Page 35 of A Rational Man (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

A ll of Longbourn slept late; even the servants, knowing that the family would not rouse before noon, took a well-deserved opportunity to sleep until ten. It was well past noon before the family gathered downstairs.

“What a wonderful evening!” Mrs. Bennet began. “Everyone drinking to our Jane!”

Jane blushed and looked down.

“Two daughters engaged! My stars, we are so very blessed!” Mrs. Bennet went on.

“Speaking of that, where is Mr. Collins this morning?” Mr. Bennet wondered.

“Here,” the young man said from the doorway. He lumbered in and took the chair beside Mary. “I hope I did not keep anyone waiting by indulging in some much-needed rest?”

He was assured that no one had found his absence in any way disturbing, so he continued by saying that he had been delighted to have been included in last night’s festivities, and he could not recall an evening he had enjoyed more, for he had danced several times; twice with his betrothed, once with Miss Lucas, and once with a Miss King, who seemed to be sitting by herself in a corner.

Elizabeth spoke for the first time that morning. “It was kind of you, Mr. Collins, to dance with Miss King. She is a good girl, though she has not many admirers.”

“Pooh!” said Kitty, who was roused by this last sentence. “That is because she is ugly. No, you need not frown at me, Lizzy, you know she is. Red hair and freckles!”

“I did not notice the freckles,” Mr. Collins said, mildly. “Though should I see her again, I will tell her that Lady Catherine has informed me that the cure for freckles is Gowlands, used every day.”

“Please do not do so, Mr. Collins,” Mary said at once. “Miss King is quite sensitive on the subject.”

“But it would do her a great deal of good to be apprised of Lady Catherine’s wise recommendation,” Mr. Collins argued.

“Mary will make the recommendation,” Elizabeth said, her voice weary. “It would be better coming from a lady, Mr. Collins. Would that content you?”

Mr. Collins, after a good deal of thought, agreed that this would, indeed, content him very well. “You are quite right, Cousin Elizabeth; it would look suspect were a gentleman to make such a hint to her, particularly a gentleman who is engaged to be married!”

To Elizabeth, it seemed an eternity before breakfast was over and she could retreat to her room without her departure being marked.

She was followed by Jane. “I am not fooled, Lizzy,” Jane said, softly. “You must tell me what is wrong. I fell asleep so quickly when we got home that I had no opportunity to enquire as to how you enjoyed the ball, but I strongly suspect that it did not go as you had hoped.”

At this evidence of sisterly affection, Elizabeth burst into tears. She was at once wrapped in her sister’s arms, and she wept until she had no tears left.

“Is it Mr. Darcy, dear one?” Jane asked. “I saw you dancing with him.”

Elizabeth recounted her conversation with Mr. Darcy, ending with, “I know I never had any reason for hope, Jane, you need not remind me.”

“I would never say that, Lizzy, for I thought you had good reason to hope.”

“Truly, Jane?” Elizabeth lifted tear-stained eyes to her sister’s face. “I thought perhaps I had imagined…”

“No, indeed, and he said himself that he found you compelling!”

“But not enough to offer for,” Elizabeth mourned.

“Oh, Lizzy! Listen; once Charles and I are married, we plan to open Bingley House. Will you not come to London?”

“No, for it is only natural that you and Mr. Bingley will entertain Mr. Darcy, and that I could not bear.”

“Would it not be good for him to see you again, to remember your wit, your beauty?”

“And be compared with the silk-clad, diamond-bedecked daughters of the first circle? No, Jane, I think not.”

Jane would not give up and Elizabeth would not give in, and it was some time before Elizabeth finally said that she would consider it, simply to put an end to the discussion.

***

Lady Lucas visited that afternoon with Maria and Charlotte; by then, Elizabeth had recovered herself well enough to join in the discussion, for of course the ball must be discussed in great detail.

Then Lady Lucas gasped. “Oh, I near forgot! Lieutenant Wickham has been taken into custody by Sir William!”

“Already?” Elizabeth said, and then wished that she had not.

“You know of this, Eliza?” Charlotte asked.

“We all knew that Mr. Darcy was going to have Mr. Wickham imprisoned,” Lydia declared. “He told us all about Mr. Wickham’s wickedness – he cheats merchants and importunes young ladies! – and it was Lizzy who convinced him to take action so that the inhabitants of Meryton would not suffer.”

“Were you not going to warn us away from Mr. Wickham?” Maria asked Elizabeth, frowning.

“There was no time, Maria; We learned of it just before the ball and, as you know, Mr. Darcy took action the day after. But of course we would have made certain that you and Charlotte were protected,” Elizabeth replied, and Maria subsided.