Summary: Forced into an engagement with Mr. Collins, Elizabeth feels that her life is over. However, help comes unexpectedly in none other than Mr. Darcy of Pemberley. Will Mr. Darcy be able to prevent the ill-fated marriage? Or will Elizabeth be lost to Mr. Collins forever? Characters may be OOC.
This story takes place right after the Netherfield Ball, when Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth. I skipped over the proposal, and went straight to the scene where Mr. Bennet makes his decision on whether he would have Elizabeth marry Mr. Collins or not.
Disclaimer: Pride and Prejudice is the sole property of Jane Austen. This story, however, is the property of the author © 2017, any unauthorized reproduction or publishing of any content of this story is strictly prohibited.
Elizabeth Bennet was no fool. Certainly she was headstrong (much to her mother's dismay), willful, impertinent, and, at times, had a sharp tongue (only very recently, and only to those who rightly deserved it –namely Mr. Collins). Despite her many faults, foolishness was not among them. After Elizabeth's despair at her father's edict, Elizabeth tried to contrive ways in which to get herself out of her current predicament. She knew that her father could not technically force her to marry Mr. Collins. That in order for them to marry, she had to give her acquiescence –one of which she was absolutely horrified to do. And yet, she also knew the consequences if she were to refuse –consequences her father was only too keen to point out only hours before.
Elizabeth went into her father's bookroom, his sanctuary from the turmoil that bubbled in the Bennet home, determined in changing his mind. She didn't care she was interrupting him, what she had to say was far more important than any book he was reading. And yet, when she walked in determine to speak her mind, her father didn't even spare her a glance, as he had his nose firmly placed in the book before him.
"Papa?" She asked timidly, walking into the room and placing herself at her favorite seat in front of her father's desk.
"Yes, Lizzy?" Said he, not caring to give his most beloved daughter a glance.
"Father please, I must speak with you, and I cannot hold a conversation with someone who refuses to look at me." She begged, wringing her hands on her lap, and fighting off tears she knew were bound to fall. She was not accustomed to her father's ill treatment, and could not fathom what she had done to deserve such treatment. Surely exercising her mind, and making decisions of her own was what her father had always taught her –wanted for her.
"Oh? It seems we are holding a conversation just now." He replied sardonically.
"Please, papa? This is important to me." She said with such emotion, Mr. Bennet could do naught but what she asked, and set his book aside. "Very well, what can I do for you child?"
"You know very well what you could do, father."
He held up his hand, quieting any further protests from his daughter. "No Lizzy, you know very well I could not do as you ask. As you know, you must marry Mr. Collins. My mind is made up, and there is nothing you can say or do that will convince me otherwise."
"But he is utterly ridiculous!"
"Well Lizzy, I daresay you will have the benefit of having a husband to entertain you daily."
"I do not love him papa, and I never will. Pray, do not shackle me to that fool; do not have me living the rest of my life bound to a man I could never love, nor respect. Please father, I beg of you!"
"And here I thought the hysterics were characteristics only reserved for your mother and your silly sisters. I see that I was wrong. No Lizzy, I daresay no one has ever perished from marrying a person whom they held no affections for. Do not worry my child, I know you. I know you are not meant for unhappiness, and would soon grasp the opportunity that life has given you. I believe the sooner you accept Mr. Collins –because you will –the better it would be for all involved."
"Better for me, father? Or better for you?" Elizabeth replied, barely above a whisper. Mr. Bennet was only able to sputter, as he was taking a drink of his tea when his daughter had said this.
His reaction gave Elizabeth the courage, and her voice started to rise, steady and strong. "Do not think that I do not realize what little you have done for this family, to secure our futures. Where you could have been contriving ways to make Longbourn thrive, you've been here in this very bookroom, striving only for academic pursuits. Where you should have been investing your time and energy on this land, you've invested only in the improvement of your mind. Your indolence, sir, is what has us in this very predicament."
"Elizabeth Bennet, you will not speak to your father in such a manner! I will not allow it!"
"I only speak the truth, papa."
"Yes, and since you seem to know so much, you must know how important a match it is for Mr. Collins to marry one of you girls. And his choice is you, Elizabeth."
"I care not! I will not have him!" She replied fervently.
Mr. Bennet sighed, and rubbed a tired hand over his brow. Surely he knew how headstrong Lizzy is, and once he realized that she would not yield, he would give up this joke of a betrothal and let her choose her life as she sees fit. She hoped he would, anyway.
However, all of Elizabeth's hopes were dashed by Mr. Bennet's reply. "How many times must we argue the same point, Elizabeth? You will marry Mr. Collins, and that is final."
"No father, I will not. I refuse to be bound to such a man. I. Will. Not. Have. Him." She said, punctuating every point for further emphasis. She wanted, no needed her father to understand that she would not yield.
"Yes you will." He all but growled. "I have had enough of your insolence. You will do as you're told!" He slammed his hands on his desk, rising and hunching over to stare down his daughter.
No, I will not!" Elizabeth rose from her chair quickly, knocking the chair to the floor with by the swiftness in which she stood; her emotions changing quickly from despair to anger at her father's tone and manner.
Mr. Bennet was a frightening shade of red before a curious look came across his face. He immediately sat down, and held a most serene smile. Had Elizabeth not witnessed what had just unfolded before her, she would not have believed it. How her father could go from being extremely angry to a most pleased expression, in the turn of a moment, stunned and unnerved her. It should very well have frightened her so, for what Mr. Bennet had said was, "You will, Elizabeth. For I know that though I cannot directly force you to accept Mr. Collins, there are ways to bend your will to my own."
"Be clear sir, for I do not understand what you are saying." The truth was, Elizabeth did understand. She knew that her father couldn't force her to accept Mr. Collins, but he could use other methods that gave her no option but to accept. Yet, she could not believe that her father would be capable of such. The man who loved her, promised to protect her. The man who held her on his lap and taught her the alphabet. The very man who held her when she would come crying to him, after she took her tumbles off the orchard trees. No, he would never cast her from her home, leave her friendless and penniless. She just couldn't –wouldn't –believe it of him.
"Come now Lizzy," said he, "surely you must know." As Elizabeth remained tight-lipped he continued. "Very well, I shall explain. It is quite simple. If you will not have Mr. Collins, you will no longer have Longbourn as your home."
"No, you wouldn't. You wouldn't do that..."
"For your sake, and that of your mother and sisters, I would." He confirmed solemnly.
"But…"
"But what?" He interrupted. "Do you not care what will happen to your mother and sisters after my death? Though we have joked about it more times than I'd like to count, being 'thrown to the hedgerows,' as your mother puts it, is a very real possibility. Who will help you then, Elizabeth, after my death? Do you think any of your relatives would be able to support you? Would they be willing to?" As Elizabeth remained quiet, Mr. Bennet continued. "No, Elizabeth, they will not. I'm through with this conversation, it is best you now leave me to my pursuits," he said dismissively.
"No, I will not leave! I am not some pawn in your little game, father!" She cried.
Mr. Bennet smirked at Elizabeth before saying, "There is no game, Elizabeth. It is over –I declare checkmate."
"I am not friendless; someone would help me."
"Oh? Do you think your Aunt and Uncle Philips will take you in? Breaking an engagement would bring a scandal, knowing your aunt as I do, she would not want to be tied to such an individual. No, she will cast you out before you could utter a single word. I declare, she will not have shame brought upon her name –not if she could help it." He replied calmly –irking Elizabeth's nerves the more he spoke.
"My Aunt and Uncle Gardiner will take me in. I could go with them." Elizabeth felt triumphant. It was true, her aunt and uncle would take her in at a moment's notice. Besides, though her name would be tied to scandal, they would be far away that no one ought know her disgrace. Yes, Lizzy decided, she could be very happy living with them, indeed.
"Is that so?" said Mr. Bennet, breaking Elizabeth out of her moment's reverie. "And pray tell, how will you contact them? As you very well know, they are overseas at the moment, and will be gone for an undetermined amount of time."
"I can send word. They will take me with them."
"And when will that be? I assure you, Elizabeth, I will have you out this very afternoon if you do not abide by my ruling. I sincerely doubt you will be in contact with them any time soon. Not soon enough, at least, to help you out of this engagement."
The Lucases…" Elizabeth's voice was getting weaker and weaker by the moment, as were her arguments.
"The Lucases? I daresay. What are they to you? They are not family. Though I can say you are friends with Miss Lucas, that friendship by no means will earn you housing and food on the table."
"I can work, I'll earn my keep!" Elizabeth was not about to give up, though it seemed hopeless, Elizabeth was not one to give up without a fight.
"As what –a governess? Dear Lizzy, we both know that although I think the world of you, it does not mean you have the qualifications to become a governess. You must know a variety of skills, many of which are not included in your repertoire." He said in a mocking tone, all the more raising Elizabeth's ire.
"I can do other work," she replied, almost petulantly.
"Is that so? And what other work is left for a gentleman's daughter who –admittedly has had a unique education –is not one that is fit as a governess, nor a companion, if I am being honest. What does that leave you with? A maid? You have never worked a day in your life, you're not cut out for that sort of manual labor. Nor do you have prerequisite skills required for such a position. I dare say, you leaving this house, the only employment you will find is working on Granby Street, living off immoral earnings."
Elizabeth was shocked at her father's words. Not only for their content, but for the very coarseness of his utterings. It was one matter for him to think it, but a completely different matter for him to inform his daughter of his crass thoughts –his maidenly daughter! Who was this man, and what had he done with her father? Though he looked like her father, spoke like her father, she could do naught but look at him as a stranger. She then realized she never truly knew the man she thought she knew her entire life. Everything –the shared jokes, the tender moments –all of it was a lie. Dismayed at her sudden realization, Elizabeth quickly quit the room. She did not even give a spare glance at the man that was once known to her as 'father.' No, he was not that. Elizabeth decided from that day forward, he would forevermore be 'Mr. Bennet.'