Page 4

27th November 1812, Wednesday

When Elizabeth woke up next, it was well into the middle of the day and her dreams had been plagued by thoughts of dark, mysterious men riding away on their intimidating stallions.

She sighed as she sat up, the house was a bustle of activity.

She could hear her mother’s voice demanding the maids to set the table, her two youngest sisters giggling loudly, no doubt recounting their much amusing acts of impropriety during the ball and somewhere farther into the house, Mary’s pianoforte playing was still just as inappropriately embarrassing as it had been last night.

Elizabeth sighed.

Yesterday really had been a disaster.

She could not comprehend how Mr Bingley had managed to keep his countenance when faced with such bad manners from the family of the woman he was intending to marry.

Either that man really was oblivious to anything and anyone other than Jane, or he really had no serious intentions towards her sister at all.

Elizabeth rubbed the remnants of sleep from her eyes then rang for her abigail.

Martha was a young woman, only a year or so older than Elizabeth herself, but she was a wonder with styling the Bennet girls’ hair, especially when it came to Lizzy’s infamous untameable curls.

Elizabeth dressed that morning in a cinnamon-brown day dress, a gift from her aunt in London, which offset against her dark hair and winter pale skin very well ,

“Is everyone awake?” She asked Martha while the woman detangled her curls in an effort to tame them into submission,

“Yes, ma’am.” She replied, then after a moment of hesitation, continued quietly, “Would ma’am like to take a walk before breakfast?”

Lizzy’s brows furrowed, “Should I want to take a walk?”

Martha blushed.

She was a shy girl, but she was also close with the Bennet sisters, especially Elizabeth and Mary, the two daughters who got the least attention from Mrs Bennet, and despite knowing it was not her place at all to discuss such things with her mistress, Martha could not keep herself quiet,

“It is Mr Collins, Miss. You slept in quite late today and I heard him and Mrs Bennet talking in front of the kitchen-”

“Talking about what?” Elizabeth asked when Martha hesitated.

Already, she could feel herself tensing.

Lizzy thought she could guess exactly what her mother and Mr Collins had been discussing.

After all, his intentions had been quite clear last night, and even if Mr Collins had been subtle, her mother’s relieved proclamations exclaiming her second eldest daughter’s impending nuptials with the future heir of Longbourn could not have been missed.

“About asking for a private audience with you, miss.” Martha said, “I believe they settled for after breakfast.”

Lizzy huffed, closing her eyes for a moment in an effort to control her growing ire against her mother.

How she could even suggest that Elizabeth marry that- that silly man !

“Now that I think about it, Martha, I really do not have much of an appetite.” Elizabeth said after a moment, “I believe a walk will do me some good.”

Martha curtsied, “Very well. I will go and get you your capelet, miss.”

Elizabeth sneaked out of the house through the servant’s quarters, the loud din coming from the dining room assuring her that her presence would not be missed at least until she got some much needed distance between herself and Mr Collins.

At least the weather was quite nice.

After days of continued downpour right before the night of the ball, the bright sun and the clear skies were much welcome.

Lizzy sighed as she started strolling out in the direction opposite of Meryton.

She knew very well that running away in this manner would do nothing but prolong the inevitable, but after all the confusion of last night and early this morning, her ever wandering thoughts and the restless nature of her sleep; the last thing she could bear would be her cousin’s odious speeches or her mother’s wailings once she rejected the man.

Accepting the proposal would be the practical thing to do, she knew.

It would, if not make her happy, at least secure her sisters’ futures, and maybe if she were Jane - kind, selfless Jane - she would’ve accepted Mr Collins for the better of her family, but Lizzy could not accept that all life had in store for her was to be wife to a spineless, insipid clergyman who would only ever sing praises of his patroness rather than love or respect his spouse.

She was quite sure William Collins was the last man on earth she could ever be prevailed upon to marry.

Elizabeth stewed angrily in her thoughts, her footsteps heavy stomps rather than her usual light skips as she walked through the woods in an effort to expel all the built up anxious energy she could feel thrumming under her skin.

She stopped abruptly across the lakeshore of Rawhurst, her breathing coming out in pants as she calmed herself.

Had she but looked up and just a little to the left, she would’ve noticed Mr Darcy arriving on his own horse on the other side of the waterbody.

As it was, both of them were too preoccupied with their own thoughts, and neither of them noticed the other, separated as they were from direct line of sight by a small grove of trees.

Darcy had taken a seat on one of the few flat stones near the lakeshore, Bubbles was a few feet away, quenching his thirst.

He leaned back against the hard surface, eyes closed against the sunny sky and arms crossed underneath his head.

Travelling to London and back after a night of fitful rest was beginning to take its toll on him and Darcy could feel himself getting drowsy.

The occasional chirping of birds and the sound of soft lapping water was an effective lullaby, reminding him of quiet picnics with his late mother on the grounds of Pemberly back when she was still all liveliness and peak health.

In some ways, Miss Elizabeth reminded him vividly of late Anne Darcy.

They looked nothing alike- Lady Anne being tall and willowy and of fair colouring where Elizabeth was more petite with a light, pleasing figure and enchantingly dark features.

Both were exceedingly handsome women however, with the brightest smiles he had ever seen.

They were strong and prone to speaking their minds where the Darcy men were more reserved and quietly determined.

Elizabeth’s quick wit and vivacity too, reminded him of his mother and her ready smiles.

Anne Darcy, for as long as she had lived, had always been a happy woman.

The kind of woman who loved to laugh and dance and surround everyone around her with equal amounts of joy-

What a shame, He suddenly remembered Elizabeth responding to a comment about his lack of flaws, that day in Netherfield, for I dearly love to laugh.

Her words, that spark in her eye and that tilt of her lips, all of it had sent his heart racing and he had been unable to reply lest he unwillingly profess his undying admiration for her.

His mother would’ve loved Elizabeth, they would’ve gotten along famously .

And was not just that one thought better than any kind of disapproval Darcy may have to bear at the hands of the ton ?

He did not even like the ton .

“Miss Elizabeth!”

Darcy startled at the name, getting up to see where the voice had come from.

There, across from him on the other side of the lake, a short, stout man was rather flailing more than running- Darcy followed his path with his eyes, then stood up in surprise at the sight of Miss Elizabeth indeed, who herself seemed shocked at the presence of the unfamiliar man,

“Mr Collins!” He heard her exclaim and suddenly remembered where he had seen the man before.

He was her cousin, was not he?

The one she had danced with at the Netherfield ball.

“Cousin Elizabeth!” The man greeted, bowing low before straightening up, “Mrs Bennet assured me that I would find you somewhere along these trails.”

Elizabeth took a step back, creating some distance between herself and the man.

She could not help but feel chagrined at having been found before she was ready to face this catastrophe-in-making, “Mr Collins, we are unchaperoned. This is highly improper.”

“Oh, it is quite alright, my dear cousin Elizabeth. Indeed, I have your mother’s permission allowing me a private audience with yourself.”

Darcy stiffened at those words, and already he had gathered himself and made for his horse, ready to intercept.

He could work out for himself where this conversation was going, and though Miss Lucas’ words from last night gave him some assurance that if she would not accept a proposal from him , there was no chance she would accept her cousin’s, the situation still made him nervous ,

“Cousin Elizabeth, I’m sure you could have no question as to why I have come here. My attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as soon as I entered the house, I singled you out as the companion for my future life-”

“Mr Co-”

He did not let her interrupt, “But, before I run away with my feelings, perhaps I may state my reason for marrying-”

“Mr Collins -”

Again, Lizzy was ignored, “Firstly, that it is the duty of the clergyman to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, I am convinced that this union will add greatly to my own happiness.”

“Sir!” Elizabeth cried out, protesting.

“Thirdly, and perhaps this should have been my first reason, that it is at the urging of my esteemed patroness Lady Catherine that I select a wife. My object in coming to Longbourn was to choose such a one from among Mr Bennet’s daughters for I am to inherit the estate and surely such an alliance will suit everyone.”

Silence followed Mr Collins’ ardently expressed proposal, and Elizabeth gaped at him, equally offended and disgusted at his insinuations.

Singled me out almost as soon as he entered, indeed!

Collins took a deep breath, then shakily kneeled on the ground, “And now,” He pronounced, did not notice Elizabeth taking a few more backward steps in surprise, “nothing remains but for me to assure you in the most animated language, the violence of my affections. ”

“Mr Collins!” Her voice was louder this time, stopping the man in his tracks, and Darcy, from where he was watching the entire thing unfold as if a carriage accident waiting to happen, jerked out of his trance,

“-and no reproach of your lack of fortune shall cross my lips once we’re married.”

“You’re too hasty, sir. You forget I’ve given you no answer-”

“I must add that Lady Catherine will thoroughly approve when I speak to her of your modesty, your economy, and other… amiable qualities.”

“Sir,” Elizabeth managed to say at last, “I am honoured by your proposal but I’m afraid I must decline.”

If Darcy had expected the man to withdraw, just like any other sensible man in his position at Elizabeth’s answer, he was sorely disappointed.

For instead of going away to lick his wounds, Mr Collins straightened up, and took a step closer to the lady,

“I know, ladies don’t seek to seem too eager-” Collins started,

“Mr Collins, I am perfectly serious! You could not make me happy and I am convinced I am the last woman in the world who could make you happy!”

“I flatter myself, cousin, that your refusal is merely a natural delicacy.” Collins said, completely ignoring her protestations, “Besides, you should take into account that despite your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made to you. ”

Darcy growled under his breath at that statement.

This is getting ridiculous!

, he thought, and without a moment wasted, he mounted his horse and started riding towards where Miss Elizabeth was still trying to convince the man of her rejection.

That absolute oaf!

To think himself even worthy to offer for someone as divine as Elizabeth!

“Miss Elizabeth!” He called out when he reached hearing distance, keeping his tone light so as to pretend as if he had just arrived at the clearing and hadn’t been eavesdropping for the entire duration of their conversation,

Elizabeth turned around, surprised, and then mortified at having been discovered by Mr Darcy in the middle of such a ridiculous situation.

Nonetheless, she curtsied as well as could be hoped with her nerves on the verge of fraying, and could not help but feel relieved when the man dismounted and bowed in greeting,

“Mr Darcy! What a surprise!”

Mr Collins had frozen on the spot.

He wanted to protest at the interruption, but Mr Darcy was the precious nephew of his esteemed patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh so he could only bring himself to offer a deep bow in greeting.

Mr Darcy inclined his head slightly in the direction of the clergyman, then once again turned to Elizabeth, trying to smile a little despite how his heart was racing, “Yes, I’ve just come from town.”

His reply reminded Elizabeth of everything she had discussed with Charlotte the other night, and despite everything, she felt her curiosity heighten, “Indeed? ”

Darcy nodded, looked between the parson and the lady, “May I escort you back to Longbourn, Miss Elizabeth? I’m afraid the weather has been quite uncertain these past few days. It’ll be getting dark any minute now.”

It was a blatant lie.

The day was still warm and bright and clear.

And yet, no one present dared to correct him.

Elizabeth smiled at him, relieved and nodded her assent, placing a hand on his arm when Darcy offered it.

“Cousin Elizabeth!” Collins started, finally finding his voice, “I believe we were in the middle of an important conversation.”

“I believe I’ve already given you my answer, Mr Collins.” She replied firmly, then curtsied, “Good day. ”