Arriving just before dinner, Elizabeth's presence in the county stood as a complete surprise to her cousin Mr. Collins. Both gentlemen from the main house escorted her; there was little rudeness he could offer. Charlotte, on the other hand, brightened at the sudden arrival of her friend she had only invited to visit last week when her father and sister had cut their own visit short.
Unfortunately, once inside the smaller cottage, the two nephews of Mr. Collins' esteemed patroness had to leave much too soon for Elizabeth's taste. With no opportunity to privately farewell, Elizabeth settled for a smoldering look from her intended and a joke from the Colonel about his dinner plans interfering with his digestion.
“I can assure you, Colonel, the meals at Rosings are very fine indeed! Why Mrs. Collins and I enjoyed Lady Catherine's invitation just last week, and the roast duck was superb. I only wish you had been present, Mr. Darcy, and you would agree that no finer a meal had been set.” Mr. Collins bumbled on and on as the two men tried to leave for the third time in as many minutes.
“Mr. Collins, I believe Lady Catherine is waiting for her nephews to return. Thank you gentlemen for seeing to my friend's safe travels.” Charlotte nodded her head as the men acknowledged her gratitude and appreciated her herding them towards the door, away from her husband.
Mr. Collins followed his wife and Elizabeth remained behind, breathing slowly until the door closed with a dull finality.
“How could you invite that woman to our home? You know Lady Catherine has an extreme dislike for my cousin after she shamelessly threw herself at Mr. Darcy in Hertfordshire and then again in London, from what I'm told!” Mr. Collins grabbed Charlotte's arm and shoved her violently into the parlor.
Charlotte did not cry out or say anything in response, and if Elizabeth had been ignorant of the parson's true nature, she might have been utterly shocked. Instead, she bore witness to her worst fears. Mr. Collins was not only a bully to her, as a result of her headstrong ways, but to all women, including his wife. Charlotte's disposition was as sweet and serene as Jane’s; there could be no discord as a result of behavior on her part.
Elizabeth stepped forward, blocking Mr. Collins from further hurting his wife. “I am so thankful for your hospitality Mr. Collins. You are truly kind to invite me for the Easter holiday.”
“No, Lizzie, you mustn't,” Charlotte said.
“I know my business, Charlotte. My cousin and I have a long acquaintance with each other, afforded by our doomed courtship. But I am certain a man of the church could not possibly hold a grudge.” Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at her cousin. She could not yet declare herself under Mr. Darcy's protection, but that did not change the unequivocal knowledge she held such protection. And this time, this time she was not going to go quietly to keep up appearances.
“You forget yourself, Cousin.”
“Test me, Cousin,” she emphasized the moniker, “Try my patience and see who my friends are.” Elizabeth jutted out her chin as if to dare the man to strike her.
William Collins stood taller, adding a slight addition to his height, but Elizabeth Bennet did not flinch. What did she mean about her friends? She had traveled friendless to Kent, no doubt tossed from her aunt and uncle's for her poor behavior. He sniffed and looked beyond her to his wife, cowering behind. There was little he could do tonight to remove this harridan from his home, and he couldn't be bothered with such nuisances.
“I will take my dinner in my study. See to your friend's lodgings. Do not disturb my peace.” He enunciated each word as one spoke to a child. With a huff, he turned on his heel and marched out of the parlor, slamming the door to his study somewhere deeper in the house.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and thanked Providence for the strength to defy the man responsible for ruining her perfect life in Hertfordshire. A sob behind her made Elizabeth turn around and immediately she rushed to embrace her friend.
“Ssh, ssh, he's gone now Charlotte. No harm will come.”
“I was foolish to write you. My father left and would not allow Maria to stay beyond his visit. When they left, I was rash and sent for you.”
“I am here now. Your letter was a happy coincidence.” Elizabeth smiled at her friend with a cat caught the mouse look.
“Happy? I brought you here and you shall be miserable. He will not relent you see, now that you have challenged him.” Charlotte's eyes widened in fear. But her friend shook her head.
“There are matters I cannot tell you, but I promise you when my time here is over, say the word and I will take you with me.” Elizabeth searched Charlotte's face for understanding but could find none. With a heavy heart, she hugged her friend once more and changed the subject to more mundane matters.
As the two women took the stairs to Elizabeth's guest room, Charlotte explained the biggest mystery in her life involved the chickens. The stress of the arrival and confrontation with Mr. Collins bubbled over and both women were laughing until they cried as Charlotte described her visions of a masterful egg thief. For a moment as Elizabeth began to inspect Anna's unpacking of her trunks in the rose themed room, it felt like just a year ago when the two of them had not a care in the world.
“Lizzie, why did you come to Kent so quickly? You must have scarcely received my letter before you began to travel.”
Elizabeth carefully moved her folio of letters and correspondence from the desk drawer back to the false bottom of her trunk. There were items in there she would not wish to see fall into the wrong hands.
“I cannot tell you all, Charlotte, but soon. I promise.”
“You're not in any kind of trouble are you? Without a home?”
Elizabeth swallowed hard. So the news of her dismissal from Longbourn had reached her friend's ears, though what could she expect. The whole neighborhood likely gossiped about the unruly Bennet daughter finally reaping her oats.
“I am well. My aunt and uncle provide me a good home. But when the opportunity to travel presented itself, I can say I was most pleased for a brief change in scenery.”
Charlotte Collins crossed her arms and waited. “How did you have the funds, if you do not mind me asking?”
To see Charlotte so serious, Elizabeth nearly doubled over once more in a fit of manic laughter. But this was a serious matter, indeed, and her friend was not being nosy, but careful. A single woman in possession of money to travel while estranged from her family usually meant only one occupation. Charlotte busied herself with seeing the bed was properly made for her guest.
“Promise you won't tell?” Elizabeth whispered, making Charlotte panic slightly at the potential truth of her friend's situation. “I do sums for my Uncle's business.”
“Lizzie!” Charlotte picked up a pillow from her friend's bed and slammed it down in annoyance.
“What? You insinuated . . .”
“I certainly did not!”
The two girls collapsed onto the bed and like times where they had lounged in one another's parlors or bedrooms as children reading, their heads touched, but no other part. Both looking up at the ceiling, the weight of their situations pressed all around them.
“I am not so very unhappy . . .”
“Don't. You owe me no explanation. And while I can do nothing about that weasel at the moment, I shall at least find a way to help you with the chickens to catch the thief.”
“The masterful egg thief,” Charlotte corrected.
“Yes, we shall catch the entire gang of egg thieves.”