She would not share her news with Mr Collins until a little more time passed; she needed to prepare herself to face without flinching the innocent pleasure, the joyous smiles with which he would certainly respond, the congratulations he would claim from family and friends. And yet the coming child might well be his. His conviction of this would be a punishment she would willingly bear. But never was a punishment also so productive of ecstasy. And as Mrs Brown came in bearing a tray, she found Charlotte laughing and hugging herself.

1820

CHAPTER XXXVII

TOWARDS THE END OF THE winter that followed, a servant arrived with what Charlotte had come to think of as one of Anne de Bourgh’s coded messages: a suggestion that they meet that afternoon in the conservatory, where the first hyacinths from Holland were blooming. She wrote that she believed Mrs Collins would enjoy taking in their fragrance, and that she might also admire the recently acquired granadilla vine and bougainvillea tree, both exotics from the West Indies. If all was agreeable, she would be happy to send the carriage, given the unsettled weather and Charlotte’s condition.

There were a few anxious moments when Mr Collins, as the established horticultural enthusiast of the family, proposed escorting his wife on this occasion, and even bringing the girls along, but fortunately, he remembered Charlotte’s role as Miss de Bourgh’s confidante, and restrained himself, although expressing hope that in future such invitations might extend to him as well.

Charlotte made vaguely promising noises, and reminded her husband that he had an engagement with his sexton that afternoon, and a funeral to conduct the next day. Duty would have to preclude pleasure in his case. The carriage duly arrived, and it was a matter of minutes to transfer her to Rosings, where Anne waited in the scented hothouse, the air warm and damp as a kiss on Charlotte’s skin.

As was her wont, Miss de Bourgh spoke without preamble: ‘Mrs Collins, I am once again about to treat you with great injustice. I have two propositions to make to you. You will soon give birth to another child. And you and I both know that the sex of that child determines a significant portion of your future; whether or not you shall be able to take possession of Longbourn in security of succession; what lies ahead for your daughters – whether they will be able to marry according to inclination or affection, or whether they may be driven, by want, to expediency.