21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Lizzy slept late in to the morning, finally rising to the sound of Collin's strident demands called from the foot of the stairs.

"Mrs. Collins! Mrs. Col—lins! I need my satchel! I must bring those accounts to Lady Catherine! Mrs. Collins!"

Staccato footsteps echoed down the hall. A door opened and banged against the wall, then more footsteps and a door slammed. "It is here," Charlotte's voice called.

Heavy footfalls ascended the stairs. "What did you do with it?"

"It was on the shelf in your chamber closet, where Lady Catherine told you to keep it," Charlotte whispered.

Lizzy winced at the tone of her friend's voice, cringing as she heard the rustling of fabric and low pitched mutterings just outside her door. Pounding feet descended the stairs. She held her breath a moment, then pushed aside the bed clothes. She slid off the featherbed and padded to the door, then pressed her ear against the cool wood. The voices had ceased, so she eased the door open just a bit.

Charlotte stood in the hall, shoulders slumped, looking at the floor. She turned at the sound of the door. Lizzy beckoned her into the room. Charlotte glanced around, biting her lip, then hurried into the guest room.

They stood looking at each other for a moment, neither knowing what to say. Charlotte swallowed and pressed her lips hard. "He is always tense when he must bring the accounts to his patroness." She pulled her shawl tightly around her shoulders.

"What accounts? Do you mean to tell me that she reviews your household ledgers?" Lizzy struggled to catch her eye.

Charlotte ran her hands up and down her upper arms. "Yes, she does. She is quite active in the management of the households under her care."

"I see." Lizzy sat on the rumpled bed sheets. "Does she show the same diligence to her own accounts or has she a steward to see to her affairs so that she may meddle in the lives of others?" She snorted and crossed her arms.

Charlotte exhaled hard and wandered to the window. She traced the edge of the windowsill with her fingertips.

Checking for dust, I am certain, lest the great lady find it herself. Lizzy's lips wrinkled into a frown.

Leaning so close to the glass that her breath fogged it, Charlotte pressed her forehead to the cool smooth surface. "I know it is not something you could live with, Lizzy. I do not ask you to approve." She turned back to face Lizzy, then sat lightly against the windowsill. "It is not so bad a thing, really. He devotes the better part of each Wednesday preparing the ledgers and gathering the ledgers from several of the nearby farmers and cottagers. Then Thursday he spends with Lady Catherine reviewing the accounts. Friday he acts as her secretary as she makes her calls to deal with the issues that have arisen in her domain. Saturday is for his garden. Monday we go into town to the shops, and Tuesday are parishioner calls. So many a day goes by that I am in his company only a few minutes at a time. I find I can bear the solitude quite cheerfully. Do not fear for me; I am quite content." She reached her hands to Lizzy who took them firmly.

"Truly, Charlotte?" Lizzy stood and stepped closer to her. "I hear your words, but your eyes tell me something else."

"You are just like your father." She closed her eyes and bowed her head.

"So I have been told." Tugging her to the bed, Lizzy encouraged her to sit. "Tell me; you know you can speak freely, and it will never leave the confines of this room."

Charlotte sagged into the soft featherbed. "You have always kept my secrets. I know you are the most trustworthy of friends." She rested her head on Lizzy's shoulder. "Sometimes I think you have known me far too long."

"I do not think it possible to know a friend too long." She pressed her cheek to the top of Charlotte's head. "So then tell me."

"Do you remember how you described him to me him when he first came to Longbourn?"

"Oh do not remind me of what I said then." Lizzy's shoulders twitched, and she blushed fiercely.

"You warned me he was an adder, basking on a warm rock— one that it would be best to leave alone, for its bite would be painful at best." Charlotte stared at the wall unblinking.

"I am so sorry I even spoke so freely. I should not have said those things. I have been warned so many times—"

"No, Lizzy, there is no need to apologize." She lifted her head to face Lizzy, lips pinched. "You were quite right; I should have listened to you."

"Charlotte—"

"No, you must at least give me the satisfaction of saying it. It is uncanny how accurate your descriptions are. He is just what you said, an adder. As you heard, his bite is unpleasant to be sure. But like his namesake, he is not an aggressive creature. It is not difficult to avoid his fangs most of the time. He is nothing if not predictable."

Lizzy tried several teams to speak, but found no words. Even if she had, her throat was too tight to even say them.

"Do not be sorry for me. There is much I am grateful for." She clasped her hands tightly in her lap. "I am mistress of my own home, and my husband is respectable. We are well provided for as long as he lives. It is better than living off the charity of my brothers as their spinster sister, caring for their children."

"But—"

"But what, Lizzy? You know as well as I— the truth of it matter is that I had no prospects at home. With no fortune and no beauty to recommend me, I was far too old to attract an eligible husband, and there were few enough possibilities available to start with. I am blessed to have what I do. What is more, I am anticipating a further blessing." She pressed her hands to her stomach. "I have not told anyone yet."

"How wonderful for you! I know how much you have dreamed of such a blessing." Her brows lifted and a wry smile lit her face. "Lady Catherine's advice will be plentiful when she knows of your good fortune, I am sure."

"Most assuredly." Charlotte chuckled. "Be sure, I will keep my peace for as long as I can. There has been no quickening, yet, but I expect it very soon."

"You will tell me as soon as you are certain?"

"Of course, I will. I dearly hope it will happen while you are here with me." She ran her hand over her stomach, a dreamy look in her eyes. "So you see, despite the challenges of living with an adder, I am truly content."

"I believe you, and if you are satisfied, then I am happy for you." Lizzy reached out and squeezed her hands.

"I have more than I ever hoped to." She leaned forward, feet fidgeting. "I want you to be truly happy for me."

"Then I am."

"Thank you. I cannot tell you how I feared you would disapprove. You must think me hopelessly silly." She fumbled for her handkerchief and dabbed he eyes. "I weep so easily these days. But I try not to let him see."

"I am told that is a sign in favor of your dearest hopes." Lizzy offered a weak smile.

"I have heard the same." She smiled as she rose. "I should let you dress. Do you want me to have a tray brought up for you?"

"No, I would much rather join your downstairs. I will be there soon."

"He will be gone the better part of the day. Papa has left with him, so it will be just you, Maria and I for the morning. It will be like old times."

Lizzy watched her leave and the door shut behind her. She tucked her knees up under her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. She married for all the reasons I am told a woman should marry: for status and situation, to leave her father's house for her own, to bear children, heirs. But there is no love, not even companionship. I admire her strength, but I cannot live such a life.

After breakfast, Charlotte took them on a tour of the house, pointing out its many modern conveniences and crediting them all to the generosity and wisdom of Lady Catherine. Lizzy noticed the efficient management of the servants, obvious throughout the house, which she credited to her friend's wise management, not the intervention of their helpful neighbor. Charlotte's pride shone in her eyes, revealed further by the blush in her cheeks at Lizzy's praise.

Charlotte ushered them into her drawing room, a warm, neat chamber that reflected its mistress in every corner. "Did Lady Catherine arrange the furniture in this room, too, or were you allowed to have your say here?"

Charlotte laughed, though the sound was a little hollow. "I found no fault in her arrangement; in fact, I learned a great deal from her original placements."

Lizzy turned aside to roll her eyes before she sat on the wide settee beside Maria. "So tell me honestly of Lady Catherine."

Charlotte squirmed in her seat. "A truthful assessment is a difficult thing." She played with a curl that escaped her mob cap. "She is a grand lady and most attentive neighbor with helpful advice in nearly all areas—"

"That is to say she is intrusive and overbearing, pushing her nose— a most prodigious appendage to be sure— in where it is least wanted." Lizzy grinned, sticking her nose in the air.

Maria gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, but her eyes twinkled with merriment.

"That is not fair, Lizzy! She is most concerned with the wellbeing of my household…"

"Of course, her rank necessitates that she must know your business much better than you do." She squared her shoulders and stared down her nose at Maria. "Do you not realize that when one is born with the privilege of rank one is also born with innate knowledge and understanding of all things and people within their purview."

"You are far too harsh in your judgments!" Charlotte rolled her eyes. "She has a great deal of experience in the management of a household."

"That is a very odd thing indeed considering her rank insures that she has certainly never actually managed a home herself. For such menial work, there are servants!"

Maria laughed heartily. "How can you say such things? Mr. Collins would be most displeased."

"Can you imagine the great lady ever soiling her hands in the kitchen as we all have when the fruit comes in and preserves must be made?" Lizzy extended her open hands. "Or even worse, that she might chap her lovely hands participating in the horrors of laundry day?"

"But to be fair, her pronouncements are very often correct," Charlotte huffed. "Last week she told me of the value of soaping linen in warm water the night before laundry is done. I instructed our maid to do so and found it a vast improvement, taking much less scouring to remove stains and thus sparing the fabric."

"I will give you that is a good idea. I will suggest it to Hill when I return to Longbourn. Let it not be said I am unteachable."

"She also taught me how to use soda to soften the wash water and thereby reduce the amount of soap needed. Since using soda in the tubs and boiler, I have found we use at least a third less soap than before and yet the clothes are as clean as before. My mother had never heard of such a thing until I wrote and told her. She has since written to ask that I share all of Lady Catherine's instructions with her; the saving were so substantial, she became quickly convinced of the value of the advice of our patroness."

"I must concede to your experience; the Lady does indeed have good advice to offer." Lizzy's eyes twinkled. "That must be why she feels the need to offer it so much."

Mariah laughed heartily while Charlotte just shook her head.

Mr. Collins returned well after tea and spoke to no one, instead proceeding directly to his bookroom and shutting the door behind him.

Lizzy bit her lip at the sharp sound as it reverberated through the cottage.

"Fear not," Charlotte whispered. "Such is his habit. He will recover his good humor by dinner time."

Lizzy held her tongue, though it required all the self-control she could muster.

An hour later, when they gathered at the table for dinner, Lizzy noted some of the tension had left Collins's posture, and his prayer over the meal reflected his typical verbosity.

Collins stood to carve the joint. "Cousin Elizabeth," he glanced up at her, "what a pleasure it is to have you here at our table. I hope you are not displeased by the simplicity of our victuals. We have not the abundance of dishes you[ /i] are accustomed to."

Lizzy stared wide-eyed at him while Charlotte blushed.

"A simple spread is no reason for shame." Sir William tugged at his collar then busied himself serving Maria and Lizzy from a heaping dish of peas.

"Far from a mark of shame, sir, it is the image of humility itself. Such is the appropriate attitude for a clergyman such as myself." He transferred a slice of mutton to his own plate, then one to Charlotte's. "So Lady Catherine has reminded me, even this day. 'Economy. Mr. Collins,' she said, 'is the very image of godliness. So it should be the mark of my vicar.' To that end," he turned to Charlotte, "she has taken the liberty of canceling your order at the butcher."

"Pray excuse me, Mr. Collins, I do not understand." Lizzy could see the tension at the corners of Charlotte's eyes.

"She spoke to him of your orders and has made it quite clear that she feels the joints you order are far too much for our little household and will only go to waste. Servants have no business being fed with such extravagance—"

"We do have guests, sir," she replied, her voice tight. "We have more mouths to feed than usual. Has she considered that?"

"Lady Catherine has taken care of the meat order, never fear. What she has arranged will be sufficient for our party," he assured happily. "I know you will make it so."

Charlottes jaw became tense and she swallowed hard, but she said nothing. "I will speak to Cook."

Sir William scowled and glanced at Maria whose face had become very pale.

Collins turned to Lizzy with a saccharine smile. "Cousin Elizabeth, you will have the honour of seeing Lady Catherine de Bourgh on Sunday at church, and I need not say you will be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, and I doubt not but you will be honoured with some portion of her notice when service is over. She is always most attentive to visitors to our humble services. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying that she will include you and my sister Maria in every invitation with which she honours us during your stay here."

"Are those invitations frequent?" Lizzy asked, noticing Maria squirming in her chair.

"We are blessed with her notice twice, even sometimes three times in a week." He pushed a large piece of mutton into his mouth and chewed, small bits flying from his lips.

"But I did not bring sufficient clothes!" Maria looked at her father in alarm.

"I am sure you are not the only one." Lizzy patted her hand soothingly.

"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for anything more. She will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed." He set down his knife and fork with a clank. "She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved."

"I am quite relieved to have that understanding." Lizzy blinked hard and swallowed, trying to turn her eyes back to her plate.

Collins began to cut his meat again. He forced another too large piece of meat into his mouth and struggled to chew it down enough so he could talk through it. "Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is charming. Each time we dine at Rosings we are never allowed to walk home. Her ladyship's carriage is regularly ordered for us. I should say, one of her ladyship's carriages, for she has several.'' He lifted his glass and took a large swallow.

"And does she use them all simultaneously?" Lizzy asked, her throat very tight.

""Excuse me, I do not understand you."

"You suggest she is a woman who values wise management, and yet she would maintain more carriages than she could possibly utilize?"

He set his glass down hard enough to rattle his plate. "Do I understand you to be critical of her ladyship?"

"You misunderstand your cousin," Charlotte said with a quick glance at Lizzy then back to her husband. "I have known Lizzy all my life, and I can assure you that she means no disrespect. She is merely overwhelmed by Lady Catherine's consequence and does not know how to express herself with the eloquence that you have developed."

The high color faded from Collins's cheeks, the tension leaving his eyes. "Very true, my dear, that is exactly what has happened." He turned to Sir William. "Lady Catherine is the sort of woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference. Certainly even discussing such consequence can be overwhelming for those not accustomed to it.''

"Of course, I…I meant no offense…." Lizzy's stomach soured, and she felt her face grow cold.

"Of course not," Collins said mildly, returning to his plate. "Although my patroness is full of Christian charity to those in situations less than her own, it might do you well to recall your relative stations…the condition of your father marks your standing in society very clearly. You must remember that at all times, and be grateful for the opportunity afforded you to rub shoulders with those whose situation is so decidedly above your own."