Chapter Text
Elizabeth had been in Hunsford for a week now, Sir William had gone home and the household had settled back into its normal routines. Happily, this did not increase how often they encountered Mr Collins, since he spent much of his time tending his garden and his bees or in his book room at the front of the house, watching out for passing carriages and Miss de Bourgh in her phaeton. Miss de Bourgh would sometimes stop for a brief conversation on the road but would not come in, although Elizabeth once thought she saw her looking longingly at the Parsonage, as if she wished she had the courage to join the ladies. She did join Lady Catherine on one visit but said nothing, while Lady Catherine spent the visit looking minutely into every aspect of Charlotte’s housekeeping in order to find fault.
Charlotte and Mr Collins walked to Rosings most days, leaving Elizabeth and Maria to their own employments. Elizabeth found enjoyment in long solitary walks in Rosings Park. Lady Catherine had condescended to allow Elizabeth the use of the park, as the only safe place in the neighbourhood for a young lady to walk by herself, unattended by servants. Lady Catherine was excessively attentive to the safety and propriety of young ladies.
On days she did not go to Rosings Charlotte usually walked into Hunsford on errands and visiting parishioners. Unlike the Rosings visits, Elizabeth or Maria would accompany her on these excursions. On their way into town Elizabeth noticed that everyone seemed to know Charlotte. She was greeted cheerfully, and somewhat deferentially, by young and old. At this house she contributed some eggs from her hens and some vegetables from Mr Collins’ garden. At that house she changed the bandages for an elderly man who had once been a servant at Rosings. At another she sat quietly with a woman whose baby had died of a fever. Everywhere she went Charlotte brought comfort and relief.
At her visit to Rosings, Elizabeth had listened to Mr Collins sharing the minutest concerns from his parishioners and these had been met with Lady Catherine’s eager attention, followed by her judgment and instructions, which she duly delivered to the unwitting cottagers. Elizabeth could easily understand why the local folk would prefer to talk to the sensible and compassionate Mrs Collins, who would provide practical assistance rather than scold them into harmony and plenty.
Elizabeth and Charlotte approached a small cottage and Charlotte explained that the family was seeking assistance in placing their oldest daughter into service. They had seven children already with another due in May. The father, George Porter, was a groom at the inn in Hunsford. Having seen how the serving maids at the inn were treated he was determined that his daughter would work in a private home rather than be exposed to the rough behaviour he often witnessed. Elizabeth understood the desire to find a good position for his daughter but was puzzled how Charlotte could help.
“What is your role in this Charlotte?”
“I have been making enquiries about possible positions. Lady Catherine does not need any additional servants so I have written to some of the rectors’ wives in the diocese. There were several offers for scullery maids but I thought that with her experience of helping care for her brothers and sisters that Mary was more suited to being a nursery maid. Mrs Bertram in Sevenoaks has said that the family at the Red House want a nursery maid. The father is a solicitor and owns considerable property. It is a respectable family but not too high to accept an untrained country girl.”
A girl of 12 answered their knock and led them to her mother. They entered through a dark passage and found themselves in a tidy but cramped room. She looked around at the simple furniture and bare walls, her eyes straining somewhat in the dimly lit chamber. Her ears were assaulted by the noise of so many children in so small a space.
“Oh Mrs Collins! It is so kind of you to help my poor Mary!”
Charlotte smiled broadly and introduced Mrs Porter to her dear friend Miss Bennett. Mrs Porter curtseyed, the apron unable to disguise her impending confinement. The girl who had greeted them started to shepherd out the children who were old enough to walk, carrying the youngest on her hip. The reduced noise when the children had gone was a blessed relief to Elizabeth.
“Is that Mary?” enquired Elizabeth. “She seems to be a great help to you.”
“Oh yes, that she is. I do not know how I shall cope without her but we do not have room for one more. Dear Mrs Collins have you been able to find anything for my poor Mary?”
Charlotte beamed as she conveyed the good news.
“I have written a reference for Mary, telling of her experience caring for children and attesting to her good character. Mr Austen will pay £8 per annum, in addition to room and board. He is very generous and will let Mary have one Sunday per month to come home. The house is only six miles away so she will be able to walk. Their last nursery maid left two weeks ago and they are eager for Mary to start.”
“Oh Mrs Collins! You are a wonder! I thank you with all my heart. It was a lucky day for folk in Hunsford when Mr Collins chose you for his bride.”
Elizabeth felt awkward at this statement and tried to keep her countenance but Charlotte just looked happy with the praise and accepted it with a slight inclination of her head. While Charlotte talked with Mrs Porter about the contract and what Mary would need and how she could accomplish her journey to The Red House, Elizabeth reflected on how different her life was to Mary’s. At not quite twenty and one Elizabeth was not even allowed to walk in town by herself but at only twelve it was thought nothing for Mary to walk the two hours between Sevenoaks and home.
Before long it was fixed that Mary would leave the following week. Her father would walk with her and sign the contract. Mrs Porter called to Mary to tell her the news.
“Mary, you must thank Mrs Collins because she has found a place for you! You are to be a nursery maid in Sevenoaks.”
Mary looked startled at this announcement. It was obvious that this was a surprise to her and not a pleasant one. Worry showed in her small face.
“But Mama, I can’t go. You’ll need me when the baby comes. I can’t go and live somewhere else.”
“Of course you can! Louisa has just turned ten so she can help me with the new baby and the little ones. You won’t be that far away and will be able to come home for a visit once per month.”
Mary’s desperate eyes turned to Mrs Collins, looking for a saviour. Charlotte spoke kindly to the girl and explained all the advantages of the post. She would have her own bed that she did not have to share. She would have good food prepared for her and would probably have fewer charges to mind and duties to fulfil than she had at home. Mary blinked back her tears and started to look hopeful.
Elizabeth thought about how terrifying it would be to leave your family and the only home you have known at twelve years old to go to work for strangers in another town. She was impressed with Charlotte’s ability to not only calm the girl down but to make her anticipate her new life.
As they continued with their rounds, Elizabeth studied Charlotte carefully and realised how much she had changed. She had not noticed before but Mrs Collins had an air of confidence and a presence that Charlotte Lucas had lacked. After seeing how she had helped so many people just in one morning Elizabeth felt that the confidence was fully justified and regarded her friend with a new respect and told her so.
“Thank you Eliza. I am quite satisfied with my new role. I know you were disappointed with me when I accepted Mr Collins but I am not like you. I have never wanted to marry, my heart has never fluttered in response to a handsome face, but neither did I want to be a spinster. Charlotte, the eternal burden, housed by my brothers with resentment and regarded with pity. Mr Collins is not a sensible man but he is a clergyman and that meant that I would be a clergyman’s wife. It is not an official job with a stipend but it is still an important role. As the rector’s wife I have access to all levels of society in the neighbourhood; my aid and advice are sought by many. I am able to help so many people myself and am able to intercede with Lady Catherine when greater assistance is needed. My life has purpose and I am respected; yes, I am very well content.”
Their final errand was to pick up the post. Elizabeth was thrilled to find not only a letter from Jane but also a package from her father. The letter she wanted to savour later in her room but she was too excited to wait to open the package. Inside she found a note from her father just saying he missed her and he thought she would enjoy reading this new book. She examined the book eagerly; it was Sense & Sensibility, the first novel by a lady author, Jane Austen.