A/N: Okay, I just wanted to make it clear that the card part at the Phillips where Elizabeth first learns of Wickham's "mistreatment" by Darcy is the one she did not go to, so she has not heard that story, nor will she. Without further ado, the second chapter. Please review!

Chapter Two

Mr. Collins rose from his knee, Elizabeth's hand still in his, a look of profound astonishment and delight on his face. His mouth was moving, as if to make words, but not a sound came out. Elizabeth smiled at the affect her words had on him, but stopped herself from outright laughing. The squealing from the hall interrupted their silence.

"I do believe we should tell Mama about our news?"

"Yes, yes," Mr. Collins gushed. He straightened his clothes and walked ahead of Elizabeth to the door and opened it to find Mrs. Bennet and the two youngest girls just outside.

"Oh, you dear, dear man!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, taking him into her arms and giving his cheek a quick kiss. "Oh Lizzy! My dear come here, we have much to discuss!"

"Miss Elizabeth I must go speak with your Father." Mr. Collins brought her hand to his lips, then bade her farewell.

Mrs. Bennet led Elizabeth back into the room and instructed her to sit. "Kitty, pull the rope, we must have tea. Oh, Lizzy, you shall need new dresses, bonnets, pelisse, gloves, shoes…everything! I am sure my brother will host us in London and…"

"No," Elizabeth interrupted her Mama, "as a Rector's wife I shall have no need of such fine clothes. I am sure Mrs. Tappard can provide my trousseau."

Mrs. Bennet made to argue, but was interrupted by Mrs. Hill entering the room. Mrs. Bennet asked that tea be readied.

"Lord Lizzy," Lydia declared, "I never would have imagined you marrying Collins, what a bore he is."

"Hush, girl," Mrs. Bennet demanded, startling Lydia. Her Mother had never said a harsh word towards her in her life. "Mr. Collins is to marry your sister and you will give him the respect he deserves."

Lydia's eyes widened. Silently, she sat on the couch, attempting to figure out what it was she had said that made her Mama so angry.

"Mama," Kitty said, "does this mean when Papa dies we will not have to leave?"

Elizabeth felt her heart ache at Kitty's words. She had kept her promise to her Father and not said a word to anyone about his ill health, but from all she could gather neither had he. She wondered when he would get around to it. Perhaps once she was married the news would not be so hard to hear. Yes, Elizabeth made it a point to encourage her Father to tell their family of his diagnosis once she was married.

A few minutes later Mr. Collins entered the room and informed Elizabeth that her Father wished to speak with her. As she left the room she overheard her Mother talking to Mr. Collins about all the wedding preparations that would need to take place.

Elizabeth made her way to her Father's study and entered, closing the door behind her.

Mr. Bennet was standing before the window, looking out at the overcast sky. He turned and contemplated his daughter.

"Am I to congratulate you?" He asked, furrowing his brows.

Elizabeth felt her ire rise. "Yes, sir, you are. And thank you."

There were many things she could have said to her him; wished to say to him. Though the Bennets were but a small, country family, they were gentle born. Expectations were placed upon them, from the time of their births, especially the women. Instead of saving for the future, Mr. Bennet gambled that his wife would bear him a son who would inherit. After five daughters in succession, instead of reigning his wife's expenses in and using the money to invest in his daughters' dowries, he declared their problem a lost cause and all but washed his hands of the matter.

Yes, Mr. Bennet was directly responsible for the predicament Lizzy found herself in, but saying so would not fix anything.

"Are you in earnest?" He asked, more gently.

"Yes, Father," she replied.

Mr. Bennet gave a great sigh, "I suppose it is done then." He smiled at his favorite daughter and embraced her with all the love a Father could bestow upon a daughter.

The duo made their way into the sitting room where not only Mary and Jane were now receiving the news, but Charlotte Lucas, who had intended to call upon the Bennets after the Ball in order to talk about the dances, the food, and the dresses that had been worn.

Oh, how many times had she declared to both Jane and Charlotte how nothing but the deepest love could induce her to marry? She must seem quite the hypocrite. She dared to take a peek, first at Jane, whose expression was nothing but pleasant surprise, while Charlotte looked questioningly at her.

"Congratulations, Lizzy," Charlotte smiled, "and to you too, Mr. Collins."

"I thank you, most profusely, for your congratulations, Miss Lucas," Mr. Collins began, "my cousin Elizabeth has made me the happiest of men! My esteemed Patroness, Lady Catherine, would be pleased. As a matter of fact, if you would excuse me I must write to her directly."

Once again Mr. Collins took Elizabeth's hand to his mouth to receive his kiss, then left the room.

"Oh, how wonderful!" Mrs. Bennet effused. "Lizzy shall be Mistress of Longbourn and dear Jane shall one day be Mistress of Netherfield."

Jane made a small sound, but gave no heed to her Mother's words. Elizabeth had secretly hoped that once her engagement to Mr. Collins was made known that her Mama would try a little less to procure husbands for her daughters, especially Mr. Bingley for Jane. Now that the future of the family was secure, it shouldn't matter much who the other girls marry.

s-S-s

The dinner that evening was a joyous affair for the Bennet family. Mrs. Bennet had changed the menu to reflect Mr. Collins' preferences. He praised the meal and thanked Mrs. Bennet whole heartedly for thinking of him. Throughout the meal Mr. Collins would often look towards Elizabeth, and smile so widely that his eyes sparkled in the candle light. Elizabeth would smile back and inwardly try to keep herself from rushing from the room.

When the family retired to the drawing room Mrs. Bennet spent a full twenty minutes describing how the wedding should be, what was to be served, etc… Collins agreed with her in every instance, neither conferring with Elizabeth about her ideas. Frankly, Elizabeth didn't much care. From the moment the words "I accept" left her lips she had wanted to recall them. Images of her Father and their conference together was the only thing preventing her.

She was thankful she had not fallen in love up to that point. Even if she had loved someone completely inappropriate, say the butcher's son, or one of the tenant farmers, heaven forbid. She could honestly say her heart had not been claimed by another, and was therefore free to give to whomever she wished. But the thought of her heart in the hands of Mr. Collins unnerved her. Perhaps she would merely keep her heart locked away, away from any man, saving it for herself.

That night as she and Jane retired for the evening she caught Jane staring at her from where she sat before the mirror.

"Jane," Elizabeth laughed, "I am still Lizzy, your sister. Please, if there is something you wish to say, out with it."

Jane bit her bottom lip, "Lizzy, are you sure this is something you want to do?"

Elizabeth stood behind her sister and picked up the brush that was on the dresser top. She began to comb through the long, blonde tresses. "Jane, I am sure this is something I not only want to do, but need to do. One day you will understand."

"Lizzy, if you think marrying Mr. Collins will magically secure all our happiness and future, you are mistaken. I could not live with myself knowing you had sacrificed yourself for me. Even if I were to marry…someone I loved."

Elizabeth smiled at her dear sister. If only she could tell Jane about their Father, she would understand. She had even noted their Papa abstain from wine throughout the meal, and stick strictly to table beer. He was doing his best for their futures, she could do likewise.

"Do you not think Mr. Collins worthy of me?" Elizabeth asked, laughing. How she hated maudlin topics, so she decided to turn it into a jest.

"Mr. Collins is a respectable man," Jane confessed, "and I'm sure has some wonderful qualities that some women find attractive…"

"But not me?" Elizabeth began to braid Jane's hair, then secured it at the end.

"Your character would do better with someone more like Mr. Wickham, someone lively and vibrant."

"Oh Jane, if only we could live in a world with no entail, and women were not dependent on men for their comfort. I admit I do not love Mr. Collins in the way I often professed I would were I to marry. But I must make do with what I have."

Jane looked as if she wanted to argue the matter further, but refrained, for which Elizabeth was grateful. She needed Jane as an ally, someone to help her through the next few weeks, for surely Mr. Collins had made it abundantly clear he wished to marry as soon as possible. The wedding date was tentatively set for early January. Mr. Collins would return to Hunsford in between to take up his clerical duties, then return to Longbourn for the wedding.

Jane and Elizabeth slipped quietly into bed, both lost in their own thoughts.