Free Charlotte Collins: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Jennifer Becton

navigate without one's sister sticking her oar in. I feel that it is best to let young people work things out for themselves, do you not agree, Mrs. Card?"
    Mrs. Card dragged her onward down the path. "I certainly do. It is ever so frustrating to watch people manipulating their relations, especially for monetary gain. I am only concerned with my son's happiness, but obviously he has the potential to make a desirable match among his own class."
    "Maria is the daughter of a gentleman and certainly of Mr. Card's class!"
    "Yes, but has she any money? Any dowry?"
    Anger blossomed within her, but she responded with politeness. "Then why do you support the match?"
    Charlotte knew very well why Mrs. Card was pushing Maria and Mr. Card together. She wanted a daughter-in-law who could be easily managed. And Maria, bless her, had more hair than wit.
    "I have my reasons, and I may as well tell you that upon only the slightest provocation, Jonas will make an offer to your sister."
    Charlotte's mouth dropped open and then snapped quickly shut.
    "I can see that you are surprised, but I do not see why. Anyone may see Jonas's admiration."
    "Mrs. Card--"
    "Pray do not make yourself uneasy. As you said just moments ago, it is best to let young people work these things out for themselves. We shall just sit back and watch." Mrs. Card patted her hand reassuringly and then released her hold. "But I must say that I am quite disappointed in you, Mrs. Collins."
    Charlotte continued walking calmly, but she imagined issuing any number of set-downs to the rag-mannered harridan.
    "After our conversation on the day of that dreadful storm, I assumed you would have nudged Maria in my Jonas's direction."
    There was very little to be said in response that was both truthful and polite. "I will encourage my sister to marry as she wishes, and she wishes to marry for love. She has spoken of no such feelings for any gentleman."
    Mrs. Card's ears and nose turned an unflattering shade of red, and she crossed her arms in front of her. "You must see what an advantageous match this would be for her, and indeed yourself as well. I never took you for a fool."
    The old cow was certainly in fine form. Charlotte took a deep, steadying breath. "I was once of your opinion, Mrs. Card. In fact, I was even more determined, for I believed in marriage primarily for the purpose of improving one's circumstances."
    "And well you should have thought as much. It is a wise opinion for a woman to hold."
    "I once agreed, but I have come to see the value of allowing love to color one's matrimonial decisions. If happiness in marriage is indeed a possibility, I am certain that it can only result from love."
    "There is no such thing as a happy marriage."
    Charlotte glanced over Mrs. Card's shoulder, willing some sort of interruption to occur. The appearance of Mr. Card and Maria. A carriage pulling into the drive. A regiment of soldiers marching through Crumbleigh on their way to battle. Any excuse to defer this conversation would suit Charlotte very well.
    When none of those eventualities occurred, she unclenched her jaw. "I must disagree, for I have seen the evidence of them. I will encourage my sister to follow her heart. If her heart leads her to Mr. Card, then so be it."
    Mrs. Card huffed, seeming suddenly to expand to twice her size and then deflating just as quickly. "Jonas is not the sort of man with whom women fall in love easily. He is the sort whom one comes to love over time."
    Charlotte had nothing to say in response, and the two ladies walked in uneasy silence for some distance. The silence had the advantage of relieving Charlotte of both Mrs. Card's dreadful conversation and her tour of garden improvements, but it could not persist much longer. Charlotte selected a safer topic. "Have you heard that the Americans have gone to France?"
    Not seeming to notice the lack of a segue, Mrs. Card's face lit. "Indeed I have."
    "I understand that Mr. Westfield's mother encouraged it as part