Elizabeth spent the remainder of the evening shut in her bedchamber. She wrote a short letter to Mr. Bingley, apologizing for her hasty departure and promised to call upon him in a few days’ time. The other letters, she wrote to Mrs. Gardiner, telling her that the deception was ended... that disaster had befallen them all.
She wondered if she should consider leaving Hertfordshire behind... to go into London and seek new friends and connections.
The first letter she sealed and set aside for Hill to have delivered in the morning, the others were tucked inside her journal, Mr. Roberts’ journal, to await a clearer head.
She sat up in bed for hours, watching the logs burn low in the grate. When the family returned the house was filled with noise and jovial shouting, and Mrs. Bennet’s mildly drunken laughter. The evening had been a triumph for Jane, and she could hear her mother loudly recounting how many dances she had taken with Mr. Bingley.
A gentle knock upon her door was followed by Jane’s voice. “Lizzie, Mr. Collins has been invited to stay at Lucas Lodge. Will you come out?”
Elizabeth heaved a great sigh and got up from her bed. She stood at the door in her nightshirt and laid her hand upon the wood.
“No, Jane. I think I will stay here. I am not merry enough for your company.”
“We will speak in the morning, all will be well.” Jane’s voice was a comfort, but Elizabeth could not believe anything yet. The look of shock and surprise in Mr. Darcy’s eyes had been enough to chill her to the bone and she was not prepared to face her mother and sisters just yet.
“I will be myself again in the morning,” she said. “Good night, Jane.”
“Good night, Lizzie.”
Miserable, Elizabeth went back to her bed and crawled beneath the covers. Jane’s optimism should have cheered her, but it only made her feel worse. If her deception was revealed, any chance Jane would have had to marry Mr. Bingley would be dashed and she would never be forgiven for ruining not only her own future, but that of her sisters as well.
Elizabeth snuffed out her candle and lay in the dark listening to the laughter of her younger sisters and their footsteps as they ran and danced through the house. Let them enjoy their evening, she thought, we will all bear the same burden soon enough.
Elizabeth came into the breakfast room the next morning with the letter she had written to Mr. Bingley in her hand. She gave it to Hill with directions to have it delivered with all haste. Jane was the only one at the breakfast table and Elizabeth sat down in her father’s chair with a sigh. Jane smiled and reached across the table to squeeze her sister’s hand briefly.
“You did very well last night. Everyone commented on how charming our cousin was, and how much you looked like Papa when he was a young man. Lady Lucas was your greatest champion. I daresay we will have some very determined young ladies coming to call very soon.”
Jane was trying to be funny, but Elizabeth was not in the mood for joking and could not bring herself to smile.
“Lizzie, whatever is the matter? You should be happy, everything is going according to our plan—“
“Are you certain?” Elizabeth interrupted. “What if someone suspects something?”
“Who, Lizzie? Who would suspect?”
Elizabeth paused; not knowing how to describe the words she and Mr. Darcy had exchanged the night before. “I do not know. Perhaps I am just allowing my worry to get the better of me. There is so much that could go wrong, Jane... so much that could destroy us. One slip...”
“But you have not slipped, Lizzie, you have been nothing short of brilliant. There are only three days remaining until your meeting with Mr. Hawksworth. Mr. Gardiner has sent the papers we need to prove your identity and replace Mr. Collins upon the entail.”
“And what then?”
“Then, Mr. Roberts will graciously allow us to continue living at Longbourn in the manner we have become accustomed, and he will go back to the Canadas to be with his sister and our own dear Elizabeth can return from her self-imposed mourning in London to take her rightful place at the breakfast table.”
Elizabeth smiled, feeling more reassured than she had expected.
“My greatest worry,” Jane said. “Is what to do with your hair once we have hidden those clothes away and put you back into your gowns.” Jane laughed.
Elizabeth shook her head and smiled. “My dear, sister. If that is your greatest worry, I envy you.” She remembered Mr. Darcy’s words and felt a chill creep over her. Surely, Mr. Bingley would not listen to him. If he were indeed to propose to Jane... No, he was not so cold, nor so prideful as Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth was sure of that much.
But what if Mr. Darcy had come to the conclusion she feared most, that Mr. Roberts’ was, in fact, hiding a secret. Would he say anything? Or would he stay silent?
She could not think about it. If he did confront her, or speak of it to Mr. Bingley, all would be lost. But until then, she had a job to do, and that was to act as the head of her family until she could safely shake off the protective shell that Mr. Roberts provided and return to her life.
Elizabeth spent the following days poring over her father’s library and his account ledgers. Mr. Bennet had been fastidious in his bookkeeping, but Elizabeth could see from the notes he had kept that he had been less careful with the expenditures. Their credit with the shops in Meryton was at an alarming level, and if it were not curbed soon, could spell disaster for their income. Dresses, ribbons, gloves... all of it must come to a stop. Unnecessary spending that their father had not had the will, or the strength to argue when the time came.
When she was in charge of the estate, she would have a talk with her mother, and things would have to change. Kitty and Lydia would complain, of course, but there was more at stake than their need for new dresses or ribbons.
When Mr. Collins returned from Lucas Lodge it was impossible not to notice a change in his demeanor.
At supper one night, Mrs. Bennet could hide her curiosity no longer. “Come now, Mr. Collins, you must have some news to share, you have been at Lucas Lodge for two days, how does my good friend Lady Lucas?”
“I can assure you, Lady Lucas is quite well, and I am very pleased to report that I am finally able to return to Hunsford as the happiest of men... Miss Charlotte Lucas has consented to be my wife. I have written to Lady Catherine de Bourgh to share my happy tidings.”
“Charlotte Lucas?” Lydia cried before bursting into laughter.
Mr. Collins looked confused for just a moment before a wide smile spread across his face once more. “Yes, cousin, Miss Lucas has been very supportive of my work at Hunsford, and has shown a keen interest in Rosings Park and the workings of the great estate.”
“Of course, Mr. Collins,” Mrs. Bennet said. Lydia yelped and covered her mouth as her mother kicked her beneath the table. “How delighted Lady Catherine will be to hear of your happy news. Congratulations!”
“I thank you, humbly,” Mr. Collins said graciously.
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged a meaningful look. Charlotte Lucas had often spoken of her practical nature, and marriage to a clergyman would be a steady, and secure future for her and for any children... but to be married to Mr. Collins? It was hardly a life that either of them would have imagined for themselves.
On the morning of her appointment with Mr. Hawksworth, Elizabeth awoke early and took great care in her preparations for the day. She dressed carefully, making sure that nothing was out of place. The black velvet band on the upper arm of her coat denoted the continued state of mourning that Longbourn resided under, and would indicate to the lawyer’s eye that even though Mr. Roberts was a stranger to the family, that Mr. Bennet’s death had affected him deeply.
Elizabeth knew that she would have to show care and support for her new family, and have proof of some connection to the estate. Mr. Hawksworth did not need to know that when Mr. Roberts left for London that he would not be returning. Mr. Gardiner would see to the paperwork that would ensure the continued care and maintenance of Longbourn and its inhabitants when Elizabeth arrived at their home.
As Elizabeth set her hat upon her head and opened the front door, Mrs. Bennet rushed down the hallway. “Jane, where are you going?” she whispered loudly.
Jane paused in tying the ribbon on her bonnet. “Whatever do you mean, Mama? I am going to see Mr. Hawksworth with Mr. Roberts.”
“You most certainly are not,” Mrs. Bennet said, her voice firm. “Mr. Roberts must see the lawyer with Mr. Collins and that is the end of it.” Mr. Collins had gone into town some time ago to post his letters to Lady Catherine and select a gift for Charlotte, and Elizabeth was to meet him at Mr. Hawksworth’s office.
Jane opened her mouth to argue, but Elizabeth shook her head. Jane pressed her lips together in a thin line, but she did not disagree.
“I shall be back soon,” Elizabeth said. She opened the front door and stepped out into the cold air, feeling more confident with every step she took.
Mr. Darcy had not come to Longbourn to confront her as she had feared, he had not written any letters, or sent anyone to have her taken away. If he knew, if he suspected, then he had decided to keep her secret. If he did not know,
Perhaps Jane was right; perhaps everything would be well.
“All the way from the Canadas, eh, Mr. Roberts.”
“Yes, sir. I came at once when I received my cousin’s letter.” Elizabeth had never felt so calm as she did sitting before Mr. Hawksworth. Her father’s lawyer was an old man, blind in one eye, and though he had been Mr. Bennet’s friend and lawyer for many years, he had never met the family, except when Elizabeth was very young.
“These papers are in order, Mr. Roberts, and I congratulate you on your inheritance of the estate at Longbourn. If you will just sign here.” Mr. Hawksworth slid the papers towards Elizabeth and sat back in his chair.
“I had often spoken to your uncle of the Colonies... I knew his for quite some time, we were friends as young men, and then again later in life.” Elizabeth picked up the quill and set the signature to the parchment the way she had practiced it over, and over. Mr. Alexander Roberts.
“And yet in all that time, Arthur never mentioned anything about a sister. Why do you suppose that could be, Mr. Roberts?”
“I cannot say, sir,” Elizabeth replied. “I, myself, did not know about my uncle or my cousins until after my mother’s death. I found a letter amongst her belongings, dated many years ago... I can only imagine that something happened between them when they were both young, a falling out, perhaps. Or perhaps she married a gentleman that my uncle did not approve of.” Elizabeth allowed herself to smile just a little.
Mr. Hawksworth grunted and shifted in his seat, pulling the papers back toward himself. “Well, be that as it may, I believe Mr. Bennet would have approved of you, Mr. Roberts. You are very welcome to Meryton and to Hertfordshire, and I wish you much happiness at Longbourn.”
“I thank you, sir,” Elizabeth replied.
Mr. Hawksworth affixed his signature and seal to the papers, making the change of ownership of Longbourn official. He blew on the cooling wax and then re-folded the papers and handed them to Elizabeth.
“Keep these somewhere safe, Mr. Roberts. Please pass on my good wishes to your aunt when you see her next.”
“Good day, Mr. Hawksworth,” she said, taking the papers from the lawyer’s shaking hand and tucking them inside her coat. She took her leave with as much dignity as she could muster, but inside she was bursting with joy.
Mr. Collins waited outside with several packages under his arms. “Mr. Roberts, we simply cannot tarry any longer, I must away to Lucas Lodge to fetch my dear Charlotte. We leave this afternoon for Rosings Park. Lady Catherine has sent a letter requesting to meet Charlotte at once, and I cannot delay!”
“Of course, Mr. Collins, you must not keep her Ladyship waiting,” Elizabeth said with a genuine smile. Mr. Collins might not be a man who could make her happy, but Charlotte was certainly willing to see for herself what it meant to make her own choices. She was of an age where she did not have to bend to the will of her father and could choose her own fate... Elizabeth did not know if Charlotte had chosen wisely, but only time would reveal the truth. For now, all that mattered was that there was happiness to be found if one was willing to take the chance of it.