Page 47

"I shall bring the notebook, Aunt. You have already examined it."

Elizabeth was still laughing when they reached the parsonage.

"You're banned from Rosings, and Mr. Collins is going to have apoplexy." Charlotte waited until Elizabeth had stopped laughing. "Was it worth it?"

Elizabeth thought about Lady Catherine's purple face, Anne's demand for a spaniel, and Darcy offering his aunt another view of the offending notebook.

"Absolutely."

CHAPTER 14

Mr. Collins was still having a breakdown. His alarm had occupied the morning, and Elizabeth had sent Darcy a note canceling their ten o'clock walk. Luncheon had done nothing to restore her cousin's composure.

"Banned!" he wailed. "From Rosings! My own cousin has been banned from the residence of my esteemed patroness!"

"It's really not that dramatic," Elizabeth tried.

"Lady Catherine sent a note!" Mr. Collins waved the offending paper like it was on fire. "A note of displeasure! With my name in it! She holds me responsible for your corrupting influence!"

"I hardly think⁠—"

"She says you encouraged rebellion in Miss de Bourgh! That you filled her head with notions of spaniels!"

Elizabeth had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. "To be fair, I didn't mention spaniels at all. That was entirely Anne's idea."

"Anne!" Mr. Collins looked scandalized. "You refer to Miss de Bourgh as Anne?!"

Charlotte appeared in the doorway. "Mr. Collins, my dear, you haven't examined the cabbages this morning. I can't answer for their condition after the rain."

"The cabbages can wait! This is a crisis!"

"The cabbages are very important to Lady Catherine."

Mr. Collins paused mid-wail. "That is... true. She did mention their significance. Perhaps I should..." He fled toward the garden. Charlotte turned to Elizabeth. "I've never before been obliged to rescue the cabbages from a quarrel in the drawing room."

"He may come back with them."

"Then at least we shall have supper."

"Also, you have a visitor." Charlotte looked delighted. "Mr. Bingley just arrived. Looking very confused."

"Bingley? What's he doing in Kent?"

"I don't think he knows what he's doing in Kent."

Elizabeth found Bingley in the sitting room, staring at his own hands like he'd never seen them before.

"Mr. Bingley! What a surprise!"

Bingley looked up, his expression dazed. "Miss Elizabeth. I... I don't know why I'm here."

"You're visiting?"

"I woke before dawn in London and knew I must visit Darcy. I didn't decide to get into the carriage. I found myself in it." Bingley looked at the hat in his hands. "I remember choosing this. I don't remember choosing to come here. How can I remember the hat and not the journey?"

Oh no. He's waking up.

Elizabeth drew a chair closer to his. "I can't explain the journey," she said. "But I believe you."