Page 73 of The Scarred Duchess
His letter, although sensible, indicated a propensity towards verbosity. This young man is anything but.He was about to prod his cousin when he spied him surreptitiously steal a glance at Mary a second time.Interesting, that.
At dinner, Mr Collins told of his education and his acceptance of the living at Hunsford upon receipt of his ordination. He described his duties with passion and piety.
“What a fortunate situation you enjoy, Mr Collins,” replied Mrs Bennet, her sincerity genuine.
“Yes, madam. I cannot think of anything that could induce me to alter such an advantageous situation.” He looked directly at Bennet as he spoke.
As the family continued to pepper Mr Collins with questions—from his interpretations of a certain Bible passage to the fashions of his patroness—he dined and answered each in turn. Bennet played with his food throughout, pondering the ‘advantageous situation’ remark.What did he mean by that? Nothing could induce him to resign his living?
Philips had shown him the court’s acceptance of their petition to break the entail; Longbourn was now a fee simple estate and not a fee tail. Mr William Collins was no longer in the inheritance chain.
I shall beard that lion with my brother Philips.
The three men gathered in Longbourn’s book-room the following day.
“Cousin Bennet, I thank you for allowing me to visit with my only remainingfamily,” said Mr Collins.
“We are thankful to Lady Catherine on many levels,” Bennet leant back on his seat, steepling his fingers as he peered at his cousin. “Mr Collins, apparently I misinterpreted your olive branch regarding your belief you were to inherit.”
Mr Collins sat back in his chair, looking perplexed. He glanced at Bennet and Philips as if searching for clues. “I am blessed to have cast off my situation as an orphan.” He turned to the solicitor. “I understand I have you to thank.”
Bennet looked at Philips, who seemed confused as he was.
“Mr Collins, what do you speak of?” asked Philips.
“You wrote to Mr Gardiner, did you not?” asked Mr Collins.
“Yes, about the Chancery Court’s denial of our petition,” Philips replied.
“Then you know not of Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s intercession?”
Philips turned to Bennet. “Is this related to that business with the barristers that conspired against Andrew Gardiner?
“It is.” He ran through the sequence of events as he understood them. Mr Collins interjected a detail here and there.
“Well,” remarked Philips. “This has been quite the adventure, I daresay. Have we uncovered everything unknown heretofore?”
Mr Collins looked bewildered as his head pivoted back and forth between the two men. “I thought you knew.” He squared his shoulders. “I am here to repudiate any and all future consideration as heir.”
Bennet knew not what to say. “But it is unnecessary.”
“I understand that now. Yet, even if it is ceremonial, Iwould like to do so. The Almighty has reunited us and I am ever thankful.”
Bennet looked at Philips. The man was speechless. Mr Collins looked at the ceiling a moment, as if searching the heavens. “I believe you might have imagined I was here to choose one of my cousins as a wife?”
“Yes, I did,” admitted Bennet.
“I would consider myself blessed to do so, though as I do not yet know the ladies very well, it would seem premature to select one to wed.”
“Let us defer such a topic until a later date.”
Mr Collins shook his head. He looked down, his shoulders hunching forward. “Today, and only today, I shall speak of my childhood, so you may sketchmycharacter.”
When he looked up, his expression was forlorn. “I understand you knew Josiah Collins to be cruel. I am doubtful you understood the depths of his depravity. My drunken father importuned a tavern girl. The parish rallied to her care. God forgive me for saying this, but thankfully, she died giving me life. In so doing, she escaped living in purgatory. I did not.”
Philips drained his port, then grabbed Bennet’s glass and drained his.
“My father barely tolerated me. I disgusted him. He saw me as weak and perceived himself as strong. He cared not whether I lived or died. The only thing he understood was brutality.”
