Elizabeth awoke the next morning with quite a headache. There had been very little sleep and not a moment when her mind had quieted. Mr. Collins had done the unthinkable by proposing to her. In the carriage back to Longbourn the night before, he had not looked at her even once. His attention remained on Mary and their discussion of the dangers of dance to the immortal soul.
The danger for her future concerned her far greater then as it did now. She sat up slowly and dropped her face into her open palms. She must speak with her father first for Mrs. Bennet would not have pity upon her. She would have two daughters married before the new year arrived and would be the happiest of women. Rising to splash her face with the cool water from the basin on her washstand, Elizabeth told herself there would be no marriage between herself and Mr. Collins.
After breaking her fast with her family, where again Mr. Collins paid her no mind, Elizabeth followed her father to his study. Before he was comfortably seated behind his desk, she spoke her concern. "Mr. Collins proposed at the ball last evening. Were you aware he had chosen me instead of Mary?"
Mr. Bennet's expression was one of great surprise. Elizabeth felt a bit of relief. "He has not spoken to me of his intentions. What answer did you give?"
Elizabeth readily made known her refusal of the man. "I told him I could not marry him but he believes I shall change my mind given enough time to imagine life as his bride."
She shuddered at the recollection of his words the night before. Mr. Bennet stood and moved to lean against the front of his desk. Looking down at his favorite daughter where she now sat twisting her hands, he meant to soothe her worries. "I shall speak with him but your mother will be most disappointed. I will see if I can sway him to Mary's side. I am astonished by his actions. Even I, as little as I am absent from my study, believed there was a romance blossoming between our Mary and the parson."
Elizabeth had replayed events of the last week in her mind all through the night and was pleased to know her father had drawn the same conclusions. Mary and Mr. Collins had seemed to prefer one another's company and several times Elizabeth had returned from one of her walks about the countryside to find the pair strolling the gardens.
A sharp knock sounded upon the study door and Mr. Bennet went to answer. It was Hill with news that Mr. Bingley had come to call. Quitting the study with her father, Elizabeth hoped she might return upstairs and rest for a time. Instead, Jane caught her arm on the first stair. "Come Lizzy, Mr. Bingley waits in the parlor and Mr. Darcy is with him."
Elizabeth's hand went to her hair and Jane knew her concern. "You are as lovely as ever."
Hoping the Bingley sisters had not come along, Elizabeth followed Jane to the parlor. Mr. Collins's voice startled her and Elizabeth's heart fell. He was seated next to Mary but was addressing Mr. Darcy. The Bingley sisters were not present. That was a small consolation. When the assembled party noticed Jane, the gentlemen stood and Elizabeth followed her sister to their usual settee.
It was then that Mr. Collins chose to share his dreadful news. "Mr. Bingley, I am pleased you have come today. I was hoping we might hold a double wedding."
Mrs. Bennet gasped and Mary squeaked with surprise. Mr. Bennet raised a hand to his face and covered his eyes.
Elizabeth watched in horror as Mr. Bingley offered his congratulations. "I had overheard that you were to choose one of the Bennet sisters as a wife, sir. Who is the fortunate young lady?"
Mr. Collins cast his gaze in Elizabeth's direction. She watched as his mouth formed her name in answer and Mary jumped from her seat. "You cannot mean it, sir! You were supposed to choose me!"
The parlor became a stage and Elizabeth watched helplessly as Jane rose swiftly from her seat. The shouts of Mrs. Bennet and the cries of Mary Bennet drew the younger sisters downstairs and all semblance of order was lost.
Mr. Bennet waded into the melee and sent his youngest three daughters away from the parlor under the guidance of Hill. Mary was sobbing and Elizabeth went to her to assure the poor girl that she had not sought nor accepted the man's proposal. Mary would have none of it and Elizabeth was startled by the hands of Mr. Darcy upon her shoulders. "Leave her be, Miss Elizabeth. The poor child has been shamed most cruelly."
As she regained her seat, Mr. Collins made his second proposal. The foolish man's voice was oddly strained until his words seemed a torture for him to speak. Elizabeth thought it must be her own hope that he did not truly wish to marry her but his countenance betrayed his agitation.
Mrs. Bennet spoke for her in the silent moment after he ended his petition and Elizabeth found herself leaving her seat much as Mary had only moments earlier. "Mother, I shall never marry him! Father has said I must not!"
Mrs. Bennet wheeled on her second daughter and stifled her impetuous words. "Your Father will see this match made young lady and you cannot refuse!"
Mr. Bingley's cheeks flamed a bright red and Mr. Darcy spoke quietly to his friend. "Perhaps we ought to leave, Charles."
Mr. Collins forgot himself and stood suddenly. "Perhaps that is for the best Mr. Darcy, for you have charmed my cousin and made her believe she might have a proposal from you."
The stunned silence that followed was short-lived.
"Mr. Collins," Mr. Darcy thundered, "how dare you speak so to me? You have managed to shame not one young lady in the space of a quarter of an hour but two and add myself for good measure. Miss Elizabeth likely refuses your suit because she is far too intelligent for such a boorish man."
With that, Mr. Darcy cast a glance at the lady who had won his heart and hurriedly strode from the room. Mr. Bingley went to Jane and kissed her hand before mumbling his apologies and hurrying after his friend.
Mr. Darcy's mood was as heavy as the dark clouds that crowded the skies above as the Bingley carriage returned to Netherfield. The astonishing scene at Longbourn wore on him. He was not accustomed to such theatrics. "Bingley, you must not share the troubles of the Bennets with your sisters or we shall never hear the end of it."
"I would not, on that you may rely." Bingley seemed as shaken as he and so Mr. Darcy fell silent.
To hear Miss Elizabeth refuse the parson's proposal so vehemently gave Mr. Darcy the notion that she might entertain the idea of becoming his wife. He could imagine passing every day with her by his side but Mrs. Bennet had seemed adamant that Miss Elizabeth would marry her cousin.
Mr. Bingley touched his knee and Mr. Darcy startled to find they had arrived at Netherfield.
"I asked what will you do Darcy? You cannot mean to stand aside as Collins takes her for his bride.”
Mr. Darcy did not think to refute his friend's assertion. He most certainly would not see Miss Elizabeth married to his Aunt Catherine's parson.
“I cannot think her father will allow it and odd as it may seem, Mr. Collins did not appear to be pleased to offer for Miss Elizabeth. The two of them would surely make a miserable marriage. His accusation regarding my intentions toward the fair lady were most unexpected. I have been circumspect in my actions where she is concerned.”
Mr. Bingley followed his friend to the front door of Netherfield and rubbed his chin as he recalled the night of the wedding ball. “Perhaps not, Darcy. Caroline was most displeased with the attention you paid Miss Eliza last evening. As we danced, my Jane mentioned that Mr. Collins was desperate to impress upon her sister the importance of spurning your attentions. Something to do with your betrothal to your cousin in Kent.”
Mr. Darcy thought he might surely take his friend to task for withholding such intelligence but knew Charles Bingley had been far more interested in his bride-to-be than the words of the parson. “That certainly explains why the man is eager to secure Miss Elizabeth’s hand. He has fallen for the gossip of my Aunt Catherine and fears for his living should his lovely cousin steal my affections.”
“You must return and speak with her father,” Mr. Bingley advised as the two friends entered Netherfield.
Mr. Darcy shook his head and removed his greatcoat. “I would allow the Bennets to manage their own affairs, my friend. Miss Elizabeth will not marry him. After being refused in front of his betters, the parson is likely making ready to leave Hertfordshire. If I am mistaken, let it be known I shall whisk Miss Elizabeth away in the dark of night as a thief if I must.”