Mr. Collins repeated the names he had heard. “Mr. Darcy? Miss Darcy? Of Pemberley?”
Then Mr. Collins turned to Mrs. Bennet and said, quite severely, “I must warn you, Mrs. Bennet, that you are hosting two of society’s outcasts in your home today – the Darcys. I suggest that you ask them to leave at once, lest their mere presence contaminate my innocent cousins!”
The room erupted. Mrs. Bennet demanded that the man apologise at once. Mr. Bingley rose, standing in front of Miss Bennet as if to defend her from an enemy.
Georgiana burst into tears.
Mr. Darcy rose and walked rapidly to Mr. Collins, quite evidently intent on doing him an injury; to his surprise, Miss Bingley, who was seated closest to the door, got there first. She rose, ran to Mr. Collins and slapped – actually slapped! – Mr. Collins across the face.
Mr. Collins stepped back, astonished at this unknown lady’s action, but she was not done, for she spat at him. “How dare you, sir! How dare you insult your hostess’ guests in such a manner! And a young girl, to boot!”
Mr. Darcy’s poor opinion of Miss Bingley underwent an immediate reversal.
Elizabeth went to Mary and murmured in her sister’s ear.
Mary rose. “Come, Georgiana.” She pulled Georgiana up and led her out of the room.
“Wait for us!” Lydia cried. She and Kitty ran to Mary and Georgiana, and the four of them vanished upstairs.
Mrs. Bennet stood beside Miss Bingley and said, “I cannot believe you would make such a statement, Mr. Collins. I must ask that you leave the room at once.”
Mr. Collins stood firm, shaking his head. “No, Mrs. Bennet, I must insist that you hear me out. My patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh –“
Mr. Darcy interrupted him. “Oh, good Lord. You are Aunt Catherine’s rector?”
Frowning at him, Mr. Collins said, “Yes, it is my good fortune that my patroness is Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and she has told me all about you and your sister! Moreover, she very wisely had her daughter withdraw from her engagement to you.”
“I was never engaged to her daughter, no matter what she says,” Mr. Darcy said, shortly, doing his best to control his rage. “And, in any case, how do you dare to repeat scurrilous gossip about my sister?”
“I insist upon being heard!” Mr. Collins said. “My family’s reputation is in danger!”
Mr. Darcy looked at Mr. Bingley; no words were required. The two of them dragged the man bodily out of the room, through the kitchen, and out the back door.
By the time the two gentlemen returned, Mr. Bennet had heard the fracas and had appeared in the parlour. “I must ask, what on earth is going on here?”
Several voices tried to answer at once. Mrs. Bennet began, “Mr. Collins said…”
And Mr. Bingley began, “I apologise, Mr. Bennet, but…”
And Mr. Darcy began, “Evidently your cousin is my Aunt Catherine’s rector…”
But it was Elizabeth who stepped in front of her father and said, “Papa, Mr. Collins said the most dreadful things about Mr. Darcy and Georgiana, and had to be forcibly removed from the company.”
“I have no difficulty in believing that my cousin was unpleasant in company, but bodily removing the man seems a strong reaction,” Mr. Bennet observed, calmly.
Mr. Darcy felt it was now his responsibility to set matters straight. “If I may have everyone’s attention for a few minutes, I will attempt to explain what has just occurred.”
Elizabeth said at once, “Mr. Darcy, there is no need for you to defend yourself. We have no suspicions whatsoever about you and Georgiana, no matter what Mr. Collins says.”
Mr. Darcy drew a deep breath. “I thank you for that, Miss Elizabeth, but I think it best that I explain.”
All eyes went to Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bennet sat beside his wife and took her hand.
“Some months ago, I hired a companion for my sister. I did not check the references, and so did not realise that they were forged. The woman who became Georgiana’s companion was, in actuality, in league with a man who has long hated me. That man is the son of my father’s steward, and has all his life been enviousof what I have and what he does not have. He is, moreover, a liar, a cheat, and a practiced seducer. I allowed Georgiana and her companion to take a holiday at Ramsgate, and while they were there, the companion engineered a meeting between Georgiana and this man.”
Miss Bingley gasped.
Mr. Darcy turned to her. “Ah, Miss Bingley, you begin to understand. Georgiana has known this man since childhood, but never knew his true character. I protected her from that knowledge, and that error, combined with my carelessness in hiring the companion, allowed him to form a romantic relationship with her, encouraged by the companion.”
