Page 26

When the carriage came to a stop in front of Longbourn, Elizabeth’s younger sisters all flew to the window to catch the first glimpse of Mr. Collins stepping down out of the vehicle while Miss Bennet remained beside her mother, poised to calm her mother’s agitation should it be required.

Mrs. Bennet had taken her tea a quarter hour before, but that did not mean the lady could not nor would not have an outburst. They had all borne witness to Mrs. Bennet’s illness overpowering the calming effects of the potions on more than one occasion.

Meanwhile, Fitzwilliam’s bearing was taut with the need to grab Elizabeth and keep her in his embrace.

Each and every one of the discussions regarding today had not been in eager anticipation.

On the contrary, the only person at Longbourn who had looked forward to Mr. Collins’s visit had been Mrs. Bennet.

She had been gleeful at breakfast when her husband had announced the vicar’s visit as well as his purpose.

If only Mr. Bennet had not mentioned Mr. Collins’s search for a suitable wife!

That was enough to set Mrs. Bennet on a hunt, and little did Mr. Collins know that he would be the fox in that scene.

Mr. Bennet would need to be vigilant in the coming weeks. So would Fitzwilliam for that matter!

“Well, what do you see?” asked Mrs. Bennet.

Kitty peered over her shoulder. “He is definitely tall, but he has only stepped down and is now reaching inside for something.”

A moment later, Lydia burst into a fit of giggles. “La, but he is almost as round as Sir William Lucas.”

Mary returned to her chair, picked up her book, and began to read once more.

“Well, this should be enlightening,” said Fitzwilliam in Elizabeth’s ear .

Mr. Bennet entered and took a seat in the chair near him. “I hope you are prepared for the worst.”

“Papa!” Jane shook her head while she placed her needlework on the side table.

At a knock on the front door, they all jumped. Who knew why? They expected the man after all. This was not a surprise visit by any means.

Mrs. Hill entered. “A Mr. Collins, sir.”

The tall gentleman entered with a gliding step, his nose slightly higher than one would customarily carry it. He looked down at each of them as he came to a halt.

“I welcome you to Longbourn.” Mr. Bennet bowed.

The clergyman returned the gesture with a sniff.

The elder gentleman was undeterred. “May I present my wife, my eldest daughter Jane, my second-born Elizabeth and her betrothed, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, then we have Mary, Kitty, and Lydia.”

Mrs. Bennet clasped her hands in front of her. “I hope you had a pleasant journey, Mr. Collins.”

He glanced around. “The roads were rather muddy, but that is to be expected when the weather has been rainy.” The gentleman’s gaze latched onto Fitzwilliam. “Did I hear correctly? Are you truly Mr. Darcy of Pemberley?”

Fitzwilliam’s spine became painfully rigid. “Yes, I am.” Why else would Mr. Bennet have introduced him as such?

“Then I am happy to report that your aunt and betrothed, the lovely Miss Anne de Bourgh, were very well when I last saw them four days ago.” The weaselly man glanced at Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet each while uttering his erroneous comments.

“I believe you have been misled, Mr. Collins,” said Fitzwilliam. “I have never been engaged to my cousin, regardless of what my aunt tells you. My parents would have never arranged my marriage with Miss Elizabeth had they done as my aunt claims.”

“B-but, Mr. Darcy, your aunt—"

He stepped forward so he was looking down at Mr. Collins.

“I have told you the truth of the matter, so now I expect you to abide by my wishes and never refer to my cousin in such a way again, or I shall be quite displeased. Do you understand?” He kept his tone hard and did his utmost to ensure his countenance was implacable.

The only hope of shutting this man’s obsequious mouth was to be as stern as possible—to behave as his aunt would.

Lord, but he despised his aunt’s imperiousness!

Elizabeth took his arm, and his bearing relaxed a little. How had she managed to soothe him when he was so agitated? He had already been tight at the prospect of being in company with this man, yet she could alleviate at least some of his tension with an innocent touch.

The parson’s eyes darted to Elizabeth’s hand, so Fitzwilliam covered it with his own.

He would protect Elizabeth as much as he could, even if it was no more than a subtle claim in company.

“I suggest you enjoy your visit with your cousins as well as your rest from the rigours of your living. You will surely be overwhelmed with my aunt’s instruction when you return. ”

Mr. Collins bowed before him, his hand waving in front of him in the most ridiculous fashion. “You are mistaken, sir. I am grateful for your aunt’s unfettered condescension. She has been generous in bestowing this living to me, and I shall never deny her anything that is in my power to provide.”

A gagging sound from behind Mr. Collins caused the man to lift from his scraping position and glance over his shoulder. Miss Kitty giggled into her hands while Miss Lydia examined her fingernails as though dying from the tediousness of it all .

Miss Bennet sat with a rigid deportment beside her mother while one hand rested on her mother’s arm. Mrs. Bennet’s mouth twitched here and there. A slight rattle from the mantel made Fitzwilliam reach back as though leaning against it, his hand pressing down on the base of the candlestick.

“I believe we require tea,” said Elizabeth.

Her father rang the bell, and a maid scurried in with a tea tray for the family. “Mrs. Hill will be in shortly with the mistress’s tea.”

“Mr. Collins, would you care to sit?” asked Miss Bennet. Her hand reached around to her mother’s back. “Mama, are you going to prepare the tea for our guest?”

Mrs. Bennet flinched a little. “Oh, yes, of course.”

With a shaky hand, Mrs. Bennet prepared Mr. Collins’s tea while Miss Bennet sat quietly. Her countenance appeared serene, but anyone who had been in company with her would take note of the set of her shoulders. She was concentrating with all she had to temper her mother’s behaviour.

“Mr. Collins,” said Miss Mary, “I have often wondered what most clergymen believe to be their first and most important duty to their parishioners. Are you more concerned with the sick or the overall spiritual well-being of your flock?” A heavy exhale came from beside him.

When he looked down, Elizabeth had squeezed her eyes closed.

“I do not believe I have ever been so thankful for Mary’s interest in theology until now.

” With Mr. Collins loudly expounding upon his dedication and attention to his patroness, Elizabeth’s softly spoken words did not attract anyone’s attention.

“Come, my love. Let us sit and take tea. Hopefully, Miss Mary can keep him talking so the rest of us need not converse with him.” He had his head turned away from the group, but Mrs. Hill had entered with Mrs. Bennet’s tea, so he and Elizabeth remained out of everyone’s notice .

Elizabeth’s mother served her guest and family without incident, then took her own cup from Mrs. Hill.

With the tea in her mother’s hand, Miss Bennet took her palm from her mother’s back and sipped from her own cup.

At least she would have a reprieve. During his previous calls on Elizabeth, Miss Bennet had exerted herself to calm her mother, yet on this occasion, she had shown obvious signs of fatigue from maintaining such a powerful connexion.

Before they made to join the rest of the family who were already seated, Elizabeth squeezed his arm and stepped over to her eldest sister.

She placed her hand on Jane’s shoulder as though using her for support while Elizabeth reached for a biscuit.

The entire exchange would have been unremarkable to most, except Miss Bennet’s cheeks, which had lost a bit of their colour, became rosier and the slight circles under her eyes disappeared.

The effect was subtle. Thankfully, Mr. Collins was too busy enjoying the sound of his own voice to notice Elizabeth’s efforts.

As soon as she returned, Fitzwilliam took her hand, squeezing it while he aided her to sit in the chair beside her father.

Mr. Bennet gave his daughter a crooked smile.

Had he noticed his daughter’s use of magic in the room with Mr. Collins?

At times, one could sense the use of power when nearby, but Elizabeth had directed the energy so precisely that no one should have taken note of the vibration.

A good half an hour was spent having tea with Mr. Collins before Mrs. Bennet offered for the man to see his chambers after his travels. Mrs. Hill responded to the bell and hurried Mr. Collins upstairs to the guest room.

No sooner had the door closed behind Mr. Collins, than the candlestick on the mantel began to rattle once again.

When it flew across the room, everyone ducked except Mr. Bennet, who held up his hand to keep the heavy silver piece from hitting the wall.

They would have required a clever excuse for the noise as well as the hole in the wall had Mr. Bennet not prevented it from making impact with the plaster.

“Jane,” said Mr. Bennet. “You must be exhausted. The weather is fine today. You may take a walk in the garden or even a nap should you wish. I shall accompany your mother to her bedchamber to rest.”

During Mr. Collins’s visit, Mrs. Bennet would never be alone. It was too risky.

“And, Mary, I have never been so thankful for your interest in sermons before today. You distracted Mr. Collins admirably. I am proud of you.”

Miss Mary gave a slight twitch. “I thank you, Papa. Mr. Collins’s opinions are greatly flawed, but I do not mind continuing to ask him questions or to engage him in a debate if I can be of aid.”

“You would be of great help,” said Elizabeth.