It was a week later before Lady Catherine decided to set a plan in motion to ruin Elizabeth Bennet’s dearest hopes. She sat with her daughter and the parson an hour before dinner one evening and listened as Mr. Collins made his pitiful excuses and apologies for the hundredth time since he had returned from Kent with her daughter. Her strength was waning after having sat up for more hours than she ought and her temper grew short.
“Mr. Collins, your words mean nothing. Actions are needed to rectify this terrible turn of events. You must successfully compromise Miss Elizabeth to retain your living at Hunsford.”
An excited giggle escaped Miss Anne and Mr. Collins felt his heart leap into his throat. The very last thing he wished was to destroy what little chance he had left to marry his true love.
“Your Ladyship, now that Miss Anne has come to Netherfield I had thought you would force your nephew’s hand. A wedding can be performed here as soon as a special license is arranged. I could perform the ceremony if it pleases you.”
Lady Catherine closed her eyes and breathed deeply to maintain her composure. She had not much strength to waste on the odious man before her.
“I will not see my daughter married in such a place whilst I lay ill unable to see that the grandest wedding is arranged. No, you shall compromise your cousin and Anne shall draw her here to meet you in the gardens.”
Mr. Collins hid his displeasure while his heart broke into pieces. He scarce heard the conversation and plotting of his patroness and her daughter as he rose to ready himself for dinner.
If he failed once more, he would be without his flock and without any hope of ever wedding Miss Mary Bennet. If he succeeded, he would keep his living but lead a life with a woman who could never love him. No matter the outcome, William Collins was faced with a most unhappy future.
A thought occurred to him as he lumbered slowly to his room. He could compromise his cousin and pretend he would marry her but disappear before they made their vows. Surely his patroness would not mind if he abandoned his cousin at the altar as long as her nephew left Hertfordshire a single man?
If he was to be miserable, at least he might do it without the added burden of Elizabeth Bennet’s scorn casting a pall in his humble cottage.
Later at dinner, Miss Anne was all that was charming to Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy. She spoke of the kindness of the Bingley family to lend her family shelter and spoke of extending an important invitation to Rosings in the coming summer.
“Fitzwilliam, we must have them at our wedding as a show of gratitude, don't you agree?”
Mr. Collins busied himself with his plate but felt a thrill at seeing the man who had participated in his own downfall made to squirm. His delight was tempered only moments later as Mr. Darcy did not hesitate to correct Miss Anne’s assumptions.
“My dear cousin, you are right to consider a wedding invitation for the Bingleys but I shall never be the groom. For many years, I have told you and your mother I have no intention to take your hand in marriage.”
Anne de Bourgh would not let the matter rest where her cousin left it. “Do not be cruel, Fitzwilliam. Mother lies upstairs unable to travel home and you would speak so carelessly before her parson? I must meet this Miss Bennet who has made you consider betraying your family. I shall ask her to tea on the morrow.”
Mr. Darcy pushed away from the table and threw his napkin upon his plate. “You shall do no such thing! You are a guest in this home and cannot simply behave as though you are mistress. Miss Elizabeth is not your concern and I forbid you from seeking her company for any reason. I shall instruct the cook and butler to advise the staff not to entertain your orders.”
Mr. Collins watched in horror as Mr. Darcy quit the room. Miss Anne turned to him and gave in to her anger. “This is all your fault! Mother would not be ill and I would not be stranded in this home and treated as a child by the man meant to marry me if you had only been capable of the simplest compromise. I shall send an invitation to Longbourn and you shall carry it. Tell Miss Bennet I wish to meet her in the gardens of Netherfield near some statuary you deem suitable. When she comes, you shall be there to compromise her and end this madness. Do you understand?”
Mr. Collins could not refuse. He nodded to the young mistress of Rosings and stood to quit the dining room.
“Mr. Collins, do not fail me. Your future happiness matters very little I assure you. The fact remains that should you succeed, and you must, I shall suffer the presence of Miss Bennet in my home after you have wed. Pray that I am able to be kind and not have mother set you out into the hedgerows for such a burden you have visited upon me.”
The next afternoon, Elizabeth left her needlework in the parlor to follow Hill to the front door. Their guest would not enter the home and Elizabeth wondered who would behave so of their friends and neighbors.
Her curiosity was answered when Mr. Collins leaned across the threshold to deliver a small note. “'Tis from Miss de Bourgh. I am to await your reply.”
Elizabeth bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing at her silly cousin but she would not miss an opportunity to needle the man. Her expression grew serious. “Mr. Collins, why would she send you and not a footman or stable boy?”
“Perhaps I have gained the trust of the young lady, Cousin Elizabeth.” He looked away as he said it and Elizabeth knew he was lying.
Opening the missive gently, she read the brief invitation and stared at her cousin in confusion. “Why would she wish to walk with me in the gardens at Netherfield? I cannot imagine she is ignorant of Mr. Darcy’s feelings.”
Mr. Collins shrugged his shoulders and rocked back on his heels. “Miss de Bourgh wishes to speak with you, cousin. She has not confided her reasons to me. I simply agreed to be her messenger as she will scarcely leave her mother's side. Will you come?”
Elizabeth glanced at the paper in her hand and nodded. “I would not spurn a young lady of her standing but I will not argue with her, cousin. Only say that I shall come and make no other promises to the young mistress.”
The breath the man held dissipated and Elizabeth noted the slump in his shoulders. He seemed much older and for a moment Elizabeth pitied the man. Before he might see the softening of her own features, she drew herself up and thanked him for coming. “I shall come in an hour and stay only a short while. Does Mr. Darcy know of this meeting?”
Mr. Collins hesitated only a moment. “But of course. Miss de Bourgh would not extend such an invitation without his permission.”
As she watched the parson strike out on foot back toward Netherfield, Elizabeth thought he was not such a good liar. She closed the door and hurried upstairs to ready herself to meet the young lady who would surely demand to know why Mr. Darcy would marry her instead of fulfill his expected duty to his family.