It was three hours to midnight, Mary was making her way down the landing to her bedroom, reliving every successful moment of her innovative plan, when she heard the voices of Mr and Mrs Collins, coming up the stairs behind her.
When Mary got behind her door, she left it open enough for one eye's view of the landing and prayed the door's detesting hinges went unheard. Then the following moments she witnessed did well to vexate her, stamping upon her glee.
For Mrs Collins thought it was the right time to kiss her husband before they entered their bedroom, who acceded in nonplussed delight.
It did not look natural on Charlotte's countenance, who had never the predilection for romance, however she did her best to be sweet. And that is what had Mary sour with irritation, unable to fall asleep as quickly as usual, seething subtly.
Her triumph slowly deflating, Mary thought of her deliberate tumble into the Collins's deep, murky pond unsatisfied, though it played out how she intended, none of it seemed as sensational or as exciting as she'd found it a few minutes ago.
Though she did relive her innocent acting with a victorious snigger as it came back to her memory in detail, she fell asleep feeling a sort of anti-climax.
As her thoughts reflected on the way her ankle took an unsuspecting twist at the pond's egde on their evening walk, then her stunt-like tumble through a muddy gap in the rocks as she gave a distressed yelp. Thorns snagging at her dress, shrubs stratching at her face as she made a final splash into the green water.
She remembered the turbid darkness stinging her eyes, the heavy feeling of her dress soaked through to her petticoat weighing her down to the stoney bed, but it was all worth the heroic scene of Mr Collins rushing over to the waters edge and lifting her out with Sir Lucas.
Mary had never seen herself as attention-seeking in the past, though her conscience whispered the similarity of her actions to the ones of her sister, Lydia.
But when she thought of the fountains of water leaving her dress as she clutched to Mr Collins's arms, and his responsible concentration when lifting her out of the pond, she had no regrets, except perhaps Sir Lucas's greater competence at actually rescuing Mary from behind, lifting her from the torso. But that didn't matter.
...
Down the hall, Charlotte sat up in bed, tending to a last piece of embroidery as Mr Collins fell fast asleep by her side.
She was also reliving the "accident" at the pond from earlier. She couldn't help seeing Mary cry out for help with an intentional display, as the family ran towards her.
Charlotte Collins had a sharp eye, however she didn't ever let this conclude a thought without being certain of an individual's motive.
But now she was sure, she just hoped the kiss was enough to help Mary recollect the fact that her infatuation was married.
From the way Mary Bennet shut her door right afterwards, Mrs Collins was sure she had seen.
YOU ARE READING
A Letter From Mr Collins
Fanfiction- A Pride & Prejudice Fanfiction - "Do I have any letters?" asked Elizabeth Bennett a few mornings after her engagement with The Mr Darcy of Pemberley, at breakfast. "One from Cousin William Collins, Miss." says Hill.
