Recollections of Rosings (42 page)

    Jonathan Bingley, who had also received a letter from Catherine Harrison, had a shrewd idea why Mrs Collins wished to see him in such a hurry. Taking the note into his wife's sitting room, he read it to her.

    "Anna, my love, I do believe Mrs Collins has finally discovered that your cousin Catherine is to wed again."

    Anna, who knew her aunt well, was a little concerned at her husband's rather light-hearted remark. "Oh dear, do you suppose Catherine has written to her, too? I do hope my aunt has not learnt of this through some gossiping busybody like Lydia Wickham. That would surely upset her and greatly reduce her enjoyment of Catherine's news."

    Anna was genuinely concerned, but her husband was more sanguine.

    "I very much doubt that is the case," he said. "Catherine is a very proper person and I cannot believe she would write to tell us of her engagement to Frank Burnett if she had not already informed her mother. But, I think she has told Mrs Collins that I am well acquainted with him, hence this invitation to visit her. Do you not agree?"

    On reflection, Anna did agree. She was pleased for her cousin Catherine. She had always had a great deal of admiration for her and though she had regarded the Reverend Dr Harrison with awe, for he was a learned clergyman, Anna had sometimes wished her cousin had married a more lively and interesting man than the eminently respectable, but rather dull, incumbent of Hunsford parish.

    That Frank Burnett had proposed to Catherine and been accepted was, to Anna, unarguably good news and she was not reluctant to say so.

    "Do you suppose Aunt Charlotte is displeased?" she asked. "Because if she is, I intend to tell her that I think it is a very good match and I am exceedingly happy for Catherine."

    Jonathan laughed; he knew his wife well enough to know that she meant it. She would be completely forthright, of that he was certain.

    "I cannot think why she should be displeased. Dr Harrison, though he had Lady Catherine's patronage and approval, had neither money nor property and Mrs Collins approved of him. Mr Burnett is no different, except he is an authority on antiquities instead of the scriptures," he said.

    His wife went further, "At the very least, he is a man with an interest in art and literature as well; he has a sense of humour and does not suffer from the disadvantage of a narrowness of intellectual attainment, which for me, made conversation with Dr Harrison a great effort," said Anna. "I make no claim to know a great deal about his character, but I have found Mr Burnett to be both amiable and interesting and am prepared to say so. Doubtless, Catherine herself will have vouched for his disposition and character."

    Jonathan smiled, "And I have no doubt at all, my love, that with such a fine recommendation, your aunt will need little convincing that Catherine has indeed made the right decision in accepting him."

    "And what will you say?" she asked.

    Her husband, who had turned away to look out of the window, spoke lightly, "Oh, I am afraid I shall have to tell the truth; the man's an absolute bounder and not to be trusted!"

    Anna, even though she knew from his voice that he was teasing, turned round so swiftly to face him and looked so appalled, he was compelled to reassure her immediately.

    "Anna, my dear, you know I am joking! Of course I shall say he is a man of excellent education and understanding, who came highly recommended by one of the most distinguished scholars in the land—a curator at the British Museum. I have found him to be thoroughly likeable. He is straightforward and unpretentious in his dealings with me. With both of us so determined to praise him, I do not doubt that your aunt will be well satisfied."

    Charlotte Collins lived at Longbourn with Jonathan's daughter Anne-Marie and her husband Mr Colin Elliot, MP. The couple were away in London for the Autumn session of Parliament when Jonathan and his wife called to see Mrs Collins that afternoon. She greeted them cordially and immediately asked for tea to be served.

    Charlotte had a very special affection for Jonathan Bingley and his wife, who were always welcome at Longbourn. Harriet, her companion and housekeeper, had set the table for tea in the library, where the fire had been lit and they could talk in private. It was a pretty Autumn afternoon, and Charlotte had asked that the curtains not be closed for a while; she did not go out a great deal now and was glad of the view of the rose garden from the windows. Charlotte had been responsible for planting and tending the roses for many years and still took a great interest in them.

    Jonathan and Anna pleased her by admiring her roses, before they sat down to tea and some of Harriet's excellent cake, when Mrs Collins asked, "I suppose you have been wondering why I asked you to call—not that I need a reason to do so, you are always welcome—but I did have a particular question to put to you…"

    Jonathan and Anna looked at one another and then Anna put down her cup and said, "Indeed, Aunt, we guessed it might have something to do with the good news we have had from cousin Catherine."

    Mrs Collins looked at her and then across the table to Jonathan before saying quietly, "It is exactly because I wished to be certain that it
is good new
s that I wished to speak with you. You seem surprised, Anna, but in truth, I have long stopped believing that the mere fact of a woman being married is to be regarded as good news. It was certainly considered to be so, in times past, when I was a young woman and a girl had little else to look forward to if she did not marry. Today, we know different. While I am pleased to hear that Catherine hopes to be happily married to Mr Burnett—her letter certainly assures me that she has no doubt at all of this—I need to be reassured that this is indeed the case."

    She sighed and went on, "I have seen too many unfortunate and unhappy marriages—even in our own family we have known much sorrow. There was poor little Josie whose life ended so tragically, and now Becky too has her share of problems; I need not speak of them all, but you will understand my concern, I think. I wish to be reassured that if my dear Catherine is to marry again, it is to a good man, with whom she can hope for a truly happy life."

    Jonathan and Anna had remained silent, realising the depth of Charlotte's disquiet. Their own light-hearted conversation earlier that day had failed to take account of her genuine fears. Born and raised in an era when a woman who did not marry was the most unfortunate of creatures and any marriage was likely to be regarded as better than no marriage at all, Charlotte's present concern for her daughters had been forged in the fires of experience. It was no longer enough that a woman should find a respectable man who would marry her and give her a comfortable home. She had at first been content with such a situation herself, but for her own daughter, for Catherine, the child to whom she had bequeathed most of her goodness of heart, her sensible, kind disposition, Charlotte wanted more.

    It was with a much greater sense of responsibility that Jonathan now undertook to assure her that to his knowledge, Mr Frank Burnett was in every way a good and honourable man, who had loved her daughter for nigh on twenty-five years and was deeply and sincerely devoted to making her happy.

    Charlotte Collins seemed startled. "What do you mean he has loved her for all these years? Were they acquainted before he came to Rosings last year?" she asked, and Jonathan knew then that Catherine had not revealed to her mother the entire story of their relationship, as she had told it to him and Anna. It became then his task to enlighten her, gently and honestly.

    Charlotte listened as he spoke and asked a few questions. "Am I to understand that he had this strong affection for her but for some reason was not able to speak of it? Why was this? Was there some impediment?"

    Jonathan nodded, "Yes, and if you will permit me, Mrs Collins, I will explain. The reason that Frank Burnett never approached Catherine directly was that Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who was then his employer and under whose protection Catherine lived at Rosings, decided that it was not to be. She expressly forbade the continuation of their friendship, which as far as Catherine knew was all it was at the time, for Mr Burnett had said not a word to her of love or marriage. Her Ladyship threatened to dismiss Mr Burnett from his position as librarian if he pursued the matter and told him that Catherine was already spoken for, which was, of course, clearly not true. Mr Harrison had not even taken up the position at Hunsford at that time, and it was many years later that he made an offer for Catherine's hand. Lady Catherine was the only impediment."

    The expression on Charlotte's countenance and the tears that welled in her eyes said it all. She could not speak for several minutes, and when she did, her voice was soft and sad.

    "It was not right. Lady Catherine has been very good to our family and particularly generous to Catherine, but I have to say she had no right to interfere. She should have referred Mr Burnett to me. I am Cathy's mother and I should have been told of his feelings for her. Poor Catherine, she has never told me any of this."

    Both Jonathan and Anna indicated as best they could that Catherine had not suffered very greatly at the time, because there had been no romance, no broken engagement, for no such words had ever been spoken between them. Anna said gently that Catherine had revealed that there had been only a warm friendship, which might have developed into love.

    But Charlotte shook her head. "That may be so, and yet, do you not see, that were it not for Lady Catherine's unjustifiable intervention, he may have told her he loved her, and asked her to marry him and she may or may not have accepted him; whatever the outcome, it would have been Catherine's choice to make. Catherine should have had the chance to make that choice. I do not mean to cast any aspersions upon Dr Harrison, but she may never have married him had she known earlier of Mr Burnett's intentions. Indeed, they may well have been happily married long before Dr Harrison appeared on the scene at Rosings."

    Charlotte appeared to be both tired and unhappy as she spoke. "So many years have been spent—I shall not say wasted, for there have clearly been blessings—but spent apart, without the affection and comfort they may have given each other. It is most unfair and a cruel thing to have done," she said and there was no doubting the sadness in her voice.

    Unromantic she may have been, but Charlotte was far from lacking in sensibility, and it was clear she was keenly aware of Catherine's loss.

    Turning once more to Jonathan Bingley, she said, more seriously, "Thank you, Jonathan, for being open with me. No doubt Catherine did not wish to dwell upon the past and bring sadness where there should be only joy, but I appreciate your telling me the truth. I shall write to Catherine and tell her I have spoken with you and, having done so, wish her every happiness. If, as you say, Mr Frank Burnett is a good man, educated and cultured as well, and has loved her for so long, I am confident they will be happy together. Catherine certainly deserves it."

    Charlotte's letter arrived at the Dower House, bringing much happiness to her daughter, who had harboured a few doubts as to her mother's willingness to accept Frank Burnett without having known him at all. It was a great relief to her to learn that she was pleased to do so, and Catherine knew she must owe some part of that comfort to Jonathan Bingley and his wife.

    When she showed Frank Burnett her mother's letter, he was elated. While modesty prevented him from accepting all that was implied in it of his goodness of character and conduct, he too acknowledged the role of Mr Bingley. "We do owe him a considerable debt of gratitude, my love, not only for his kindness in convincing your mother of my suitability, but in having brought us together in the first place. Were it not for his good offices, we may never have met again. I would have continued my work at the museum in London, while you remained here alone," he said, and Catherine, to whom even the contemplation of such a melancholy prospect was anathema, realised that with every day his affection grew more important to her. She smiled and agreed that Jonathan Bingley certainly held a very special place in their hearts.

    "He is one of the best men I have known; I am happy indeed that you and he are good friends already," she said.

Some days later, two letters were received at Pemberley for Mrs Darcy.

    Although they came from different counties, one from Hertfordshire and the other from Kent, Elizabeth found them to be remarkably similar in content.

    She opened first the letter from her dear friend Charlotte Collins, who, having first asked after the health of herself and Mr Darcy, proceeded to break the news that her eldest daughter Catherine, who had been widowed last year, had become engaged to a Mr Frank Burnett.

    Considering that Charlotte had had no knowledge at all of this Mr Burnett and had never before mentioned the prospect of Catherine marrying again, Elizabeth was somewhat surprised at the very matter-of-fact manner in which she had written.

    
I know, my dear Eliza,
she wrote,
that you will share my joy at Catherine's deci
sion to marry again, for she is too young and active to live alone for the rest of her days,
especially now that Lilian is about to leave the nest.