Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (58 page)

Mary Collins was anxious for Elizabeth to arrive. She had persuaded her sister to make the trip into Kent shortly after Jane and Becky had left for London. The past fortnight had given rise to second thoughts about whether her request had been wise.

William had questioned her nervousness, but she was not yet ready to confide in him. Twice he had mentioned how much Bethany reminded him of Lizzy to Mary. Her response had been nonchalant to deflect any speculation on his part, but she was frightened what Lady Catherine might think of the resemblance. She probably should have advised her sister to stay away once she met Georgiana and Bethany. But now it was too late. Mary was particularly grieved by her disobedience to her father’s admonition with regards her sister’s secret. However, she was more than a little confused why he had said Mr Darcy had not been involved in the way they speculated. Bethany was living proof he was culpable.

As the day of Lizzy’s arrival had grown closer, Mary had justified her decision by thinking her actions a solution for her sister’s redemption. Mr Darcy was no longer married. The shame of their affair could be hidden behind their solemn vows before God. Besides, Papa had said Elizabeth was just trying to recapture a little joy by waltzing with him; so think of the joy she could acquire by wedding him. Mary, who had never been romantic, had created a scenario for her sister’s happiness worthy of those Mrs Radcliffe novels Lydia loved.

A nervous stomach caused Mary to abstain from breakfast. Fear her actions would cause a rupture in her relationship with her sister was her excuse—but it had been happening quite often lately. As a parson’s wife, she should probably be thinking of an admonition for her sister’s immoral behaviour, but she could not take that as seriously as she did Lizzy’s welfare. She had paid for any transgression in lack of sleep, nightmares, sadness and forgoing any happiness of her own to bring the same to her sisters. A look at the clock on the mantle, said it was time.

Mr and Mrs Collins were waiting in their front garden as the Gardiners’ carriage pulled up outside the parsonage. The sisters embraced, and Mr Collins, knowing Lizzy’s skittishness about being touched, only smiled broadly and told his new sister, “I am delighted you have agreed to join us in our humble abode.”

Elizabeth observed that the house was well proportioned, and the front garden delightfully laid out. It was quite early; but plants had begun to sprout, and she should be able to tell what they were within a se’nnight—she hoped they were daffodils and hyacinths. Several fruit trees were budding, and she was pleased she would be here to see this garden in all its spring glory. She noticed a heart-shaped bed, outlined with stones, off to one side. The plants in this bed were just beginning to peek through the ground. She now remembered just how knowledgeable her cousin had been when discussing gardening in Hertfordshire, and that he had been unusually pleased that the house he was to inherit had a solarium for growing plants year round. Seeing his garden, she believed she might have uncovered one of his passions. She smiled broadly at the tall, much less grave parson. “Mr Collins, your garden is beautiful, and it appears marriage agrees with you.”

“Thank you, sister. It does indeed.”

Mary and her sister left Mr Collins in the garden and entered the house. Once the door was closed, she confided, “Lizzy, I thought you would never arrive. I need to talk with you.”

Elizabeth saw anxiety in her sister’s eyes, and fear became a rival for the delight she had felt upon observing her sister’s home. Was it possible she was not as pleased with marriage as Mr Collins? Was the problem marital relations? Fearing her face would show her disgust, she attempted to put the thought out of her mind. It was nonsensical to think Mary would believe she could help with such a problem? She would suggest a letter to Aunt Gardiner. Perhaps, it was only that she was having difficulty with his patroness. Lizzy smiled a calming smile for her sister and said, “I have missed you, Mary, and I promise we will have a long talk as soon as I have cleaned off some of the dust from the road.”

Elizabeth also felt a need to consult her sister. She was worried about Jane. Before coming to Kent, she had spent several days with the Gardiners. Jane and Becky had come to visit several times. Her sister had sent three notes to the Hurst townhouse, and according to Becky, had grown angrier each day there was no response. Elizabeth was hoping Mary could provide some insight into interpreting Jane’s changed character.

Mary, realizing she had not been the best hostess, said to her sister, “Rose will show you to your room, and you can freshen yourself. Once you have rested a bit, we will have some tea and talk.”

An hour later, Elizabeth was shown into her sister’s private parlour. It was at the back of the house, and looked out on another lovely garden. Mary was embroidering a sampler that included a picture of Hunsford parsonage. She told Elizabeth she planned to include the front garden once she saw all the flowers and colours displayed when the plants were in full bloom. She wanted to depict the spring garden because she felt the newness and promise was indicative of her life. She had not settled on the bible verse she would use, but hoped Elizabeth could help her choose.

Elizabeth looked at the sampler and thought for a moment before she smiled with her suggestion. “Though not from the bible, I am much enamoured, currently, of something from a poem by Mr Coleridge:

He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.

That might be lovely on your sampler, especially one showing Mr Collins’ garden. The little bird in the tree you included brought to mind the verse.”

“Lizzy what a beautiful sentiment. I am certain that quote and “God Bless our Home” across the top will make this sampler perfect. Now I only hope my design and embroidery skills are up to the challenge.” With nervous laughter she declared, “Where are Jane and Kitty when I need them?”

Lizzy took her sister’s hand as she spoke, “Oh Mary, were Papa and I wrong to encourage you to marry Mr Collins? Are you happy? Your needlework suggests you are, but your face is filled with anxiety.”

“Lizzy, we are quite content, and all of your advice to both of us has smoothed the transition into married life. My concerns have to do with Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s family. Did you know that Mr Darcy is both her nephew and her son-in-law?”

Elizabeth turned pale, averted her eyes and said much more confidently that she felt. “No, I did not.” Panic threatened to engulf her as she tried to recall being told by Anne her name before marriage. Fearing where the conversation was heading, she wondered whether her uncle’s carriage had left to return to London.

“His sister has been here since the middle of February. She brought his children with her to visit their grandmother. Mr Darcy is expected to arrive in a fortnight for Easter.” Aware of her sister’s agony, she debated whether she should continue. There truly was no alternative other than having her sister reveal the past. Mary forged ahead. “It has been my good fortune to become a close friend of Miss Darcy. She is a shy, demure type of young woman, who recently experienced a personal disappointment, and she was in need of a woman friend and confidant close to her age. A love of music brought us together.”

Yes, someone other than her naive, witless brother…
momentarily crowded thoughts of exposure from Elizabeth’s mind.

Mary looked over at her sister and noticed she was studying her hands. Not yet ready to confront her, she continued talking about Miss Darcy and music. “She has had the benefit of a master for the last five years, and her expert advice to me was to play with more joy. In her opinion, my technique is good, but the love I feel for the music is not apparent when I play. I told her you had said much the same thing.” Mrs Collins gave her sister a heart-felt smile as she relayed her next observation. “She asked me about your playing, and I told her your technique is a bit flawed, but people who hear you enjoy your performance more because you always display such passion.”

It was obvious Lizzy had paid little attention to her compliment. “Miss Darcy is looking forward to meeting you. Her brother told her about making your acquaintance in Hertfordshire. It seems he was quite enthusiastic in his description of your playing—as well as other things about you.”

At this revelation by her sister, Elizabeth blushed and began trembling. Mary became more convinced that Mr Darcy held the key to both her sister’s secret and happiness. Whatever misunderstanding had occurred between them in Hertfordshire could be overcome. She continued her monologue. “As I wrote you, Lady Catherine is quite overbearing, and advises both Mr Collins and myself on everything from how to arrange our closets, to what to feed our chickens in order to increase egg production. Georgiana—she asked me to call her by her Christian name—overheard her aunt tell me I could never be truly proficient on the pianoforte unless I practice.”

Mary felt such compassion for her sister’s obvious distress. Wishing she did not have to force her sister to reveal her secret, she paused. Her sister was not of a mind to speak yet. Still, there was no other course of action—Georgiana would determine her secret immediately upon seeing Elizabeth. “Lady Catherine offered to allow me to use the instrument in the room that had been that of her daughter’s governess. Georgiana was offended by her aunt’s condescending behaviour, and even though she is quite shy, immediately invited me to Rosings to practice with her on the pianoforte in the music room. She is even hoping Mr Darcy will persuade Lady Catherine to allow the pianoforte in the former governess’s room to be brought to Hunsford for my use.”

Elizabeth seemed to be praying now, and the depth of the pain she was causing her sister increased the guilt Mary felt. Making the decision it was time to move ahead, she began again. “Georgiana often brings Mr Darcy’s children with her when she visits me, and both of them have often participated in our practice sessions at Rosings. We are a merry group and laugh a great deal. Georgiana is teaching Miss Bethany to play, and Master Lewis likes to sing…
Bobby Shafto
is his favourite. He likes to point to the buckles on his knee and pretend to comb his hair. They are wonderful children, and having spent these past weeks with them makes me desirous to have my own.”

Mary noticed unshed tears in her sister’s eyes, but there was no turning back. “Through my talks with Georgiana, I have found out some very confusing and potentially dangerous information. In addition, I have also noticed several things about Miss Bethany, whose full name is Elizabeth Anne Darcy.”

Mary saw tears streaking down Elizabeth’s cheeks. She put her arms around her sister, but did not cease speaking. Her tone was soft and quiet, and not at all accusatory. “The Darcy and De Bourgh family have no immediate relative named Elizabeth, and Georgiana thinks it odd that Mrs Darcy wanted her daughter to have that name. Master Lewis is named Lewis George for both his grandfathers, but Miss Bethany was only named for one of her grandmothers. Georgiana remembers overhearing her brother and sister-in-law arguing over the name shortly after the baby was born.” Now Mary felt silent sobs as she recounted Miss Darcy’s speculation. “Georgiana remembers Mr Darcy saying it was dangerous because it would raise questions, but Mrs Darcy said she refused to name her after her mother and was insistent on the need to honour Elizabeth.”

Mary let go of Lizzy, hoping she would raise her head, but she did not. “Lizzy please look at me. Georgiana has been wondering for the last five years who this mysterious Elizabeth was. She asked her brother once, and he became very defensive, and told her she was a friend of Mrs Darcy who had died tragically. Georgiana was certain her brother was not telling the truth. Miss Darcy is troubled by the mystery because this is the only time in her life she felt her brother lied to her.”

Mary squared her shoulders and exhaled slowly to calm herself before she delivered her most incriminating evidence. “Miss Bethany wears an amber cross just like the one Papa and Mama gave you on your fifth birthday… the one with the ant inside that you used to wear and said you lost. I told her how beautiful it was, and asked her about it. She said her mother had left it for her.”

Mary took Lizzy’s chin and lifted her face in order to claim her eyes. “Elizabeth, is Bethany your daughter? And is Mr Darcy her father? Why, if he compromised you, would Mrs Darcy want to raise your child and honour you?”

Elizabeth’s sobs became audible and her shaking violent. Mary rocked Elizabeth in her arms and lovingly rubbed her back while whispering comforting words into the ear of the sister who had been the rock for so many years for the rest of her sisters. Elizabeth was the one who provided dowries when their father could not, and made certain Mary admired and respected Mr Collins before she was at ease with their marriage plans. Mary knew not what had happened six years ago and despite being a great believer in morality, her instincts told her that whatever had happened to her sister transcended some rigid notion of right and wrong.