"What fun we shall have, Adella!" Lydia declared to her friend as she settled into Piper's carriage.
Lizzy listened to Lydia chatter with Adella contentedly. She was headed home for the holidays with a decidedly large party. Stuffed into the carriage was herself, Phoebe, Josephine, Lydia, Adella, Kitty and her friend Hattie, Mary, Calliope Lovegood, and Jane. Despite Bingley's insistence that Jane invite a particular friend of hers, she had eventually decided she could not single out any one friend and declared she should be satisfied with those of her sisters.
Upon Jane's declaration, Lizzy's quick mind set to work. It was decided that Jane should claim Josephine as her guest to avoid their mother's ire at Lizzy bringing two guests while Jane brought none. Such would also avoid chatter and complaints that it was somehow Lizzy that had won Bingley's favor.
"Shall we fit in as Muggles?" Josephine asked worriedly.
"You'll be fine," Lizzy assured. "And what's more, you will be forever cured of your desire to live as one ever again."
"I'm sure you're exaggerating, Lizzy," Josephine chided.
"Unfortunately, Jo, she is not," said Jane. Ever since her conversation where she had shared her fear of losing Lizzy or another sister to her pardon of a person's flaws, Jane had become increasingly forthright and demanding. She was still very sweet and approachable, but no one could mistake her for an easy target, now. She called the attention of everyone in the carriage and proceeded to lecture them on what would be expected of them in Muggle society.
"Being called 'Miss Weasley' all the time," Phoebe said disgustedly. "I'll feel as though I'm in class, I'm sure. Can I really not ask people to call me by my given name?"
"You cannot," said Jane firmly.
"You may give the privilege to a select lady or two," said Lizzy, "but to allow everyone such a 'liberty' will make you seem crass."
"Merlin's beard, I'm exhausted already," said Phoebe. "I truly thought you had been exaggerating all this time. Perhaps I'll stay home with the younger girls, rather than venture to the ball."
Lizzy laughed. "Perhaps that might have been an option, had you not promised Professor Burbage a lengthy essay."
"That was all Jo's fault!" Phoebe argued.
The rest of the carriage ride was spent engaged in random squabbles and conversations. A few attempted napping at random points, but only Calliope was able to tune out the rest of the noise well enough to succeed.
It was a rather irritable and exhausted group of young women that finally arrived at Longbourn.
"Oh, my darling girls!" Mrs. Bennet shrieked as her daughters and their friends came through the door. "Lydia, how you've grown!"
"Hello, Mama!" Lydia greeted. She smiled widely and bounced on her feet, but was not behaving so ridiculously as Lizzy feared she might upon being reunited with her mother. The sight was encouraging.
Mrs. Bennet seemed momentarily displeased that Lydia did not immediately begin spewing gossip, but cleared the expression quickly to welcome her guests to her home.
"So these are the extra females that shall make my finding a moment's peace impossible in these next weeks," Mr. Bennet said drily, finally coming out of his library.
"Papa, these are our good friends from school," said Jane, and she proceeded to introduce each of them.
"Once you've settled your friends," said Mr. Bennet, addressing his daughters, "I should like to see the lot of you in my study."
Lizzy looked at her father quizzically, but he gave nothing away, aside requesting the presence of his wife, also.
Adella was to stay with Lydia, Hattie with Kitty, and Calliope with Mary. Phoebe and Josephine would share Lizzy's room, while Lizzy moved over to Jane's. Jane had requested she share with Lizzy, claiming sisterly affection. Lizzy did not doubt as much, but also felt fairly confident the next nights would number among the last she would ever share a room with her sister.
After settling their friends, the Bennet girls made their way, as a group, down to their father's study.
"Heaven's sake, girls, how you try my nerves by moving so slowly!" Mrs. Bennet cried.
Lizzy looked to Mary, who was already wincing and noticeably miserable. She gave her sister a concerned look, who only gazed toward the ceiling and took the furthest seat form her mother possible as a response.
"We are to receive one more guest for the holidays on the morrow," Mr. Bennet announced.
Shocked though she was by the news, Lizzy had the good sense not to turn back to Mary and demand details faster than she knew her father would provide verbally.
"Oh, the Gardiners are to come!" Mrs. Bennet gushed. "How cruel of you to keep a thing like my brother's family visiting from me, Mr. Bennet!"
"It is not the Gardiners," Mr. Bennet declared. He proceeded to drag out the explanation of the impending guest by refusing to provide information unless asked directly for it by one of his family members. After far too long a time, the entire story was uncovered.
Mr. Collins, Mr. Bennet's cousin and heir, would be coming to Longbourn to 'heal the breach' that existed between the two families. Mr. Bennet delighted in imparting the knowledge that he had known for weeks but chosen to keep it secret.
The entire family elected to ignore Mrs. Bennet bemoaning her future in the hedgerows and exclaiming over the audacity of Mr. Collins's daring to ask admittance to her house as they discussed further details. Finally, the girls were released back to their friends. Rather than return to their rooms, however, the lot of the Bennet daughters went into the parlor while their mother continued to berate their father.
"Does he mean to marry one of you?" Kitty asked the moment the door was closed. "Is that what Papa meant by 'healing the breach' between our families?"
Lizzy could not help the sense of pride that filled her at Kitty's quick and accurate thinking.
"It is likely, Kitty," Jane answered.
"You can't marry a Muggle!" Lydia burst.
"Rest assured, Lydia, none of us have any such intention," Mary soothed.
"Do tell us Papa's thoughts, Mary!" Kitty begged.
Mary stoutly refused all efforts to get her to divulge the inner workings of their father's mind.
"Mama shall be most displeased," Jane said warily to her sisters.
"Of course she shall be displeased," Lizzy snapped. "When is she otherwise?"
"Lizzy," Jane cautioned. Though she no longer ignored the faults of others, she did not allow such faults to be on the receiving end of ridicule.
"Well, Lizzy, you had best brace yourself," said Lydia. "We all know Mama shall warn Collins off Jane. You'll be next in line – and the only other option, really. Mary's still too young to ask."
"And I shall decline him most decidedly," said Lizzy. "Let us all agree to treat Collins with the respect demanded of a guest, shall we?"
The sisters decided on a plan of action, then adjourned their meeting and joined their friends above stairs. The party only remained indoors a short while longer before all members decided to go for a walk.
"Shall we go see Netherfield, do you think?" Phoebe asked with a suggestive twitch of her eyebrows.
"Is this really necessary?" Phoebe asked.
Lizzy laughed at her friend, who had been complaining the entire time she and Jane were helping Phoebe and Josephine prepare for the day. "Come now, Phoebe, I thought you said living as a Muggle for a few weeks would be quite the fun adventure."
"I didn't think you'd make me deal with stays," said Phoebe.
"Well, you've got to dress the part," said Lizzy unapologetically.
"Can't I just wear my magical underclothes?" Phoebe asked. "No one shall know a thing."
Lizzy only threw a gown at Phoebe as a response.
"You'll get used to them soon enough, Phoebe," said Jane as she twirled Josephine's hair into an acceptable style at the vanity. "Lizzy, be a dear and pick up those pins I dropped."
"Shall we see Bingley today, Jane?" Lizzy asked mischievously.
"He ought to have arrived at Netherfield last night, so yes," said Jane. "Do be careful of your tongue, Lizzy. Remember what we all agreed to."
Lizzy soothed her sister's concerns and returned to doing battle with Phoebe over getting dressed. A few days prior to leaving for the holidays, Jane, Lizzy, Mary, Bingley, and even Mr. Darcy had all sat together in the library and come up with an action plan. They all agreed their going to school together should be kept a secret and to pretend as though they had not seen each other in months. Bingley and Darcy would pretend not to know the Bennet sisters' friends at all. When concerns over Caroline were raised, Bingley gave his firm assurances she would play along.
"There, now you are ready," Jane proclaimed after a rather long period of time.
"This is rather a flattering color," said Josephine, examining her skirts.
"Be careful not to raise them too high, Jo, lest your ankle be seen," said Lizzy in mock sternness.
"I think I should be quite amused if Meryton were to find out about your Quidditch robes, Lizzy," Josephine teased in return.
"Off with the lot of you," said Jane.
"You're not coming?" Phoebe asked.
"No," said Jane, exchanging a look with Lizzy. The pair had agreed that, whenever possible, one of them should be at home to keep an eye on the younger witches and ease Mary's aching head in any way they could. "I shall see Charlotte soon enough. Be on your way!"
Lizzy led her friends down the familiar path to Lucas Lodge, happily breathing in the familiar scents. "I do enjoy the woods surrounding Longbourn," she said.
"Does anything of interest live here?" Phoebe asked, examining the bare treetops.
"An occasional fox is the most exciting creature," Lizzy answered.
Phoebe stumbled in shock. "There are truly no magical creatures here? Not even gnomes?"
Lizzy shook her head. "Mine is the only magical family for miles, or was, until the Bingleys came. We are not enough to attract magical beasts."
"Perhaps I should recommend Hertfordshire to my father," said Phoebe thoughtfully. "He's always complaining about the gnomes in our yard."
Lizzy spotted a very familiar figure ahead and gleefully called out, "Charlotte!" before running toward her friend.
"Lizzy! I am so very happy you've returned!" Charlotte exclaimed as she hugged her friend. "School suits you," she said. "You look very well, indeed."
"As do you, Charlotte," said Lizzy fondly. "Come, meet some of my classmates that are joining me for the holidays." Lizzy beckoned to Phoebe and Josephine, who readily came forward and happily greeted the first Muggle they had interacted with without the intense supervision of their parents.
Lizzy could not have been more pleased with how well her closest Muggle and magical friends got along. When the girls finally parted ways, Josephine declared she would find a way to start a correspondence with Charlotte before leaving.
"How strange," Lizzy observed as she and her friends approached the house. "Lydia detests going outside in the cold."
Lydia, Adella, Kitty, and Hattie were all huddled close together outside, shuffling about the garden.
"Perhaps it was Kitty's idea," Josephine ventured.
Lizzy hastened her pace until she met her sisters and their friends. "Who are you and what have you done with my little sisters that are positively hateful when it comes to cold weather?"
"Mama is beside herself," Kitty supplied.
"She's all in uproar, getting the house ready for Mr. Collins," Lydia added.
Lizzy sighed in spite of the fact that she was pleased Lydia had not reattached herself to her mother, and Kitty had not reattached herself to Lydia. "Well, I shall go help Jane and Mary deal with it."
"No, Lizzy!" Lydia cried, grabbing her sister's arm. "Mama is already upset that you've been gone so long!"
"We only went to see Charlotte," Lizzy countered with amusement in her voice.
"It's not only the house she wants to see ready for our guest, Lizzy," said Kitty pointedly.
Lizzy rolled her eyes, took a fortifying breath, and entered the house with Phoebe and Josephine.
"Elizabeth Bennet, where have you been?" Mrs. Bennet cried as soon as Lizzy walked through the door. She more politely greeted Phoebe and Josephine before returning to Lizzy. "Mr. Collins is due to arrive in just two hours, and you saw fit to expose your face to all that cold outside?" Mrs. Bennet, it would seem, had finally recognized what her daughters had the day before – that Mr. Collins was a bachelor coming to stay at Longbourn, the estate he would inherit.
"The condition of my face can mean nothing to Mr. Collins, Mama," said Lizzy as she divested herself of her outer clothes. "I am here now and will happily be of assistance once I have seen Josephine and Phoebe resettled."
"Take Jane with you," Mrs. Bennet called after Lizzy when the girl started to wander away, "and have her redo your hair. It's been treated abominably by the wind!"
"My, is she determined to show you in the best light," Phoebe said under her breath.
Lizzy sighed as her mother went off, screeching for Jane to attend her. "Mama is a Muggle," she said sadly. "For a Muggle woman, her future can only be secure if she is married. Once she is married, she must next turn her attentions to whatever daughters she might have, lest she and they are left to fend for themselves if her husband predeceases her."
"What a grim existence," Phoebe commented, staring after Mrs. Bennet. "Doesn't she know you can provide for yourself well enough?"
"Jane and I decided long ago that we would remind her of our powers as little as possible and tell her even less about the magical world. Mama would have difficulty wrapping her mind around it and would see only that which might secure her future, anyway," Lizzy answered.
Jane came out of the parlor and joined the group gathered at the bottom of the stairs. Grabbing Lizzy's hand, she said, "Come along, Lizzy. Let us not fight more than we must."
Mr. Collins arrived exactly when he said he would and quickly proved to be every bit as ridiculous as Lizzy had begun to expect from what her father had told her.
"I understood you had only five daughters, sir," Mr. Collins said, observing all the women about him.
"Correct you are," said Mr. Bennet, raising his eyebrows at Mr. Collins. "Only five are mine. The rest are friends from school, come to spend the holidays with us."
"What Christian charity!" Mr. Collins exclaimed. "How kind of you to extend such an invitation, Mr. Bennet! How kind indeed."
Lizzy had to studiously avoid making eye contact with any other witch in the room, lest she burst into laughter. Amongst other things, Lizzy was highly amused that Mr. Collins was fool enough to think that Phoebe, with her bright red hair, could possibly be a member of the largely dark-haired Bennet clan. It was also remarkably clumsy of Mr. Collins to assume the Bennets to be more fortunate than the girls that were their guests. If only he knew the distinction and wealth that was present, he would certainly declare the Bennets to be the ones receiving charity.
Later that evening, curled up in bed with Jane, Lizzy hid her face in a pillow while she released the laughter she had been holding back all day. "Oh, Jane, he is, without a doubt, the most ridiculous man we have ever met!"
"He is, perhaps, more simple-minded than we are used to, Lizzy, but I don't see the need to mock him," Jane chastised.
Lizzy apologized and promised to do her best not to make sport of Mr. Collins, even if he would be unaware of it.
When the next morning came, Lizzy lost all traces of amusement with regards to Mr. Collins as he made his purpose in visiting so clear it would take an absolute simpleton to miss it. He sat near her always. He constantly tried to engage her in conversation. He praised all that she did.
Once lunch had passed, Lizzy could take it no more, and declared she should like to walk to Meryton and asked if any of her sisters and their friends if they should like to join her. All the witches, even Mary, agreed to the scheme. Lizzy was quite satisfied with herself, certain Mr. Collins would not wish to take such a long walk in the cold, and rose from her seat to begin preparations for the excursion.
"Mr. Collins, perhaps you would like some exercise, yourself," Mrs. Bennet suggested.
Lizzy felt her shoulders tense to the point of causing pain as Mr. Collins declared he was very fond of exercise and should be only too glad to join his fair cousins.
"How much longer must I tolerate this before I can say no and be done with it all?" Lizzy asked Mary lowly as they put on their things to go outside.
"I hardly think you need me to tell you it won't be long," Mary answered just as quietly.
"Can you truly read him so well already?"
Mary gave her sister a sideways look. "Some minds are simpler than others to understand." She was distracted from saying anything further by the need to rush forward to prevent Calliope from trying to put a hand wrap over her head.
Lizzy headed the excursion to Meryton, setting a quick pace she hoped would exhaust Mr. Collins before long, forcing him to fall back and leaving her to enjoy the walk with her friends. Unfortunately, Collins stubbornly stuck by her side despite his breath coming in shorter and shorter gasps.
"Be quick, man!" Bingley snapped as Darcy gathered his things for riding.
"Miss Bennet shall still be there if I take a moment longer," Darcy irritably replied. Bingley had been in a fine mood all morning. The man had been determined to go see Jane yesterday, but the combination of Mrs. Hurst's news and a fit from Caroline had prevented him from doing so. He was most eager to be gone.
"I told her I would go to her yesterday," said Bingley shortly, beginning to pace tight circles. "What will she think of me, going back on my promise in such a manner?"
"Given the circumstances, I think she will be understanding of your delay," said Darcy. He finally slid his gloves on and declared himself ready. They went outside, got onto their horses, and started their journey.
"I should like to get a breeding pair of thestrals before long, I think," said Bingley. Now that they were on their way, his mood had improved drastically. "Thestrals are remarkably convenient creatures to have, are they not?"
"I certainly do not take mine for granted," said Darcy in reply. He liked horses well enough, but much preferred riding his thestrals. Among other things, they were less temperamental than the beast of burden currently beneath him.
"I wonder if Jane is able to see thestrals," Bingley wondered aloud. "I certainly hope not. I should hate for her to have seen life leave a person."
Darcy chose not to reply. Seeing death was not a topic he was particularly comfortable discussing at any length.
"Oh, look!" Bingley laughed, pointing ahead to a large group of women. "I think I see a few familiar faces!"
Darcy recognized Elizabeth's figure immediately and sat a little taller in his saddle.
"Miss Bennets!" Bingley cried upon coming within an acceptable distance of the group and dismounting. "I can't tell you how pleased I am to see you!"
Darcy looked the group over quickly from his saddle, taking stock of all present, before dismounting. He stared down at the officious looking little man standing beside his Elizabeth and felt his lip twitch in a snarl.
Jane returned Bingley's greeting and politely introduced all the familiar faces as though they were unknown before finally coming to the one that interested Darcy. "May I also introduce you to our cousin, Mr. Collins," Jane said, gesturing to the short man beside Elizabeth. "Mr. Collins, this is Mr. Bingley of Netherfield and Mr. Darcy of – "
"Pemberley!" Mr. Collins burst. "Mr. Darcy, what an honor to meet you!"
Darcy froze in surprise as Mr. Collins abandoned Elizabeth's side to approach him. His brows drew together as the strange man continued to speak.
"I have the privilege of having your aunt, the Lady Catherine de Bourgh, as my noble patroness," Mr. Collins oozed. "It is my great pleasure to inform you that her ladyship and Miss de Bourgh were in the best of health a mere three days ago when I saw them last."
"I am glad to hear it," was all Mr. Darcy could think to reply with.
"We were just on our way to Meryton," said Jane, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had begun.
"Well, let us see you there!" said Bingley, offering Jane his arm. "We were, after all, on our way to visit you."
Darcy hoped to find an excuse to offer to escort Elizabeth, but Mr. Collins moved before he could. Instead, he offered an arm to Phoebe and Josephine each while his horse trailed behind. The creature was perfectly content to follow its master while having the freedom to pull at random leaves that looked particularly appealing.
"Isn't it so delightfully funny to see Lizzy in such a situation?" Phoebe asked with barely stifled laughter.
Darcy did not find it funny at all and clenched his jaw to keep himself from saying as much.
"I admire her dedication to playing the part of a Muggle," said Josephine. "Were we at Hogwarts, I'm quite certain Mr. Collins would have found himself at the receiving end of a marvelous tongue thrashing, and likely a jinx or two."
Darcy, his gaze directed firmly forward, missed the fact that Phoebe and Josephine observed his face for a few moments before exchanging loaded looks.
"Mrs. Bennet seems remarkably fond of him, though, does she not?" said Phoebe.
"Oh, excessively so," Josephine agreed. "I imagine any Muggle woman would be fond of the man she sees as providing for her in the future though, don't you, Darcy?"
"What?" Darcy asked more harshly than he intended.
"Lydia let slip this morning that Mr. Collins came to Longbourn with the intention of finding himself a wife," Josephine explained, then looked pointedly at Mr. Collins talking Elizabeth's ear off up ahead.
Darcy swallowed with difficulty. Elizabeth would not enter an arrangement with that simpleton, would she? Was he willing to take that chance? How long did he have before Collins declared himself? How long had Elizabeth known the man? That at least, was a question he could ask without arousing too much suspicion. "Is Mr. Collins a regular visitor of Longbourn?"
"No, I believe the family met him for the first time yesterday," Phoebe supplied.
Darcy glared at the back of the man's head. Mr. Collins would certainly not beat him to Elizabeth.
The whole party enjoyed a leisurely couple of hours in Meryton before returning to Longbourn where, blessedly, Mr. Collins declared he would take some time to freshen himself and went above stairs.
"Mr. Bingley!" Mrs. Bennet cried. "How very glad we are to see you! Do sit down! I should hope you are willing to stay for dinner."
"I would not like to impose, Mrs. Bennet," said Bingley with some anxiety, looking at the large number of people cramming into the parlor. "I should hate to be a burden."
"Nonsense!" Mrs. Bennet countered. "I insist."
Before long, Lydia and Kitty left with their friends. Mary took Callliope away shortly thereafter, saying she should like to practice the piano. With so many people removed, Darcy finally felt able to breathe somewhat, and seated himself beside Elizabeth.
"Your mother appears to be in good spirits," Darcy ventured. He cursed his inability to find a suitable topic of conversation. Elizabeth would surely not wish to speak of her ridiculous mother.
"Mama is always full of energy," Elizabeth said diplomatically. "Are you to see your cousin over break?"
Darcy felt his stomach knot slightly. Since Fitzwilliam had taken over trying to recruit students from Hogwarts, he had become immediately well liked by all and a seemingly favored conversation partner of Elizabeth, when she was able to snatch a moment with him. Darcy did not like her attentions to his cousin in the slightest.
"I shall see Fitzwilliam in London after Christmas," Darcy answered.
"You are not spending the holiday with your family?" Elizabeth asked confusedly.
Darcy calculated his response. Georgiana had finally settled into the rhythm of life with the Matlocks, and the entire family, Darcy included, was concerned that his entering the mix would upset her equilibrium. "I made promises to Bingley that I intend to keep," he settled on for an answer.
"You have a sister, do you not?" Elizabeth asked. "Would she not like to spend the holiday with her brother? Why do you not send for her?"
"It is better for Georgiana to remain where she is, currently," said Darcy, trying not to become defensive. "How long are your friends to stay?" he asked, nodding toward Phoebe and Josephine, who were examining a cross stitching pattern left out on a table.
Elizabeth smiled fondly at her friends. "They shall stay as long as they can tolerate it, I think," she answered, "though we had originally planned on two weeks. I imagine Phoebe will want to return home as soon as Bingley's ball is over."
"We had thought you might come to see us yesterday," Mrs. Bennet said loudly to Mr. Bingley, redirecting Darcy's attention.
"I had planned on it," said Bingley. A wide grin threatened to split is face. "Instead, I was much occupied by the happy news that I am to be an uncle in a few months!"
"Oh, I knew it must be so!" Mrs. Bennet gushed. "Mrs. Hurst has seemed so very sickly these last few weeks, the poor dear. I was certain she must be in the family way. I'm very aware of such things, you know," she said as sagely as she was able. "I had Cook share some recipes with Netherfield's kitchen that, in my experience, help settle an upset stomach wonderfully. Has Mrs. Hurst been enjoying the food, do you know?"
Darcy found himself so surprised by Mrs. Bennet's astute observations and her taking the initiative to care for Mrs. Hurst that he missed Bingley's reply.
"How wonderful for the Hursts," said Elizabeth warmly. "They must be very pleased."
"Indeed!" Mr. Bingley agreed. "Upon my statement that I should spoil the child absolutely rotten, they declared they were determined to remove from Netherfield before I could have the opportunity. I am quite prepared to do battle with them on the subject."
Elizabeth laughed lightly. "I should do the same, were I in your situation."
Darcy found himself wondering if Elizabeth's sisters would spoil her children.
"Was Caro – Miss Bingley pleased as well?" Josephine asked, catching her faux paus so quickly Mrs. Bennet failed to notice.
Bingley's smile took on a decidedly fixed air. "She was as surprised by the news as I was," he said.
Darcy supposed that was the politest way Bingley could have phrased Caroline's reaction. Upon hearing the news that she was to be an aunt, Caroline screamed that she would not live under the same roof of a crying, attention seeking brat. Darcy thought that description hilarious, considering its source. Caroline had continued to say she had never liked Mr. Hurst and could not understand why her sister had agreed to marry him. Such a declaration had resulted in a marvelous row between the sisters, ending with Caroline storming off to her rooms and Mrs. Hurst collapsing in tears. It had taken all of Hurst's and Bingley's efforts to calm the woman down.
Wisely, Bingley did not attend Caroline immediately. Instead, he had invited Darcy into the room, joyfully shared the news as if the whole house had not heard Caroline screaming like a banshee, and the group had celebrated appropriately. Mrs. Hurst, greatly relieved that most members of the house were truly pleased for her, went to bed with a smile. It was then that Bingley allowed his pleasant expression fall to unmistakable anger and he stormed up to Caroline's room.
Caroline had stoutly refused to apologize to her sister and was completely unrepentant. She proceeded to list all the harm that Mrs. Hurst and Bingley had brought to their family's reputation: Mrs. Hurst, for marrying a completely average wizard, and Bingley for "fawning all over that upstart chit like a stupid puppy!" Only after this declaration did Bingley finally raise his voice to match his sister's. The pair had continued arguing. Caroline blamed her brother for the fact that Aquila Black had laughed at her when she invited her for the holidays, saying that a Black would never associate with such lowborn people. Bingley retorted that he cared not one bit for what any of the Blacks thought, and that, if Caroline did not like it, she could leave to be with family in Scarborough on the morrow.
Darcy was unsure of Caroline's decision regarding the manner, as Bingley had not given her an opportunity to reply before exiting her rooms, slamming the door, and barricading himself in his own rooms. Caroline had been absent from breakfast, however, which was encouraging.
Mrs. Bennet seemed not to notice the tension that had fallen over the other occupants of the room and shared some anecdotes from her time of waiting for her daughters to be born.
"Poor Bingley," Elizabeth breathed once her mother was thoroughly occupied again.
"Yes, yesterday was rather a challenge for him," Darcy said, grasping desperately at anything he could to involve Elizabeth in conversation.
Elizabeth looked surprised, as though she had not meant to speak aloud.
Before Darcy had the pleasure of hearing Elizabeth's voice again, Mr. Collins entered the room and was happy to fill any silence that was in danger of occurring. Of more annoyance, however, was Collins's insistence that Darcy move to "a place of more distinction, as is only fitting a person of such status." Elizabeth had looked decidedly disgusted at this, and Darcy could not but agree.
Thankfully, Bingley distracted the entire room with an invitation to his ball. As Mrs. Bennet erupted into raptures, Mr. Collins was entirely forgotten, and he took a seat on the opposite side of the room from Elizabeth with a decidedly defeated expression.
Darcy had refrained from smiling with difficulty.
Author's Note
Writing Mr. Collins... what a trip.
I hope you'll share your opinion on this update in a review!
