Compromise: An Elizabeth and Darcy Comedy by Elaine Burkett

Author:Elaine Burkett [Burkett, Elaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2023-09-16T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

The day after the two oldest Bennet sisters returned home, Mr. Bennet informed the family that he was expecting a guest that afternoon.

“But, my dear Mr. Bennet,” responded Mrs. Bennet. “I can’t imagine who might be calling except perhaps Charlotte Lucas, and I’m sure my normal housekeeping is good enough for her.”

With only the barest hint of a twinkle in his eye to indicate that he was teasing, Mr. Bennet replied, “It is a gentleman whom I have never met. While your everyday housekeeping is excellent, you may wish to make preparations for his arrival, nonetheless, for I expect he will be staying for almost a fortnight.”

While the younger Misses Bennet peppered their father with questions about who it could possibly be, with no response but a sardonic grin from him, Mrs. Bennet gave her husband a peculiar look. Once there was a gap in the chatter, she said, “Who could possibly be so rude as to not tell me ahead of time of a two-week visit?”

Mr. Bennet looked abashed. Elizabeth realized that this question from Mrs. Bennet could be meant for either the last-minute guest they were expecting or Mr. Bennet if he had known about it and not said anything before.

Elizabeth was quite impressed with her mother. She had been the primary butt of Mr. Bennet’s teasing sense of humor for as long as Elizabeth could remember, and Elizabeth could recall only two other times when Mrs. Bennet had successfully retaliated. Elizabeth silently applauded, with her hands under the table, her mother’s deft correction of her father’s rudeness in not giving advanced notice.

After a pause Mr. Bennet responded. “Do you recall my cousin, Mr. Collins, who I never quite got along with?”

Mrs. Bennet nodded. She looked rather concerned that he might be the impending guest, but she said nothing.

Mr. Bennet continued. “Old Mr. Collins passed away a little more than a year ago. His son is now the heir of Longbourn as well as a rector in Kent. Young William Collins wrote to me a month ago offering, as he termed it, an olive branch to heal the breach within our family. Toward that end, he wished to visit us. I did not really desire to carry my resentment toward the father over to the son, so I wrote back a couple of weeks later stating that he was welcome to visit.”

Elizabeth was sure her father had meant it to be a joke that he had delayed writing back for two weeks as well as delaying informing the family for an additional two weeks. Well, it was either a joke, or he was forgetful. It was clear, however, that her mother did not appreciate the joke.

Mrs. Bennet said, “If I understand you rightly, young Mr. Collins, the heir to Longbourn, will be here this afternoon expecting to stay a fortnight.”

“He plans to be here until next Saturday. He said in his letter that his patroness does not like the idea of him being away for more than one Sunday.

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