Page 32 of The Wager
With his letter now sealed and ready for posting, he applied to Miss Bingley for the indulgence of some music, who moved with alacrity to the pianoforte, entreating her sister to join her in song. While the Bingley siblings were thus employed, Elizabeth could not help observing, as she turned over some music books that lay on the instrument, how frequently Mr. Darcy’s eyes were fixed on her. It seemed Mary's observation was not incorrect.
After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm by a lively Scotch air; and soon afterward Mr. Darcy, drawing near Elizabeth, said to her, “Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Elizabeth, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?”
“It would be my pleasure,” she replied and joined him in the area of the room best suited for dancing.
Ever the gentleman, Ashton made a polite request of Mrs. Hurst, who also assented and soon the four of them made a merry party, with Bingley clapping his hands in time to the music.
Chapter Nine
AfterSundayservicefollowingMary and Elizabeth’s return, the Bennet family gathered for a light repast in the dining room. Conversation was pleasant, centering mostly on Trenton’s homecoming in a few short weeks and wondering if he’d grown any taller since his last visit home. As it was, he already towered over Papa. Not surprising as height was almost a prerequisite trait on the Fitzwilliam side of the family.
During a lull in the conversation, Papa reached out and took Mary’s hand in his. She was seated to his left.
“I am glad you are come home and feeling better.”
“Thank you, Papa. I admit to having a bit of a headache, but Hill has the perfect balms and tinctures for me and I am certain in a few days I shall be perfectly well.”
“That is good because tomorrow we have an unexpected guest arriving.”
Mamma looked up from her plate, her eyes widening.
“A guest? I have no rooms prepared for a guest.”
“I am as surprised as you. I received this letter yesterday and in all the excitement of Mary coming home, I forgot to tell you.” Papa gave his wife a tender smile. “Will you forgive me, my dear?”
“Who is this mysterious gentleman?” Elizabeth asked.
“My cousin, Mr. Collins, who is the heir presumptive of Longbourn.”
“Coming to count the silverware, no doubt,” Lydia said with a huff.
At their mother’s startled gasp, Papa gave his youngest daughter a stern look.
“Do not upset your mother, Lydia. I am looking forward to knowing this young man. His letter is… well, I do not know how to explain, other than to say his letter is quite expressive.” Papa reached into his waistcoat and drew out the folded missive. “Let me share some of it so you are better prepared for his… erm… excessive regard for long sentences and his patroness.”
“He has a patroness?” Mamma asked.
“Yes, my dear. Allow me to elucidate his character further by reading to you.”
Papa settled his reading glasses on his face and shook out the letter.
‘Dear Sir,
Upon the demise of my late honored father this past summer, I came across some documents in his desk pertaining to the entail on your family’s estate. I have always known of the disagreement that subsisted between yourself and my father, and knowledge of this fact always gave me much uneasiness. Having received ordination at Easter, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds, I flatter myself that my present overtures of goodwill are highly commendable, and the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologize for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends, but of this we shall speak further...
Papa looked over his reading glasses at all his girls and grinned.
“All of this, my dears, in four sentences. The third one alone contained seventy-three words, and I freely admit to lowering myself to count them. It seems my sense of the ridiculous was stoked by the fact my cousin is a verbose gentleman, and I shall not bore you with the rest. Suffice it to say, he will arrive at four o’clock this afternoon and stay till the Saturday se’nnight following.”
“I do not like this, Mr. Bennet,” Mamma said, fussing with her flatware. “To mention the entail and our daughters in the same sentence can mean only one thing.”
“What is that?” Lydia asked, her eyes wide.
“He means to marry one of us,” Mary replied calmly. “It makes perfect sense.”
“None of my daughters will be offered to Mr. Collins in an attempt to keep Longbourn within the family.” Papa’s voice was firm in his conviction. “If any of you find him amiable and handsome, the choice of accepting any offer is yours. Otherwise, this peacemaking gentleman will enjoy a two-week holiday in Hertfordshire, and nothing further.”
At precisely four o'clock – not a minute too early and not a minute too late – Mr. Collins’ hired hack turned through the gates of Longbourn manor. Elizabeth wondered if the man had sat on the road with his pocket watch in hand to ensure his perfectly timed arrival. They all watched, some holding their breath, as he fumbled his way out of the conveyance. The man had no notion of what he was about, nor how to gracefully exit a carriage. He seemed to be all arms and legs.
