Elizabeth shook her head. She could not explain her feelings about Mr. Darcy without also explaining about Georgiana. It was better not to speak at all.
“I do not understand, Eliza,” Charlotte said, blankly. “I know you and Mr. Darcy are not in a formal courtship, but it very much sounded that it was headed in that direction; is that not right?”
“Yes.” Elizabeth’s voice was unutterably sad.
“Do you love him?” Charlotte’s voice was quiet.
“Charlotte…truly, I hardly know how I feel just now. I cannot speak of it.”
Charlotte put a comforting arm around her friend’s shoulders as they sat in silence. Finally, Charlotte said, tentatively, “So none of you has any interest in Mr. Collins?”
Elizabeth managed a rusty laugh. “Not even the slightest.”
“Mary?”
“Mary might have been interested, had he not claimed that the Bible says that God moves in mysterious ways.”
Charlotte wrinkled her brow in thought. “I do not think the Bible does say that, though the phrase sounds familiar.”
“Yes; it comes from a hymn written by William Cowper.”
“And because of this, Mary will not marry him?” Charlotte’s voice was tart.
“Well, in fairness, he then told her that she is a heathen damned for eternity for not reading her Bible.”
“I can see how that might have been rather off-putting, particularly since Mary reads nothing but the Bible.” Charlotte covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to laugh.
Elizabeth continued, “In any case, he is not interested in Mary. So far, it is only Jane he wished to marry.”
“Jane will never marry Mr. Collins.”
“No; and Papa told Mama to tell Mr. Collins that he could have neither Jane nor myself.”
“Well, then, Eliza, may I have him?”
“Wait – Mr. Collins?”
“Yes.”
“You want him? He is not a muffin that I can simply pass down the dinner table, but you are welcome to him if you truly want him.” Elizabeth’s voice was confused, even as she tried for levity.
“I happen to be in need of a muffin,” Charlotte said.
And the two girls began to laugh, unable to stop As soon as one began to quiet, the other would whisper, “Muffin!” which set them off again.
***
Mr. Collins waited for some time in the parlour. He was content to wait, picturing Miss Lucas in the parsonage, serving him tea, passing sandwiches, listening admiringly to his sermons. It was a very compelling vision indeed, and he could scarcely wait to make it a reality.
How did one proceed, though? He could hardly ask a young lady he had just met to be his wife, could he?
His musings were interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Bennet, who offered him refreshments. He accepted happily, only half-listening to Mrs. Bennet’s complaints about the butcher’s boy, his ear cocked for the return of Miss Lucas.
Then he had an idea. “Mrs. Bennet, you may not know that Miss Lucas is here.”
“Oh, Charlotte? I am not surprised, she and Lizzy are always visiting one another.”
Charlotte! What a lovely name! “She seems a good sort of girl,” he said.
