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Chapter 17
Posted on April 29, 1998
The party took several days in travelling from Longbourn to London. The news which reached them upon their arrival was not good. Mr. Ashton had not yet been located; however, no gentleman fitting his description had bought a ticket on a ship bound for America. Cuthbert suggested that perhaps the gentleman was hiding somewhere, having received word from his friends that they were leaving England as well, and had decided to wait for them.
Mr. Darcy told Cuthbert to continue searching London for the man.
"Suppose he went somewhere else to get a ship?" Elizabeth said when told the news by Mrs. Darcy. "He might have thought we would follow him, and..."
"Do not be silly, Beth," Julia said. "He could have no way of knowing that we were coming to London. Not even the Connors know we are here."
Other news, however, was more pleasant. Mrs. Darcy had been told by her husband's charming cousin, Sir James Hampton, that the Connors were having a ball in honour of Lucinda's engagement.
"Poor taste, I feel, to have an engagement ball without the other party present," Mrs. Darcy said.
"Did you not hear? Miss Connor's intended has arrived in London," Sir James replied with a smile. He did not know the reason for the abrupt visit to London, but smiling at the lovely Collins twins, he knew something was amiss.
"Jonathon is here?" Elizabeth whispered.
Sir James smiled at her. "So you know the lady's fiance?"
"I have never met him, but...I know his brother."
"As you undoubtedly do, James, for it is Arch Ashton's son to whom she is engaged," Mrs. Darcy said. "Miss Elizabeth is acquainted with his brother, Anthony."
"Oh, yes. I remember the family, though I have never met the sons."
"May I speak openly, James? A great misunderstanding has occurred, and we may need your help."
"I was wondering when you would get to the purpose of the visit, Lizzy."
Mrs. Darcy proceeded to lay before Sir James the whole of Elizabeth's problem, taking time only to answer the few questions the gentleman had. She also included the subsequent problem that had been produced for Julia.
"I see," he said finally.
"We had thought of every possible solution to the problem, and nothing has become available."
"Then what purpose is being served by Elizabeth's presence in London?"
"We were hoping that perhaps distance would cool Mr. Hollis' ardour for Elizabeth."
"That could be possible, except you have sent the gentleman here."
"We intend to see that he does not see her often. He shall be far too occupied by his work."
"Suppose this plan of yours does not work?"
"Then..." Mrs. Darcy did not speak of the inevitable. They knew that most likely the only thing that would happen would be Julia's reunion with Mr. Connor. It was all Elizabeth believed would happen. "We shall think of that later. For the moment, I am curious to know if you have been invited to this ball."
"Yes. My relationship to your husband has apparently not been made known to the Connor family. Are you believing that you shall not be invited? It would be the cut direct and if the Connors ever intend to return to England it shall not be forgiven, especially if you inform them that you are in town."
"I would not wish to force my family at them in such a way."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"That perhaps your Christopher would be convinced to escort Elizabeth and Julia to the ball, with...Caroline as the chaperone."
"Now, Lizzy, my Caroline would make an excellent chaperone."
"I do not doubt her duenna abilities."
Sir James knew of the trouble Caroline had caused for Mrs. Darcy's sister. He knew she had never forgiven his wife for it, at least not completely in her heart.
"I think perhaps something could be arranged, although I must warn you that Christopher will undoubtedly ask for a favour in return."
"What would that be?"
"Come, Lizzy, you know that he is besotted with your Janie. He'll be of age in two years, and--"
"He may ask that favour in two years when Jane makes her debut in Society."
"I understand it from Darcy that Edward remained at Longbourn to court Miss Victoria Collins. You would not wish to be accused of being..."
"Sir James, we are not all as progressive as you are."
"Nonsense. If anything, you and Darcy are more progressive than I. Besides, I am certain that all Christopher will ask for is the opportunity to court Jane when the proper time comes. Nothing more."
"If your son is anything like you, sir, then I doubt he shall stop at that."
Sir James laughed. "Perhaps you are right, Lizzy. As for your dilemma, ladies, fear not. I am certain we shall set it aright, starting with the Connors' ball next week."
The crush was insane. People were everywhere, and trying to move but a few feet took several minutes. The Connors may have been American, but they apparently had a great number of friends judging from the numbers.
"Quite mad," Lady Hampton said, fanning herself furiously. "My dear, should I suddenly feel faint..."
"Do not worry, Caroline. I would be there to take hold of you and shove smelling salts into your hand."
"Thank you, love."
Despite her nerves, Elizabeth could barely contain her laughter. The Hamptons were quite a sight. Sir James was all pleasantry and good humour, while Caroline was occasionally spiteful and troublemaking, even if she meant the best when she interfered. She rarely commented on anything but to find a blemish, which when reprimanded by her husband caused her to blush and apologize to their young guests for her rudeness.
Even though they were almost polar opposites, everyone could see that the Hamptons were mad for each other. Sir James, it was rumoured (not that Elizabeth should have ever heard of such a thing, being a modest young lady), had stayed by his wife's side through nearly two days of childbirth, never failing in his determination to stay with her even when the doctor and midwife had nearly lost both mother and child. They said that he had not left her side even as her fever had raged following the birth of their only son, and once she had recovered, he had treated her with utmost delicacy...until such a time as she regained her vigour and vivacity.
Elizabeth thought it most heartrending. She had thought that if she were to have a husband, she would wish him to be much like Sir James.
She had had a man like that...and now she knew not where he was. The past week had brought no further information. No one had bought passage to America, and it would be easy to know if Anthony had, because of his unusual eyes. Despite the discouraging news, Mr. Darcy had reminded her that it was likely he was still in England.
Elizabeth put all unpleasant thoughts out of her mind as she glanced about the room to see if she knew anyone. They were about to come upon the receiving line, and it would be interesting to see Miss Connor's reaction to her presence. She knew that the Hamptons had probably only told their guests that they would be bringing a small party.
She could hear the murmur of pleasant voices, speaking politely to friends as she neared the line. Her stomach clenched and she knew that the next few moments were not to be pleasant.
"Good evening, Sir James, Lady Hampton," Miss Connor said. "We are so pleased to..." She saw the twins waiting just behind them, and her voice faded. Her face blanched, and her lips tightened.
"Good evening, Miss Connor," Julia said, smiling. When Miss Connor did not respond, she said, "Lucinda? Do you not remember me?"
Lucinda smiled bleakly. "Hello."
Mr. Connor caught sight of the twins at that moment, and while he momentarily could not figure out which was which, he apparently remembered something which caused him to smile winningly at Julia. "Miss Collins," he said with a bright smile, forgetting his best friend's heartache, forgetting that the woman he was in love with was identical to the one who was hurting Anthony. All he knew was that Julia was there with him.
"Mr. Connor. We were most surprised to discover that you had invited our relatives to your ball," Julia said.
"Jonathon, dear, this is Miss Julia Collins and her sister, Elizabeth. I am sure you know all about them," Miss Connor said in a clipped voice.
The gentleman next to her startled Elizabeth for a moment, for he looked much like Anthony. His lips were not as full, his jaw was not quite as strong, his eyes were an ordinary hazel rather than that warm amber that she remembered. Yet the resemblance was there.
He frowned at her. "Oh, yes." He did not say anything more than that.
Elizabeth's cheeks flushed at the slight. Lady Hampton, realizing what had just happened, turned to her husband and said, "I just deplore what some people consider manners."
"Perhaps you should not voice your opinions quite so openly." In her ear, he whispered, "You are only making the situation worse, dear. Wait until later to sharpen your claws about Mr. Ashton and his fiancee."
"I do not sharpen my claws--"
"You are not looking at me, Caroline."
"I hate it when you do that."
"I know you do, but when else would I know when you are lying to me? In this instance, I do not particularly mind. You see, I was not completely truthful with Mrs. Darcy when I told her I had never met Jonathon. I did meet him once, and I was not impressed. Miss Connor strikes me as...well, the perfect choice for him."
"Now you know as well as I that sometimes the obvious choice for one is not the correct one. Are we not proof of that?"
Sir James smiled. "Yes, we are indeed."
Elizabeth left them to their conversation, wanting nothing more than to observe this, her first London party. She was, in spite of herself, having fun. There were so many people, all dressed in the latest styles. She was grateful that Mrs. Darcy had taken them to her dressmaker just the other day, for the gown she would have chosen, one of her favourites for a ball back home, would have been hopelessly outdated here.
She noticed Mr. Connor and Julia, ignoring the rest of th party and speaking to each other exclusively. Elizabeth smiled. It had been all too simple. She had suspected that what Alexander had told her was not entirely true--although Mr. Connor may not have wanted to distance himself from Anthony by courting Julia, he did not wish to give Julia up, either. She hoped that something would come of it soon.
Perhaps they could marry here in London, which would free me of having to marry Mr. Hollis....
It was too much to hope for. No, she would simply have to wait until after she married to tell her father that Julia wanted to marry Mr. Connor, and he would have no choice but to allow it to happen.
Elizabeth was so engrossed in her thoughts about Julia and Mr. Connor that she almost missed hearing Miss Connor speaking behind her.
"She agreed to marry my dear Jonathon's brother, but the very next day announced her engagement to another gentleman," Lucinda was saying.
Elizabeth again turned scarlet. She could not believe that her former friend was speaking where she could be heard.
I never thought you could be like that, Lucinda. How could you do this to me?
"Is she the one by your brother?" the second voice asked.
"No, that is her twin. A sweeter girl you shall never meet, Miss Julia. Most unlike her twin, however much they look like each other."
"Well, Lucinda, you know that one twin has certain traits and the other one has others. The Collins twins appear to be no different." The two women whispered to each other for a moment before the second woman asked, "What happened to Mr. Ashton? I would have loved to see him here, since by your own admission he is available."
"Oh, no. Anthony shall not give his heart away anytime soon, I assure you. That girl stole his romantic soul and he can never reclaim it." Miss Connor sighed. "He is leaving tonight."
Elizabeth inhaled sharply. How had he gotten passage to America without Cuthbert finding out?
"He is?"
"Yes. His brother made the arrangements for the same ship which brought him here to take his brother home. It is one of the Ashton boats, I think."
Elizabeth fled, trying to ignore the jeering laughter of the ladies and hoping to find the Hamptons in all the crowd. She found Lady Hampton within moments.
"Where is Sir James?" she asked breathlessly.
"Why, whatever is the matter, Elizabeth?"
"Lady Hampton, I must leave immediately. I do not wish for anyone else to go but myself, but I must go now. It may be my only chance."
"Then please wait for my husband. He shall take you back to G---- Square immediately."
"Yes, please find him. I shall wait here," Elizabeth said.
Lady Hampton went in search of her husband. Elizabeth could only think that Anthony's boat might leave before she could see him. The fear continued to rise until she finally ducked out of the house.
The maze of carriages astonished her, and she knew she had little chance of finding the Hamptons' and getting to the docks. But she had to find a way.
She had to get to Anthony.
From the darkness, she heard a voice.
"Need some 'elp, miss?"
Elizabeth nearly screamed. A moment later, she saw a young boy of maybe nine or ten approach her.
"W-who are you?"
"I be--er, I am Billy. I am training to be a manservant, ye see, an'--and...er...well, ye looked lost."
Lost. Yes, she would be if she could not get to the man she loved in time.
"Billy, it is good to meet you. I am Elizabeth Collins, and I do need some help. Do you know the way to the docks?"
"Why would ye be wantin' to do that, miss?"
"There is someone leaving without me. I need to see him one last time before he goes."
"Ah, I see. A secret meetin', aye?"
"Something like that. Can you help me?"
"I think I c'n. Come wi' me."
Elizabeth was not quite certain joining this strange boy was the best thing to do. A moment later, the boy turned back and said, "Ye be--er, you are related to Sir Hampton."
"Yes."
"My uncle be his manservant now, so ye don't need worry about me."
Elizabeth looked toward heaven. Thank you for this sign, God. She was uncertain why the little boy was there, but he was going to help her.
Billy turned out to be an efficient little boy. He tracked down a free coach and when it turned out that neither of them had money promised the driver that if he would wait for them to return and take them back to the party, he would receive double his fee from Sir James Hampton. The driver was reluctant, but the lady appeared to be of Quality and she had promised that she would not be long, as the docks were not a safe place to be at night. It was Billy who asked around to see which of the boats belonged to the Ashtons, and he returned quickly with the answer.
"I checked, miss. Yer man's boat be that one," Billy said, pointing at a large ship that was preparing to sail. "Good thing we got here now, eh?"
"Yes, it is. Wait here for me," Elizabeth told him.
"Absolutely not. Ye be a fine lady. Suppose my uncle found out I left ye here alone. 'E would 'ave my ar--er, head."
Elizabeth felt like laughing. She knew it was dangerous, and she did not care. But the idea of being protected by a small boy was a bit ridiculous.
"Very well, then. I suppose you must come with me."
The two of them walked to the ship, which was finishing the last of the loading needed before they would set sail for America. Elizabeth walked up the plank as though she belonged. She was aboard before anyone noticed her.
She glanced about, trying to find Anthony with no success. She prayed that Billy had been correct and that this was Anthony's boat. She saw someone coming and quickly ducked down between two barrels to avoid notice.
Which was why she did not see when a sailor set down a large, heavy sack at an awkward angle on one of the barrels. A sack which soon descended upon her, hitting her soundly on the head and rendering her unconscious.
Elizabeth awoke with a sound headache and a sour feeling in the pit of her stomach. For some reason, her bed seemed to be rocking back and forth, yet she had never noticed this about her bed before.
She opened her eyes slowly.
"Aye, she be comin' round now, sir."
"You should have told us she was aboard immediately--or better still, never have brought her aboard at all."
The voice was familiar.
Extremely familiar, and most welcome.
"Anthony..." she murmured softly. "I was hoping to see you."
"So it appears."
"I had to explain...you never let me..." She tried to sit up and groaned at the pain. "What happened?"
"You apparently were hit with something and fainted. Don't try to move, I am certain you are suffering from a headache."
"I...I am. Would you...give me a few moments before you leave...to let me tell you why I had to...I never wanted to...."
"You are a bit late for that."
"Please let me tell you why...I know you probably want to leave and never see me again."
"You do not seem to understand, Miss Collins. Billy was held as a stowaway by the first person he asked about me, and instead of putting him ashore, the enterprising captain decided to make him his cabin boy. By the time he found me..." Anthony sighed.
Elizabeth frowned. "What?"
"Beth, we are on our way to America at this moment."
Chapter 18
Posted on May 01, 1998
Elizabeth could not quite grasp what he had just said. America? How can we be going to....
"Ohh," she groaned, pressing her hand to her head in an attempt to stop the throbbing.
"Perhaps this is not the best time to talk of this calamity," Anthony said.
"No...is there no way you could turn this boat around and return me to England? I have not been unconscious for very long, have I?"
"Nearly three hours."
"Then it should be no inconvenience--"
"I wonder at your reasons for wanting to return to England since you went out of your way to climb aboard my ship."
Elizabeth flinched at his harsh words. "I only wanted to speak to you. I did not intend to be hit with something and forced to make a journey to America. We could speak to each other on the way back to England and that will be an end to it."
"I fear that it shall not end tonight, Miss Collins."
"And why is that?"
With a cold smile, he replied, "Did your mother teach you nothing? Should we turn around, we would not reach London until early morning. The assumption would be that the two of us took a romantic cruise...an illicit cruise. Were you to return to London unmarried..."
She suddenly realized that she had unintentionally found herself in what her mother blushingly used to refer to as a "compromising position" with a man.
"But no one knows except you and I and Billy."
"And my captain, who is a good man but who talks more than he ought, and the crew, who saw me carry you into this room, and the driver of the coach who was left behind when you did not return. As you told him that he could find recompense with Sir James Hampton, it is not likely that he shall keep silent when he realizes that you are not returning. In short, Miss Collins, your reputation is likely ruined from this. The best place for you is America."
"I cannot go to America! You do not understand!"
Anthony snorted. "Does your precious Mr. Hollis mean that much to you? Can you not bear the thought of not being able to marry him?"
Elizabeth ignored the pain in her head as she sat up. "I could care less about that self-serving, deluded...gentleman."
"Then why did you agree to marry the man?"
"That is what I came to tell you. I did not think I could make you forgive me completely, but I did not want you to think that I wanted to marry the man."
"Of course you shall say that now. Why marry a barrister when a wealthy landed gentleman has compromised your honour?"
"I did not intend for this to happen. If it were not for your incompetent crew--"
"Careful, Miss Collins. This 'incompentent' crew is the only thing that could save you should we run into storms."
Elizabeth fell silent. He was clearly not in a mood to listen to her. She wondered if he ever would be.
"What happens when we reach America?" she asked.
"I have been thinking of that. I had thought that I would marry you and set you up in my brother's townhouse, but then I recalled that Jonathon does not hold a high opinion of you, so that was not going to work."
Elizabeth wanted to smack herself for the joy that sprang loose when he said he was going to marry her.
"Then I realized that if I were to send you far enough away, I would not have to marry you at all. That would, however, lead to the problem of your survival. Although you are lovely enough to attract any number of gentleman to ask you to marry them, you would encounter the same situation you have faced here--lack of fortune."
Elizabeth had plummeted quickly when he gave her the second alternative. Where did he think he was going to send her?
"I am going to wait until we reach Philadelphia to make my decision. I feel, and I think you shall agree with me, that America is the better of the two options facing you."
"No," she said, shaking her head as she recalled the alternative that waited for Julia in England. And just as things were going better with Mr. Connor. How could I have done this to her? "You do not understand..."
"I understand enough of the situation. And now that you are feeling better, I believe I shall return to my quarters. Young Billy can look after you. I would like to suggest that you stay in the cabin. This crew is a good one, but even they can get lonely for female companionship after a while...and they do not hesitate to get it in any way imaginable."
Elizabeth gasped at his meaning, something she did not quite understand but could grasp well enough.
"If you stay here, they are likely to forget your presence." Anthony closed the door behind him.
"He should have locked it," Elizabeth murmured.
"Not a problem, miss," Billy said. "It locks from the inside. Neat, eh?"
"Yes," Elizabeth said. The enormity of the situation began to seep in, and tears formed in her eyes.
"What be yer problem?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "Nothing."
"Ye be in luv with 'im, is that it?"
"Yes," she said softly. "I love him very much."
"Then why are ye marryin' someone else?"
"It does not look as though I shall be marrying anyone anytime soon..." The tears began to fall. "Oh, God!"
"Did ye luv the other gent as well?"
"No...I could not stand him. My father..." She sighed. She needed a confidant on this trip, and it looked as though the task was going to fall to Billy. "My father is forcing me to marry the other man...or else he was going to force my sister to marry him."
"Is 'e a mean one?"
"No...just revolting?"
"What is re-vol-tin' mean?"
"It means that...he is a bit disgusting. Sort of like..."
"Fish guts?"
Elizabeth shuddered. "Yes, exactly like fish guts. You see, I could not let him force Julia to marry him so I would be free to marry Anthony...the gentleman that was just here. I had to protect her and the rest of my sisters as well."
"Oh."
"Now I am on a ship bound for America, and only God knows what my father shall do when he discovers what has happened. Probably disown me and force Julia to marry...oh, how could this have happened?" Elizabeth's tears fell faster, and her breathing started becoming ragged.
"I be sorry for yer troubles, miss. I should 'ave never asked if ye wanted 'elp."
"It is not your fault, Billy. Were it not for you, I likely would never have gotten here."
"That be me point."
Elizabeth smiled sadly. There was no need for the boy to feel guilty for something that was entirely her fault. "You were a great help to me, Billy, and I thank you. My concern is for your uncle. Will he not be worried when you do not return?"
"Coachman'll probably tell Sir James that I was with ye. 'E won't worry much." Billy sighed.
"What is the matter?"
"Well, miss, it be like this. Me--my uncle was 'elping me speak right as well as to be a manservant. When I turn up gone, 'e won't be pleased."
"Oh, dear." Elizabeth frowned. "I cannot be much help in your, ah, manservant training. However, I shall make you a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yes. You helped me find Mr. Ashton before he left, so I shall help you with your speech."
"You would?"
"Absolutely. It is the least I can do for you."
"Thank ye, miss."
Elizabeth nodded, smiling. The lull of the boat soon caused her to become drowsy, and she fell asleep, her fears fading away.
"We cannot tell her father," Mrs. Darcy said as she paced the library of the townhouse. "You know what Alexander said. Mr. Collins will force Julia to marry Mr. Hollis if he suspects that Elizabeth ran away."
A startled, audible gasp came from behind the door. Mr. Darcy, who had been sitting pensively in a chair across from his cousin, rose abruptly to open it.
Julia and Alexander stood there, looking sheepish.
"As the two of you have undoubtedly heard everything, you may as well enter," Mr. Darcy said.
Sir James, although his eyes were serious and worried, could not keep a smile from forming.
"Why did she not tell me?" Julia asked Alexander. "To be forced to marry that ignominous little toad--"
"Julia, this is neither the time nor the place for discussions of Mr. Hollis' character."
"Then how about my father's? How could he do this to her? How could he threaten her in such a way as to force her to marry a man she did not love?"
"If we could understand anything about your father, Julia, we would inform you of it. Right now our concern is what has happened to Elizabeth." Mr. Darcy sat in his chair. He looked at Lady Hampton. "Caroline, did she say nothing more than she had a desire to leave immediately?"
"I wish she had, but that was all she said. I cannot understand why she would leave without anyone. I told her that it would only be a few moments until Sir James could escort her home."
"Does anyone know who she might have spoken to in the last few minutes before her disappearance?" Mr. Darcy asked.
Julia lowered her head in shame. "I...I was too busy speaking with Mr. Connor."
"Was Mr. Ashton at the ball?" Alexander asked.
"No," Sir James replied.
"He has been the most difficult person to find," Mrs. Darcy said. "Cuthbert has been lurking the docks, attempting to discover if he has bought passage to America."
"What did I hear along those lines...oh, something about Mr. Jonathon Ashton arriving on one of his father's ships. Perhaps his brother intended to return on the same ship--which would not require his presence until the boat was to leave." Sir James frowned.
Everyone thought of the idea for a moment.
"Were Elizabeth that concerned with preventing a marriage with Mr. Hollis, I could see her running away with him," Mrs. Darcy said. "It is her concern for Julia that would not allow her to do anything of the sort."
A tentative knock at the door interrupted their conversation. The butler entered, saying, "Pardon me, Mr. Darcy, but there is a rather irate...er, gentleman here wishing to speak to Sir James."
"Dear, whom have you managed to offend now?" Lady Hampton asked.
"On a daily basis, my darling Caroline, I do not keep count. Show the man in."
"Er...yes, sir." The butler disappeared and a moment later returned with a short, squat man looking extremely annoyed.
"I was promised wages enough to see the gel there and get her back...only she never came back!"
"What girl?" Sir James asked.
"I don't--" He stared at Julia. "How on earth did you manage to get back without me seeing you? You listen here, you're to pay me exactly what you owe--"
"I have never seen you--" Julia stopped suddenly, the obvious glaring right at her. "Elizabeth. You saw Elizabeth--where did you see her?"
"Elizabeth who? I saw you, lady, and I mean to tell you that I intend--"
"You shall be paid quite well for your services this evening, my good man. I am Sir James Hampton, and you are..."
"Oglethrop, sir. Best coachman in London."
"Yes. You see, Oglethrop, this young lady is not the one you drove to..."
"The docks, sir. She and the boy seemed in some bit of a hurry, and they assured me--"
"What boy?" Sir James smiled, never once betraying how important the question was.
"I don't know. Some boy, possibly twelve but he looked younger. He was helping her find a ship."
"So she did intend to run away," Sir James said.
"No, sir. She insisted that she would be back."
"Did you see what ship she boarded?"
"No, sir. I was too busy making sure no thieves took off with my coach...you can't be too careful around the docks, you know."
"While you waited for her, did any of the ships leave?"
"Yes, sir. Two of them. One of them a Naval ship, and the other one American."
American.
Sir James withdrew a few pound notes and handed them to the driver. "Very good, Oglethrop. You have helped us immensely."
"Thank you, sir. Have a good evening, sir." The man bobbed his head and left.
"America," Mrs. Darcy murmured. "It appears as though she did run away with the man."
"How did she know he would be leaving tonight?" Julia asked. "The only people who would know were not speaking to her."
"Maybe she overheard something," Alexander suggested.
Lady Hampton frowned. "More likely, she was meant to hear something." Her brow furrowed as she tried to remember what she had seen. "I think I saw Miss Connor and a friend of hers near Elizabeth at one point, talking and looking at her rather pointedly. Perhaps that is when Elizabeth discovered that Mr. Ashton was going to be leaving for America tonight."
"Why would she change her mind about protecting Julia now?" Alexander asked. "After everything she has suffered, to decide to run away with Mr. Ashton now..."
"It is not like Beth, I agree," Mr. Darcy said.
"How are we ever going to keep this from her father?" Mrs. Darcy worried.
"How are we going to keep Mr. Hollis from finding out?" Julia murmured. "He is here in London."
"He was here earlier this evening," Alexander told her. "He insisted on seeing his fiancee, and when informed that she was out, refused to believe us. He waited for half an hour before abandoning hope. He shall undoubtedly be back tomorrow."
"I think perhaps it would be best if we retired to Pemberley as soon as possible," Mr. Darcy said.
"But what about..." Mrs. Darcy turned her eyes to Julia. "Mr. Connor will likely leave soon. He would not be willing to follow us to Derbyshire. If Elizabeth did decide to elope with Mr. Ashton, she likely thought that Mr. Connor was going to propose to Julia soon. If the engagement were to be announced, there would be no retracting it...and therefore, her father would have no leverage to force the match with Mr. Hollis."
"I do not suppose Mr. Connor proposed marriage, did he?" Sir James asked.
"Unfortunately, he did not. I was hoping that a few more weeks would bring a proposal."
"Then we cannot leave," Mrs. Darcy said. "We shall have to stay. I just wish I knew why Elizabeth would do such a thing now."
"We should keep this to ourselves," Mr. Darcy said. "No one must know."
"I think that was obvious, Mr. Darcy," Lady Hampton said.
All eyes turned to her.
"What? I do not plan to say anything!"
Sir James nodded as he looked into her dark eyes. "She shall be silent as the grave," he replied. "We all shall be."
Billy made certain that Elizabeth was asleep before sneaking out of her cabin. He walked up to the top deck and looked around at the sight of nothing but the ocean.
He'd never seen so much water in his life.
"Should you not be protecting your lady?" a voice said behind him.
It was that Mr. Ashton again. Billy wasn't sure he liked him too much, since he made poor Miss Elizabeth cry.
"She be sleepin'."
"Good. At least one of us is going to rest this evening."
"She didn't mean for this to 'appen, ye know. She only wanted to talk to ye before ye left."
"So she has said herself."
"Ye think she be lyin'?"
"No, Billy, I think she is telling the truth. I just do not understand why she bothered, as there is nothing to her engagement that needs explaining. She agreed to marry me and the next day announced her engagement to someone else."
"But her father--" Billy put his fist in his mouth to prevent the rest of it from escaping. It was not his place to tell this man why Miss Elizabeth had done anything.
Anthony frowned. "Her father what?"
"Nothin'."
"You know something about this affair, Billy."
"Well, sir, it just don't see fair that ye hate 'er because 'er father made her agree to marry the other fellow."
Anthony's eyes narrowed. "Did she say her father forced her to do it?"
"Aye. She said that if she didn't, 'e was gonna make 'er sister...uh, Julie or some such, marry 'im. From the way she talked, 'e weren't much of a man."
Mr. Collins was going to force Julia to marry Mr. Hollis if Elizabeth did not. His face lost all colour, all expression. Suddenly he remembered the stricken look in Elizabeth's eyes when her father announced her engageent, the trapped look as Mr. Hollis had forced her to stay at his side. How could I not have seen that it was her father all along?
Because your pride was hurt. You thought she had deceived you. You have hurt the only woman you ever loved with your anger and your misplaced bitterness, and all for nothing.
And suddenly the magnitude of Elizabeth's disappearance hit him. Now he understood why she felt she had to return to London. If her father found out...
Billy left the man to his thoughts, sensing that he had said too much as it was. Anthony stood by the railing for a few more seconds before heading for the captain's quarters and ordering the man to turn the ship around and return to England.
Chapter 19
Posted on May 05, 1998
It was early in the morning when the messenger arrived at the townhouse of Mr. Robert Connor. The knocking terrified his sisters, who feared that the message might reveal that something had happened to their parents. When they discovered what it said, they were more astonished than anything, although Lucinda had reason to be mortified.
Dear Robert,I have received information that is vital to my future happiness and your own. I must ask you to be extremely discreet, but I need a marriage license as quickly as can be arranged. My future bride is to be Miss Elizabeth Collins. I would ask that you deliver the license personally when you receive it.
There is one other request I have of you. If you wish to marry Miss Julia Collins, you should propose immediately and post the announcement in the papers. Any other option shall cause disaster. If, however, you do not wish to marry the lady, please inform me at once. I suspect that once you look into your heart, Rob, you shall know your answer as certainly as I know mine.
Yours, etc.
Archibald Anthony Ashton IV
An address was listed below his name.
"What is he doing marrying Elizabeth Collins?" Lucinda asked.
"He loves her," Mr. Connor replied. "Something must have happened. Elizabeth must have explained why she felt she had to marry the man."
"For my part, I never understood that nonsense her cousin tried to tell us," Miss Connor mumbled. "As if there were any reason why she felt she had to marry such a man instead of Anthony."
"We do not know all the particulars, Lucinda, and therefore we should not pronounce judgment on the situation." Mr. Connor's thoughts were elsewhere as he thought about the last part of Anthony's letter.
I suspect once you look into your heart, Rob, you shall know your answer as certainly as I know mine.
Was it too soon to propose to the young lady? After all, he had professed an interest in her older sister before he realized what she was truly like. She was nothing compared to Julia. Where Isabel was all superficial and uncaring of anything besides herself, Julia had so many depths talking with her as he had last evening felt like he had fallen into a deep ocean, and he could never know everything about her and that was good. He smiled.
Glancing at the clock, which informed him that it was just past six in the morning, he wondered how long he would have to wait before being able to arrive at a decent hour to propose to the woman he loved.
If there was one thing Anthony's example had taught him, it was that he had to take his chance now or else something might go wrong in the next moment.
Although Mr. Connor feared waking the Darcy household so early, Mr. Hollis had no such fears as he pounded heedlessly on the door at eight-thirty. The butler opened the door and informed him that none of the family had awakened yet, and started to shut the door.
"I wish to speak to my fiancee at once!"
"Sir--"
Mr. Hollis pushed past the startled butler and entered the townhouse. He was a man who was accustomed to wealth, having visited Rosings on a number of occasions, but the Darcy townhouse was daunting and fascinating all at once. He felt an inexplicable longing. He wanted a place like this one, and yet he knew it was next to impossible. People like him never were able to live in places such as this.
He heard footsteps in the hall, and a moment later appeared Mr. Darcy.
"Mr. Hollis?" Lord, this is the last thing I need this morning. Beth has eloped and we must stay in London for Julia's sake. I pray to You that Mr. Connor proposes soon, or else something will go wrong.
"Good morning, sir. I wish to see Elizabeth immediately."
"Sir, I am afraid that is impossible. She is still abed."
"Have you seen this morning's paper? The society column listed several people who attended the Connors' ball, and whose names should I hear mentioned but those of my fiancée and future sister-in-law. No mention of myself anywhere. They were listed as, and I quote, 'Two of the loveliest, most appealing young ladies to appear in Society this season. The Misses C-- are not only beautiful, but identical. In fact, many confessed to having difficulty telling the two apart, although I can say for certain that one of the young ladies spent a good deal of time in the company of Mr. Connor, the obliging host.'"
"I can assure you, sir, it was not Elizabeth."
"It matters not which sister it was. I happen to know for a fact that a proposal of marriage is expected any day from Mr. Connor--for Miss Isabel Collins, not her sister."
"I would think that that is Mr. Connor's decision to make, not Mr. Collins'."
"None of this matters. If Miss Elizabeth were to appear in company, she should have been escorted by myself as her fiancé. How inappropriate shall it look should she be courted by several gentleman while knowing herself to be engaged?"
"Elizabeth did not dance with anyone last evening," Mr. Darcy said, neglecting to mention that she did not stay long enough to be asked.
"I still wish to speak to her. I need to inform her of how she should behave in public. I shall not be made a fool of, Mr. Darcy. Now send for her at once."
"Mr. Hollis, I shall not roust a young lady out of her slumber simply to appease you. If you wish to speak to Elizabeth, call at a more appropriate time. Now I believe you can show yourself out, or better yet, perhaps Cuthbert could help you."
His manservant, who had appeared downstairs, smiled at the thought of getting rid of this individual who had caused Miss Elizabeth so much grief. With loud protestations and insisting that he would return, Mr. Hollis was removed.
"Dreadful man," Mr. Darcy said once he was gone.
"I must agree with you, sir."
"Have you been able to confirm anything that transpired last evening?"
Cuthbert cleared his throat. "The Ashton Four was docked three days earlier, during which its main passenger, Jonathon Ashton, departed and left word that his brother would be leaving once the transactions being made were completed. It departed for Philadelphia last night."
Mr. Darcy sighed. "Was there any report of a young lady?"
"Only in passing. A few sailors mentioned they had seen a young woman in the company of a small boy named Billy. Incidentally, Mr. Darcy, I spoke with your cousin Sir James' manservant. His nephew has disappeared...and his name is William."
"A boy?"
"Yes. The man said that Billy has a tendency to run off, and it was only when he did not see him this morning that he became concerned. It is likely that Billy escorted Miss Elizabeth to the boat."
"So now the game begins, to see if things can be worked out before Mr. Collins or Mr. Hollis discovers that Elizabeth has disappeared with Mr. Ashton."
"Sir, if I may, I took the liberty of having a man watch the Connors' townhouse. A messenger arrived early this morning."
"Yes?"
"Although he could not tell me what the message said, he told me that he had been paid well to deliver it...by an American gentleman."
"Do you think Elizabeth and Mr. Ashton had this planned all along?"
"Perhaps. Or something else that struck me...that perhaps Mr. Ashton arranged to have Elizabeth kidnapped."
"Which would not make sense as she willingly went to the docks in search of him."
"It would have made it easier to spirit her away should she come to him to try and explain everything."
Mr. Darcy sighed. "Perhaps that is how we should explain her disappearance, as a kidnapping."
"Do you think of telling her father she is missing?"
"Good heavens, no. Not until I absolutely must. At least I can say that we tried to keep quiet for fear of her safety and reputation."
"You could be positive about this, sir. If he did kidnap her, he is likely to marry her."
"Beth would never agree, not as long as her sister was still under the threat of marrying Mr. Hollis."
Cuthbert sighed. "I do not understand this man. What sort of person forces his daughters to marry people they have no love for?"
"I do not know, Cuthbert. But if you ever notice me becoming autocratic, remind me of Mr. Collins in this instance."
"I certainly shall."
If Mr. Darcy thought that throwing Phineas Hollis out of his home had been the solution to ridding himself of the gentleman's presence, he was mistaken. Mr. Hollis glared at the front of the townhouse for several moments, as though willing by his fury that the person he wished to speak to suddenly appear. He knew he was deliberately being kept from his beloved by the family, which led him to come up with some sort of scheme by which he would see her.
And marry her.
He knew now that he had been too polite in agreeing to wait until Elizabeth was prepared to wed. He wanted her, and he would marry her as soon as he saw her.
Mr. Hollis checked through his pockets, and coming up with a tidy sum of money strolled to the back of the street, and the back of the Darcys' townhouse. This was where the kitchens were, and this was where servants were to be found who would be more than willing to repeat the gossip they had heard from their fellow workers who served the family in more personal capacities. The maids and manservants he knew he had no chance of succeeding with, for their loyalties were firmly with the family. Kitchen servants were less likely to have that sense of duty to their employers.
If he were able to find out where the family would be going in the afternoon or evening, he could find a way to get Elizabeth alone.
With a casual knock at the back door, he awaited for an answer, trying to appear calm and suave, confident and friendly. He nearly lost his nerve altogether when a large, angry-looking woman appeared.
"Yes," she growled.
"Er...excuse me, miss, I was looking for a young lady named...Esme," he said, thinking of the first name that came to mind. "I was told she worked here."
You fool! Why did you not say Lizzy or Betsy or some other common name! There shall be no one by the name of Esme who is employed here!
"Why do you want her?"
"It concerns a dear relative of hers who has recently passed on," he lied. "I am the gentleman's attorney, and I wish to speak to her."
The door shut, and Mr. Hollis sighed, thinking he had failed.
A minute later, the door was reopened to reveal a pretty young girl with a smear of flour on her cheek. "Are you the man they said was looking for me?"
Mr. Hollis smiled. "Yes, miss, I am. To be honest, I had to make up a story in order to see you, but I shall pay you well for your time."
Esme frowned. She was not the smartest girl of her family, but even she knew something was amiss with this gentleman.
"I have been sent by...an American gentleman," he said.
"That nice Mr. Ashton finally come back?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, the family'll be glad to hear it."
"To be sure," Mr. Hollis said, frowning.
"Yes, and does he have Miss Elizabeth with him?"
"Miss Elizabeth?" Mr. Hollis turned red. "What was he doing with Miss Elizabeth?"
"Well, sir, I have not been told everything, but I understand that the family thinks the girl ran away with him when he sailed for America. She was not home last evening, my sister Maybelle told me, and she's the maid for Miss Jane."
With a quick intake of breath, Mr. Hollis realized that his fiancé had ruined herself with another man. She had run away with him when she was engaged to him. She had made a complete fool of him!
With shaking hands, he took the money out of his pocket. He had only intended to give the girl a couple of pounds, but he found himself thrusting the entire amount at her. "For your trouble. Buy yourself a nice gown or some such nonsense," he said before blindly walking away from her.
He walked back to his place of residence, still shaking and still furious. It was clear that Elizabeth's father did not know of her disgrace. It was clear no one knew. He needed to have a message sent to her father immediately, informing him that he did not intend to marry a girl of such dubious character.
He recalled with deep clarity the presumptuous way Mr. Darcy had had him removed from the house earlier. Mr. Hollis recalled all the conversations Miss Anne de Bourgh had in which she proclaimed she detested the man for not doing his duty and marrying her.
Men such as that think they own the world. They think they can be forgiven anything. Perhaps it is time someone brought him down a peg or two.
Mr. Hollis smiled. He knew the perfect solution to disgracing the Darcy family. Miss de Bourgh had told him of a scandal in Mrs. Darcy's family, in which her youngest sister ran off with a jade named Wickham. Since then, the family had been above reproach.
Suppose word got out that the Darcys had willingly allowed their young charge to run away with one man when she was engaged to another?
The smile grew, and his course of action was set. He dispatched two messengers--one to Longbourn with the message for Mr. Collins, and the other to the leading newspaper in London--preferably the one who had written the tale of the lovely Misses C.
He was going to give them a tale they would never forget.
Chapter 20
Posted on May 07, 1998
While all of this was taking place in London, there was a major upheaval at Longbourn. Three days after the departure of the Darcys, along with Julia and Elizabeth, a carriage bearing Miss Anne de Bourgh and her cousin arrived.
The sight of the lady who favoured her above her sisters, along with the gentleman Miss de Bough had chosen for her to marry, caused Miss Victoria Collins to fall into a bout of sneezing the likes of which none of her family had ever seen. Mr. Collins, fearing for her delicate health, insisted that she be sent to her bed immediately and that the doctor be called.
Charlotte insisted that to call the doctor would be an expense well spared, but she did agree that Victoria should retire for the day. She led her youngest daughter to her room, noticing as she did the girl's handkerchief. Oddly enough, it had been lightly covered with pepper.
Charlotte laughed as the explanation for her daughter's sudden illness became clear. "Dearest, be careful not to let your father see that," she said with a smile as she left the room.
Miss de Bourgh was most displeased with the situation, as she had brought George to greet his future betrothed. The letter which Mr. Collins had written her--the one informing her that the son of Fitzwilliam Darcy was courting Victoria--had greatly distressed her.
Seeing the young man in question distressed her further, for when Victoria had had her attack of allergies she had seen the concern in his eyes, and she knew that he was in love with her. She knew even further that the girl was well in a way to return his sentiments, which would ruin all her plans.
Mr. Collins ushered Miss de Bourgh and her cousin into the sitting room, where his remaining two daughters were. Caroline was playing an exquisite yet sad piece on the piano, while Isabel sat working on embroidery.
Mr. Collins narrowed his focus on Caroline for the briefest of moments. He knew the cause of her sorrow, and he intended to remove that problem with the arrival of Miss de Bourgh. As soon as Victoria was gone to Rosings to stay with Miss de Bourgh in preparation of everything she would need to know to run the estate, Caroline would have Edward Darcy all to herself.
He had no way of understanding that her depression was for the loss of Mr. Hollis' affection. Caroline knew that the man had cared for her, and yet he had still offered for Elizabeth. Caroline had been in a rage for several days, refusing to speak to Elizabeth or even remain in the same room with her unless absolutely necessary.
With her sister's absence, Caroline's anger had faded somewhat. It was gone altogether when she heard one of the servants gossiping about the real reason Elizabeth had accepted the man. Most said that Elizabeth had been threatened with some sort of peril.
Caroline would not have believed that about her father once. Now, seeing the look in his eyes as he glanced at Miss de Bourgh, she realized what the lady and her cousin were doing there. They were there to come between Victoria and Edward Darcy...and quite likely, at her father's behest.
Caroline now wondered what her father had done to convince Elizabeth to marry Mr. Hollis, for she knew that Elizabeth did not care for the man. Elizabeth had given her heart to Mr. Ashton.
"Girls, say hello to Miss de Bourgh and her cousin, Mr. George de Bourgh."
Caroline rose from the piano to make a curtsy to the gentleman. Isabel smiled cheerfully. She knew that a proposal from Mr. Connor was only weeks away, but there was no reason why she could not be friendly with this gentleman while she waited.
"I always felt this to be a smallish sort of room," Miss de Bourgh. "One that must be most inappropriate during the summer, when you should be taking full advantage of the light. My mother always felt that sunshine was essential, and always insisted that no matter how sickly I may seem, I was to take a turn through the park in the sun, although she mostly insisted that I go by carriage. Perhaps that is what ails your Victoria, sir. She does not get enough sun. She appeared most pale and unhealthy."
"Perhaps you are right, Miss de Bourgh, and I shall instruct her mother to see to that immediately."
Miss de Bourgh smiled condescendingly to the man.
George de Bourgh glanced over the room and saw very little he disliked. It was a plain, ordinary room, with nothing ornate or ostentacious to offend the eye. It was the sort of room he could have relaxed in, unlike some of the monstrosities of rooms at Rosings.
He sighed. For the life of him he could not understand why his cousin was insisting that he marry the most ordinary of Mr. Collins' daughters. Yet demand she did, under threat of disinheritance if he did not.
George glanced at Isabel, taking in her lovely dark hair, which was safely netted out of her way with curls at the temples. Her brown eyes would seem to be engrossed with her needlework, except he noticed she occasionally glanced in his direction. He admired her creamy complexion, which contrasted so well with her dark hair and eyes. A faint blush stained her cheeks when she realized he was looking at her.
"Need you stare so much?" she hissed at him, going against everything she had told herself to be.
"Forgive me for admiring such beauty," he replied.
The compliment was something Isabel knew how to handle, and she smiled becomingly. "Thank you for thinking me beautiful, sir."
"No need to thank me, Miss Collins, for I am surely not the first to tell you that, and certainly not the first to think it."
Isabel's brow furrowed in confusion. She was not completely certain, but she could have sworn that he had just insulted her.
"Mr. Collins, I wish to congratulate you on your daughter's engagement to Mr. Hollis. I did not think Elizabeth the most appropriate choice for a bride for Mr. Hollis--she is too flighty and temperamental--but I have come to amend my hasty judgment of the girl. Why, Mr. Hollis was in raptures about her--her beauty, her sense, her economy, though to be sure I did not know where he could have discovered that."
"They spent a good deal of time together. Perhaps she told him something."
Caroline's sharp intake of breath went unnoticed by all parties involved. When she rose from the piano, however, she said, "Forgive me, Papa, but I feel I should be with Victoria at the moment."
"Yes, of course," Mr. Collins said, waving his daughter away unnoticed in the presence of Miss de Bourgh.
"I must ask you, however, about whether or not you have shown good judgment in allowing an American to court Miss Isabel. My mother once had thoughts of her marrying George, but after her death I felt that perhaps Victoria would suit him better."
"And why did you ever think that?" George asked, tearing his attention from Isabel.
Miss de Bourgh frowned. Her cousin had been most difficult through the entire trip to Longbourn, grumbling that he had been taken away from his friends at the height of the Season for no reason.
"No reason!" she had thundered. "There is ample reason, young man. It is your intended that is being courted by Edward Darcy. The Darcys have already triumphed over us once. Do you wish for them to succeed in stealing away your fiancee as well?"
George, who thought that Miss Anne was carrying this grudge against the Darcys to an extreme, did not answer. It was a wise decision, as she had plenty to say on the subject without his adding anything to the conversation.
Now, Miss Anne was frowning at him.
"I suppose my opinion means little to you, young man, but I shall have you know that I knew Isabel would have scores of suitors, whereas Victoria may not. I have been where Victoria is, and it is not pleasant. And you shall not shirk your duty toward her as my cousin Darcy did toward me. I shall not permit it. Victoria is a good girl, and she deserves the best in life."
George had heard this lecture hundreds of times before, most often during the time he had thought to propose to Miss Sophronia Dashwood. Miss Anne de Bourgh had managed to hear that he was courting someone and had come straight to London to insist that he cease at once.
George had sadly told Miss Dashwood that he could no longer pay court to her, feeling like the worst kind of heel as he did so. Miss Dashwood, however, had revealed her true nature during that time, furious at losing his prospect of a fortune more than at the prospect of losing him.
Rosings Park. That is all you have ever meant to any young lady, and perhaps it is all you shall ever mean to anyone. And if you do not marry Victoria Collins, you shall not even have that.
George glanced at Isabel again. Miss Anne continued her tirade against the wisdom of having the girl courted by an American. George decided he would wait until later to ask her whether or not she liked the man.
Miss de Bourgh's visit was only intended for a week, but Victoria proved to be most stubborn in her illness. Miss de Bourgh had thought to visit the girl in her sickroom, but Mr. Collins' fears for her own frail health prevailed, and Miss de Bourgh did not see her. The visit was thus to be extended.
For this, Victoria was relieved, but she knew that the charade must end at some point. She would have to tell her would-be benefactress that she did not wish to marry George de Bourgh. That gentleman had not sent any prayers for her good health and had shown such a marked lack of interest in her that she felt her position could be justified.
Besides, she had noticed him arguing with Isabel the other day in the garden just below her window. When Isabel had furiously turned and walked away from him, he had smiled appreciatively at her retreating form.
Surely he would not fall in love with Isabel. He once told me that empty-headed girls did not appeal to him, and if there is anyone in all of England as silly as Isabel, I have yet to meet her.
Edward Darcy inquired after her every day, and Victoria's sole regret in feigning illness was the fact that she was not permitted to see him. Her mother was most gracious and passed notes between the two of them often.
"Mama, if Papa knew that you were doing this he would be most displeased," she said.
"Your father has done a great many things to displease me lately, dearest, so I do not think I am concerned with him at the moment."
"But he is your husband, and you are supposed to follow his example in all things," Victoria reminded her of her own saying.
Charlotte sighed and looked at her daughter. She sat on the edge of her daughter's bed. "Victoria..." She did not know if she wished to reveal the state of her heart to her daughter. "There are times in a woman's marriage when it is necessary to go against what her husband wishes, especially where it concerns her children. I could never bear for any of you to be unhappy in marriage, and that is what your father trying to accomplish in arranging thigs as he has."
"Why does he not see the truth of it? Why can he not understand how we feel?"
"It is not likely your father has ever felt anything that comes close to what all of you are feeling at the moment...except possibly Isabel. I knew he did not love me when he asked me to marry him. He had only recently proposed to Mrs. Darcy, who rejected him."
"She was right, because Mr. Darcy was the perfect man for her," Victoria said. She bit her lip because she realized that by sanctioning Mrs. Darcy's decision, she implied that her mother had made a mistake.
Charlotte smiled sadly. "There are many who would not say she was correct in her answer, those who are more practical about such things, such as myself. But we must do what our hearts and minds tell us to, and so she held out for love and I...I was twenty-seven and not likely to find anyone else. I did not want to die an old maid without children. When he proposed, I took what I knew to be my sole opportunity to marry."
Victoria nodded.
"But I had so hoped, as all of you grew up, that you would not be faced with what had happened to me. Isabel was always so beautiful that I knew she would not have trouble marrying. Caroline worried me a bit, but she is so sweet-natured that she would be perfect for a sensible man. The twins...again, I had few concerns." She caressed her daughter's cheek. "But Victoria, you were always so pale and sickly during the springs, and then your father insisted you would always be so and would not let you do anything. I feared for you. It was why I thought perhaps George de Bourgh was your best option."
"But I have never loved him, and now--"
"You have Mr. Darcy now, or you shall have him in another couple of years."
"Not if Papa has his say."
Charlotte was uncertain of what she should tell her daughter, but a minute later, a loud bellow which echoed throughout the house prevented her from having to say anything. She recognized the fury in her husband's voice and immediately excused herself to find him.
She found him in his sitting room, yelling at Hill to send for his manservant immediately.
"Mr. Collins! What is the matter?" she asked.
"It is--that--Elizabeth has shamed us all, and we shall never recover from the scandal!"
Charlotte frowned. "What has happened?"
Mr. Collins thrust a letter into her hand. "Mr. Hollis sent this by express, and I must leave for London at once."
Charlotte opened the note.
My dear sir,It is with some regret that I must inform you that my engagement to your daughter, Miss Elizabeth, must be dissolved. I have good cause for crying off, and the blame is your daughter's to bear. I have it on good authority that she has disappeared. More to the point, sir, that she has disappeared with Mr. Ashton, whom we knew as the friend of Mr. Connor. She was last seen boarding his ship and leaving for America with him. As you can well guess, I do not wish to align myself with a young lady of dubious character and reputation.
I regret that our friendship must now come to an end, but as you might well imagine, this has been a most dreadful experience for me and I wish to move on with my life.
Yours, etc.
Phineas Hollis.
"Elizabeth has run away with Mr. Ashton?" Charlotte asked.
"If they have married, it must be annulled. She has married without my consent and I am still her legal guardian for another ten months. She shall marry Mr. Hollis or she shall face the consequences!"
Charlotte was astounded at her daughter's apparent action, for it was most unlike Beth. "Mr. Collins, perhaps you are being a bit hasty. Can you not see that she is in love with Mr. Ashton?"
"I care not! I made a suitable match for her, and this is the respect she shows it! She has ruined us all, and she shall well pay the price for it!"
"But Mr. Collins--"
"No more!" he roared. "I have allowed you to have your say for far too long, Charlotte. You have objected to my decision, and I have allowed it because I indulge you. But from now on, we are united in our agreement on this matter. You are my wife and thus my opinions are yours. There shall be no more sneaking notes between Victoria and Edward, or encouraging George de Bourgh to take long walks around the park with Isabel. Things will go as I see fit and that is an end to the matter."
Charlotte turned pale during his speech, not realizing that he knew what she had done.
Mr. Collins pulled on an overcoat and plopped a hat onto his head as he walked to the door. A horse awaited him.
"I shall have her back within a fortnight," he said coldly. "By this time, I expect you shall have secured things properly, my dear."
Had he been able to mount the horse easily, that statement may have carried more weight with his wife. However, his corpulent body nearly fell twice while trying to get on the horse, and Charlotte could barely manage to not laugh at the sight. When he had righted himself, he kicked the horse to make it go.
It went a great deal faster than he anticipated, and Charlotte's last sight of Mr. Collins was of him holding onto the horse's mane as it traveled, looking for all the world as though he were about to be thrown.
She chuckled as she went into the house, the humour of the situation making her feel better about her husband's sharp words. She would do as she saw fit for once, she decided. And her husband was not going to prevent her. She had been his biddable servant for twenty-four years, but she had reached the point in her life when she would risk his displeasure--to save her daughters.
And the critical time had arrived.