When Mr. Collins returned from Rosings, alone, he had many things to tell his wife and sister. He seemed to have observed and noted everything he could about Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and for some reason, that Elizabeth did not really understand, he thought he should share them. There was something ridiculous about discussing gentlemen they had never met, and they would probably never see again after their visit. However, Elizabeth could not help but be a little intrigued about these mysterious gentlemen, after all Lady Catherine had been singing their praises for a week and she wanted to see if they lived up to it.

Unfortunately, the comments of Mr. Collins weren't very useful, the Parson seemed only able to speak about their clothes and their civility, both a sign of their good breeding and high nobility. After the third description of their coats and the fourth declaration of his good fortune to have been able to meet them, his sister stopped listening to him.

Although Elizabeth did not particularly want to spend an evening at Rosings, a part of her was desirous to be introduced to the newcomers. But it was clear that Lady Catherine wasn't very eager to share the company of her nephews, indeed it was only after almost a week that they were invited to spend the evening at Rosings.

However, during the days before the dinner, Elizabeth had the opportunity to see Mr. Darcy and the Colonel Fitzwilliam a few times. The first encounter was the same day that Mr. Collins called on them, Mary and she had gone to Rosings to use the pianoforte. They were surprised to see, while they were walking in the park, three men who seemed in the middle of a serious conversation. The two sisters did not stop but their attention was immediately drowned to them.

"The one in the middle is Mr. Allen the steward of Rosings, so I suppose the other two gentlemen are Mr. Darcy and the Colonel Fitzwilliam," Mary remarked.

With all the descriptions from Lady Catherine and then Mr. Collins gave them they knew that the tallest of the gentleman was Mr. Darcy. His clothes were very fine, and his coat seems to make him even taller, his features were handsome but slightly diminished by the frown marbling his face, sadly they couldn't see the Colonel as his back was facing them. But it didn't stop them to speak about the gentlemen for the rest of their walk.

The following days were full of impromptu encounters, especially in the mornings when it appears that everyone was out for a walk. Of course, they could not speak without a proper introduction, but the two gentlemen seemed by their attitudes, especially by the Colonel's intrigued look, be aware of who they were. Elizabeth preferred not to know what Lady Catherine had said to her nephews about Mary and her.

From this few glimpsed Elizabeth would say that the most pleasant of the two was Colonel Fitzwilliam, he had in his air and his gait something jovial that made him immediately sympathetic. His cousin, on the contrary, seemed much more reserved, at the limit of coldness, an impression that was accentuated by his appearance and posture. But this aloofness seemed only for them, when Mary and she were present, because Elizabeth had witnessed that when he wasn't aware of their presence yet he seemed very friendly, often laughing with the Colonel. All these thoughts she shared with Mary when they were alone.

"I think your observations are correct, the Colonel seems very agreeable, that's probably why Mr. Darcy asked him to come with him, he would have been quite lonely at Rosings otherwise with only Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourg. But nevertheless, I would say that we should not judge the gentlemen before we have even said a word to them, after all perhaps Mr. Darcy is as pleasant as his cousin in private company. You know, it is not always easy to meet new people and to be graceful in an unknown society"

While answering Mary had a flush on her cheeks, her eyes fixed on the floor, and immediately Elizabeth felt remorse, she didn't mean to slight her sister, she didn't think that Mary could compare herself to Mr. Darcy. They had in the past weeks spoke about Mary's former behaviour, Mary was mortified to see how her manners had been perceived as conceit and pedantic when she only wanted to do her best and be appreciated.

"You seem to be much wiser than me, little sister. I readily admit that you are right and that I will not judge the two gentlemen before having spoken to them. No, even better, I would even hold back any judgment before leaving, so that I would have a perfect overview! But be careful I risk being as pragmatic as Charlotte or as kind as Jane, and then you'll have only yourself to blame" Elizabeth replied happily, hoping to change her sister's mind.

A week after the gentlemen's arrival, on Easter-day, they were invited to spend the evening at Rosings. Finally, it was in the drawing room of Rosings that Lady Catherine made the proper presentations between her guests and her nephews. Colonel Fitzwilliam immediately made a good impression by engaging a conversation with the three guests, asking them questions after questions, his attention especially turned toward Mary and Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy contented himself with offering the necessary politeness, a frown still marbling his forehead, and quickly turned his attention to Lady Catherine, who had summoned him to sit near her and her daughter.

Elizabeth was not disappointed with the evening, never during her stay in Kent had she spent such a pleasant evening at Rosings. The Colonel was most truly the gentleman, he had sat down with her and Mary while Mr. Collins left to attend Lady Catherine, and spent the time before the dinner entertaining them as best he could. They had spent a good part of the evening discussing music and literature, the pleasures of nature, the invigorating effect of morning walks, the joys of travel and correspondence between siblings.

Their conversation was so pleasant and lively that they soon attracted the attention of others in the room. Mr. Collins looked with indulgence his wife and sister discussing so pleasantly, but Lady Catherine seemed slightly wrathful of the distraction while Mr. Darcy seemed intrigued eyeing alternatively his cousin and the two ladies. Lady Catherine couldn't stand to be left from a conversation and demanded to his nephew to share the subject of their conversation.

"We are discussing the joys of music, aunt," replied the Colonel, his head still turned toward the two Bennets sisters, hoping to resume the conversation without further interruption.

Unfortunately, Lady Catherine was fixed to have a part in the conversation, exclaiming her pleasure of music and her untapped talent for this art. Then again, she turned her attention to Mr. Darcy, questioning him about his sister dedication for her lessons. Elizabeth was interested to learn more about Mr. Darcy, and she was frankly surprised to learn about his sister. She was moved to hear the gentleman speak so tenderly of his sister, apparently Mr. Darcy was very pride of her and her accomplishments.

However, she wondered why she had not come to Rosings, after all she was also Lady Catherine's niece, it was surprising she didn't accompany her brother. But Elizabeth's reflexion was stopped when she heard Lady Catherine talk about Mary and her to his nephews.

"There is no instrument in the presbytery and, as there isn't such thing as too much practice, I generously offered to Mrs. Collins and her sister to come to practice pianoforte in the room of Mrs. Jenkinson. After all, they would be in nobody's way in that part of the house "

Elizabeth was a little bit startled by this remark, her eyes flying immediately towards Mr. Darcy and the Colonel Fitzwilliam. She was glad to detect some discomfort from Mr. Darcy, maybe the gentleman wasn't entirely like his aunt after all, and to see an embarrassed rictus on the Colonel's face.

The dinner was once again exquisite, the table displaying all the traditional Easter dishes and Elizabeth gladly acknowledged that she had never tasted such a good Simnel cake. And soon it was time for the ladies to return to the drawing room to make the tea while the men remained to enjoy some port and smoke.

Once the ladies gone, the dining room was an awkward picture, the three gentlemen didn't seem to know what to speak about, on who to focus their eyes or even what to do with their hands. The Colonel was the first to regain his spirit, walking to the port to pour them a drink. Mr. Collins was a conundrum, the Colonel wasn't sure what to speak with him, they only talked for a few minutes at the start of the evening before the Parson was summoned by Lady Catherine. During a good part of the evening Mr. Collins had not made a good impression, always trying to please and to coax his aunt or Darcy and him. It was a mystery that he could had secured Mrs. Collins as his wife, the two sisters were unassuming and charming, they didn't seem to care about his father or his rank, they didn't try to draw Darcy in their conversation. But during the evening, the Colonel had had some visions of the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Collins, they seemed to share a deep affection for each other, the tender looks they shared during the meal was all the proof the Colonel needed. Maybe the man had more to him than just being Lady Catherine's sycophant Parson.

Of course, Darcy would not help him in this case, he would just smoke and drink in moderation, waiting impatiently that the appropriate amount of time had passed to join the ladies. But the Colonel was resolved to be pleasant with Mr. Collins, only for the sake of Mrs. Collins and Miss Bennet. But at his surprise he didn't have to find a subject, the Parson already had one.

"You seem to have a gift to make you appreciate in all the companies, Colonel Fitzwilliam," remarked Mr. Collins.

The Colonel hoped that the pastor would not use the flattery he used for his aunt on him.

"It's easy to please your companions when they are as charming as your wife and sister. I need to congratulate you for your recent marriage, and especially for the choice of your wife "

At this answer Mr. Collins blushed slightly, perhaps by the memory that it had taken two refusals to finally choose Mary Bennet, and warmly thanked the Colonel pointing out that indeed he had been very lucky. The conversation then continued, the Colonel asking some questions about Mrs. Collins and Miss Bennet, who was apparently one of the rectory's favourites subject and seemed the least likely to cause an unwitting outburst of flattery. Surprisingly, more the time passed and more the Colonel found his interlocutor sympathetic, the man was not particularly brilliant or impressive, but he was not petty and the pleasure he had to discuss his family made him likeable. The Colonel could well excuse his tendency to get carried away at Rosings, in front of his aunt, after all Lady Catherine often had this tendency on the people who depended on her. Perhaps in the intimacy of the presbytery, near the calm Mrs. Collins, the man was more serene.

Finally, the conversation came to an end and the three gentlemen agreed to join the ladies, when they entered the Colonel almost laughed when he saw Miss Bennet's face. Apparently, Lady Catherine took the time of the separation to give again advices to the sisters on their different accomplishments and Miss Bennet didn't seem to enjoy it. Thankfully the arrival of Darcy seemed enough to distract Lady Catherine, and the Colonel took the opportunity to save the two sisters.

"As we have discussed music earlier, and Mr. Collins has just assured me that you were charming players, perhaps you would be kind enough to play for us now"

Elizabeth was not sure she wanted to play in front of this audience, which had probably heard better musicians than her. She was not afraid to play but she would rather not play in front of strangers who did not have the same generosity to her talents as her friends in Hertfordshire. But Mary did not hesitate for a moment and settled down at the pianoforte, her talent was still equal to what it was at Longbourn, but her manners had softened, her air was less pedantic, which made her performance more enjoyable for the audience.

Then, it was Elizabeth's turn to play and as usual the audience, or at least the gentlemen, were charmed. Her skills at the instrument were not what made the demonstration pleasant, Mary was her superior in technic, but the obvious pleasure she took, the feelings she put in the playing and her simple manner gave a very charming picture.

At the request of the gentlemen, the two sisters remained on the instrument, playing even a few duets, until the evening ended, and the carriage of Lady Catherine were offered to Mrs. Collins. On their way to the Parsonage the Collins and Elizabeth agreed it was one of their most pleasant evening at Rosings, and praised the Colonel's manners and character. But for Elizabeth it was a pity that the rest of his family wasn't as agreeable.

Shortly after the end of the evening, while discussing the evening with Darcy in his room, the Colonel thought that the addition of the Collins was a blessing, they would be a good distraction from the inhabitants of Rosings. He wondered what would be the most appropriate time to call on them, and if he should try to convince Darcy to come with him.