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In the dining room at Netherfield the morning following supper at Lucas Lodge, Charles was surprised when Caroline entered and demanded, “Charles, you must discharge the servants this morning!”

Choosing to ignore his sister’s demand, Charles said, “Good morning, Caroline.”

“Several people inquired after your health last evening,” Louisa said. “They hoped you felt better today.”

“Charles, the servants defied me last evening and refused to follow my orders! You must discharge them! Immediately!”

Setting his cup back into the saucer, the young gentleman rose from his chair and moved to stand beside his sister just inside the door. Then, he asked, “What occurred?”

“I was distressed after you deserted me here at Netherfield,” she replied immediately.

Charles refused to comment on her statement, so Caroline continued, “The footman would not order out the other carriage, and even Mrs Hobbes refused to order the coach brought around for me.”

Leading his sister to the sideboard where the breakfast foods were arranged, Bingley explained, “Caroline, you refer to Darcy’s horses and carriage. His driver does not follow my orders.”

“But I needed transport to the…the family where the supper was held. Mr Darcy…you needed me there.” Now she demanded, “Brother, dismiss the servants and take me back to London! Today!”

Charles stared at his sister for a long moment before he replied, “I refuse to give way to your tempers from this moment. Yester afternoon, you agreed to be dressed at six. You were not dressed and refused to follow my directions. That is why you were left behind.”

“Charles, we do not have to arrive at the moment specified in the invitation.”

“Perhaps not, but it is considered rude when our late arrival inconveniences everyone. And you cannot make use of Mr Darcy’s property,” Charles said. “The servants were correct to refuse your orders.”

“What if I had been ill and needed a physician?” inquired Caroline as if her life were in danger.

“I am certain a stableboy on horseback could have notified the apothecary of your illness and then reached Lucas Lodge to inform me and Louisa.”

“I could have died before you returned!”

“Do you have a malady that we are not aware of?” Geoffrey Hurst asked. “Is it contagious?”

“I am not suffering from any illness other than despair to be imprisoned in this land of fowls and cows.”

“Come, Caroline. Fix a plate and break your fast,” encouraged Charles.

“No, call Mrs Hobbes and dismiss her and the servants!”

Pretending to consider his sister’s demand, Charles asked, “But Caroline, if I dismiss Mrs Hobbes and the servants, who will wash the dishes? Or arrange the covers on your bed?”

“There are always new servants to hire,” remarked Caroline, who had hired at least one new lady’s maids each year since she came out in London society.

Charles replied, “Not here in the country. And if I dismissed these servants, my reputation as the master of Netherfield would be harmed.”

Turning to the only person who had remained silent this morning, Caroline implored, “Mr Darcy, would you allow your servants to defy your sister and remain employed?”

The man replied, “I do not believe my sister would disobey me and miss an engagement because she was not properly attired at the time I specified.”

Caroline wanted to throw the porcelain teacups against the wall and retreat to her bedchamber. However, a morning tray had not been delivered to her room, and she was peckish. Schooling her features, she filled a plate and sat at the table to eat the full meal without another word.

~~~

After breaking his fast at Bennet table, William Collins decided that his relatives were a noisome family. During the meal served the morning following the supper at Lucas Lodge, he resolved that none of the Bennet daughters would have made him a good wife.

‘The eldest is too beautiful to make a parson’s wife–men would pursue her daily while I did God and Lady Catherine’s bidding.

There would be no way to know who fathered any child she bore,’ he decided.

‘The second daughter is entirely too opinionated and argumentative. A wife must be silent and obey her husband.’

He looked around the table, and his gaze settled on Mary for a moment, ‘The third daughter begins to bloom, but she too has read many books and will not make a suitable wife. She would attempt to correct my sermons.’

Without considering the two youngest, whom he considered to be children, Mr Collins concluded, ‘None of the daughters is suitable for my wife. And Bennet refuses a quick engagement! He denies his children this future home.’

Though he smiled at Mrs Bennet while she corrected the youngest child's speech, the parson thought , ‘And the two youngest girls are out of control! Lady Catherine would insist on both girls being returned to the nursery for five years.’

After another hour, Mr Collins announced he would walk about the neighbourhood that afternoon.

Mr and Mrs Bennet said nothing to dissuade his decision, and Mrs Bennet called Mr Hill to bring Mr Collins his overcoat and hat while Mr Bennet educated the parson on distances and directions to their nearest neighbours.

No one stood at the door to bid Mr Collins farewell, though Mrs Bennet stood at the window in the parlour and watched the bachelor walk away.

‘If one of our girls married the man, our futures would be secure,’ Frances Bennet thought.

But then she admitted his absence was welcomed from the room .

‘If Collins married Mary or Elizabeth, he would never cease speaking. He would bring his Lady Catherine into my house to tell me how to fold the napkins and direct the maids to lay the table at supper.’

Watching an eligible bachelor with excellent prospects walk away from her front door without one of her daughters on his arm, Frances Bennet wondered about the future of her many children.

But then she remembered talking with the man and decided, ‘Thomas is correct–Mr Collins would be a punishment for any woman.’

Still, she remained at the window until the man disappeared from her sight on the road toward Meryton.

~~~

Charlotte Lucas assisted her younger sister with storing the last of the plates and tankards. They had waited until today to wash the dishes, and their mother would wait until the next wash day to begin working through the linens used the previous night.

“I am tired, Charlotte,” Maria said. “Mamma woke me early.”

“No, we slept late,” replied the older sister. “Today will be hard, but we can retire early tonight and regain our strength.”

Someone knocked on the front door, and Charlotte hurriedly removed her apron before walking from the kitchen to the front of the house.

The two chambermaids were occupied with Lady Lucas dealing with the remainders from the supper.

Opening the door, Charlotte found the smiling face of William Collins there, asking to speak to her father.

When Charlotte escorted Mr Collins into the small office, Sir William Lucas and his eldest son turned their attention from the account books to the unexpected guest. After Collins praised the supper, conversation, and entertainments offered the previous evening, John Lucas excused himself to visit the tenant farms.

“The work of a gentleman is never done,” Collins said when he focused his attention on Sir William and spoke of the responsibilities of a landowner toward his tenants.

Thirty minutes later, Charlotte returned with a tray bearing a teapot, two cups, and a few biscuits.

She poured and was thanked profusely by her father’s guest for her thoughtfulness and grace.

Mr Collins required another ten minutes to share his observations of Meryton before he addressed the purpose of his visit. He said, “As you know, I am heir to Mr Bennet, and when the unfortunate but inevitable day arrives when that gentleman dies, I shall become master of Netherfield.”

Sir William interrupted his guest and corrected him, “Longbourn. You meant to say ‘Longbourn,’ did you not?”

Puffing up with some indignation, Collins said, “I am certain I said Longbourn. I know what I shall inherit.”

Not wanting to argue with a guest, Sir William waved for Collins to continue, which he did. After another few minutes, Mr Collins explained the graciousness of his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her excellent advice that he marry as soon as possible.

“I came to Meryton to visit my cousin and his family,” Collins continued. “Longleaf appears to be a modest estate of some value, and I know that I shall be a credible member of the community when I become master there.”

Not correcting the man’s second slip of the tongue regarding the name of the estate he would inherit, Sir William agreed, “I have no doubt of it, Mr Collins.”

Now the parson frowned, “But I found my cousin’s daughters to be entirely too free-spirited and unwilling to remember their place in the Lord’s world and work. Women are to be men’s helpmates and silent when any man speaks.”

Lucas was not certain the parson quoted the Bible accurately, but he chose to remain silent and hoped that Collins would end his speech before the day concluded.

However, the visitor continued, “And last night, in your welcoming home, when I was introduced to the families in the neighbourhood, I found myself admiring…I remarked to myself how pleasant and proper your eldest daughter comported herself. She saw to the comfort of every guest, obeyed the commands of her mother and yourself, and addressed herself to the needs of your company.”

‘The man repeats himself and speaks without end,’ Sir William thought, not for the first time.

“After much thought, I resolved to visit Lucas Lodge and speak to you immediately.”

Sir William waited a moment before asking, “Yes, Mr Collins. You appear most resolved.”

Collins asked, “Then you will approve of my proposal?”