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Elizabeth limped over to the door and upon opening it found Mrs. Bennet loitering in the hall.

“Congratulations Lizzie.”

Really. Her mother was so deluded that she thought Lizzie would accept this poor excuse of a man?

“For what.”

“Your engagement of course.”

“I am not engaged. I declined, three times, Mr. Collins’ proposal.”

It was clearly fish for dinner.

“What do you mean you declined. You selfish girl, get back in there and accept. How can you do this to me, oh my nerves.”

Mrs. Bennet attempted to push Elizabeth back into the dining room but with her injured foot all she ended up doing was pushing her to the floor. Elizabeth had to inelegantly slide over on her bottom to get within reach of chair to assist her in getting back to her feet.

“Come with me at once. We are going to see your father. He will get you to see sense. Mr. Collins, wait.”

Mr. Collins did not respond but instead continued up the stairs returning to his room.

“Lizzie! You come with me this instant.”

Elizabeth threw off her mother’s hand before she pulled her over again, and slowly followed Mrs. Bennet to her father’s study. Without knocking Mrs. Bennet burst into the room.

“Oh! Mr. Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make Lizzie marry Mr. Collins, for she vows she will not have him, and if you do not make haste he will change his mind and not have her.”

Her breathless outburst was met with a raised eyebrow and a sardonic expression on his face.

“I will not be forced to marry Mr. Collins. I declined three times, the third time in such a manner to leave him in no doubt as to my feelings.”

Elizabeth’s words punctured the unconcerned expression of her father’s face.

“What do you mean Lizzie?”

“It is of no concern father, and I will not repeat the words. They are between Mr. Collins and myself.”

“Elizabeth Rose Bennet! If you do not marry Mr. Collins I will never speak to you again.”

“Mr. Collins is the heir to the estate Lizzie. Are you sure you do not want to marry him? You would inherit Longbourn upon my passing.”

“I do not wish to think of your passing Papa. I hope you live many more decades before such an event comes to pass. In the meantime I refused to be shackled to Mr. Collins. My answer is unchanged.”

“Mr. Bennet, you have to do something. What will happen to us when you die? We will homeless in the hedgerows. And Mr. Collins will not look kindly on us after Lizzie’s refusal. She must marry him.”

Without waiting to be dismissed Elizabeth left her parents arguing and slowly limped upstairs to her bedroom. Mary and Claire were waiting for her.

“I hope you do not mind Miss Elizabeth. I brought Miss Mary to help you recover.”

Elizabeth looked at Claire in confusion.

“Your mother was outside the door in the hall but did not know of what came to pass.”

It was a statement but it was really a question.

“The servant doors are not as thick, or as well fitting, as the family doors. I was staying close in case you needed my assistance and heard the last part of the meeting.”

“Just the last part?”