Chapter 32: A goodbye
Mr Collins stood bewildered at the library. Did she refuse me? What is wrong with her? What will Lady Katherine say? I cannot go back without a wife? His ego hurt at being blatantly rejected.
Elizabeth confided about his proposal to Jane.
"Aren't we luck Jane, both of us get proposals in the same week?"
"Lizzy, please do be serious. Mr Collins just met you once. It is ridiculous. We need to tell papa about his intentions."
"That is right. He looked stunned as if there was no way I could refuse him. He may offer for the rest of the Bennet girls, if I am right."
Mr Bennet did not take the news lightly.
"What nonsense is this? Lizzy, I am sorry I put you in a position to listen to his talk. I am sure it must have given you a headache. I am going to summon him and ask him to leave immediately."
"Papa, I don't think it will be right. He is our cousin after all."
"Jane, I do not want him around any of you."
Jane and Elizabeth convinced Mr Bennet not to take any harsh action. He agreed. But he did not want to be the father who ignored his family anymore. He summoned Mr Collins.
"Mr Collins, what is this I hear about? Your intentions towards my daughter?"
"Sir, as a humble servant to my patroness Lady Katherine…I…."
Mr Bennet cut him off.
"I do not want you to blabber all that nonsense which you subjected my daughter to. If intended to step into this house to marry one of my daughters, then I have to tell you that it puts you in a very bad light. You have not even known my daughter for a week, how could you ask for her hand? I am warning you. I have all the intentions to send you out of my home today."
"Mr Bennet, Sir, I thought it was a good proposal for Miss Elizabeth. Considering her health and of course her dowry."
Mr Bennet was enraged. He stepped closer to Mr Collins.
"The merits of this proposal would not entice her even in her dreams. You need not worry about her dowry, nor do you have to worry about what will happen to this family after my death. I am alive now, and I ask you to stop. If you want to stay here as you planned, you are never to approach any of my daughters without a chaperone. Do you understand?"
Mr Collins decided to agree. He nodded his head and left the angry Mr Bennet.
Mr Bennet realised the herculean difference in the words of Mr Collins and Mr Darcy when they had offered for Elizabeth. He felt guilty for being rude to the man who had saved his daughter.
A couple of days passed.
One morning, as Elizabeth and Jane were sitting in the parlour, they saw the Darcy carriage approaching. Elizabeth was agitated. It was almost a week since she had seen Darcy.
She was equally disappointed and relieved when she saw only Georgiana, Mr Bingley and Richard enter.
Georgiana embraced Elizabeth and Jane.
"Lizzy, I missed you so much. How are you?"
"I am well, Georgi. How have you been?
Georgiana wanted to express how utterly boring it was to be in Netherfield without Elizabeth's company, but she did not want to upset Mr Bingley.
They decided to go on a stroll in the garden. Mr Bingley and Jane were engrossed with each other.
Richard, Elizabeth and Georgiana walked together.
"I am leaving now. William has arranged for me to go to Town."
"Oh! I am sorry to hear that. Are you going alone? I mean is Mr Darcy accompanying you?"
Richard noticed the hesitancy in Elizabeth's voice as she mentioned Darcy's name.
"No, I will accompany Georgiana. She will stay at my house till Darcy returns. He has no intentions of leaving Netherfield at present." He smiled reassuringly.
Elizabeth felt a pang of joy. Silly girl! What if he stays? Nothing changes.
Just then, Mr Collins saw them and ran towards them.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam, I cannot imagine what Lady Katherine would say if I tell her that I met you in Hertfordshire. I am most happy to tell you that she was in excellent health and spirits when I left her last week."
Elizabeth was surprised. The colonel told her that they were acquainted during their visit to Rosing's that year.
Mr Collins walked along with Georgiana, filling her with news about her aunt and her cousin.
"It is indeed a small world. I did not expect to meet him until next year. It is indeed a gift." Richard said with a wink.
Elizabeth smiled.
"I have never met him till he came to Longbourn last week. He has kept us lively."
"You should see the conversations between Darcy and him. It is utterly humorous."
Elizabeth could imagine how Darcy would react to her cousin's talks. She laughed.
"Miss Elizabeth, I hope you did not have any disagreement with Darcy before you left. Pardon me for being so blunt, but he has been in a foul mood off late and I know when he goes into his shell there is no way of bringing him back."
"There is no misunderstanding as such. I cannot imagine what is bothering Mr Darcy."
"As I told you before, he has been easily misunderstood by many. I hope you both can have a conversation soon."
Elizabeth did not know what to say. They heard Mr Collins talk about Anne De Bourgh and Darcy's engagement.
Richard noticed Elizabeth's face darken.
"Mr Collins, I would warn you to stop spreading such false news. Whatever my aunt has been telling you is only her wishes. There is no engagement between my cousins and as per Darcy, there will never be. As a man of God, I hope you can stop spreading falsehood."
Elizabeth was shocked. Richard gestured to Elizabeth to walk with him.
"I think my aunt can never change and nor can Mr Collins."
"What do you mean?"
"My aunt has always wanted to have Darcy as her son-in-law. She tried to convince everyone that Darcy's mother wanted him to marry Anne. But it is not true. This is all her story. Darcy has tried to reason with her every year to stop this talk, but to no avail. Anne is almost like a sister to us. There is no engagement between her and Darcy."
Elizabeth's happiness knew no bounds. Richard not
iced how her face lit up.
"Miss Elizabeth, please do not allow situations or people to confuse you. I hope you can talk to Darcy. As a well-wisher, I do not want both of you to misunderstand each other on any front."
"I will. Thank you."
Georgiana left promising Elizabeth that she would write to her every day.
Elizabeth's felt a sudden relief from all her worries. He is not engaged. How stupid of me to have believed Mr Collins? I have always been prejudiced towards him. Only if I had spoken to him before I left Netherfield. How stupid was I?
I have misunderstood him so many times. What if I misunderstood the intention of his proposal as well? I need to speak to him.
She asked Jane if they could go to Netherfield the next day.
"Lizzy, what is it?"
"I need to speak with Mr Darcy. Please let us go."
So, the next day Elizabeth and Jane set off to Netherfield. The day was warmer and bright. Elizabeth was positive that she would be able to talk to Darcy and clear things on her mind. As they neared Netherfield she felt anxious.
They entered the house and found Mrs Hurst, Miss Bingley, and Mr Bingley seated.
Mr Bingley was surprised and happy to see Jane. Mrs Hurst hugged Elizabeth.
"I am so happy to see you, Elizabeth. How have you been? I wanted to come to Longbourn to see you. But Dr. James says the baby would be early. And I need to be on rest."
They talked happily, but Elizabeth searched for Darcy. Where is he?
"Lizzy, Louisa wants to give a tour of all the rooms and the mistress chambers. Do you want to come with us?"
"No, Jane. I will wait here."
Elizabeth assumed Miss Bingley would leave, but she stayed back.
She observed Miss Bingley. Her face showed the same pride and resentment.
"Miss Elizabeth, it is unfortunate that you have such a big scar. I am sure you won't be able to forget the incident with a scar like that."
Elizabeth winced inwardly. I will not give you the satisfaction of upsetting me.
"It is good that I have that scar, Miss Bingley. It reminds me of the adventure that I had and will always remind me of the good people who brought me back safely."
"Oh! Yes! You were lucky that Mr Darcy offered his services. I guess he is always very generous to the lower circles."
"Yes, I am." Where is he?
She wished she had asked Mr Bingley where he was.
"It is so dull here after Georgiana left. No wonder Mr Darcy wanted to leave immediately."
Elizabeth's heart raced.
"What do you mean? Georgiana said that he planned to stay."
"Oh! That is not true. He wanted to leave with them, I suppose. But he rode to Town last evening. I think he will go to Pemberley from there. I am sure I will meet him for Christmas. We always get invited to Pemberley." She said with an air of superiority.
Elizabeth could not believe her ears. He left. I will never see him again. Oh! God! Will I ever do anything right?
She could not sit there anymore. Everything about Netherfield reminded her of him.
She got up and left the house. She wandered aimlessly in the gardens and reached the end of the fields. She hated herself as much as she loved him.
I do not deserve him. I never gave him a chance.
She then heard the sound of a rider. She looked ahead in the field. She saw the rider.
Mr Darcy!
She could not believe her eyes. Darcy saw her and stopped the horse in surprise.
"Elizabeth." He called with emotion.
That was her undoing. She felt a rush of emotions swipe through her like the ocean waves. Tears streamed down her eyes.
What she did next, she never expected to do. She ran. She ran towards the woods.
She did not know why she chose to run away from him when all she wanted was him.
She heard him call after her.
"Elizabeth! Stop!"
But she never stopped. And she never wanted to. Yes! Never!
