He said, “There is no one on the road, Miss Bennet. It is rude to ignore your guest, the heir of the manor no less.”
She gave him only a sideways glance.
“I do like you very much, Elizabeth,” he continued. “Your face is so expressive. One look can be sarcastic, and with just the smallest twist of your lips, your contempt strikes me dead. If it were not only the third day of our acquaintance, I would ask you to marry me.”
She leaped to her feet, her face drained of color, the pulse beating visibly at her throat. He drank in the sight of her as she turned and fled down the path to the kitchen. Watching her go, he smiled to himself. He had found his wife; now he must set about convincing her to accept him.
Mrs. Bennet entered the garden, flanked by Jane and Mary, and they sat down together. Collins bowed to them and resumed his seat.
“Where can that lazy girl be?” Mrs. Bennet fretted. “I asked her to come out and set up.”
Collins frowned. “Madam, Elizabeth set out the china and the food. Do you not see what she has done?”
His tone was sharp, and Mrs. Bennet’s eyes widened in surprise before following the direction of his pointing hand. “Ah, yes, I see. Very well. I am glad she did as I asked. Please, Mr. Collins, sit down and let me tell you about my daughters.”
Mrs. Bennet began to list the various accomplishments of her two favorites, and Collins listened with outward politeness. When she finished, he asked, “And Miss Elizabeth? You did not expound upon her accomplishments.”
She sniffed. “Lizzy has no accomplishments. Her father has ruined her prospects through excessive learning. She prefers to read Greek poems while sitting in a tree, or to run for miles at sunrise. She spends hours playing chess or fly fishing in the pond.” She stopped to appraise his countenance. “Mr. Collins, do you find fishing an agreeable pastime? I am certain Elizabeth would take you out if you asked her.”
The man’s face betrayed nothing, but inwardly, he thought how little the woman knew her daughter. If he meant to secure Elizabeth, he would need to be more subtle.
Mrs. Bennet’s sharp voice interrupted his thoughts. “Lizzy, sit there next to Mr. Collins and make polite conversation while we wait for our callers.”
Elizabeth did not answer, but took the chair beside him, her back straight, her hands folded neatly in her lap. He watched her, amused.
“Stop staring at me, sir. It is ungentlemanly,” she hissed.
He chuckled. “You cannot anger me, madam. I simply cannot be angry with you.”
She studied his face, sighed, and turned away. A carriage was approaching, the dust rising on the road.
He leaned in. “Are you rescued, cousin? Never mind, I am a single-minded man, and I will have you as my wife. These callers are an unavoidable nuisance, but they will be my neighbors, so I will be all that is amiable for your sake, as my future wife.”
Elizabeth bent her head and shut her eyes.
“Forgive me,” he said. “I have gone too far. I will be better behaved for the rest of the afternoon.”
The first carriage arrived bearing the Gouldings. Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins greeted them, and the three eldest Bennet sisters welcomed their guests, offering tea and cakes. Miss Vannessa and Miss Linda Goulding stood like statues, smitten by Collins’s fair looks, while their mother prattled endlessly.
A second carriage brought Mrs. Long and her niece, Clarissa. Elizabeth escorted them to the garden, then returned to receive the Lucases. Lady Lucas took Elizabeth’s hands warmly.
“I told Sir William he could not come. This is a tea party for young women, not men.”
Elizabeth giggled. “You did not!”
“I did,” Lady Lucas said, amused. “He would take over the conversation, and none of us would get a word in.”
Elizabeth turned to Charlotte and embraced her. “Come, my dear. Take the empty chair next to Mr. Collins. It is mine, but I will not be sitting. I am to greet our guests.”
Charlotte curtsied to Collins and took the chair. Elizabeth tried to suppress a smirk, but he caught it, grinned, and winked. A shiver ran through her, and she turned quickly away, disturbed by her own reaction.
More callers arrived: the Watsons, Mrs. Talbot, and Miss King. Mr. Bingley’s carriage followed close behind, with Mr. Darcy and Bingley riding beside the coach. Elizabeth’s heart lurched. She greeted them and directed them toward the rose garden before turning to meet the Hursts and Miss Bingley.
Caroline Bingley raised her nose higher than usual, surveying the house with apparent disdain.
Elizabeth smiled pleasantly. “Come, we are taking tea in the garden.”
“My, my, Eliza,” Miss Bingley said. “Is your drawing room so small that you had to move outside to accommodate all your guests?”
