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Mr Collins decided to grace them with his presence at the breakfast table that morning. Not because he desired their company, especially as he had no inclination to see Elizabeth. It was because there was a better choice and quantity of food than if he had a plate sent to his room.

He kept what little conversation he did have with Mr Bennet and did his best to ignore the women as they excitedly discussed the upcoming ball. Halfway through the meal, Mr Bennet, overcome with curiosity and amusement, asked a question that brought everyone to silence.

“Mr Collins, did you give up on your hair tonic?”

“Ah yes, you noticed. I have decided to forgo using it as it was a quest in vanity.”

“That is a shame. I was looking forward to the outcome of the experiment. It has been a long family curse to lose our hair.”

“Perhaps once I return to Hunsford, I will resume its use. The cost of the bottle was trivial, but there is no point in wasting it.”

“Then I shall look forward to your communication of the matter,” Mr Bennet said cheerfully, teasing the man.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and kept her thoughts of vanity being different in Kent than in Herefordshire. Considering how he acted yesterday, she suspected his sudden lack of vanity came from Charlotte’s practicality.

Around noon, a lone rider came trotting up the drive, which turned out to be an express rider with a letter for Mr Collins. As the messenger would turn it over to none but him, he clomped down the stairs. After accepting the letter, he immediately went back up with a furtive glance in the direction of the room where the women were occupied in their discussion on the upcoming ball.

A short time later, Mary, on her way to her room, had to jump out of the way to avoid Mr Collins as he came down the stairs in haste. He blurted out an apology as he headed for the parlour to find Elizabeth, becoming alarmed to see she was no longer there.

Elizabeth was enjoying her time outside in the cool fresh air away from her mother. When she saw Mr Collins rush around the corner of the house, she grew uncomfortable as he headed straight for her. His eyes focused intently on her as he drew near. This was an alarming change of the past few days where he had gone out of his way to ignore her.

“Cousin Elizabeth, I am so pleased to have found you,” he said, slowing his pace to astately walk.

“I was not aware that I was missing.”

He gave her an odd look but continued.

“Upon reflection,” he said, sitting beside her on the stone bench. “I have found myself utterly wrong in the treatment I have shown you lately.”

Elizabeth was dumbstruck. She pulled her hand away when he tried to take it.

“I can bear it no longer. You must consent to be my wife.”

“Mr Collins,” she exclaimed a stunned at this change in attitude towards her. In the past few days, he had not uttered a word to her and avoided even looking in her direction.

“Can you not see that we were made for each other?”

“I cannot see that in the slightest. You are the last man on earth I would choose to align myself with,” she said before standing and moving away. He threw himself to his knees in front of her.

“But you must, please, do me this great honor and make me the happiest of men,” he pleaded.

“Mr Collins, get a hold of yourself. I do not know what has brought this on, but it must stop. Get on your feet before you are seen,” she said, looking towards the parlour window. Thankfully, it remained empty.

“Yes, as you say, my dearest,” he said huffing and puffing as he awkwardly climbed to his feet. “Cousin Elizabeth, you must understand how I have admired you from the moment I laid eyes upon you.”

“Mr Collins…”

“Please hear me out.”

“Mr Collins,” she repeated with more force.

“You see, if you allow me to explain my dearest Elizabeth. I thought pretending to reject you, it would incite your passion for me to grow,” he said hastily.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I can see now that it was the wrong approach. I followed the advice I was given to win a lady’s heart.”

“Enough of this foolishness. Really, you go too far. You chastise me for some rumor, then you pursue Charlotte, and expect me to believe it was your way of winning my affection? It is beyond absurd.”

“I thought it would awaken a fervent jealousy in your heart.”

Elizabeth could not help but laugh harshly at him. He was wringing his hands as she spoke, his eyes desperately pleading his case. She shook her head.

“There will be no more talk of this. I will not accept your offer,” she said firmly. To her astonishment, he threw himself back down on his knees and snatched her hand between his cold, clammy ones.

“You must accept my proposal,” he shrilled as she attempted to pull away from his grasp.

“You are embarrassing yourself. Let go of me,” she cried, trying to pull her hand free. When she could not, she slapped him. He gave a yelp of pain and released her, rubbing at his injured hand. She took a few steps back as he looked at her miserably.

“I have no idea what has come over you, but it will cease this instant, or I will be forced to bring it to my father’s attention. For your sake, I can only hope no one witnessed this outlandish behavior.” With that, she turned and walked away at a quick pace. She prayed no one had seen his groveling display. She had no intention of telling her father, as he might force her into a marriage with him if Mr Darcy failed to return, or rescinded his offer.

“Elizabeth, you do not understand,” he cried out as he sat back on his heels, defeated. Free of the tonic and with no hat, his hair blew about as a breeze arose.

He was right. She did not understand what had come over the man who had displayed nothing but contempt for her the last few days. She also did not know why she was suddenly worried Mr Darcy would change his mind.