Page 74 of New World Tea Company
“I suppose he is a proper gentleman,” Charlotte conceded.
Elizabeth smiled and replied, “I must admit that I agree with Mr Collins; Mr Darcy is a gentleman of the best temperament and education.”
The two ladies did not speak for a moment until, staring at her hands, Charlotte asked, “Eliza, may I discuss something of a delicate matter with you?”
“Certainly, Charlotte,” replied the younger woman who reached across the table to lay her hand on top of Charlotte’s hands.
“Mr Collins…after four months, I fear my husband has few redeeming qualities, and I worry about his state of mind. We have a conversation, and then the next day, he forgets it. When he came to Lucas Lodge to ask for my hand in marriage, he referred to Longbourn as ‘Longleaf.’ He does not understand money, only interprets the Bible as Lady Catherine directs, and seldom visits my bed.”
The only complaint that surprised Elizabeth was the last and it made her rather uncomfortable. However, she still asked, “Your bed?”
“We sleep in separate rooms, and when we were first married, he came to my bed every Friday night for only a short time and then returned to his bed. Since the return of spring, he never comes to my bed. I must have a child, and how will that occur if my husband does not come to my bed?”
Blinking her eyes, Elizabeth wondered at her friend’s concern so soon after her wedding but then remembered her mother’s fear of poverty once she was widowed. Charlotte had to have a child–preferably a son–to inherit Longbourn.
“I have no advice,” Elizabeth replied. “But, let me think on the matter. If we could speak with Jane–I believe she and Mr Bingley are very happy with their marriage bed.”
“I dare not write to Mrs Bingley,” Charlotte said. “My husband reads my letters before he hands them to me.”
~~~
Chapter 32.Tea With Mr Darcy
Starting her walk later in the morning, Elizabeth decided to limit herself to the road to Rosings, a quick turn through the gardens, and return to the parsonage. Her mind was distracted by the opportunity to speak with Mr Darcy again in the afternoon. As a consequence, the young woman covered the distance quickly and only paid close attention to the gardens, where the scent of the blooms made her stop for a moment.
Elizabeth heard a feminine giggle behind the shrubbery, and the woman’s voice said, “Mr Fredericks, your company brings great pleasure to my secret walks.”
Turning around again, Elizabeth returned to the parsonage with the same determined pace she had used earlier to return only moments before Charlotte served lunch. Charlotte served peas and toast for lunch. After the maid washed the dishes from lunch, the two ladies prepared the tea service, cups, saucers, and spoons. Charlotte added new tea leaves to the small pile of chopped leaves drying since brewing their tea to break their fast that morning.
In the parlour, the pair of friends spent the afternoon sewing new curtains to close off Charlotte’s bed from the worst of the cold next winter. At two of the clock, Charlotte rose to add wood to the coals of the kitchen fire. Then, at half past the hour, she swung the kettle over the fire to heat the water. When the clock chimed three, they folded the curtains and placed them to the side, turning their attention to handkerchiefs they sewed for Mr Collins. After only a few minutes, there was a knock on the door.
As the mistress of the house, Charlotte answered the door and found Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy standing there. He was well-dressed, and his face remained solemn, though he did speakpolitely to Mrs Collins. She invited him inside the parsonage, and after handing his gloves, hat and cane to the maid who had appeared, Charlotte led him into the parlour where Elizabeth waited.
“Mr Darcy, welcome,” greeted Elizabeth as the man’s face brightened with a small smile.
“Mrs Collins, I am pleased to visit with you and Miss Elizabeth this afternoon.”
“Will you sit, Mr Darcy?” asked Charlotte. “Eliza and I have busied ourselves with sewing this afternoon.”
They sat in the parlour, and Mr Darcy asked, “Are you sewing screens or pillows?”
“No, sir. I continue to set my house to rights before I have time for more pillows for the sofa,” answered Charlotte. “We sew new curtains to surround my bed using the material that was the draperies in this room. Your Aunt Catherine provided material for new draperies here in the parlour when Mr Collins first became the parson here in Hunsford.”
She motioned toward the curtains hanging beside the windows and continued, “When I arrived in December, my first task was to stitch these new draperies.”
Then Elizabeth joined the explanation, saying, “And when I arrived for my visit, Charlotte shared that she wanted curtains around her bed, and I undertook to help her with the seams. We lined the curtains with a second layer of drapery to insulate the space and keep her warm.”
“Excuse me for a moment,” Charlotte said as she left for the kitchen. She left the door open to observe proprieties while she made the tea, but Darcy and Elizabeth were left alone for a moment.
“Are you enjoying your visit with Mrs Collins?” he asked, unable to stop himself from gazing at the young woman intently.
Blushing under his stare, the woman replied, “Very much. She has been a friend for many years, and we enjoy animated discussions amid our household tasks.”
“I suppose her winter was lonely here with just Mr Collins.”
Not wishing to reveal any confidences, Elizabeth replied, “I believe they are adjusting to life as man and wife. During the winter, we exchanged a few letters, and I believe Charlotte wrote to her mother.”
Nodding his head, Darcy asked, “And have you been walking about Hunsford?”
