10. Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Elizabeth froze in the doorway of the parlour, her heart sinking at the scene unfolding before her. Kitty knelt trembling on the carpet, shards of delicate porcelain scattered around her skirts. Looming over her cowered form, his face flushed with righteous indignation, stood Mr. Collins.

"You clumsy, careless girl!" he bellowed, wagging an accusatory finger. "That was a priceless heirloom! Have you no respect for this household? I demand you apologize at once for your egregious lack of grace and decorum!"

Kitty's lower lip quivered as fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "I'm s-sorry, Mr. Collins," she whimpered. "It was an accident, truly! My sleeve caught the saucer as I reached for a biscuit..."

"Excuses!" Mr. Collins huffed. "A proper young lady controls her limbs with poise and elegance at all times. She does not flail about like an untamed beast! And why are you eating biscuits? You are much too plump already! Now, once more - apologize for your offensive display of gracelessness this instant!"

Elizabeth could bear no more. Stepping fully into the room, she hurried to Kitty's side and wrapped a protective arm around her sister's shaking shoulders. Jane appeared a moment later, concern etched across her lovely features as she crouched down to gather the broken pieces of the teacup.

"There now, Kitty," Elizabeth soothed, brushing back the damp tendrils of hair clinging to her sister's face. "Dry your eyes, dearest. ‘Twas an accident, nothing more. No lasting harm has been done."

She helped Kitty to her feet, passing her into Jane's waiting embrace. As Jane led their sniffling sister from the room, Elizabeth turned to face Mr. Collins, her dark eyes flashing. Enough was enough. This pompous, blustering man had terrorized their grieving family with his draconian rules and punishments for long enough. Someone had to take a stand.

Drawing herself up to her full height, Elizabeth lifted her chin. Her courage did not desert her, though her knees trembled beneath her skirts. "Mr. Collins," she began in a calm, clear voice that belied her racing heart. "I believe you and I are long overdue for a frank discussion regarding certain matters. Shall we adjourn to the library?"

Mr. Collins blinked in surprise at Elizabeth's request, his mouth falling open in a most undignified manner. Recovering quickly, he drew himself up to his full height, his chest puffing out like a rooster preparing to crow. "I beg your pardon, Cousin Elizabeth," he huffed, his nasal voice dripping with condescension. "I do not believe there is anything we need to discuss. As the master of this household, it is my duty to maintain order and discipline. I will not have my authority questioned by an impertinent young woman."

Elizabeth felt her temper flare at his dismissive words, but she refused to let it show. Instead, she fixed him with a steady gaze, her voice remaining even and measured. "Mr. Collins, I assure you, I have no desire to undermine your authority. However, I cannot stand idly by while your harsh methods continue to cause distress and unhappiness among my sisters. Surely, as a man of the cloth, you must see the value in leading with kindness and understanding, rather than fear and intimidation."

Mr. Collins' face reddened, his jowls quivering with indignation. "You forget yourself, Cousin Elizabeth!" he blustered, wagging a finger under her nose. "It is not your place to question my leadership. I have been entrusted with the care of this family, and I will not have my methods challenged by a mere slip of a girl! My strictness is necessary to establish the proper order and discipline that was so sorely lacking under your father's lax rule."

Elizabeth's heart clenched at the mention of her beloved father, but she pushed aside the familiar pang of grief. This was not the time for tears; it was the time for action. She took a step closer to Mr. Collins, her gaze unwavering. "I believe, sir, that you are mistaken. It is precisely my place, as a daughter of this house, to ensure the well-being and happiness of my family. Your unyielding severity does nothing but breed resentment and misery. Is that truly the legacy you wish to leave as the master of Longbourn?"

Mr. Collins glared at her, his face turning an alarming shade of purple as his chest puffed out even further. "You speak of matters beyond your understanding, Cousin Elizabeth. A woman's place is to obey, not to question. Your father may have indulged your impertinence, but I will not tolerate such insolence under my roof!"

Elizabeth's eyes flashed with anger, but she kept her voice steady. "And yet, Mr. Collins, I cannot help but wonder if your insistence on blind obedience stems from a deep-seated insecurity. Perhaps you fear that without the threat of punishment, you would be unable to command the respect and loyalty of those around you."

She watched as Mr. Collins' face contorted with rage, his hands balling into fists at his sides. For a moment, Elizabeth feared that he might strike her, but she stood her ground, refusing to be cowed by his bluster.

"How dare you!" Mr. Collins spluttered, his voice rising to a near-shout. "I am the master of this house, and you will show me the respect I am due!"

Elizabeth shook her head sadly, her heart heavy with the realisation that Mr. Collins was beyond reason. "Respect, Mr. Collins, is earned, not demanded. And I fear that your actions have done little to inspire true respect or affection from those in your care."

With that, she turned on her heel and marched from the room, her head held high despite the trembling in her limbs. She knew that her defiance would likely incur Mr. Collins' wrath, but she could not stand idly by while those she loved suffered under his tyrannical rule.

But even as her resolve hardened, Elizabeth could not shake the sense of foreboding that settled over her like a dark cloud. She feared that her confrontation with Mr. Collins was only the beginning of a long and difficult battle.

Mr. Collins stood motionless for a moment, struggling to regain his composure. Then, with a sudden, jerky movement, he strode after Elizabeth, his footsteps echoing loudly in the quiet house .

"Elizabeth!" he called out, his voice tight with barely suppressed fury. "I demand that you return at once!"

Elizabeth paused at the foot of the stairs, her knuckles whitening as her grip tightened on the banister. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the confrontation to come. Then, slowly, she turned to face Mr. Collins, her expression carefully neutral.

"Yes, Mr. Collins?" she asked, her voice calm and even.

Mr. Collins drew himself up to his full height, his chest puffing out with self-importance. "Elizabeth," he began, his tone condescending, "I have given the matter some thought, and I have come to the conclusion that it is high time you and I were married."

Elizabeth's eyes widened in surprise, her heart racing in her chest. "I beg your pardon?" she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You heard me," Mr. Collins said, his lips curling into a smug smile. "I have decided that you will marry me, and I will not take no for an answer."

Elizabeth felt a surge of anger rise within her, hot and fierce. How dare he presume to dictate her future, to make such a momentous decision without even consulting her? She drew herself up to her full height, her eyes flashing with determination.

"Mr. Collins," she said, her voice trembling slightly with the force of her emotions, "I am afraid I must decline your... proposal, if one can even call it that. Our values and personalities are simply too different, and I know in my heart that I could never be happy in a marriage with you."

Mr. Collins' face darkened with anger, his eyes narrowing to mere slits. "You foolish girl," he hissed, taking a step towards her. "Do you really think you have a choice in the matter? I am the master of this house, and what I say goes! "

But Elizabeth stood her ground, her chin lifted defiantly. "I am not a possession to be bartered or sold, Mr. Collins, nor a slave to be commanded and beaten into compliance! I am a person, with my own thoughts and feelings and desires. And I will not be bullied or coerced into a marriage that I know will bring me nothing but misery. I remind you that it is not legal in England to force anyone to marry against their will, and my will is certainly never to marry you!"

She could see the rage building in Mr. Collins' face, the vein in his forehead throbbing with barely suppressed fury. For a moment, she wondered if he might actually strike her. But she refused to back down, to let him see even a flicker of fear or doubt in her eyes.

"You will regret this, Elizabeth," Mr. Collins said at last, his voice low and menacing. "Mark my words, you will rue the day you defied me."

With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off, leaving Elizabeth alone in the hallway, her heart racing and her mind whirling with the implications of what had just transpired. She knew that her refusal would have consequences, that Mr. Collins was not a man to take rejection lightly.

But even as fear and uncertainty coiled in her gut, Elizabeth could not bring herself to regret her decision. She knew in her heart that a marriage to Mr. Collins would be a living nightmare, a slow death of the soul. She also knew that she could not live a lie, could not pretend to be someone she was not. She had to be true to herself, even if it meant facing the disapproval and disappointment of those she loved most.

Elizabeth heard the sound of raised voices coming from her mother's sitting-room abovestairs and realised that Mr. Collins must have gone straight to her mother. She steeled herself for the inevitable confrontation, knowing that Mrs. Bennet would be furious with her for turning down such an advantageous match.

As she approached her mother's sitting-room, Elizabeth could hear Mr. Collins' voice, high-pitched and agitated. "Mrs. Bennet, I must insist that you speak to your daughter at once. Her behaviour is simply unacceptable. She has insulted me egregiously!"

Elizabeth took a deep breath and entered the room, ready to face her mother's wrath. But to her amazement, Mrs. Bennet looked calm, almost resigned. She looked at Elizabeth, before turning to Mr. Collins and saying, "I am sorry, Mr. Collins, but I cannot command Elizabeth to accept your proposal. She is a grown woman, and her choices are her own."

Mr. Collins looked as though he had been slapped. "But surely, as her mother, you have some influence over her? Can you not make her see reason?"

Mrs. Bennet shook her head. "Elizabeth has always been headstrong and independent. I have tried to guide her, but in the end, she must follow her own path. I cannot force her to marry against her will."

Elizabeth could hardly believe what she was hearing. For perhaps the first time in her life, her mother was taking her side, respecting her wishes. She felt a rush of gratitude and affection for the woman who had borne and raised her, even with all her flaws and foibles.

Mr. Collins, however, was not so easily deterred. "This is an outrage!" he spluttered. "I will not be treated in this manner. Lady Catherine will hear of this, mark my words!"

With that, he stormed out of the room without even a glance at Elizabeth, leaving her and her mother alone. For a long moment, they simply stared at each other, neither sure of what to say .

Finally, Mrs. Bennet spoke. "Well, that was certainly unexpected," she said with a nervous laugh. "I never thought I'd see the day when Mr. Collins would be refused by one of my daughters."

Elizabeth smiled wryly. "Nor did I, Mama. But I cannot marry a man I do not respect, no matter how advantageous the match might be."

Mrs. Bennet sighed. "I know, my dear. And as much as it pains me to see you turn down such an opportunity, I cannot fault you for following your heart. I only hope that you will find a man worthy of your affections someday."

Elizabeth felt a lump form in her throat at her mother's words. She stepped forward and embraced her tightly. "Thank you, Mama," she whispered. "Thank you for understanding."

As they pulled apart, Jane appeared in the doorway, her face etched with concern. "Is everything alright? I heard shouting. Kitty is calm, at last, though Lydia has worked herself into a temper because of Kitty's tears."

Elizabeth smiled at her sister. "Everything is fine, Jane. In fact, I think I'd like to take a walk. Would you care to join me?"

Jane readily agreed, and the two sisters set out into the gardens, arm in arm. As they walked, Elizabeth felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had stood up for herself, and her mother had supported her. It was a small victory, but a significant one.

"I'm proud of you, Lizzy," Jane said softly when Elizabeth told her of what had just transpired. "I know it couldn't have been easy to refuse Mr. Collins like that."

Elizabeth laughed. "It was easier than you might think. The man is insufferable."

Jane smiled. "Still, it takes courage to go against expectations. I admire you for that. "

Elizabeth squeezed her sister's arm. "Thank you, Jane. I don't know what I would do without you."

As they continued their walk, Elizabeth's thoughts turned to the future. She knew that her refusal of Mr. Collins would have consequences, but for now, she was content to enjoy the moment. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and she had her sister by her side. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she would face them with her head held high, secure in the knowledge that she had taken the only possible course of action in the circumstances.