Page 50 of The Cherry Trees of Rosings
After all, Lady Catherine, in her superior wisdom, knew it was best if Miss Elizabeth Bennet went home straightaway.All the better to keep such unrelated persons out of matters wholly unconnected to them!
But, of course, Elizabeth was not to go straightaway.
There were letters that needed to be sent.
First, to her Uncle Gardiner in London—to send a carriage to convey her to the Gardiners’ home in Gracechurch Street. It was always the plan, and Mr. Collins did not see whyheneeded to spend money on hiring a post to rid himself ofsuch an incriminating presence in his house!
The other letter was addressed to her father at Longbourn, complete with Mr. Collins’ blistering recommendations on how to take one’s daughter in hand.
After all, if Mr. Bennet had done so from the start, Miss Elizabeth Bennet would not have turnedhimdown in marriage—how preposterous!—and would have had the benefit of Lady Catherine and his guidance to preventsuch undutiful and scandalous undertakings!
Mr. Collins ensured Elizabeth—and everyone else—knew the exact contents of his letters by reading them aloud during breakfast the very next day. He wished them to know that he hadburned the midnight oil to accomplish said task.All because he believed it was his duty to Lady Catherineand the reputation of his household!
He also wished them to know that he would not stand for his dear, innocent Charlotte being spirited away into the night.Never again!
And so it was only natural that two days hence, Elizabeth found herself once more alone with Charlotte with a big pot of tea between them.
Her plot to escape her friend’s scrutiny had failed.
“Eliza, something is troubling you,” Charlotte said, sitting down on the long settee beside her. “Will you not tell me?”
Elizabeth stared at Charlotte for a moment.
Thoughts flew through her head.
And then…
—all of a sudden—
…the dam she had built inside to hold back all the distress of the last few days finally burst.
She turned away instantly as a rush of tears began to fall down her eyes.
“Oh dear!”
Charlotte tried to draw her into a hug but Elizabeth resisted… before she allowed herself to be wrapped in a tight embrace. She tucked her face over Charlotte’s shoulder.
“Oh,Charlotte… I do not know…” Elizabeth said, through her tears. “I think… Mr. Darcy does not… he does not remember anything!”
Charlotte rubbed her back softly. “My dear girl.”
Elizabeth felt as if her heart would split in two. She hugged Charlotte tighter.
“I do not know why I care so much. If I even should,” she said in a rush. “What a wretched thing this is! I wish I had never met him!”
“Shh… shh… all will be well.” Charlotte stroked the back of her head.
“You will not believe this, Charlotte…” she said after a bit, her voice suddenly stronger. “But, for all that effort to write Miss Darcy’s letter, I left it behind in Mrs. Ronald’s cottage.” Bitterness flooded her mouth. “I forgot all about it!”
“Shh… shh…”
“All I could think of was how Mr. Darcy looked at me,” Elizabeth said. “As if I were some lukewarm acquaintance come to extend unwanted wishes. Some great interloper…”
“My dear, shh… that cannot be true. Only Lady Catherine would say such a thing,” Charlotte said. She patted Elizabeth’s back. “I am certain Mr. Darcy was pleased to see you.”
“Oh, Charlotte, you do not know…” Elizabeth squeezed her eyes shut as more tears streaked down her face. “You should have seen how Colonel Fitzwilliam was watching me. As if all his suspicions had been confirmed. Oh…”
The two friends sat in that manner for the longest time.
