Page 61 of A Different Impression

Darcy quickly calculated the intervening months. “Then the six months have not yet passed since the vacancy, meaning that Anne can protest his appointment.”

“No, they have not, but Miss de Bourgh has little time to spare. Her solicitor must establish her ownership of the advowson, tender her chosen clergyman for the living, and commence an action of quare impedit before the third of December, which is in less than a fortnight. If she does not act before then, she will retain the right of presentation upon the next vacancy, but she will lose her opportunity to challenge Mr Collins’s possession of the living.”

“And if Mr Collins refuses to leave voluntarily?”

“Then he must be made a party to the proceedings and given an opportunity to defend his claim.” The bishop paused, as though allowing Darcy to absorb the unpleasant implication. “Once a clergyman has been instituted and inducted, he holds a freehold in the benefice. He may resign, or he may be displaced by lawful judgement, but neither Miss de Bourgh nor I can deprive him merely because Lady Catherine had no right to present him.”

It was an inconvenient distinction, but Darcy understood its necessity. He had no desire to imitate his aunt by disregarding the law whenever it obstructed his wishes.

“May I act on Anne’s behalf?” he asked. “She has authorised me to manage the affairs of Rosings.”

“That depends upon the authority she has given you,” the bishop answered. “If the advowson belongs to Miss de Bourgh outright, any proceedings must be brought in her name.”

Darcy nodded slowly. He had expected as much, though he had hoped Anne might be spared the trouble. They had little time to act, and he wished to have things settled as quickly as possible.

“Written authority may permit you to instruct her solicitor and act for her in practical matters,” the bishop continued, “but she must be consulted and must approve the clergyman she wishes to present. Where is she now?”

“In London with our aunt and uncle,” Darcy answered. “Although she is improving, she is not entirely well, but she remains capable of making her own decisions.”

The bishop appeared satisfied by that answer. “Then the documents can be sent to her by express or by private messenger. Once she has confirmed her wishes and instructed her solicitor, the necessary claim may be commenced in her name. If you write today, then the matter may be settled quickly.”

Darcy considered the distance between London and Kent. It would slow matters somewhat, but not enough to present any real difficulty. A messenger could reach London in half a day and return in the same time.

“She can make the claim in London, and we can forward the information here,” the bishop continued. “But she will need to have a clergyman ready to appoint.”

“I will write to her this very evening,” Darcy said, his mind already racing.

Bishop Allen nodded. “In the meantime, I shall instruct my chancellor to provide certified extracts from the diocesan register and examine the record of Mr Collins’s institution. I can also notify Mr Collins that Miss de Bourgh intends to challenge his presentation. Beyond that, I must await either his voluntary resignation or the judgement of the court.”

“And what of his neglect of the parish?” Elizabeth asked.

The concern in her expression suggested to Darcy that Mr Collins’s legal position was not the only matter troubling her.

“That is a separate ecclesiastical matter,” the bishop said, shaking his head. “His conduct warrants investigation and perhaps censure, but foolishness and obsequiousness are not, by themselves, sufficient grounds for deprivation of a living.”

“You will inform him of Anne’s claim?” Darcy enquired. “I foresee some difficulty if either Elizabeth or I speak to him. He is a distant cousin of my wife’s and the heir presumptive to her father’s estate. We have also confronted him once before, when he attempted to prevent our marriage. He is likely to regard the challenge as an act of retaliation and may seek revenge upon her family.”

“Why did he attempt to prevent your marriage?” the bishop asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“My aunt sent him to Longbourn with instructions to choose a wife from amongst Mr Bennet’s five daughters,” Darcy explained. “Immediately upon meeting Elizabeth and learning of our engagement, Mr Collins declared his intention of marrying her and refused to listen to reason. Lady Catherine had also persuaded him that I was engaged to Anne, although neither Anne nor I had ever desired such a match. The ensuing confrontation ended with Mr Bennet ordering Mr Collins from the house on the day after his arrival.”

Darcy glanced at Elizabeth before continuing.

“In the few conversations I have had with him, I had found the man willing to accept anything my aunt told him, regardless of whatever evidence was placed before him. I fear he would believe that Elizabeth and I had contrived his removal.”

“Then it is better that the explanation come from me,” Bishop Allen said. “I shall make it clear that the dispute concerns Lady Catherine’s legal right to present him, not his quarrel with either of you.”

“If the court displaces him—or if he resigns—what will happen to him?” Elizabeth asked, her gentler tone easing some of the tension in the room.

Bishop Allen’s expression grew troubled. “I cannot recommend him for another living. He is entirely unsuited to hold a benefice of his own. I am not certain he would even be competent as a curate, although a rector of sufficiently strong character might be able to control him.”

The bishop fell silent. Neither Elizabeth nor Darcy offered an immediate suggestion.

“Is there any position for which he might be suited?” Darcy asked at last.

Another silence followed before Bishop Allen shook his head. “None that presently occurs to me.”

“What will you tell him tomorrow?”