The Ladies of Rosings Park – Chapter 10

The Ladies of Rosings Park is now successfully published! Hooray! But in case you don’t have your own copy yet, I will continue posting chapters here every Monday until we finish Part One of the book (the time period covered in Pride and Prejudice). These early chapters read like P&P “missing scenes” – your favorite book from a different perspective.

Last week in chapter nine, Lady Catherine cornered Darcy, demanding he get down to business – the business of marrying her daughter. With some fancy footwork, he managed to sidestep the issue for the time being. In chapter ten, only Anne suspects Darcy’s real reason for a secret visit to Elizabeth at the parsonage and why he is so downcast upon his return. She can’t help feeling sorry for him and also imagining her mother’s response to seeing Elizabeth again if things had gone differently. Oh, what a shock Lady Catherine would have received! (To catch up first, see these previous posts: Prologue, Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Book Launch and Chapter Nine)

– 10 –

 Anne

 Getting to the Crux of the Matter

What I had told my mother was strictly true; William and I did have an understanding for how things stood between us. I understood that he had no plans to marry me, and he understood that I had released him (albeit unintentionally) from any obligation to do so. Eventually Mama would learn the truth, but I was in no hurry to undeceive her and invite the furor that would surely follow. Besides, the visit was nearly over, and my cousins would soon be gone.

Little did I suspect that the climactic portion of our little drama was still to come.

The inhabitants of the parsonage were engaged to drink tea with us at Rosings that same day, but when they came, they were only three – Mr. and Mrs. Collins and Maria Lucas.

“Where is Miss Bennet?” Mama asked at once.

“She is indisposed, your ladyship,” said Mrs. Collins, “and she begs to be excused.”

“A severe headache,” added Mr. Collins. “I questioned her myself, your ladyship, and I am convinced she really is quite ill. Indeed, nothing less could keep any person of sense from partaking of the pleasures of Rosings and of your gracious presence…”

“That will do, Mr. Collins,” said Mama. “Well, I suppose we shall have to get on without her. But who will play for us? We must have some music. Mrs. Jenkinson, would you be so good as to oblige us?”

Mrs. Jenkinson nodded her acquiescence.

We did as my mother had suggested; we got on without Miss Bennet. She was definitely missed, however, our party being noticeably diminished by her absence. Although Mrs. Jenkinson filled her place at the piano-forte more than adequately, no one could compensate for Elizabeth’s normal share of the conversation.

William was more grave and silent than usual, I noticed. He sat nearby me, so I quietly asked him, “Is anything the matter, Cousin? You seem uneasy.”

He looked doubtful at first. Then he must have decided he could safely confide in me. Leaning closer, he said in a low voice, “I am concerned about Miss Bennet. She has a vigorous constitution, and I have never known her to be the least bit unwell before.”

“All the more reason not to worry, William. A headache can be a serious thing in someone of delicate health, but not to a person who is strong.”

“I suppose that is true. Thank you, Anne.”

He held his peace after that, but he still seemed restless to me. Finally, I whispered, “Perhaps you would feel easier if you were to call on her, to see for yourself that she is in no danger.”

“That is a very good thought,” he said with suppressed excitement in his voice. “Perhaps I might at that. It would be terribly rude of me to desert you all, however. Your mother…”

“You leave her to me. Just say you need some air and go.”

He could not have been gone much above half an hour, and yet he did not rejoin us that evening. Upon hearing the door, we waited, fully expecting his return to the drawing room.

When after several minutes he did not come, Mama sent John after him. “Fitzwilliam, go and discover what detains your cousin. This will be our last evening all together and I must have Darcy with us.”

John obediently went, and in a few minutes he returned with a message for the whole company. “My cousin begs forgiveness of you all, but he has just recollected some urgent business that requires his immediate attention. While he is sincerely sorry to give up the pleasure of your company tonight, he promises to call at the parsonage tomorrow to take proper leave of you then.”

William was out the door early again the next morning. I did not see him until one o’clock, when I happened to have a minute alone with him upon his returning to the house. “Did you find Miss Bennet well when you saw her yesterday?” I asked him.

He shook his head once and smiled ruefully. “I found her well but left her vexed and agitated.”

I had no reply for this cryptic statement.

His forced smile melted away and his shoulders sagged. As if he did not know what else to do, he lightly took my hands in his, speaking distractedly. “She will not have me, Anne. God help me, but I have been a conceited fool, and she will not have me.”

The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning, but not before William took me aside for a few more private words. His spirits had clearly not yet recovered.

“My dear Anne,” he began. “Allow me to apologize for imposing on you yesterday by relating somewhat of my disappointment, words that had much better have been left unsaid. Please forgive me.”

“Of course, but it was no imposition.”

“Thank you, and I know I can depend on your secrecy as well. There can be no occasion for upsetting my aunt or dwelling on such vain wishes…” His courage failed him, and it was several moments before he could go on. “These things bring no pleasure to anybody and cannot be too soon forgotten. Promise you will waste not another thought for it.”

“I freely promise to say nothing to anyone, William. It is more difficult to promise I can forget something that has made you so unhappy.”

“You are too good to me, my dear, and not just in this. You gave me the clear conscience to try for happiness. My gratitude is not diminished in the least for how it has turned out. You have been kinder to me than I have been to myself. Why do you suppose it is that one wants those things one is not meant to have and not… Never mind. If I am to conquer this foolish inclination, I must stop asking questions with no sensible answers. I am glad at least that we now understand each other, Anne, and I wish you far better success when your turn comes.”

He looked so miserable, poor creature, that I could not help feeling very sorry for him indeed. There seemed no doubt now that William was in love with Miss Bennet, that he had made her an offer, and that for some reason she had soundly rejected him. He confessed to wanting what he was not meant to have (Elizabeth), and then he caught himself before finishing his question, which would have been to ask why one so often does not want what is offered, available, and intended (in this case, myself). Although there was some insult in it, there was also a compliment in the implication that he might have been wiser to prefer me.

~~*~~

It felt very odd to see Elizabeth again after that, knowing what I did. When she and the others came to dine with us that afternoon, I thought I saw some new feelings of consciousness in her as well, especially in the odd way she smiled when greeting my mother. Perhaps she was thinking how differently the scene might have played out if she had accepted my cousin. Instead of receiving a civil welcome, she would no doubt have been thrown out the door once the truth was known.

“How nice to see you again, Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth might commence. “Now that I am to be your niece, I am sure we will be great friends.”

“My niece! What can you mean?” Mama demands, a look of horror overspreading her face at the mere suggestion. “Do you have some delusion of marrying Colonel Fitzwilliam, the son of an earl? You have no family or fortune to make such a connection even remotely eligible. It is unthinkable. Every feeling revolts!”

“Have no fear, Madam. Although he is perfectly charming, I do not mean to marry Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

“Thank heaven for that!”

“No, it is your other nephew to whom I am engaged, to Mr. Darcy.”

Mama staggers backward at the news before gathering herself to retaliate. “Miss Bennet, you gravely deceive yourself. If Fitzwilliam was unthinkable for you, Darcy is impossible! The obstacles to such a match are too numerous to list, but the most insurmountable is this. Darcy cannot be engaged to you, for he is already engaged to my daughter and has been for years!”

“Apparently not, for he has just proposed marriage to me, and I have accepted him. We will be wed by special license just as soon as one can be procured, which will make me the next mistress of Pemberley.”

“Silence! I will not hear another word. Out of my house, you… you… you ungrateful hussy!”

Oh, dear! As much as it might amuse me to imagine somebody finally getting the better of Mama, I would not be in Elizabeth’s shoes at that moment for the world.

But no such calamity took place. When I returned my attention to the conversation, in fact, Mama was insisting that Elizabeth and Maria Lucas should extend their stay at Hunsford, attributing Miss Bennet’s being out of spirits to her dread of soon leaving for home. Elizabeth held firm to her original plan, however, saying that her father had written to hurry her return to Hertfordshire.

Mama, finally resigned to this loss, duly compensated herself (and punished Elizabeth) by conducting a full inquiry into when and how the journey was to be made, and dispensing detailed instructions on every aspect of the formidable undertaking.

I would be sorry to see Elizabeth go as well, I realized. Although I could not yet say we were the best of friends, some progress had been made. I would have been glad for the opportunity to continue our acquaintance… and to continue my study of her. I had learnt much by her example, and now my interest had been further piqued by her rejecting a man I would have believed impossible to refuse anything.

How I would have loved to inquire about the proposal and the reasons for her negative answer! It had even occurred to me that she might have held back partly out of delicacy on my account, which would be admirable but unnecessary. I could not ask directly, since I had sworn to say nothing to anybody about what William had confided, and I was sure that included most particularly the object of his unrequited affection. Still, I did think I might discreetly query her, possibly even put in a good word for William. It might do no good in the end, but there would be no harm in trying.

The night before Elizabeth’s intended departure, therefore, I so far exerted myself as to invite her to sit beside me. Then, after a few exchanged pleasantries, I opened the topic of William. “I am curious as to your opinion of my cousin,” I said lightly.

“Which one?”

“I believe I can guess your opinion of Colonel Fitzwilliam. He is universally liked because of his easy manners. Mr. Darcy is more difficult to know and appreciate. It is your opinion of him that interests me.”

Elizabeth gave me a quizzical look, causing me to worry I had been too transparent. In the end, though, she only answered, “My opinion of him has of late been vacillating rather violently. His character, as you say, is difficult to make out.”

“Oh, no, I see you have misunderstood me, Miss Bennet. I believe Mr. Darcy’s character to be irreproachable. It is only his manner that sometimes gives offense.”

“It is to your credit I am sure, Miss de Bourgh, that you avow such unshakable confidence in your cousin. But that is hardly surprising, since he is a near relation… and may one day be nearer, or so I have heard it said.”

“No doubt you refer to a wish expressed long ago by our mothers. Although that arrangement is still sometimes spoken of, neither Mr. Darcy nor I myself feel bound by it. I believe our inclinations will likely take us in very different directions.”

“Is that so? Hmm. I pity your mother when she finds out.”

“Yes, you have deduced the difficulty, Miss Bennet. It will no doubt come as a cruel blow to Mama, for she considers it quite a settled thing.”

We delved no deeper into the issue; we ventured no nearer the crux of the matter. Still, I was pleased to have made the attempt on William’s behalf, whether or not it would have any effect on the ultimate outcome.

(continue reading Chapter Eleven)

The Ladies of Rosings Park is currently available in paperback and Kindle, with audio coming soon. Learn more about Shannon Winslow and her books at www.shannonwinslow.com

At first glance, Anne de Bourgh doesn’t seem a promising heroine. But beneath that quiet exterior, there’s a lively mind at work, imagining how one day she will escape her poor health and her mother’s domination to find love and a life worth living.

Now Anne finally gets the chance to speak her mind. But Lady Catherine demands equal time. Even Charlotte Collins and Mrs. Jenkinson get into the act. Chapter by chapter, these ladies of Rosings Park take turns telling the tale from the moment Elizabeth Bennet sets foot in Hunsford, changing everything. Is Anne heartbroken or relieved to discover Mr. Darcy will never marry her? As an heiress, even a sickly one, she must have other suitors. Does Lady Catherine gracefully accept the defeat of her original plan or keep conniving? Will Anne’s health ever improve? And what really happened to her father?

Complete in itself, this work expands The Darcys of Pemberley series laterally, beginning during the timeline of Pride and Prejudice and carrying beyond to reveal the rest of Anne’s story. When a young lady is to be a heroine… something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way. (Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey)