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“Yes cousin Elizabeth. How could I choose any other?”
Elizabeth had been unsure whether she would receive an invitation and now, less than two hours after the invitation was delivered she wished that she had been excluded. How on earth was she to escape this situation?
“We will discuss this later Mr. Collins.”
“Lizzie, you will accept this instant!”
Elizabeth stared at her mother, once again startled at the sheer volume of her screeching. She returned her gaze to Mr. Collins.
“We will discuss this later Mr. Collins.”
“Lizzie! You will do as I say right now. Accept Mr. Collins offer.”
The gaze of all the family were upon her. And she knew that all of the servants could hear Mrs. Bennet strident tones. She looked at her father, but there was no support there. If anything, his head was tilted with a mocking eye.
“Mr. Collins, I have been instructed by my mother to accept as you have heard.”
With that she started on her soup. Slowly everyone else follow suit and the resultant lunch was stilted and awkward. As Elizabeth rose to leave the table she was accosted by her mother.
“Lizzie, you are not to go and hide in your room. You will attend me in the parlour.”
“Of course.”
Elizabeth promptly returned to her bedroom in direct disobedience of Mrs. Bennet. Claire slipped into the room moments later.
“I only heard your mother’s words Miss Elizabeth but I assume that you were asked to dance by Mr. Collins?”
“Yes, the first set. What was the phrase, ‘how could I choose any other?’.”
“So you were forced to accept?”
Elizabeth sighed.
“I did not say yes, merely that I had been instructed by my mother to accept.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Write some letters. I hope that I can make it until Twelfth Night but even that is still six or seven weeks away. I do not think I will be long for Hertfordshire.”
“It is that bad? Sorry that is a silly thing to say. I suppose I am surprised that you think such drastic action is necessary.”
Before Elizabeth could reply Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper, knocked at the door.
“Your mother wants you downstairs in the parlour Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes, gathering her composure.
“Tell her I am dealing with some correspondence and will be down presently.”
Mrs. Hill merely nodded and left.
“You know your mother hates it when you say you will be there presently.”
“Why do you think I say it so often? As to drastic action, I hope it does not come to it, but I have to be realistic. I do not know how much longer my mother and I can co-exist.”
“How long until Mr. Collins returns to his parish?”
“Saturday next, nine days. Why?”
