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Mr Collins' Proposal

The following day, Mr Collins stood after lunch.

"I apologise for the inconvenience, but I hoped I could have a few minutes to speak to my cousin alone."

Mrs Bennet immediately flew into a state of excitement. There was only one reason that a proper man would wish to speak with a proper woman alone, and that was to propose marriage. Think of it - Jane nearly engaged, and the problem of Lizzy solved as well? Nothing could be more ideal.

"Oh, yes!" she said. "Come, all of you, and give Mr Collins and Lizzy the room."

"My dear Mrs Bennet, you mistake me," said Mr Collins. "I would speak with Miss Mary."

The room seemed to gasp all at once. Mary's cheeks coloured, and she appeared to be the most legitimately happy that Elizabeth could recall seeing her.

Mrs Bennet opened her mouth, then closed it, then finally recovered her composure enough to say "Of course! Everyone else, out."

Now, of course, 'out' meant that they left the room, but they did not go far. Mrs Bennet pressed her ear against the door to hear what was happening. Jane and Lizzy stood behind everyone else and shared a smile.

"Oh!" cried Mrs Bennet. "Oh! He is telling her why he wishes to take a wife!"

They waited some minutes as Mr Collins had apparently put together quite a speech.

"And she says yes!"

With that, the eavesdroppers could no longer stand it and burst back into the room. Mary was beaming and had tears on her cheeks. Mr Collins looked exceedingly happy.

"My darling Mary!" Mrs Bennet said, sweeping Mary up into an embrace. All of her sisters crowded around, smiling and congratulating the couple.

However, one step still needed to be taken. Mr Collins solemnly visited Mr Bennet in the study and asked for permission to wed Mary. Elizabeth was very glad that she was not in the room, as there is no way she and her father would have maintained their collective composure. As it was, she heard Mr Bennet snicker-cough in very much the same way she was known to do (indeed, she had learnt the trick from him). Mr Collins seemed not to notice, though, and came out of the study beaming to announce that Mr Bennet very much wished for the union to take place, and was so overcome with emotion that he actually appeared to have tears in his eyes. Elizabeth bit her lip, knowing that no good would come of her having a laughing fit as well.

It was a joyous time in the Bennet household. Mary was to be married to the designee of the entail, which solved two problems at once. Elizabeth was relieved that Mary was to be the problem solver and that it did not fall on her shoulders. Jane glowed (as did her mother) with thoughts of Mr Bingley, and soon something happened that delighted the younger girls as well. When Mr Bingley heard of the engagement, he offered to host a ball in honour of the engaged couple.

"I do think it to be proper for a clergyman such as myself to attend a ball in his own honour," said Mr Collins, "particularly because it will give me an additional opportunity to serve as a pious example for the people of Hertfordshire."

"Yes," replied Mary, solemnly. "I do believe that you have a duty to share your grace with the world."

Elizabeth and Mr Bennet were both getting much better at restraining themselves during these moments, as they had had plenty of practice over the previous few days.

The ball had to be put together quickly to accommodate Mr Collins' return to Hunsford ("I cannot wait to tell Lady Catherine de Bourgh that I have granted her fondest wish!") but Mr Bingley managed, and it was quite as much of an event as his previous ball.

Darcy knew that he would struggle. There was no chance that Elizabeth would not be there, as the ball was in her sister's honour. In addition, Caroline had travelled to London to make arrangements for her wedding dress, so he did not even have her to distract him. Thankfully, he did have a lifetime of not letting his feelings show, so he prepared himself as well as he could for what was coming.

It was almost too much for him when Elizabeth walked into the ballroom, dressed in a lovely pink dress that picked up the colour in her cheeks. He thought back to the touch of her hand, and he knew that, just for a moment, his emotions were showing on his face. He composed himself as quickly as possible and wandered out to the gardens where he did not need to be so guarded.

As for Elizabeth, she gave Mr Darcy not a single thought. She was delighted to attend a ball in her sister's honour, she was delighted that Mary was happy, and she was especially delighted that one of the officers in attendance was paying particular attention to her friend Charlotte Lucas. However, there was one thing that did not delight her - she had hoped to see Mr Wickham at the ball, as she knew that all the local officers had been invited. However, no matter where she looked, she could not find him.

She finally located Mr Denny and enquired after Mr Wickham.

"It was the strangest thing," Denny said. "He seemed thrilled at the idea of a ball, but when he found out it was at Netherfield, he suddenly said that he had other plans for tonight. I have not been able to get out of him what those plans were."

Curious. Did Mr Wickham and Mr Bingley have history of some sort? Elizabeth could imagine no other reason why the mention of Netherfield would make him change his mind. She made a note to ask him the next time she saw him.

Darcy was not to be left on his own the entire evening. Bingley found him and cried that there were young ladies sitting because there were not partners to be had. It was only proper that Mr Darcy make himself available. With a long sigh, he followed Bingley back inside. He was not paying close attention to where Bingley was headed; if he had been, he might have been able to avert the coming crisis. Bingley led him right to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who was seated. There was no graceful way to avoid dancing with her.

"Miss Elizabeth, would you do me the honour?" he said with a stiff bow.

"Mr Darcy, I expected that you would have a dance partner for tonight. Where is your intended?"

"Caroline has travelled to London."

"Ah, so you are here all alone. Yes, I will dance with you. I know how fond you are of the activity and I would not want to deny it to you."

He glanced at her, unable to tell if she was joking or if she misunderstood him that badly. The sparkle in her eyes answered his question for him. If only she were not so charming (and lovely, added his mind), it would be easier to put her from his thoughts. He knew that the upcoming dance would be both blissful and terribly difficult for him.

Elizabeth danced as she did everything else that she loved - with delight. It did not matter to her that she was once again partnered with Mr Darcy. A quick glance down the line showed Jane dancing with Mr Bingley and Charlotte dancing with the officer she had been speaking with. Mary and Mr Collins were seated and receiving congratulations from all of the attendees. Mrs Bennet was speaking with her friends, and Elizabeth did not begrudge her mother her happiness in this moment. If only, she thought, there was someone there for her as well, and her thoughts returned to the charming Mr Wickham.

Darcy recognised that Elizabeth's mind was wandering. He tried to reassure himself that this was good - the less he stood out to her, the better. Imagine the trouble if she were to reciprocate! Unfortunately for him, he imagined a bit too much. In his mind, he was just lifting her delicate hand to kiss it when -

"I would imagine, Mr Darcy, that it is quite difficult to have Miss Bingley away."

He shook the dangerous thoughts out of his head. "Caroline prefers to do things according to her own schedule, and I am accustomed to that," he said.

"How fortunate to make a match with the sister of your dearest friend!" said Elizabeth. "She is truly so lovely."

"But there are things aside from beauty that make an ideal match."

Why had he said that? He was slipping, and Fitzwilliam Darcy never slipped.

"I imagine so," said Elizabeth. "I suspect that sort of love might come along only once in a lifetime."

Darcy suspected that some people might not even get that - he had never intended to, in spite of all the accomplished women with whom he was acquainted. But here she was in front of him, and each time he beheld her, each time he spoke with her, it became more and more difficult to remind himself that, even if she felt the same way, he could never have her.

The dance ended. Darcy bowed and made his escape as quickly as was politely possible. He could not risk another mistake. The next one might give him away entirely.

Elizabeth stared after him. She had hoped that, for Jane and Bingley's sake, she and Mr Darcy might be cordial with one another. Each time she spoke with him he made it increasingly clear that he could barely stand to be in the same room as her. What was so deficient about her that caused such a reaction?