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“No, I should have turned in a moment.” Accordingly, she did turn, and they walked towards the Parsonage together.
“Darcy informed me that you are not planning to return to town with us. I was quite saddened to hear that.”
“Indeed. My plans have always called for a longer stay, and I dare not disappoint my dear friend Charlotte by cutting our visit short.” Even though owing to her foolish husband, I would like nothing more than to leave earlier than I had planned. “I suspect you shall leave Kent very soon.” Taking with you, my last best hope of escaping my father’s scheme.
“Yes—if Darcy does not put it off. I suspect he might, based upon something he said in passing. I, however, am at his disposal. He arranges the business just as he pleases.”
“And if not able to please himself in the arrangement, he has at least pleasure in the great power of choice. I do not know anybody who seems more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth.
“He likes to have his own way very well, but who among us does not? It is only that he has better means of having it than many others. He is rich, and many others are poor. I speak from experience. A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and dependence.”
“In my opinion, the younger son of an earl can know very little of either. Now seriously, what have you ever known of self-denial and dependence? When have you been prevented by want of money from going wherever you chose, or procuring anything you had a fancy for?”
“These are home questions—and perhaps I cannot say I have experienced many hardships of that nature. But in matters of greater weight, I may suffer from want of money. Younger sons cannot marry where they like.”
Smiling, Elizabeth remarked, “Unless where they like women of fortune, which I think they very often do.”
“Our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money.”
Does he mean his declaration for my benefit? Having been caught completely unprepared for his avowal, even a bit disappointed, she immediately considered his words in a light conducive to her resolve to have as little to do with Lady Catherine as possible.
Were the colonel to fancy me, I might forever be forced to endure the officious aristocrat with regularity. She did not intend to regret him. Elizabeth’s spirits rose to playfulness. “And pray, what is the usual price of an earl’s younger son? Unless the elder brother is very sickly, I suppose you would not ask above fifty thousand pounds.”
He answered her in the same style, and the subject dropped. Elizabeth did not mean for him to mistake her silence as a sign of her disappointed hopes, for she was anything but dismayed by now, such was the strength of her distaste for Lady Catherine. However, she did like the colonel and was satisfied they should always be amicable towards each other. Endeavouring to enjoy a bit of levity, she said, “I imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly for the sake of having someone at his disposal. I wonder he does not marry to secure a lasting convenience of that kind.”
“Were Darcy inclined to marry, the woman of his choice would be most fortunate. However, I do not know that he ever intends to marry; at least not any time soon, and certainly not to any of the young women of his acquaintance whom I have had the privilege of meeting.”
“Then, he does not mean to marry his cousin, Miss de Bourgh?”
The colonel chuckled. “I suppose you have been listening to my aunt. I know of no one else who postulates such a ridiculous notion. Surely Darcy does not. When he marries, he will no doubt choose his bride from the highest circles, but it certainly will not be Anne.”
A man of Mr. Darcy’s temperament and wealth in want of a wife of great fortune—this knowledge came as no surprise to her. She had supposed it to be Anne largely on Mr. Wickham’s testimony. How could he have been mistaken?
What does it matter? Mr. Darcy’s name has never graced my list and for good reason. She had removed Mr. Wickham’s name from her list soon after her arrival in Kent when she had been informed by Charlotte that the gentleman had shown a preference for a young woman in Hertfordshire, a Miss Mary King, almost immediately after she received an inheritance of ten thousand pounds. Now she was compelled to remove the colonel’s name as well, leaving one choice—Mr. Justin Caseman.
An uninterrupted silence ensued between Elizabeth and her walking companion. It was just as well for Elizabeth had much to consider. I am mere weeks from returning to Longbourn with no prospects other than the gentleman whom my parents have ordained as my future husband. What am I going to do?
CHAPTER 12
THE LAST MAN IN THE WORLD
Elizabeth now expected to encounter Mr. Darcy in the lanes. As had always been the case, he often was content to walk in silence. During those instances when he did speak, she had learned to ignore his cryptic talk of Rosings and future visits and the like. As long as she maintained a respectable distance from him and held fast to her conviction not to look into his eyes, walking with him was almost like being alone.
To be able to enjoy such splendour as afforded by the beautiful lanes of Rosings without having to suffer the absurdity of its owner was something. Mr. Collins meant to change all that with the announcement of an invitation to dine at Rosings Park.
The few times she had been in her ladyship’s company had proved to be just as tiresome as that initial introduction. Elizabeth’s determination that she would not go to dinner that evening was only matched by her cousin’s determination that she would. After ten minutes of heated debate on the matter, the proud man turned to his wife. “I blame you for this misfortune!”
Charlotte coloured. She said nothing. Arguing with her husband was something she had learned not to do. He stalked over to the part of the room where Elizabeth sat.
“I knew it was a mistake to invite you here. Lady Catherine was not at all pleased by your insolence during your initial meeting, just as I foretold, nor have you proved yourself worthy of her regard since then. Nonetheless, she deigned to invite you to Rosings yet again, and you stand here in my home and refuse to follow my dictates to honour my noble patroness’s benevolence.”
“Mr. Collins, Eliza is unwell,” Charlotte pleaded. “She complains of a headache.”
“That is utter nonsense, Mrs. Collins. How many times have you complained of headaches since we were married? When has a headache ever prevented you from doing your duty as a good wife?”
He glared at his cousin. “Miss Elizabeth, I insist you head to your room this minute and prepare for the evening. Never have Mrs. Collins and I ignored my noble patroness’s summons. As long as you are a guest in my home and subject to my authority, you will abide by my edicts. Now, run along and be quick about it.”
Who does he think he is speaking to? Oh! What was I thinking in accepting Charlotte’s invitation? I could not tolerate my ridiculous cousin in Hertfordshire. What made me suppose I could countenance him in his own home?
