Page 47

As promised, the inhabitants of the parsonage were prepared for Mr Wickham’s arrival before the clock chimed six times.

They sat in the parlour waiting for almost a half hour before the sounds of a horse stopping outside the front door were heard, followed by the much-anticipated knock on the front door.

Charlotte was the perfect hostess, and Elizabeth was a pleasant houseguest, though Mr Wickham paid excessive attention to the unmarried woman.

Mr Collins dominated all the conversation with questions about profits, praises for Lady Catherine’s nobility, and sad whispers describing the horrid behaviour of her nephew, Mr Darcy.

In a welcome surprise, Mr Wickham produced his money bag and paid Mr Collins fifty pounds.

The clergyman was overjoyed, and Charlotte was pleased as she imagined the next visit to the mercantile in Hunsford.

Not certain how she felt, Elizabeth realised this was only the second time in her life she’d seen gentlemen conducted business outside of a private setting.

Her father always met with the overseer in his office.

Her uncle conducted all business matters in his warehouse.

The young woman also noticed that before allowing Mr Collins to express his gratitude for funds, Wickham made an unusual request of his business partner. George smiled as he explained, “Mr Collins, I must ask you and your household not to share the news of your receipt of profits here in April.”

“But why, Mr Wickham? This is wonderful news,” Mr Collins asked. “I should be pleased to praise your business accomplishments to everyone I know.”

In his calmest voice, Wickham explained, “The happiness I give to people when I pay them shares of the profits is something I cherish, Mr Collins. I intend to visit Meryton in May and pay the gentlemen their share of the profits. I should like to see their faces when I hand over the gold.”

Collins agreed to Wickham’s request immediately, and the parson assured the man that his wife and cousin would certainly abide by the request and not include any hints or declarations in letters.

Wickham remained until almost nine of the clock and rode back to Hunsford by moon light.

Mr Collins was confident that Mr Wickham was impressed with his conversation and the meal served by his wife.

The maid helped Charlotte with the buttons on her dress and then came to Miss Elizabeth’s bed chamber to undo the buttons on the back of her dress.

While she waited for the maid to attend her, Elizabeth continued to marvel at Mr Wickham's strange request to keep the secret of paying profits to Mr Collins.

‘Something does not seem proper about the secrecy,’ she concluded. ‘But I shall not create strife in Charlotte’s home. And this is the second time Mr Collins forbade his wife to write of events in Hunsford–first Mr Darcy’s argument with his aunt, and now Mr Wickham’s paying profits to Mr Collins.’

She paused and remembered her father forbidding her mother from spreading some gossip in the past. ‘Perhaps husbands do try to censure the thoughts of their wives. Nonetheless, I return to Longbourn in a fortnight; the news can wait until then. Besides, Mr Collins will burst with excitement and share the information with someone he should not tell. Then the gossip will fly from Kent to Hertfordshire.’

Once the maid had undone her buttons, Elizabeth sent the girl to bed and hung the dress on a hook on the back of the door. She would examine the gown for stains in the morning before placing it in her trunk.

‘Sunlight reveals stains and rips much better than candlelight,’ the woman mused. Smiling, she wondered, ‘Is that why we only dance at night? So, we do not see the stains and tears on each other’s clothes and souls by candlelight?’

~~~

The next morning, Mr Collins was quiet as he sat with his wife and cousin when they broke their fast. Charlotte enjoyed the quiet conversation with Eliza and Mr Collins noticed his cousin was properly reserved for once.

In his mind, he connected her improved behaviour to having been in Mr Wickham’s presence the night before.

‘The right husband will be the making of my cousin,’ decided Mr Collins. ‘Perhaps I should encourage both of them.’

Finally, Mrs Collins asked, “Husband, you are not yourself this morning. Are you well?”

“What?” asked the man in surprise.

“Mr Collins? Are you well?” Charlotte said and insisted that her husband answer her.

“Yes, my dear. I am well…my thoughts are on the future this morning,” he replied. “Mr Wickham’s honest endeavours will secure our financial future. Our children will have plentiful food, good clothes, and the best tutors.”

Charlotte smiled at that moment, and Elizabeth was struck by how happiness made her friend an attractive woman. Glancing at Mr Collins, she noted that the man was blind to his wife’s smile and her expressions.

Collins continued, “On Monday, Mr George Wickham is to call at Rosings Park and share the news of his business opportunity with Lady Catherine. She will travel to London and provide him with the monies to invest in the name of her daughter, and Mr Darcy will be unable to ignore the wealth of his cousin when next Lady Catherine reminds him of his duty to his family.”

“I shall continue to invest my income in the New World Tea Company and when I inherit Longleaf, I shall mortgage the estate to expand my business concerns. My son will inherit a much richer estate than I did…whenever I inherit.”

Elizabeth had grown tight-lipped and refused to meet Charlotte’s eyes while Mr Collins spoke thus. Reaching out to take her husband’s hand, Charlotte suggested, “Mr Collins, perhaps you should save such conversation for the gentlemen. I fear you have distressed Eliza.”

The look on the man’s face was one of true surprise.

Glancing between his wife and cousin, he asked, “Distressed? Miss Elizabeth should be pleased to hear my words. As her future guardian, she can take solace in my plans to improve the standing of Longleaf. Once she and her sisters live under my hand, their happiness will be determined by my pocketbook.”

Elizabeth resolved then and there to see her sisters married well before their father died. And if by unfortunate circumstance, she should not be married when Mr Collins inherited, she would immediately take the position of lady’s companion or nanny with any family advertising to hire.

‘I hope Mr Darcy calls at Longbourn this summer,’ she thought. ‘But would I accept his proposal just to avoid Mr Collins? I shall be honest with him–a marriage is for our lifetimes.’

Mr Collins rose from the table and departed for his study. Elizabeth and Charlotte lingered over their second cup of tea for a moment longer. Charlotte studied her wedding ring, and Elizabeth remembered the smile on Mr Darcy’s face during their last walk before he departed Rosings.

~~~

The next day was Sunday and Mr Wickham attended the service in the chapel where Mr Collins preached, though Lady Catherine and her daughter were absent.

Pleased to find Mr Wickham in the congregation, Mr Collins invited the man to lunch.

Charlotte did not betray her dismay–the meal she would serve included Black Sausage, boiled potatoes, and bread without any butter.

During the meal, Mr Collins excused Lady Catherine’s absence from the service by stating four times that Miss de Bourgh often kept to her room with chills and fevers.

Assuring his host that he gave no weight to the lady’s absence from the church service, Mr Wickham ate the plain food offered and gave no indication that Black Sausage was not a suitable meat to serve a guest.

Elizabeth remained silent while Charlotte directed the conversation to the sermon her husband had offered. However, after one line of praise from Mr Wickham that endorsed the sermon, Mr Collins returned to the situation at Rosings Park and Lady Catherine’s distress concerning her nephew.

When the meal was concluded, and the ladies cleared the table, Mr Collins led Mr Wickham into the parlour.

When Charlotte and Elizabeth appeared at the door from the kitchen, the younger woman pleaded that she was suffering from a headache.

She begged Charlotte’s permission to return to her room for a nap to relieve the pain.

Without consulting her husband, Charlotte sent her friend off and asked if Mr Collins wished for tea.

Before Mr Collins could respond, Mr Wickham requested to speak with Mr Collins privately.

Immediately, Charlotte offered to leave the parlour, but Mr Collins replied, “No, my dear. As always, you are thoughtful and obedient. However, gentlemen must not inconvenience a lady. We shall retire to my private office, and once you serve our tea there, we can have a private conversation.”

Tea brewed with the same leaves used with the meal two nights earlier was quickly served in the office, though there was no shortbread on the tray this afternoon.

Charlotte began to return to the parlour but went to the kitchen instead.

The maid was absent, visiting with her family on their nearby farm, and the dishes used at lunch must be washed, dried, and put away.

She considered taking tea to Eliza but decided to support the tale of a headache allowing the young woman to escape above stairs.

In her room, Elizabeth sat beside the fireplace, where the single window in the room provided sufficient light for her to be able to read.

When the men entered the office where Mr Collins wrote his sermons in the evenings before retiring, she heard them immediately.

During the weeks she had resided in Hunsford, Mr Collins had not used his office while Elizabeth had been in the bedchamber above it.