Page 19 of Collins Takes Charge

“I hear very complimentary reports about you and the way you are looking after your parish from Bishop Lankershim,” Davidson said once they were seated.

“I thank you, but anyone who had to clear up the mess I found would look good,” William said humbly.

“Come now, Collins,” Davidson responded. “False modesty does not become you. Not only were you able to stand up to your former patroness’s attempt to interfere in the running of your parish, but you assisted her enslaved daughter to free herself from her mother’s draconian rule, and more importantly you have been there as her spiritual guide. If all that were not enough, you have been assisting Miss de Bourgh in undoing all the damage her mother wrought.”

“I did what I felt needed to be done,” William owned. “It is still hard to think that a parent would do that to her own flesh and blood in an attempt to steal her daughter’s estate.”

“Greed makes good people evil,” Davidson opined. “Has Lady Catherine’s fate been decided yet?”

“When we discussed Lady Catherine’s avarice, Bishop Lankershim recited 1 Timothy 6:10,” William remembered. “Unfortunately, He gave us free will but created us weak and susceptible to temptation. Thankfully, most use their free choice to select the path of truth and righteousness. Then there are those like the lady we are discussing who will stop at nothing to gain that which they desire.” He paused as he recalled what else Davidson had asked. “As much as many of us thought her insane, Lady Catherine was not judged so by the three physicians who examined her. The Earl of Matlock decided to kill two birds with one stone. He sent Lady Catherine and Mrs Jenkinson…” William saw his friend look questioningly at the last name he did not recognise. “That lady was supposed to be Miss de Bourgh’s companion, to look after her interests. Instead, she blindly did Lady Catherine’s bidding in trying to drug and harm Miss de Bourgh. They are both on their way to the Orkney Islands as we speak. They will remain in a cottage on one of the islands for the rest of their lives. If either or both try to leave, they will have to face charges in a court of law for their attempts to harm Miss de Bourgh.”

“She is far away from anyone she would attempt to harm. I wonder if either lady has repented her sins,” Davidson mused.

“As Lady Catherine always seemed to think that whatever she chose to do was right, I doubt it. What the companion will do with regard to her immortal soul, only He knows,” William opined. “Let us discuss what is much more pleasant. How are Mrs Davidson and your three children? Are they all well?”

Always happy to speak of his beloved wife, Sophia, and his children, Davidson did so with pleasure, happy everyone was hale and healthy.

During tea in the sitting room with Mrs Davidson, William was asked if he had begun to think of marriage yet. He shared that his thoughts had tended in that direction, especially with the examples of felicitous couples in his life. William would return the next day to have time with Davidson to receive some spiritual guidance of his own. Soon after that had been scheduled, he thanked the Davidsons for their hospitality and began the ride back to his father’s estate.

On Friday morning, William had the pleasure of standing witness to his brother’s wedding. Everything happened as it should, and two hours after the ceremony, Clem and Bethany Collins departed for their wedding trip in Margate.

An hour after his brother and new sister departed Willow Ridge, William accompanied his parents back to their estate.

That evening it was decided Clem and Ophelia Collins would follow William to Hunsford in a few days to visit him at his parsonage. They would have joined him the next day, but they had prior engagements on Monday and Tuesday.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

William was proud to welcome his parents to his parsonage on the first Wednesday in July, in the mid-afternoon.

For their visit, he moved into one of the two guest chambers to allow his parents the use of the largest chamber, which was the mistress’s chamber. He could have locked the door between his room and that one, but knowing that his parents were as in love now as they had ever been, he decided that being across the hall gave them more privacy and protected his sensibilities in case he heard something he did not want to hear.

Over the next week, Clem and Ophelia Collins, who could not have thought it was possible to be prouder of one of their sons, discovered it was. The way his parishioners, especially those who were tenants of Rosings Park, sang his praises without any prompting, told them how well he was doing in his role of shepherding his flock.

Although he was gratified that he was well thought of, William was not one who basked in praise about his person.

Even with his parents visiting him, William made sure that between himself and Keating, none of the clerical duties were neglected. Having a curate allowed him to be in his parents’ company more than he would have been otherwise.

It was a pity Miss de Bourgh was away, as William would not be able to introduce his parents to her. He was sure, however, that this would not be the only time they would visit, and they would meet her next time. As far as he knew, she would only return once all the new furniture had been delivered. His parents had smiled when he told them how Miss de Bourgh had ordered the throne-like chair Lady Catherine used to sit on to be chopped to pieces and be used as kindling for fires. Ophelia and Clem were not at all regretful that they never got to meet the former mistress of Rosings Park.

On Saturday, the three Collinses were relaxing in the sitting room after partaking in a satisfying and tasty meal Mrs Bellamy had served.

“William, have you tried to contact our distant cousin, the master of Longbourn, Thomas Bennet?” Collins asked. “I know Bennets usually ignore our epistles, but that estate will be yours one day. It would behove you to see it.”

“I have been thinking about that,” William responded. “Perhaps I will, and ask if I may come and visit the estate.”

“If he ignores you, it may take you arriving unannounced. Or perhaps send the missive through his solicitor, Mr Phillips,” Collins suggested. “You could point out to Mr Phillips that under the terms of the entail, you are permitted to view the estate, and more than that, the current master has certain obligations.”

“I have read the entail document, so I am aware of what you speak. Perhaps I will try to go there in the autumn,” William responded.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Clem and Ophelia Collins were even more impressed when they heard William deliver the lesson at services on Sunday. Every seat was taken in the church, and neither Collins saw a single congregant nodding off during the sermon.

They remained with their son for three more days and departed for their estate on Thursday morning.

Chapter 8

Hunsford, late August 1811