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Her father raised a single brow. “Perhaps you might swear the same to me, my dear. For I tell you here and now that I would not permit our Lizzy to marry such a fool as that man, even if she wished to, and I would greatly enjoy a respite from such foolish chattering as I have heard today.”

Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief, then grabbed his hands and pressed them. “Thank you, Papa,” she beamed. She quickly turned and fled the room before her mother could say anything else.

She came face to face with Mr Collins as she exited the room, but she only lifted her chin, unapologetic for the choice she had made. He gave a loud huff, turned, and walked down the hall toward the guest room. Elizabeth shook her head. He could not be gone too soon.

Elizabeth went outside, relishing the warm sunshine and the birdsong. She had done it. She had freed herself from the ridiculous Mr Collins, and he would soon be gone.

She sat in silence for a long while, taking a seat on the low stone wall that encircled the yard and relishing in the beauty of the fields. A few minutes later, she heard someone clear their throat behind her and was pleased to see Mary had joined her. “How do things fare at the house, sister?”

“Mama is still in an uproar. She has taken to her bed, and Kitty and Lydia are sitting with her,” Mary replied. She clasped her hands in front of her, coming to join her in sitting on the wall. “It is a pity that Mr Collins is leaving.”

Elizabeth raised her brows at this sentiment. “Do not tell me you are taking Mama’s side against me?” she asked.

“No, not at all. But he might have looked beyond you if he was really serious about making an alliance within the family.” She hung her head, then sighed.

It was only then that Elizabeth realised her sister might feel quite differently about Mr Collins.

Mary was such a serious girl. She might appreciate Mr Collins’ readings of sermons, and his long monologues on all things religious.

Though Elizabeth could not think him sensible enough for Mary, she knew better than to say so to her sister. “I am sorry, Mary. I did not realise how you felt about him until now. Why have you not said anything?”

“It is improper for a young woman to speak of such things,” Mary replied. She gave a weak smile and turned her attention back to the fields spreading out before them. “Perhaps, after some time has elapsed, he will come back here.”

Elizabeth hated to crush her sister’s hopes, but it was unlikely they would ever see their cousin again. No doubt, Lady Catherine would berate him for not coming back with a wife, and she would soon find him a suitably humble bride, one who would be properly appreciative of her condescension.

“Perhaps,” was all Elizabeth had the courage to say in reply to her sister’s hopes. “At any rate, I will be relieved to have the house back to normal. I have missed our family circle.”

Mary nodded, looking at Elizabeth with haunted eyes. “I shall miss him,” she said plainly. “I could have loved him, I think, if he would have allowed me.”

Elizabeth leaned over and took her sister’s hands. “I am sorry, Mary. I wish I would have known sooner. But I fear I have ruined it for you as well.”

Mary said nothing to this, and after some time, went back into the house.

A storm was brewing, and Elizabeth knew she ought to follow her sister’s sensible retreat.

Still, she remained unmoving for fully half an hour.

She would have liked to stay outside until Mr Collins’s departure, if only she could.

Elizabeth finally gave in and went back into the house. However, instead of hearing her mother wailing in her quarters, she found the house eerily silent. A maid was coming down the hall toward her, and she stopped the girl before she made it to the pantry doors. “Where is everyone?” she asked.

The girl curtsied. “Please, miss, your mother is in her room and has just fallen asleep. Your two younger sisters have gone to Meryton with Miss Bennet. I believe Mr Collins has also left for town. He is to stay in one of the public houses until he can catch the stage in the morning.”

“And my father?” Elizabeth asked.

“In his study, Miss. Shall I say you wish to see him?”

“No, thank you. That is all, Betsy. You may go.” She dismissed the young girl, thankful for some peace and quiet in which to sort out her thoughts.

Mr Collins was gone, truly gone! She bounded up the steps toward her bedroom, feeling lighter than she had since his arrival.

Elizabeth went to her writing desk, pulling out her diary to jot down her thoughts.

Never had the chance to put her feelings and thoughts into perspective been more welcome.

When she was finished, she went to the window seat and sat down, wrapping a warm blanket around her to watch the rain fall against the glass panes.

As she was pulling out her book to pick up where she had left off, she heard the sound of carriage wheels passing on the road outside.

She frowned when she saw it was Mr Darcy’s private carriage.

He looked up at the house as he passed, and Elizabeth instinctively ducked down so he would not see her.

But it had been too late. He met her gaze, then nodded as the carriage continued on its way.

The way he had looked at her sent a chill up her spine, but not of foreboding.

What had that look been? Sadness at his leaving, longing, even?

She shook her head and sat back down on the window seat, resting her hand against the cold glass.

“Where is he going?” she wondered aloud as the carriage disappeared down the lane. She had heard nothing of his departure. Could it be that she had hit on a stroke of good luck? Would both of the men who had caused her no end of annoyance and embarrassment be out of her life for good?