Page 87 of A Most Beloved Sister
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“Engaged? To Mr. Collins?”
Two days after Major Wickham had shared his news about his astonishing windfall from Darcy, Elizabeth sat in the parlor at Netherfield Park and stared in shock at her mother and sister Mary.
“Yes, Mary and Mr. Collins are engaged!” squealed Mrs. Bennet. “I was so afraid that after the whole… situation with you that Mr. Collins would not want anything more to do with our family and we would be tossed into the hedgerows for sure, but he tooksucha liking to Mary. All her studies of Fordyce’s Sermons and the Bible have been of good use, I dare say. Goodness knows I’ve always encouraged her to…”
Mrs. Bennet rambled on nonsensically about how her advice to Mary had been the determining factor in the engagement, but Elizabeth scarcely listened. Instead, she focused her attention on her next younger sister’s face, trying to gauge how Mary felt about her new relationship status.
“Mama,” Elizabeth said abruptly, interrupting her mother mid-sentence, “perhaps while you are here, you might advise Mrs. Nichols on the best methods for linen rotation. I fear with Jane being newly married and feeling a bit unwell, it is something that will be allowed to go unnoticed.”
Mrs. Bennet blinked owlishly at her daughter; then her face lit up with excitement. “Oh my, of course! It never occurred to me that Jane might need my assistance on such a thing!”
“Well, I am certain that Mrs. Hurst will be able to manage admirably in a few days, but she is still caring for her husband.”
“Of course, of course.”
Elizabeth sent a silent apology to Mrs. Nichols and made a mental note to express her gratitude later. For now, however, she made use of her contrived privacy with her sister.
“Mary, are you sure this is what you want?”
Mary pursed her lips and looked down her nose. “Why should you be surprised, Elizabeth? Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman’s good opinion because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?”
“No, I—”
“Or perhaps, like Mama, you despaired of me ever attaining the married state?”
“Not at all! I simply—”
“I’ll have you know—”
“Mary!”
Elizabeth’s shout was enough to cause her sister to fall silent, and Elizabeth took advantage of the moment. “Did neitherMama nor Papa tell you what happened when Mr. Collins asked me to marry him? Look!”
She pushed up the sleeve of her dress to reveal the hand-shaped bruises that had not quite faded from her arm. Mary leaned forward and peered through her spectacles to examine the marks before sitting back and saying, “Yes, I am aware of what occurred.”
“And you’re… you’re still willing to marry him?” Elizabeth’s bewilderment was evident.
Mary shrugged. “I see what you are feeling, but when you have had time to think it all over, I think you will understand. Mr. Collins is not much different from Jane; the more time I spend with him, the more I see that he is very easily led. As his wife, I would be in the best position to have the most influence on him. Already he has taken to listening to what I have to say over what Lady Catherine has told him in the past.”
“Lady Catherine?”
“His patroness. He quite venerates her, you know, but that is because she is the first woman to give him any attention. Once I began spending time with him, he was quick to turn his esteem.”
“And you are content with marrying a man such as that?”
“I’m not romantic, Elizabeth,” Mary said plainly. “I never was. I ask only a comfortable home, and considering Mr. Collins’s situation as the future master of Longbourn, as well as the parson in charge of a flock, I believe I can do quite a lot of good as his wife. I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is much higher than most people can boast on entering the marriage state.”
Elizabeth quietly answered “undoubtedly,” and, after an awkward pause, asked when the wedding date was to be.
“The banns will be called this Sunday, and we will be married the Tuesday following their third calling. Mr. Collins will remain at Longbourn until the wedding, and we will then goimmediately to Kent the day after. I felt it best for he and I to spend as much time as possible in one another’s company before he returns to his duties.”
“It sounds as if you have everything arranged to your satisfaction, then.”
Mary smiled. “Indeed I do. I am quite content with how everything has come about.”
“Then I wish you every happiness.”
