Three
That night was even worse than the previous one; restless and burdened with self-reproach and guilt, Elizabeth barely slept at all. Adding to her torment, it had rained for the rest of the day, with no opportunity for activities out of doors. Mr. Collins went to Rosings, despite the rain, but returned quickly.
Elizabeth had planned to stay in Kent for another fortnight. She had exchanged two letters with Jane so far, but in neither of them had she mentioned Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Gardiner’s letters revealed that Jane’s spirits had not improved at all, which upset Elizabeth and increased her anger towards all those who had caused it.
After her discussion with Mr. Darcy, when she had found out how she had been fooled by Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth thought more of Mr. Darcy from all perspectives. The most important aspect was the suspicion that he had caused Mr. Bingley to leave Netherfield.
Mr. Darcy might have intervened, together with the Bingley sisters; it was more likely that he had than he had not. However, if Mr. Bingley’s affection for Jane had been sincere and strong, how could he have allowed himself to be so easily persuaded not to return? Did he not possess enough will? Or strength? Or perhaps no real interest in the woman he pretended to admire?
It was like she had not wanted to marry Mr. Collins but had done so in any case because her mother forced her. How could this be an excuse for a man who was the master of his own life? Could his affection be shallow? Could he be a shallow man or just a weak one? If any of those possibilities were the case, did Jane really need such a man?
When the second day came with more pouring rain, Elizabeth felt low in spirits. The day passed slowly, with annoying conversations in which Mr. Collins participated more than Elizabeth could bear.
In the afternoon, the rain did not stop, but the sun came to the Parsonage in the form of a note from Lady Catherine, inviting them all to dine at Rosings. Mr. Collins was so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude that he needed a few moments to remember to breathe again. Charlotte smiled as a supportive wife should, while Elizabeth struggled not to roll her eyes in vexation.
When Charlotte wrote back to accept the invitation, Elizabeth understood she would see Mr. Darcy again, without having a chance to speak to him privately at all. Under Lady Catherine’s scrutiny, any words needed to be carefully pondered.
For dinner, Elizabeth arranged her appearance with extra care and put on her best dress. Restless, with a hole in her stomach and chills running over her skin, she tried to guess what Mr. Darcy might be thinking about her. Their discussion made her presume that he suspected she might have a deeper interest in Mr. Wickham than mere friendship. Was he mocking her for her foolishness? Or did he loathe her for her accusations? Did he finally consider her an enemy, which he had denied a few days ago?
“Cousin Elizabeth, make haste! Lady Catherine’s carriage is waiting! Can you believe such consideration? To send us her carriage! And take your umbrella! Lady Catherine abhors drops of water dirtying her floors or wet dresses at her dinner table. My dear Charlotte, come, come!”
With such agitation, they entered the carriage and shortly after stopped in front of Rosings. They all climbed down, and Elizabeth’s heart pounded harder.
They were invited into the dining room, where Lady Catherine received them with an air of irritated superiority.
“I hope your shoes are dry!” she said before greeting them. “Anne is very fragile, and I would not wish her to slip and fall.” She then asked a servant to dry the floor, even though it had already been done.
Elizabeth cast a quick glance at Mr. Darcy; he was sitting in a corner by himself. Colonel Fitzwilliam came to greet them and invited Elizabeth to sit next to him.
“Darcy, come and sit next to me,” Lady Catherine requested. “And you, Mr. Collins, here. Mrs. Collins and your sister may sit there.”
With such orders, each took their designed place, and the first course was served.
“Lady Catherine, allow me to say again how grateful we are for this invitation,” Mr. Collins said.
“To be honest, as I always am, I would not have invited you in this weather if my nephews had not insisted. You know how much I detest leaving the house or receiving guests when it is raining. Such weather is the perfect time for all sorts of illnesses, which I cannot allow in my house.”
“Dear aunt, I am sure we are all in excellent health here,” the colonel said in his usual amused tone.
Elizabeth felt Mr. Darcy’s gaze upon her, and her eyes met his briefly.
“Well, I understand Miss Bennet possesses a very unladylike habit of walking out of doors in any weather. I could not disapprove of it more.”
“It is said that walking and any other sort of exercise in the fresh air ensures better health,” Mr. Darcy suddenly interjected.
“I strongly disagree. I have never liked exercise out of doors and still have always been healthy. Unlike my poor sister Anne— God rest her soul — who liked to walk and ride yet died so young.”
The blunt statement astonished Elizabeth, and she looked at Mr. Darcy again, seeing his frowning countenance.
“Besides, even if it is healthy, I declare the habit of walking alone to be most improper for a young woman. But when one has spent their entire life in the country, one cannot be aware of the demands of propriety.”
Elizabeth knew the rebuke was directed at her. Amused, she pondered how she should reply, but Mr. Collins spoke first.
“I completely agree, Lady Catherine. As I have told my cousin Elizabeth many times. Even a few days ago, when the colonel called and she was not at home, I expressed my opposition to her strolling in the park alone.”
“Why were you calling on the Parsonage, Geoffrey?” Lady Catherine asked harshly.
“Because I desired company,” the colonel replied with a large smile.
