Darcy and Elizabeth What If? Collection 3 Read Free Page A

hammering away at the pianoforte in an unmusical manner or singing out of tune, while Kitty and Lydia argued over bonnets and officers.
    Hunsford parsonage was peaceful by comparison, and once Charlotte had recovered, Elizabeth had started to enjoy herself. To be sure, there had been some vexations to be endured. Charlotte’s husband, Mr Collins, was a pompous, silly man and his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, was arrogant and conceited. But Mr Collins was out for most of the time, visiting his parishioners, and they did not see Lady Catherine every day.
    But then Mr Darcy had arrived.
    She could see him now, in her mind’s eye, with his dark hair and aristocratic looks and his fine figure. If Mr Darcy’s inside had matched his outside, then he would have been desirable indeed! But his handsome exterior hid a proud and arrogant man who was disdainful of the feelings of others, and who had caused a great deal of unhappiness to the person Elizabeth loved best in the world, her dearest Jane.
    He had done it by encouraging his friend, Mr Bingley, to leave the neighbourhood just as Jane and Mr Bingley were falling in love.
    As if that was not enough, he had also gone back on his father’s promise to give Mr Wickham a valuable living. As a result, Mr Wickham was penniless, when he should have had a comfortable income and a comfortable home. This was particularly depressing to Elizabeth as she liked Mr Wickham very much and he had paid her marked attention. If he had had the living that rightfully belonged to him, then Mr Wickham could have afforded to propose. But as they were both poor, there was no chance of a marriage between them.
    Nevertheless, she still thought of Mr Wickham as her model of perfection, and Mr Darcy was her model of a proud, arrogant and unjust man.
    Mr Bingley’s visit had stirred up all her resentment against Mr Darcy and she did not feel she could sit down to dinner with him. If she was forced to see him, she feared she would be rude. And so, gathering her wits, she went downstairs.
    ‘Miss Elizabeth, you are not dressed for dinner!’ said Mr Collins, shocked.
    He really looked most comical, standing there with his mouth open, and if Elizabeth had not been so unhappy she would have been tempted to laugh. As it was, she could not even muster a smile.
    ‘You will have to hurry,’ Mr Collins continued with an anxious air and a glance at the grandfather clock. ‘We are due at Rosings in less than an hour.’
    Elizabeth said she was sorry, but her headache was worse and that she would rather not go.
    Mr Collins was very put out.
    ‘But my dear Miss Elizabeth,’ he said. ‘You would not wish to disappoint Lady Catherine after she has shown you so much kind condescension?’
    ‘Indeed, I would be no use to her at present,’ said Elizabeth. ‘Lady Catherine likes to play cards after dinner and I would not be able to concentrate.’
    ‘If that is so,’ said Mr Collins with a frown, ‘then perhaps you had better remain here. It would not do to disappoint her ladyship by playing badly.’
    Charlotte cast an apologetic look in Elizabeth’s direction. Mr Collins’s reply had been extremely rude. He had not expressed any sympathy with Elizabeth’s headache. His only thought was for Lady Catherine.
    However, Charlotte echoed her husband’s words, though for a far more sensible and sympathetic reason.
    ‘If you are not well, of course you must remain here,’ said Charlotte. ‘Would you like me to give you a powder?’
    ‘No, thank you. I will just spend the evening quietly and hope it passes.’
    Charlotte and Mr Collins were already in their evening dress and they soon departed, leaving Elizabeth to have her supper on a tray in front of the fire.
    As she stared miserably into the flames, she thought the day could get no worse.
    But she was wrong.
     
    Mr Darcy was not enjoying his dinner. He had been dreading seeing Elizabeth, but when the Collinses had arrived without her he had experienced