She turned to Elizabeth. “As for you, Lizzy, do not expect me to spend too much on your gown. Mr. Collins already fancies you; there is no need to throw money away. A new gown, modest in cost, will do well enough for you.”
Then to Jane: “My dear, we will spend most of the pin money on you. If you can secure Mr. Bingley’s hand, you will be mistress of Netherfield, and we will be saved from the hedgerows.”
Elizabeth whispered to Mary, “Aunt Phillips does not beat about the bush, does she?” She gave her a little hug. “You are a lovely girl with a fine figure. She means well.”
Jane agreed. “My dear, you would look well in forest green or rose. And we will ask Alice to style your hair like ours. Are you willing to try, Mary?”
Still teary, she nodded.
The modiste quickly found a sapphire silk for Jane, a jonquil gown for Elizabeth, and a dark rose for Mary. Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips were satisfied. “That color brings life to your face, Mary,” Mrs. Bennet said with approval.
They visited the large haberdashery, where they purchased gloves, slippers, shoe roses, and ribbons. The ride home was quiet, each woman except Elizabeth contented with the day’s work.
That night, as Elizabeth prepared for bed, Jane tapped on her door and entered.
“What is it, Lizzy? You hardly touched your dinner.”
Elizabeth set down her brush. “Oh, Jane, the last thing I want is to attract Mr. Collins’s attention.”
Jane laid an arm around her shoulders. “Perhaps one of Mr. Bingley’s friends will take a liking to you, Lizzy, and carry you away from here.”
Elizabeth sighed. “My knight in shining armor. How I long for those days when we believed in fairy tales. The reality is dreadful, Jane. To marry for convenience, without love, and to discover that the man is not even respectable, is a horrible fate.”
Elizabeth began to weep, and the two sisters sat on the edge of the bed, one weeping over her fate, the other trying to offer comfort where there was none.
Chapter 9: The Netherfield Ball
Mr. Collins stood at the foot of the staircase waiting for Elizabeth to come down. When all three sisters were dressed, Jane descended first, followed by Mary and then Elizabeth. The three Bennet daughters were beautifully dressed and coiffed. Bennet stepped forward to take Jane’s hand and then Mary’s.
“Ah, my lovely daughters. I am a proud father.”
Mr. Collins took Elizabeth’s hand. His eyes traced every detail of her hair and gown, though he said nothing. He had decided upon a course of subtlety and hoped it was not too late to capture her heart. He and Bennet had returned from London two days earlier, and in that time, his cousin had not spoken to him. She would not look at him nor respond when he addressed her. She had spent both days in her father’s study, and Mr. Bennet had covered her silence at the dinner table.
Earlier, Bennet had warned his wife to leave Elizabeth alone or risk turning her entirely against the heir.
“Frances, you will leave Elizabeth alone. If I hear you directing her to sit by Mr. Collins, or forcing her to speak to him or walk with him, I will withhold next quarter’s pin money and take away your use of the carriage. You must leave him to his suit. This is not something that can be forced, and your interference has already set her at odds with him.”
He stopped and stared at her. “Is it your intention to send him away unattached to one of our daughters?”
She looked alarmed. “No, sir, I am hopeful that Elizabeth will take him as her husband.”
He shook his head. “You have gone about it very poorly, and if an attachment between them fails, I shall blame you for setting Lizzy against him. Do I make myself clear?”
She stood and looked at her husband. “Mr. Bennet, you have never spoken to me with such vehemence.”
He scowled at her. “I blame myself for that. I should have spoken when he first came to us. It is probably too late now, but mind your own business, and perhaps all will come out well. But know this, I will not force Lizzy to take him.”
She huffed and walked out of his study.
That evening, Bennet watched as Collins escorted Elizabeth to the Bennet carriage. He had arranged for Mr. and Mrs. Phillips to collect Jane and Mrs. Bennet in their conveyance to prevent creasing his daughters' ball gowns. He rode with Elizabeth, Mary, and Mr. Collins.
Once they were settled in the carriage, Thomas Bennet spoke, hoping to ease the tension. “Elizabeth, Aunt Maddie sends her regards. She is grateful for Lydia’s assistance with little Edward, and I am pleased to report that Lydia finds caring for a two-year-old toddler diverting.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I am delighted to hear that, Papa. I would not have guessed that caring for a child was the remedy for Lydia’s wild ways.”
He chuckled. “Madeline has also promised to take Lydia to see the sights. Your sister earns an outing when she behaves herself like a gentlewoman. In her first week in London, she was taken to see the Royal Menagerie, and in her second week, to Vauxhall Gardens. Both your aunt and your sister are very well satisfied with their arrangement.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Oh, Papa, I am so happy. We stood at the brink of ruin, and now we have this happy resolution to our troubles.”
