If Only In His Dreams (23 page)

My reason for writing to you is to inform you of my arrival at Longbourn on Friday, in the afternoon.  I wish to remain with you
for a fortnight as we enjoy coming to know each other better.  I will look forward to seeing you and your delightful sisters.

Yours graciously,

William Collins

Elizabeth folded the letter and gave it back to her brother.  “My goodness, I believe this man is quite fond of himself.  And why would he behave so in regards to Jane and me? Does he believe that we would fall into his arms, grateful to have any husband to rescue us from becoming old maids?”

Alex gave a soft chuckle.  “I believe that is exactly what he believes.  And the comments as to my not having an heir, he practically makes me out to be an old man ready for my grave.  I am not even thirty yet and have plenty of good years left in me.”

“So he arrives today?  With all the commotion and extra people staying here, do you have room for such an added burden?”

“It seems that our cousin has taken the liberty of ensuring that I do not have time to turn him down.  I spoke with Mrs Hill and she is clearing the nursery and placing a bed from storage in there.  It may not meet with his approval, but it is the best I can offer him at the moment.”  Alex looked at his sister to gauge her reaction to his next statement.  “Fortunately your husband graciously declined the need for his own rooms, or I would have had to offer Mr Collins a room in the stables.  William stated that it was no hardship for him to share rooms with you.”

Alex was rewarded by watching his sister blush a deep, dark shade.  Laughing, Alex placed a kiss on his sister’s hair.  “Lizzy, I am pleased that your marriage turned into one filled with love.  I must admit that when William first told me of his dreams of you before even me
eting you
, I was extremely concerned
.  If anyone else had told me such a tale, I would have kept you as far away as possible.  You and William were destined to marry, and I believe you should count yourself fortunate that you had me as your brother.”

Laughing, Elizabeth looked at her brother.  “Very well, my dear brother, I admit that you were correct in your decision and when naming our children in the future, I will consider honoring you with using your name for one.
”

“That would be gratefully appreciated, my dear sister.”  Alex stood and prepared to leave. Turning slightly so that he could see his sister’s eyes, he spoke.  “I love you, Lizzy.  I am so very pleased to see you married so happily.”

“Now, old man, we must find you someone to love so that you do not have to resort to having Mr Collins become heir to Longbourn.” Elizabeth smiled as her brother left the room.

Chapter 24

Mr Collins arrived near four that afternoon.  As soon as he entered the house, everyone knew what a ridiculous and self-important person he was.  His fawning over everyone and everything became irritating in quick order.

“My dear cousins, what joy it is for us to be together finally.  You will be pleased to know that this is a dream come true for me to finally see the home of my ancestors.”

Alex welcomed the pompous man to the drawing room.  “We are pleased to have you join us, though your arrival comes at a difficult time for us.
  We had an acci
dent occur
a few days ago and we are hosting those injured here are Long
bourn.”

“My goodness, I pray that I can bring some comfort to those who are recovering.  As I am a clergyman, it is only fitting that I tend to their souls while their bodies heal.”

Not wishing this man on anyone, let alone his own family, Alex shook his head. “That will not be necessary, Mr Collins.  My guests need quiet and rest.  Besides, they are ladies and it would be inappropriate for you to be in their bedchambers.”

“Nonsense, as I am a man of the cloth.  It would be acceptable for me to bring them comfort.  My being in their rooms would not be seen as inappropriate.”

“Mr Collins, I must insist that you honor my decision.  As a guest in my home, I will not tolerate your causing my other guests discomfort by your intruding on their privacy.”

Mr Collins was taken aback by his cousin’s behavior.  “Forgive me for wishing to be of comfort to the poor, unfortunate souls who are here due to your benevolence.  Are they tenants of the estate?”

Realizing that he was now in dangerous waters, Alex decided to tread lightly.  “No, they were guests at the neighboring estate of Netherfield. They were here with my sister Elizabeth when the accident happened.”

“Netherfield?  That name sounds familiar to me.” Mr Collins frowned for a few moments before he remembered where he had heard the name before.  “I believe that the family I have been waiting to hear from in regards to the living in Kent was traveling to Netherfield.  Would you by chance have heard of Lady Catherine de Bourgh?  Her daughter and new son in law have taken possession of her estate of Rosings Park.”

“Indeed, I am quite familiar with not only Lady Catherine, but her daughter, son in law, and her sister’s family.  They are my guests at this moment.”

“What good fortune for me to be here at this moment.  It will show Lady Catherine and her family what a worthy candidate I am for the living at Hunsford parish.”

“You will do no such thing, Mr Collins.  Lady Catherine and her sister were harmed and I will not allow you to cause them any discomfort with having to deal with you forcing yourself upon them.”

“
But you must see that the Lord must have sent me here at this time to be able to impress upon the de Bourgh family what a proper clergyman I can be for the parish at Hunsford.”

A man’s voice sounded from the door of the study.  “You will not disturb my family while they are recovering.”  Darcy entered the room, determined to put a stop to this fool’s desires before he could cause any harm.

“Sir, might I have the pleasure of meeting the honorable Colonel Fitzwilliam?”

“No, my cousin is not here at the moment.  He should be returning shortly and I am quite certain that he would expect me to keep you from disturbing his mother in law and his wife.”

“And who might you be, Sir?” Mr Collins was attempting to salvage this attempt to secure his future.

“I am Fitzwilliam Darcy, of Pemberley in Derbyshire.  My wife informed me that you were arriving and I wished to speak with Mr Bennet as to your behavior.”

“Your wife?  Might I inquire as to who your wife is?”

“My wife is Mrs Elizabeth Bennet Darcy, sister of Mr Bennet.”

Confusion crept over Mr Collins’s expression.  “I was under the impression that my fair cousins were maidens who had not found husbands.  Cousin, have you given me false hope that I would find my future here at Longbourn?”

“Mr Collins, you gave me no time to reply to your letter before I found you on my doorstep.  If you must know, my sister, Elizabeth, recently married to Mr Darcy.  My other sister, Jane, is engaged to marry Mr Bingley of Netherfield Park.  I have made no
commitment, as I did not ever communicate with you before today.  You assumed that my sisters were available and that you could have a choice of them.  It is not to be and you
must settle yourself to that knowledge.”

“I believe you have treated me quite ill.  You refuse to allow me to bring comfort to the injured parties staying in your home, of whom I know as I am attempting to obtain their generosity for a living.  Then you inform me that your sisters are both spoken for, and I feel that I made my intentions quite clear in my letter that I wish to make an attachment with one of your sisters so as to allow them to remain in their home after you have left them and I become the master of this estate.”

“Mr Collins.  That is more than enough from you.” Alex was furious.  “You make assumptions in a letter which arrives here only hours before you do.  You did not prepare us or even ask permission for which you would have waited for me to respond and offer you our hospitality.  You assume that I will never marry and have chil
dren of my own, thereby having
n
o
heir of my own.  You then assume that my sisters are sitting here at our home, with no callers wishing to secure them
in marriage.  My sisters are regarded as two of the most precious jewels in the county, why would you believe they are destined to be put on the shelf and become old maids.”

“And my brother in law did not refuse you to give comfort to my
relatives;
it was I who denied you such access.  As the head of my family, I have that right to make such decisions.  I am also a member of the Bennet family, as I have married into it.
Mr Collins, only a fool would come here as you have, with no invitation, only announcing your plans hours before your arrival. And then to behave so towards your cousins is reprehensible.  Mr Bennet is a fine upstanding man who has taken tremendous care of not only his estate, but of his sisters as well.  Now, I wish to inquire as to your age, Mr Collins.”

“Why would you require my age?” Mr Collins asked.  “My age can have nothing to do with you.”

“You have insinuated that my new brother is nearing infirmity.  I wish to know your age.”

“I am thirty, Sir,
a prime spot in my life to take a wife and have a family.” Mr Collins stated with his chest puffed out.

“Mr Collins, what makes you think that you are in better health than Mr Bennet?  I ask this or one very important reason.  You are several years older than Mr Bennet, thereby making it more likely that it will be you who will die first.  And I can tell you, Mr Bennet is quite heartily active, not only working with his tenants, but also
riding his horse most every day.  You, Sir, appear to be a bit paunchy and I would wager, you do very little by way of exercise to keep you healthy.  It is my opinion that Mr Bennet will long out live you.”

“I have never been so insulted in all my life.” Mr Collins’s face was turning a deep redness as his fury grew.  “
If it were not so late in the day, I would return to Town this very moment.”

“There is an inn just down the road in Meryton.  I am certain that they will have room for you.”

“But I…I…do not have the funds to waste on such frivolities.  I am a man of the cloth; I do not have vast resources such as you gentlemen.”

Darcy reached into his pocket and pulled out several coins.  “If that is all that
is keeping you here, Mr Collins,
here, take these coins to cover your expenses.  I am certain that one of the stable hands can transport you to the inn.”

Mr Collins was furious, as he had not expected this meeting to go so wrong.  It was his plan that he would become an intimate member of the Bennet family, as he wished to inherit the estate sooner, before there was any chance of
there
being another heir.  Once married to one of the sisters, Mr Collins would be in a prime position of keeping the estate for himself.

“No,
I will not leave here today.  I wish to remain in the home of my family.” Though Mr Collins was not pleased at the way events were turning against him, he still believed he could maneuver the situation in his favor.  If only he had opportunities
to
plead his case with Lady Catherine or her daughter so that he could procure the living at Hunsford.  Or, if he still wished to marry one of the sisters, Miss Jane Bennet was still unwed.  Engagements can be broken, especially if a compromise were to happen.

Alex wished to throw this man from his home.  “I am afraid the only room I can offer you is the former nursery.  I have taken the liberty to have the infant furniture removed and a proper bed placed in the room.”

“Very well, if someone would be so kind as to show me the way to the room, I would wish to refresh myself.”  Mr Collins was shown from the room, leaving
Alex and Darcy alone.

Looking at Alex, who was seated behind his desk, Darcy spoke.  “I believe we will need to keep a close watch over that one while he remains here.  Man of the cloth be damned. He is a man with desires and goals, and we just shattered his dreams.”