Page 9 of Collins Takes Charge

Mrs Jenkinson offered her charge an arm and escorted her to the bench where Miss de Bourgh chose to sit. Then, as she always did, the companion withdrew. Miss de Bourgh liked privacy to remember her late father in this place.

When she was ready to return to the phaeton, Anne would call out, bringing her gaoler back to her to escort her to the carriage. At least she was left alone on the bench. As soon as Mrs Jenkinson was out of sight, Anne threw off the shawl; the pelisse followed it onto the bench. She undid the ribbons securing her bonnet and placed it on the bench next to her. Anne then stood and walked around the pond until she reached the place where there was a break in the canopy created by the trees. With the sun above her, she lifted her head so she could feel the sun’s rays on her face; she then stuck her arms straight out on each side and twirled around.

“Papa, I know you did not chuse to leave me alone with your wife, but I do miss you every day,” Anne said in sotto voce to the heavens. She did not want Mrs Jenkinson, who would be seated on the phaeton’s bench, to hear her. “Mr Belvedere came to join you in heaven before I could ask him to post a letter to Uncle Reggie, but I believe that Mr Collins will aid me in my quest to free myself of the yoke with which your wife has imprisoned me. Papa, I am sure you saw it from heaven, but my mother is so angry that Mr Collins…” She told her father that the new holder of the Hunsford living was nothing like Lady Catherine had expected. “As you can imagine, your wife is seriously displeased.”

With her conversation with her dear father complete, Anne returned to the bench where her outerwear was. She tied the bonnet back in place, shrugged into the warm pelisse, and placed the shawl she did not want to wear on her shoulders. Once everything was as it had been, she called out for Mrs Jenkinson.

The groom was about to lead the ponies around so they would be pointing in the direction from where they had come. “No, do not,” Anne stated. She was prepared for the questioning look from her companion. “We are close to the parsonage. After the way that man spoke to my mother, I want to tell him a piece of my mind[2] and let him know that his behaviour will not be acceptable ever again.”

Mrs Jenkinson was pleased that Miss de Bourgh wanted to stand up for her mother in that way. She was certain that her ladyship would be well pleased that her daughter was willing to take up her cause. She nodded, and the groom, who had been looking at her, stepped away from the ponies.

It was about a ten-minute ride through the grove until they exited the trees and reached the gravel-covered drive which ran from the gates to the mansion. Anne guided her ponies onto the drive towards the open gates of the estate. There she turned them to the right for a short distance before they reached the parsonage’s drive. She pulled back on the ribbons, and the ponies came to a halt opposite the front door. The footman handed Anne down while the groom assisted Mrs Jenkinson.

Remembering that she was supposed to be sickly, Anne walked up to the door slowly and pulled on the chain that rang the doorbell.

The door was opened by Mabel, one of the newly employed maids.

“Is Mr Collins home?” Anne demanded as imperiously as she was able.

“Yes, Ma’am, ‘e be in ‘is study. ‘Oo should I says be callin’?” the young maid asked nervously.

“Tell him Miss de Bourgh is here, and it will not do to keep me waiting outside in this fashion. After all, Mr Collins has this home because of my mother’s generosity.”

The maid opened the door wide and showed the two ladies to the sitting room before going back to inform her master he had callers.

William had been working on the outline of his next sermon when Mabel entered, wringing her hands, and told him that Miss de Bourgh was demanding to see him. He was somewhat surprised, as he had not thought the daughter was of the same ilk as the mother. He stood and made his way to the sitting room, where he found Miss de Bourgh and her companion seated. Neither lady looked pleased to be in his house.

“Miss de Bourgh, Mrs Jenkinson, welcome to the parsonage. How may I be of service?” William enquired.

“I will speak to you about the rude and disrespectful way you spoke to my mother earlier. I suggest we retire to your study unless you want me to berate you before your own servants and mine.” Anne turned to Mrs Jenkinson. “The door will remain open, and you will be very close by.”

The companion agreed with the arrangement while she smirked, thinking about the set down Miss de Bourgh would deliver. Yes, this would please Lady Catherine greatly.

With Mr Collins following her, Anne de Bourgh made her way towards the study with a swish of her skirts. As soon as they entered, Anne turned and looked at Mr Collins. She reached into her pocket at the same time she demanded, “What have you to say for yourself after the reprehensible way you treated my mother earlier?” She pressed the letter wrapped in a sheet of paper into Mr Collins’s hand.

William looked at the first line on the paper, which read ‘Make it sound good.’ “Miss de Bourgh, with all respect, if your mother has a complaint against me, she may make it herself. She does not need to send her daughter to do so for her! Now please leave; I do not need to be berated in my own home.”

Anne smiled and nodded her head. Mr Collins was doing exactly as she hoped he would. She walked towards the door and then from just in the hallway where she knew Mrs Jenkinson could see her, Anne looked into the study disdainfully. “I take no leave of you, Mr Collins. I send no compliments to you or your household. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased.” With that Anne spun on her heel. “Come, Mrs Jenkinson, let us leave this unholy abode.” She lifted her nose into the air and marched out, her companion following her, her nose lifted up as well.

Soon, the ladies were in the phaeton on their way back to Rosings Park.

Chapter 4

Anne de Bourgh was very thankful when her companion relieved her of the heavy pelisse upon entering the mansion at Rosings Park.

Mrs Jenkinson sent a footman up to Miss de Bourgh’s suite with instructions to hand the pelisse to her charge’s lady’s maid. Then, after making sure the heavy shawl was over her charge’s shoulders, she offered her arm to Miss de Bourgh and assisted her to walk up the stairs to the first floor and the drawing room where Lady Catherine always sat.

By the time she had returned to the drawing room, Lady Catherine had convinced herself that she still held power over Mr Collins and had written an epistle to the bishop in which she demanded, nay commanded him, that he remove the offensive man from the parish of Hunsford forthwith. She had discounted Mr Collins’s words that the church would remove her authority over the Hunsford parish and was certain that the wayward parson had lied to her. As she was ruminating, Anne entered the room on Mrs Jenkinson’s arm. The latter curtsied deeply to her as was her due.

“Where have you been, Anne? I am told that you rode out in your phaeton. Have I not told you that you must have my permission before riding out?” Lady Catherine demanded.

“Lady Catherine, just wait until you learn what your daughter did. You will not object to her going out when you hear,” Mrs Jenkinson gushed.

“What did Anne do?” Lady Catherine enquired.

“Oh, my Lady, she was magnificent. She drove to the glade, where she sat in silent contemplation. When she returned, rather than return to the manse, she ordered that we make for the parsonage where she insisted on seeing that man who had been so rude to you. If only you could have heard how Miss de Bourgh berated him for his unconscionable disrespect of your person. Rather than own his error, would you believe that Mr Collins had the temerity to order Miss de Bourgh and me out of the parsonage? As your daughter pointed out to him, he only has a home because of your condescension and beneficence,” Mrs Jenkinson related excitedly.

Having always thought Anne was meek and mild; Lady Catherine was impressed and gratified that her daughter would take up her cause the way she had. Perhaps this meant that Anne would be a willing participant in gaining Fitzwilliam as her husband. It seemed that her daughter had a little of her mother’s strength in her. How could she not when Anne had been born of her noble body?