Page 27

The Darcys were slightly tardy for dinner that evening, but their contentment with one another was so obvious that none of the others mentioned it.

The next day, after seeing the Earl and Miss de Bourgh off, Darcy and Elizabeth spent some time with the housekeeper, determining which servants would be let off and what accounts needed settling.

Will had expected that Richard would assist them, but his cousin disappeared shortly after breakfast and was not seen again until several hours later.

When he did return, he allowed Darcy to lecture him about the decisions that needed to be made with regard to the estate for some minutes without showing the least bit of remorse.

Eventually Fitzwilliam interrupted to inform his cousins that they were all three invited to the parsonage for tea that afternoon.

As Will accompanied his wife to their rooms to change, he noted a look of amusement on her face.

When he inquired, Lizzy’s smile broadened but she refused to comment on either her expression or why she had accepted the invitation to tea with such alacrity.

Mr. Darcy was left with no choice but to allow his wife her secrets and in short order the Rosings party set out on foot for the parsonage.

Though she appeared pale against her new black bombazine, Mrs. Collins seemed to be holding up as well as might be expected. After exchanging greetings, the foursome settled in the parlor where the new widow served tea and sandwiches.

Although they had always been easy in one another’s company, Elizabeth noticed that her friend was biting her lip and seemed uncertain how to begin the conversation.

After enjoying her first sip of tea, Lizzy inquired, “And how is Baby Collins today? Did he sleep well last night?” The grateful look that Charlotte gave her seemed quite out of proportion for such a minor conversational gambit.

“Oh, he is doing very well, Lizzy… very well, indeed. He’s such a dear boy… he woke only twice last night. Actually…” Charlotte glanced toward Richard who seemed to give her a small nod of encouragement. “Actually, I wanted to speak to you both about him…”

Mrs. Collins seemed likely to trail off again but then appeared to shake herself and adopted a more formal tone; “Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, I realize that this may appear untimely, but I am not certain when I will see you again and… I wanted to talk to you both in person... I love my son very much, you see, but I know next to nothing about how to manage his rights as heir to Longbourn.”

Seeing Elizabeth stiffen, Charlotte rushed to explain herself.

“Lizzy, please forgive me—I have thought and thought on the matter but I don’t know how to be more delicate about it…

it’s just that… I have the four thousand pounds my father settled on me, but nothing else.

This all,” she waved her hand, encompassing the house and its furnishings, “belongs to the estate, to Rosings Park.”

Darcy quietly pressed Elizabeth’s cold hand and was reassured to see her regain a little of her color.

“Mrs. Collins, you are welcome to remain at the parsonage for as long as you wish. Surely you don’t think that my uncle would throw the curate’s widow and her newborn child out onto the street?

” He was not a little insulted and it showed in his clipped tone.

Richard interceded, “Easy, Darce—Mrs. Collins said no such thing.”

Even as the Brigadier General spoke, Charlotte had begun to apologize; “No, no… truly, I know Miss de Bourgh better than that… nor would I believe it of your uncle or any of you.” She was relieved when Mr. Darcy looked slightly mollified.

“It’s just that the parish needs a new curate as soon as it can be arranged… and that gentleman will need a place to live. It would be neither proper nor comfortable for me to remain here very long.”

Darcy regretted his abrupt tone in the face of her very valid concerns. “Surely some other arrangement can be made. A small house could be rented in Hunsford, or perhaps a cottage on the estate?”

Charlotte smiled crookedly. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy, but for various reasons, I believe it would be best if I left Kent altogether. I had already intended to spend Christmas at my father’s house in Hertfordshire and it seems logical to follow that plan.”

Elizabeth had remained quiet throughout the conversation, but at this statement she inhaled sharply. “Oh Charlotte—I fear that my mother will not make it easy for you in Meryton, particularly once she realizes that Longbourn is now entailed to your son.”

Mrs. Collins attempted to smile but it seemed more like a grimace. “That is why I wished to speak to you both.” She included Mr. Darcy in her glance and Will nodded slightly, beginning to better understand the lady’s predicament.

“I discussed the entail with Mr. Bennet at one point.” Seeing Elizabeth’s curious look, Darcy explained, “When I was in Hertfordshire before the wedding, we started talking about it one evening after dinner.” Once she indicated her understanding, he continued, “Though I’ve not seen the legal papers myself, Mr. Bennet was very certain that it could not be broken.

We also spoke of the prospect of your child,” he inclined his head to Mrs. Collins.

“Mr. Bennet said that, if your child was a boy and he was willing to take the Bennet name, then he would be next in line to inherit Longbourn after Mr. Collins. Although we were speaking about it in context of his own daughters’ futures, Mr. Bennet indicated that he had consulted a solicitor about the matter. ”

For the first time in her life, Elizabeth felt a sense of relief at that information.

Although she loved her father, she was confident that Darcy and Bingley would never allow her mother and sisters to be left homeless should the worst come to pass.

Charlotte, on the other hand, was in a genuinely precarious position.

Her friend had been willing to marry Mr. Collins in order to have a home of her own.

How horrible would it be for her to return to live under her father’s roof now, after this brief taste of freedom?

The Darcys shared a long look and Lizzy squeezed her husband’s hand. When they turned back to Mrs. Collins, Richard smiled. He had observed their silent communications before and suddenly knew that everything would be well.

In short order, a general plan was worked out.

Charlotte and her son would remain in Kent until the beginning of December, allowing the widow to say goodbye to her late husband’s parish and pack their belongings.

Thus, they would arrive in Meryton just after the Bennets departed for Derbyshire to spend Christmas at Pemberley.

The Darcys would discuss the situation with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet during their visit, sparing Mrs. Collins from the brunt of Fanny Bennet’s immediate reaction, at least.

Although Charlotte had written to Mr. Bennet with the news of Baby Collins’ birth (and gender) she had yet to receive a reply, and Elizabeth admitted that she had not heard from her father with regard to either her letter informing him of Mr. Collins’ illness or that man’s death.

“Papa is a poor correspondent at the best of times, but there is no excuse for this. I apologize, Charlotte. He should have written to acknowledge your son’s birth, at the very least…

and to attend his heir’s funeral, whatever his personal feelings for Mr. Collins and his father. ”

Charlotte reached out to touch her friend’s arm.

“Don’t fret about it, Eliza. We both know that your father is a good man in essentials.

He has had to deal with a great many disruptions in his household over the last few months, what with you and Jane marrying, Lydia leaving for school, and then taking your mother and sisters to London for the ball…

I know he does not mean any disrespect.”

Elizabeth hoped rather than believed that her father deserved such a kind interpretation of his actions.

While Lizzy was unhappily considering her parents, Richard prompted Mrs. Collins quietly, “I believe there was something you wished to ask about the christening?”

Darcy noticed that, as Charlotte’s expression brightened at the reminder, she unconsciously reached out to touch his cousin’s sleeve.

It was small but intimate gesture between two people who appeared to understand each other far better than he would have expected.

For better or worse, Will’s distraction went unnoticed as everyone focused on Mrs. Collins’ words.

“I’ve decided to name my son William, for his father and mine, though I expect we will continue to call him Collin at home. He will be christened William Collins Bennet and, Mr. Darcy, I would be deeply obliged if you and your wife would agree to be my son’s godparents.”

Elizabeth moved to hug her old friend, the pair shedding a few tears over their new understanding. Likewise, Darcy immediately expressed his assent but then began to consider the situation.

He had to admit that it was a very shrewd arrangement on the part of Mrs. Collins. Christening the child as a Bennet cemented his place as heir of Longbourn, while naming him ‘William’ properly honored both sides of his more immediate family.

Suddenly Darcy realized that Richard was watching him closely. He raised his eyebrows, but his cousin only smiled and shook his head slightly, indicating that it was not the proper time to explain. Even so, Will was fairly certain that Mrs. Collins had not come up with the plan all on her own.

When Mr. Darcy suggested that they return to Rosings, Elizabeth indicated that she wished to stay at the parsonage a little longer to see young Master Collin (as his mother had determined he would be called) when the babe woke from his nap.

Her husband was oddly agreeable to this separation and quickly herded his cousin out into the crisp autumn afternoon.

As they walked across the lane, Darcy considered how best to broach the subject that was bothering him. “Richard, forgive me, but I feel I must ask… in addition to being Elizabeth’s friend, Mrs. Collins is also family, albeit in a round-about way. She is in mourning… and you… are you…”

Instead of being angered as Will had supposed he might, Richard actually looked rather amused. “Darce, are you attempting to ask me about my intentions toward Mrs. Collins?”

“Errr… well, yes, I suppose I am.”

“Well then, that is easy enough… I intend to marry her and treat her son as my own, just as soon as she is finished mourning that ridiculous man she married.” Richard was vastly amused to watch the series of emotions that flashed across his cousin’s normally stoic face, particularly when it finally settled into a sort of grudging respect.

“Elizabeth hinted to me that you might harbor an affection for someone—I should have listened. ”

Richard grinned. “Indeed you should have… as always, Mrs. Darcy has proven herself to be an excellent studier of character.”

After agreeing, Darcy inquired awkwardly, “And Mrs. Collins… does she… feel… similarly?”

He did not need to hear his cousin’s joyful, “Indeed she does!” to get his answer, for at that moment, Brigadier General Richard Fitzwilliam, decorated and battle-hardened officer of His Majesty’s cavalry, took three running steps and leapt high enough to snatch a leaf dangling precariously from the branches high above.

When he turned to catch his cousin’s eye there was such a spark of boyish glee in his expression that Darcy could not help but join his laughter over the simple joy of finding personal happiness in a world that so often appeared determined to prevent it.