***
That night, Jane comforted Elizabeth. “You cannot marry him, of course, Lizzy. No one can expect you to.”
“I do not think Papa would permit it,” Elizabeth replied. “But I worry that Mama will persuade him otherwise.”
“No one can force you to speak your vows, Lizzy.”
“No, but my life here at Longbourn could become quite unpleasant if Mama does not get her way. I have already written to Aunt Gardiner that I may be forced to retreat to Gracechurch Street.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The next day, Mr. Collins did his best to give Elizabeth every possible attention, but his best efforts fell flat, as she either ignored him or moved away from him when he approached her. Having found Mr. Bennet uncooperative on the subject of Elizabeth as his future bride, Mr. Collins spoke at length with Mrs. Bennet about his hopes for Elizabeth.
“Mary would make a better wife for a parson,” she advised him, hesitantly. She had a strong suspicion that Elizabeth would not fall in line with Mr. Collins’ wishes, and hoped to push the man in a different direction before he gave up on the Bennet girls all together.
“Mary?”
“Yes; she has always wanted to marry a parson, you know, and she confided to me –“ And here Mrs. Bennet leaned forward to whisper to him. “She told me that she thinks you to be extremely handsome!”
Mr. Collins had never before been considered handsome, and his eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Indeed!” he said.
“Yes, indeed.”
He considered this for a moment before saying, “Nonetheless, I have my eye fixed on Miss Elizabeth.”
Before any more could be said, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy were announced. Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins entered the room, and introductions were made at once.
“Mr. Darcy?” Mr. Collins asked. “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy?” His voice rose in happy disbelief.
Oh, Lord, Mr. Darcy thought, but he acknowledged it at once. “I am he, sir.”
“Why, of all the amazing coincidences! I am in the happy position of being able to tell you that your aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, was in the best of health when I left her just three days ago! As was your intended, Miss de Bourgh!”
Every head in the room turned to Mr. Darcy. “Your intended?” he heard Elizabeth whisper.
“I thank you, Mr. Collins,” Mr. Darcy said, his anger barely contained. “But your information is inaccurate; I am not engaged to my cousin Anne.”
“But Lady Catherine –“
“Yes, I know what she says,” Mr. Darcy interrupted. “But it is mere wishful thinking on her part, and nothing more. Let us not speak of it again.” His tone was firm, and no one was disposedto argue the point, but the furrow between Elizabeth’s brows remained.
Jane said, “How very astonishing that our cousin should be your aunt’s parson!”
Mr. Collins then took the opportunity to explain to Mr. Darcy how Lady Catherine favoured him, sought his counsel, took his advice, and so on. This being the third time the Bennets had heard this particular soliloquy, it was only good manners that forced them to appear interested.
To everyone’s relief, Lady Lucas and Charlotte Lucas were announced, and seats were rearranged to make way for them. Mr. Darcy was able to secure a seat beside Elizabeth; he leaned toward her and whispered, “I am not engaged!”
Would she respond? She looked at him and said, coldly, “It can mean nothing to me, Mr. Darcy, of course.”
Of course it could not. What on earth had he been thinking? He turned his attention to Lady Lucas, who was announcing, in ringing tones, that the militia had arrived in Meryton. “You should see the street, Mrs. Bennet,” she said. “Full of handsome young men in their red coats; there is nothing like it.”
Kitty and Lydia clutched at one another in their excitement, causing Jane to reprove them. Mary set her mouth in displeasure, murmuring, “We shall have no peace.”
But Elizabeth replied, “That does sound exciting, Lady Lucas. Charlotte, have you seen the soldiers?”
“I did, for Mama and I drove to Meryton as soon as we got word. It is a most engaging sight, Lizzy, I must admit.”
Now nothing would do but for Kitty and Lydia to walk to Meryton at once. “You go with them, Jane, Lizzy,” Mrs. Bennetsaid. “For there is no telling what mischief those two will get up to on their own.”
