Page 72 of Saving Jane
“Aunt Catherine, my friends called at my cousin’s invitation,” Mr Darcy responded.
Lady Catherine frowned, “I do not appreciate the casualness with which people appear to over my home!”
“Mother, this is no longer your home,” replied Mrs Collins entering the parlour.
“No,” Lady Catherine sneered. “I shall not be run out of my home by your meek husband!”
Hearing her mother’s continued disparaging remarks concerning Mr Collins, Anne stepped to the door and summoned three footmen. “Escort my mother to the front door and close it behind her. If she chooses to remain outside the front door for the entire day, I am content.”
Looking at her mother, Anne Collins inclined her head. “Or you may assist Lady Catherine into the carriage and escort her to the dower house where her maid, cook and housekeeper await her with tea and her clothing.”
Frowning, Lady Catherine was led toward the carriage waiting at the front door, but she made no further protest–Anne had proven to be her mother’s match since her marriage.
The party waited in silence for a few moments until the arrival of the man of the hour, Mr Collins–the husband of Anne de Bourgh and the new master of Rosings Park.
“Ah, good afternoon, my dear,” Mr Collins greeted his wife. Then he turned to the assembled guests. “Welcome! Welcome this glorious afternoon! Rosings Park is most glorious this afternoon with my beautiful wife in attendance.”
Anne smiled and stepped forward to stand close to her husband. With her hand upon his arm, she turned to her cousin. “Darcy, what was your urgent matter to be settled today?”
Motioning with his hand toward Jane Bennet, Mr Darcy explained, “Cousin, the matter of Mr Collins breaking his engagement with Miss Bennet can be settled very easily without involving the courts. All that is necessary is for Mr Collins to sign over the entailmentto Miss Bennet.”
“Will that satisfy the law and her father?” Mrs Collins asked.
Darcy smiled as he said, “The papers drawn up by my attorney make Miss Bennet–as the former betrothed of Mr Collins–the beneficiary of the entailment. Mr Bennet is bound to deliver the whole of the estate to his eldest daughter upon his death.”
Mr Collins looked as though he would argue signing over his rights to the entailment before his wife announced, “My husband will certainly sign the agreement. We wish only the best for Miss Bennet and her family who were so kind to us both.”
Mrs Collins looked directly at her husband who immediately hastened to sign the document. Once he affixed his signature, he turned back to her and was rewarded with a bright smile that drew him to her side. To complete the settlement, the attorney indicated that Jane should sign the document and then he asked both Mr Darcy and Mr Gardiner to sign as witnesses.
“We wish you all the blessings of a happy marriage,” Mrs Gardiner told the newlyweds before she ushered her nieces from the room. The gentlemen bowed and followed behind, leaving the couple to enjoy their afternoon in a peaceful house.
Mr Darcy sent the attorney back to London in his own carriage to get the settlement papers filed and copies made to send to Mr Bennet and back to Mr Collins. That evening, he and Georgiana would dine at the parsonage to give the newlyweds privacy for their honeymoon.
~~}{~~
In the parsonage, Jane spoke gently with the maids and cook, letting them know she would be leaving the next day, and that Mr and Mrs Collins would find a new parson to fill the vacancy at Hunsford. All this occurred while Mr and Mrs Gardiner enjoyed the late afternoon in the garden with their children.
“We shall pack tonight and travel to London tomorrow,” Mr Gardiner told his nieces. “Elizabeth and Jane shall return to Longbourn the next day.”
“Mr Gardiner, I wonder if Elizabeth and Miss Bennet would care to ride to London with my sister and I in our carriage tomorrow?” asked Mr Darcy. “Your carriage will certainly be full of your family and Nanny.”
Glancing at his wife, Mr Gardiner cleared his throat and said, “Mr Darcy, I believe it will be perfectly proper for Elizabeth to ride to London with you since Jane and Miss Darcy will be there to chaperone your conversation.”
“Everything will be perfectly proper, Mr Gardiner,” Georgiana promised.
~~}{~~
The journey to London passed too quickly for Elizabeth and Darcy, and their goodbye at Gracechurch Street was sweet but also short. The next morning, they were bundled off to Longbourn in the Darcy carriage with Mr Darcy as an escort. The journey into Hertfordshire was unusually long though Jane assured her sister the miles were the regular distance.
“Elizabeth, how long of an engagement will you require before the wedding?” Darcy asked when the carriage approached Meryton.
Smiling brightly, the lady replied, “A month at most–I must have a trousseau fitting of your wife when we arrive at Pemberley.”
Now the sombre Mr Darcy smiled, “A month then, but no longer.”
“Our mother will wish for a longer engagement to have more parties before the day but remain firm,” Jane warned the couple. “And Lizzy, I shall need your assistance.”
“Certainly, Jane.”
