2. Chapter Two

Chapter Two

It was much later in the day before Darcy and Bingley finally left Longbourn. Approaching dinnertime, they both realised there was no more they could do. The women had all sequestered themselves above stairs, Collins was in a state of babbling shock, but the redoubtable Mrs Hill had recovered and seemed to have everything in hand.

"Pray tell Miss Bennet that I will return on the morrow," Bingley told Hill, "and I beg you, if I may offer any assistance from Netherfield's staff, that you send to us at once."

Hill bobbed a curtsey. "You are very kind, sir, but I am sure we shall make do. I will let Miss Bennet know."

Bingley made sure they had ridden well out of earshot of the house before rounding on Darcy. "Darcy, my friend, excuse me, but what the hell was that? "

"I do not take your meaning, Charles," Darcy said frigidly, hoping to dissuade his friend from further inquiry, but Bingley was righteously angry.

"Well, you soon shall, for I intend to make myself plain! I do not understand you at all today, Darcy – first you try to dissuade me from courting Miss Bennet by telling me she is not my social equal, and then you admit that you had asked Mr.Bennet to court Miss Elizabeth? If Miss Bennet is not my equal, then certainly Miss Elizabeth is not yours !"

Darcy winced. With uncommon perception, Bingley had cut right to the heart of the paradox. "My objections to Miss Bennet stemmed in good part from the fact that I did not think she genuinely cared for you, Bingley," he attempted to conciliate. "The remarks on inequality came from your sisters."

"Then you must admit that you were wrong, because the way she looked at me..." Bingley went dreamy-eyed. "Oh, I know that she was distressed, but... and she called me Charles..."

"I concede I was wrong," Darcy said gruffly. "It was plain to see that Miss Bennet is truly fond of you."

"Not only that, Darcy," Bingley returned to the attack, "but I had not the slightest idea that you had an interest in Miss Elizabeth! Oh, I know you commented on her fine eyes and Caroline was jealous, but we did not think you were serious..."

Darcy said nothing, and Bingley paused for a moment. "You are serious, aren't you? Or did you say it to prevent Miss Elizabeth getting engaged to that cretin Collins? It's an unpalatable thought, to be sure. Did you really ask Mr.Bennet for his permission?"

Darcy hesitated for a moment. He could confess the truth to Bingley, who already seemed to have understood his motives. Bingley would back him up and they would convince Elizabeth to go along with it, at least until Collins set his sights elsewhere. The middle sister Miss Mary would likely do much better for the foolish vicar. And then Darcy could gracefully back out and Elizabeth could find someone better suited to herself.

But if Darcy told Bingley he really had applied to Mr.Bennet to court Elizabeth, then Bingley would in all honour expect him to be making an offer before the Bennets' mourning period was over. True, Elizabeth did not seem to like him very much at the moment, but that was all due to Wickham's lies, and that could soon be straightened out. The Bennets would not be socialising with the officers for some time to come. Indeed, they should not be socialising with Bingley and himself, but if it were accepted that Darcy was courting Elizabeth – and Bingley would be courting Jane, that was certain – then Darcy would have an advantage over Wickham for a goodly while.

"Yes," he said finally, unable to tell a lie directly to his friend but allowing Bingley to assume what he would. "I did speak to Mr.Bennet last night." He kicked his horse to a canter. "We'd best get back or your sisters will be wondering what has happened to us!"

As they rode up to Netherfield, Darcy turned to Bingley. "Charles, I would appreciate it if you did not mention that I have entered into a courtship with Miss Elizabeth just yet."

"Are you avoiding the inevitable tantrums from Caroline?" Bingley asked dryly. "Or is it that you think you had better tell Miss Elizabeth yourself?"

"Both," Darcy confessed .

"I thought so." Bingley said no more, but Darcy knew he would keep his mouth shut, at least for the time being. Now if only Collins would do the same!

It was very late that night when Elizabeth and Jane finally crawled into their bed. The doctor had finally had to be called to give Mrs Bennet a sedative, and Kitty had needed a small dose as well because she could not stop crying and was making herself sick. Lydia had been horrid to Kitty, and in the end even mild Jane lost her temper and ordered Lydia to her room.

Mary had been unseen all day, hiding in her room silently, reading her books in a frantic attempt to hide from the world going mad around her. Elizabeth regretted that she had not time to do more than stick her head around the door and check that Mary was all right, but the others had needed her more.

And then Mr. Collins! Elizabeth could happily have throttled him. Oblivious to the household's utter disorder, he had berated Hill and Cook for failing to supply more than a meagre dinner. Never mind that he was the only person in the house who had an appetite at all. And then after he ate his dinner he sent a message to request that Elizabeth join him in the library, uncaring that only a few hours earlier she had knelt there at her dead father's feet. Jane took one look at Elizabeth's face and rose to her feet.

"I shall come with you," she stated, and Elizabeth was grateful for her support .

"Thank you, Miss Bennet, but I require a private word with Miss Elizabeth," Mr. Collins said dismissively as soon as they entered the library, "and in the future, please knock before you enter my library."

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Collins," Jane said, squeezing tightly on Elizabeth's hand, "but if the door was left ajar, my father did not require that we knock. In the future we shall, of course, abide by your wishes. To address your first point, though, while you are now our guardian and the head of the family, you are nevertheless an unmarried man, and it is not appropriate for any of us to be alone with you unchaperoned. Since my mother is indisposed, Elizabeth and I must chaperone each other."

"Miss Bennet, there are times when it is appropriate for the head of a family to speak privately with one of its members, and this is one of those times. You will wait outside."

"I will not. Sir." Jane stared him down, her eyes red-rimmed but unyielding, and Mr. Collins was the first to look away, thinking that perhaps it was just as well Miss Bennet was not available. Beneath that meek and mild exterior, apparently there was a backbone of cast iron.

Elizabeth was staring at Jane in admiration. She had never seen Jane so forceful and determined. What ever had got into her? Elizabeth herself felt weak and drained, all the fight knocked out of her. She had realised early that afternoon that her choices were now eliminated. She now had no choice but to marry her odious cousin, and she had no doubt he would demand they be married quietly, probably even before the mourning period was over. He had called her in here, she suspected, to tell her the date of the nuptials or something equally obnoxious, before her father was even laid to rest.

"As you wish," Mr. Collins said finally, "but I require your silence, Miss Bennet, in the conversation which is about to commence. If you wish to be a chaperone, so be it, but you should be the best chaperone possible, which means that you should be seen and not heard. Please sit over there." He gestured towards a distant chair.

Jane glanced once at Elizabeth, squeezed her hand and glided serenely to the chair. Elizabeth stepped forward and seated herself in the chair opposite where Mr. Collins sat at her father's desk.

Mr. Collins surveyed the beautiful woman before him. Still lovely, despite her tear-streaked cheeks and rumpled hair. She had been uncharacteristically quiet and docile this day, though he supposed the shock of losing her father might have done that to her. He gazed his fill while she stared at her hands, wondering how he could still have her. Because he had wanted Elizabeth from the moment he had seen her. Had lusted after her, longed to press her hard against him and feel those soft, womanly curves. But the only way in which he could have her now would be if she refused Darcy, and she would be mad to do that. Somehow he must convince her that Darcy was not for her.

He cleared his throat and finally spoke. "I believe, Elizabeth, that you have somehow gained ideas above your station."

Elizabeth's eyes flew up and she stared at Mr. Collins in shock. "Excuse me, sir? I do not think that I understand you."

"Do you not? Well, while it is understood that a great match may be in your sister's future," he flipped a hand in Jane's direction, "surely your mother has made it clear to you that without Miss Bennet's beauty, your options are decidedly reduced?"

You odious little squirt , Elizabeth thought. Are you seriously telling me that because I am not as pretty as Jane, I have no choice but to marry you? "Indeed," she said aloud, "my mother has been saying as much to me for many years, but I always preferred to believe my father, who said that a man of good sense would look for more than merely a pretty face and would choose a woman of character and understanding. "

Collins spluttered, wrong-footed. "Well, yes, of course, Elizabeth," he said finally, and Lizzy ground her teeth, annoyed that he no longer bothered to give her the courtesy of a "Miss" before her name. "That is, indeed, why I singled you out for my own attentions. But it has come to my attention that you have been encouraging interest from a sphere far removed from your own, indeed from a gentleman not only far above you in rank but who is also engaged to be married to another woman!"

Elizabeth just stared at him, completely confused. "I am very sorry, Mr. Collins," she said finally, "but I have absolutely no idea to whom you are referring."

"Do not lie to me!" Mr. Collins banged his hand on the desk, and immediately said "Ouch," and cradled it to his chest. "Elizabeth, do not lie. This very day Mr. Darcy told me that he is courting you!"

"That he – what – Mr. Darcy? "

Jane leapt to her feet and darted to her sister's side. "Mr. Collins, that is enough! Our father died today! Elizabeth is tired and confused and she does not understand your questions. Tomorrow will be soon enough for this conversation."

"Sit down, Miss Bennet!"

"I will not, Mr. Collins! And if you can remember to call me Miss Bennet, you can remember to call my sister Miss Elizabeth! If you wish to beat me for disobedience, well, go ahead, I am not afraid of you! But I shall be sure to tell everyone that you were badgering and browbeating Lizzy before our father was even laid to rest, and we shall see how you are received in the neighbourhood, Master of Longbourn !" Her blue eyes sparked with defiant rage as she put herself between him and Elizabeth defensively.

Collins was about to shout back at Jane, but then he froze. Damn the bitch, but she was right. The Bennets were greatly respected in this neighbourhood, especially Jane and Elizabeth, and a few well-chosen words from Jane would mean that he was not received anywhere. Especially if Bingley did marry her and she became the powerful, wealthy mistress of Netherfield.

"We will conclude this conversation tomorrow, Miss Elizabeth," he said, putting a mocking twist on his words. "Perhaps your mother will be feeling better and will be able to chaperone you."

Over my dead body, Jane thought grimly, hustling Elizabeth out into the hall and up the stairs. Only, when they got upstairs they found Lydia haranguing Kitty and their mother wailing again, and there was no time to stop and talk about Mr. Collins' incredible words. It would have to wait.

Finally, hours later, they crawled into bed, hugging each other. They cried first, hot salty tears soaking their pillows, but then eventually calmed enough to talk.

"Oh, Jane, what am I going to do?" Elizabeth whispered. "I can't bear to marry Mr. Collins, and Papa would surely never have made me, but I can't see how to say no – he is horrible and vindictive and he will toss us all out of our home. Mama would not survive it, and where would we all go?"

"Well," Jane said stoutly, "you and I shall get good jobs as governesses to some lovely lady's children, and Mama would go with Lydia to stay with Aunt Phillips, and you know our Aunt and Uncle Gardiner would take in Mary and Kitty and see them married to decent young men. We should not starve in the hedgerows, Lizzy, no matter what."

Elizabeth smiled in the darkness. "You are being very brave, dearest Jane. That is the best-case scenario..."

"No, I think not," Jane said, and was glad the room was too dark for Elizabeth to see her blushing. "You see, earlier on, Lizzy, when I had – when I had just seen Papa, I came running out into the hall and right into Mr. Bingley. I was so upset I am not quite sure what I said, but I do know that I forgot myself and I called him Charles. He was so kind, he made me sit down and he rubbed my hands and gave me his handkerchief. And when I had caught my breath for a moment he looked at me in – well, in a way he never looked at me before. And he said softly, staring very hard at me, "Jane, my dearest, I will look after you for ever, if you will only allow me.""

Elizabeth caught her breath in astonishment. "Was he – was he proposing ?"

"Well, I don't really think he could , not at that moment, do you? And he had barely spoken before Mama came shrieking in and all was chaos, but a couple of times before he left I saw him looking at me and he was smiling in such a gentle, reassuring way – I think he meant me to know that he intends to propose, when the time is right. Perhaps he was even coming today to ask Papa's permission."

"Oh, Jane, I am truly happy for you!" Elizabeth hugged her. "The two of you will do so well together, you are quite the most amiable two people I have ever met."

Jane laughed a little, hugging her back. "I hope I did not read too much into his words, but I don't think I did."

"I only feel sorry for you that you must endure Caroline Bingley as a sister!"

"She is friendly enough, Lizzy, and she has been nothing but kind to me."

"Perhaps," Elizabeth said noncommittally. "Perhaps it is only me that she does not care for."

"Ah, but the reasons for her dislike of you are only too evident now, are they not, Lizzy? Because Miss Bingley wants to marry Mr. Darcy, and it seems that he cares for you, if Mr. Collins is correct. "

"Jane, Mr. Collins cannot possibly be correct! Mr. Darcy and I are certainly not courting – indeed, we almost fought yesterday evening, over the infamous way he has treated Mr. Wickham!"

"Lizzy, I have been thinking," Jane said slowly after they had mulled that over in silence for a few moments. "I don't think Mr. Collins was mistaken. I think Mr. Darcy really did tell him that he was courting you."

"But why on earth would he do such a thing?" Elizabeth hissed in frustration.

"Because he's in love with you, silly!" Jane laughed softly, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I confess I have eyes for little other than Charles when we see each other, but Charlotte Lucas has told me how Mr. Darcy stands at the side of the room and watches you. How you seem to delight in teasing and provoking him. And come, Lizzy, you cannot deny he is a handsome man."

"He is insufferably proud, and poor Mr. Wickham..."

"Mr. Darcy is a great man, Lizzy, with much of which to be proud, and Mr. Wickham has always seemed a little odd to me. No sooner had he met you than he was telling you his troubles, blaming Mr. Darcy for all of it. I cannot believe that Charles would be so close a friend with a man who would behave as badly as Wickham claims, and nor do I believe his sister is the proud and rude girl Wickham says, not when the Bingleys have spoken so much of her. All Caroline speaks of is Miss Darcy's accomplishments, but I understand from Charles that the girl is but sixteen and very shy."

Elizabeth was silenced. She lay still, her mind whirling, trying to reconcile what Jane was telling her with what she thought she knew. Eventually she slipped into a troubled sleep, waking often from dreams she could not clearly recall. Every time she came back to consciousness and remembered her father was gone, tears welled in her eyes again, though she tried hard to cry quietly to avoid disturbing Jane's sleep.