Introduction: Hi everyone. I am re-writing this chapter and the next 2 or so. I am just making a few changes here and there so clarity and historical accuracy's stake. The first 3ish chapters are on the shorter side and are really there to set up the story + context. The story will start to become more interesting as time goes on.
-Dorothea
Elizabeth stared out the window of the carriage at the rolling green hills and dense forest as they passed by her. She was only hours from beginning a new life, a life she did not want to lead. She had always imagined getting married to someone she truly loved and who loved her back but towards Mr. Collins she felt no love and though he had tried his best to convince her, Elizabeth was certain he didn't love her either. He simply needed a wife to present a good example to members of his parish, and of course the "Honorable Lady Catherine de Bourgh". The expression brought a small smile to Elizabeth's lips as she recalled Mr. Collins' strange admiration for Lady de Bourgh. If Mr. Collins could marry the lady, he would.
The smile quickly faded as Elizabeth became acutely aware that the obnoxious and rude clergyman would be her husband the following morning. She would have to deal with all his awful quirks for the rest of her life, all while in competition with the stiff widow who lived in Rosings.
Mrs. Elizabeth Collins. She repeated the name over and over and hated the sound of it. It seemed entirely wrong. Maybe it was simply the negative association with the name "Collins" but whatever it was Elizabeth was certain she hated it. She wished that the carriage ride would never end so she could stay Ms. Elizabeth Bennet forever.
When Mr. Collins had proposed; he had been at Longbourn for some 2 months. Overstaying, quite clearly, on the family's kindness. He had only written 3 days before he arrived at their door. Mr. Bennet had just received Mr. Collins' letter in the morning and he arrived in the evening. Elizabeth remembered how panicked her mother had become as she rushed to prepare the house for its future heir.
From the beginning of his time at Longbourn, Mr. Collins proved to be an awful guest. It seemed to him that the house was already his, his verbal abuse of the servants was hard to witness and his table manners were atrocious. Elizabeth could hear Kitty and Lydia snickering to themselves whenever he dropped food into his lap (which happened often) or spilled his drink (thrice). It made Elizabeth die inside. Jane was so mortified she could not meet Elizabeth's gaze.
Jane had been the original target of Mr. Collins' advances which she became immediately and acutely aware of. She became even more quiet than usual and spent long hours in her room. Mr. Collins was clearly not a man of strong conviction and he soon abandoned his pursuit of Jane. At first Elizabeth had been relieved on Jane's behalf but then Mr. Collins began to pursue her (the second most beautiful Bennet sister) instead, Elizabeth could only curse Jane's clever escape.
Elizabeth's long solitary daily walks were soon interrupted by Mr. Collins presence. He did not ask whether she wanted his company (the answer would be a polite but strong no) and Elizabeth did not want to offend the future heir of her family home, so she walked with Mr. Collins. He of course tried to make conversation mostly about Rosings Park, his work, Lady Catherine and her boring daughter Anne. Everything was about him. Even if Elizabeth had wanted to carry on a conversation with him, he hardly provided any openings. So her responses were limited to "yes" and nods of her head. All the while Elizabeth was quietly resentful, Mr. Collins had infiltrated her space and ruined the moments she loved most: her daily walks.
Mr. Collins must have interpreted her lack of resistance as genuine interest in him and proposed to her a day before he had finally decided to leave. Elizabeth had been sitting with Jane in the drawing room working on needlework, enjoying the comfortable silence she shared with her sister. Mr. Collins uncermounsly entered the room and loudly pronounced that he needed to speak to Elizabeth alone and directly and poor Jane was forced to leave her needle work and be banished from the room. Elizabeth had watched Jane leave with envy, wishing she wasn't alone with Mr. Collins. He had sat next to her (too close) and had complimented her needlework (which was mediocre at best) before launching into what appeared to be a prepared speech about the necessity of marriage as a clergyman. That it was his OBLIGATION to set a good example for his parishioners by having a wife. In short, he could not preach on the sanctity and importance of marriage while still single. Mr. Collins talked highly of himself for a good few minutes before he turned and looked Elizabeth directly in the eye. She was able to observe his pug-like face and pathetic expression before he asked her to marry him. Elizabeth, somewhat in shock and somewhat running on autopilot, politely refused him and provided "not being ready for marriage'' as her excuse. But Mr. Collins was predictably persistent. He asked again and reminded her that her poor situation and lack of dowry guaranteed a lack of marriage prospects. This only further angered Elizabeth. Even within the confines of a marriage proposal Mr. Collins still managed to be arrogant and unappealing! Elizabeth realized she had to be more forceful in her refusal to show him she was not interested. It didn't seem to work. Every excuse was refuted and every plea fell on deaf ears. It seemed the more Elizabeth resisted, the more convinced Mr. Collins became. She had no choice by to seek some help in this matter.
Eventually Mr. Bennet became involved and soon followed his wife. Her father was squarely against the match but Mrs. Bennet threw herself in defense of it. The argument between them became so loud it could be heard throughout the house and Elizabeth could only listen, . Bennett implored her husband, saying that this was Elizabeth's first and likely last proposal and it was best not to be picky. Besides it meant one fewer mouth to feed. Mr. Bennet threatened to cut off funds for new dresses for Mrs. Bennet and the younger girls if his wife did not relent but Mrs. Bennet one-upped her husband by racing up to the roof and standing with her leg dangling off the edge whilst threatening to jump off and kill herself if Elizabeth did not marry Mr. Collins. The whole family along with all the servants stood and watched her from the front lawn. Kitty and Lydia were screaming hysterically while Jane cried softly. The servants attempted to convince Mrs. Bennet to come down with no results. Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth could not utter a word. Elizabeth had never felt worse in her life. Mrs. Bennet was a silly and melodramatic person, and Mr. Bennett and Elizabeth did not believe she had it in her to actually jump. However, if they were wrong, they would never be able to forgive themselves. Elizabeth relented and agreed to marry Mr. Collins.
It didn't seem like Mr. Collins was much affected by the events that had just transpired or the reason why Elizabeh had finally accepted his proposal; he was happy all the same. And just like that, Elizabeth was an engaged woman, but thank God her mother was still alive.