Darcy, Knight Errant (Elizabeth and Darcy True Love Multiverse)

14. Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Elizabeth was not a tall woman. She was the shortest of all her sisters, not that this bothered her. In fact, it was a boon as it meant that she could borrow any of her sisters’ dresses with just a slight alteration to the hem. As the tallest of the girls, Jane could not borrow from her sisters, though being their mother’s favorite, she had more dresses than any of her sisters save Lydia, so it was not an issue.

So it was a surprise to Elizabeth when she greeted her father’s cousin and had to look down to look him in the eye. Or attempt to look him in the eye. It was disconcerting to realize that his gaze had fixated quite a bit below her face. Fighting the desire to cross her arms in front of herself, Elizabeth cleared her throat, drawing his attention away from her chest.

Mr. Collins had a narrow face with dark eyes set close together and a notable overbite. It was peculiar how his body didn’t align with his head; it appeared there was an excess weight that contradicted his small size and narrow face. Elizabeth suppressed a shudder as she met the man’s eyes, sensing the unmistakable lust behind his beady gaze. Glancing at her father, who stood beside her, Elizabeth hoped to see some anger at his heir’s actions or at least irritation, but she found none. He only shrugged and said, “Welcome to Longbourn, Mr. Collins.”

After bowing in a subservient fashion more fit to greet a royal, Mr. Collins glanced along the line of Bennets and frowned. Looking back at Mr. Bennet, Mr. Collins said, “I was told, cousin, that you have a wife and five daughters, but I only see four young ladies present. Why have you not commanded everyone to come greet me, your heir and future master of Longbourn?”

Elizabeth could hear Mary gasp from beside her and Lydia, at the end of the line, giggle as she did when she became nervous. Her father coughed, and Elizabeth wondered if he was attempting not to laugh outright at his heir. After clearing his throat, Mr. Bennet replied to the presumptuous question, answering, “My oldest daughter is currently getting over an illness, and her mother is tending to her care. Therefore, at the moment, you will only meet those of us present here.”

Nodding his head, Mr. Collins replied, “That is wise of you. It would be the rudest action to expose me to an illness. It would not do for me to return to my patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, carrying contagion. Her daughter, known as the rose of Kent, has fragile health and it would be unforgivable to expose her to illness.”

Elizabeth thought he had finished speaking when he stopped to take a breath, but he continued on. “I want to assure you all that my stay here as I view my future property is more than incumbent. I am also here, granting an olive branch. The rift that formed between our two branches of family and the subsequent injustice that unfolded will remain unspoken. Only know that I will not seek to punish you for your ancestor’s misdeeds. Like my omniscient patroness, I am magnanimous in my decisions and my gifts of mercy.”

He would have most likely continued if not for Mr. Bennet simply turning and walking back into the house. Mr. Collins watched him go, mouth agape. When a gust of icy wind had Kitty and Lydia huddling together for warmth, Elizabeth put an end to all the nonsense, saying, “Mr. Collins, it is a cold autumn day, and I am sure that you are tired from your journey. Mrs. Hill, our housekeeper, has a bath ready for you so that you may refresh yourself after your travel.”

Smiling, Mr. Collins said, “Thank you for such attention cousin, but I only bathe once a month.”

Elizabeth ignored the gasp that came from one of her sisters and, thinking quickly, said, “You would refuse our hospitality, Mr. Collins? I would not think that someone connected to such a great personage as Lady Catherine de Bourgh would be so inconsiderate.”

Eyes bulging in his weasel-like face, Mr. Collins was quick to say, “You are right, cousin. Though it is not my way, it would be rude of me to refuse your hospitality.”

“I am glad you agree, Mr. Collins. After all, cleanliness is next to godliness, or at least that is what I have always believed at Longbourn.” Forcing herself to smile even as his glance seemed to slip south of her face once more, she gestured for him to enter the house ahead of her and added, “We will partake of dinner in two hours. If you should choose to rest, I am sure a footman will show you into the dining room.”

Mr. Collins seemed to perk up at what he perceived as his honor to walk a head of them. He strode into the building without looking back. Linking arms with Mary, she shepherded her sisters into their home and telling them she would meet them in the schoolroom. She sought Mrs. Hill and made sure she knew of Mr. Collins’s arrival, asking that they have a footman available to cater to his every need. At all times.

Raising an eyebrow, Mrs. Hills face turned hard as she asked, “He is that sort of man then?”

Sighing, Elizabeth rubbed at her forehead. “It was all I could do not to shudder at the way he was leering.”

Mrs. Hill, ever the mother hen to the women and girls at Longbourn, said, “I will make sure that the maids work in pairs if they must help him or clean his room. As for providing him a footman to help him, I think I will have Marcus and Johnathan aid him.”

Elizabeth gasped, followed by a giggle. “They should be able to handle him with ease. My father’s heir is at least a foot shorter than both of them.”

“Charles, I am decided it is time for me to return to London. I have wasted far too much time here among the country savages. It seems Mr. Darcy is not the man I thought he was. If I am to marry and establish my place among society, I need to return to the marriage mart as soon as possible.” Having said what she wished, Miss Bingley looked at her brother in expectation.

She had come into his study without knocking after having been gone from the family for most of the day. Darcy wondered if she had even seen him sitting in the wingback chair by the fire. Sitting behind his desk, Bingley studied his sister for a moment before asking, “What would you have me do, Caroline? I have no interest in returning to London. Even if I did not want to court Miss Bennet, I have made commitments here at Netherfield. I cannot flit about. I have responsibilities now.”

Miss Bingley had none of her normal cloying mannerisms when she proclaimed, “If you want to tie yourself to that horrid family, I no longer care. I have my own future to see to. Louisa and her lout of a husband have agreed to return to town with me so that I can join the little season. I am determined to accept someone with in the year and I do not want to make things more complicated. Please allow Mr. Hurst to approve any requests for courtship or proposals for my hand in marriage. Additionally, I request you permit him to sign my marriage settlement.”

Bingley nodded in understanding. “If that is what you wish, I will do so. I want you to be happy, Caroline, and you have not been happy here.” Miss Bingley turned to leave, but her brother called after her. “Please choose the man you will tie your life to with care. I would not want you to regret your decision, Caroline.”

She looked at her brother for a long moment before smiling faintly and shutting the door behind her. Darcy almost felt like holding his breath while waiting to see what Bingley’s reaction would be. Bingley’s laughter surprised him, so he asked, “Bingley, are you all right?”

“Do not fret, Darcy, I am fine. I have been trying for the last day to find a way to ensure that my sister does not interfere with my attempt to court Miss Bennet and here she has excused herself from the problem. The only issue is that I can no longer host a ball like I wanted.”

For himself, Darcy was happy to be rid of her. “I am glad it has turned out as you wanted. Though I will say that I did not know that you had decided in favor of courting Miss Bennet. While you have often found yourself attracted to ladies you have met in the past, you have never attempted to court any of them.”

Moving to pick up his cup of coffee and take a sip Bingley, replied, “While I’ve had a tendency to be inconsistent with women in the past, this situation is different.”

“How so?” asked Darcy.

Putting his cup back down and fiddling with it, Bingley said, “Miss Bennet is different.” Looking away from Darcy and instead retreating into his mind, Bingley mused, “Before when I spoke with a young lady, our conversations went nowhere. Everything was superficial and soon enough I became bored with the fact that not only did I know nothing more about her, but she had no wish to know anything more about me. Miss Bennet was quick to abandon the inconsequential nothings and talk about more substantial things.”

“I have often gotten tired of young ladies talking about nothing but the latest on-dits and the weather,” sighed Darcy. He hesitated to say that he had once thought that Miss Bennet was the sort of lady who would talk of nothing but bland subjects. Her placid smile had always made him doubt her depth or sincerity. It appeared he did not know as much about the lady as he had once thought. Brows drawing together, Darcy said, “Between both of your cheerful smiles, it seemed like you were engaged in a lighthearted conversation about puppies and other joyful subjects, rather than delving into anything profound. What is it you were talking about?”

Leaning back in his chair, Bingley crossed his arms and asked, “Did you ever think that we were smiling because we enjoy each other’s company and not because we were discussing puppies? We have seen each other socially maybe four times and I already know more about her than any other lady I have met. We have spoken of things from what we like about autumn to our worries about our respective siblings.” Downing the last of his coffee, Bingley looked at the bottom of his empty cup with a frown.

Putting his cup down, Bingley added, “Would you believe that Miss Bennet and I have discussed the difference and similarity of managing a business and running an estate? She has an uncle who has done very well in trade and so knows something of both. She cares not at all about a suitor’s connection to trade. If it meant finding a husband who genuinely loved and respected her, she would gladly settle for one who actively worked in trade.”

Bingley’s revelations astounded Darcy, but he couldn’t deny the happiness he felt for his friend’s discovery of such a remarkable woman. Sitting forward, he said, “If that is the case, I am happy for you. I never considered the possibility that you would find a lady so suited to you in the country.”

A bark of laughter from Bingley caused Darcy’s eyes to widen. Bingley only said, “Darcy, even though I believe you have a romantic soul, you remain blind to love because you never anticipate its presence. You have become cynical about the inherent goodness of people and skeptical about the existence of true love because of the many betrayals you have experienced. When you do finally find love for yourself, it will blindside you.”

“What I cannot discern is if he is a heretic or merely absurd,” complained Mary.

After dinner, all the Bennet sisters had come to Jane’s room, where their mother had insisted she convalesced and regain her looks before Mr. Bingley came calling. Jane, unable to spend any time with the sole relative from their father’s side, tried to stay optimistic, remarking, “I’m certain he can’t be that awful.”

This elicited laughs from both Kitty and Lydia. The bolder of the two, Lydia said, “Oh, he really is. His eating habits are atrocious, and he spent half his time staring at Elizabeth’s bosom and he said that he only had baths once a month. Though Elizabeth convinced him that he must bathe if we offered it, or he would reject our hospitality.”

Elizabeth blushed, knowing her sisters had seen his unnatural fascination with her person. Jane looked at her eyes wide while Mary said, “I did not think it was possible for a man who had dedicated his life to studying and serving God to be so utterly ridiculous. I was most bothered by his saying that his patroness was omniscient. His reverence for her surpasses even that of almighty God.”

Rubbing her temple, Elizabeth sighed in frustration as her headache worsened. “I am not as concerned with his absurdity as I am with the way he stares inappropriately. I have asked that one of our footmen stay in his vicinity day and night. Please, I want you all to promise that you will be aware of your surroundings while he is here. Never allow yourself to be alone with him.”

Elizabeth studied her sisters and their varied responses to her statement. Mary’s eyes had widened and then hardened. Within their parish, there were women who faced constant mistreatment from the men in their lives. Mary took it upon herself to support and care for these women, tending to their injuries and offering a listening ear. Of all her sisters, Mary had seen more of the darkness in the world and was more able to face it if necessary.

Kitty scooted closer to Mary, eyes wide, but seemed reassured when Mary put her arm around her. Lydia nodded, looking angry, but then leaned over and pat Kitty’s hand, sensing her older sister’s fear. Jane, still pale from her recent illness, looked sad. Shaking her head, Jane pleaded, “You cannot think he would be so cruel as to harm one of us. We are family and he is a man of God. Surely, he would never stoop to such wicked deeds.”

Taking Jane’s hand, Elizabeth looked into her wide eyes and said, “While I would hope not, I will not put my faith in his ability to behave as he should. While he is technically our cousin, it is a very tenuous connection from three generations ago and sadly not all men of God are good. I would rather we practice caution now than be sorry later.” Jane nodded, but still looked sad that such precautions had to be taken.

“Lizzie, do you know what he was talking about when he mentioned our family wronging his?” Kitty asked, confused.

“I think four generations ago a second son of a Bennet married a woman named Miss Collins and changed his name in order to inherit her family estate, but poor investments and mismanagement caused them to lose the estate. For some unknown reason, his son came to Longbourn when his grandfather Bennet died, thinking that because he was the oldest grandson, he should inherit Longbourn.”

Huffing, Lydia complained, “Even I know that is not how inheritance works.”

Chuckling softly, Elizabeth said, “No, that is not how it works. Still, Mr. Collins was extremely upset. He viewed himself as a gentleman, but he did not have an estate, and he was being forced to support himself. Ever since, the Bennets have received letters and threats from the Collinses. It had not been an issue until this generation when father did not have a son.”

Kitty and Lydia began laughing at such foolishness, but their mother burst into the room, interrupting them. “What are you doing in here? Mr. Collins is downstairs waiting for you to return.”

Quick to defend her sisters, Jane said, “Do not fret, Mama, they were just coming to check on me and keep me informed of the goings on.”

Shaking her head, Mrs. Bennet fussed, “You need to be resting, Jane. I cannot have you losing your beauty, and the rest of you girls need to go down there now.”

Elizabeth followed her sisters down the stairs with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Which intensified after her mother said, “My girls were checking on their ill sister. They are all so compassionate and caring. Any of them would make the most wonderful clergyman’s wife.”

Nodding, the man looked at his cousins, asserting, “They are all beautiful, Mrs. Bennet. I never imagined meeting so many comely ladies when I undertook my trip to Longbourn. I am certainly glad I decided to offer an olive branch to my cousins.”

This caused Mrs. Bennet to smile and preen. Elizabeth knew that her mother saw any compliment to her daughters as a compliment to herself. Always looking to marry her daughters off, Elizabeth suspected she was also probably happy to hear about the olive branch he offered.

Elizabeth encouraged Kitty and Lydia to sit in the far corner. They should not have to deal with Mr. Collins if they did not have to. She and Mary sat on a settee facing Mr. Collins and their mother. Their father sat in his customary chair, the one he reserved for the rare occasions when he chose to join the women in his family. While he held a book and appeared to read, Elizabeth had seen his gaze dart to Mr. Collins too many times for it to actually be so.

Picking up her bible from the side table, Mary saw Mr. Collins take a deep breath and circumventing a diatribe, she asked, “How long have you been ordained, Mr. Collins?”

His brows drew together slightly for a moment before puffing himself up and saying, “It has been a year since I received my ordination, and for the past seven months, I have served as vicar to her gloriousness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She has very much honored me with her magnanimity.”

Mary compressed her lips before saying, “Mr. Collins, you have referred to Lady Catherine de Bourgh as both having gloriousness and omniscience. Throughout my extensive exploration of the bible and religious texts, I have yet to discover any instance where the church condones the use of those words for anyone other than God. I am curious to hear how you excuse yourself for those actions.”

Elizabeth watched as Mr. Collins’s eyes widened and then turned hard. Huffing, he replied, “As a mere girl, you cannot fully comprehend the intricacies of the church as much as you may try. Lady Catherine herself explained to me that her role as lady in Kent is simply an extension of the monarch’s right to rule. As the daughter of an earl and the wife of a baronet, her wishes and dictates are holy gifts from God.”

In her spot next to Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet tittered. “Oh, poor Mary, she is so eager to delve into bible study, but it’s clear she could benefit from the guidance of a learned man like yourself.”

Elizabeth and Mary looked at each other in shock. The heir to Longbourn was a heretic and a fool. What was worse was that their mother was evidently trying to dangle any of her daughters that she could in front of him. Their father was laughing at the whole situation. Elizabeth could see his shoulders shaking with his repressed merriment.

After glaring at Mary for a moment, Mr. Collins turned to their father. “Cousin Bennet, I have been curious to hear of your interactions with your tenants. How frequently do they make their way to you, proffering their tithes and displaying the proper respect befitting your role as lord of the manor?”

Biting back a cry of outrage, Elizabeth rubbed at her forehead. The heir was more than a fool and a heretic—he was dangerous. If he came to Longbourn with the expectation of being treated like a deity by their tenants, he would soon reduce Longbourn to ruins. Yet there was nothing she could do to stop it, and still her father laughed.