Page 101 of See, Hear, Speak No Evil, Mr. Darcy
“You would not be so cruel, Father!” Jane’s look was a mix of disgust and horror.
“Of must, for I will not suffer under her constant suffering of her nerves when it can be so easily handled.”
Elizabeth was sick at the thought of any of her sisters suffering under the hand of such a man and their mother.
“That is what I thought. Mr. Collins must see you at your best, Elizabeth. He cannot but be pleased with you.”
“Father, you must intervene. I know my mother. She will contrive to force my sister to marry him through compromise. You may believe her first son’s inheriting your estate reward enough for such misery, but you are wrong,” Jane said, her disdain never better displayed.
He shrugged. “At least for Collins’s lifetime, you will have a home. I will send him on an errand to London for a few days. Next week, you will attend the ball and dance the first with him, Elizabeth. Then you will see it is possible to find a measure of acceptance in your marriage to him.”
“But no more? You will not force me to dance more than the opening set with that disgusting oaf? If you announce an engagement, I will deny it with such volume that my mother will cower. Even should you beat me, I will never accept him. Warnher,” Elizabeth countered.
“I will not announce your engagement,” Mr. Bennet said, his wincing expression proof that he had intended to do just that. “I am not your enemy, Lizzy.”
“It is certain you are no advocate of mine.”
“If you marry him, you will be happy with your sacrifice for the sake of your sisters and knowing they are safe.”
“If you intend to let her push while you pretend to interfere on my behalf, I will never forgive you.” Elizabeth took her sister’s hand and led Jane out, leaving him to his sulk.
Chapter 10
The Netherfield Ball Begins
Alighting from the carriage, Elizabeth spied Mr. Darcy in an upstairs window. When their eyes met, he held her gaze only a moment before turning away. She hoped it meant he was even then making his way to her.
When Mr. Collins extended his arm, her mother insisted she take it. Elizabeth ignored them both, walking into the great house surrounded by her sisters.
Elizabeth had bartered with her father for this, a dance with Mr. Collins in trade for seeing Mr. Darcy once more. She intended to explain her present circumstances and thank him for the remembrances she would forever cherish. She prayed they might also dance, to collect one last memory of him to treasure. A future with Mr. Collins repulsed her. But her sisters being without protection terrified her.
Scouring the ballroom to catch even the briefest sight of Mr. Darcy, when their eyes met, the rest of the world faded away. Elizabeth allowed herself to take solace in him until she was forced to attend to those around her, most of whom she derived no pleasure from.
She looked for him again and again. Each time Elizabeth located Mr. Darcy, she found him to be watching her. In this way, they made dozens of small memories that the two of them alone knew of. Though she felt hopeless, it was not in understanding that both personas, Mr. Darcy and Prince William, were equally unattainable matches. It was because of the future her parents had mapped out for her.
Their aunt Gardiner, who had gone to stand with Mr. Darcy, spoke to Jane and Mary. Elizabeth knew they had acquainted their aunt with the full truth of all that had occurred at Longbourn.
Elizabeth overheard Mrs. Bennet announcing to their neighbors her expectation that Elizabeth would do her duty to her family by marrying her cousin. Many turned their heads from him when Mr. Collins expected an introduction. These same neighbors expressed their condolences to Elizabeth for being forced into an intolerable alliance. Some spoke in platitudes, certain that any husband is better than none. But many took her hand while expressing a moment’s sympathy.
Elizabeth knew some joy in seeing Jane led to the floor by Mr. Bingley to open the ball. She heard her father groan when she declared that she had been ordered to dance with Mr. Collins, so that any within ten feet of her understood why she danced with him.
“Mr. Bennet, youassuredme Elizabeth would agree, and quickly, to regain the freedoms she enjoyed with your permission,” Mrs. Bennet seethed.
“I thought ending our constant haranguing of her was enough inducement. I have never stood firm against you above twelve hours. But then, Elizabeth is your daughter. Stubborn is not a trait either of you lacks. The chances for the outcome you wish dwindle with her efforts to anger my cousin.”
When Mr. Collins came to guide Elizabeth out, she folded her arms behind her back. Lining up to dance, she curtseyed to the ladies on either side. She felt gratification when Mr. Collins became angry for keeping her face averted from him. Elizabeth continued to ignore him, dancing the set the same as she would with no partner at all.
Worse, Mr. Collins lacked all grace and hardly knew the steps. He turned in the wrong direction. He even attempted to keep himself lifted on his toes the whole set, so he would nearly equal Elizabeth’s five-foot-four-inch height. Throughout the set, Mr. Collins reached for Elizabeth, who made significant efforts to show her rejection of his person.
At the conclusion of the set, Charlotte hooked her arm with one of Elizabeth’s. They removed to a far corner, where Elizabeth informed her dearest friend of what had happened with respect to Mr. Collins.
Their conversation was interrupted by a young man in the shire who had requested Elizabeth’s second set. She said something to the sixteen-year-old, gangly youth to make him laugh when he led her to the line. Once the music began, she curtseyed with respect, contrasting her rejection of her former dance partner in favor of a youth half his consequence.
Elizabeth was thankful that many of their neighbors sent her parents looks of censure. At the end of the set, the young man returned Elizabeth to Jane and Charlotte.
“Princess Elizabeth?” Darcy hailed.
The room fell silent.
