Page 51 of Saving Jane
“Lady Catherine was most kind to impart her wisdom for handling our servants, linens and poultry. She intends to show me her kitchen garden that her three gardeners keep for her so that I can improve the kitchen gardens here.”
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For the remainder of the week, Mr Collins found that the parsonage improved every day. The servants were under Miss Bennet’s direction and the meals greatly improved with meat, bread and ale served for supper each night to his great enjoyment.
The housekeeper and Miss Bennet conspired to keep a pail of vinegar and clean cloths handy to the front door–Lady Catherine called three more times to dispense advice and direction from her carriage to Mrs Gardiner and to Miss Bennet–and each time the housekeeper hurried a maid out the door with the bucket in hand to wash windows while the great lady watched from the road. Late in the week, thebucket was moved upstairs, and Edward was charged with washingthe outside of the upstairs windows.
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Chapter 23.Jane’s Whist Game
When a seven-night passed, Mr Collins returned to the parsonage very excited when it was time for the evening meal. After blessing the meal, he announced to his fiancée and her family that Lady Catherine had invited them all to supper at Rosings the following evening.
“Her Ladyship welcomed visitors to Rosings today and she wishes to offer them some entertainment tomorrow night.”
“Are we to be ‘entertainment’, sir?” Jane asked. “How are we to entertain Lady Catherine’s guests?”
Smiling Mr Collins explained, “I know Miss Elizabeth plays and sings a bit, but I think Lady Catherine only expects conversation and cards tomorrow night.”
“Cards? Does her Ladyship play whist?” Jane asked innocently while Elizabeth and Aunt Gardiner kept their attention on their meals.
“Oh yes, Lady Catherine always wins at whist!” Mr Collins informed the ladies with a certainty. “I frequently see her Ladyship complete a small slam.”
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“Hurry, Miss Bennet! Hurry,” Mr Collins encouraged Jane, her sister and aunt as they strolled along the path from the parsonage to the manor house.
“Mr Collins, please,” Aunt Gardiner extolled. “Ladies must not exert themselves once dressed for supper. Your patroness would be most disturbed if we arrived with our hair out of order and our faces damp with perspiration!”
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged glances as Mr Collins stopped his scurrying to consider their aunt’s admonishments.
“Of course, you are correct, Mrs Gardiner,” Mr Collins admitted. “We shall stroll casually and reach Rosings at the appointed time.”
Approaching the great house, the ladies were in awe of the manicured lawns and shrubberies, gravel paths and flower beds. The facade of the house was red brick with stacks of multiple windows leading up three floors. When the door opened, Elizabeth and Jane were wordless staring at the gaudy outfit of the butler. The butler wore a powdered wig–the fashion of twenty years in the past or for high court.
“Good evening, Mr Collins,” the butler said as he performed a formal bow. “Her Ladyship awaits you and your guests in the receiving room.”
“The receiving room! Miss Bennet, Lady Catherine honours us,” Mr Collins exclaimed.
“If you will follow me,” the butler said leaving the door to a footman only slightly less formally dressed. The parson paled with excitement to be formally escorted to the presence of his patroness, and he scurried after the butler into the depths of the house.
“Mr Collins, should you not escort Miss Bennet on your arm?” Mrs Gardiner called. “This is your first time to present your future wife to your patron. She should arrive on your arm, sir.”
Mr Collins paused to consider Mrs Gardiner’s suggestion and once again took her advice. The butler paused as the parson offered Jane his arm and she laid her hand lightly on the man’s arm before he led her down a hall with Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner following behind closely.
A footman opened a door as the butler stepped into the room and announced, “The Reverend William Collins, Miss Jane Bennet, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mrs Edward Gardiner.”
Mr Collins led the ladies forward into a formal room, large and overly decorated with marble floors, velvet draperies, and chandeliers. There was a single ornate chair–positioned like a throne in the centre of the room. Seated on the chair was an older woman, in formal dress, with powdered hair, excess jewellery, and a snuff box. Arranged around the seat were her daughter, the daughter’s companion, a lady’s maid, and three guests–people known to Elizabeth–Mr Bingley, Miss Darcy and Mr Darcy.
The pleasure of renewing acquaintances was evident on several faces, but Mr Collins and Lady Catherine spent the first twenty minutes exchanging expressions of greeting and the parson’s gratitude for the invitation for his future bride and her relatives.
When the others were permitted to move about and greet one another, Mr Darcy went immediately to the ladies. “Mrs Gardiner, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, it is good to see you once again.”
“Darcy! How do you know these people?” Lady Catherine asked with an imperious manner.
“Aunt, Miss Elizabeth is Georgiana’s particular friend from last fall. Her uncle, Mr Edward Gardiner, is an important associate of mine in trade. If you had ever followed my suggestions for investments...”
“Do not dare to mention matters of trade this evening Darcy!” fussed Lady Catherine. “Members of our circle do not engage with trade!”
