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"I am sure Lady Catherine de Bourgh will be a generous hostess," Sir William said with his usual genial smile. "You mustn't listen to gossip, Maria. She is a powerful woman. There is much for her to concern herself with, so of course she may sometimes come across as stern. But she has been very kind to Mr Collins and to your sister. We must not forget that."

"Yes, Father," Maria said, folding her hands in her lap.

Elizabeth was pleased to finally reach Hunsford.

She did not like being confined in a carriage for so long and longed to walk and enjoy the fresh air, in spite of the cold winter temperatures, and to be alone with her thoughts.

When they arrived at the parsonage, Mr Collins and Charlotte were waiting outside.

Although Charlotte greeted her family first, she quickly turned to Lizzy.

They ran to one another and embraced, and Lizzy felt tears spring to her eyes that she had not expected.

"I am so sorry, Lizzy," Charlotte said.

Lizzy knew that she meant everything – for the loss of her father, as well as the life that Charlotte herself would gain from it.

"Thank you," Lizzy said, blinking and cursing herself for not having a handkerchief to hand.

"I've missed you," Charlotte said. "I did not realise quite how much until now."

"I, too, have missed you – and been rather suddenly overcome with emotion," Elizabeth said, giving her a watery smile.

"Come, come, allow us to show you to your rooms," Mr Collins said, ushering them inside.

It was a beautiful cottage. Not as spacious as the one Charlotte would one day occupy, but lovely nonetheless.

Elizabeth was shown into her bedchamber, where light streamed through the windows. A far cheerier room than her current disposition, that was for certain.

"Thank you. This will do very nicely," she said, turning to smile at her host.

"I beg you to observe the closet, dear cousin," Mr Collins said. "The shelves are arranged exactly as Lady Catherine de Bourgh instructed, and I think you will find them most useful."

Even in her current state of sadness, she could not help a little sarcasm. "Shelves in a closet? My, how revolutionary."

She caught Charlotte's eye and could see that she too was containing a smile, and so Elizabeth did not feel too guilty for her little joke.

Besides, it did not seem that her cousin realised she was not entirely sincere.

"Now, now, Maria, let us move on to your room," Mr Collins said, "and leave Cousin Elizabeth to rest after her long journey."

She thanked him, but when the door closed she did not feel like resting.

She wanted to get out, to stretch her legs, to breathe the fresh air, to feel the grass beneath her skirts and the weak winter sun upon her face.

But it would be rude to disappear now, and so instead she sat by the window, looking out longingly.

She thought that the first time they went to Rosings without her – which Mr Collins had assured them all would be very soon, for they were regularly invited to dinner – she would go on a long walk and, hopefully, finally find a little peace.

Chapter Seven

It was rather a relief to get out from under Bingley's roof, Darcy hated to admit.

As they rode towards Rosings, he could not help but feel a sense of guilt whenever he thought of Bingley's misery. And although he was sure in his convictions that his friend would be happier in the long run, not tied to a woman who did not share his affections, he still felt guilty for being the arbiter of his friend's unhappiness.

The weather was fine, and Darcy was rather disappointed to be confined to a coach, although it had been the sensible option in case of bad weather.

When they arrived, he intended to enjoy the park around Rosings, to stretch his legs and perhaps even take out one of his aunt's horses. They never received enough exercise, as his aunt only used the barouche box and had done for many years, while his cousin was of a sickly nature and did not ride.