When Collins Met Charlotte
Part 1
A Pride and Prejudice fanfic
Disclaimer: *I do not own P&P, I am merely a fan of the amazing work Jane Austen gave to the world.
Notes: *Dialogue comes from Pride & Prejudice chapters 19, 20 / the 2005 movie with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.
Mr. Collins had few pleasures in the world, and even fewer prospects. One such however, was that he was to inherit the estate of his cousin, Mr. Bennet, who to his misfortune was the father of five unmarried daughters. In tradition of the time, and as the duty of a clergyman to set an example of matrimony for his congregation, Mr. Collins was commissioned by his great patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh to pay a visit to the Bennet household and select a wife from one of the daughters. It was a task that he readily took upon himself with great pleasure. He knew that he was to inherit, and he knew that the family was penniless leaving Mrs. Bennet and her daughters destitute after the patriarch's death. With his mind settled on the matter, the humble and over-zealous minister left Hunsford and traveled to Hertfordshire.
As soon as Mr. Collins came into Longbourn, his senses were immersed in the sight of the young women of the house. The eldest Miss Bennet, Jane, was most pleasing to him, and he often found himself speaking to her directly as her sisters stared in wonderment, which would lead to an unexpected fit of giggles from the youngest sisters, Kitty and Lydia. Having made his intentions known to Mrs. Bennet about Jane, Mr. Collins imagined how happy and wholesome his life would be if they were to marry. Her natural kind disposition would surely give him the comfort and stability that was necessary for a man of his profession.
Unfortunately—or fortunately for Jane—Mrs. Bennet informed Mr. Collins of another's intentions on marrying Jane. In fact, it seemed almost certain that the eldest Miss Bennet and her suitor—a Mr. Bingely—were very soon to become engaged. The dream of a happy household suddenly began to slip away.
That is, until Mrs. Bennet made the suggestion of her second eldest, Elizabeth. Almost in an instant Mr. Collins began to pay Elizabeth the same courtesy—if not more—that he had bestowed upon Jane. He found Elizabeth beautiful and witty, if not intriguing, and often mistook her wit for returned affection. However, the day after the ball at Netherfield, Mr. Collins decided to fully embrace the idea of Elizabeth as a wife…and propose.
The Bennets had sat down to breakfast when Mr. Collins appeared. Soon after, he spoke with Mrs. Bennet to ask her permission to converse with Lizzy…privately.
"May I hope, Madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, when I solicit for the honor of a private audience with her in the course of the morning?"
Suddenly there was something sort of a hen clucking at her chicks as one right after the other each daughter—save for Elizabeth—was whisked out of the room.
This was exactly the opportunity that Mr. Collins had been waiting for. Once he knew that he and Elizabeth were alone, he began on his endeavor to make his cousin his new wife. He began with the usual flattery that he assumed most elegant females would fancy, and soon began on the reasons that he had for selecting her.
"My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances—like myself—to set the example of matrimony in his parish."
Elizabeth only followed the man with her eyes, cursing her mother for leaving her alone with the man, and trying her hardest not to laugh at him.
"Secondly, that I am convinces it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly—which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular wish and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness."
Unbeknownst to Mr. Collins, Elizabeth had made up her mind long before that morning that she would be the last person in the world to ever make him happy. But the man was persistent, claiming that she only increased his love by refusal, and therefore really meant to accept. His persistence was soon then extinguished as Elizabeth gave her final response to the failed proposal.
As she stood from her seated position, Mr. Collins dropped to his knee in hopes to save his attempts. "Please understand me, sir, I cannot accept you!" With that, Elizabeth stormed out of the room leaving a bewildered Mr. Collins, and a very distressed mother.
. . .