Page 55 of Collins Takes Charge

“Fortunately, I am not wilfully blind, as it seems my mother is,” Mary responded lightly. “Yes, Cousin William, I have noted and welcomed your attention.”

“Since we met, my heart has been leading me towards you. My feelings for you at this moment are very tender,” William stated, “I do not believe it will be a long time before I am in love with you; however, I am not quite there yet. I will not be precipitous and propose marriage to you before both of us are ready for that step. You, Mary, are everything I ever imagined I would find in the partner of my future life. If we end up marrying, which is my hope, then you will be the mistress of Longbourn one day, but until then, you will be a parson’s wife, something I believe you are eminently suited to be. As such, for now, until we both feel we are ready for the next step, I humbly request a formal courtship.”

“Like you say you have been to me, Cousin William, I have been drawn to you since the day we met. I believe it will be a short time before I am in love with you. My feelings for you are already very tender. When I imagine my future life, I cannot see any man as my husband other than you. I believe that is a sign that we are meant to be together. May I ask you a question before I reply to your offer?” Mary requested.

“Of course, Mary, you may ask me anything you desire,” William responded warmly.

“When you arrived, I was dressing and doing my hair severely, trying to be the plain Bennet sister my mother, ever since I can remember, has told me I am. I know you told me why you and Lizzy would not suit, but why, as I was when you arrived, did you think that I could be the one for you?” Mary asked.

“It is simple. I saw past the mask you donned and saw the real person under the façade you presented to the world,” William replied. “Unlike your mother, I have never held that beauty is the only, or even an important, attribute that one needs in the partner of his future life. Do not mistake my meaning. Even then I could see that you were no less pretty than your sisters regardless of how you attempted to hide your light under a bushel. When I saw that the Bible and Fordyce’s Sermons were your preferred reading, I knew you were a pious woman, even if misdirected by giving Fordyce’s work much more weight than it deserves. I decided then that of all the five Bennet sisters, if I were to marry one, it would be you. However, I first had to know that you were not so rigidly entrenched in the sermons that you were unwilling to see another point of view. To my delight, I discovered that you are able to consider other points of view, and you were inclined to change your opinions when presented with proof and cogent arguments. From that point on, I knew that if you were disposed to be pursued by me with an eye to a future union, then that is what I would do.

“Why your mother has been blinded to our possible match is beyond me. I care not what her opinion of it is or will be. It is from your father I must seek permission, not her. If you accept my offer of a courtship and Cousin Bennet gives his consent and your mother still attempts to direct me to Cousin Elizabeth, I will have no choice but to tell her that her interference is not appreciated and will never succeed.”

Mary glowed with pleasure at William’s speech. It was a new and very pleasant experience to be someone’s first choice. “In that case, yes, William, pending my father’s permission, I will happily enter into a formal courtship with you.”

“You have made me the happiest of men. Only when, if, you accept my proposal of marriage will my happiness exceed what I feel now.” William took each of Mary’s hands in his own and bestowed a kiss on one and then the other. He would have preferred to have done so without her wearing gloves, but it was too cold outside for him to remove her gloves for his own pleasure. “I think we need to go to your father.”

All Mary could do was smile in a way that lit up the whole of her face.

“Mamma must be blind if she thinks Mary plain. She looks so much like you, Jane, just with different coloured hair and eyes,” Elizabeth opined when she noted the beatific smile Mary was displaying. “I get the feeling that whatever question Cousin Collins asked was met with a positive response.”

“As much as I dislike criticising Mamma, I will own that I do not agree with the way she sees who is and who is not beautiful,” Jane said.

“That is the most unforgiving speech that I have ever heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me, indeed, for you to be unable to see that, like all of God’s children, Mamma too has faults. There is hope for you yet, Jane,” Elizabeth stated jokingly.

Jane swatted playfully at her younger sister’s shoulder.

Before either could say more, they stood as Mary and Cousin Collins reached them. “Well?” Jane asked when she saw the pleasure radiating from both her sister and cousin.

“I have accepted a courtship, and we are to go to Papa for his permission and hopefully his blessing,” Mary enthused.

Elizabeth was impressed that their cousin had not been precipitous and proposed to Mary after only knowing her for about a sennight. It bolstered her opinion that Cousin Collins was a man of good sense and honour.

The two eldest Bennet sisters linked arms as they followed the now acknowledged couple into the house.

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

Colonel Forster was seated in his office staring at a note he had just been handed.

25 November 1811

Netherfield Park

Colonel Forster,

You do not know me, but I am a fellow colonel. However, I am in the regulars.

For reasons I will explain when we meet, I am not using my name, and rather than come see you in your office, I request that you come see me at your earliest convenience at the above estate.

It is about one of your officers—one I am led to believe you know was able to gain debts in the area of ₤20 in a few short days. There is a lot more you do not know about that man, things that if they were to come to light and you ignored them would bring your regiment into disrepute.

Rather than tell you a tale, like I am sure the man has done regarding one Mr Darcy, I have proof to bolster my words. Search your memories; what evidence did the lieutenant offer you?

If you respond to my request in the affirmative, please bring any document the man in question signed in your presence. Again, you will understand why as soon as we speak.

The man who conveyed this missive to you will wait for a reply.

I hope to meet you soon.