It was rather like observing a man discover that he had accidentally seated himself beside a prince.
"How often I have heard your names, sir, and yours, ma'am." Elizabeth had never expected anyone to address Georgiana asma'am, but apparently Mr. Collins did. "Your honoured aunt is pleased to speak of you both whenever I am privileged enough to enjoy her confidence."
Darcy smiled politely while Georgiana merely blinked and took the seat beside Elizabeth.
"I confess I am surprised to meet you in Hertfordshire at all, sir," Mr. Collins continued, his pleasure still very evident. "Those of us within Lady Catherine's circle who have not yet enjoyedthe honour of your acquaintance had rather expected that your marriage to Miss de Bourgh would provide our first opportunity of meeting you. Indeed, her ladyship has frequently spoken of the union—"
Elizabeth felt her heart do something she had not given it permission to do.
Across the room, Darcy's eyes flickered towards her before returning immediately to Mr. Collins.
"My marriage to my cousin?" Darcy grimaced. "You must be mistaken, sir."
Mr. Collins blinked.
"No, sir. Her ladyship has often spoken of the future union of the two great families."
"Miss de Bourgh and I have no understanding whatsoever," Darcy interrupted, more firmly this time. "Nor have we ever had one. Whatever Lady Catherine may have communicated to her acquaintances upon the subject, she did so without either my knowledge or my consent. I should be obliged if you would make that distinction clear upon your return to Hunsford."
Mr. Collins looked as though the foundations of his world had shifted beneath his feet.
He opened his mouth to reply, but Mr. Bennet raised a finger.
"In my considerable experience of men, Mr. Collins," he said, with every appearance of genuine fascination, "a gentleman is generally the first person to know when he is engaged. I would not rely too heavily upon Lady Catherine's certainty in the matter. She and Mr. Darcy appear to be operating from rather different information."
Lydia giggled aloud, earning a pointed look from Mrs. Bennet. It did not, however, prevent the smiles that appeared upon the faces of Jane, Kitty, or even Mr. Darcy himself.
At this, Mr. Collins closed his mouth.
He looked, for the first time since his arrival, as though he had genuinely run out of things to say.
Elizabeth felt a curious sense of relief settle over her at the clarification. For reasons she preferred not to consider, she found herself glad that Mr. Darcy was not engaged to Miss de Bourgh.
Chastising herself for feeling anything at all on the subject, Elizabeth resumed her conversation with Georgiana and soon offered to show her the house. She left Mr. Darcy in company with her father and Mr. Collins in company with the remainder of the household, though her cousin seemed considerably less inclined to speak than he had been an hour before.
˜ ˜ ˜
Elizabeth returned from showing Georgiana around the house to hear her father insisting that Mr. Darcy and his sister remain for dinner. The cook had made sufficient preparation for Mr. Collins's arrival that two additional mouths presented no inconvenience, and Mr. Bennet, who was making very little effort to conceal his preference for Darcy’s company than Mr. Collin’s, appeared disinclined to let him depart before extracting further entertainment from the afternoon.
Darcy, after observing that he and Georgiana had not intended to stay so long, accepted out of respect for Mr. Bennet's invitation.
While the cook prepared the table, Darcy leaned towards Elizabeth, who had resumed her seat.
"I wondered," he said, "whether you might show me Longbourn's gardens as well. I confess myself curious to see whether they compare favourably with Netherfield's. Bingley speaks so highly of your father's gardens that I find myself eager to judge them for myself."
Elizabeth looked at him. Georgiana had entered into conversation with Lydia and Kitty, so she agreed.
The gardens at Longbourn were modest and November-bare, but they possessed the considerable advantage of being outdoors and therefore free of Mr. Collins.
Darcy fell into step beside Elizabeth on her left as they emerged through the side door, and she led him along the path between the kitchen garden and the hedgerow without any particular destination in mind.
"I must apologise," Elizabeth said after a time, "for Mr. Collins."
Darcy smiled. "There is no need. I know men like him."
"There is every need," Elizabeth insisted. "I do not believe he considers his words before speaking them."
"Mr. Collins," Darcy said, his expression hardening slightly, "is not mistaken in what he said. My aunt has long entertained the notion of my marrying Anne. She has spoken of it as settled for as long as I can remember." He paused, as though recollecting something. "She claims it was an arrangement approved by my mother. That they discussed it together and came to an understanding before my mother's death."
