Page 19

E lizabeth nodded at the footman and the maid. “Thank you for keeping up with me, Molly. And you, Dawlish.”

She hurried into the house. Soon, she was knocking on Papa’s door, casting an apprehensive glance at the main entrance behind her.

“Enter!”

She slipped inside quickly and shut the door, leaning against it in relief.

Papa’s eyebrows rose. “You seem discomposed, my dear.” He indicated the seat opposite. “Do you want to call for tea, or tell me about it first?”

Elizabeth dropped into the seat. “I’ll tell you first, Papa, please. But if Mr. Collins comes in while I’m telling you, then I will not be able to control my speech.”

Papa nodded wryly. “Well, let us hope he will not make the attempt. So, what happened?”

She thought quickly. She didn’t want to be sent back to London, and if she mentioned Mr. Darcy, she might be. But if she didn’t mention him and Mr. Collins did, she might be in more trouble and would certainly be sent back. She leaned back against the chair, and sighed.

“You know I like walking out alone, Papa. I was ready early to walk out to Oakham Mount with just Dawlish following, as you’ve instructed, when Mr. Collins came marching out and said he wanted to walk with me.

I said he could not as I was unchaperoned, but he gave that oily smirk of his — you know it, Papa,” she shuddered.

“Yes, I know it.” He took off his spectacles and began polishing the lenses with a large linen handkerchief.

She looked at him with irritation, wanting him to show a bit more attention. “Yes. He gave that smile, and Molly came out with her coat and bonnet on, all ready.”

“I expect your mama was behind that, Lizzy.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I thought so. So I told him that I liked to walk fast and set off.” She sat forward. “Papa, he ruined it. He kept calling me back and telling me it was unladylike to walk so fast, and trying to take my arm.” She stopped, wondering how to say the next part.

Papa replaced his spectacles. “Then what happened?”

“Mr. Darcy,” she said reluctantly.

“What!” She had his full attention now, and she shook her head.

“I didn’t know he was in the country either, Papa. And it wasn’t planned. He was just as surprised to see me as I was to see him. I saw that.”

“What happened?” Papa watched her with hooded eyes.

Elizabeth sighed. She would have to tell him the truth, as there had been others there. But she hoped her honesty would reassure Papa — and Father — that she was safe here.

“He asked if he could assist me — I think he could see that I was out of temper. But then Mr. Collins puffed up the path, berated me for walking so fast, and grabbed my wrist to place my hand on his arm.”

Papa grimaced, and Elizabeth nodded. “I cannot abide him, Papa! Why do you let him be like this?”

Papa nodded. “I will tell you. But first tell me the rest of what happened.”

She shrugged. “ I said something like I did not appreciate his attention, and would return home as he had ruined my enjoyment. Then I just said good day to Mr. Darcy — I barely looked at him, Papa — and started off home.” She rose to her feet in agitation.

“And do you know what? He accused me of meeting Mr. Darcy deliberately!”

Papa winced. “I imagine you did not appreciate the insinuation.”

“I did not. I said he had mistaken me and that Mr. Darcy was, at the very least, a gentleman and walked off as fast as I could.” She felt herself smile. “I left him trying to harangue Mr. Darcy.” She returned to the chair. “I just wanted to get home.”

“All right,” Papa took off his spectacles again. “Ring for some tea, Lizzy, and we will discuss the matter.”

When they were sitting over the tea tray, she looked over at him. “So why is Mr. Collins behaving like this?”

She glanced at his hands. He was still polishing his spectacles, over and over again.

“You heard me read out his letter, Lizzy. You know as well as I do that he has come to view his inheritance — and that part of it will be the acquisition of a wife without having to make the effort of improving himself.” He frowned more deeply.

Elizabeth nodded. “It was painful to watch Mama throwing Jane’s beauty and accomplishments at him.”

He frowned again. “She was quite determined.”

“But then Mr. Bingley opened Netherfield again and called here.” Elizabeth smiled beatifically. “I was happy to see Jane’s eyes light up with joy.” She stirred her tea thoughtfully. “But it is difficult to forgive his apparent inconstancy. Will he care for her properly, do you think?”

Papa glanced at her. “He was certainly discomposed at the attention Mr. Collins was paying to her. But he has not made her an offer, and that has surprised me.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I believe Mr. Collins feels he has advantages even more than Mr. Bingley. If it were not for Mama, I think he would still be paying her his addresses.”

“I cannot see you allowing it, Lizzy.”

“Certainly not!” She rose to her feet. “But he had better not keep his attentions on me. I would never accept him. Never!”

“There is no chance of it being permitted, Lizzy, you know that.” Papa sighed. “I hope it is not too intolerable for you. I would like to keep his attentions from the rest of the girls. You are the only one strong enough to resist him, and I would not have him marry any of my daughters.”

She glanced over at him. “Does Mama know that?”

“I have told her, but I think she does not want to hear it, so she has forgotten it.” He sighed. “I will remind her daily, Elizabeth, but it is a cruel loss to the dream of being able to keep her home.”

Elizabeth sat back in the chair. “I am of the opinion that Mr. Collins would not permit her to stay, even if any one of us was Mrs. Collins and begged him to permit it. And the dower house is too small and too close for him to allow her to live there.”

“I agree exactly,” Papa nodded. “Which is a further reason why the sacrifice of a daughter’s happiness would be unconscionable.”

He sat back. “Now, what is to be done with Mr. Darcy?”

Elizabeth snorted. “You can hardly send him back to town, Papa. But I do not wish to go back, either.” She glanced over.

“Will Father insist on it? It would surely raise Mr. Darcy’s suspicions if I were to go straight back to town — and I could not then assist you to keep Jane safe from Mr. Collins! ”

“I will say that in my letter, of course. But I will have to write, you understand.”

Elizabeth sighed. “Yes, Papa. I understand. But I would ask you to remind him that he thought I would be safer here while he tries to discover what the investigator at Gracechurch Street was about — and he has sent the extra footmen.”

Papa laughed. “You have a gift for persuasion, I will allow, my dear. Now, let me write that letter. I will do my best for you.”