As it happened, Mrs. Bennet had taken to her bed in hysterics, so Elizabeth and Kitty were able to avoid her reproofs. They went to their father in his library and explained Mr. Darcy's offer. Although he wished to keep them home, he assured them that he could not deny them such a treat as staying at Darcy House would be. He moaned over Lydia's inevitable response at not being included in the invitation, but he understood Mr. Darcy's reluctance to have his youngest daughter around Miss Darcy.
After asking for their dinner to be sent upon trays to their rooms, Elizabeth and Kitty went to explain the plan to Jane. She heartily agreed, for she had meant to ask her aunt if she might come to stay and shop for her wedding clothes. Mr. Bingley had set apart a sum of money –far too much money in Jane's opinion –for Jane's wedding clothes and had told her that she was to ensure she spent it all. She had protested, then asked if some might be spent on new gowns for her sisters as well. Bingley agreed, but knowing his betrothed too well, limited the funds that might be spent on her sisters to forty pounds each. He knew if he did otherwise that his Jane would return with very little for herself and a great deal for her sisters.
The three sisters spent the rest of their evening packing their belongings, talking of all that they would do in London, eating their dinner, and discussing their hopes for the future. Jane was made to remember that in her absence that their mother would take much of the wedding planning upon herself. Elizabeth laughed at Jane's realization, as their mother would do so anyway, and it would save them from many disagreements. Let their mother plan the wedding breakfast as she liked. Jane would be choosing the important things herself—namely the bridegroom and her dress.
Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley called the next day to confirm all of the plans for their travels. Mr. Darcy even suggested that if his sister, Kitty, and Elizabeth all got on well together, he would invite them for a longer visit another time, for his sister was too much without friends. Elizabeth wondered, not for the first time, how Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst would feel to hear Mr. Darcy make such a statement. Elizabeth then wondered at that they had not seen Mr. Bingley's sisters since well before the ball. They had not even returned for Bingley's engagement ball. She knew that there had been a disagreement but had not supposed that it would be so terrible as this. She wondered if they would see Bingley's sisters in London and what their response would be if they did.
They sent their trunks with Mr. Darcy so it could be added to the carriage with the luggage and the servants and sent ahead to Darcy House. They would be picked up at eight in the morning, as it was a six-hour journey to London and Mr. Darcy wished to arrive in the afternoon to meet with his steward before dinner. After the men took their leave so they could finish their own preparations for the journey, Charlotte Lucas called at Longbourn most unexpectedly.
Charlotte Lucas, explained to her friends that Mr. Collins had spent a great deal of the previous day and that morning at Lucas Lodge in addition to dancing with her twice at the Netherfield ball, for she had gladly accepted his hand for the two dances that Kitty had given up. After explaining these events, she declared that as of two hours previously, she was engaged to Mr. Collins. Both Elizabeth and Kitty stared silently at her for several moments until Elizabeth found her voice.
"Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte, it is impossible!"
The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her story, gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a reproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained her composure, and calmly replied:
"Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with your sister?"
Elizabeth and Kitty recollected themselves and congratulated Charlotte. Charlotte told them that she was not a romantic and was well satisfied with the situation as she was seven and twenty, not eighteen like Kitty. She could no longer be as fastidious as they were lest she ends up a spinster and a burden to her family.
Not long after Charlotte arrived, Sir William Lucas followed. Upon sharing the good news, Mrs. Bennet swooned. Mrs. Hill came quickly with smelling salts to revive her and the apothecary, Mr. Jones, was called. Sir Lucas and Charlotte Lucas quickly took their leave for they did not wish to cause any more upset.
No sooner had they left Longbourn than Mrs. Bennet's constitution was renewed, and her feelings found a rapid vent. In the first place, she persisted in disbelieving the whole of the matter; secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins had been taken in; thirdly, she trusted that they would never be happy together; and fourthly, that the match might be broken off. Two inferences, however, were plainly deduced from the whole: one, that Kitty was the real cause of the mischief; and the other that she herself had been barbarously misused by them all; and on these two points she principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could console and nothing could appease her. Elizabeth, Jane, and Kitty hid away in one or other of their rooms for the remainder of the day, grateful that they were to leave early on the morrow.
Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match, but she said less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness; nor could Elizabeth and Kitty persuade her to consider it as improbable. As Charlotte seemed satisfied with the match, it mattered not what they felt. Charlotte was to be Mrs. Collins.
At precisely eight in the morn, two carriages pulled up in front of Longbourn. Mr. Darcy, Georgiana, Mrs. Annesley, and Elizabeth were to ride in Mr. Darcy's carriage whilst Mr. Bingley, Jane, and Kitty were to ride in Mr. Bingley's carriage. They made good time on their journey. They did not stop often at inns, as the men had ensured that both carriages had included hampers of food and drink along with other baskets of books, hot bricks, lap rugs, and cards. Mr. Darcy was the only one in their carriage who did not become ill when reading in a carriage, so he read aloud from Gulliver's Travels to the others for a goodly portion of the time. Having eaten plenty of the packed food and being comfortably warm with hot bricks at her feet and a lap rug atop her, Elizabeth dozed off to the sound of Mr. Darcy's tenor detailing the land of the Lilliputians.
Elizabeth woke a few hours later to the sound of Georgiana's laughter.
"Elizabeth, Lizzy! You must wake, Lizzy," she called.
"I'm awake now," she groaned, embarrassed to find that she had been asleep on the girl's shoulder, "I'm sorry. I did not realise. You could have awoken me sooner."
"It was not uncomfortable. I was tickled that you find yourself so easy with me to do so."
"I am glad you were not uncomfortable, although I still must apologize," Elizabeth said, "We are not moving. Have we arrived?"
"Not yet. We have stopped to water the horses and stretch our legs. Do you know that you talk in your sleep?" Georgiana said as her brother helped her down from the carriage.
"Indeed, you do. It was most diverting. Just a few words. I believe you were dreaming of your sister Mrs. Wickham and your Uncle Gardiner," Mr. Darcy teased.
"Oh, dear. I am very sorry. I will strive to stay awake," Elizabeth said, blushing crimson.
"Are we teasing Lizzy?" Kitty said, approaching the group.
"Indeed, we are. She fell asleep in the carriage and began to talk in her sleep. From what we could gather, your sister Mary and your Uncle Gardiner were featured in her dream. Oh, and figgy pudding. We cannot forget the figgy pudding," Mr. Darcy replied, continuing to tease as Elizabeth turned redder and redder.
"To be fair to Miss Elizabeth, I have many times dreamed of pudding, especially if it is a variety that I cannot receive year-round," Mr. Bingley said as he followed Kitty to greet the others. Jane chastised them all for teasing her dear sister so, and they all continued into the inn to take refreshments. Mr. Darcy offered to see if the inn had figgy pudding available, to which she simply glared at him whilst he barked with laughter.
"You are very ungentlemanly to laugh so, sir," Elizabeth said.
"Oh, but I must, Miss Elizabeth. You turn such a lovely shade of pink when I tease you," Elizabeth mumbled some very unladylike words under her breath which renewed his laughter. Georgiana and Kitty watched the exchange with growing interest, both surprised at this side of Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth stayed awake for the rest of the journey to London, which was well for she was seated next to Mr. Darcy and certainly could not sleep on his shoulder. Mrs. Annesley and Georgiana both dozed, leaving Darcy and Elizabeth to talk in whispers about plans for their visit to London and Yuletide celebrations upon their return.
The first evening they dined casually as all were tired from the long carriage ride and wished to be early to bed. The next day was Sunday and all spent the day at leisure, including the Darcy House servants who had been given their half day after church. Darcy and Elizabeth spent most of the day in the library, sitting in a comfortable silence together for most of the afternoon as Elizabeth read a novel and Darcy read a biography of a general from the war in the Americas. After noting that Darcy had been entirely silent for more than an hour, Elizabeth spoke,
"Your book seems to keep your attention well. Is it very interesting?" she asked.
"Not very. In fact, I find myself watching your face as you read more than I am attending to my own book, for you are very expressive when you read."
"In what way, sir?"
"You show all the emotions you feel as you read clearly on your face, even murmuring the words as you read at times."
"I apologize if I disturb your reading, sir. I can take my book to my chambers," Elizabeth said, rising.
"No!" he said, rather too loudly, "I mean, no. I did not mean to imply that you disturbed my reading. I simply find it, I do not know, endearing and diverting – but neither word is quite correct. I wish you to stay, if you wish. My book is not very interesting anyways. Will you not tell me of yours?"
"You wish to hear about my novel, sir?" Elizabeth asked, incredulously.
"Certainly. I read novels occasionally myself, as you may have noted on the ride hither."
"Very well," acquiesced Elizabeth, "It is about the illegitimate daughter of an aristocrat who is raised in the country, hidden away from society. Her grandmother learns of her existence and wishes to meet her, and even eventually takes her to France and later, London. While in Town, she commits many mistakes, as she is not used to being in society. Now she also has gained the attention of both a Lord and a Baronet, but I am not certain if she wishes for their attention. That is as far as I am in the book."
"I see, and who is the villain? There is always a villain," said Darcy.
"I am not yet sure. I will have to continue to read."
"And what is the book called?"
"Evelina. It is quite good, although perhaps Miss Darcy might not be quite old enough to read it yet."
"Are you admitting to reading scandalous literature, Miss Bennet?"
"Certainly not. At least, not in this case," she said with a grin, "I will admit that I was perhaps given too much free reign in my father's library starting too young."
Darcy and Elizabeth discussed books for a long time before readying themselves for dinner. The evening was simple, and enjoyable. Elizabeth found that she was very comfortable with the Darcy's, despite their wealth and status. They had no improper pride and did all they could to see to the comfort of the guests.