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After hearing how Mary had slipped out while everyone was at the ball and gone to Gretna Green with Captain Carter, who had left early; and Mr. King had gone after them, but there was reason to think they were too far ahead to be caught; and Mrs. King was distraught, fearing that the disgrace would be the ruin of her own daughters, Elizabeth could take no more.

Excusing herself, she returned to the garden to find what solace could be had among bare trees and empty flowerbeds. It wasn’t much.

She had known this day would come. Right from the beginning she had known that she shouldn’t let herself love him. But she hadn’t been able to prevent it any more than she could tell herself not to breathe.

That love wouldn’t end just because he had gone. It would always be a part of her, but she must keep it tucked away in a corner of her mind. She had to learn to live without him.

In the midst of her gloom, Elizabeth heard her voice being called, and looked up to see that Charlotte was approaching. Repressing her own feelings, she forced herself to smile again and went to greet her friend.

“I am glad to find you out here alone,” Charlotte said. “I have come to tell you something, and I do not know how you will take it.”

“You are engaged to Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth cried.

“I knew it would happen. And you know what I think of him, but I will set those feelings aside for your sake. He will provide you with everything which you desired in a marriage—your own home, security, hopefully a family. Perhaps not so much companionship, but you will make new friends in Kent, and I think you will like the opportunity to go further afield. And it sounds as though Lady Catherine will be a very attentive neighbour.”

“I am—”

“Perhaps I may visit you there. I have always desired to see more of the country, and I must confess a great curiosity to meet the famous Lady Catherine. I promise you that I will come prepared to approve of your husband and to believe you very happy at Hunsford Parsonage.”

“Lizzy—”

“And we will write to each other often. I want to hear about everything you are doing, and I will write amusing things in turn, for I am determined to be happy.”

“Lizzy!” Charlotte cried. “I am not going away. I am not going to marry Mr. Collins.”

“Oh, that is a relief. Although I was prepared to understand your reasons, and I am sure that you would have been very capable of making the best of such a match, I fear that you might have come to regret it. I cannot really imagine that he would suit you. And Lady Catherine would be an excessively interfering neighbour. But if it isn’t Mr. Collins, then I suppose it must be—” Elizabeth hesitated, not wanting to make another wrong assumption although she could only think of one person.

“Mr. Madison,” Charlotte said.

“That is much better. But why were you worried how I would take it? Although he did seem quite determined not to marry again, I don’t have any romantic notion of it being wrong for him to change his mind. And I think the two of you will deal very well together.”

“So do I. But he is not in love with me. He spoke of fondness, having a great respect for me, and enjoying my company and our conversations. But not of love. He wants a mother for his daughters and a like-minded companion for himself. That wouldn’t be enough for you, but I am quite content to have his trust and regard. ”

“And I am happy for you. You will have a good, kind husband, and the sweetest daughters. Indeed, I might have married him myself just for the privilege of being their mother if only he had made me an offer instead.” Against the dictates of her broken heart, Elizabeth managed a smile.

“But I expect you will soon receive another offer, one very much to your inclination.”

Elizabeth forced herself to hold the smile and said nothing to contradict this assumption of her future happiness. This was Charlotte’s moment, and explanations about Mr. Darcy must come later.

“But why did you think I was engaged to Mr. Collins?” Charlotte asked.

“Because my mother wouldn’t let him propose to me, and—”

“He wanted to marry you?”

“Yes. I would have turned him down if Mama had not done so for me.” Recollecting how this had been achieved, Elizabeth realized that a problem had now arisen. “Afterwards he went out for a walk, and she was persuaded he had gone to find himself a wife. And since he has taken a liking to you, well…”

Charlotte’s eyes widened. “It is possible that he was thinking of offering for me. I have seen him this morning. He called upon us, right when my mother was in a tizzy because Colonel Forster had just proposed to Emily. You know about that, don’t you?

When she went out, she said that she was coming here first.”

“Yes, my mother and I spoke with her.”

“Well, she told Mr. Collins that she had a daughter engaged at last, and to the most handsome officer. He offered his congratulations to her, and then to me because I happened to be standing next to Colonel Forster at that moment. Then he hastily took his leave and departed before my mother could explain.”

“It sounds as though you have had a narrow escape.”

“I certainly did. I wasn’t anticipating Mr. Madison’s proposal.

Given my views on marriage, I probably would have accepted Mr. Collins if he had asked first. But instead of choosing to endure a ridiculous husband for the sake of security, I find that my greatest hopes have been exceeded. I am very fortunate indeed.”

Elizabeth thought that she was. But there was still one question which needed to be answered. When might this engagement be announced?

***

Like the previous callers, Mrs. Long soon left to share her news elsewhere.

None of them had even said anything about the ball.

Mrs. Bennet had expected that to be the topic of the day, but instead it was engagements and elopements.

But she would much rather observe nature than go over the previous evening, which could only bring up recollections of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy looking so happy together.

Picking up the opera glasses, she was pleased to observe that Elizabeth and Charlotte were chatting in the garden. The company of a sensible and close friend would be excellent comfort for Lizzy. Much better than a mother who didn’t quite know what to say.

There wasn’t much activity in the hedges, or any birds swooping from the treetops, but Mrs. Bennet saw Lady Lucas’s carriage go by, heading in the direction of Meryton. Not long afterward, Mrs. Partridge’s carriage went past as well.

Mrs. Bennet hoped that Mrs. Peacock and Mrs. Crane had been generous in offering their congratulations, but she thought it more likely that they had disappointed Lady Lucas and Mrs. Partridge.

They had never thought a curate any great catch.

And even though they had both at one time had an eye upon the colonel for their daughters, they would be thinking him insignificant now that their circumstances had changed so drastically.

A few other people went by, ranging from the vicar, who was ambling along, to Mr. Peacock upon a galloping horse. And then Lady Lucas’s carriage again. When it turned into Longbourn’s drive, Mrs. Bennet supposed that in her haste she had left something behind.

But for the second time that day, Lady Lucas cried, upon entering the parlour, “You will not believe what has happened!”

And for the second time, Mrs. Bennet expected to hear that Charlotte was engaged to Mr. Collins.

“I was on my way to Meryton, after visiting Mrs. Crane and Mrs. Peacock, but as I passed Lucas Lodge, I saw Mr. Palmer’s carriage outside the door.

I was all aquiver wondering why he had been summoned, so I went to see what had happened.

It was such a relief to discover that he had only come to speak to Maria. They are engaged!”

“That is excellent news,” Mrs. Bennet replied, and this time she managed to be much more eloquent in offering her congratulations.

Lady Lucas departed again, either to continue on her round of visiting or return to provide the Peacocks and Cranes with an update.

Mrs. Bennet wasn’t certain since she didn’t see which direction the carriage took.

But she was at the window when Mrs. Long came down the lane at such a pace that it could almost be called running.

She also turned into Longbourn’s drive and eventually made her way, panting heavily, into the parlour.

“Have you heard the news?” she asked between gasps.

“Yes, you told us already,” Mrs. Bennet replied, thinking that her friend was also suffering from a foggy mind. “Mary King and Captain Carter.”

Mrs. Long waved a hand impatiently. “I know I did. But that is old news. The Peacocks have just discovered that their daughters have eloped as well.”

“What? All three of them? At once?”

“Yes. With Mr. Denny, Mr. Pratt, and Mr. Chamberlayne.”