Mrs. Bennet insisted that Elizabeth look her best to receive Mr. Collins. Mr. Bennet had explained the evening prior that he had been corresponding with Mr. Collins for some time and that Mr. Collins had expressed an interest in getting to know Miss Elizabeth specifically.
Elizabeth wore her best dress and her mother made certain that Lizzy's corset was pulled tight. The maid did Lizzy's hair in such a way that a few loose curls hung prettily around her neck. Elizabeth had to admit that she was quite pleased with the effect. The family and their servants stood outside Longbourn to greet their guest with eager anticipation.
Mr. Collins stepped down from the carriage and smiled widely. Elizabeth was struck by how handsome he was. She had imagined him to be an average looking man, for she had never met such a strapping and young parson before.
Mr. Collins was young, recently 24. He was tall and his hair was golden blonde and wild in an endearing way. His smile reached his eyes and he seemed genuine in his manner. She could not believe her body's reaction to seeing him and felt guilty, as if she was betraying Mr. Darcy. Suddenly she felt very confused.
After introductions were made, they went inside for refreshments. Mr. Collins happily took a seat next to Elizabeth to her mother's delight.
"Your home is very beautiful, Miss Elizabeth. Your family must be very proud of it" noted Mr. Collins.
"I thank you, Mr. Collins. We are. It is nothing to Rosings Park I am sure, but I hope that you find it charming all the same."
"While it is true that it is not as grand as Rosings, I do not live there. My home is the quaint Hunsford parsonage. Compared to it, Longbourn is a palace."
Elizabeth smiled "I hope you have an opportunity to tour the grounds here, there are some very pretty woods that surround our home. I would be happy to show you some of the prettier areas."
Before Mr. Collins could reply Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and Miss. Darcy were announced. Elizabeth caught Mr. Darcy's eye. He had clearly heard her offer to Mr. Collins. It only just occurred to her that she and Mr. Darcy had met at one of those pretty areas.
Darcy was not pleased with what he had heard. That damned parson was only here a few moments and she had already personally offered to give him a tour of the woods. He had to remember what Bingley had said, she will only marry for the deepest of love and he cannot assume she would accept an offer. With that thought he came towards her with his sister.
"Miss Elizabeth, may I introduce my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy"
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I did not realize you were also staying at Netherfield."
"She only just arrived this morning with our cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. He is resting, but Georgie was eager to meet some other young women"
"Oooh a Colonel!" shrieked Lydia. "I would love to meet a handsome Colonel just like Mrs. Forster."
Lizzy and Jane looked at each other. Manoeuvring the conversation away from Lydia, Elizabeth said to Mr and Miss Darcy , "I have a new acquaintance this morning as well, please let me introduce my cousin, Mr. Collins of Hunsford. He arrived just now from Kent."
Darcy immediately remembered how he knew the man. He was his aunt's new parson.
"Good day Mr. Collins, I believe we have already met, I am the nephew of Lady Catherine DeBourgh."
"Yes, Sir. It is nice to meet you here in this part of the country."
"Are you here for pleasure?" Darcy asked.
"Yes, I have come to meet my cousins. Until this trip I have not had the pleasure." He looked and smiled at Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy did not like the way the parson was looking at Elizabeth.
"It was my understanding from our Aunt that you were to soon inherit a country estate of your own."
Elizabeth started at the comment and Mr. Collins looked away uncomfortably.
"Our estate is entailed to Mr. Collins, sir, for my father's sake I hope it is not soon."
"Oh it is this estate you are to inherit? I had not realized, my apologies."
Insufferable, Lizzy thought. She was sure he was aware of the entail and Mr. Collins because Mrs. Bennet had told the entire neighborhood. She turned her attention to the young Miss Darcy who now sat beside her.
"Miss Darcy I can see that having a brother can sometimes be as tiresome as having four sisters"
Georgiana didn't know how to respond. She has never heard anyone speak about her brother like that.
"She is teasing me, Georgie, it is alright you may laugh if you wish. Just remember I control your pin money"
Elizabeth chuckled as she met Mr. Darcy's eye.
Georgiana turned to Elizabeth and Mr. Collins and said with all sincerity "oh no Miss. Elizabeth, my brother is the best of men and a wonderful brother."
Soon Mr. Darcy became anxious remaining in the sitting room. He wanted to speak with Elizabeth privately.
"Georgiana expressed an interest in the garden. Perhaps we may go outdoors"
"Oh what a great idea!" cheered Mrs. Bennet. Once everyone was ready Mrs. Bennet kept her younger daughters indoors to provide Jane and Elizabeth privacy with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Collins. The Darcys she thought could be chaperones, she wouldn't force their company on her lively younger daughters.
To Mr Darcy's delight Georgiana and Mr. Collins became engrossed in a conversation. He took the opportunity to have some privacy with Elizabeth.
"Miss Elizabeth I want to apologize for last evening. Your sister was right, I have not treated you with the respect that you deserve. My only excuse is that I was desperate to speak with you. I could not bear that you thought I believed you to be anything less than the most handsome woman of my acquaintance."
"Thank you Mr. Darcy" she said blushing as she remembered last night.
"You look lovely today" he added.
"Thank you, Sir"
"Your hair looks different"
"Oh well yes, Mama suggested this style" she said nervously touching a curl on her neck.
Realization dawned on Darcy that this new look had been for Mr. Collins and not him.
"I am not accustomed to this you know."
"Accustomed to what, Sir?"
"Competition."
"Oh. Are you jealous?" She asked playfully.
"Very" he said with a teasing smile.
"Would you like to know how you fare?"
"Hmm. Tell me."
"Well I have only known Mr. Collins for this one day but so far my conversations with you are much more interesting than anything I've spoken to him about."
"Your humour is superior" she added chuckling remembering some of his funnier comments.
Mr. Darcy's chest swelled with pride. He loved hearing her thoughts about him.
"Mr. Collins on the other hand is much more amiable and obliging to my family and others."
"I am not comfortable in company of people I do not know well. I do not recommend myself well to strangers."
"You are both quite handsome." She continued "I can imagine myself quite happy in marriage to both of you."
She noticed he stopped smiling and his visage grew dark.
"Do not tease me like that Miss Elizabeth. I do not deserve it. You must know my feelings for you are great and yet you force me to imagine you in the arms of another man and what is worse is that you tell me you desire it!" He was furious. The thought of Elizabeth in another man's arms was sickening enough, but for her to desire it was too much to bear.
What had she done? Why would she say such a stupid thing to him?
"Mr. Darcy I am so sorry I had not known what my words implied. That is not…I am so embarrassed. Please that is not what I meant."
"I do not like that you are encouraging other men. Do not trifle with me. You must know that my intentions towards you are to make you my wife yet you are encouraging Mr. Collins who has made it clear he plans to propose to you. I heard you offering to personally show him the grounds. Are you looking to become the next Mrs. Collins or Mrs. Darcy?"
"Mr. Darcy I apologize for offending with my comment. I assure you that is not what I meant. But you presume too much. I thank you for your compliments and I've enjoyed getting to know you, but you are acting as though we are already betrothed. As if you have a claim to me over Mr. Collins."
"Then marry me Elizabeth make me the happiest man and agree to be my wife."
Elizabeth paused and looked up at him could be serious?
"Mr. Darcy we have only known each other a few weeks and I appreciate that you have strong feelings for me and I have feelings for you, but a few weeks is not enough time to make a decision that will last a lifetime. Marriage is a lifetime commitment and I vowed long ago to only marry for the deepest of love. I do not love you although with time I believe I could."
"Would you agree to a courtship? I can properly court you in front of your friends and family."
"Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth sighed and looked away awkwardly.
"Do you hesitate because of him, because of Mr. Collins?" he asked trying desperately to control himself.
"I hesitate because I cannot properly decide if I am in a courtship with you. A courtship may not be an engagement but it would certainly discourage others from pursuing me."
"Is that what you want?"
"That is not what I'm saying. You are pressuring me to make a decision before I am ready and I don't believe that this is coming from a place of love but a place of jealousy. You said yourself you were not familiar with competing for affection. You are used to getting what you want. I am sure there are plenty of women, Caroline Bingley for one, who would jump at the opportunity to become the next Mrs. Darcy, but I want to make sure that I'm making the right decision. I must tell you I am confused. Let me ask you Mr. Darcy do you love me?"
Mr. Darcy looked her square in the eye and said yes before he sharply turned away to collect his sister.
Before leaving Georgianna approached Jane with a letter, "Miss Bingley asked me to give you this. I believe it is an invitation to dine with us this evening."
"Thank you" replied Jane. She quickly scanned the letter and nodded in the affirmative. "May I quickly pen a response for you to bring to Miss Bingley before you leave?"
"Brother?" questioned Georgianna. Darcy simply nodded.
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst wished to become better acquainted with Jane. Her pleasing manners and goodwill had grown on them despite their feelings for the other Bennets who they found intolerable.
"Will Mr. Bingley be there?" asked Mrs. Bennet as soon as the Netherfield party had left.
"Mr. Bingley said that he and the other men are to be dining with the officers tonight." Replied Jane.
"Oh, what bad luck!" replied Mrs. Bennet, "What is the point of visiting Netherfield if you will not be in the company of Mr. Bingley?"
Jane turned to her father and asked, "can I have the carriage?"
"Oh no my dear" interjected Mrs. Bennet, "You must go on horseback because it seems likely to rain and then you must stay all night."
"Oh no Mama I would rather go on the coach"
"Your father needs the horses in the fields"
After much argument Jane was obliged to go on horseback. As her sisters watched Jane leave they grew uneasy for her, for it did seem that a storm was coming in. As the evening progressed they grew more anxious because the rain did not relent.
The following morning the Bennet's breakfast it was interrupted by a servant from Netherfield who brought a note for Elizabeth.
Elizabeth read the missive quickly and looked at her father, "It is from Jane, she finds herself very unwell this morning she has a sore throat and headache", reading from the letter Elizabeth continued "she says 'my kind friends will not allow me to return home till I am better they insist on my seeing doctor Jones' Elizabeth handed the letter to her father.
"Well my dear" Mr. Bennet said to his wife, "if Jane should have a dangerous fit of illness or die you will be comforted to know that she is at least in the company of Mr. Bingley."
"Oh people with Jane's healthy constitution do not die of a little trifling cold. If I may have the carriage I should go and see her."
Elizabeth feeling very anxious declared that she was determined to go to his sister instead.
"The carriage is not to be had Lizzy" said her father, "is a hint to me to send for the horses?"
"No I shall walk. What is three miles when one has a motive?"
"Walk three miles in all that dirt and muck? How can you be so silly? Cried her mother, "you will not be fit to be seen."
"I shall be fit to see Jane which is all I wish"
"I admire your determination and your charitable benevolence towards our sister" observed Mary, "but activity should be guided by reason and not feeling. In my opinion exertion must always be in proportion to what is required by the situation." she warned, "do you not agree Mr. Collins?"
"Indeed, Miss Mary." Collins replied politely, "Miss Elizabeth I would be happy to accompany you on your journey it would be good for me to learn the way in any case."
"Oh what a fine idea Mr. Collins" said Mrs Bennet, "our Lizzy is an excellent walker so lively and energetic."
Elizabeth accepted his company and the couple set off together immediately.
Elizabeth and Mr. Collins kept a quick pace as they crossed field after field. Mr. Collins helped his cousin jump over styles and spring over puddles despite her assurances that but his assistance was not necessary. At last they found themselves in view of the house and had one final fence to climb over.
Mr. Collins scaled the fence first. "Be careful Miss Elizabeth, the mud is quite deep" he said as he reached out to take her hand.
Unfortunately her muddy boots caused her to slip on the top of the fence. Instead of Mr. Collins gracefully lifting her over, she fell forward into his arms. He caught her with his hands around her waist as she gripped his shoulders.
Elizabeth had never been in the arms of a man before. Mr. Collins' strong hands held onto her tightly steadying them both as to not fall. His body was warm and firm against hers. Once they had steadied themselves, he lifted her onto the grass with ease.
"We're nearly there now. I'm sure Miss Bennet will be happy to have you in your company."
"I'm eager to see her" replied Elizabeth as she straightened her skirts and attempted to rub some of the mud off of her boots. She was trying to calm her nerves at this intimate moment she shared with Mr. Collins.
They were shown into the breakfast parlor where all but Jane were assembled. Elizabeth and Mr. Collins appearance created a great deal of surprise. They both were quite dirty from the mud and their faces warm with the exercise.
Mr. Darcy said little, he had not recovered from his last conversation with Elizabeth. To see her arrive in such a state with the last man he wished to see - or nearly the last man - caused him a great deal of discomfort. Still he couldn't help it admire the brilliancy which the walk had given her complexion. She reminded him of the first time he had met her.
Elizabeth was eager to see Jane and was relieved to be taken her to see her immediately. unfortunately she found Jane in a worse condition than she had expected.
Jane had not slept well and had developed a fever.
"I did not wish to give alarm" confessed Jane, "I feared I would be an inconvenience."
"You are never an inconvenience" assured Elizabeth.
"I'm delighted for your company" she said weakly.
"Rest, I am here and miss Bingley assured me that doctor Jones will be here shortly." Elizabeth said taking her hand.
Mr. Collins had remained in the breakfast parlour.
"Mr. Collins what a surprise to see you here" exclaimed Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"Indeed" said Mr. Collins.
"I did not realize you were such a great walker" teased Colonel Fitzwilliam.
" I must confess I am not, It was a struggle to keep up with my cousin but she was determined to see her sister as soon as possible.
"It was very fortunate Mr. Collins could accompany our dear Miss Eliza on her walk" said Miss Bingley, "our gardener said he saw you caught Miss Eliza has she slipped on the fence."
Mr. Darcy turned from the window and looked at the parson who had turned a slight shade of pink.
"You saved her Mr. Collins, how romantic." jeered the colonel.
"One must question if such actions were indeed necessary" said Mr. Darcy.
"Would you have let the lady fall four feet into mud Mr. Darcy?" Mr. Collins questioned, offended by the man's insinuation.
"I would not, although I would not have had the lady in that situation in the first place" he said curtly.
Miss Bingley observed the tension between Darcy and Mr. Collins.
"Mr. Collins I must insist you and Miss Eliza remain here at Netherfield while Miss Bennet recovers. I am sure your cousins would want to be together."
"Oh thank you miss Bingley for your generous offer but it is not necessary for me to remain I only meant to accompany miss Elizabeth on her walk here."
"Oh no I insist, it is only proper they have a chaperone and you are clearly so friendly already with our guests Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. What a merry party will make."
With that miss Bingley called a maid to make up a room for miss Elizabeth and Mr. Collins.
Mr. Darcy returned to his place looking out the window intently.