Page 25 of Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone
Liar. You’d singled out Jane and Mama turned your eyes to me.
“But before I am run away with by my feeling...”
The idea of Mr. Collins being run away with his feeling almost made her laugh out loud as visions of him running down the graveled drive of Longbourn crying, “Miss Elizabeth. My feelings cannot be restrained. Miss Elizabeth come back. You run too fast for my squat short legs to catch up.” Her mirth nearly spilled over until it was replaced with vexation at his continuing soliloquy.
“...I could not satisfy myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters, that the loss to them might be as little as possible, when that melancholy event takes place−”
“Mr. Collins!” Lizzy shot to her feet, shocking her verbose cousin into silence. “I cannot believe you would speak of my father’s future demise in such a callous fashion.”
“My dearest Cousin Elizabeth. I am only trying to allay your trepidation. I do not expect that event to occur for several years. In fact, I pray your father remains in good health for a good long time. I was trying to explain my motive in choosing a wife from among my beautiful cousins.”
“Then I suggest you move your attention further down the line. I am by no means amendable to accepting any proposal at this time.”
“You are delightful, Cousin Elizabeth. I am well aware it is the usual practice of young ladies to reject the addresses of a man whom they secretly mean to accept−”
“Secretly mean to accept? Did you not heed my words? I am not amendable to acceptanyproposal at this time.”
“I am also aware that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have said, and shall hope to lead you to the alter ere long.”
“You would have to lead me, Mr. Collins because there is no way on God’s green earth, I would willingly walk down the aisle to meet you. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. You cannot makemehappy and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would makeyouso.”
“Ah, cousin, I cannot wait to extol your virtues to my noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. When I see her next and she wishes me joy, I shall speak only in the highest terms of your modesty, economy, and other amiable qualifications. At no time will I bring up the sad fact of your paltry dowry of one thousand pounds in the four percents, which will not be yours until your mother is deceased. It is all you are entitled to and on that head, I shall be uniformly silent and you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married.”
Lizzy gaped at the man who stood before her, convinced she’d marry him no matter what she said.
“First you speak of my father’s demise and the eventual take over of Longbourn, but now you speak of my mother’s impending death and my paltry dowry? You would like me to believe this is your way of making up for something which we cannot change. Well, thank you Mr. Collins. In making me this offer, you have satisfied the delicacy of your feelings with regard to my family, and may take possession of Longbourn estate whenever it falls, without any self-reproach. This matter may be considered, therefore, as finally settled.”
Throwing down her napkin, she turned to leave, but not before Mr. Collins spoke again.
“When I do myself the honor of speaking to you next on this subject I shall hope to receive a more favorable answer than you have now given me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my suit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the female character.”
He gave her a low bow, bending almost to the ground.
Frustrated beyond measure, Lizzy exclaimed with a wave of her hand, “Mr. Collins. Desist. Find another woman to marry for I will not have you.”
He straightened from his previous simpering position and a sense of serenity seemed to steal over his face. He smiled at her and said, “Yes. I believe I will. Thank you, Cousin Elizabeth.” And with that, he turned on his heel and flung open the door to the breakfast room, causing her mother and Kitty to almost tumble at his feet, they’d been leaning so close to the door.
“Mr. Collins?” Mama called after him as he continued down the hall. “Pray stay. I will speak with her father. Lizzy will be brought to reason.” Mama cast an angry glance over her shoulder at her second eldest daughter. “You will accept him.”
“No, Mama. I will not and you cannot make me.”
She stepped away from the table and exited the breakfast room from the terrace doors, her mother’s words following in her wake. “Headstrong, foolish girl.”
After several turns about the garden she dared venture back into the house. Of Mr. Collins, there was no sign. However, her mother met her at the door with instructions to follow her to her father’s book room where he awaited to speak with her.
“Come here, child,” cried her father as she appeared. “I understand Mr. Collins has made you an offer of marriage.”
“Yes, and a more odious proposal I could never imagine.”
Odious, daughter?
Most assuredly. Speaking of your demise in one breath and Mama’s in the other.
Papa smirked and turned so Mama would not see.
“Very well, and this offer of marriage you refused?”
“I have, Sir.”
