Elizabeth saw Darcy flinch at the child’s insistence.
“William,” she said gently, “go with Aunt Mary for now. You may see Mr. Darcy again at dinner.”
After a brief negotiation involving promises of sweets and stories, William reluctantly transferred to Mary’s arms. As her sister carried him away, Elizabeth whispered, “Remain with him, please.” Mary’s slight nod confirmed her understanding—keep William safely away from whatever storm was about to break.
“Mr. Collins,” Lady Eleanor said with the perfect blend of authority and politeness that only the truly well-bred could achieve, “you will accompany us to the drawing room. Georgiana, perhaps you would ask Mrs. Honywood to send refreshments?”
Georgiana, still hovering anxiously at the top of the steps, nodded and disappeared inside, though not before casting a pleading glance at Elizabeth, almost as if she believed her brother were in danger.
Once seated in the drawing room—Elizabeth and Lady Eleanor on the settee, Darcy standing near the fireplace, and Collins perched uncomfortably on the edge of a chair—a tense silence fell. Elizabeth couldn’t comprehend how she had offended Mr. Collins, other than refusing his very odious request for her hand in marriage.
“Now, Mr. Collins,” Lady Eleanor began, her tone making it clear who controlled this conversation, “you mentioned misunderstandings that required clarification. Pray, what precisely did you mean?”
Collins drew himself up, his chest puffing like a pigeon preparing to strut. “Lady Eleanor, I fear you have been most grievously deceived by this enterprising young woman.”
Elizabeth caught a gasp from Darcy before she felt her own cheeks heating.
“I fail to see how refusing your proposal is deceiving you, Cousin Collins,” Elizabeth corrected calmly. “I rejected you because we would have made each other miserable. Your presence here today suggests the same.”
Collins’s lips thinned at the interruption. “Perhaps. But what followed, Cousin Elizabeth, is where the true misunderstanding lies. Rumors have recently began to circulate that I had… compromised you. That after your rejection, I had behaved in a manner inconsistent with my sacred calling.” His voice rose in indignation. “I, who have always conducted myself with the utmost propriety, especially toward young ladies under my spiritual guidance!”
“And you believe Miss Bennet is the source of these rumors?” Lady Eleanor asked, her tone betraying nothing of her thoughts.
“Who else would benefit from such calumny?” Collins replied, gaining confidence as he warmed to his theme. “When I learned that she had secured a position in your household—one of the most respected families in England, connected to Lady Catherine de Bourgh herself—I could not help but wonder at the coincidence.”
Elizabeth could remain silent no longer. “Mr. Collins, are you suggesting that I fabricated a tale of impropriety, abandoned my family home, endured social exile, and subjected myself and my son to the judgment of strangers… merely to secure patronage?”
“Merely that a young woman of… shall we say, flexible moral standards… might find it advantageous to claim victimization rather than acknowledge her own role in her downfall. The protection of such distinguished families as the Fitzwilliams naturally provides considerable security for one in need of shelter from the consequences of her choices.”
“How thoughtful of you to consider my welfare so carefully,” Elizabeth replied, taking on a cutting tone. “How reassuring to know that spreading unfounded speculation about young women under the protection of noble families falls within your pastoral duties. Iconfess my understanding of clerical conduct must be sadly deficient.”
Collins had the grace to look momentarily discomfited, though he rallied quickly. “I suggest only that desperate circumstances sometimes lead to desperate measures. The unmarried female with limited prospects?—”
“Has significantly more integrity than you credit her with,” Lady Eleanor interjected smoothly. “Mr. Collins, I have known Miss Bennet for over a year now. I find her to be a young woman of exceptional character and principle. Your insinuations border on slander.”
Elizabeth felt a rush of gratitude toward Lady Eleanor, though she kept her expression neutral. Collins’s accusations were not unexpected—indeed, they were precisely what she had anticipated from a man who had never understood her character in the slightest.
“I mean no disrespect, Lady Blackmore,” Collins backpedaled hastily. “Your Christian charity in sheltering Cousin Elizabeth is most admirable. I merely wished to clear my name of false accusations that have destroyed my livelihood and standing in society. Lady Catherine was most distressed by the rumors?—”
“I am well acquainted with my sister’s opinions,” Lady Eleanor said dryly. “And I form my own judgments based on observation rather than gossip.”
Darcy, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke. His voice carried that precise, measured quality Elizabeth remembered from their earliest acquaintance—when he had been determined to maintain control in every situation. “Mr. Collins, you have stated your case. Is there anything else you wished to add before taking your leave?”
“I… that is… I merely sought to ensure that the full circumstances were understood,” he stammered.
“The full circumstances,” Darcy’s voice cut through the exchange with arctic precision, “appear to include your own consciousness of guilt driving you to desperate measures. Your attemptto deflect suspicion onto Miss Bennet’s character is as transparent as it is contemptible.”
Collins straightened with the sort of wounded dignity that only the thoroughly exposed could muster. “I see that reason will not prevail in this household. Very well. But mark my words, Mr. Darcy—Cousin Elizabeth has always possessed a talent for securing the admiration of gentlemen far above her station. First Lieutenant Wickham, and now yourself.”
The name hung in the air like an unwashed chamberpot, though Elizabeth noted with detached interest that it seemed to affect Darcy more than herself. A spasm twitched beneath one eye and the furrows between his brows deepened into chasms.
“Your insinuations are unwelcome and unwarranted,” Darcy said coldly. “I suggest you depart immediately, Mr. Collins, before you further damage what remains of your reputation.”
The parson gathered his battered traveling bag with what remained of his dignity and stalked toward the door, pausing only to deliver a final, venomous glance toward Elizabeth. “Cousin, I pray that your current circumstances prove as… permanent… as you clearly hope them to be.”
“Good day, Mr. Collins,” Lady Eleanor said with finality, ringing the bell for a footman. “Vernon will show you out.”
As Collins was escorted from the room, the tension that had been holding Elizabeth upright seemed to evaporate, leaving her knees disconcertingly weak. She sank back onto the settee, drawing a deep breath to steady herself.
