Page 16 of Five Gentlemen at Netherfield (Pride and Prejudice Variations)
Old School Room
Longbourn
A Few Days Later
Elizabeth looked around the room with wistful nostalgia.
A layer of dust coated the mantel, tabletop, and the seats and backs of the chairs, as well as the nearly empty bookshelf along one wall.
The room had, upon Jane's birth, been assigned to be the schoolroom for her and all the following children.
Elizabeth had many happy memories of sitting at that table, industriously applying herself to her sums or her reading.
The schoolroom had fallen into disuse some years previously, though, as Lydia had little bent for education and could but rarely be found within its walls.
Now the room had a sad, unlived-in, neglected air to it.
Still, it was a good room, chosen when the young Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had been in hopeful expectation of a son, whose education would be rigorous of necessity.
The awaited son never appeared, but the girls availed themselves of the schoolroom and its materials, and Mr. Bennet had even, on occasion, paid for a Master to come and instruct one or the other of his daughters in some skill.
The girls had been grateful then, for the soundness of the walls and roof, and the fireplace that drew so well and warmed the room so effectively.
Elizabeth was glad that she had ordered the servants to come up and light the fire an hour previously. The room would be cold otherwise, and that would be a poor welcome for Miss Fairchild. Besides, Mary chilled easily, and did not need to spend time in a cold room.
“I was thinking that we could purchase sketching paper and writing instruments for Kitty,” Mary remarked, breaking the silence, “and Lydia is very interested in pulling apart bonnets and adding lace and decorations. She is also enthusiastic about fashion, so perhaps we could buy some fashion magazines?”
Miss Fairchild, who had been surveying the room with interest, turned toward Mary and said, “I would be pleased to instruct your younger sisters in those areas, certainly, but given that you are the one paying not only for my services, but for all this paraphernalia, I hope that you are also interested in either sketching or fashion?
Mary sighed and wrinkled her nose.
“I am not particularly,” she admitted. “But I care a great deal about my younger sisters and our family’s honor and reputation, and I am willing to pay to improve their character and accomplishments.”
“That is admirable,” Miss Fairchild said kindly, “but I hope there is something that I can do which will bring joy to you, in addition to music, that is.”
“Well,” Mary said, “I confess that I have long wished to gain more mastery of French, and I understand you are fluent in the language?”
“I am, along with Italian and Spanish.”
“Spanish?” Elizabeth remarked. “I do not believe I have ever met anyone before who was fluent in Spanish.”
“My father was a colonel in the British military and spent some years in Spain, where he learned the language. When he was home, he taught me Spanish. I have always been a quick study with language, and I treasured those times together.”
“Is Spanish difficult?” Elizabeth asked.
“It has many similarities to French and Italian and English, and in some ways, it is the simplest of all four languages. No, I did not find it particularly difficult.”
“I think I would like to learn more French,” Mary decided, just as the door opened and one of the maids appeared and said, “Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, Mrs. Bennet requests that you come downstairs, as Mr. Collins will be arriving soon.”
Elizabeth sighed. She was not looking forward to Mr. Collins’s arrival, but courtesy demanded that they be civil to their guest.
“Miss Fairchild, would you be willing to write up a list of necessary items so we can purchase them for the schoolroom?” Mary asked.
“Of course,” the lady replied.
“Thank you,” Mary said and hooked her arm in her sister’s, and together the pair made their way downstairs to meet the heir of Longbourn.
***
Drawing Room
Thirty Minutes Later
Mr. Collins was some five and twenty years of age, tall, and rather rotund. His manners were very formal, and his air grave and stately.
He had arrived at Longbourn on time, and that was something in his favor. Elizabeth, seated along with her sisters and parents in the drawing room, was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, though based on his letter to her father, she thought he was probably an absurd gentleman.
“You have a very fine family of daughters, Mrs. Bennet,” Mr. Collins remarked, looking around at the sisters. “I had heard much of their beauty, but in this case fame has fallen short of the truth. I have no doubt that in due time, they will all be well disposed of in marriage.”
Elizabeth blinked at this idiotic gallantry and looked at Lydia, who not surprisingly lifted a hand to cover her mouth, her eyes merry.
She then looked at Jane, who was obviously annoyed, and from thence to Mary and Kitty, seated side by side.
Mary looked stoic and Kitty looked vague – she was probably thinking about something else.
“You are very kind,” Mrs. Bennet said.
“Your house, too, is most remarkable,” the clergyman continued, looking about him with what might be an avaricious eye.
“The furniture looks well-made and comfortable, and the curtains are most exceptional. Indeed, I could almost imagine that I was in the east sitting room of Rosings – the one with the blue furniture, not the orange, as the latter is more up to date, which is, of course, appropriate, as Lady Catherine de Bourgh, my esteemed patroness, is very fond of that room, and often sits there in the evening, and naturally she must always be surrounded with colors and furnishings that please her.”
Elizabeth suppressed a sigh as her gaze met her father’s. Yes, indeed, her cousin was an idiot.
“Please, will you not tell me of your patroness, Mr. Collins?” the master of Longbourn invited, his eyes twinkling.
This produced a panegyric on the subject of the lady and elevated Mr. Collins to more than usual solemnity of manner.
He had, he claimed, never in his life witnessed such behavior in a person of rank, such affability and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine and her only daughter, Miss de Bourgh.
Lady Catherine had been graciously pleased to approve of both the discourses that he had already had the honor of preaching before her.
She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening.
Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people, buthehad never seen anything but graciousness in her.
She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighborhood, nor to his leaving his parish occasionallyfor a week or two to visit his relations.
She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion, and she had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage, where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had been making and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself, some shelves in the closets upstairs.
Elizabeth, while she maintained a courteous demeanor, found this discourse tiresome. Lady Catherine might be a wonderful lady, but she was neither God nor King, and Mr. Collins’s slavish veneration was ridiculous.
At that moment, the butler entered to call the family to dinner, and everyone rose to enter the dining room. Elizabeth noted her father’s eyes were crinkled with glee, and she was happy for that. At least one person found her cousin a beneficial addition to the household.
***
Billiard Room
Netherfield Hall
Midnight
A pool cue cracked across an ivory ball, followed by a series of thunks as the other balls collided into each other and the felt sides of the table.
Several candles glowed in brass candlesticks, filling the room with light that caught on cut glass decanters and glasses, setting the liquids within aglow in blazing amber or deep rich reddish purple.
All six gentlemen had repaired to the billiard room after the ladies had departed the sitting room for bed, and they were now enjoying each other’s company and the contents of Bingley’s wine cellar and liquor cabinet.
Three of the chairs, covered in brown leather, had been drawn nearer to the hearth.
Oak logs sat in their basket, ready to be tossed into the fireplace, though the blaze was currently producing plenty of heat.
Hurst, Bingley, and Darcy had claimed these chairs while Colonel Fitzwilliam lounged nearby the billiards table, watching and scoring for his brother and Sir Quinton at their game.
“I hope the weather is good tomorrow,” Bingley remarked from his position by the fire. “I spent much of today diligently poring over ledgers from the estate and wish to ride tomorrow.”
“To Longbourn, perhaps?” the colonel suggested.
Bingley grinned and said, “I would not be at all surprised if my journey took me to Longbourn, yes.”
Richard chuckled and said, “The family is a very pleasant one, and I too would be glad to have some exercise. I will come with you, if you do not mind.”
“Of course I do not,” Bingley replied. “Anyone who wishes is welcome to come.”
Darcy was not surprised when the other men, save Mr. Hurst, chimed in their agreement. He would accompany the party, of course. After all, it was his duty as Bingley’s closest friend to keep a close eye on the younger man’s courtship of Miss Bennet.
And if he was able to spend some time with the intriguing Miss Elizabeth, so much the better!
***
Drawing Room
Longbourn
The Next Morning
Before Breakfast
It was a chilly morning, but Mrs. Bennet was pleasantly warm, wrapped in a shawl and sitting in a wingbacked chair by the well-tended fire.
She had much to think about with Mr. Collins in residence as well as Miss Fairchild, not that the governess mattered a great deal, but she had every intention of impressing the heir of the estate.
When Mr. Bennet died, it would be good if Mr. Collins cared enough about them to let them stay at Longbourn, or at least give them a few months to make any necessary moves.
The door opened at this juncture, and Mrs. Bennet turned her head as Mr. Collins strode into the room looking portentous.
“Mr. Collins, good morning,” Mrs. Bennet said, reluctantly standing up and producing a smile. “I see that you are accustomed to country hours.”
“I am, of course, as I live in the country, in Hunsford, and Lady Catherine has declared on more than one occasion that it is my responsibility to rise early and go to bed early as well, as befits a clergyman.”
Mrs. Bennet had heard a great deal about Lady Catherine the previous evening and was already tired of her.
“Yes, well,” she replied, “please do sit down by the fire, sir. It is rather a cool day. I hope you do not mind that breakfast will not be served for another hour, though if you need sustenance now, I can arrange for a muffin and tea.”
The clergyman shook his head and said graciously, “I am accustomed to waiting until ten o’clock for my first meal, so I can wait with ease.
But in any case, I am eager to speak with you about the real reason that I decided to journey to Longbourn to become acquainted with you and your wonderful family. ”
He straightened his back, his expression grave, and said, “Mrs. Bennet, having a good house and a very sufficient income, I intend to marry, and given that I am, in some sense, responsible for the future destitution of your daughters, have decided that it is appropriate for me to choose one of your daughters as my bride.”
Mrs. Bennet’s boredom gave way instantly to joy.
“Oh, Mr. Collins! Oh, how kind … any one of my daughters would be … how absolutely wonderful!”
Mr. Collins smiled at this response, obviously pleased, and continued, “Now, Miss Bennet, I believe, deserves to become the mistress of Hunsford thanks to her position in the family, and thus I intend to ask for her hand in marriage.”
Mrs. Bennet blinked, her mind whirling. On the one hand, Jane would be a wonderful future mistress of Longbourn – kind, honorable, and all too ready to acquiesce to Mrs. Bennet’s desires regarding food and drink and decorating.
But no, Mr. Collins should choose another daughter, because Mr. Bingley was interested in Jane, and the master of Netherfield was wealthy and charming and…
“My dear Mr. Collins,” she said with a saccharine smile, “Jane is indeed entirely wonderful, but she is in a courtship with a young gentleman whose estate marches to the west of Longbourn.”
Mr. Collins looked startled, and his lips drooped a trifle. “I see. Well, in that case, perhaps Miss Elizabeth would be an appropriate wife?”
“Oh yes indeed, Elizabeth would be a magnificent wife for you! I am so happy and pleased and thankful and honored. You are so kind, sir, to think of my dear girls. Oh, Mr. Collins!”
Not surprisingly, this enthusiasm on the part of his prospective mother-in-law gratified Mr. Collins very much, and the pair spent another few minutes rejoicing in their mutual pleasure before they entered the dining parlor to break their fast.