Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth: What Time Has Done: a Pride and Prejudice Variation Romance by Alyssa Jefferson

Author:Alyssa Jefferson [Jefferson, Alyssa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Sequels, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Read
Goodreads: 38125216
Published: 2018-02-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

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The Collins household was in turmoil, and Elizabeth was caught directly in the middle of it. As governess, she was responsible for ensuring the girls were not exposed to the continual conflicts between their parents; and as Charlotte’s friend, Elizabeth was often called on to listen to her friend’s vague and uninformative complaints about her husband’s behavior. Charlotte was openly complaining now, which was a new habit that had never characterized her marriage before. She did not understand why her husband did not trust her. She did not know what she had ever done to deserve him refusing to listen to her now. She knew they did not really love each other in a romantic way, but they had always respected each other. In her eyes, Mr. Collins was the one who broke faith between them by failing to respect her now.

Mr. Collins, Elizabeth could only imagine, had somehow begun to suspect Charlotte and Colonel Fitzwilliam of having an affair. Elizabeth could not even begin to fathom what could have happened to cause such an idea to enter his head, but his angry behavior now all but confirmed that this was what he suspected. In contrast to his icy behavior toward his wife, Mr. Collins had begun to extend rather sugary sweetness to Elizabeth, which she was always quick to rebuff—for what would she do if Mr. Collins began to think of avenging himself on his wife by attempting to begin an affair with her friend? She certainly couldn’t keep working for the family if that happened; all would be ruined. So she avoided him as much as she could, and when the children were with her, she avoided both their father and mother.

Elizabeth was assisted in her efforts of removing herself from the house by Mrs. Jenkinson. Unexpectedly, a visit from Miss de Bourgh and Mrs. Jenkinson the very day after the visit from the gentlemen had resulted in an invitation from the latter. She noticed that Elizabeth used a little table instead of a real piano and insisted that Elizabeth come to her room at the great house and play the pianoforte there—both with Maria, and by herself when she had the time.

“You mustn’t neglect your playing for eight full weeks!” she said. “I insist you come to play in my room. You will both be welcome—all be welcome—at any time, for I rise very early and go to bed quite late. Any time you would like to play, I would be honored if you would come to me.”

Mrs. Jenkinson was a former governess and a lifelong friend of Miss de Bourgh. Elizabeth was surprised, but not displeased, to be suddenly offered this olive branch of friendship from her. This would be the first friend Elizabeth had ever had in the same class as herself since becoming a governess—for the household staff were all of the servant class, and she was much further from fitting in with them than she was from fitting in with the Collins family.

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