Page 21 of Five Gentlemen at Netherfield (Pride and Prejudice Variations)

Drawing Room

Netherfield Hall

Darcy sipped his tea and leaned back in his chair, grateful to be safely inside and by the warm fire.

There was a sharp sound from the window as a gust of wind flung a spatter of rain against the glass.

The weather had been unpleasant since the middle of the previous night and was a far cry from the fair traveling weather of the past several days.

Darcy was glad to be back in the Netherfield drawing room, and glad, too, to have a distasteful task done and over with.

No more would Wickham cause trouble for honest merchants and susceptible women.

No more would he torment the Darcy family.

No more would he pose a threat to Georgiana.

He realized, to his surprise, that he felt more at peace than he had in many a month.

***

Drawing Room

Longbourn

The drawing room was, as anticipated, full of her mother and sisters, all in varying states of sadness and distress.

Miss Fairchild sat between the two youngest Misses Bennet, and Mr. Collins stood soberly near the window.

To Elizabeth’s surprise and gratitude, the heir of Longbourn was even being moderately helpful.

“Mrs. Bennet,” the parson said, “I beg you not to give up hope. God is a God of healing, and Mr. Bennet is a strong man, though a trifle beyond the prime of life. And if the very worst should come to pass – and I am not saying it will – I am confident that we can make a way for you and your lovely daughters to remain here at Longbourn for the foreseeable future.”

That was an oddly generous statement, and Elizabeth was pleased. If Mr. Bennet did die, it would be a great boon if the ladies had at least a few months at Longbourn to arrange their affairs, and it sounded as if Mr. Collins would not throw them out before their father was cold in his grave.

Elizabeth turned back to the foolscap paper lying in front of her, dipped her pen in ink and started writing.

Dear Uncle Gardiner,

Our father was the victim of an apoplexy yesterday.

A doctor is with him now, summoned from Town by our own apothecary, Mr. Jones.

At the moment, I do not know anything beyond the fact that his speech is garbled and the left side of his body is weakened.

When the doctor informs us of his conclusions, I will include them in this letter.

Whatever happens, we find ourselves in need of your direction and care, dear Uncle. Would you have time to travel to Longbourn upon arrival of this letter? I know that it is inconvenient, but…

The door opened, and Elizabeth lifted her head as Mr. Hill entered with a stranger behind him, a tall, handsome man with silver hair and a distinguished air.

“Doctor Stanley, Madame,” the butler said and retreated from the room.

Unconsciously, Elizabeth rose to her feet, and the other ladies and gentleman did so as well.

“Oh, sir,” Mrs. Bennet said in a quavering voice, “how is my husband?”

The doctor bowed slightly and said, “Please, do sit down, Madame, ladies, sir.”

They all obeyed, though Elizabeth made her way to the smaller couch where Jane and Mary were sitting. She squeezed in the middle, unable to bear being physically alone when facing what was likely dreadful news.

“Mr. Bennet is very ill,” the doctor said gently. “As you doubtless know, he suffered an apoplexy yesterday, which is always a serious affair. Having said that, his survival so far is hopeful.”

“You think he will live?” Mrs. Bennet demanded, her countenance brightening.

“I do not know, Madame. He is seriously unwell, certainly, and might pass away today or live for many more months and even years. I wish I could give you a more definite prognosis, but I fear it will be many years before much can be done for apoplexy beyond prayer and careful nursing. I understand Mr. Bennet has formerly been a healthy gentleman?”

“Very much so,” Elizabeth said.

“Certainly, that is in his favor. Now I have spoken to Mr. Hill about Mr. Bennet’s care. You may find it necessary to hire additional servants to care for him. If all goes well, he will improve at least somewhat from his current situation. If it does not, well…”

He trailed off, and Mrs. Bennet, predictably enough, began sobbing, first quietly, and then more loudly.

Jane and Mary rose instantly and hurried over in an attempt to soothe her, while Kitty and Lydia both began crying, though not as loudly.

Miss Fairchild immediately took both their hands and guided them out of the room, which was a relief, and Mr. Collins, appearing portentous, strode toward the doctor and said, “Doctor Stanley, I am most honored for your willingness to travel so far and on such an unpleasant day. I hope your return to London will be a comfortable one.”

“Thank you, sir,” the doctor said, looking rather confused.

“Doctor Stanley, this is my father’s heir, Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth explained.

“It is pleasant to meet you, sir,” the physician said. “Now, I do need to return to Town, but may God’s peace and healing be upon Mr. Bennet.”

“Thank you,” Collins and Elizabeth said simultaneously.

The doctor departed with another bow, and moments later, Mary and Jane guided their mother out of the room, leaving Elizabeth and her cousin alone.

“Miss Elizabeth,” the parson said as soon as the door had swung fully closed, “given this difficult and painful experience, I believe it is incumbent upon me to speak to you now on a matter of great importance.”

Elizabeth blinked in surprise and said, “Speak to me? Now? With all due respect, I must finish a letter to my uncle Gardiner in London and send it by express. He needs to know of my father’s illness, and I am hoping that he will be able to journey here within the day to assist us.”

The parson puffed up his chest and said, “My dear cousin, I beg you not to disturb your uncle, who is no doubt a fine man, and yet, surely a man of trade cannot be as helpful as a man of God like myself. Moreover, I am the heir of the estate, and if, as seems all too likely, your father passes away, well, then I will be master of Longbourn!”

Elizabeth felt her face flush, and she said angrily, “The doctor said that my father’s fate is not yet known. He may well live for some time.”

“Indeed he may, and I hope that he does,” Mr. Collins agreed in a judicious tone, “but given the severity of his attack … well, regardless of what happens, it is obviously wise for us to marry at once.”

Elizabeth stared at him for a long moment and then shook her head. “What?”

“My dear Cousin Elizabeth, please do sit down, will you not? It has been a difficult day for you, of course, and in some ways, I worry that I am being indelicate by asking … but truly, I mean only the best. After all, if tragically your father dies, you will be required to go into mourning, whereas if I purchase a common license, we can marry by tomorrow or the next day, and thus if the worst happens, you will be well settled as my wife and mistress of Longbourn!”

He stared at her, his face moist with enthusiasm, and Elizabeth, who felt genuinely shaky, retreated a few steps and sank onto a chair. Given the situation with her father’s sudden collapse, it seemed too much that she had to cope with her idiotic cousin as well.

And yet, there was some sense to Mr. Collins’s suggestion, she supposed. If she were willing to marry her cousin, it would be wise to do so now, before her father…

“But I fear I have not expressed myself properly,” Mr. Collins said without any noticeable regret.

“I must explain to you my reasons for choosing you as the companion of my future life as opposed to searching for a wife from the ladies of my own neighborhood in Kent, where I assure you there are many amiable young women. But the fact is that, as I am to inherit this fine estate, I could not satisfy myself without resolving to choose a wife from among the daughters of the family. This has been my motive, my fair cousin, and I flatter myself it will not sink me in your esteem. To fortune I am perfectly indifferent and shall make no demand of that nature on your father, since I am well aware that it could not be complied with; and that one thousand pounds in the four percents, which will not be yours till after your mother’s decease, is all that you may ever be entitled to.

On that head, therefore, I shall be uniformly silent.

And you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married.

I will therefore arrange for a license, and we can be wed within… ”

“No, Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth interrupted loudly.

The parson jerked in surprise and frowned. “No, Cousin Elizabeth? Whatever do you mean?”

She took a deep breath, settled herself, and said, “Mr. Collins, I will not marry you.”

A full minute ticked by, with Mr. Collins standing with his mouth hanging open, while Elizabeth forced herself to remain silent. She was so upset and so furious that she might well say something unconscionable.

“Do not be absurd,” the man finally said. “You must marry me.”

She stood up now, her back straight, her chin up. “No, I will not. I am grateful for your offer – indeed I am – but we hardly know one another, and I will not rush into marriage, especially when I am confident we would not make one another happy.”

The clergyman shook his head and said, “Happy? Of course we will be happy, as I am confident … but in any case, you cannot refuse me because you must realize that given the situation, well, I fear there is every reason to imagine that Mr. Bennet will pass on to his reward, and as much as I wish to be an honorable and godly man, I will not be willing to support you ladies in any way without a marriage between myself and one of the Bennet daughters, and you are the one I have chosen, unless, of course, Cousin Jane decides to marry me, but I understand that she is being courted by Mr. Bingley of Netherfield Hall.”

Elizabeth blew out a breath and said, with careful control, “That is all entirely reasonable, but I beg you not to concern yourself about our financial well-being. My mother’s sister passed on some six months ago and left my sisters and me sufficient funds that we will all be able to survive away from Longbourn. ”

The clergyman looked affronted. “Indeed? Why was I not informed of this?”

At this point, Elizabeth suddenly, regrettably, lost her temper.

“Mr. Collins, we met for the first time only a few days ago, and I was not aware you knew anything about our financial position at all. I hardly thought it necessary to describe our situation, when I had no idea in the world that you would ask for my hand in marriage within a few days, and my father, my father…”

She burst into tears, which, to her relief, resulted in her cousin fleeing with an inarticulate cry of horror.

She allowed herself to sob for another few minutes before resolutely wiping her face with her handkerchief and hurrying over to the desk where her letter was waiting.

The sooner Mr. Gardiner arrived from London, the better!