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Mr. Collins paused to take another breath and Elizabeth, eyes wide and brow wrinkled, turned her gaze to her father to see how he planned to handle the situation.

Mr. Bennet had begun smirking as Collins’ long-winded speech wore on.

Now, however, he seemed to want to put a stop to any further monologues.

“It is considered quite rude for someone, even a rector such as yourself, to spring themselves unannounced upon a household. Are you expecting to stay here, or have you let a room at the inn?”

“Why, here, of course. You cannot expect someone in as exalted a position as I am in to sleep at an inn, surely?”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. The man was ridiculous.

“Mr. Bennet-” Her mother started to say something, but stopped.

Mr. Bennet glanced quickly at his wife but immediately returned his focus to the newcomer.

“I can expect just that, in light of the fact that you have given us no warning of your arrival. However, it would be ungentlemanly of me to do so, and no matter how poor your manners are, I will not forgo my upbringing just to make a point.” Longbourn’s master gestured toward his wife and daughters.

“Allow me to introduce you to my family.”

Collins had stiffened during his exchange with Mr. Bennet, but now turned toward the ladies with what Elizabeth could only describe as an ingratiating smile. “Of course.”

“In the middle is my wife, who clearly recognized your name, though she has never laid eyes on you before. To her right is my eldest daughter, Jane. On Mrs. Bennet’s other side is my second daughter, Elizabeth.

Standing in front of the table is my middle child, Mary, and by the window are my youngest girls, Catherine and Lydia.

Mrs. Bennet, girls, this is Mr. Collins, who, it seems, will inherit Longbourn when I am gone. ”

Each of the ladies had curtseyed when introduced. Strangely, even the youngest remained silent. Finally, Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. His wife flattened her lips but invited the rector to sit.

Choosing a chair next to the one Elizabeth had recently occupied, Mr. Collins began a new monologue, showering praise upon every aspect of the estate that he had seen so far, including the furnishings in the present room.

He sat, without waiting for the ladies to be seated first, and Elizabeth looked at her father with her brow raised and her eyes twinkling.

Oh, she thought, this ought to be fun. She settled down on the sofa beside her mother and tried not to grin when Mr. Bennet winked.

She turned her attention back to their guest.

“Now that I think upon it, I realize that you must be alarmed at my coming so precipitously. I assure you, I intend no harm. I simply come to admire. Might I say again, Mrs. Bennet, that your daughters have lived up to their reputations as beauties. I am happy to learn that the rumors I heard are true. So often these things are exaggerated, but in your case, that is not so. You have every reason to be proud of their loveliness.”

Mrs. Bennet’s countenance instantly changed.

She had never been one to discount any praise heaped upon her girls and now, even though she clearly distrusted their visitor, she preened under his admiration for them.

“Thank you, sir. I hope to marry them off soon. Things are settled here so strangely that I know not how I will maintain them if Mr. Bennet were to pass away.”

“You refer to the entail, of course. My patroness, the Right Honorable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, recently told me that her late husband’s family was opposed to the idea of entailing an estate away from the females of the family, and so her daughter, Miss Anne de Bourgh, the premier jewel of Kent, is named as the heir of Rosings, the beautiful estate they live on.

Of course, my ancestors did not share this view, which means I will inherit on the unhappy day when your husband meets his Maker.

” Collins paused long enough to make a sad face.

“But hopefully that day is far away and you may enjoy this beautiful home for many more years .”

Mr. Bennet cleared his throat, drawing the attention of his heir presumptive as well as his wife and children.

“You mentioned that your father has left this mortal coil. I had not heard of it. I cannot say I regret him, given our history; however, allow me to extend my condolences for your loss. I remember when my father passed on. It was a difficult time. I would not wish that experience on anyone.” He paused, but before Collins could reply, spoke again.

“What possessed you to so impulsively decide to attend us here?”

Collins’ eyes widened. “Oh, I did not explain myself, did I? Allow me to apologize. You see, my most esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine, instructed me to come. She insisted that it was imperative that I learn more of the estate and its occupants. She suggested the extension of an olive branch as a way to heal the breach between our families and ease the burden you all must assuredly carry.” He paused and took a breath. Mr. Bennet interrupted him.

“Indeed. Well, as I said before, you are welcome to remain, since you are now here.” Bennet’s brow creased and his mien was somber as he continued.

“If there are to be any future visits, I will insist upon being warned ahead of time. Lady Catherine de Bourgh may not mind unwanted visitors, but I do. If you arrive a second time without seeking my permission first, you will be turned away with no remorse on my part.”

Mr. Collins looked alarmed. Elizabeth had to turn her head into her shoulder to muffle the giggles that bubbled up at his widened eyes and fluttering hands. She dared not look at her father or any of her sisters lest she burst out into wild guffaws and offend their visitor or her parents.

“Of course! Absolutely! I will not fail to write to you first.”

Bennet made a gesture with his hand and immediately, the rector clamped his lips shut.

“Mrs. Bennet, girls, this gentleman is, as you may have already deduced, the son of my third cousin twice removed, Mr. Harcourt Collins. You have never met this man or his father or any other of his family because, as our guest has indicated, there was a disagreement between them and my own family. I will not ask you to treat this stranger as if he were one of your other cousins, but I do expect you to behave toward him as you would any other guest. Do you have any questions?” Bennet looked at his wife and each of his daughters in turn.

None of them replied, so he clapped his hands on the arm of his chair and stood.

“Very well, then. I will retire to my book room until supper. Mr. Collins, I believe my housekeeper has a room in the guest wing being prepared for you. I will instruct her to escort you to it when it is ready.” He bowed.

“Wife, I await your summons for supper.”

Collins and the ladies had risen when the master of the house had and now made their own bows and curtseys.

Once the door had closed behind Mr. Bennet, they sank back down into seats.

There was silence for a few brief moments, but then Mr. Collins began speaking and after that, there was no opportunity for anyone else to.

Later, after Mrs. Hill had removed their guest from the room, the ladies all collapsed into their chairs and breathed a collective sigh.

“La, he can talk! I thought he was never going to stop!” Lydia’s head lolled to the side, making it easier for her to see her mother.

Elizabeth laughed. “It is a wonder he did not wear himself out, is it not?”

Kitty reached for the paper and pencil she kept at hand for sketching. “Maybe he will be so tired from it that he will not open his lips at supper.”

“Girls! You must not speak so of him.” Mrs. Bennet paused and tilted her head. “Though, I must say I hope the same.”

Jane’s eyes grew wide. “Mama!”

“Oh, hush, Jane.” Mrs. Bennet lifted her chin. “You feel the same, I am certain.”

“I wonder what he meant by ‘an olive branch’?” Mary had followed her younger sister’s example and brought her book of sermons and her paper and pencil back out.

Mrs. Bennet shook her head. “I do not know. I cannot imagine what he could possibly do that might ease our discomfort with the entail and the prospect of being thrown into the hedgerows.”

Elizabeth and her sisters all murmured their agreement and sat quietly for a while.

Elizabeth spent the time pondering her cousin and his olive branch.

She assumed the other girls were doing the same, as silent as they were.

Eventually, Mrs. Bennet rose, reminding them of the time, and they separated, each to her own chamber, to prepare for dinner.

The evening meal came and went, and soon the family found themselves trapped in the drawing room with Mr. Collins and his unstoppable conversation.

Well, Elizabeth thought, it is not actual conversation, is it, since he rarely allows anyone else to participate.

The act of pretending to listen was wearing on her and, based on their yawns and rolling eyes, her sisters.

Finally, Mr. Bennet rose and said good night, escorting his wife and daughters out of the room.

Collins followed, chattering all the way.

~~~***~~~

The following evening, Mrs. Bennet discovered just what her guest was about, and it delighted her.

Collins had spent the entire day with Elizabeth and her sisters, giving the most attention to Jane.

One or the other of the girls was forever rescuing her from his clutches, because Jane was incapable of being rude or even seeing the bad in others.

Eventually, the rector gave up the pursuit and followed his cousin into his book room for the rest of the afternoon.

His behavior continued through dinner that evening, and it was afterwards, when the family was gathered in the drawing room, that he pulled his hostess aside.

“You are aware, I hope, that I have recently been granted a generous living by my most condescending and esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

Mrs. Bennet nodded stiffly. “Indeed, I am aware.” She was not going to make it easy for this leech to convey anything to her.

“She has shared her wise counsel with me and suggested that I come to Longbourn to find a wife from among your daughters. They are all quite beautiful, though Miss Bennet far outshines the rest, given that she is the image of you and you are a very attractive woman. I have given it much consideration and I believe that she would do very nicely as the companion of my future life.”

Mrs. Bennet had inwardly rejoiced once she heard the word “wife.” However, when he indicated Jane as his choice, she paused in her silent exaltations.

She bit her lip as she thought. Mr. Collins would inherit her house when her husband passed, and that was attractive, but Mr. Bingley had indicated interest and he had five thousand pounds a year.

She glanced at Jane, her twin in beauty and grace, and made her decision.

“I am afraid, sir, that there is one who has come before you for Jane. However, none of the other girls are attached in any way.”

Collins’ face fell. “I see.” He turned to examine the other girls more carefully.

He heard squeals of laughter from the youngest two and ruled them out as too young and immature.

Mary was accomplished and seemed the most serious.

She might do, but for the fact that she was the plainest of them.

He then looked at Elizabeth. She was every bit as lovely as Jane and was far more serious than her youngest sisters, though apparently not as studious as Mary.

She was graceful and elegant, though. She smiled too much and laughed too freely, but he was certain she would make an excellent wife and would be so in awe of his patroness as to never giggle or smile in her presence. He turned to Mrs. Bennet.

“Miss Elizabeth?”

The matron nodded. “I know of no others who have expressed interest in her. You may have her.”

Collins grinned, rubbing his hands together. “Thank you, madam.”

Mrs. Bennet shooed him away. “Think nothing of it. Go and charm her, then.”

Collins moved away, parking himself as near to Elizabeth as he could get and refusing to budge.

That night, as Elizabeth was preparing for bed, she thought about the strange way in which her father’s cousin had transferred his attention from her elder sister to her.

She could not determine a reason for it, though she had seen the man in conference with her mother early in the evening.

Mrs. Bennet had seemed happy afterwards, so whatever they had spoken about had pleased her.

She shrugged. It was a mystery and not one she was going to solve at the moment.

She crawled into bed, her mind on a different gentleman entirely.

~~~***~~~

For the next two or three days, Mr. Collins remained as close to Elizabeth as possible.

She wondered a time or two what he was up to and if he had chosen marriage to her as his olive branch to the family.

However, she saw no point in borrowing trouble and so endeavored to ignore that possibility, and her cousin, as much and as often as she could.