A/N: Alright, kids have started school, I only have one at home now and hopefully I'll be able to write more and get this story finished soon. Just wrote the chapter where Darcy makes his move, though it's not til chapter 13...sorry guys!
Just to reiterate, this story involves extra-marital affairs and bedroom scenes. If these offend you do not read.
Chapter 3
The next day Mr. Collins was adamant that he should take up residence at the local Inn feeling it incumbent upon himself to set the example of a proper courtship. He had his luggage delivered to the Inn, but remained with the Bennet's the entire day. After the morning breakfast Mr. Collins insisted on speaking to Mr. Bennet about the wedding contract.
"I suppose it is something that needs my immediate attention," Mr. Bennet said, motioning for Collins to follow him.
While the women were in the sitting room industriously employed, Mrs. Hill entered with a letter addressed to Jane.
"It is from Caroline Bingley," she declared, then opened the letter and began to read.
Elizabeth, who had been given the task of embroidering a pillowcase by her Mother ("You need to start right away on the new things for your home.") briefly glanced up. She was about to focus on her work again, but her sisters' countenance puzzled her. Her lips moved silently as she read the contents of the letter, but her eyes seemed to brim with unshed tears, and her cheeks had gone pale.
"Does Caroline give more specifics on when her brother will return?" Mrs. Bennet asked without looking up from her own work. "He has promised us a dinner and I had hoped to get a nice joint from the butcher for his supper."
"Caroline says they are closing Netherfield up and are expected to spend the entire Season in Town. She says she does not expect to ever return." Jane's voice had lost its melodious sound and was rather dour.
Mrs. Bennet shot out of her chair, the work in her lap falling to the ground, and marched to Jane. She took the letter out of her hand and read the contents herself. "Oh how can he use you so ill?" Mrs. Bennet cried. "He is gone!"
Mrs. Bennet let the paper fall as she called out for Hill to bring her smelling salts. The house was in an uproar until Mrs. Bennet was led upstairs to her room where Mrs. Hill administered to her Mistress. Lydia and Kitty declared their purpose in going to town, and Mary, prevented by her Mother from practicing at the piano forte, offered to join them so that she might use their Aunt's instrument.
Jane preferred to stay home, and Elizabeth preferred to comfort her sister. She had taken the paper up herself and read the contents and at once understood the meaning behind the words.
"Jane, this is Caroline's way of scaring you off. You needn't worry," she tried to reassure her. "Mr. Bingley is his own man and if he truly cares for you he will return. No amount of contriving or deception on his sister's part can put him off."
Jane did not know what to think. She had felt deeply that Mr. Bingley cared for her, as much as she was beginning to care for him. How could she reconcile Mr. Bingley's attachment to her and his sisters claims that he was attached to Miss Darcy? Elizabeth had set her mind at ease on one point. The lease on Netherfield was for an entire year, and no prudent man would countenance paying for a home in the country if he had no intention of ever returning.
s-S-s
Mr. Collins, thankfully, had been ensconced in Mr. Bennet's study, and therefore was not aware of the uproar of the morning, but attended to Elizabeth that afternoon. Mrs. Bennet roused herself form her chambers declaring it her motherly duty to stand beside her daughter during this time in her life.
Over tea Mrs. Bennet began to make a list of all the things that needed to be attended to for the wedding, conferring with Mr. Collins on some subjects. She insisted on going into town the next day with Elizabeth to choose fabrics and styles for new dresses and insisted on at least one be made up in the finest fabric available.
"You shall be dining at Rosings," Mrs. Bennet reminded her, on more than one occasion.
Mr. Collins dined with them that evening and said he was very sorry to go the next day, casting Elizabeth many furtive looks. Elizabeth would take up her glass, or occupy herself with the contents of her plate whenever he would do this. It was embarrassing for her to be the subject of his awkward courting. She noted that Lydia and Kitty whispering and giggling and felt like pinching them.
When the family retired to the drawing room Mr. Collins expressed his wish to sit beside Elizabeth, and Mrs. Bennet herded the rest of the family to the other side of the room to give them a semblance of privacy.
"Elizabeth…Miss Elizabeth…you cannot know how happy you have made me," Mr. Collins had taken her hands in his and was staring at their fingers entwined.
His hands were clammy and cool and Elizabeth wished nothing more than to wipe her own on her dress, but she did not. She sat silently and listened to him rhapsodize about their eventual wedded bliss. He mentioned how happy Lady Catherine would be by her and how she would no doubt call on her when she first entered the neighborhood.
Finally Mr. Bennet arose from his seat and declared that the household should retire. Mr. Collins bade Elizabeth a good night and said how he would miss her. Elizabeth merely smiled. Once he had left the house she wiped her hands on her dress and walked past a laughing Lydia up to her room and was determined to stay there until this whole ordeal was over.