P&P Missing Scenes – Charlotte Becomes Suspicious by Monica Fairview

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But why Mr. Darcy came so often to the Parsonage it was more difficult to understand. It could not be for society, as he frequently sat there ten minutes together without opening his lips; and when he did speak, it seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choice — a sacrifice to propriety, not a pleasure to himself. He seldom appeared really animated. Mrs. Collins knew not what to make of him.  ~ P&P Chapter 32



“Was that Mr. Darcy’s voice I heard?” said Maria as they entered the parsonage, taking off her bonnet.

Charlotte had not been paying attention, as she was thinking how best to inform Mr. Collins about something she had heard in the village. One of the tenants had complained that Lady Catherine had not sent a thatcher to repair a leaking roof as she had promised. Charlotte knew her husband would take offense at any suggestion of negligence on the part of his patroness. However, Charlotte believed it was his duty to remind Lady Catherine of anything to do with the parishioners’ welfare. She had to find a way to suggest a gentle reminder would be appropriate without provoking a long lecture about Lady Catherine’s generosity.

Maria’s words, however, gave her pause. She listened intently but did not hear a man’s voice. It was apparent that they did have visitors, as Elizabeth was not in the habit of talking to herself.

“I wonder what should bring Mr. Darcy to the parsonage. Perhaps Lady Catherine has sent him with an invitation to dinner at Rosings.” 

Charlotte hurried towards the parlor, worried that Mr. Darcy would impatient waiting for her and fearing that her absence may have caused offense. If she had learned anything from her association with Lady Catherine, it was that these fine folk were likely to take offense at the slightest thing, and that being around them was like walking on eggshells. It required a considerable amount of tact and patience.

As they approached, they could hear Lizzy talking. Charlotte smiled at Lizzy’s tone of voice. She knew what it signified. They had known each other since childhood. It was the tone Lizzy used when she was trying to be polite even if she did not find the conversation very appealing.

“I enjoy walking amongst the apple trees,” she was saying, with a smile on her lips, “but I am rather disappointed in Kent as it seems much like Hertfordshire. I had thought the “orchard of England” would have a great many more orchards than I have seen so far.”

As soon as she stepped through the doorway, Charlotte halted, struck by the tableau in front of her. Mr. Darcy was seated in a chair opposite Lizzy. Intent on what she was saying, he had not noted Charlotte’s and Maria’s entrance. His gaze was glued to Lizzy’s lips and he was listening as closely as if her words were divine intervention rather than humdrum polite conversation.

Ah. So that is the way the wind blows, she thought.

Just then Elizabeth turned to greet her. Mr. Darcy, registering Charlotte and her sister’s presence, started and jumped up, his face losing all expression.

“Mr. Darcy, I am sorry to have kept you waiting,” said Charlotte, hurrying to greet him. “I trust you left Lady Catherine in good health.”

“Yes, thank you,” said Mr. Darcy. “I—I was told the ladies were inside or I would never have intruded so on Miss Bennet.”

“My sister and I were out walking,” said Charlotte, feeling a need to explain herself, though more out of awkwardness than to impart information.

They all sat down, with Mr. Darcy taking a seat in the corner as far from Elizabeth as possible. He appeared more uncomfortable than usual. Charlotte hastened to set him at ease.

“You plan to stay with your aunt for some time, Mr. Darcy?”

“I have not yet determined the date of my departure,” said Darcy.

“Is the colonel enjoying his stay in Kent?” she said.

“Very much so,” he replied.

A brief silence descended on the room in which the clock could be heard ticking. A crow cawed loudly outside the window. The four of them watched it as it spread its large wings and flew away.

“Did Miss Bennet offer you refreshments, Mr. Darcy?” said Charlotte, by and by.

“I require none. I will be leaving shortly,” replied Darcy.

Silence settled over the small room once again. Darcy sat in the corner and contemplated the wallMaria shifted her shawl and rearranged it around her shoulders. Lizzy began to drum her fingers against the arm of her chair. Mr. Darcy’s gaze was immediately drawn to the movement. Lizzy, conscious of the scrutiny, stopped her drumming, throwing Charlotte a look of entreaty. Charlotte, accustomed to smoothing ruffled feathers around her husband, searched quickly for another topic of conversation.

“Miss de Bourgh appears to be in better spirits, now that she has so many people to keep her amused. It was very quiet at Rosings before everyone arrived.”

“My cousin is accustomed to a quiet life,” remarked Darcy.

Charlotte waited for him to elaborate, but he did not seem inclined to do so.

“But surely she is pleased to have company,” said Elizabeth. “I cannot imagine she would prefer to be alone.”

“My cousin, Miss Bennet, is sickly and does not care to exert herself too much,” he said, giving Elizabeth a long glance. “Not everyone enjoys a lively temperament such as yours.”

The words were spoken in such a manner it was impossible to tell if they were a compliment or a reproach, leaving Charlotte uncertain what to make of them. 

Another silence fell on the group. Charlotte searched about for something to say but she had exhausted the possibilities. Fortunately, among the English there is always one topic that can be counted upon to draw everyone’s attention and that is the weather. Charlotte fell back on that last resort.

 “We are fortunate to have warm weather for Easter, are we not?” she said.

“Very fortunate,” said Darcy.

There was a short pause. Elizabeth was looking down at her hands, her mouth curled in amusement. Charlotte hoped that Lizzy was not going to start laughing.

As if sensing the possibility, Darcy rose abruptly to his feet and the ladies followed.

“I must take my leave. My aunt…” said Darcy.

“Yes,” said Charlotte. “I am certain she will be asking for you.”

He turned to Lizzy and bowed stiffly. “Miss Bennet. I suppose I shall see you at church on Sunday.”

Lizzy curtsied. “You shall indeed, Mr. Darcy. I would not miss it for the world.” She gave one of her mischievous smiles. Charlotte could not be certain, but she thought his color deepened.

“Mrs. Collins. Miss Lucas.” He bowed and walked stiffly away.

As the door shut behind him. Lizzy gave a sigh of relief and sank into her seat.

“I thought he would never leave.”

“What can be the meaning of this?” said Charlotte, sitting down as well. “My dear Lizzy, he must be in love with you, or he would not have called on us in this familiar way.”

“That is quite absurd, Charlotte, as you know very well. If I had listened to you, I would have believed that half the men in Meryton were in love with me,” said Elizabeth.

“That is hardly true, Lizzy. I have never led you astray when it comes to such matters.”

“Really?” said Elizabeth. “And what about the case of Mr. Hawker? Remember how you convinced me he cared about me when all along he was planning to marry Miss Kendall?”

“I still believe he cared nothing for Miss Kendall,” said Charlotte. “He married her for her fortune.”

“Let us suppose for a moment you are right, what evidence do you have? If Mr. Darcy has any regard for me, he has chosen a most peculiar way of expressing it. Before you entered, I was trying most desperately to maintain a civil conversation, yet all the while he stared at me in such a haughty manner I felt his goal must be to find fault with me. I am convinced he despises me.”

“If, as you say, he despises you,” said Charlotte, “then why seek out your company?”

“It was not my company he was after, it was ours. I do believe he comes here to escape from Rosings. I do not know how he can endure Lady Catherine’s company for hours at a time.”

Charlotte shook her head. She could not forget the expression on his face when she had first entered. He had seemed – she sought for a word – completely entranced.

“I believe you mistake the matter, my dear friend. I am certain he has formed an attachment.”

Elizabeth laughed. “If you had been in the room with us earlier you would have realized how mistaken you are. He was far from happy when he found me here alone and his manner was so cold it was obvious that only civility prevented him from turning tail and leaving as soon as he arrived.”

Charlotte thought this over. Could she have been mistaken? Had his rapt expression been nothing but a trick of the light?

“But are you certain, Lizzy? Could he not have been embarrassed rather than displeased to catch you alone?”

“Embarrassed?” said Lizzy. “I would as soon call Lady Catherine shy! Have you not seen enough evidence of his arrogance and conceit, Charlotte? Have you forgotten Wickham’s testimony regarding his character? You need only ask our neighbors in Meryton and they will all be in agreement in mentioning his pride and disregard for others. Tell me, Charlotte, since you are determined to redeem him, why he did not call on Jane in London to inquire about me if he is attached to me.” Elizabeth came and sat next to Charlotte and took her hand. “I see what is happening, Charlotte. You are forced to live in close quarters with Lady Catherine as your patroness and so you are compelled to find the good in her. Now you wish to find the good in her nephew, too. There is a perfectly simple explanation, as you can see.”

Charlotte reflected on this. It was true that she had found herself trying hard to justify Lady Catherine’s often high handed behavior. The Collins’ were dependent on her for their livelihood and it was far easier to fall in with her husband’s perception of their benefactress than to retain a critical attitude towards her. Elizabeth was right. She was now trying to do the same with the nephew.

She smiled at her own folly. “You know me too well, Elizabeth. I would like to believe the whole family kind and amiable.”

“That is because you want to see the good in people, Charlotte, which is just as well or you would never have had me as a friend.”

“I am not as blind as that,” said Charlotte. “I know you are far from perfect. But you are my dearest friend and I would not have anyone say otherwise, including Mr. Darcy.”

“You cannot truly wish Mr. Darcy upon me, Charlotte. Just think of his aunt. Think of the uproar there would be if he declared he wished to marry me! Supposing Lady Catherine were to take it in her head that it was your fault because you brought me to his attention?”

Charlotte shuddered and began to laugh as well. “Very well, Lizzy, you have cured me of such thoughts once and for all. Let us hope than nothing like this will ever come to pass!”

***

35 comments

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  1. Monica – I think you really captured this moment perfectly. I could feel Charlotte’s curiosity, Elizabeth’s frustration and Darcy’s discomfort. Excellent scene!

    1. Thank you, Susan. I was squirming in my seat as I wrote it 🙂

    • Carol on April 3, 2015 at 2:30 am
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    Charlotte is most perceptive, if Lizzy would only listen.

    1. Hence the prejudice, Carol. She refuses to hear anything she doesn’t want to hear.

    • Deborah on April 3, 2015 at 5:11 am
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    I loved the words you used to show how attracted Darcy is to Elizabeth….”he was listening as closely as if her words were divine intervention” and “entranced”. She is so clueless and even convinces Charlotte that Darcy isn’t attracted to her. Thank you for a wonderful missing scene this morning. I felt like I was a fly on the wall listening in and watching unobserved.

    • Carol Hoyt on April 3, 2015 at 8:09 am
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    i had to take the moment from getting ready for work to read this missing scene.
    It did not disappoint.

    Lizzy is very persuasive , as with only a few sentences , she changed charlottes prospective on what had just occurred .
    Great insight Monica! !

    1. I hope you weren’t late, Carol! Glad you enjoyed it.

      Well we all know Lizzy is clever with words. Plus Charlotte is probably very easily persuaded because Mr. Darcy is too difficult to read.

    • Kara Louise on April 3, 2015 at 9:33 am
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    A lovely scene! I loved this – Darcy sat in the corner and contemplated the wall. Poor, poor man! Thanks! I loved it!

    1. It had to be excruciating for Darcy to be trying to conceal his feelings. I agree, Kara. He does deserve our sympathy. Thanks for your kind words!

    • Sheila L. M. on April 3, 2015 at 9:47 am
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    Well, done. But sometimes Charlotte can be very perceptive. That is only one of the reasons she was a good choice for Mr. Collins. I like how she wants to bring the tenant’s thatched roofing problem to his attention but knows she must phrase it so as not to get a long lecture from her husband. In this scenario Charlotte reminded me of Jane…looking for the good in people. But on the other hand, Darcy can’t you see how you come off as a bump on a log – all silence and long looks, ready to skedaddle at the first ripple in the pond.

    Thank you for sharing.

    1. A pleasure, Sheila. I feel Charlotte is often overlooked but there’s a reason she’s Lizzy’s closest friend and that’s because she’s smart. She’s more practical than Lizzy, who has that strong romantic side, and she notices things. I did enjoy exploring her personality here just a bit.

      As for Darcy, he’d better figure out what he wants quickly.

    • rae on April 3, 2015 at 10:50 am
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    Wonderful! I, like Darcy, am enchanted. 🙂 The poor man is a moth to a flame where Lizzy is concerned. This scene was perfection. Bravo!

    1. Thank you so much, rae. How lovely!

    • Carol Settlage on April 3, 2015 at 11:32 am
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    This was indeed a delightful contribution to our favorite story just where it could use a little more added! Your interpretation of everyone was most satisfying and I too loved your description of Charlotte’s observation of Darcy’s attention to Lizzy as she and Maria entered… and how he was oblivious for a bit to their entrance! I also loved to see the exchange between old dear friends.

    1. Thank you, Carol. There is so much that we take for granted in the novel and I was pleasantly surprised how quickly the characters came to life in this little scene. It made me really appreciate Charlotte and gave me a new aspect of Lizzy to explore.

  2. Nice scene Monica! A missed opportunity by Darcy! Elizabeth is talking about orchards which is a subject he would know thoroughly. What kinds of fruit in the different parts of the country? Does Longbourn have orchards? Do they have to use peat fires to protect from late frosts? What are her favorite fruits in the different seasons? Sigh. Yeah, he is probably castigating himself on the way back to Rosings. I should have said… she would have replied… Yep, another missed opportunity!

  3. Oh, yes. He’s definitely kicking himself. I like the details you’ve provided Dave. You’re right, of course. If he wasn’t so in love he would have done a better job of picking up the conversation. Unfortunately for him, he was too preoccupied to do it. Glad you enjoyed it, Dave.

  4. Wonderful vignette!! Darcy’s discomfort and embarrassment were nearly tangible! I especially enjoyed the small detail of Darcy perhaps colouring a little as Elizabeth gave one of her “mischievous” smiles–that slight blusg says so much…and without a single word!

    Thank you, Monica, for a delightful and insightful tale! 🙂

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. Darn–I should proofread better!! That should be “blush” above, of course.

      And now it’s *my* turn to blush!

      ~Susanne

      1. Not to worry, Susanne!

    2. Thank you, Susanne. Darcy is great at this point in the story. We all know he’s at the end of his tether and that he’s not going to be silent for much longer, which makes these moments all the more meaningful 😉

  5. Charlotte is so quick to read people and as Lizzy’s dearest friend she knows how to agree with her whilst holding her own opinions. I love these little insights into our much loved characters. Thank you Monica

    1. Good point, Jean. Charlotte is a fully developed character who doesn’t get much attention but is actually more complex than she seems at face value. I love the fact that JA has her keep her own counsel, yet she’s always trying to point out things to Lizzy. She’s a kind of wise woman. The problem is, Lizzy doesn’t listen.

    • TLeighF on April 3, 2015 at 10:38 pm
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    I loved the scene. It was so true to the original characters. At this point in P&P Darcy is painfully awkward, as you so brilliantly write him in this scene. How on earth could Lizzy ever get the seance that he admires her? Charlotte can see a little something observing from the outside, but I can totally understand why Lizzy still thinks he despises her. I remember reading P&P for the first time and being so shocked when Darcy proposes at Hunsford. I didn’t wee it coming any more than Lizzy did. Great job filling in the missing scene!

      • TLeighF on April 3, 2015 at 10:39 pm
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      Didn’t “see” it coming…. I guess I shouldn’t be commenting this late at night….

    1. TLeighF — I think that’s why the proposal is romantic in so many ways, despite the fact that he gets everything all wrong and bungles it all. His sudden admission seems like a bolt out of the blue, but then if you go back you can see the signs were there all along. It’s all the more startling to have someone like Mr. Darcy who is so controlled be so overwhelmed by his emotions. “Shocked” is a good word. It’s shocking both to us and to Lizzy. The only person who saw it coming to some extent was Charlotte, which is why I enjoyed writing this scene. The situation is so deliciously ironic.

    • Barb Thompson on April 4, 2015 at 12:38 pm
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    You do write this so well! As others have commented, you can just feel Lizzy’s amusement, Darcy’s awkwardness and Charlotte’s attempt at puzzling it out. When reading the original, we see everything from Elizabeth’s point of view, and she is very persuasive. She convinces us as much as herself that it would be impossible for Darcy to ever see her as a possible Mistress of Pemberley, and given the society of the time, we readily agree with her. So, you are correct. It comes as a shock to us, too. Now that we have all read it a dozen times and read a zillion variations, it doesn’t come as a shock But we sit and wait to see – what will this author do to make it shocking again. And, all of you so rarely disappoint!

    1. That’s a good point, Barb. The class issue definitely contributes to our dismissal of Darcy as a possible suitor, which is ironic given that Lizzy argues in the proposal scene that since she’s a gentleman’s daughter, she’s his equal. I love how JA plays with our expectations that way.

    • Julie on April 4, 2015 at 3:42 pm
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    Very clever. I can see it happening just this way, and still, with all the evidence before her, Elizabeth is surprised when Darcy finally “makes his move”!

    1. Thanks, Julie. now that you mention it, there’s another aspect of it that makes the situation all the more awkward and that is, the fact that Lizzy doesn’t even consider him as a possibility. Does Darcy unconsciously realize this?

    • Kay on April 5, 2015 at 3:57 am
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    How I dearly love a perceptive, clever and persuasive Charlotte. This is so very well written. I would wish to have more stories to read that have her from this point on actually convincing Elizabeth of her prejudice and make her think twice about what she may be giving up by not acknowledging Darcy’s interest and getting to know him. She was slightly older and perhaps thought Elizabeth to be a little juvinile not considering the reality of becoming a spinster or having to marry a class below and have a tradesman for a husband. Very well done. I liked this very much indeed.

      • Kay on April 5, 2015 at 4:02 am
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      W

    1. Just waking up. What a lovely comment to start the day! Thank you, Kay.

      Yes, there is that aspect of the novel that we don’t really think of very often since Mr. Collins is depicted so negatively and Charlotte chooses him. Since that puts Charlotte in the camp of Mrs. Bennet, we tend to dismiss her. Certainly Lizzy does. I think this theme is played out more clearly in Sense and Sensibility with the two sisters.

    • forget me not on April 7, 2015 at 3:35 pm
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    I like the scene and the discomfort of Darcy and Lizzy ! lol, bravo Monica Fairview

    1. Thank you for stopping by, forget me not. Your comment is appreciated!

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