Beginning, Previous Section, Section VI

Chapter 27

As the carriages pulled into the Longbourn drive, having been spotted far off so as to prepare to family to greet them, the family and their guests congregated at the front door to receive them. Charlotte and Mr. Collins stood at the front of the small gathering, Mr. Collins taking cautious peeps at Isabel to insure that she did not try another assault on his person. Charlotte could not take her eyes off the carriage, as though hoping to spy some of the happiness within.

Behind their parents stood the remaining three Collins daughters, Isabel ahead of Caroline, but both girls looking grim and determined to make the best of what they knew to be their futures. Victoria stood behind them, clutching Edward's arm fearfully, having heard from Anne de Bourgh on several occasions that she intended to ask her father for permission to take her to Rosings. As yet, he had said nothing to her, but neither had Miss de Bourgh had an opportunity to have conference with him.

That lady glared at the young couple clinging to each other, angered that Victoria would forget her duty to her family and to her personally by showing a public preference for young Darcy. Victoria, she felt, would soon be brought to heel. Having heard that Elizabeth had married Mr. Ashton, Anne had wondered just how much control Mr. Collins had over his children, but when she glanced at Victoria and recalled Beth, she knew that Victoria was not the willful child her sister was.

Mr. Hollis stood with George de Bourgh, not knowing that yet again he had competition for the hand of the young lady he had been promised. Mr. Collins had not said it straight out, but Mr. Hollis had a feeling that quite soon he would have the honour of asking Isabel to marry him. As for George de Bourgh, had he known that the man beside him was thinking of marriage to Isabel Collins, it just might have spurred him to propose to the girl out of pity for all the beauty being wasted on such a fool.

The couples descended from the carriage, first Julia then Elizabeth, who were immediately enveloped in the arms of their mother. Charlotte was truly pleased to see how well her daughters looked. Though she had despaired about not being present to lecture them about their marital duties so they would not be afraid, seeing the glowingly passionate looks on their faces as they looked at their new husbands made her realize that she should not have worried so. In fact, Charlotte mused as she shook the hands of her new sons, it was probably for the best that they did not have her to tell them, for she would not have been able to describe for them the joy and passion they seemed to have found.

Mr. Collins accepted the handshakes of the gentlemen, although he made it clear by his actions that he would rather not have Mr. Ashton for a son-in-law. Mr. Ashton, however, was the soul of courtesy and politeness. He even complimented Mr. Collins for his generosity by saying, "I know how it must have pained you to part with a jewel such as my Beth, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart, sir."

Although there was a "harrumph" from the back of the group (that being Mr. Hollis, who was ignored), and Mr. Collins appeared to accept the gratitude with most reluctance, Charlotte noted that when he turned his back he was smiling, and she had a feeling that it would only be a matter of time before he proclaimed Mr. Ashton to be his favourite son-in-law.

The twins, having been properly greeted by their parents, turned to their sisters. Isabel gave Elizabeth a great hug and congratulated her on her marriage, asked her if she had had the chance to buy a large trousseau, and whether they would be going to America soon or staying in England for a long visit. By clinging to Elizabeth's side she blatantly ignored poor Julia, who had been expecting such a reaction from her sister and did not feel slighted. Mr. Connor, indeed, was almost uncomfortable and would have felt even worse had he thought she had cared for more than simply his fortune. In fact, her questions for Beth indicated that she was interested in what sort of men she would be able to meet through her sister's connection.

Julia turned to Caroline and Victoria for her greetings, smiled politely at Anne de Bourgh and her cousin, and gave Mr. Hollis the merest of greetings.

Charlotte soon became aware that it was getting rather chilly outside, and so she insisted that everyone retire indoors. The guests went inside, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Collins. But when Julia and Mr. Connor innocently stepped forward to follow them--as the eldest married daughter, Julia would walk before her unmarried sisters--Isabel walked directly in front of them, indicating to her sister that although she had married, she did not take her place anywhere. The defiant action startled her sisters but went unremarked. Julia merely looked at Elizabeth and rolled her eyes.

Dinner was soon announced, which turned out to be a chaotic affair as everyone had to adjust to their new places and Isabel, who had been doing a remarkable job at giving her sister the cut direct, would not be allowed to take her place next to her father at the head of the table. Mr. Collins very quietly but very firmly pointed to a chair further away from him, indicating that although she was his beloved, by his standards she was no longer to be placed first.

Isabel pouted, but when she realized that her place would be directly across from George de Bourgh she cheered immensely. Victoria was, by her father's orders, seated next to him, with Edward between Isabel and Caroline. But to Isabel's horror, Mr. Hollis was stationed beside her and no matter how much pleading she did, Mr. Collins would not move him.

Mr. Collins had an odd reason for wishing that Mr. Hollis marry Isabel. Although he had intended to give the worst of his daughters to the man, and had always wanted Isabel to marry the best and wealthiest of husbands, Mr. Collins felt a good deal of guilt over the events which had forced Beth to marry Mr. Ashton. He felt as though he had cheated the man out of a wife, and since he liked the fellow so well, he believed that he could assuage the man's anger by offering him the best of his daughters.

Mr. Hollis, for his part, was eager to accept the prize he was likely to soon be offered, but he did not wish to express his excitement for fear of having Isabel disappear as Beth had. Glancing over at the new Mrs. Ashton, he felt a flash of bitterness that she was happy with her husband, but oddly enough, it was more the crying of a wounded ego than a wounded heart. Perhaps, Mr. Hollis began to think, Beth had not been the great love of his life as he had thought. Especially since her beauty paled so greatly in comparison to Isabel's.

The twins talked of their future plans as they knew them. For Julia, there would be a nice long stay at Netherfield, although her dear friends Miss Connor and Mrs. Shawcross would be returning to America to prepare for Miss Connor's upcoming wedding. Beth and Mr. Ashton would be returning to America at close to the same time, although not on the same ship, as Beth still had some animosity toward Miss Connor that time would not fade quickly.

Throughout the meal, others spoke of things that interested them. For the most part, the married couples did not notice the unhappiness of the unmarried at the table. Isabel, hampered in her efforts to intice Mr. de Bourgh by the monopolization of her attention by Mr. Hollis, was miserable. Isabel did her best to ignore him, but he refused to be ignored. His every question aggravated her, his attempts at flirtation disgusted her, and his adoration frightened her. She looked several times at her father, who looked upon the pair with a nervous but pleased eye. As Isabel had always been one for public appearances, to the world she seemed nothing more than a trifle bored with Mr. Hollis.

Anne de Bourgh was seated beside her cousin, and under her watchful eye, George was forced to speak with Victoria, whom he found to be a nice but somewhat bland girl. He was certain that she would make a good, steady wife, but there was no spark between the two of them. He did not feel the desire to kiss her whenever she was near. Anne's glare at him, however, made him act polite to her, and show her every courtesy.

However, he could not help but be amused at the way Isabel was acting around Mr. Hollis. Although she seemed bored, he could see in her eyes that she felt nothing but abhorence for the man. George was more confused than ever about her, since he knew that she had every right to be upset with her sister Julia and ignore her as she had done, yet he could not help but disapprove of her actions.

And as for Caroline, he did not know what to think. She had been looking sideways at Mr. Hollis throughout the evening even though she was seated by Edward Darcy, who made no pretentions about the object of his interest by staring at Victoria. To his horror, he had quickly figured out that Hollis was the man who had disappointed Caroline by falling in love with Elizabeth.

Why would Caroline bother with a man like him? He has no intelligence or sense!

Yet he knew why Caroline had thought she would have a chance with such a man. She had little fortune and was not blessed with beauty. Caroline would have been fortunate to marry someone such as Mr. Hollis.

He looked at her when he could, seeing the pain she could not disguise in her eyes, for she knew what had happened as surely as he did. Mr. Hollis had refocused his attention toward her sister, Isabel. That he had as much of a chance with her as he had had with Elizabeth did not matter. He had bypassed the woman who clearly would have him to try again for beauty.

It was not love that hurt her, he knew. It was pride for being overlooked.

She did not ignore Isabel nor Mr. Hollis. Caroline was gracious and calm. Any crying she would do would have to be in private, she knew, for she would not humiliate herself by showing emotion to them. Caroline's last chance had gone again, and she would not think of herself as anything but an old maid ever again.

Following dinner, Caroline disappeared after politely telling everyone that she had a dreadful headache and wished to rest. Her father, disappointed that Edward Darcy had ignored her completely, understood. Julia, tired of being in a hostile environment, also complained of a headache, and thus the two couples were forced to return to Netherfield. Charlotte, although disappointed that she would not get to spend the time she had wanted with her daughters, understood the problem and promised to visit Netherfield the following morning--without Isabel.

Mr. Collins arranged for Mr. Hollis to meet with him in the morning, which sent the man in such a dither that he decided to leave before he burst out with the news that he would be married to one of the most beautiful women in England. A relieved Isabel attached herself to Mr. de Bourgh after Anne de Bourgh asked Mr. Collins for a private conversation, which would take place in his study.

Victoria and Edward were left alone in the sitting room. Victoria's hands were trembling, and Edward took them in his larger ones.

"I cannot do this," she whispered. "I cannot go to Rosings. If I do, I know I shall turn out to be exactly like Miss Anne. I shall be like Lady Catherine, interfering in everyone's lives and making a nuisance of myself."

"That shall never happen," Edward murmured. "Do you know why?"

Victoria shook her head.

"Because you are a completely different person. You are not what she thinks you are."

"She looks at me and sees herself--someone she should protect and care for. Just like her mother took care of her."

"Victoria, she sees you and thinks you should have been her daughter."

"She should think that of one of your sisters. After all, she was engaged to your father."

Edward smiled. "If you knew Jane and Torie as well as I did, you would understand why Anne de Bourgh could never consider one of them a daughter of hers. Far too much spirit."

"I do not want to marry George de Bourgh. He is a nice man, but I do not love him. I love--" Victoria stopped, afraid of making a fool of herself. However, at the tender age of fifteen, she had not learned that sometimes prudence was best in affairs of the heart. "I love you."

Edward had hoped to hear those words from her, and he took her face in his hands. "I love you too," he murmured, giving her a gentle kiss--her first. "And I tell you this now, Victoria. I shall die before allowing you to marry George de Bourgh. I agree with you that he is a nice man, but he is not in love with you. And I am. We are going to be as happy as your sisters--even if we have to elope as they did."

Victoria smiled. "Do you promise me?"

"I do."

Anne de Bourgh smiled as Mr. Collins nodded. "I feel it would be best if you took Victoria from Longbourn. I too have seen that she has become far too attached to Edward Darcy, and it almost breaks my poor Caroline's heart," he said.

Anne de Bourgh suspected that something of a different nature injured his second daughter, but she held her silence. If the illusion of Caroline's love for Edward being ignored encouraged Mr. Collins to allow her to take Victoria to Rosings to marry George, she would allow him to have it.

Her obsession with Victoria, as that young lady suspected, stemmed from the thought that perhaps Victoria should be her daughter. Indeed, Anne had never told anyone, but when Charlotte had been expecting the girl, Anne had thought she could feel the child within her, kicking and wanting to be born. She had gained weight. In fact, she had felt what might have been labour pains on the day she later discovered Victoria had been born. Of all the Collins children, she was closest to Victoria and wanted her to be the future mistress of Rosings.

"You have my permission to wake the child in the morning and take her to Rosings with you and George," Mr. Collins said. "I know she might miss visiting with her sisters, but once she is settled they can visit her. In fact, if you wish to conduct the wedding when you arrive, you have my blessing to do so."

"Thank you, Mr. Collins," Anne said. "I shall take the greatest of care with Victoria. She shall want for nothing."

"I would never think you to do any such thing, indeed, it would be sacrilege to your dear departed mother for me to think that--"

As Mr. Collins rambled, Anne de Bourgh smiled. Her daughter was coming home.

Chapter 28

The following morning, a startled cry arose when Charlotte went to wake Victoria up for breakfast and discovered that the girl was gone.

Also missing were Anne de Bourgh and her cousin, George.

"Mr. Collins! Mr. Collins!" Charlotte screamed upon discovering her daughter's disappearance. "Victoria has been kidnaped!"

"Calm yourself, woman! I know perfectly well that Victoria is gone."

"But--"

"My dear Charlotte, I meant to tell you last evening but you had retired for the night. Anne de Bourgh has offered George in marriage to Victoria, and I have accepted on her behalf. They are to be married upon their arrival at Rosings." Seeing the horrified look on his wife's face and misreading what it meant (for he had long forgotten her attempts at disrupting his plans), Mr. Collins sighed. "I know that you were disappointed not to see Elizabeth and Julia wed, and that it shall be difficult to find that Victoria is just as happily situated without your being present at the wedding. But Miss Anne and I felt that this would be best for Victoria."

"And at what point did the two of you presume to kidnap my own daughter without telling me about it?" she snapped.

"I tell you, she was not kidnaped! See that her clothes were neatly gone through to choose the best gowns? Did you hear her scream at all? No. Indeed, I would not be surprised if Victoria had been anticipating such a move, for she cares so much for Miss Anne."

Charlotte glared at her husband. He knew the truth. Victoria may have had a liking for Anne de Bourgh in the past, but she had never been eager to marry George and especially not since she'd met Edward Darcy.

The only emotion that was evident came from the trembling in her voice, she said, "How dare you, sir."

"Come, Charlotte, you have known that Miss Anne had a preference for Victoria long ago. She always has."

"Her preference for Victoria borders on obsession."

"She has concern for the girl's fragile health, nothing more."

"If you had the sense God gave a horse, you would realize that Victoria is healthier than you and I both. She merely has spring colds, and they certainly do not cause her to be deathly ill."

"Charlotte, I know you like to think that Victoria is as normal as our other daughters--"

"And she is! She has wants and desires and feelings as much as the other girls do. She does not want to become the future mistress of Rosings or marry George de Bourgh."

"Nonsense. What girl would not like to one day become the mistress of such an estate as Rosings?"

"Victoria does not, I assure you. You know, as do I, that she is in love with Edward Darcy. And yet you and Miss Anne both pushed her in George's direction, when it is clear that he does not love her, either."

"Charlotte, you are out of line speaking to me in such a manner."

"I may be, but for once in this marriage I am going to have a say in what happens. I have stood by for twenty-four years and watched you do things which have embarrassed me. I have said nothing in the face of heavy criticism from my friends and own family. I married you knowing you were not the brightest man God ever created."

"Charlotte, that is enough!" Mr. Collins turned to walk away from her.

"No, sir!" She shouted. "You shall listen to what I have to say."

Although Mr. Collins had a habit of ignoring her, he stopped.

Charlotte sighed. "Despite everything, I have loved you in my own way. But I have watched you in the past several months. You have, with great deliberation, attempted to ruin the lives of your own children, and I cannot figure out why."

"I have done what I felt was best--"

"For whom? Was it best for Elizabeth to be blackmailed into marrying Mr. Hollis?"

"I never--"

"Do not insult me, Mr. Collins. I know the truth. Mrs. Darcy told me. You told Elizabeth that if she did not marry him, you would force him to marry Julia."

Faced with the truth, Mr. Collins did not bother to further deny the accusation.

"Furthermore, you have encouraged a match between Mr. Connor and Isabel--"

"Do not tell me that I mistook Isabel's feelings in that matter, for I know that she does love him." Mr. Collins was smug.

"Isabel loves no one but herself. She wanted Mr. Connor for his fortune, but that is beside the point."

"How was I to know that Julia loved the man? How would you have forced me to choose between my own two daughters when it came to which he should marry? And you cannot also say that he did not love Isabel, because--"

"He liked Isabel. He loves Julia. You should have allowed him to make the decision, not presumed that because beauty caught his eye first that it would follow that he would marry Isabel." Charlotte was amazed that her husband was actually listening to her. "But as to what you have done to our other children, sir, I can say that you have acted in a most imprudent manner."

"How dare you lecture me--"

"I dare a great deal, sir, and I would dare far more to protect my children from a man who would destroy their happiness." Charlotte's voice again turned cold. "Have you been so completely blind, sir, to the fact that Victoria loved Edward?"

Mr. Collins sighed. "No, Charlotte, I have not. But she is Anne de Bourgh's choice for George's bride. Can you honestly say that it would not be most advantageous for her? She has not--"

"Yes, I realize she does not possess any of her sisters' traits. What Victoria does have is a gentle and loving heart, one she has bestowed on Edward Darcy. You cannot force her to love another...and you certainly should not force her to marry him." Charlotte looked at him, a canny expression overtaking her face. "Can you honestly say that you would have been happy had Mrs. Bennet forced Lizzy to marry you?"

Mr. Collins had not, in the many years since he had made Charlotte his wife, thought about Elizabeth Bennet or the violent affections he had thought he'd had for her. "Well...no," he replied. "But at the risk of offending you, my dear Charlotte, I cannot say that I would have been upset if she had accepted me."

"The fact remains that she did not accept you. And had she been forced to be your wife, you would have found yourself a most miserable man indeed."

"I do not disagree with you, but I do not see--"

"If you would not wish to have a wife who was forced to marry you, then how could you want that for your own children? How could you wish to force them to marry and be unhappy?"

"I--I--"

"Precisely, my dear. You have not thought about it. So why have you allowed this to happen?"

"Because Anne de Bourgh always wanted Victoria for her...heiress."

"Heaven forbid Anne de Bourgh not get what she wants, is that it? Do you put her wants and needs over those of your own daughter?"

"Well, Miss Anne is--"

"She could be the Queen of England, my dear, and that would still not excuse what you have done. Victoria is your daughter, your own flesh and blood. Consider her feelings. Consider how her heart must be breaking. Think about..."

"I think about Caroline, and how hurt she was by Edward Darcy!"

"She was not hurt by Edward, dear. She was hurt by your very own Mr. Hollis."

Mr. Collins, who had not realized that, gasped. "That--that cannot be!"

"It most certainly is. Although I believe she is over him now, Caroline thought very highly of Mr. Hollis, and you overlooked it to force him to marry Beth."

Mr. Collins sat heavily in a chair.

"You have made a complete muddle of things, my love. You managed to redeem yourself somewhat by allowing Julia and Beth to marry, but you still have a knot to untangle with Anne de Bourgh."

"I--I cannot offend her. When I think of how generous her mother was to me--and to you--well, how can you be so ungrateful as to wish that she not get the only thing she has ever asked of us?"

"I think she has put too high a price on her 'generosity.' And I would risk her displeasure for Victoria's sake. Edward Darcy came here to possibly do right by one of our girls. The only one he ever noticed was Victoria. Should she be forced to marry George de Bourgh, he shall look elsewhere, and the next generation of children living here at Longbourn shall not have Collins blood in their veins."

"By rights, he should have chosen Caroline."

"But he did not, and we must accept that. You may have thought that seniority mattered most, but Edward followed his heart. So did Victoria."

Mr. Collins sighed. "I suppose you might be right."

"I know I am."

"If I tell Miss Anne that Victoria shall not marry George, she shall likely never see us again."

We shall simply have to endure, Charlotte thought.

"We might. George seems to have some interest in Isabel."

"But--" Mr. Collins fell silent.

Charlotte knew all too well that he had done something else. "What?"

"Nothing."

"William, what did you do?"

Mr. Collins was almost child-like by her stern use of his first name. "I have told Mr. Hollis that he could marry Isabel." When Charlotte groaned, he added, "But Charlotte, you have to know that it was the right thing to do! Elizabeth had backed out of marrying him, and I felt so guilty because I had arranged the matter. So I thought that perhaps he would feel better if Isabel would marry him."

"Dear, the man is...repulsive. Isabel will want to marry him no more than Elizabeth did."

"But you cannot deny that we owe him something."

"I most certain can. You have made the man no promises, have you?"

"I...well, no."

"Good. Then you shall not offer Isabel to him as a consolation for losing Beth. Allow Isabel to choose her own husband...and allow her choice to offer for her." Charlotte was brisk as she said, "Once I change clothing, I am going to catch up to Miss Anne and bring Victoria home."

"But Charlotte--you could not possibly!"

"They cannot have been gone long," she said. "It should not be too difficult to get to them. Victoria shall certainly be home by dinner tonight, fear not."

Mr. Collins sighed. For the first time in his marriage, he felt completely powerless. Perhaps it was his belated conscience making him feel guilty, or more likely, he was cowed by his wife.

Nevertheless, he found himself hoping that Charlotte did not catch up to Miss Anne and George...at least, not until Victoria was married. For although he loved his wife, he feared Anne de Bourgh more.

Charlotte changed into a plain black riding gown with a prim black hat on her graying chestnut hair. When she arrived downstairs, she was immediately accosted by Edward Darcy.

"Madam, I have been informed that Victoria is missing," he said, panic in his eyes.

Charlotte groaned. She had been hoping that perhaps the servants would have enough sense not to mention the problem to Edward, but at the same time, she was grateful.

"Yes, she is. Anne de Bourgh has made arrangements with her father to take her away to Rosings, where she is to marry George de Bourgh."

Edward's face turned bleak. "Then there is no more hope," he said.

"There is hope. I myself am going to find them now, and return Victoria to the man she loves. It is not George de Bourgh."

"But if her father--"

"Mr. Collins no longer has a say in this. He has clearly acted against Victoria's interests, and thus it is up to me to insure that she is happy."

Edward was surprised. He had known that Charlotte had been arranging things so that he and Victoria would have time together, telling Victoria to take him on walks so he could see the place he was one day to inherit, slipping notes between them when she had been pretending illness, always making sure to seat them next to each other at the dinner table. Yet he had the impression that she would bow to what her husband decreed.

So this empowered woman, the one who was about to face down Anne de Bourgh for her daughter, was a complete stranger to him. But he was grateful to her.

"Edward, I may need your assistance in this matter. I do not know what Anne de Bourgh had to do to get my daughter to come willingly, but she may be unconscious or...something."

"Give me fifteen minutes to prepare myself, and I shall be most willing to join you," Edward said. "I know Victoria. She would not have gone willingly."

Charlotte nodded as he disappeared. When he returned fifteen minutes later, she had arranged for his horse to be ready and thus the two of them departed, neither taking note of Mr. Collins frowning at them from his bedroom window.

Victoria had not quite known what was happening when she had been awakened by a soft voice telling her that her mother wanted her to drink something. She had found a maid standing over her bed holding out a steaming glass of something. She had, however, said her mother had sent it, and so Victoria had drank it. It had been hot chocolate.

Fifteen minutes later, she had fallen asleep again, drugged by the drink. She would not awaken for hours.

George had been puzzled when Anne de Bourgh's coachman brought the inert figure down to the carriage and placed her beside Anne. Indeed, this whole matter confused him greatly. The evening before, as he had been talking with Isabel in the garden, Anne had suddenly appeared and told him to prepare for an early morning departure for Rosings.

Then Victoria was brought to the carriage, clearly still asleep. And when she did not awaken, he began to worry. As they made their way to Kent, he asked Anne if something was wrong.

"Nothing is wrong, my dear boy," she said, stroking Victoria's brown hair.

"Then why is she still sleeping? You have gone unusually fast over a rough road. She should have awakened long ago."

"Victoria is one to whom sleep does not come easily. When she finally does rest, she does so peacefully and without waking in spite of the commotion going on around her."

George frowned. "How do you know this?"

"Because I asked her mother."

That was a lie, and he knew it. Something was quite wrong with this situation. But as he did not know what it was, he merely leaned back in the carriage and decided not to continue commenting. Perhaps keeping silent would force Anne to reveal her plans.

Instead, he thought of last night. After Cousin Anne had insisted that he prepare to leave, Isabel had become furious...

"Why is it that everyone must choose one of my sisters over me?" she snapped angrily. "Mr. Connor chose Julia and now your cousin does not want me to be with you."

George had been startled. He supposed that his interest in her could be seen as courtship, but he had not thought it was so. He again recalled Caroline's somewhat straightforward lament about being passed over for her sisters. She had had a legitimate complaint, but Isabel did not.

Or perhaps she did. Perhaps the reason men chose her sisters over Isabel is because they sensed that she lacked much passion beyond money and status.

When he did not respond immediately, Isabel had asked, "You do care for me, do you not?"

George sighed. "I think you are a nice young lady, Isabel."

"But you want to marry Victoria?"

"I did not say that. But I must do whatever Anne tells me to do. If I do not, I am disinherited." He had a feeling that that would dissuade her from any further thoughts of him.

And it certainly seemed to do just that. She excused herself just moments later. Left alone, George could not help but feel a great deal of relief. Perhaps Isabel had merely been too cloying, or clinging, but he was tired of her. She had but few thoughts, and they were continually about the same thing. It was most frustrating. He could imagine with horror what marriage to her would be like--an endless run of parties and Society and gossip. She would make Rosings even worse than it was now.

And the suggestion that he could lose his promised fortune if he married her had frightened her away. That, in the end, had been the confirming point for him. He did not--could not--love her. She would never love him.

He had heard a sneeze come from not far away. George had been startled for a moment, but when he had went to find who it was, he was surprised to see Caroline there.

"Miss Caroline," he said.

"Mr. de Bourgh," she replied. "Isabel left rather quickly."

"Yes, she did."

"She did not look pleased. I take it Miss de Bourgh had a few words for you?"

"Yes. We leave upon the morrow."

"Oh." Caroline would not allow herself to feel the least bit sorry, although they had had a nice conversation that afternoon in the music room. "I am sorry to see you go," she said politely.

"Thank you for saying so, Miss Caroline."

"Do you think you shall have to marry Victoria?"

"I do not know. Had my cousin looked upset when she told me we were leaving, I would say no. However, she looked almost eager." He frowned. "Too eager. Something is amiss."

"I trust you shall figure it out by morning," Caroline said.

George's frown turned up. "You place a great deal of confidence in me."

"I merely say that because you appear to be a man of great discernment. You like to look beneath the surface of things, although why I should currently think that when Isabel has caught your eye is beyond my comprehension. However," she added when he started to say something, "you do appear to be less enamoured of the lady than you were before."

"Do you always speak thus about your elder sister?"

"I speak as I find," Caroline said. "As anyone who knows me could tell you. I have not Elizabeth's habit of knowing when to hold me tongue in conversation, nor Julia's habit of seeing the positive of all things. I am as bad about speaking thus about Isabel as she is about censuring the rest of us."

"Is she the only sister--"

"Yes, although if you would like, I could find fault with all of us."

George's smile widened. "Such as?"

"Julia tends to make everything seem better, when in fact there is nothing to base such assumptions on. It can be quite annoying."

"I can see where it would be."

"Elizabeth has a terrible way of teazing my father far too much, which enrages him. And at times, she tends to find amusement in things in which other people take pride. I think perhaps that she feels the world has been set here for her amusement."

"I think you might be making that up."

"Perhaps, but you have never seen her when she is alone. I have."

"And Victoria?"

"A devious girl. She likes to use that illness of hers to get out of things she would normally have to do. Now that I have listed the specific faults of all my siblings, are you satisfied that I am like Isabel?"

George did not think that at all. It was clear that she did not take malice in her words, whereas the same could not be said for her sister. And he also knew that were any of her sisters threatened, she would be the first to lend assistance. Isabel would likely think of herself first. "What about your own faults, Miss Caroline?"

Caroline smiled. "I own my faults without reserve, sir. I am too studious, I tend to bore people, and some people might think I consider myself proud."

"Proud is not a word I would use to describe you, Caroline."

"What would you use?"

Maddening. Confusing. Fascinating. "Well...modest."

"Nonsense."

"You play the piano like one of the great masters and yet you insist that you have little talent. One might think you were falsely modest, but you are genuine."

"That is because I do not--"

"You are honest."

"Outspoken."

"You do not mean harm by speaking as you do. Perhaps outspoken is another word for it, but I do not mind it."

"Why should it matter to you if I am outspoken or not? I am not the girl you are to marry. In fact, should you marry any but Victoria, you are likely to be disinherited."

"Would that bother you?"

"If you were disinherited? I would feel sorry for you, but any woman you loved enough to risk Anne de Bourgh's displeasure would have to be one who would be willing to live without money and material things. Which brings to mind a question--can you live without the prospect of a good fortune?"

Caroline had intended her question to offend. George laughed, confusing her.

"See? No one else would have had the temerity to ask me such a question, and yet you ask it."

"Do you intend to answer it?"

"Of course. And I think that perhaps I could make do without Anne's fortune. You see, I have been rather devious myself."

"How is that?"

"Over the years, I have lived very economically while cultivating the image of a careless ne'er-do-well to my cousin. She believes me to be barely surviving on the allowance she gives me. I have money. Not a great fortune such as that of Anne, but enough to support myself...and a wife, should I choose."

"I wonder if you have gained some of this money from a life of gambling, sir."

George's eyebrows rose. "Some of it, in the early days. And occasionally today, but I do not live the life of a gamester, I assure you. My money today comes from investments which are sound and produce nice profits."

"And you managed this on a miserly allowance?"

"No. Anne is generous. I just make it seem as though I barely survive on what she gives me. Plus, I had some money from my mother which helps."

"Oh." Caroline smiled. "Why did you not tell Isabel?"

"Because I wanted to see how she would react to the possibility of not being the mistress of Rosings."

"I see."

"How would you react if I had told you that?"

Caroline looked at him. "If you had said that to me, I would think you would love me, and I would love you enough to say that it would not matter. However, since we are not--"

George did not quite know what he was doing as he bent his head over hers and kissed her...

"HALT!" a voice shouted from behind the carriage. George was uncertain who it was, so he leaned out the carriage door to see.

He laughed, seeing a tired but determined Charlotte, followed by Edward Darcy, coming toward them. Edward rode ahead of Charlotte to catch up to the driver, blocking his path.

"Drive past them!" Anne shouted. "Jennings, if you value your job, do not stop!"

But the carriage did stop, as it appeared Jennings cared more for his life than his job.

A moment later, Charlotte was at the door of the carriage, opening it and saying, "Let my daughter go."

Anne glared at the woman. "I have been promised by her father that this girl shall marry my cousin, and she shall."

"Then wake Victoria and let her make the decision. If she agrees to marry George, you may leave, but you are not going to kidnap my daughter and--"

"I told you, woman, that her father made this decision. It was not yours--"

"Like hell it was not," Charlotte growled, shocking Anne de Bourgh by her vulgarity. Had Charlotte been listening to herself, she would have been shocked as well, but she was past the point of caring. "I am Victoria's mother--not you."

Anne paled, but did not release her grip on the girl. "Some mother you have been. Your twin daughters have to elope to marry--I wonder, which of them found herself expecting the olive branch that forced the matches? And as for that Isabel, she is a flightly little lackwit and you shall be lucky to find a man who accepts her beauty without considering her lack of intelligence. And Caroline! She may be smart, but she is as ordinary as a stagnant pond and--"

"That is enough, Anne." George's voice cut coldly through the diatribe.

"Victoria did not come willingly with you, and if you do not release her now, I shall set the constables upon you."

"How can you do that when the girl's father has allowed me to take her to Rosings?"

"Mr. Collins shall tell the constable that he gave you no such permission."

"He would risk my wrath?"

"For his daughter's sake, he would."

Anne's grip tightened again on Victoria. "You cannot have her. She is mine!"

"She was never yours, except in some part of your imagination," Charlotte said coldly.

"She is mine! I nearly died to have her! She was here," Anne clutched her stomach. "She kicked and kicked, and I went through such pain!"

"No," Charlotte said, suddenly realizing exactly what she was dealing with. "You did not give birth to Victoria. Some part of you might think she is your daughter, but she is not."

George was shocked. There had never been any hint of madness in the de Bourgh family, but seeing his cousin now, he knew that there was something seriously wrong with her.

"I love your daughter," George said swiftly.

Charlotte thought for a moment he was speaking to her, but when she saw his eyes never leaving Anne's, she kept her silence.

"She is quite beautiful, is she not?" he asked gently.

"Some might not think so," Anne said with a warm look at Victoria's sleeping head. "Some might think her plain."

"I do not think that. She is quite beautiful to me. May I...may I hold your baby?" he asked.

Anne looked at him. "That would be highly improper, because she is not a baby."

"Of course not. But Anne...she is my cousin. We are to be married, are we not?"

"Yes, you are."

George noticed Edward out of the corner of his eye, and hoped that the man would be swift to act in a moment. Edward was currently glaring at him, not quite understanding the problem.

"Then what would be wrong with my holding her? What is courtship without affection? After all, we love each other."

"Well..."

"Anne, we are going to spend the rest of our lives together. There should be nothing wrong with this. Besides, she must be getting heavy for you to hold."

"She is...well, not as light as she once was. When she was a baby, she was so delicate I feared breaking her. She is still delicate."

Charlotte had to battle nausea at the woman's logic, wondering how she could ever have considered allowing this woman near her daughter.

"I promise to take care of her," George whispered. "Let me hold her."

Anne reluctantly started to move Victoria's body over to George's side of the carriage. Once George had her in his arms, he made a fast move which sent Victoria out the open carriage door and into Edward's arms. Edward almost dropped her, and stumbled with the weight of her body, but righted himself quickly.

"No!" Anne screamed. "Give me back my baby!" She clawed at George, her fingers trying to gouge at his cheeks. George managed to maneuver out of the way.

Anne had stood up to attack her cousin, but tripped over the hem of her gown and fell out of the carriage. With a sickening crack, she hit the ground and lay motionless.

Chapter 30

Posted on May 27, 1998

Six weeks had passed since the unfortunate incident by which Anne de Bourgh had lost her life. Mr. Collins had been the greatest mourner at her funeral service, sobbing uncontrollably as his wife looked on, passing handkerchiefs to him and looking at everyone else, who happened to be looking at them and wondering what about the deceased had caused such grief.

The guilt Mr. Collins felt when George, Charlotte, Victoria and Edward had returned with the body of Anne de Bourgh in tow was insurmountable. He had raged at Charlotte for two hours, proclaiming that a great lady's death was her fault and she should be ashamed of herself. Charlotte had calmly said that she had had nothing to do with it.

"After all, dear, it was your idea to allow her to carry off Victoria. You should have known that I would never stand for it."

"How was I to know you would go gallivanting after her?"

Mr. Collins also feared that people would say one of the group who had seen her die would blame them; indeed, a constable had come the same day to ask what had happened, but the coachman, who was a good man, had told the truth about the entire incident, being certain to avoid mentioning that Victoria was being kidnapped or the state of Anne de Bourgh's health. Mr. Collins, when told of that aspect, refused to believe it, and still did.

The family had travelled to Rosings for the funeral service, joined by the various members of the de Bourgh family who could have cared less about Anne, several of the Fitzwilliams, and of course, the Darcys.

Following the service, the family met in the Rosings parlor and music room, talking, enjoying the refreshments George had thought to include for the occasion, but very few of them actually thinking about the deceased. George had asked to be alone, his emotions uncertain, his guilt high. He had been the one to dodge to one side as she had stood up in the carriage to strike him, and it was he who had caused her to trip and fall in the first place. The sickening crack of her neck as she hit the ground was one that haunted his dreams.

If anyone had been to blame for her death, he felt that it was himself.

Per his request, the families who had come for the funeral departed the next day. Those who knew him could not understand why he wished for them to leave, because many knew how he had felt about Anne, and thought that he would be happy--or perhaps not happy, but at the very least relieved. Now he could marry where he wished. Now he did not have to fear for disinheritance.

Now he was the master of Rosings.

George did not care. It had come at too high a price, and he felt that it might be best if perhaps he sold the place outright and give the money away to charity.

He stayed in his depression for six weeks, not making any calls, only doing the bare essentials for the upkeep of the estate. People in Kent began to feel sympathy for the young man where before he had been the object of their contempt. They had always laughed at the way he danced to Anne de Bourgh's whims, forced to rely on a woman for his living. Now they began to say that he had genuinely cared for the poor old maid when she had no one else. People began to speak of his devotion to the lady, and how he was so grief-stricken that he could barely face anything.

At the same time, people talked about the circumstances of her death. Although no one had ever said anything, it had been suspected for years that Anne de Bourgh suffered from some sort of illness unrelated to her health problems. She had often talked about the girl she would one day bring to Rosings as its mistress, and on a few occasions even referred to her as her daughter. Having heard that Victoria Collins was involved, many people believed that Anne de Bourgh had tried to kidnap the girl and the coachman had had an accident which killed her in the process. Others said that she had decided to take her own life when George prevented her from taking the girl. Whatever the reason, speculation continued to spread until, as these things often do, it died out. Anne was dead, George was not speaking to anyone, and life went on.

In the six weeks following the accident, things had calmed down at Longbourn. Mr. Collins eventually stopped raving about how life had been unfair to Anne, and how somehow it had to be George and Edward's fault. Edward and Victoria had quietly become engaged, but neither of them had had the heart to tell her father as yet. The news that Victoria wanted to marry elsewhere so close to the ruination of Anne de Bourgh's plans would have infuriated him, so they remained silent.

Mr. Collins made good on his promise to his wife, and thus Mr. Hollis was banished from Longbourn. A week following Anne's death, he was fired by George, who had never liked the fellow and had no use for him. Mr. Hollis had not been heard from since.

Isabel and Caroline were both desolate at that time, and both for the same reason--they missed Mr. de Bourgh. Isabel believed that his depression was only a facade and he would soon be joining them at Longbourn again, where he would be free to propose to her. There would be no one to stand in their way and disinherit him should he want to marry her...and it was clear that he had thought about it.

So while Isabel was unhappy that he had not yet returned, she could occasionally be found humming to herself and thinking of everything she would like to do once in possession of a house of her own. She absolutely hated the way her mother had decorated Longbourn, and knew she could do so much better. She believed she would, as soon as she married. Her house would be the most beautiful in the country, one envied and admired by all. And she would not have to fear about the money running out, because she knew it could not happen.

Caroline missed George for entirely different reasons. She had been hasty to fall in love the last time, and so she was far more cautious with her heart than before. But she could not deny that his kiss had triggered something within her...the strange and wonderful Something that she could see reflected in the faces of Elizabeth, Julia and Victoria. She began to think of their talks, the one in the library where he had been enamoured of her piano playing and he had said she was talented. The looks she had sometimes seen him giving her at dinner the night before he had left. They had not been meant for Isabel, for she had not been sitting near her. The smiles they had exchanged, the words that had been whispered, and then that all-too-brief kiss in the moonlight.

She believed she was making the whole thing up. Surely she had to be, for a man with a fortune such as George's did not marry plain girls with no fortune such as her. Had she been beautiful, she might have had a chance. But Caroline knew why Isabel was occasionally so cheerful and decided that, like Mr. Hollis, Mr. de Bourgh would be proposing to her within the month.

Caroline believed she could take anything but that. It would be worse than losing Mr. Hollis to Elizabeth because Mr. de Bourgh was so many more things that Mr. Hollis was not. And it had appeared as though he had genuinely cared about her--at least for a moment.

Still, nothing had been resolved. George had not returned. Caroline soon began to wonder if he ever would, and it was at this time that she began to think of a way she could see him.

The Connors and the Ashtons had started speaking of returning to America again. Although Julia and Mr. Connor had thought of staying at Netherfield for a while, Mr. Connor missed his family and wished to return home to see them and introduce his bride. When Caroline heard that they would all be leaving for London soon, she had gone to Beth and ask her if they might make a detour by Rosings.

"Why?" Beth had asked. "As far as I am concerned, the less seen of that place, the better."

"Do you care nothing for the state of George's emotions and health?" Caroline had snapped.

"George? Oh, you mean Mr. de Bourgh. Why should you care? Isabel has told me on numerous occasions that...oh." Beth turned red. "I am sorry, Caroline. I should have seen that you..."

"I am probably wrong," Caroline said. "I have been before, with Mr. Hollis. But Beth...I love him. We had the chance to talk at length about things."

"You talked to Mr. Hollis at length about things."

"No. I talked to him about things I thought he was interested in. Mr. de Bourgh and I talked about things that mattered. It was wonderful." Caroline's shoulders slumped in defeat. "But if Isabel thinks he shall marry her..."

"Now, Caroline, try to be cheerful. After all, Isabel thought Mr. Connor would marry her, and see who bears his name now."

"Julia at least was pretty enough to compete with her. I am not."

"I wish you would stop focusing on your looks, although I think you are pretty in your own way. The reason Mr. Connor stopped paying court to Isabel, the reason you and Mr. de Bourgh have had wonderful conversations when you believe he is going to propose to Isabel, is because--"

"Yes, I know."

"Mr. de Bourgh seems bright enough to realize that."

"Do you intend to stop in Kent?"

Beth thought for a moment, then smiled. "I do not think we should mention anything to Isabel or Papa, but we might be able to stop there--if you would like to join us."

"I would have no reason for going to London to see you off. They would know that in an instant."

"We can say that you are coming with us to meet American gentlemen."

"Papa would never agree."

"Then we could say that you are coming with us to meet London gentlemen. He would believe that."

"Do you think so?"

A week later, a jubilant Caroline was sitting in a carriage with Mrs. Ashton and Mrs. Connor, smiling as the countryside went rolling past her on their way to Kent. Isabel, upon hearing that the twins had invited Caroline to London without extending the invitation to herself, became furious and screamed at their father to demand that they take her along.

Mr. Collins, still depressed over Anne's death, merely said, "But Caroline needs to be exposed to society or she might never find a husband. Men come to you, Isabel."

Isabel had ben used to getting her way with Mr. Collins, but he was a changed, almost broken man. Anne de Bourgh had been his last link to the great Lady Catherine, and now she was gone. Nothing was the same. It seemed as though the man who had raged and controlled his children was gone, and a meek, mild-mannered but still completely foolish man had taken his place.

And thus Isabel did not go to London.

George de Bourgh was sipping brandy in his study while reading a book when he heard the noise in the hall. His manservant was insisting that Mr. de Bourgh could not be disturbed, but when he heard familiar voices, he set aside his brandy and book, prayed he did not look completely disorderly, and went to see if he was correct in thinking who it was.

The first person he saw was Caroline Collins, standing there uncertainly. She was not looking around at all the opulence of the house, unlike her twin sisters, who were standing there with their husbands.

"Miss Caroline?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"

Caroline gave him a hesitant smile. "We had not heard from you since the funeral. We wanted to be sure you were all right."

George smiled at her as well, and for the first time, the guilt and pain of losing Anne did not feel as bad. "I am fine, as you can see. Thank you."

George welcomed the rest of her party and arranged for them to stay with him. Caroline waited for him in his recently-vacated study, which he did not discover until he asked a servant where she had gone.

He walked in to see her reading the book he had set down.

Tom Jones.

"Is it as good as I recall?" she asked. "I only read it once, for fear my father would discover me reading it."

"Yes, it is," he replied. "Caroline, it was good of you to come. I did not realize how unhappy I was..."

Caroline had started when he used her first name without the "Miss," but she smiled, gathered her courage, and decided to tell him the rest. "I did not come on behalf of my family, sir. I came for myself, because you had not sent word in nearly two months."

"It was difficult to lose Anne. You never truly realize how much you care for a person until they are gone...and as troubled as she was, as much as I hated her at times...she was still my cousin, and I cared for her." He sat down beside her. "Does your family know you are here?"

"In a manner of speaking. They know I am with the twins. They do not know we are here. They believe we are on our way to London, which is true. We shall leave for London as soon as our visit here is finished."

"I see." George smiled. "You could have sent a letter to ascertain my continued good health."

"I did not wish to do so in such a personal matter. I needed to see for myself. You might have lied to me in a letter, and I would have been lulled into thinking you were fine when you were not. Indeed, when you first appeared, I was afraid things were worse than they appear to be." "You know why my spirits are better now, do you not?"

"No."

"Because you are here."

Caroline smiled as he very hesitantly placed his hand on hers. As she looked into his eyes, she knew for certain that no one was ahead of her in his affections.

Dear Papa, Mama, Isabel and Victoria,

Although we promised to have Caroline home within three weeks, some events have occurred which are quite shocking, and it is likely we shall not be leaving for at least another two weeks. You shall be astounded to hear our news, and I must tell you how it came about.

We decided that since we were already on our way to London, we should stop in Kent. While we were there, we stayed at Rosings, where George de Bourgh was still melancholy over his cousin's death but clearly improving. Julia and I like to think that his improvement in spirits came because of Caroline, for the two of them spent a great deal of time together and it seemed as though she did him good.

And today, we discovered that indeed she had. George proposed to Caroline, and she has accepted. Although there can be no announcement, much less a marriage, for at least a year, the two of them wanted you to know that they love each other and hope you shall give your blessings to the match. You should see the change in Caroline. She is so radiant that she looks almost beautiful.

It is clear George does not care about Caroline's looks, for he fell in love with her as a person, not an object as he might have, given his wealth. He is as happy as she is, and talks about how his cousin Anne might have been brought around to the idea of having Caroline as the future mistress of Rosings. However, he points out (in case you wondered) that he would have asked Caroline to marry him even if Anne had still been living, for he loves her enough to risk being disinherited.

We shall be extending our stay here in Kent, for I have been feeling a bit under the weather of late, and so has Julia. Of course, Mama knows that whenever one of us gets sick, it is for certain the other shall as well so the report that we are both sick should not be surprising. Do not worry for us, we shall be fine. In fact, I feel better having written this letter, and might even consider going for a walk should the mild weather remain as it has for the past week.

Anthony sends his love, and so do I.

Yours etc., Elizabeth Ashton.

Conclusion--One year later.

There was much joy to be found at the wedding of Caroline Collins and George de Bourgh. The bride's family was all present, for although the twins had had plans to leave for America soon after their visit to Kent, circumstances prevented their leaving. Within three days of each other, Mrs. Ashton presented her husband with a son and Mrs. Connor presented her husband with a daughter. By the time it was deemed safe for the newborns to travel, Caroline and George's wedding was mere weeks away and so the trip was delayed again.

Both men felt slightly guilty at the amount of time they had spent in England, for it had forced them both to miss the wedding of Miss Lucinda Connor and Jonathon Ashton. Although Elizabeth did not mind it as much, she did not show her lack of interest to her husband, for he did not know about the actions of his brother and new sister-in-law at that dreadful engagement party.

But when Caroline married George, Elizabeth realized that all the delays had been worth it. Elizabeth's eyes drifted to her father and mother. So much had changed in the past year with them, as well. Mr. Collins had actually cried at the birth of his first grandchild, so pleased with her son that he was forever fussing around the baby. It was enough to make her scream at times, but she had come to realize that he meant no harm. Charlotte was a stronger presence in the household than she had been before, since her husband had relegated a great deal of authority in the aftermath of Anne de Bourgh's death. Longbourn, under her watchful eye, was more productive than ever. In fact, with the other four daughters married, there was some talk of perhaps raising a dowry for Isabel which might make her more attractive in the marriage market.

Victoria and Edward were sitting on the other side of Anthony, smiling and acting as the newliweds they were. Although Mr. Collins had initially objected to Victoria's marrying so young, but Victoria had learned what she felt she would need to know as a wife and married him three months earlier. As a wedding gift, Mr. Connor had offered to let them live at Netherfield with the implicit meaning of their staying there until after Mr. Collins was gone. Mr. Connor, when asked if he intended to ever return, mentioned that he probably would as time and his daughter would allow, but not for a while.

As for Isabel, she had done her best to find a man to marry her in the year since she had been rejected not once but twice in favour of her sisters. It was rumoured that she was getting old, however, and would soon be on the shelf in spite of her remarkable beauty. At almost twenty-four, Isabel was getting nervous. Even a dowry might not be of much help, even though her parents had promised her a season in London as soon as they could arrange it.

Elizabeth smiled contentedly as she took her husband's hand in hers. They watched as Caroline became Mrs. de Bourgh, the love in her eyes matching their own.

The End