectly spaced? Lady Catherine directed their placement most specifically.”

  When Mr. Collins said anything of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which was often, Elizabeth involuntarily turned her eye on Mary, searching for any signs of embarrassment. Surprisingly, she found none. “It is a very comfortable room, Mr. Collins, and I thank you for your consideration.”

  He began another soliloquy on the great beneficence of Lady Catherine as Elizabeth checked the room. Understanding the rhythm of his speech, she was able to add the appropriate noises of approval or agreement when called for without needing to listen to the actual words spoken.

  “And in her great condescension, Lady Catherine has invited us to dine with her tomorrow evening, after you have recovered from your journey and your uncle continues his travels. I confess,” said he, “that I should not have been at all surprised by her Ladyship’s asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there immediately after your arrival!”

  Inside, Elizabeth prickled at the insult to her uncle. She doubted very much that Lady Catherine’s concern for Elizabeth’s comfort had been the driving force behind delaying the invitation a day. She suspected Lady Catherine refused to allow a tradesman to share her table, but could not politely exclude the uncle of Mrs. Collins from the invitation if he were still in residence.

  “I need not say you will be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, to honor you with a portion of her notice. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying that she will include you in every invitation with which she honors us during your stay here.” Mr. Collins stepped closer and spoke in a quieter voice, though there was no one but Mary who could to overhear him.

  “Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear sister, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved. She is the sort of woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference.”

  “Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman indeed,” added Mary, with an embarrassed blush for her sister, “And a most attentive neighbor.”

  “Her behavior to my de
ar Mary is charming. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed to walk home. Her ladyship’s carriage is regularly ordered for us. I should say, one of her ladyship’s carriages, for she has several.”

  “She is most kind, Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth replied, “And I beg you convey my gratitude for her attentions should you see her before we dine tomorrow.”

  Mr. Collins puffed up, visibly pleased that Elizabeth had recognized the honor she was receiving. Luckily, he was too self-satisfied to speak for a moment and Elizabeth took advantage of the brief pause in his oratory.

  “As it has been a long journey, I shall refresh myself before I trail any more dust through your fine home.”

  Mr. Collins immediately excused himself with long words of gratitude for Elizabeth’s notice of his home, his insistence she could not possibly be the cause of any disturbance to its cleanliness, and his appreciation for her consideration on not further taxing the servants to maintain his excellent home.

  Mary stayed as Mr. Collins left and again came to embrace her sister.

  “I am so glad you are come, Lizzy. Lady Catherine has been most helpful in her instruction as to the proper maintenance of a home, but I do so hate to tax her with my simple questions. I fear she already thinks me a poor wife for Mr. Collins, but is too kind to say so.”

  Based on what she had heard of Lady Catherine, Elizabeth highly doubted the woman was too kind to refrain from speaking her mind on any subject.

  “Oh, Mary,” she began as she smoothed the sleeve of her sister’s gown, “I know that you are far more capable than you give yourself credit. I am happy to ease your mind in any way that I can.”

  “Thank you, Lizzy. I will let you settle and refresh yourself. We will have tea downstairs when you are ready.” Mary smiled widely at her sister before leaving the room.

  Mary still seemed to be happy with her choice of Mr. Collins, and Elizabeth was pleased. Mary had always been a bit of an enigma in the family. That Mary was too serious for their mother surprised no one, but Elizabeth had always wondered why her father had not shown more interest in his middle daughter. Mary was too serious for him as well, but with guidance she might have developed a sense of humor or at least a recognition of when studiousness bordered on the ridiculous. If she could have taken the personalities of her three youngest sisters, mixed them up and then divided them back equally, Elizabeth would have had three more sisters who were capable of laughter and dancing as well as reading and studying.

  Elizabeth cleaned herself up and changed her gown before going downstairs. She found her Uncle Gardiner sitting with the Collinses and attempting to listen to Mr. Collins describe the great fireplace at Rosings. Elizabeth took pity on the man and interrupted.

  “I certainly hope to see this great fireplace when we visit. After hearing so much about it, I should consider it a great loss to miss the opportunity of viewing it while I am here.”

  “Sister Elizabeth, I am sure that you will have the opportunity. While Rosings is quite grand and you will be unable to witness most of its grandeur, the magnificent fireplace is one view you shall not miss.”

  Mary called for tea, and subtly steered the conversation to other topics.

  CHAPTER 20

  Lady Catherine was everything Elizabeth had expected based on Mr. Collins’ stories. The lady sat in a raised chair, much like a throne to Elizabeth’s thinking, in order to look down upon those around her. She was a tall, large woman, who might once have been handsome. Her air was not welcoming, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. Lady Catherine dominated the conversation through a combination of recitation of her own kind works for others, advice for those present, advice for those not present, and observations of how much greater she felt everything than anyone else.

  Elizabeth was highly entertained and found herself hiding a smile more often than she had needed to for quite some time. Lady Catherine had assuredly chosen well in selecting Mr. Collins for the local parish, as both shared a penchant for extolling the lady’s virtues.

  After dinner, when the ladies returned to the drawing room, there was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted.

  “Mrs. Collins tells me that you have three other sisters, that they are all out, and that you had no governess.”

  “That is true, Lady Catherine.”

  “Highly irregular, as I have told Mrs. Collins many times. Had I known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to engage a governess. And all five sisters out at once – the younger ones out before the elder are married – very odd indeed!”

  “The youngest is full young to be much in company. But really, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters that they should not have their share of society and amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. The last born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth as the first. And to be kept back for such a reason, why I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection.”

  “Upon my word,” said her ladyship, “You give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. Pray, what is your age?”

  “With three younger sisters grown up,” replied Elizabeth smiling, “Your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it.”

  Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer, and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence.

  “You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, therefore you need not conceal your age.”

  “I am not one and twenty.”

  Lady Catherine eyed Elizabeth suspiciously before turning conversation back to her own good works. “Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalfe’s calling yesterday to thank me? I recommended another young person, one who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted with her. She finds Miss Pope a treasure.”

  Lady Catherine continued to regale the group with a list of the many people she had helped place into employment. Elizabeth relaxed a little. While she was by no means intimidated by Lady Catherine, she was glad the lady’s attention was now directed elsewhere.

  “And you, Mrs. Collins, how is your garden doing?”

  “Very well, thank you. The vegetables appear to be growing quite well since I heeded your advice on planting. The flowers in the front are thriving as well. I still have a few plants I am unfamiliar with that are doing poorly.”

  “Describe them.”

  “The first has a bright pink flower, though I have only two blooms across three shrubs. I fear I must be neglecting them in some way to see so few blooms.”

  “Ah, yes, the Fuschia. I am not surprised you would be unfamiliar with this plant as it was brought from London by the last curate who was quite the horticulturalist. They have been quite neglected and will require much care to return to their former glory. You must prune back the shrubs and ensure no other bushes are blocking their sunlight. Even then, you may not see many flowers in a mild summer. Do that and they should be much improved.”

  Elizabeth wondered if Lady Catherine was really such a horticulturalist herself, or if she simply offered advice applicable to nearly any plant. That Lady Catherine thought herself an authority on all subjects was apparent. How far her knowledge actually extended was not.

  “Thank you, Lady Catherine. I value your advice and do so appreciate your thoughtfulness in guiding me,” Mary replied.

  Elizabeth looked closer at her sister, but saw only genuine appreciation. Elizabeth might have uttered the same words, but they would have had a far different meaning. She looked back to Lady Catherine and saw the woman’s face had softened and she too had a genuine smile for Mary.

  Apparently, Lady Catherine had acquired an additional admirer to join her r
ector. Mary was far more sincere, and less verbose, in her praise and appreciation than her husband. An interesting and unexpected turn of events, to be sure. Elizabeth looked forward to informing her father of this development.

  The evening concluded and Elizabeth walked back to the parsonage with her sister and new brother.

  “Lady Catherine seems a most attentive neighbor,” Elizabeth observed to Mary.

  “Oh, she is indeed,” Mr. Collins replied for his wife. “There is nothing beneath her notice from the placement of shelves to the planting of vegetables. Lady Catherine is wise in all areas.”

  Elizabeth hid a smirk as she watched Mary, but Mary continued the praise.

  “Lady Catherine has been most kind in helping me to set up the household. I believe she had directed Mr. Collins on the hiring of the servants when he first arrived, so she was already much more familiar with the household management than I. She has guided me on the best shops to use and methods to economize our purchases. I would truly have been lost without her.”

  “She seems to enjoy sharing her wisdom.”

  “Oh, she does indeed,” Mary gushed. “I confided in her that I had not been taught as much about household management as I would have hoped before our mother died. She assured me that she would step in to fill that role, poor motherless girl that I was.”

  “Perhaps she is glad to be able to share her advice with one so eager to learn. She seemed pleased by your efforts.”

  “Lady Catherine abhors laziness. She is most determined that I continue to practice on the pianoforte. As we have not one at Hunsford, she graciously allows me to practice at Rosings in Mrs. Jenkinson’s room. I then play when we dine with her to demonstrate my progress.” Mary’s face fell a bit, “She has advised I work more on my singing, as I have not developed that skill to the same level as my playing. I know my voice is not as good as yours, Lizzy, but I do not know how I can improve it.”

  “Perhaps if you ask, Lady Catherine will know of someone who could assist you, assuming you have the time and inclination. I know playing has always been a pleasure for you, is singing the same? If it is an accomplishment you enjoy, then you should work to improve. If it is not, then you should focus on your playing and let others do the singing.”