By Charm or by Choice Read online

  “Elizabeth, it is very interesting that you would say that because actually, once I add any flavoring, the honey WILL spoil, which means the flavored honeys should be sold in the smaller jars. Only plain honey will remain unspoiled. So I keep the honey plain in our larder until I have the order from the mercantile which specifies what flavors are needed. I pick up the jars and flavor the honey right before I deliver the order to the mercantile. And I have kept a ledger of all the orders including the date sold, the flavor, the price and the quantity,” added Charlotte.

  As the conversation of particulars swirled around him, Mr. Collins endeavored to make HIS small contribution.

  “Cousin Elizabeth that is an interesting idea. Charlotte, my dear, would you write to your father and let me know his advice?”

  “Indeed, I shall. I’ll include the ledger and the cost of the jars if we were to procure them ourselves.”

  Following breakfast the trio agreed a tour of the garden and beekeeping area was highly desirable to all parties. Hunsford Parsonage and its garden faced the main road which separated it from the grounds of Rosings Park and the small village of Rosings in Hunsford, which was the recipient of Lady Catherine’s attention and patronage. One could walk directly to Rosings Park by simply crossing the road and using the gate built between the palings. This route took one through the park into many of the formal gardens maintained on the estate. On the side of the Parsonage with the kitchen garden, stood a laurel hedge which hid a thick growth of trees and a small babbling brook. Behind the Parsonage were two sunny meadows where the cows and poultry were kept.

  Elizabeth saw much to admire in the Collinses’ productive kitchen garden. It was in a sunny spot and ran from the road all the way along the side of the Parsonage to the kitchen at the back of the house. In addition to raspberries there were also blueberries and boysenberries. Charlotte identified all of the herbs in the garden and Mr. Collins pointed out the broad assortment of vegetables which were grouped by type. The garden was very pleasant with worn stone pathways and small signs denoting the locations of each type of plant. A quaint fence with palings and a gate encircled the kitchen garden.

  The bee hives were in the front of the Parsonage on the side with the woods, near a stand of trees. They were closer to the road than Elizabeth would have predicted. Mr. Collins explained that the bees preferred afternoon shade and he also wanted to keep them close to the house to observe them most carefully. To Elizabeth the hives appeared like a stack of wooden crates. Each crate had a lid and removable panels which lifted out upwardly. Mr. Collins had a great deal of scientific information which he was eager to share and he spoke quite excitedly. He referred to the crates as supers. He wore long gloves that passed his elbows and a special wide brimmed hat with netting that fell over his shoulders whilst he demonstrated how a hive worked. Elizabeth had never seen so many bees at once. There were three hives and they did not stand together, but rather several feet apart. Each was on a bed of carefully piled stones. Like the kitchen garden, the arrangement of hives and the hives themselves appeared to be carefully designed. Elizabeth thought that even if she could not explain every detail, she would recommend Fitzwilliam write to Mr. Prokopovitsch and perhaps purchase some additional equipment for Pemberley’s beekeeper. The estate would do well with more beeswax for candles. They were far cleaner than tallow.

  Chapter 15

  Lady Catherine did receive Elizabeth for tea when she called upon her Ladyship at Rosings. She had the same appearance and demeanor as before, so Elizabeth did not conclude her health was failing. Lady Catherine gave advice about the handling of all manner of details at Pemberley and Darcy House. She made no inquiries about the health of Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, or the Bennet family. Elizabeth did not see Anne, but inquired after her health. It was a brief and awkward call, but Elizabeth was able to complete it without any mishaps.

  Later in the afternoon, Elizabeth and Charlotte ventured out to walk the manicured grounds of Rosings. As they approached the Parsonage they could see Lady Catherine’s coach out front and Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins were standing in the lane. Something was amiss. Lady Catherine was gesturing animatedly and approaching the bee hives. Mr. Collins appeared to be trying to placate her but Elizabeth and Charlotte could not hear what was being said.

  “Charlotte, we need to help him. Mr. Collins cannot stand up to her alone. And Lady Catherine may calm down if she knows we are near. She doesn’t see us, as of yet.”

  “Oh, Lizzy, she’s been trying to instruct him on the hives for months. And she knows nothing about it! William says her suggestions are dangerous.”

  “Charlotte, hurry as fast as you can, but I am going to run.” And with that, Elizabeth set off.

  She tried calling out to Lady Catherine as she ran, but to no avail. Her Ladyship was screeching loudly and waving her cane. Mr. Collins appeared to have been gardening for he was not wearing his beekeeping costume. When he stepped in front of one of the hives, blocking her way, she turned and struck another of the hives with her cane. Elizabeth watched helplessly as the top crate, or super, was knocked off the stack of supers. A black cloud of bees immediately swarmed out of the super and floated over the remaining stack. Mr. Caldwell sprang from the coach, swept Lady Catherine up in his arms and carried her into the Parsonage whilst she screamed, waved, and kicked wildly. Mr. Collins stooped to pick up the super from the ground and replace it on the stack whilst pushing the panels back in. His exposed arm was quickly covered in bees. He positioned the super in place and then staggered a few steps back before he fell and Elizabeth reached him. She approached him carefully, pulling off her shawl. Bees were flying everywhere and she felt a few stings. She laid her shawl on top of Mr. Collins except not upon his bee covered arm. She raced to the garden, praying the watering can was full. She spied the watering can momentarily and it was full! She lugged the can back to the prostrate Mr. Collins and dumped its entire contents through the opening at the top onto Mr. Collins’s arm. The bees were drenched and floated off of Mr. Collins arm just as Charlotte arrived sobbing. Charlotte immediately knelt before her prostrate husband and examined his arm. She removed one of his gardening gloves and began frantically brushing the stingers off of Mr. Collins’ arm. She unbuttoned his shirt and pushed up his sleeve as high as it would go looking for more stingers.

  “Lizzy, the icehouse, it’s the only way!”

  Mr. Collins appeared to be dazed and he was visibly swelling. They dragged him into Lady Catherine’s chaise-and-four, Charlotte remained with him in the chaise, and Elizabeth assumed the reins. Georgiana’s lessons driving the phaeton were going to be quite useful. They arrived at Rosings within a few minutes. Elizabeth rushed to the front entrance.

  “You there, I need at least three footmen! Mr. Collins has been badly stung by bees and needs to go to the icehouse! He is in the chaise-and-four with Mrs. Collins,” she could hardly breathe.

  “Yes, Mrs. Darcy. Right away, but Mrs. Darcy, the icehouse is kept locked by her Ladyship. No one has access to the key.”

  “Never you mind that. Get the footmen and move Mr. Collins there now! I’ll address the locked door.”

  Elizabeth had no trouble finding the butler and when she told him she needed a pistol to open the icehouse door or Mr. Collins was going to die, he turned white as a ghost.

  “You don’t need to do anything, just show me the pistol. I’ll take it and fire it. It will be my doing, my responsibility. We must move quickly!”

  The butler showed her where a pistol was kept and they confirmed it was loaded. Elizabeth proceeded directly to the icehouse where the others waited.

  As she approached she heard one of the footman say, “Oh Lord!”

  The party was assembled at the front door of the icehouse. Elizabeth looked at Mr. Collins. Charlotte had removed his other glove, untucked his shirt, and removed his belt and boots, anything that could constrict. He looked terribly swollen on his arm and his face and his breathing was quite labored. Elizabeth took
a breath steadied her aim at the lock on the door and fired the pistol. The footmen were able to remove the lock and pull the door open with some effort and then immediately carried Mr. Collins inside. He was placed near the bulk of the ice and footmen started using the pickaxes to make smaller chunks of ice which were positioned around Mr. Collins and directly on his arm. The icehouse was damp and smelly and in a state of neglect. The drain seemed to be clogged, but everybody focused on Mr. Collins. Charlotte took it upon herself to hold smaller pieces of ice in place on Mr. Collins throat and around his mouth and nose.

  “He told me the biggest risks are suffocation from swelling or your heart simply stops. Ice is the most important treatment and must be applied immediately. It is unclear if leeches help dilute the venom. Lady Catherine used to argue with him about what was proper treatment for multiple bee stings.”

  Elizabeth instructed one of the footmen to go for the doctor with a full explanation of the situation and to ask for assistance with bleeding Mr. Collins or any other remedies the doctor thought useful.

  After some time, the butler appeared looking like he needed a brandy.

  “Lady Catherine is back. She has heard about the icehouse door and has called for the justice of the peace. She says you should be charged with theft of her chaise-and-four and destruction of property, Mrs. Darcy. Miss de Bourgh is asking how Mr. Collins is doing. She wonders if it might be better to move the ice and Mr. Collins to the tub in her bathing chamber. She thought the melting ice could also be beneficial as a cold water bath. And she suggested we add several cups of salt. She said it would slow the melting of the ice. She did not consult her mother on this.”

  Elizabeth looked at Charlotte and asked her if she was calm enough to deal with Miss de Bourgh and moving Mr. Collins and the ice. Charlotte believed that she was.

  “I’m going to deal with Lady Catherine then.” Elizabeth quitted the group and proceeded inside. She first checked with the butler to see if Lady Catherine had asked for the doctor or apothecary to be summoned. She had not. Elizabeth then went to Rosings’ drawing-room. The footman wanted to announce her, but she dissuaded him, telling him it was better if he remove himself from the confrontation about to take place. He thanked her and quickly retreated.

  Elizabeth entered and found Lady Catherine alone upon her favorite chair which more accurately could be described as a throne.

  “Lady Catherine, I must have a word.”

  “You insolent girl! How DARE you conduct yourself in this fashion in MY home! You ignorant hoyden—”

  “You will be SILENT! I have no interest in hearing you. Your parson, my cousin, may die today. And if he does, it will be by your hand! You have a choice before you. I have returned your chaise-and-four and I will pay to replace your rusted lock and your rotten door. You can either make criminal charges against me to the justice of the peace or you can tell him that it was a terrible accident whereby you yourself were also attacked by bees and by mutual agreement heroically went for the doctor in order to bleed Mr. Collins of the venom in his body whilst we took him to the icehouse. That choice is up to you. Either way I know what I will say. But if I hear of you filing charges against me, firing your servants, or punishing the Collinses in any manner; the justice of the peace and all of London society will hear about your dangerous and callous actions today. Mrs. Collins, your driver Mr. Caldwell, and I all saw you hit the bee hive with your cane. You did not allow Mr. Caldwell to go back out and assist Mr. Collins. I have checked with your staff, you have not sought any medical assistance for Mr. Collins. If I must, I will share this with the world, starting with your brother. Do you understand me?”

  Lady Catherine said nothing and Elizabeth quitted the room, proceeding directly to Miss de Bourgh’s bathing chamber. Mr. Collins looked positively dreadful, but was still breathing. The ice was slowly melting around him and turning into a cold water bath, just as Miss de Bourgh had predicted. More ice and salt were added as needed. Eventually buckets of water were removed from the tub. It worked well. The doctor did arrive and demurred at the idea of bleeding Mr. Collins. He thought it would be too much stress on Mr. Collins and he agreed that removing the stingers and the ice bath was the best treatment. Mr. Collins regained consciousness later that evening much to the relief of the five people sitting on the floor around the tub. He looked so horrified upon learning that he was in Miss de Bourgh’s bathing tub that everybody, including Miss de Bourgh, had a good laugh.

  Lady Catherine did not press charges against Elizabeth or fire any of her servants. Elizabeth did wonder if indeed her health was declining as Charlotte feared. It was not like her to permit someone else to get their way. Mr. Collins’s swelling was reduced and he was able to be moved back to the Parsonage a few days later. Elizabeth arranged for a tradesman to replace the door and the lock on the icehouse and send her the bill at Pemberley.

  Elizabeth returned to Darcy House to be reunited with Fitzwilliam and Georgiana. They were full of tales of callers, the shops, the theatre, and news of the Uncle and Aunt Fitzwilliam. Expecting her to have spent a relaxing five days in Kent, they were absolutely incredulous at her story of adventure. Fitzwilliam was concerned that she had been stung and not had a doctor see her. So a doctor was summoned although Elizabeth was only able to find four bee stings on her person. The stingers had long since fallen away. Fitzwilliam and Georgiana were both surprised to hear of Miss Anne de Bourgh’s actions in the whole affair. It spoke well of her that she was able to think clearly and take action on her own and might eventually be able to stand up to her mother. Perhaps she actually liked Mr. Collins!

  “How did she know to add salt?” Fitzwilliam asked.

  “Apparently it’s how you make ice cream!”

  They soon learned that the story circulating around London was that Lady Catherine had risked her life to help her parson and had suggested both his treatments of ice and leeches, thus saving his life. This convinced Elizabeth that Mr. and Mrs. Collins were safe from Lady Catherine’s ire. This was more than enough excitement for one short trip to London and the Darcys and Mrs. Annesley eagerly anticipated their return trip to Pemberley. The weather had turned rainy and cold thus making their travel slower.

  Chapter 16

  On their way north, as previously planned, they stopped in Hertfordshire to see the Bennet family. Elizabeth was eager to see how her sisters were getting on with their new studies. And she wanted to make sure they were not being unduly pressured to marry. Her family was overjoyed at the surprise visit and the opportunity to see her, Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, and Mrs. Annesley. The Pemberley party was induced to stay for dinner and because of their slow travel, they also agreed to take lodgings at Longbourn for the evening. They were not however able to dissuade Mrs. Bennet from inviting three other families to join their dinner party. The invitations were soon dispatched. Mrs. Bennet remarked it was a lucky thing that she had been able to get fish that day whilst in Meryton, as she aspired to maintain her reputation for superior housekeeping. Whilst Mrs. Bennet superintended the planning of the last minute additions to her guest list, Elizabeth sought to visit with her other relations. Not wanting to miss out on the conversation however, Mrs. Bennet made repeated detours from the kitchen to hear the conversation and to ask what had hitherto been said. Mr. Bennet and Fitzwilliam had quietly retired to the library.

  There was much talk of the goings on in Meryton and Mary updated them on some changes at the Meryton Church. Mary showed Elizabeth her new silver hair combs, which she had saved quite some time for and the new sheet music she had recently purchased. Georgiana thought her music selections were very good. Kitty had new coloured pencils and parchment paper, as well as some new ribbons to remake an older bonnet. Elizabeth deduced her father’s new arrangement was working and the girls were able to keep their pin-money. Mary was wearing one of her new gowns that had been purchased in Lambton, a pretty lavender day dress, and was still using what she had learned at Pemberley in her toilette. She looked quite becomi
ng. She showed Elizabeth her reading list and her progress in completing her assignments. They conversed on several of the books and Elizabeth found her opinions well-formed without having an air of superiority about them. Regardless of the accuracy of her expressed opinions, Mary’s demeanor was MUCH improved. She explained that her instructor had shared with her his philosophy that the more he learned the more he realized how little he understood. He taught that proficiency and superiority were not the same. This from a philosophical monk! How such lessons were able to take root within the same house where her mother’s foolishness resided, Elizabeth knew not. Elizabeth was not surprised it had taken a monk to bring about such change, as she considered Mr. Hendrickson a miracle worker! But she was grateful for the improvement in Mary’s manner and that she could now enter a ball-room without embarrassing herself. Kitty took much pleasure in showing Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Mrs. Annesley many of her completed drawings. She included some of her first attempts as well as others that were more recent so they could see her progression. Even Mrs. Bennet considered them quite promising although she scolded her daughter for continually having pencil markings visible on her hands. This acquitted Mr. Bennet of any possible charges of having exaggerated his daughters’ aptitude or improvement. For from her own certain knowledge, Elizabeth could see Mary’s progress and could ascertain that Kitty had a talent and that it was being nurtured with proper instruction and practise. Several of her drawings were soon dispatched into the library that Fitzwilliam may also be able to see her progress. He commended her on her efforts which greatly pleased Kitty.