The delights of the quaint bridge and the satisfaction of a vigorous walk were nearly lost on Miss Kelly as their steps turned back to the house. She was despondently contemplating a change in her line of questioning when Mrs. Collins offered a topic more in line with her own intent.
"You look more like your mama, I suspect."
Nearly stumbling from surprise, Miss Kelly took a step to recover before answering.
"Her image. I wish it was not so, though a female version of Papa would be hideous."
The chuckle from Mrs. Collins was enough of a reward to absolve her for speaking ill against her father, but upon realizing that her answer was enough to silence Mrs. Collins on the subject, she continued.
"I have to believe that true beauty lies more within a person than without."
Mrs. Collins took several moments to consider the statement.
"Outward beauty certainly has its uses," she said reasonably. "Initial attraction, for one, is based solely upon the outward appearance. However, I have to agree that outward beauty fades exponentially in the eyes of the beholder if the actions of the beheld are not deserving of admiration."
Mrs. Collins, assuming her thoughts aligned with the young beauty's, was startled when she turned the find the young lady obviously flustered.
"Miss Kelly," she said soothingly, briefly touching her companion's sleeve. "Whatever is the matter?"
"I am not like her," she said resolutely, staring ahead. "I will never be like her."
"Only you can decide who you will be," agreed Mrs. Collins.
"Papa is afraid… Any time my expression mimics one of hers or I do something she might have done, he withdraws. I can feel it. As if his worst nightmares are coming true before his waking eyes."
"My dear!" adjured Mrs. Collins, taking the young lady's hands and squeezing them reassuringly. "It is frustrating when the prejudice of others contradicts your convictions, but you must hold firm in what you know to be true. Is your father's good opinion worth having?"
"Yes!" whispered Miss Kelly.
"Then you must persevere, in spite of any suspicions or accusations. Only your good character and consistency can win his approval."
After a pause, they continued on their way.
"Have you any children?"
"I have not," Mrs. Collins replied.
"It is a matter of wonder to me," Miss Kelly began, "why women who are abundantly wise and helpful are invariably spinsters or childless while women who are abundantly foolish and selfish are able to procreate."
Mrs. Collins smiled ruefully. "You forget a pivotal factor in your equation," she began, pausing for effect. "Men."
Chapter 2
Mrs. Collins watched Miss Kelly mounting the steps to the second floor, assuming her intention being to change before tea. The process was not nearly as elaborate for the widow, and, envisioning a period of leisure, she inquired of Stevens the direction of the library. He was happy to oblige her with a personal escort, being assured from past experiences of enjoying the surprise and wonder the first glimpse of the room afforded. Though Mrs. Collins was by no means sentimental, she did credit to the room, and Stevens left her with no disappointment in her reaction.
The library was wonderful, indeed, boasting a ceiling two stories high, filled to the brim with row upon row of books. Multiple ladders were in place that rolled along rails on the uppermost shelves, rendering every book and cranny accessible to the avid reader. Mrs. Collins, not intending to make the seizure of a book the effort of an entire afternoon, felt a bit overwhelmed at the sight of so many options.
Charlotte soon discovered that she was not alone, however, and that knowledge added still more discomfort as the pressure to choose quickly weighed upon her. She swallowed hard, wondering if her wisest course would be to abandon the scheme immediately or to pretend to peruse a few spines before making good her escape.
"Your first visit to the library, I presume?" Spoke a deep voice from a few paces away. Mrs. Collins blinked in dismay to find the other occupant suddenly so near and before she had determined upon her course.
"I shall from henceforward call my own library a mere bookroom," she answered faintly.
A chuckle escaped him. "It is certainly overwhelming, when all one seeks is the smallest dribble for temporary entertainment."
Mrs. Collins allowed her eyes to meet Mr. Kelly's.
"Where does 'one seeking dribble' begin in this sanctuary of likely epic and iconic prose?"
Mr. Kelly grinned indulgently before whispering conspiratorially, "I believe the women have established their own worthy section in the rows surrounding the bay window behind the divan."
Briefly allowing her eyes to drift to that hopeful beginning point, Mrs. Collins could not help but arch one brow.
"It was Mr. Darcy who compelled me to begin there," Mr. Kelly continued, "stating that the women of Pemberley often seemed to boast a more discerning eye for lasting literature."
"You mean to correct your implication that women, the harbingers of dribble, are not men's intellectual equals?"
"I meant to correct your inference," he retaliated. "The women have gained, for their use, the best plot of land in the expansive territory that is known hereabouts as The Library. See the comfortable lounging chair that allows for any number of reading positions, the tall windows that bring in natural light, and the lower shelves that allow for easy perusal of titles."
Knowing not what goaded her, for she surely found no fault with his declarations, Mrs. Collins persisted.
"Yes, let us consider," she said haughtily. "Only compare the serious desk of study afforded to the men's side, for the books of men are determined by practicality and require a sense of purpose and determination to conquer. The natural light, of course, must be sacrificed to the women's side, for the damage to the bindings could be of no great loss to the literary world at large. Finally, the lower shelves - an accommodation that ensures the clumsy hands of children will cause no lamentable destruction. In addition, the male population is spared the humiliation of bending down."
As Mrs. Collins concluded her soliloquy, she frowned a bit. Silently berating herself for such an indecorous display, she sought to correct her blunder.
"My brothers have assured me that, had I not been a mere female, I would have made wondrous work of the Law."
"Unlike your brothers," Mr. Kelly said quietly but with a firmness that held the attention, "I meant no slight upon women." He bowed, but her hand upon his sleeve stayed his departure.
"I have no idea what came over me," Mrs. Collins said simply. "It is not my nature to take offense or to become hostile." Removing her hand abruptly, she stepped back. "Please excuse me," she managed before fleeing the room. She avoided Stevens on her way to the grand staircase, continuing up to her chambers in record time where Molly was waiting.
"I have set out the brown wool gauze," said Molly, "but I can withdraw another if you prefer."
Mrs. Collins sat numbly at her vanity.
"Shall I tidy your hair first?" Molly offered hopefully. "I have practiced on a few of the maids and am considered to be proficient in the current modes."
"Do what you will," Mrs. Collins replied blankly. The lady sat on the bench facing away from the looking glass.
Soon enough, Molly was satisfied and coaxed her charge to stand for her change of dress. Upon arriving at the Parlor for tea, Mrs. Collins was at a loss to recall how she had come to be there at all.
"Charlotte!" Mrs. Darcy greeted happily, drawing her friend further into the room. "We have just a few moments to converse until the others arrive. How was your walk?"
"My walk?" Mrs. Collins repeated, willing the fog to clear from her mind.