Page 73 of See, Hear, Speak No Evil, Mr. Darcy
“Your interpretations of the Scriptures,” Elizabeth said, moving between Jane and Mr. Collins, blocking her sister from his sight, “shared before speaking to our mother, shows the acumen of a child with no deeper understanding or the significance of the words. My sister Mary could explain Scripture in far greater depth by twelve. I think our discussions of passages that inspire meaningful consideration would benefityourcomprehension of the Bible, sir.”
“If you are willing to discuss a topic unrelated to your patroness, a woman wholly unknown to us, and if you can provide intelligent, or, at least, witty conversation, you are welcome tocontributeto our evening’s conversation. But understand this, Mr. Collins, my husband and I agreed when we wed that our daughters will be allowed to accept or deny any man’s suit,” Mrs. Bennet said in no uncertain terms.
“I haveneverbeen so insulted in the whole of my life.”
“I rather think you are too foolish to understand those levied. My daughters are intelligent. I worry you cannot follow the conversation. Our Mary advises us not to read anything written by Reverend Fordyce unless we recognize it as a farcical work. You laud his sermons, which suggest that your patroness lacks the intelligence to decide where she would like a closet placed. And this is after claiming she instructed you on what to do with yours,” Mrs. Bennet challenged.
“Reverend Fordyce should never have met so glorious and intelligent a personage as Lady Catherine,” Mr. Collins asserted.
“Then you allow other ladies might have the same understanding as your patroness?” Lydia asked.
Bennet leaned forward in anticipation. The ladies of Longbourn had circled their quarry like a pride of lionesses and were now tearing his every argument apart, their prey giving little struggle. He had never been prouder of his daughters or his wife.
“I expect my wife never to contradict my patroness. I can think of no other who would have the intelligence you describe,” Mr. Collins said.
“Shall I write to inform the Queen you think her to be below Lady Catherine in intelligence? And Mr. Darcy would, no doubt, need to inform his aunt, Lady Matlock, who is the wife of an earl. What rank did you say Lady Catherine's husband was?” Elizabeth further pressed the man to consider whom he lauded.
“I am certain I did not suggest they were not of equal understanding to Lady Catherine,” Mr. Collins decried, turning to Bennet. His cheeks flushed when he discovered that Bennetlaughedat him.
“Do not look to me, Mr. Collins. I understand too well that speaking against the ladies of Longbourn is a foolhardy exercise. Admit it, taking advice on what selection of beef is proper to have on your table? I also know it has to do with personal taste, one’s income, and the other dishes being served. With Lady Catherine ordering your life so, would not your Reverend Fordyce say she makes for an excellenthusband?” Bennet smirked.
Mouth agape, Mr. Collins attempted thrice to speak, but no words could pass through his incredulity. The ladies looked at him in pity and disdain. Bennet watched his cousin’s affrontery increase when laughter filled his wife’s drawing room.
“Excuse us, my dears. I must ask Mr. Collins about his understanding of estate management.” Mr. Bennet turned to hiscousin. “If you cannot learn what must be done, I shall warn my tenants that they will want to leave when you take over. We should regret your ruining everything they have worked to gain.”
“You would not.”
Bennet watched Mr. Collins’s panic increase when there was no denial of the intent.
“I might have done more, but I did not allow the estate to fall into ruin. I regret being the last Bennet on our familial estate. But it is yet mine, and I refuse to let you destroy the lives of our tenants if you are an inconsiderate landlord.” Mr. Bennet led his cousin from the room. “You claim to be prepared to take my place, but I will make my assessment.”
Silence fell between those ladies of Longbourn after the men departed the room. Stupefied, Mrs. Bennet said, “Well, that was interesting.”
Chapter 14
Greeting the Morning Along the Western Borders of the Longbourn Estate
Elizabeth failed to hide how glad she was to see Mr. Darcy at her favorite rock. Warmth radiated from the very center of her being when he looked at her.
“My cousin arrived yesterday afternoon. He is my father’s heir. He is a parson whom Lady Catherine de Bourgh granted a living in—”
“Kent,” Darcy said. “How remarkable. Lady Catherine is my aunt. I have not had the…pleasure of making his acquaintance.”
“Then you will surely have not met a more foolish man, sir.”
“I can say with certainty the two parsons preceding him were sycophantic, if not complete fools.”
Elizabeth could only laugh at this. “She chose well, then, for Mr. Collins is both. He arrived bearing an olive branch to offer for one of us. He no longer has expectations in that quarter. My mother told him he would not be allowed to marry any of her daughters becausehefailed to meet her hopes on our behalf. She claims he is not intelligent enough for us. With his vocation,my middle sister would have been his best match. Mary and he clashed because of his interpretation of theology, more specifically, his inability to consider the deeper meanings of the passages. However, in learning Lady Catherine is your relation, I fear I must also tell you something which will not paint my family in the best of light.”
Elizabeth worried her bottom lip. When she met his eyes, he encouraged her to explain.
“His assertions of your aunt’s opinions being all that is great in the world, that none could be her equal in her beneficence and all-knowing wisdom, were numerous. I said outright I intended to suggest you write your aunt, Lady Matlock, of her being less so.”
He raised his brows.
“I assure you, sir, you have the less daunting task. I told him I would inform the Queen that she, too, is considered beneath Lady Catherine in these aspects of her character. As per the good parson.”
A booming laugh erupted from his chest.
