At the time when she had received Mr Collins' proposal a thousand thoughts travelled through her mind. She thought of her beloved father and what would happen to the rest of her family if he were to leave them. She thought of how they would be at the mercy of Mr Collins and he - her mother kept bellowing - would turn them out of the house without a second thought. She also thought about what it would be like to be married to this man, a fool who had no idea the ridicule and embarrassment he brought to the family, it wasn't something that she could ever imagine.
She stood in silence, Mr Collins blathering away about their future, not paying any attention to the distractedness that the lady in front of him was occupying.
"I knew that you, Miss Elizabeth, or my dear Elizabeth as I might now call you, " He moved close to her at this, startling her and causing her to flinch away from his approaching form. "Would be sensible to the fine opportunity that I am giving to you as my wife and the fine life you will have because of it. I know the favour that I have bestowed upon your family by securing you as the future Mistress of this house and I am sure that with the guidance of my esteemed Patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh you will become a fine Mistress in time." Elizabeth took offence at this but Mr Collins did not notice and before she could recollect herself enough to say what was on her mind, he had left the room to pursue her father.
Elizabeth raced after Mr Collins hoping to stop him before it was too late but reaching her Father's study she realized upon entering that she had not made it in time.
"Mr Bennet, as you might already know, I have singled out your daughter Elizabeth as the companion of my future life since almost the moment I stepped foot into this house." Mr Collins said all in one breath, "and I have just this beautiful morning secured her hand, and with your permission I would like to make her my Bride before the month is out."
Mrs Bennet's delight could not be contained as she sang Mr Collins praises and was overjoyed at the prospect of having a daughter most favourably married. Mr Bennet however was opposed to this idea, not because of the fact that Collins, the odious man, was going to take his favourite daughter away – he knew that was the best option for them all – but because he was going to take her too soon.
Before Elizabeth could get one word in opposing all their plans, Mr Bennet and Mr Collins were soon at an agreement, and all was settled. The Banns would begin being read that Sunday at church and they were to be married in the second week of the New Year. There would be no backing out now no matter how much Elizabeth wanted too.
The next day, the engagement of Elizabeth Bennet to her cousin William Collins was spread all throughout Hertfordshire. This information however never made it to the party at Netherfield as they quit the house in the early hours, leaving only a note for Jane Bennet in their wake.
The fact that her second eldest daughter Elizabeth was to be married was the only consolation for Mrs Bennet after the removal of the Bingley's from the area. This did not prevent her from repeating her displeasure at Mr Bingley's snub of her eldest and most beautiful daughter by building an expectation of marriage and not 'following through'. Jane however, just wished her mother would refrain from repeating her displeasure so frequently and so casually. The following two days were hard on the eldest two Bennet sisters and they were both glad at the end of the night to have time to each other without their mother causing a fuss, as she had been, especially after Mr Collins' removal from the area just days after the Bingley's.
"Elizabeth, you need not be so wary around me." Elizabeth opened her mouth to respond, but Jane cut her off before she could. "He obviously did not love me, otherwise I would be getting married with you my dear sister." Silence fell between them, knowing these talks that had become so frequent over the long years of sharing a bedroom would soon be taken from them when Elizabeth was taken from Longbourn. And knowing that, once married, the two Bennet sisters would not be able to talk as freely as they always had.
Elizabeth walked over to her sister and took the missive from her hand. Folding it, she placed it on their dressing table, laying it flat.
"Let us remove this thought from our minds and think of the future." Moving back to Jane's side she took her hands reassuringly. "You should go to London my dear Jane and happen upon him there. I am sure that with you so close he could not possibly doubt his feelings for you."
"I could not possibly, with your wedding just over a month away." She turned to face her sister, grinning with mirth. "I could not leave you to our mother alone." The mood became somber as Jane took her sister into her arms and embraced her. "This month will be the last time I will see you for a long while after you have removed with your husband, I must cherish it while I can." Elizabeth sighed relishing the feel of her sister I her arms.
"Fine I concede, you must go there after the wedding then, I will not be here to hold you back, and I am sure my Aunt would love your company."
A/N: I am so sorry for the amount of time between these uploads! I was astounded by the support on the last chapter thank you, I hope you like this one and all your reviews and comments are welcome and appreciated.