The next morning Mrs. Bennet came to visit Elizabeth in her room.
"Lizzy, Mr. Collins wants to go to Meryton this morning and I want you to accompany him," she said, breezing into the room.
"Good morning, Mama," said Elizabeth, who was having her hair done by Lily, one of their maids. "I don't think I am free this morning. I have some letters to write."
"Nonsense. Whatever else you have planned can wait. Mr. Collins has particularly asked for your company."
Elizabeth sighed. She had hoped he would wait a couple of days before he proposed, but it seemed not.
"I will take Jane with me."
"No, you will not, Lizzy. Jane is far too busy. She has to go to Netherfield to see Miss Bingley. Take Kitty and Lydia with you. Lydia says she wants another new ribbon for her bonnet."
"She has only just had one, Mama. You indulge her too much."
"And why shouldn't I?" Mrs. Bennet's tone was resentful. "These are very difficult times, Lizzy, and you are very selfish. My dear Lydia should have some new ribbon if she wants it. There is very little to keep us cheerful at this time."
"Some might consider we are still in mourning," said Elizabeth sharply.
"You dear father would not expect you all to keep mourning him," said Mrs. Bennet, who had dispensed with her widow's clothes after six months. "Now do not argue with me, Lizzy. I do not know what was wrong with you yesterday. You will go with Mr. Collins to Meryton and you will take Kitty and Lydia with you."
Elizabeth said no more though she did not relish going anywhere with Mr. Collins. Nor would her sisters be any help. Without her father's influence Kitty and Lydia were growing daily more silly.
"Very well, Mama, but I am certain the walk will be too much for Mr. Collins. He doesn't seem to do a great deal of walking."
"Nonsense, Lizzy. Mr. Collins is very fit. I think it is the food that he receives from his ladyship. He does seem extraordinarily lucky in his patronage, don't you think?"
Elizabeth grimaced. She had never met Lady Catherine de Bourgh and from Mr. Collins' description of her, she didn't want to. Her ladyship seemed to hold very strong opinions about everything and Mr. Collins held her in such high esteem, he seemed to forget that his master was in fact God, not the widowed Lady Catherine. Elizabeth found it very strange.
"He is extremely fortunate, Mama. Now shall we go downstairs?" she asked as Lily put the final pin in her hair.
"Now?" screeched Mrs. Bennet. "My dear girl, you must change at once."
Elizabeth looked down at the pretty dress she was wearing. She could see nothing wrong with it. She could not understand why Mama had suddenly become unreasonable about her dresses. "I often wear this dress. You have never commented about it before."
"That's because it wasn't important. I've never liked that dress. Lizzy, you do not have the same advantages as your sister. You must wear something more suited to the occasion."
"Mama, I am only going for a walk. This is a suitable dress."
Mrs. Bennet wasn't listening and she went to the wardrobe and moved the clothing until she found something more to her liking.
"But Mama..."
Mrs. Bennet handed the dress to Lily, who had been trying to pretend she wasn't there. "Do not argue with me, Lizzy. Put this on. This is a special occasion."
Mrs. Bennet swept out of the room before she had the chance to argue with her further.
"What's the special occasion, Miss Elizabeth?" asked Lily.
"Nothing," said Elizabeth. There were times when she might have confided in Lily, but not this time. She didn't want to become the brunt of gossip among the servants.
When she was dressed in the gown of her mother's choosing, Elizabeth went downstairs. Even as she approached she could hear Mr. Collins talking. She wondered whether he talked as much with his patron Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The woman sounded so intimidating that she doubted it. She could not imagine having to listen to Mr. Collins every day.
Elizabeth fixed a smile on her face before entering the dining room.
"Good morning everyone," she said cheerfully as she sat down. "Good morning, Mr. Collins. I trust you slept well."
"My dear Miss Bennet, indeed I did. Such a comfortable room. Naturally it is not quite up to the standard of Rosings."
Mrs. Bennet looked offended. "Was there something wrong, Mr. Collins?"
"Oh, my dear lady, I am sorry. Have I caused offence? Please forgive me. No, nothing is wrong. Your hospitality is exemplary, madam. The room was exactly at the correct temperature, the mattress very firm and the pillows were almost equal to those at Rosings."
Mrs. Bennet appeared a little mollified.
"And have you stayed at Rosings?" she asked.
"No, I have not had that pleasure. But when I moved into the parsonage Lady Catherine was kind enough to come and inspect it and inform me of just how it should be arranged."
"You are fortunate indeed."
"I am, madam, and now I have a home worthy of my status. Oh, how I wish Lady Catherine lived closer to you, but alas she resides in Kent."
"Why would you wished she lived near here, Mr. Collins?" asked Mrs. Bennet, looking puzzled.
"My dear lady, you could then benefit from her advice and her exquisite taste in making changes to Longbourn. I see you have need of it both in the morning room and the drawing room."
Eyebrows were raised around the table among the Bennet sisters, apart from Mary who was surreptitiously reading a book under the table. It seemed every moment Mr. Collins opened his mouth he offended even more. Elizabeth did not believe even Mrs. Bennet had ever said so many offensive things in such a short space of time.
"Mr. Collins, I believe you want to go to Meryton this morning," she said, interrupting his stream of nonsense.
"Miss Elizabeth, you are correct," he said, turning his gaze upon her. "I hope you will be free to accompany me."
"I will," she said with a smile, "and Kitty and Lydia will be coming with us."
Mr. Collins quickly covered his disappointment with a sickly smile. "Three Bennet girls. I do not believe a man could be more fortunate to have such a beautiful trio accompanying him."
Mrs. Bennet who'd been looking annoyed, suddenly beamed. "I do believe you are right, sir. The Bennet girls are known across the county and beyond for their beauty. Some say they take after me."
Lydia giggled and Elizabeth gave her a warning look.
"And will you too be accompanying us?" Mr. Collins asked Jane.
"No, sir. Unfortunately not," said Jane in her quiet manner. "I must go to Netherfield to see Mr. Bingley."
"Oh, Mr. Bingley, of course," said Mr. Collins. "I have told you, haven't I, Mrs. Bennet, that Mr. Bingley is a friend of Lady Catherine's nephew Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley?"
"Yes, many times," said Elizabeth, "And we have met him."
Mr. Collins ignored her. "He is a gentleman of some repute from Derbyshire. He is reputed to have a vast fortune of ten thousand a year and I understand the estate is unrivalled in the country, except of course for Rosings."
Mrs. Bennet did not care for the mention of Mr. Darcy. She had not forgiven him for not showing an an interest in any of her daughters. "And have you met Mr. Darcy?"
"I have not had that good fortune. He does not come into Kent very often. Although I understand he is inordinately fond of his aunt, his business keeps him away. However, I do understand that he is expecting to visit this summer. I know Lady Catherine is hoping that there will soon be a happy announcement to make."
"An announcement. What do you mean?"
"Lady Catherine is hoping that Mr. Darcy will announce his engagement to Miss Anne de Bourgh, her daughter."
"Well, I hope she is good enough for him. Rude detestable man. I cannot stand him," said Mrs. Bennet angrily.
Mr. Collins looked pained at her words, but he did not try and remonstrate with her, and Mary at that moment lifted her head from her book and asked Mr. Collins about an ecclesiastical passage she had just read.
By the time they had finished their breakfast and prepared for their walk, Elizabeth could hardly wait to get outside. Her head ached from hearing Mr. Collins' incessant talking. She had never met a man who was so fond of his own voice. She thought of her dear father. He had been a man of few words, but when he had talked he had always been worth listening to. She missed him so very much.
Elizabeth collected her bonnet. Very soon Mr. Collins would be proposing to her and she had every intention of showing him what an unsuitable wife she would make.