Mr. Bennet looked at the two men. Darcy spoke at once. “I will send for your carriage, sir.”
He left the room. Collins remained silent, though anger burned behind his composed expression. Everything had gone against him, and he blamed both the pompous Sir William and Mr. Darcy. Strangely, he was not angry with Elizabeth. He had frightened her, mishandled his suit, and disrespected her. If he were honest, he had treated her like a mistress rather than the innocent young gentlewoman she was.
He studied her face where she rested, pale and weary, against the couch. A few hairpins had fallen, leaving soft curls framing her temples. She looked very young and sweet, distressed, but very beautiful. He knew she was no happier about becoming Mrs. Darcy than she would have been as Mrs. Collins. Both menhad forced their will upon her. Darcy had won, but she would not go willingly.
Despite his defeat, he felt compassion for Elizabeth. He realized he had formed an attachment to this cousin and was sorry to lose her, and he could not blame Darcy. The fault was his own. He would learn from this. The next woman he courted would be treated as a gentlewoman.
Mr. Bennet coughed softly. “Do you return to Longbourn with us, or shall I send back the carriage?”
Collins considered. “I meant to have my cousin for a wife, but now I must find another. I will be dismissed if I return and am not betrothed. It would be better still if I could return married.”
“You should try for Miss King. She is an heiress, but more than that, she is amiable. She is not clever like my Lizzy, but she will never act the fishwife. And I have seen that she fancies you.”
Collins lowered his eyes, then looked up again. “I will. Pray, send the carriage back. I have but a fortnight to secure the attachment, and I must go to her at once and begin offering my most persuasive attentions.”
Bennet nodded, and Collins bowed and left the room.
When Darcy returned, he carried a glass of punch. “Miss Elizabeth, this has ratafia; it will bring color back to your cheeks.”
She took it and drank. When the footman entered to announce the carriage, Darcy helped her to her feet and offered his arm. She leaned upon it as he led her through the corridor.
At the door, he fastened her cloak and tied her bonnet himself, then handed her up into the carriage. Turning to Bennet, he said, “Tomorrow then, sir. I will wait on you at ten o’clock.”
Bennet seated himself beside his daughter as the carriage started forward. “Lizzy, are you strong enough to speak of this? I would understand what transpired.”
Elizabeth covered her face with her hands. “Papa, it was all so foolish. I blame Sir William for this dreadful mess. Miss Bingley insulted me before her brother’s fine London friends. I was angry, so angry. And her words cut me. Mr. Grayson asked me to dance, which helped me a little, and then he took me to you. But I did not remain at your side. I was afraid I would begin weeping there in the ballroom, so I left. The library door was open and the room well-lit. I walked in, picked up a box of cards, and then the tears came. I was lost in a storm of emotion when Mr. Collins came up behind me and placed his hands on my arms to comfort me.”
She paused, then continued quietly. “He was gentle, for once. He told me the insult was nothing and that I should put it from my mind. Then Sir William appeared, making accusations, and then you came. Papa, I was never so happy to see you in my life. And then Mr. Darcy arrived.”
She hesitated. “Did I hear him say we were betrothed?”
Bennet nodded. “He did. And he threatened Sir William with a lawsuit should he spread any tale that might harm your reputation. I was impressed, Lizzy. He was determined to protect your good name and ensure it was not linked with your cousin’s.”
Elizabeth groaned. “How can I marry him? He thinks ill of me and of Mamma. He said I was not a beauty and Mamma was not a wit. He despises us both.”
Bennet sighed deeply and took her hand. She leaned against his shoulder, weeping quietly.
When they reached Longbourn, Elizabeth went straight to her chamber. Alice helped her undress, and she crawled into bed, drew the coverlet over her head, and cried herself to sleep.
Chapter 10: Compromised
The next morning, Elizabeth startled awake and lay in her bed staring at the ceiling. She felt as though the world had come to an end and could not at first remember why she felt so. Then the memory came crashing upon her, and she rolled onto her side and groaned.Why me? Why must I be plagued, first by Mr. Collins, and now betrothed to Mr. Darcy? How did he, of all men, become entangled in this ridiculous business?
She buried her face in her pillow, reflecting on her plight, before recollection struck afresh. Mr. Darcy was coming that morning to review marriage settlements with her father, and then he meant to take her to Netherfield, away from Mr. Collins. She considered this. He did not trust Mr. Collins either.
Elizabeth sprang from her bed and rang for Alice. She began to unbraid her hair and pulled the hip bath from beneath the bed. A knock sounded.
“Come in.”
Alice entered. “Yes, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Alice, please bring hot water for my bath.”
“Yes, miss.” Alice curtsied.
Elizabeth sifted through her day dresses and laid one upon the bed with stockings and slippers. She would dress and then run down to speak with her father. Perhaps there was a way out. Perhaps she might escape both Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy. She ran a brush through her thick curls and had arranged her hair in a loose chignon by the time Alice returned with the hot water.She washed quickly, dressed, and in half an hour was outside her father’s study door, tapping.
“Come in.”
