Charlotte - Pride and Prejudice Continues Page 19
Charlotte looked around her, the sitting room was the obvious choice for the pianoforte, and she realised that being the case there remained only one place to put the instrument. In the place then occupied by the breakfast table. She was glad they rarely used it and that the top folded down and it could be stowed away. She called in Mrs Higgs and Jenny to help with the table's removal, just as the men brought the instrument in. The pianoforte was not overly large, but big enough to take up one corner of the room and a part of a wall.
Mr Collins remained agog and astonished at Mr Simmons’ generosity. Mr Simmons laughed at him and clapped him on the back. Charlotte stepped up to his side and squeezed his hand as they watched the pianoforte being carefully manoeuvred into place.
Once Mr Simmons farmhands had left the parsonage to return the cart to Oak Wood Farm, Mr Collins found his voice, “Mr Simmons, really this is too much, and your generosity astounds me!”
Mr Simmons merely laughed his protestations off, “Sincerely, my friend, if your dear wife was not in need of the instrument it would have been sent for scrap. I know that Mrs Collins plays and I have often heard Louisa lament the lack of a pianoforte here and so I feel it right to give this to you.”
“I confess it is the most generous gift I have ever received and I am quite taken aback by it Mr Simmons.” joined Charlotte.
“I understand, truly I do, and I did hesitate in bringing it here. Then I realised you would both accept in the true spirit of Christian giving. I would not have liked to have seen it to be broken up for scrap and I know you will make good use of it Mrs Collins.”
“Indeed I will, will I not Mr Collins?” she turned to her husband, “You yourself have often wished we had a pianoforte here at the parsonage.”
“Yes, you are quite right Charlotte; I have certainly wished that on many occasions. I apologise Mr Simmons, I am quite beside myself!”
Mr Simmons clapped Mr Collins on the back once more and made for the door. “Do not concern yourself, what are friends for?” He mounted his horse, tipped his hat and cried, “Adieu until tomorrow!” and trotted off out of the gate.
Charlotte could barely contain her excitement but she did not know if Mr Collins would be insulted by Mr Simmons extravagant gift to her. Therefore, she touched his arm, smiled, and indicated they should go inside.
They stood beside the instrument for some time, admiring it. It certainly was an old pianoforte, but had been kept well and the wood was in fine condition.
“Well, all that remains, my dear Charlotte, is for you to try it out.” Mr Collins exclaimed with as much excitement as Charlotte herself felt.
She sat down on the stool, her back to the window, opened the lid, and stroked the keys in awe. She looked up at Mr Collins and saw him smiling down at her. He nodded and she placed her hands in the resting position and began to play. The instrument was still well tuned and its timbre sounded wonderful as its music filled the sitting room.
Mr Collins moved to sit in a chair facing Charlotte and closed his eyes immersed in the sound of her playing. He had enjoyed listening to her play when they had first met and from time to time Lady Catherine asked her to play at Rosings but he had always felt sad that he could not have provided her with her own instrument. She had told him she did not mind in the least, but he sensed she did deep down. Now, it seemed Providence had rewarded them both and Mr Simmons’ gift was a blessing indeed, Mr Collins was not too proud to be above accepting such gifts. As a clergyman, he was often in receipt of a gift or two, although this was far beyond any gift he had heretofore received. He was content and very grateful for the present of the instrument. The sound of music would always now fill the air in the Collins' household and he could not have been more pleased about it.
When Charlotte finished playing the piece, she rose and went to stand next to her husband, her joy evident in her face.
“My dear, that was beautiful.” he told her, his voice choked, “I freely admit I had missed hearing you play as you did in Hertfordshire before we were married. And, now I hope to have the pleasure of hearing you play every day.”
“Yes William, it is a beautiful instrument. We are so blessed to have such a friend as Mr Simmons. I had hoped in time we would be in a position to purchase one for ourselves. That, I know, would have taken years to accomplish. I find myself moved to tears over such kindness.” She wiped her eyes and Mr Collins stood up to comfort her, “I am sorry, I am being over-emotional.”
“Not at all. I confess myself to be a little emotional about today's events also.” They both stood staring at the pianoforte, which now graced their home, both reluctant to leave its presence.
“I really must finish my letter writing.” Mr Collins broke the instrument's spell and left to go to his book room, leaving the door ajar so he could hear in case Charlotte continued to play.
Charlotte herself had letters to write. That morning letters had arrived from her mother, which contained one from Maria also, and one from Lizzy, and she still had one to finish writing to Jane at Netherfield. Nevertheless, her mind was not on letter writing, she was trying to remember where she had put all her sheet music when she had come into Kent upon her marriage. She suspected that they would be in the attic in one of her travelling chests and went in search of Mrs Higgs for the key to the attic door.
Together they braved the cold attic in search of the sheet music, which they happily did find in one of the chests. Mrs Higgs had taken the liberty of placing all the things Charlotte could not find a home for into the oldest chest. One that she believed would not see much travelling again but would serve as an excellent place in which to store things.
Having retrieved the sheet music, the two women hastily retreated downstairs into the warmth of the house and Charlotte went directly to the pianoforte. She had not played much in months, merely playing a piece or two at Rosings and once or twice in Hertfordshire when they had visited which meant that her fingers were a little stiff and her playing was a touch stilted. However, after playing for a while her hands seemed to remember their skill and their ability returned Charlotte all the while lost in the pleasure of playing one again.
She reluctantly stopped playing when lunch was served and joined Mr Collins to eat their repast, while both of them talked in raptures about the new addition to their home.
* * *
Charlotte reluctantly settled down to her letter writing after lunch but all she could write about was the pianoforte. She endeavoured to be interested in what she was doing and to respond correctly to her letters but she feared she did not do them justice at all. One thing did please her and gave her pause to think about another subject; Lizzy and Mr Darcy had invited her and Mr Collins to visit in the summer. Apparently, Colonel Fitzwilliam had written to Mr Darcy explaining the goings on at Rosings of late and Mr Darcy felt that his inviting them to Pemberley would be seen as his seal of approval. Lizzy mentioned something about their being cousins-in-law now but Charlotte was sure the invitation was more to do with repairing the injury done to her by Lady Catherine than from familial ties. She was however, more than happy to accept such an invitation. She knew Mr Collins would agree wholeheartedly and decided to accept and inform him later at dinner.
Her mother's letter was full of Meryton gossip and Maria's full of Mr Lang, her intended. Jane's letter was the one with all the true information about Meryton and the people therein. Jane could always be counted on to keep her apprised of everything going on 'back home'. She laughed at most and was intrigued to read that Mary Bennet was being courted by a young man in Meryton. She smiled at the thought. Mary had always been a severe young girl, and she was pleased to find that she was to have 'her own happy ending' as Louisa would call it.
* * *
Mr Collins called Charlotte into their bedroom an hour before their guests arrived. He was standing in his under-things and staring at one of his newly acquired suits laid out on the bed.
“What is it dear?” she asked upon seeing him thus.
“You will be amongst friends William; surely you do not fear ridicule?”
Mr Collins said nothing but his face replied in the affirmative.
“You will have to take the plunge, so to speak, at some time, and Mr Simmons and Louisa are our friends. Surely you would feel more comfortable being in different attire, for the first time, in their presence than if we were a large party?”
He merely looked at her wide-eyed and afraid.
He is truly frightened, poor man, she thought. “How about you dress in the new clothing, and see how you feel when you see yourself in the looking glass? You felt confidence when we were in Westerham and I am sure you will feel the same again.” she said as reassuringly as she could.
“You are probably right Charlotte my dear.” He paused and then said something that had been on his mind to say for a while, “I know I have been a ridiculous man all my life,” She raised her eyebrows at his confession. “But I no longer am that man. I have changed Charlotte, truly I have.” he looked earnestly at her.
She smiled, stepped forward, and embraced him.
He pulled away from her slightly so he could look her in the eye, “You believe me when I say I want to be a better man than the one you married?”
Charlotte could not believe her ears. What miracle had taken place to bring this about? She smiled and indicated he should dress and turned to leave the room.
As she closed the door behind her he said, “I will endeavour to deserve you.”
* * *
When Louisa and Mr Simmons arrived for dinner, Charlotte discovered that Mr Simmons had not informed Louisa that the pianoforte from his home was now happily settled at the parsonage. Louisa was overcome by surprise and joy. She declared she could not think of a better recipient of the instrument than Charlotte and soon the pair were playing duets and the air at the parsonage was filled with something else that had been rare before, laughter. The gentlemen sat on the sofa watching their ladies and exchanging small talk, smiling as Charlotte and Louisa paraded through their repertoire of duets, laughing at each mistake.
Once more Mr Collins was struck by how lovely his wife was, how she warmed his heart with her smile and laughter and he wondered at his own foolishness and blindness. How had he never seen this before? His heart swelled with pride at her talent on the pianoforte, but he did not know how to show it. He decided he would simply tell her what he thought in private. He was pleased also that neither Mr Simmons nor Louisa seemed to have noticed his new apparel and he relaxed knowing that he did not in fact look ridiculous. He did however, feel very much at ease in the trousers, and again wondered why he had never thought of buying them before.
Charlotte's friendship with Louisa grew with each time they met and they were fast becoming like sisters.
Upon finishing the last of their duets, Charlotte hugged her friend and said, “Just think Louisa, in one and a half weeks, you will be married!”
“My goodness yes! Oh dear, now I am all nerves!” she giggled and placed her hand over her mouth.
“Has Mr Simmons indicated if you will have a wedding journey?”
“Yes, we will, but we will not go until after the seed sowing has taken place at the farm.”
“That is wise, it would be best for him to supervise the planting.” agreed Charlotte.
“Oh yes. And then we intend to travel to Prittlewell, where George's mother was from, for a fortnight.”
“How lovely! I confess I have never heard of Prittlewell, is it nice there?” she asked as Mrs Higgs arrived to announce that dinner was ready.
“I have no idea, but George says so. Of course, he would, it being his mother's home after all. He tells me it is a coastal village approximately forty miles to the east of London.”
“Only forty miles, that is not too great a distance to travel. You will break your journey in London?” she asked as she stood to walk in to dinner.
“George says we will try to make it to Ilford; however I think that is being optimistic.”
* * *
After dinner, they all took a walk in the lanes besides Rosings. The evening was warmer than usual, as the day had been fair.
Although when Charlotte looked to the horizon she saw the clouds moving in, “I think it will rain tomorrow.”
“Oh yes, so we will all be wet and shivering in church tomorrow.” Louisa laughed.
They walked as far as the crossroads and then turned back on themselves. When Mr Simmons told them all about Prittlewell and what it was like there, it made Charlotte quite envious of their wedding journey. She had not had one but had travelled almost immediately into Kent upon her marriage to Mr Collins. She desired now to see the sea. Mr Simmons continued by telling them stories of whelk hunting when he was a child and they laughed at his childhood antics.
“I should so like to see the sea.” Charlotte said wistfully.
“You have never seen it?” enquired Mr Simmons.
“No I have not. I grew up in land-locked Hertfordshire,” she replied, “I have seen many rivers and the Thames many times also, but never the sea.”
Mr Collins squeezed her hand on his arm, “Then we will have to remedy that my dear, if we have time this year. Did my wife tell you Miss Thomas, we are bound for Derbyshire this summer?”
“Oh, no she did not!”
“Aye, my cousin Elizabeth, made a fortunate alliance with Lady Catherine de Bourgh's nephew, Mr Darcy, who has a great estate in Derbyshire.” he told her proudly. “We have been invited by Cousin Elizabeth, who incidentally is one of Charlotte's oldest friends, to stay with them a while in the summer. I confess myself quite looking forward to seeing his estate, the Peaks, and the county of Derbyshire.”
Charlotte smiled up at him and they continued walking towards the parsonage discussing the places they had all visited and would wish to visit in England. When they finally arrived at the parsonage it had turned chilly, they were glad to get inside, and Jenny lit a fire in the sitting room.
Once their guests had departed that night, Charlotte asked Mr Collins if he had been in earnest about taking her to see the sea. He replied that he had and together they talked about a route they could take home from Derbyshire at the end of the summer, one that would take them to see the sea.
28
Charlotte was correct; it did rain the next day. It began to rain in the early hours of the morning and developed into a storm by dawn, which woke them early. Charlotte hated being awoken early, as it put her in an ill humour, however, Mr Collins insisted that they stay in bed and listen to the rain and within half an hour she had drifted back to sleep.
When she did wake again, Mr Collins was already up, dressed, and was standing next to her side of the bed proudly holding a tray with two cups of tea upon it.
She giggled and sat up to receive her cup, not wanting to tell him that her nausea had returned and that she was grateful for the tea to settle her stomach.
“You see? I am in earnest about being a better man.”
She drank some of her tea, which felt good in her unsettled stomach, “Oh that is a good cup of tea William, thank you.”
He sat on the end of the bed facing her and for the first time in their life together, she saw love reflected in his eyes. She in truth had never expected to see such a thing in Mr Collins' eyes but there it was a plain as day. She blushed under their scrutiny and he smiled at her reaction.
* * *
Louisa's prediction that they would all sit shivering in church that morning came true and Mr Collins did his best to speed along the proceedings to allow everyone to get home and warm as soon as they could. As soon as the final prayers were said and Mr Collins made his way to the door to shake hands with his congregants, the churchyard was flooded with a sea of umbrellas and everyone scattered in their various directions, rushing to get out of the cold and rain.
Charlotte and Mr Collins practic
ally ran home and when they arrived, stood in the hallway laughing at their semi-drowned condition. Mrs Higgs ordered Jenny to get the hot water ready and insisted that Charlotte and Mr Collins take hot baths before they caught a chill.
Once bathed, and wrapped up in warm clothing they sat beside the fire in the living room drinking hot chocolate and Mr Collins expressed his reluctance to perform evensong that night.
Charlotte smiled at him, “Do you think anyone would notice if you were not there?” she asked cheekily.
“I would be surprised if anyone else was there to notice my absence.”
She chuckled at the thought of that.
“It is all very well you laughing Mrs Collins,” he said, “you may stay at home by the fire.”
“Yes Mr Collins,” she mocked his seriousness, “how tiresome that will be for me. I do not know how I will endure it.”
Mr Collins was determined to join in with her joking, “I do believe though, that the wife of a clergyman ought to accompany him to church whenever he performs his duty therein.”
“Hmm...” she replied pretending to contemplate his words, “even when there is a risk of drowning?”
He laughed aloud, “Especially when there is a risk of drowning Mrs Collins, after all who will read the last rites to her otherwise?”
Now it was her turn to laugh, “So your purpose in encouraging me to accompany you this evening is to lead me into peril, in the hope of seeing me off?” she affected to be insulted.
“Hmm... that was not my intention.” he said enjoying himself immensely.
“But now that the thought occurs to you?”
Mr Collins could not reply he was laughing too hard at their banter. When did it become so easy and fun to be with her? he asked himself. The time it took him to stop laughing gave him ample time to think of a reply and he stared into her eyes, and reached out his hand to her.
She took it, he kissed hers and he finally replied, “If you were in peril I would do everything in my power to save you, Charlotte.”