Page 19 of Elizabeth is not a Bennet
Dining Parlor
Longbourn
Late the Next Morning
The sausage, eggs and ham of breakfast were as good as always, if slightly cooler than usual, but it was vaguely jarring to see the shadows in such odd places on the table due to the lateness of the hours. Elizabeth had slept poorly and descended to the breakfast parlor shortly before noon, where she found Kitty and Lydia there, giggling together over ribbons and bonnets and trimmings. Elizabeth, weary, returned her cousins’ morning greetings with a wan little smile and tuned out their conversation as she ate her breakfast steadily.
She had stayed up far later than was her custom, reading over all the documents Mr. Jenkins had brought back with him from Scotland. She had pored over each with intent focus, noting a handful of details with interest, but there was nothing in them that surprised her. Mr. Bennet had already told her all that he knew, after all, and there was little more to be said without viewing the estate itself .
Elizabeth had realized, after laying aside with impatient disinterest a very enlightening document about Ravenswood, that it was not actually the estate she was interested in so much as her half-brother, Harold. Did he know about her? Was he curious about her? Or was he, having been raised by her vindictive stepmother, part of the plan to have her murdered? It was a distressing thought and one which plagued her dreams until morning.
Sally entered the dining room and said, “Miss Stowe, Mr. Bennet would like to see you in the library when you are done with your repast.”
“Thank you, Sally,” Elizabeth replied and quickly swallowed the rest of her coffee. The hot liquid provided a jolt of energy, and she rose to her feet, adjusted her shawl carefully, and made her way to the library.
She was surprised to discover Mr. Darcy standing by the fire, and her Uncle Bennet sitting behind the desk.
“Mr. Darcy,” she said with a curtsey, and he bowed in return and said, “Miss Stowe.”
“Sit down, my dear,” Mr. Bennet directed, gesturing toward the wingbacked chair near the fire. Elizabeth opened her mouth in protest and then shut it; she was well aware that until her shoulder was completely healed, the Bennets, from oldest to youngest, were determined to coddle her .
She took the chair as directed, and a moment later, the two gentlemen sat down across from her.
“Lizzy, my dear,” Bennet said, “I will speak directly. Mr. Darcy arrived half an hour ago. It has occurred to him that the danger from Denny is over, but there is a possibility that your stepmother will send another assassin.”
Elizabeth swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes. It seems absurd, but given that she already has taken such a dreadful and incredible step as to pay Captain Denny to … to kill me, it is at least possible.”
“Yes, and I think you should leave Longbourn,” Darcy said bluntly.
This provoked a look of amazement on Elizabeth’s face, and she looked at her uncle, who nodded and said, “Mr. Darcy is right, my dear. Mrs. Stowe knows about Longbourn, but if you went elsewhere, and were hidden away, you would be far safer.”
“But where would I go?” she asked, and then frowned and continued, “Perhaps I could stay with the Gardiners? I could help with the children and…”
She trailed off as Mr. Bennet shook his head.
“I am certain the Gardiners would be pleased to have you,” he said gently, “but anyone who knows our family would assume that is where you would go. ”
“Then where?” Elizabeth asked, her heart beating rapidly. Would she truly need to leave her beloved Longbourn and hide because some madwoman wanted to take her life?
“I would like to invite you to Pemberley, Miss Stowe,” Darcy said, focusing an intent gaze on her face. “Along with one of your cousins, perhaps? It is in Derbyshire, you know, and if you travel there secretly, I am confident you would be both safe and comfortable.”
Elizabeth stared at him in amazement for a few moments and then turned to look at her uncle, who was now grinning. “My dear, I assure you that before I called you in, I asked for Mr. Darcy’s intentions. And he said…”
Bennet gestured toward his guest, who flushed a little but said, with reasonable calm, “Miss Stowe, as I told your guardian, I find you a most charming, intelligent, and wonderful young woman. We have not known one another long, and during that time, there has been a great deal of upheaval in your life. I would not wish … I do not think it is possible yet to make any sort of promises or commitments, but I would very much like you to come to know me better.”
Elizabeth turned pink at these words and found herself smiling. “It has been a remarkably confusing season, Mr. Darcy, but I … well, I find you an honorable, ki nd and intelligent man, not to mention handsome and rich! What more could a young lady want?”
Darcy looked startled for a few seconds before he realized she was teasing him, and then he laughed aloud, which made him even more handsome, if that were possible.
“And yet,” Elizabeth continued with more gravity, “I would not wish to put anyone in harm’s way. How would we conceal my time at Pemberley? I have no desire to hide in a house, however grand, for the next six months.”
“My servants are devoted, and the estate itself is very large. I am confident you will be secure there, especially if we keep your location a secret from all but your uncle.”
Elizabeth hesitated, glanced at Bennet, who nodded, and said, “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I accept.”
Darcy was obviously pleased. “I am very glad.”
“Lizzy, my dear, you must not tell your aunt or cousins about this plan,” Bennet instructed. “They are all chatterboxes, more or less, and might let slip your place of safety, even if they do not intend to.”
“Of course, though I am confident Mary and Jane can be trusted. Speaking of Mary, could she perhaps accompany me to Pemberley? ”
“Not Jane?” Bennet asked in some surprise.
Elizabeth smiled. “Definitely not. Jane does not wish to leave Longbourn at the moment.”
“That is a relief to me,” Darcy confessed. “My friend Bingley would be outraged if I was responsible for Miss Bennet’s departure.”
“Oh, of course!” Bennet replied. “With this business with Denny and your evil step-mother, I had forgotten … well, in any case, run along Lizzy, and Mr. Darcy and I will make the final arrangements.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
“One other thing, Lizzy,” Bennet continued. “I will make plans with your Uncle Gardiner to collect all the paperwork which proves you are Miss Elizabeth Stowe, daughter of Isobel Stowe, and heiress of Ravenswood. I have the letter from your father, of course, putting you into my care, and Mr. Appleton must have a variety of documents regarding your father’s will and your inheritance.”
“If he can find them,” Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes.
“Surely he must be able to find them!” Darcy exclaimed .
“The elder Mr. Appleton, who was Mr. Stowe’s London man of business, died rather suddenly, and his son seems to having some difficulty putting his hands on vital documents,” Bennet explained. “But my brother-in-law Gardiner is a competent man who lives in Cheapside, and he can arrange to have the papers collected.”
/
Drawing Room
Longbourn
Later
“But where will you go, Lizzy?” Lydia demanded, her eyes anxious.
“Elizabeth will be going to London,” Mr. Bennet answered for his adopted niece, “but the location has not yet been determined.”
This was, of course, a bare faced lie, and Elizabeth was uncomfortable with it, but it was true enough that Lydia and Kitty and Mrs. Bennet could not to be trusted to keep silent if they knew of her true destination .
“But Mr. Bennet,” his wife protested, “it would not be at all proper for a young lady to live alone in London! You cannot seriously consider such a thing!”
“She will not be alone, I assure you. We may hire a companion for her, or she will have one of her cousins with her.”
“Not Jane! She is being courted by Mr. Bingley!”
“Not Jane,” Mr. Bennet agreed.
“I would be pleased to accompany Elizabeth wherever she goes,” Mary said softly.
Elizabeth smiled at her cousin and turned expectantly toward Mr. Bennet, only to be surprised to see the man frowning thoughtfully.
“Mary,” he said, “I appreciate your offer, and indeed I had thought that you were the most sensible companion for Elizabeth. However, there is a complication in the form of Mr. William Collins, who will be arriving on Monday for a ten-day visit.”
There was silence from his female relations, and then Mrs. Bennet shrieked, “Mr. Collins? Heir to Longbourn? Why on earth … Mr. Bennet, how could you not tell us before now?”
To his credit, Mr. Bennet was obviously chagrined .
“I do apologize,” he said. “I received Mr. Collins’s letter some time ago and replied to him. I intended to tell you a week ago at least, but then came this business with Lizzy and the Scottish estate, and it entirely slipped my mind. It was only today that I remembered he is due to arrive tomorrow.”
Mrs. Bennet groaned, cast her eyes heavenward, and complained, “It is most inconvenient, with Longbourn in such upheaval, but I suppose it is far too late to do anything about it. Why is he coming, anyway?”
Bennet pulled a letter out of his coat and handed it to Jane, who appeared surprised.
“Please read this aloud, my dear,” the master of Longbourn requested. “You have better eyes than I do, and Mr. Collins’s handwriting is a trifle difficult to decipher.”
Jane’s expression cleared and she looked down. A few seconds later, she began reading in a clear voice.
Dear Sir,
The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honored father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach. But, for some time, I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.
My mind, however, is now made up on the subject; for, having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honorable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish.
As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch.
I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologize for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends; but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, 11 th November, by four o’clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se’nnight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,
William Collins
When Jane had finished, everyone was silent for a full minute, and then Lydia asked, logically enough, “In what way can Mr. Collins possibly make amends? He is the heir, and it is not like he would wish to not be the heir.”
“He could marry one of you,” Mrs. Bennet suggested in a hopeful tone.
Silence fell again, and then Jane said, “I suppose that is a possible explanation for his words, but I must say, he seems rather a foolish man. As Lydia said, surely he would not give up being heir if he could.”
“I think it likely that he is neither sensible nor wise, but I agree with your mother – he may well be considering a marriage to one of you, and Mary, I would not wish to send you away if you think you might be interested. ”
All eyes turned to Mary, who blushed and said, “I do not know. I am only eighteen years old and never expected to wed before Jane and Elizabeth, even if, well...”
She trailed off and Elizabeth said, very sensibly, “Mary, it will be a few days before we leave. If you meet Mr. Collins and find yourself attracted to the man, we can make other arrangements.”