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The morning after the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth woke unrested and still furious.

Reflecting on Mr Collins’ very public and humiliating proposal, as well as Mr Darcy’s insulting intervention, had driven her almost to distraction.

She had barely slept, tossing and turning all night as she replayed the events in her mind.

She hardly knew what was worse — Mr Collins’s shocking obliviousness and worse manners, or Mr Darcy’s arrogant presumption.

Of course, she was glad that Mr Darcy had diffused the situation and given her the opportunity to refuse Mr Collins in private.

Yet she could hardly imagine an insult worse than that he had obviously intended to save Mr Collins from an unsuitable marriage to her.

While he had diffused the awkward moment, he had done so in such a demeaning way that she almost wished he had remained silent, and let her go on with her plan to quietly refuse to give Mr Collins her answer in front of everyone.

Even that would have been better that suffering Mr Darcy’s public contempt.

While the rest of the family was at breakfast, Elizabeth paced back and forth in the bedroom, still dressed in only her nightgown, her long brown hair hanging in a messy braid down her back.

She tried to remind herself that all embarrassment passes; that society’s memory for gossip and scandal is short.

However much she might accept the truth of such wisdom, she could not feel it in her heart.

Bitterly, Elizabeth thought that if she had the choice, she might never leave her bedroom.

Such blissful seclusion could not last. After breakfast, her mother came to fetch her, stating that her father wished to speak to her and Mr Collins alone in his study.

Grimly, Elizabeth dressed in her least becoming gown and did her hair with as little care as she could reconcile with self-respect.

She did not care if she had dark circles under her eyes.

With luck, her ragged appearance might scare Mr Collins away once and for all.

Privately, Elizabeth suspected she was not so fortunate. She dreaded what she knew was coming. How horrible that she would have to face him! She could only hope that her father would rise to the occasion and help her at last. Even late help would be better than none.

She made her way down the stairs a quarter of an hour later and entered the study, her father and Mr Collins already awaiting her.

“Close the door, please, Elizabeth,” her father instructed.

Thankful that her mother would not be allowed in the meeting, she closed the door — though she rather suspected her mother and younger sisters would listen from the hall.

“Good morning, Papa,” she said quietly. “Cousin,” she nodded curtly to Mr Collins, then waited for her father to continue.

“Lizzy, Mr Collins and I have been discussing what transpired last evening, and he has something to say to you.” Her father motioned for Mr Collins to proceed.

It was with dread that Elizabeth turned her attention to Mr Collins.

He bowed his head slightly before beginning.

“Cousin Elizabeth. I know that my attentions have been too marked to be misunderstood. And while I can now see that they may have been delivered in too public a manner, my feelings still stand. I wish to take this opportunity to assure you that my appreciation for you is genuine, and to ask you again for the honour of your hand.”

He waited with a small smile, obviously suffering no doubts about what her answer would be. Elizabeth looked to her father, wondering what he was thinking, but his gaze was level, betraying none of his thoughts.

He would not help her, then — at least not in this. Elizabeth took a deep breath, resolving to refuse Mr Collins with as much dignity as she could muster.

“I thank you for the compliment of your addresses, Mr Collins, but I must decline them.” She lifted her chin as he gave a slight chuckle.

“My dear Miss Elizabeth, forgive my outburst. But perhaps you did not hear me clearly.”

“Oh no, I assure you, I heard quite clearly. I cannot marry you, Mr Collins.”

Her cousin looked at her father with an expression that bordered on the comical, so twisted as it was between a smile and a frown.

“You cannot be serious! Surely, sir, you will prevail upon your daughter to change her mind?” Without waiting for her father to answer, he went on, wringing his hands.

“I am not saying that you are without your attractions, Miss Elizabeth, but even with your increase in fortune, you can see that is possible another offer of marriage may never be made to you. Our union can only bring good to the family, as it will unite the Longbourn estate with an independent fortune. I thought this would be in everyone’s interest.”

Elizabeth stepped forward. “Why should an offer of marriage not be made to me?” She did not allow him to answer, knowing the answer would be insulting.

“And while I am sure my mother has tried to bring this union about, she is quite mistaken that it would be to everyone’s satisfaction.

I am convinced that I am not the woman for you, and you are the last man in the world that could make me happy.

Believe me, sir, I will not change my mind. ”

Her father seemed surprised by her speech for a moment, but at Mr Collins’ look of indignation, he was at last moved to speak.

“You have heard my daughter’s answer, sir.

I will not attempt to overrule her. Allow me to say also that your suggestion that you are the only eligible gentleman who might offer for my daughter is offensive in the extreme. Not to mention, far from accurate.”

Mr Collins grew red in the face, but his sense of decorum would not allow for an outburst of anger. With obvious effort, he put on a mask of haughty dignity. “I was lured here under false pretences. Why did you allow me into your home if not to see a union brought about between our two families?”

Her father raised a brow. “I will remind you, sir, that I did no luring. Indeed, you invited yourself here, and then proceeded to make a laughingstock out of my family.”

Elizabeth looked at him in surprise. She had rarely seen her father in such an impassioned state.

Nor was Mr Bennet finished with his cousin. “I must ask you to leave forthwith, Mr Collins. I can see that we will not see eye to eye. You are no longer welcome to remain under my roof.”

Mr Collins sputtered for a moment, then headed toward the study door. “Very well then, I will leave on the next coach. But I assure you, Lady Catherine will hear of this!” He stormed out of the study.

She heard a collective gasp from her mother and younger sisters, who were all gathered outside the door. For a moment, Mr Collins’s muttering at how ill he had been treated remained audible. Thankfully, it soon faded away.

Elizabeth turned to her father, who came around the desk. They shared a look of astonishment and relief that Mr Collins would soon be gone. “Are you well, Lizzy?” her father asked, pressing her hand.

She smiled up at him. “Yes, Papa.” She was relieved that her confidence had not been in vain. Her father had come to her aid when she needed him most. “I am quite well.”

Her celebratory mood was shattered in the next moment, when her mother burst through the door, looking red in the face — as if she might expire from an apoplectic spell at any moment.

“What is the meaning of this? I have just spoken to Mr Collins, and he says that you have rejected his proposal!” She pointed toward the corridor.

Likely, Mr Collins was waiting there in offended misery.

Elizabeth went to the door and closed it before her mother could embarrass herself further.

“You must go out there and apologise to Mr Collins and say you’ve changed your mind! ”

“I will not,” Elizabeth said calmly. She looked to her father for his blessing to proceed, and he gave her a deft nod. She took a steadying breath and turned her full attention back to her mother’s livid face. “I cannot marry him, Mama. We would be miserable together.”

“Nonsense! If an eligible man proposes marriage to a young woman, it is her duty to accept posthaste! Think of your sisters!” she wailed.

“What will become of them when your father dies? If you marry Mr Collins, you will have this house. You will not have to leave this place when Mr Collins inevitably throws the rest of us out. Now that you have so rudely rejected him, I am sure he will do so before your father is cold in his grave!” Her mother began to cry, dabbing furiously at the tears streaming down her cheeks.

Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment, praying for patience.

“Mama, it is not as serious as all that. Papa is nowhere near death. And you make it sound as if I were in danger of being ruined. I do not understand why you think I should settle for Mr Collins. Indeed, with my inheritance — even if I do not marry — I promise to take care of all of you.”

“Not marry? Not marry! Whoever heard of such a thing?” Her mother raised a hand to silence her and turned to her father. “Mr Bennet, do something! I cannot allow you to stand silently by while your daughter spouts these dangerous ideas for her younger sisters to hear!”

“What do you want me to do, woman?” her father asked.

Nervousness crept up once more. Would he still defend her in the face of her mother’s wailing? Elizabeth knew it was the one thing her father hated more than anything else. Dealing with her mother’s hysterics sent him to the solitude of his library faster than almost anything else.

Mrs Bennet pointed an accusatory finger at Elizabeth. “Tell your daughter that she must marry Mr Collins.” She shot a glare in Elizabeth’s direction. “Or I shall never speak to her again.”