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Elizabeth did her best to pay attention to Charlotte but kept thinking of her dance. Georgiana and Anne were enjoying the evening by watching the dancing as much as her two youngest sisters were on the dance floor. Her reverie was disturbed by her cousin’s voice.

“Cousin Elizabeth, I have neglected to ask you for the supper set.”

“I’m already engaged,” she said bluntly. “Charlotte is free if you want to dance.”

“Yes, I happen to be free for that dance if you would like, Mr Collins.”

“Maybe Miss Lucas would like to take your place.”

Both women were astonished at his suggestion.

“I do not think my partner, the Earl,” she said, stressing his title. “Would be happy if I did.”

Mr Collins glanced around the room until he found the man talking with Colonel Forster and a few other officers. He looked back at Elizabeth.

“I shall go ask him.”

“Mr Collins, you will not. You have not even been introduced.”

“I will. I shall appeal to his good nature as a peer of the realm.”

“You will do no such thing. I am not dancing with you and he will think you ill mannered and impertinent for asking to dance with me in his stead. You have not even been introduced.”

“My Dear, I have come to hold your opinion in the highest regard of that which falls within your womanly comprehension. This does not.”

“Within my womanly comprehension,” she said, trying to restrain her anger. “Even if I were an imbecile, I would know proper behavior at a ball, or anywhere else for that matter.”

“If I were a mere layman, I would agree.” He replied, oblivious to the change in her mood. “However, as a clergy member and rector to his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I believe I have enough standing to make my own introduction. I do it all the time in the capacity of my profession, which I consider to be the same as the highest levels of society.”

“If the Prince Regent were to walk through that door right now,” she said, pointing, “you would go right up to him and introduce yourself?”

He looked bemused for a moment before smiling. “Idle speculation is pointless. If you are to be my …”

“Mr Collins,” she interrupted, looking to ensure no one had heard. “That is an arrangement that will never happen. I implore you to get the thought out of your head.”

He smiled again. “I am not seeking to be difficult in putting aside your advice. In the future, I will give your guidance my utmost consideration.”

“There is no future between us for you to consider needing my advice.”

“Excuse me while I will go make my request.” He bowed low, turning on his heel as he rose.

“The man is thick-headed and insufferable,” Elizabeth fumed, not daring to look in the direction he was headed.

“He is just in need of steady guidance, I think. Someone to mould him into shape,” Charlotte replied. “How often have you heard my mother say the same about my father?”

“Your mother had better material to work into shape. You are welcome to him to try and duplicate what your mother has done,” Elizabeth joked.

Charlotte did not reply as she considered the man as he walked towards his quarry. Elizabeth, noting that her friend’s gaze remained on her retreating cousin, reiterated that her comment had been meant as a joke.

“Some of us do not have such good luck as others,” Charlotte said as she followed Mr Collins path to Mr Darcy.

“Good luck? Is that what you call having rumors spread about one’s virtue?” Pained that her friend would say it, even though she knew it had not been meant to be hurtful.

“You know what I mean, Eliza. I may as well be on the shelf. My brothers already gripe about having to take care of me.” The pain, sadness, and despair came through in her friend’s tone.

Elizabeth put her hand on Charlotte’s arm. “Mr Darcy is…” she stopped abruptly.

“What about him?”

“He wanted me to ask you before, but I could not bring myself to it.”

“Elizabeth Bennet,” she said, looking over at Darcy’s wards. “Please do not say what I think you might. It is something I do not want to contemplate.”

After you had turned Mr Collins down, he spent all that time with my family. I believe he was thinking of asking me to marry him. Then Lady Catherine came, and it all changed in an instant.”

“Oh, Charlotte. I’m sorry.”

“Can we change the subject? Please.”

There was a commotion at the first set of doors leading into the ballroom. The musicians must have received word to stop playing as the music ended abruptly. The dancers on the floor came to a confused halt. Lydia’s complaint could be plainly heard over the bewilderment of all.

A gentleman with a powdered wig, dressed in royal livery stepped into the room. He struck the floor several times with a staff until the room was deathly quiet, and everyone wondered what was happening. Georgiana and Anne could barely hold still, as they knew what it meant. Kitty tried to contain her excitement as she muffled a giggle. She could boast that she had known all along. She would also collect on the promise of an invitation to stay at Darcy House since she had not said a word. That alone would make Lydia jealous.