Page 17

“At last, a friendly face. I feel as if I have been walking about a pen of wolves all evening,” Elizabeth said, whispering as she pulled Charlotte into one of the window recesses.

She peeked her head around the corner and made sure no one was coming after them.

She let out a relieved sigh and pressed her back against the cool windowpane.

“Whatever is the matter, Lizzy?” Charlotte leaned close, and her face grew serious as she saw the distress likely written all over Elizabeth’s face. “Are you unwell?”

“I am hounded at every step, Charlotte. How can I bear up under it?” she asked, wringing her hands. “I wish I had feigned illness this evening and stayed abed.”

“Nonsense. You could not have missed this evening,” Charlotte frowned. “You do look very warm. Have you eaten anything, or had any punch?”

“I have been fleeing Mr Collins all evening, and there has been a line of gentlemen asking to dance with me since I arrived. I do not know what to do, Charlotte. All I want is to be left alone, as I was before I became an heiress. I could dance and enjoy myself, with no real threat of a suitor coming after me.”

Charlotte laughed at her. “You are a strange one, Lizzy. If I had so many men after me, I would thank my lucky stars.”

“But I do not want men falling at my feet, particularly not when I know it is only because of the inheritance.” Elizabeth put a hand to her forehead. “I seem to attract only those whom I could never dream of marrying.”

Charlotte looked very serious then. “Would that I were in your shoes, Lizzy. I know I am not pretty, and my father only has a small dowry for me,” she said, gently scolding her for despising her good fortune.

She was right, of course. Elizabeth should have been grateful.

But she could not bring herself to think of her situation in such a light.

Of course, she felt for Charlotte. How much might such an inheritance have changed her friend’s life? Elizabeth knew very well that to Charlotte, too great a degree of attention would have been a very pleasing change from having too little.

“You are right,” she said, feeling the inadequacy of the response. “Forgive me, But I cannot get used to being the centre of attention. You know how uncomfortable it makes me feel.” She sighed heavily. “I only need a few moments to compose myself, and I will be right as rain again.”

Charlotte smiled at this. “That is the spirit. Now, let us go back to the dancefloor. Perhaps Mr Darcy will ask you to dance next.”

Elizabeth halted while Charlotte continued down the hall for a moment. “Mr Darcy? Why would you say that?” Her friend turned and linked arms with her, drawing her along.

“Because he has not taken his eyes off of you for the entire evening. I had the pleasure of dancing with him once this evening, and I am sure you will find him to be a most excellent dance partner, Lizzy.”

“I —” Elizabeth was about to say she would not dance with him for all the tea in China, but she was interrupted when a dashing young gentleman came up to them.

“Miss Elizabeth! There you are.” The young man bowed as he came to stand in front of her. “I have long been awaiting your arrival. Will you do me the honour of the next dance?” he asked.

At least it was not Mr Collins, but one of the other young gentlemen who had been sending her flowers since they had learned of her inheritance. She sighed, and Charlotte let go of her arm.

“Yes, of course, Mr Harrow.” She allowed him to lead her away, feeling all the more as if she were a lamb being led to a sacrifice.

And so the evening went, until her partners seemed to blur together.

“You are a most graceful dancer, Miss Elizabeth, if you do not mind me saying so.”

“I thank you, Mr Johnson. You are too kind,” she said. Her mood had improved since the beginning of the evening, but only slightly. At least Mr Collins had not had the chance to ask her for another dance.

Almost as soon as Elizabeth had the thought, a chill of foreboding ran down her spine. Turning to look for her cousin, she saw him coming for her, his face red from what she did not know.She turned quickly, thinking to walk to the other side of the room before he could reach her.

It was not to be. Mr Collins cleared his throat, standing quite close behind her, and the conversions going on around them stilled. “Cousin Elizabeth?” he began. “Cousin Elizabeth!” he said, even more loudly, and she was forced to turn.

To her horror, the entire room had fallen silent, the guests bearing fascinated witness to the hideous spectacle. Elizabeth tried to lower her voice so only Mr Collins would hear. “Is something amiss, Cousin?”

“Not at all. It is a fortuitous evening, and I wish to have everyone’s attention for the announcement I intend to make.” He offered her his hand, and she reluctantly let him lead her further out onto the deserted dancefloor.

“Mr Collins, surely this does not concern everyone. We are causing an upset —”

“No, indeed,” Mr Collins cut her off. He looked about him, nodding in satisfaction as he saw he had gained the attention of all the room, then got down on one knee.

Elizabeth’s face flamed with embarrassment.

She looked about the room, searching for her father — for anyone who might save her from what she now knew was coming.

Mr Collins took her gloved hand and kissed her knuckles in an ardent show of affection, further adding to the fuel of her mortification.

“Cousin Elizabeth, it can be no secret as to what I wish to say to you this evening. At almost the first moment I entered Longbourn, I could see what a superior female you were, and soon after, knew that you were just the sort of woman suitable to be my wife. There are several reasons why I picked you as my desired wife, but I will only list three: First, my desire to be married is practical — as a clergyman, I ought to set the example of matrimony in my parish, and I am convinced that my little flock shall benefit from such a humble helpmeet as yourself. Second, because I am convinced that the companionship of a wife will add greatly to my happiness. And third, because owing to your inheritance and my eventual secession as the heir of Longbourn, it is a most suitable match for both our families.” He paused and looked about the room, then looked into her eyes.

“And all that is now left for me to do is assure you of my most ardent affection and ask that you would do me the honour of becoming my wife.”

Whispers immediately began circulating the room.

Elizabeth wished she could melt and disappear through the floorboards in her mortification.

She finally caught sight of her father and mother, standing at the edge of the dancefloor as they looked on.

She sent a pleading look toward her father, but he did not budge.

Elizabeth’s mind was horribly blank. Finding an answer that would combine honesty with compassion seemed almost impossible.

Disgusting as such a proposal was, and made still worse by its shockingly public nature, it was not in Elizabeth’s nature to relish bringing pain to anyone.

She was angry with Mr Collins, of course, but she could not bring herself to humiliate him in front of so many people — not even after how he had humiliated her .

In the depths of her desperation, an idea came to mind.

She would thank Mr Collins for the compliment of his addresses, then tell him she would have to consult with her father and give him an answer the next day.

Elizabeth released a held breath. Yes, it would do nicely.

It was as much face-saving as she could manage for Mr Collins, after the public spectacle he had arranged.

Anything else would require her acceptance, and that, she would never consider.

Elizabeth was on the point of beginning her reply when someone loudly cleared their throat behind her.

She turned, only to see Mr Darcy approaching them.

She closed her eyes, wishing all the more that she had the power to disappear.

Mr Collins released her hand and stood, but though Elizabeth had ardently wished for him to stop kneeling at her feet only a moment before, she could not be grateful for it.

She could only wonder what further horrors awaited her, at the mercy of Mr Darcy’s public disapproval.