Page 23 of I am Jael (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

“Charlotte?”

“Yes, Lizzy?”

“I am aware that you have many tasks to complete this morning, but would you care to join me in the garden? I am most impressed with Mr. Collins’s pea plants.”

Charlotte Collins lifted a startled eyebrow and then smiled slightly, “By all means. Let us go admire the pea plants.”

The two ladies quickly donned their outerwear and stepped into the cool morning. It was a fine day, with white puffy clouds overhead and the spring birds in full voice.

One minute later, they were safely out of earshot from anyone in the house. Elizabeth halted by the pea plants and looked down at them thoughtfully.

“They really are remarkable pea plants, Charlotte. Mr. Collins is to be commended. He is a fine gardener.”

“Yes, he is,” Charlotte replied with amusement. “Now that we have agreed on that, what do you wish to tell me?”

Elizabeth smiled now, “Charlotte, I am engaged to Mr. Darcy.”

Her friend gasped in amazement and stepped forward to embrace her, “Oh, Lizzy! This is wonderful news! But how ... when did this happen? He only arrived here yesterday! Have you been engaged these last four months?”

Elizabeth smiled mischievously, “No, I agreed to his marriage proposal yesterday, in this very garden.”

Charlotte Collins stared, laughed and shook her head, “There must be more to the story then that, my dear friend.”

“Indeed there is,” Elizabeth agreed, beginning to stroll back towards the parsonage.

“As you know, Mr. Darcy and I were acquainted last year and rather to my astonishment, he fell in love with me. But I was concerned that his attraction was a passing fancy so when he proposed marriage in December, I asked him to wait a few months and ask again if he still wished to do so. Obviously, his love for me did not diminish with separation and time.”

“Only you, Elizabeth. Only you would say no to a handsome, well connected, noble man because of your desire for a love match.”

“I did not say no forever, Charlotte. I merely wished to be certain that he would not regret our union. While both of us come from gentle families, we do not move in the same circles. I could not bear the thought that he would regret our marriage. Indeed, I believe that the months have been good to us both. He came prepared to offer again, and I have realized in the interminable weeks since we parted that he is the very best man in the world for me.”

Again, she was hugged by her friend.

“Elizabeth, I am delighted for you.”

“Thank you, Charlotte.”

“Miss Bennet.”

Both women looked up in surprise and Elizabeth’s face lit up with pleasure.

“Mr. Darcy,” she cried out softly, stepping forward. The two met, gazed into one another’s eyes, and Darcy lifted up Elizabeth’s gloved hand for a kiss.

“Many congratulations, Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Collins said joyfully. “I am very happy for you both.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Collins. May I be so bold as to take a few minutes to speak to Miss Bennet alone? I believe we will be appropriately chaperoned if you were willing to withdraw to the garden bench? Or if you need to go inside, perhaps you could send out a maid?”

Charlotte Lucas nodded approvingly, “I would enjoy a few quiet minutes in the garden, Mr. Darcy.”

She turned and glided over to one end of the garden, seating herself demurely.

Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and walked slowly away from Mrs. Collins, “It is good to see you this morning, Miss Bennet.”

“I am delighted to see you as well, Mr. Darcy.”

The two smiled at one another long enough that Elizabeth began to blush.

“The spring sights are most pleasant, are they not?” she asked.

“Yes, they are,” Darcy continued without moving his gaze from her face.

Elizabeth blushed more and laughed, turning slightly away from her admirer to regain her composure.

“Did you indeed tell Lady Catherine about our engagement?” she asked.

“I did.”

“And I assume she was displeased?”

“Yes.”

Elizabeth turned back now, her eyes searching, “You sound quite serious, Mr. Darcy. Was she abusive toward you?”

“Not to me, precisely.”

“To me.”

“Yes.”

“It matters not. I am indifferent to her approbation.”

“I have no doubt of your courage, Miss Bennet. Both the Colonel and I are concerned about the passion of her displeasure.”

Elizabeth frowned with concern, “Do you fear actual violence? Surely not!”

Darcy sighed and shook his head, “I would hope not. I am startled at the level of animosity and, indeed, obsession she is displaying. Regardless of the wishes of both parties, she is determined that I marry her daughter Anne.”

“So Miss de Bourgh is also not desirous of such a match?”

“No.”

“I am glad for that, anyway.”

“I am as well, but Lady Catherine refuses to listen to reason. I am concerned that Mr. Collins will take her side and make things uncomfortable for you in the parsonage.”

Elizabeth sighed, “I see your point, Mr. Darcy. I am not interested in Mr. Collins’s views on the matter, except that Mrs. Collins will find herself in the midst of a difficult situation.

Perhaps we should have waited to make our announcement, but I thought that Lady Catherine would accept the inevitable.

She must know that you are far too much of a gentleman to break an engagement. ”

Darcy huffed softly, “Her plan, as of last night, was to pay Colonel Fitzwilliam to marry you, thus freeing me to marry Anne.”

“No!”

“I fear so.”

“Cousin Elizabeth!”

The couple turned, startled, as the heavyset clergyman surged toward them, his face wrathful.

“I order you to move away from Mr. Darcy,” the man said angrily.

“Mr. Collins,” Charlotte began, taking a hurried step toward her husband.

“Mrs. Collins, return to the house immediately!”

Charlotte’s eyes widened in distress but Elizabeth, meeting her eyes, smiled in an encouraging way, “It is quite all right, Charlotte.”

Mrs. Collins walked swiftly toward the parsonage as Darcy tucked Elizabeth’s arm firmly in his own.

“Mr. Collins, what is the meaning of this?” he demanded coldly.

The rector winced slightly at Darcy’s tone, but maintained his rigid stance, “Mr. Darcy, I must apologize for my cousin’s incredible behavior.

She clearly has used her arts and allurements to entice you away from your proper path.

As her male relation, I have no hesitation in saying that this prospective union, which departs from all that is godly and right, must never take place.

Miss Bennet’s father will, I am confident, agree with me in this. ”

“If you believe that to be true, I am equally confident that you do not understand or know my father,” Elizabeth replied, her eyes flashing.

“Cousin, you must see, you must acknowledge, that you have no lawful rights to Mr. Darcy. He is pledged to Miss de Bourgh! I am horrified that my own cousin, related to me by blood, would have the temerity to reach so high above her station in life.”

“Mr Collins!” Darcy snapped. “It was my decision to offer Miss Bennet my hand in marriage, and hers to accept. You have no say in my decisions nor, as Miss Bennet’s father is alive, do you have any say in hers!”

Collins’s mouth opened and shut several times and he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. A moment later, he ran it across his perspiring brow and lifted his chin defiantly, though he took a cautious step backwards.

“You are no longer welcome in the parsonage, Cousin Elizabeth.”

In spite of herself, Elizabeth cried out softly in dismay.

“What are you saying, Mr. Collins?” Darcy demanded angrily, stepping closer.

“I have just returned from speaking to my esteemed patroness. She insists that Miss Bennet depart from this county immediately.”

“You cannot be serious. Miss Bennet is an honorable guest. To cast her out of your home would be a most unchristian attitude. You are a man of God!”

Collins wilted slightly at these words, his expression clearly uncertain.

A moment later, he straightened himself with determination, “Much as I respect you, Mr. Darcy, I must align myself with Lady Catherine’s wishes.

You are as yet a young man, clearly in the throes of an unfortunate infatuation.

Miss Bennet must be gone within the hour.

I will not permit a woman who is so contemptuous of my honorable and glorious patroness to stay under my roof.

Miss Bennet must return home by the stage today. ”

Elizabeth froze in dismay. The stage? She was a gentlewoman alone. Surely ...

She felt Mr. Darcy’s hand tighten slightly on her arm and she looked up to see him smile at her reassuringly.

“Very well, Mr. Collins. Miss Bennet will leave today, and I will go with her.”

/

“Leave?” Anne de Bourgh quavered.

“If you wish to, Cousin Anne,” Georgiana said kindly, reaching out a comforting hand to her pale cousin.

“Mother will never let me go.”

“You are not morally or legally required to inform her of your departure,” Colonel Fitzwilliam stated gravely.

Anne looked first at Georgiana, then at her older cousin, her expression incredulous, “You are suggesting I creep away?”

“Essentially,” Georgie agreed with a slight smile. “I know it is not the ideal path, but as you said, I fear your mother would deny you what is a very reasonable request.”

Anne rose to her feet and walked over to a window, staring out toward the east garden where the rose bushes were sending out pearly pink buds.

“I would like to leave,” she murmured softly enough that Georgiana had to strain to hear her. “I would greatly welcome a change from what has become a very dull and subscribed life. But would it not dishonor my mother to depart suddenly?”

Georgiana hesitated, then rose to her feet and walked over to Anne. The older woman was several inches shorter than the girl, and she seemed frail in the morning sunshine.