A Jane Austen Advent Calendar: Part Two

A Jane Austen Advent Calendar 

Part Two

There was no sound so Lizzy turned the handle feeling all the while that she really wasn’t very sure if she was doing the right thing. Entering a narrow vestibule where a fire crackled in the hearth of the fireplace another door with a glimpse of the room beyond beckoned her on. She saw a rapid movement, caught sight of a dashing figure, and heard light, running footsteps ascending on creaking wooden boards, as if rising upwards to rooms out of sight. A muffled laugh echoed above, a deliciously bright and happy noise which echoed in the silence, and Lizzy couldn’t help wondering if Jane Austen had made her escape on purpose, if indeed that was whom she’d glanced.

Cautiously stepping into the room she found it empty save for the dining table and chairs, a cupboard and a cabinet on either side of the fireplace, and a small table and writing desk placed before the window. A kettle hissed and steamed in the fireplace, the smell of toast, a pot of honey, and the scatterings of pretty china on the table were the remnants of what appeared to be a breakfast meal. Lizzy was drawn to the writing desk by the sight of several leaves of paper, a bottle of ink and a quill pen, but as she approached she saw that the even handwriting in brown ink was partially hidden by a plain sheet which had been placed on top. She tried not to stare, and though the temptation to nudge the paper slightly to reveal more was great, she knew she could not. However, she was intrigued by the words that caught her eye. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. Lizzy couldn’t see any more than that, and in fact, it seemed this was where the author of the piece had decided to stop writing for the time being.

A movement through the window caught her eye. A figure of a girl trudged through the snow towards the house. Lizzy heard a knock at the door, the sound of welcoming noises, and the door behind her opened to admit two young ladies clearly very pleased to be in one another’s company.

“Charlotte, you came! I did not expect to see you today.” The lively girl who spoke these words took her friend’s hands in an affectionate manner and drew her towards the fire. She was a pretty girl with dark eyes that sparkled under fine arched brows.

Neither of the girls seemed to notice Lizzy who was so surprised that she plumped down on the little chair by the writing table. Even when the chair scraped they didn’t react, but then they were so wrapped up in their conversation, Lizzy assumed they had just not seen her. It was only when she coughed to alert them of her presence that she realized that they couldn’t see her, or perhaps they pretended not to, and by that time she was so intrigued she decided to stay put to watch the scene unfold.

The girl called Charlotte seemed tolerably composed. Not as outwardly attractive as her friend, she had a homely face, and a gentle expression.

“Elizabeth, I have some news to impart, my dear friend. I could not wait to tell you even though I am not certain what you shall think about any of it. No, that is not true. I have a very good idea what you will think about it, but I hope you will be able to reconcile yourself to the idea of such an attachment.”

“An attachment? Charlotte, this is news indeed!”

“And one, however uncertain of bringing happiness is more than I could ask given that I have reached the age of twenty seven, and have very little fortune. I beg you do not disapprove.”

“Charlotte, this is all so sudden. Do not leave me in suspense any longer.”

“He will be my husband however irksome you might find his company, however disagreeable you have proclaimed his society. Elizabeth, I can delay telling you no longer. I am engaged to Mr. Collins.

Lizzy saw the flush rise on Elizabeth’s face, her dark curls trembling with every expression of indignation and surprise.

“Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear, Charlotte, impossible!”

Lizzy saw Charlotte’s face falter momentarily. She bit her lip before raising her eyes to meet those of her friend with a steadiness of purpose.

“Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman’s good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?”

Elizabeth looked as if she realized she’d been too hasty in giving her opinion so candidly. “My dear, Charlotte, I am wholly thankful to think of your relationship, to consider that we will be true cousins when you are united by this marriage. Please believe me when I wish you all imaginable happiness.”

  “I see what you are feeling,” replied Charlotte; “you must be surprised, very much surprised, so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think it all over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.”

“Undoubtedly.”

Lizzy sensed the awkwardness between them, and felt the change in the strained atmosphere, which settled in the room like the cloak of snow smothering the landscape outside. After an awkward pause, the two girls got up and left the room.

“Elizabeth Bennet and Charlotte Collins,” Lizzy mused. “I recognize most of that scene from Pride and Prejudice, and I suppose if I think about it, Charlotte must have become engaged to Mr. Collins at about this time.”

She didn’t quite know what to do next or where she should go. Lizzy had no doubt this was all part of an elaborate entertainment put on by the museum, and she was so glad she’d decided not to go home. The sound of the front door shutting once more had her looking through the window for Charlotte who she reasoned would most likely be going home now she’d imparted the news that must have been so difficult to divulge. If Pride and Prejudice were unfolding before her eyes surely that would happen next.

To her great astonishment Lizzy saw somebody else. He was tall, and broad-shouldered, what Jane Austen would have described as a good-looking gentleman. A more Darcy-like figure Lizzy could not have imagined with his greatcoat flapping around him like the great wings of a solitary bird, smooth breeches delineating a muscular physique, and his dark hair tumbling in curls to his collar. It was only when he glanced towards the window that she cried out in surprise and recognition. Looking quite unlike the man she’d met briefly before, Mr. MacGourtey looked directly into her eyes.  

A Summer scene of me sitting in Jane Austen's garden at Chawton

More coming soon! If you'd like to see a lovely article about Jane Austen's house at Christmas do visit Julie Wakefield's wonderful Austenonly site where you can read all about it, and see a short film which shows you the dining parlour that features in my story.