When Lydia's elopement became public, Charlotte had written Elizabeth that Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine insisted that they should cut their friendship but assured her that she had no intentions to follow suit. They kept in touch through regular letters but they were cut abruptly. Although she didn't know how or why, Elizabeth supposed the ban had been enforced and regretted it sorely.

Elizabeth went to bed late that night. After all her duties had been completed she had sat down with paper, pens and a candle, and had written her first letter to her dear friend in a long time.

"It is by a strange means that this letter reaches you, my dear Charlotte, and I ignore how or when I'll be able to write to you again. I hope your things are going well and your children are in good health. I think of you, often, and I miss you, my dear Charlotte. My sister's folly made me a fallen woman, and I accept my share of responsibility, but I am your friend and I hope I can still call you so."

Such were the contents of her letter, though in many more words. She didn't say much about herself, less about Jane and nothing at all about Lydia. While she knew it wasn't honourable or respectable, she wondered for a moment or two whether it was going to be read by third parties. Mr. Collins, certainly, but also, perhaps, Mr. Darcy.

-"Miss Josephine, Miss Bennet, good morning," Mr. Darcy tipped his hat while crossing them on the street stall where they had stopped to buy a biscuit.

Both females curtsied, one of them feeling very important and the other a little flushed.

-"Mr. Darcy, would you like a piece of my biscuit?" Josephine offered.

-"You're very generous, Miss, but I do not want to spoil my appetite for lunch. Lady Georgiana would be very upset if I didn't finish my soup," he replied. "Do you have one for your brother? No? Here's a penny, go get him one."

Josephine obeyed and took the coin in her little hand, and went up to the fat woman selling the biscuits for a second helping.

-"I have not received your letter," he said quietly and not looking at Elizabeth. "Perhaps I should not wait for it?" and his eyes roamed about her face pausing just for a second on her mouth before going off and down to his cane.

-"I am not quite sure it is... that Mrs. Collins still counts me among her acquaintances," Elizabeth replied hardly above a whisper.

Mr. Darcy arched an eyebrow but the gesture was quite concealed under the brim of his hat and only for Elizabeth to see.

-"I am sure she does. She speaks of you as her friend," and Mr. Darcy nodded but looked to Josephine, who was now back with two more biscuits. "Do not eat them on your own or you will be ill," he admonished the little girl.

-"Thank you, Mr. Darcy," Josephine said dutifuly. "I will not eat this one but give it to Edward."

-"Goodbye, Miss Josephine," he bowed slightly, "Miss Elizabeth", he added looking at her straight in the eye for the first time during that morning.

-"Goodbye Mr. Darcy", they curtsied but he was already gone.

Mrs. Collins had heard her husband mentioning excitedly that Mr. Darcy would soon come to Rosings, and wondered what was so remarkable about a yearly visit. Maybe it was that her husband was bored, she mused, but she wasn't interested in delving any deeper in what caused his moods to soar.

Mrs. Collins rubbed her abdomen swollen with her third child, expected to be born in midsummer, and grabbed the basked with the meal for the chickens on her way out. Her children, two boys, were playing in the garden with the nursemaid and she could hear their shrieks of glee. Her husband was away, visiting some of his parishioners.

A tall gentleman stopped by and she recognised Mr. Darcy at once, and as it was expected of her, she invited him in for tea. Mr. Darcy accepted, and a little later they were seating in her small parlour before the steaming teapot and cups.

-"I am glad to see you in good health and find the parsonage in such good shape," Mr. Darcy began as usual.

This time Mrs. Collins wasn't quite sure which was the purpose of Mr. Darcy's visit.

-"Thank you, Mr. Darcy. You seem in good health yourself too," she replied quietly.

-"Lady Georgiana heard you excel at hosting unanounced guests for tea, and sends you this tea case," he said as he handed her a mahogany box carved in the Chinese style.

Mrs. Collins had already received a few very pretty things from Lady Catherine, but this one was also useful and valuable.

-"Oh," she couldn't hide her surprise. "It's beautiful, Mr. Darcy. Oh, I shall write and thank Lady Georgiana for this gift", and her smile lit up her eyes.

Mr. Darcy thought Mrs. Collins had described herself appropriately when she had used the word "plain", but now he also thought she had a certain charm. "It's because she's Elizabeth's friend", he suddenly thought, and it made sense.

-"You may want to write two replies, then," he said handing her Elizabeth's letter. "I will be glad to carry both with me next week when I return to town."

Mrs. Collins brow furrowed with this addition but the moment she saw her own name in a familiar handwriting her eyebrows shot up and her eyes asked a mute question, one she wouldn't formulate and he wouldn't reply other than by looking bored and not blinking, and then, most likely to his dismay, a tiny grin slowly stretched her lips.

Mr. Darcy knew that Mrs. Collins was thinking that only Elizabeth Bennet would make him call on to the Hunsford parsonage, and he admitted to himself that she was right. But being in Mrs. Collins' society was no punishment, he had discovered, and he took pleasure in the most enjoyable thing there was in visiting his aunt.