Updated version, July 17.
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat awkwardly in the tense silence that followed. "Miss Elizabeth, might I have a private word?"
Elizabeth's eyes widened in surprise. "I...yes, of course." She half turned, about to request Jane accompany them before catching herself. They were engaged now. She did not need a chaperone.
"We could walk in the garden?" she suggested hesitantly. Normally she would have led him to her favorite woodland path, but she could not bring herself to open up so completely. The back garden would suffice.
As they stepped outside, Elizabeth realized she had neglected to grab her bonnet. But again, such precautions were unnecessary with one's betrothed. The notion was still difficult to grasp.
They strolled slowly along the garden path, Elizabeth keenly aware of Mr. Darcy's imposing presence beside her. She felt ridiculous now for her earlier worries. Surely she was safe with this gentleman, however brusquely he had insulted her in the past. He had comported himself honorably in offering for her.
Elizabeth shot him a shy glance, wondering what he wished to discuss. She would open her heart to him in time, she supposed. But for now, the back garden sufficed for these first delicate steps in their new relationship.
In the drawing room Mr. Collins paced in frustration. Though Elizabeth refused him, perhaps another Bennet bride would secure his inheritance... He immediately dismissed Jane from consideration, having been warned off by Mrs. Bennet due to Mr. Bingley's attentions.
Mary straightened hopefully as Mr. Collins approached, but he ignored her devout countenance and appealed directly to the giggling Kitty and Lydia.
"Dear cousins, though Elizabeth rejected me, I remain willing to keep Longbourn in the family by taking another Bennet bride."
Kitty and Lydia tittered wildly at the outrageous suggestion.
Scowling, Mr. Collins pressed on. "A lively, merry wife would provide cheerful company. Please consider me as a suitor."
But the silly girls only laughed harder. As Mr. Collins' frustration mounted, the Bennet girls could not resist tormenting him further.
When he complimented Kitty's "youthful bloom," she affected a look of wide-eyed confusion. "Why sir, are you suggesting my looks will fade?"
Lydia feigned delight when he praised her "childlike joy," clasping her hands and chirping, "Oh yes, I am ever so youthfully gleeful!"
They purposefully misunderstood his every word, offering exaggerated curtsies and nonsensical responses, all while maintaining perfect genteel composure.
Kitty and Lydia tittered and feigned delight at his clumsy compliments. Jane smiled serenely through his increasingly desperate monologues.
Mary sat hopefully upright, eager to converse with someone who appreciated scholarly pursuits. But Mr. Collins passed over her plain features without a second glance, leaving her crest-fallen.
When he finally attempted some academic discourse, Mary tried to engage eagerly. But Mr. Collins soon dismissed her stammering responses, turning back to the prettier, livelier sisters who spurned and teased him.
With shoulders slumped, Mary stared down at her hands, simmering with envy and disappointment. She was forever doomed to be the overlooked sister, even by ridiculous Mr. Collins.
At first, Mrs. Bennet harbored hopes that despite Elizabeth's refusal, Mr. Collins might still be prevailed upon to marry one of her other daughters. But observing his hopeless floundering, her impatient amusement mounted.
"Come now, Mr. Collins," she entreated. "Surely one of my dear girls has caught your eye? They are all so pretty and accomplished."
As he waxed poetic about the comforts of Rosings, Mrs. Bennet interjected encouragingly, "But I am certain they would be just as content with comforts closer to home."
As each Bennet sister spurned him in turn, Mr. Collins felt his aspirations slipping disastrously through his grasp. Mary's indifference to his scholarly discourse was the final blow, and his frustration boiled over at last.
"Is there not one suitable young lady in this house?" he burst out, abandoning all decorum. The girls sprang apart in surprise.
Mrs. Bennet fluttered her hands anxiously. "Sir, do not despair! I am certain we can arrive at an amenable solution."
"I have behaved honorably, yet you repay me with mockery!" He jabbed an accusing finger at Lydia and Kitty. "You two at least could show proper gratitude - I am your only hope for a comfortable future!"
When they collapsed in renewed giggles, he rounded furiously on Jane. "And you, Miss Bennet! So high and mighty, but without my condescension you shall end up a penniless spinster!"
Mrs. Bennet wrung her hands in dismay at this outburst. Mr. Collins whirled in agitation, tugging at his collar. "Is it such an unbearable prospect, being the wife of your esteemed cousin and savior from destitution?"
With as much dignity as he could muster, he drew himself up. "I see I shall have to seek a bride from less willful and ungrateful stock than the Bennets." He turned on his heel, ignoring their stifled laughter. "Good day to you all!"
As they walked slowly through the back garden, an awkward silence lingered between them. At last Mr. Darcy spoke, his words halting and stiff. "Miss Elizabeth, I...feel I must apologize for the shocking scene you witnessed last night."
Elizabeth flushed crimson, avoiding his gaze. Mr. Darcy hurried on.
"I never imagined such an incident could occur. It was foolish of me not to retire to my chambers as propriety demanded. But as host, I thought it improper to be seen ascending...that is..."
He trailed off. Elizabeth stared fixedly at the ground.
"In any case," he continued heavily, "you were forced to stumble upon a most unfortunate situation." He shook his head. "I offer my regrets that you were subjected to such upset."
Elizabeth colored deeply at his apology. "Please, sir, you have nothing to explain. The fault was mine - I never should have entered a room without knowing it was unoccupied." She twisted her hands agitatedly. "And I assure you, contrary to what my mother claims, I had no design or intention..."
Mr. Darcy surveyed her with a hint of irritation. "Miss Elizabeth, I understand the circumstance was accidental and most unfortunate."
With an effort, Elizabeth composed her features into a semblance of a smile, though it did not reach her flashing eyes. "Then we must make the best of it, sir. I hope in time this marriage will not seem...so unfortunate, for either of us."
Mr. Darcy glanced at her.
Elizabeth flushed. "I understand your choice in this was...limited. But I am glad it shall be you, and not my cousin."
Mr. Darcy looked at her curiously. "Mr. Collins? The clergyman?"
"Indeed. He proposed to me most stubbornly, despite my repeated refusals. All for the sake of inheriting Longbourn." She shook her head in disapproval.
"I see. Your cousin seems rather...overly concerned with your family's affairs."
Elizabeth sighed. "Yes, he is quite invested in inheriting Longbourn through the entail." She hesitated, then added, "My mother had found an old legal clause suggesting the entail could be broken if one of us married a man of substantial means. But I assure you," she added hurriedly, "that had no bearing on last night's events!"
Mr. Darcy's eyebrows rose, but Elizabeth rushed on. "Truly, none of us were aware of the clause until after Mr. Bingley had already grown fond of Jane. And I have never encouraged Mr. Collins, despite my mother's zeal to have me marry him."
She blushed deeply. "Our...situation...arose purely by accident. I had only meant to escape my mother's, well…" Elizabeth chanced a glance at Mr. Darcy. To her consternation, his expression was unreadable as he gazed thoughtfully at her.
She faltered. "Mr. Darcy, please say you do not think ill of me. Truly, none of this was a scheme -"
"We must marry swiftly," he interjected suddenly.
Elizabeth stared. "Pardon? But I told you, if one of us marries a man of significant fortune it breaks the entailment. And since we are engaged —"
"I do not think it wise to tarry on our way to the altar. Your reputation is — well, it will affect your other sisters and their chances to secure husbands. Besides, Mr. Collins may — does your cousin know of this newly found clause? "
Elizabeth blinked rapidly. "But,… no. I do not believe he does."
"Would he not have his own copy of the inheritance, the will?"
"Well, yes, but… he has not shown any indication that he knows of that clause. He has not…"
Mr. Darcy interrupted, "Has he attempted to prevent you or your sisters from marrying men other than him? Especially men of substantial means?"
"Well, he did seem quite unhappy at our engagement..." Elizabeth began faintly.
Mr. Darcy looked grave. "Desperation can drive men to dishonorable acts. Your cousin seemed quite fixated on inheriting Longbourn."
"But Longbourn only passes to him if my father dies," Elizabeth pointed out.
"Forgive me, I do not wish to cause undue alarm. But considering the circumstances, I believe we should marry swiftly."
As they turned back to Longbourn, Elizabeth's thoughts roiled. "Truly, I doubt such urgency is warranted," she demurred.
The back garden gate creaked as Mr. Darcy pulled it open. Elizabeth blinked, returning abruptly to the present moment. The heady scent of honeysuckle enveloped her senses. She must focus on the path ahead, not be distracted by anxieties.
At the door, Mr. Darcy bowed. "I shall call upon the parson directly to have the banns read."
Elizabeth curtsied slightly. "As you think best, sir." Her tone was cool.
He searched her face, trying to discern her feelings. But Elizabeth avoided his gaze, emotions conflicted about their rushed marriage.
With a final nod, Mr. Darcy took his leave. Elizabeth watched his departure, heart heavy with resentment and resignation. The reading of banns would seal her fate.
As Elizabeth retreated indoors, a figure stormed furiously past - Mr. Collins, face mottled with rage, eyes hard and calculating. Elizabeth drew back in surprise, unsettled by this glimpse of vindictiveness lurking beneath her cousin's obsequious veneer.
Perturbed, Elizabeth entered the drawing room to find her sisters convulsed in laughter while her mother looked on in exasperation.
Elizabeth managed a weak smile at their amusement, but Mr. Collins' enraged countenance lingered uneasily in her mind. She shivered despite the laughter surrounding her, Mr. Darcy's ominous warnings echoing once more.
"Oh, Lizzy!" Lydia gasped, wiping her eyes. "You missed the funniest thing. Mr. Collins tried to proposition each of us after you refused him!"
Kitty dissolved into renewed giggles. "His face when Jane said no!"
Elizabeth managed a weak smile, but her thoughts were churning anxiously. She had passed Mr. Collins storming furiously from Longbourn just moments ago. Combining that image with Mr. Darcy's ominous warnings, cold fingers of fear crept down her spine.
Perhaps Mr. Darcy had the right of it. If Mr. Collins was so calculating and desperate to inherit...who knew what lengths he might go to in his thwarted rage?
That evening, Elizabeth shared her concerns with Jane as they prepared for bed. "Oh Jane, I cannot stop thinking about how Mr. Darcy said Mr. Collins might know of the clause that will break the entailment," she confessed anxiously. "What if he succeeds in driving away Mr. Darcy?"
Jane's brow furrowed in worry. "That would be most unfortunate. Mr. Darcy seems a man of honor though, I doubt anything Mr. Collins could do would make him break the engagement. But, perhaps you should speak to Papa about it in the morning, Lizzy."
Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, you're right. I shall also ask Papa to examine the document himself, so we can be certain of the entailment terms."
Jane squeezed her hand comfortingly. "I'm sure he will be able to put your mind at ease."