Mr. Darcy stiffened. “You would insult your own cousin before an assembly? How dare you, sir!”
The size of the crowd doubled in the room, and yet not a sound could be heard other than their own breath.
She felt ill.Depravity?“Mr. Collins, I do notunderstand your accusation, but I assure you that I have done nothing worthy of this censure.”
His face reddened. “Then it is not true?”
Mr. Darcy spoke. “Sir, this is neither the time nor the place.”
“Her ladyship will learn of the connection, and she will know that her own nephews had been misled regarding my relatives. Lady Catherine will disapprove.”
Elizabeth did not know this Lady Catherine, but she failed to see how anyone’s disapproval should hold so much influence over another to encourage him to act as Mr. Collins did presently.
“Did you or did you not pretend to be a man so that you could engage in trade?” Mr. Collins blustered.
All the strength and warmth drained out of Elizabeth. She remained standing, but only just. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the shock on her father’s face.
Meanwhile, her uncle made a futile attempt to stop her mother from rushing toward her. “Mr. Collins! Do not give credence to this nonsense! My Lizzy is the daughter of a gentleman. She would never engage in trade or pretend to be anything other than the lady she is.” Mama looked at her, nodding too enthusiastically, urging Elizabeth to agree and laugh off the ridiculous accusation with a witty explanation.
A path parted through the crowd, and Miss Bingley joined Mr. Collins. She looked over the assembly, saying in a sanctimonious tone, “Let us not waste ourtime on things which only diminish the joy of my guests.”
“B-but—” Mr. Collins’s eyes bulged.
Miss Bingley clapped her hands. “Let us dance! Music, please, sirs,” she directed at the musicians. They lifted their instruments, but after only a few notes where nobody formed to dance, they stopped.
Mama turned to Elizabeth, her eyes watery. “Lizzy? Tell them it is not true!”
Elizabeth removed her hand from Mr. Darcy’s arm. The confusion in his eyes broke her heart. He had held her up, had stood firmly at her side, but she could not allow him to continue supporting her when the accusation was true, and her shame was made public.
“It is true. I have been selling my paintings under a man’s name for several years now.” She left her uncles out of it. The consequences were hers to bear.
Mama’s eyes rolled back into her head, and her legs gave out.
Mr. Darcy caught her. “Is the surgeon here? Someone send for a physician!” He carried Mama toward Papa, who clutched his heart and leaned against a wall, gasping for breath. “Carriage. Get the carriage,” he begged. He was as white as death. Elizabeth ran to him.
Mr. Bingley raced to the entrance hall. “Fetch the Bennets’ carriage immediately, and for God’s sake, find the surgeon!”
“Mr. Jones did not plan to arrive early. He might be at his shop yet.” Elizabeth recognized her unclePhilips’s voice, but she dared not look away from her father until she reached his side. He waved his arm, fending her off, and Elizabeth stopped, stunned.
“I shall fetch him!” offered Mr. Bingley.
Colonel Fitzwilliam brushed past her to assist Papa. “Your daughters are collecting their coats and wraps.”
“Good. Good. We must go home,” Papa gasped.
Elizabeth felt the eyes of the multitude on her. Her cheeks burned and her eyes blurred so much, it was only with Mary’s guidance that she made it out to the carriage without incident. Mama was already inside. Mr. Darcy was gone.
“I shall remain behind with Aunt and Uncle,” Mary said determinately. “I will report everything I see and hear so that we may know how best to respond on the morrow.”
Elizabeth’s chin quivered at her sister’s kindness. “Do you not disapprove of me?”
“Of what use is mercy if I cannot extend it to my own sister? I will do my best to be useful while you take care of Papa and Mama.” With a kiss on Elizabeth’s cheek, Mary turned away from the carriage.
Papa was stunned beyond speech all the way home. The same could not be said of Mama, Kitty, and Lydia, who made their frustrations and anger clear.
Jane spoke little, but what she did say cut Elizabeth to the quick. “How could you keep this secret from us, Lizzy?”
The tears fell freely and plentifully then, increasingwhen Jane pressed her handkerchief into Elizabeth’s hand.
