Elizabeth was so busy dancing so much that she hadn't realised that her mother had made a fool of herself again. They were eating breakfast the next morning in the dining room and Jane was telling her of how their mother had behaved. Lydia and Kitty meanwhile were in the living room with Lydia rambling on about the men she'd danced with. Mary was also in the living room playing the piano. Though Elizabeth was hardly surprised, she still wished that somehow her mother had understood not to talk too much in front of people. Clearly, her wishes were unanswered.
"She kept on interrogating Mr Bingley and then telling everyone that he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend soon and then he will ask me to marry him. Mr Darcy was right next to her when she told Mrs Lucas. I was so embarrassed."
"Oh I'm so sorry I wasn't there to stop her but really I wouldn't care if Mr Darcy heard. We shouldn't care what he thinks."
"Lizzy if this is about Mr Wickham then I think he was probably exaggerating slightly about Mr Darcy. He is a man of high class and he couldn't have been that cruel.
"I don't know Jane. Jealousy can make you very stupid. His father loved Mr Wickham more and Mr Darcy couldn't stand it."
Before they could argue any longer on their opinions their mother entered and said, "Jane I need you in the living room…now!" She said her eyes wide trying to signal something to Jane. Elizabeth looked at her sister questioningly then back to her mother.
Jane answered, "I was eating breakfast."
"You can eat it later. Mr Collins wants to talk to Elizabeth alone." Elizabeth's eyes widened as she acknowledged Mr Collins behind her mother smiling at her. She looked at Jane with a stern face trying to tell her to stay but mother started tugging at her. Her sister made an apologetic face to her before leaving. Mr Collins and Elizabeth were alone in the dining room. Elizabeth felt the sudden urge to flee the room but that would be very rude. Mr Collins strode in looking around the room, "What a fine dining room. Lady Catherine would approve…if it were a little bigger." Elizabeth stiffened as he came toward her and she immediately tried to politely turn her head.
Mr Collins cleared his throat before saying, "Elizabeth I want to tell you that as soon as I came here I singled you out as the most beautiful girl I've ever met. "
"Mr Coll – "
"Please call me Henry," He said. "My intentions of coming to Longbourne was to find someone who would make me happy and be with me. As soon as I entered the house I sensed that you would make a very good companion. However it is off course too soon to ask you to be my wife so I will ask you Elizabeth Bennet to be my girlfriend. Now I know you are very grateful but be assured you are not the only one. I too am grateful to have such an amiable girl –"
Elizabeth couldn't stand it any longer, "Mr Collins! I am very sorry but I cannot be your girlfriend."
He faltered for a second not knowing how to reply. He didn't even dream for a moment that Elizabeth would refuse him. How could she? He smiled before answering, "Lady Catherine did inform me of how young girls have the habit of playing 'hard to get' and I must tell you now that this is only making me like you more. So really – "
"Mr Collins," She interrupted him again. I am not the type of girl to play hard to get. I have no intention of going out with anyone right now. I have given you my final answer that I have no intention of being your girlfriend and will never ever be your wife either."
Mr Collins was exasperated, "Elizabeth you know I work for Lady Catherine de Bourgh herself and make more money than you could ever dream to" He shook his head, " You know you might not get such an offer like this again."
Elizabeth could not believe his words, "Goodbye Mr Collins." She quickly left an astonished Collins knocking into her mother as she ran out the door.
"Lizzie! Lizzie come back here right now!" Her mother shrieked as she pushed past her. Elizabeth could hear her assuring Mr Collins that Elizabeth would be back, apologise, and off course be his girlfriend. She huffed, never.
Unfortunately, her mother was running right behind her as she reached the living room to see her father was also there, reading.
"Mr Bennet look up from your book for once and solve this crisis."
Mr Bennet sighed barely looking up, "What is the crisis this time, dear."
"Lizzie has refused to be Mr Collins's girlfriend. And now the danger is that Mr Collins might not want her to be his girlfriend. You must persuade her to accept." Kitty and Lydia gasped and giggled but Mary continued playing not in the least bit interested.
Elizabeth turned to her mother, "No I will not mama."
" Oh yes you will Elizabeth. This is your only chance to be able to have a good life. If he likes you he will marry you and then you can have this house."
Elizabeth bit her tongue from shouting out her thoughts of Mr Collins and simply said, "You cannot make me."
"Mr Bennet do something! I'll never speak to her again if she doesn't accept!"
Mr Bennet got up from his chair and looked at his favourite daughter directly, "Lizzie you know what your mother is stating. She is saying that she will never speak to you again if you do not go out with Mr Collins and I will never speak to you again…if you do."
Elizabeth smiled as she jumped up to give her father a hug. Her father embraced his daughter tightly saying, "I would never want you to go out with a man like him let alone marry him."
"Oh we are all doomed!" Mrs Bennet screamed while Elizabeth ran upstairs to tell her sister everything that had happened.