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And so they departed from the parsonage, Elizabeth watching them hurrying along the path to Rosings, Mr Collins out in front with the ladies walking at a slower pace behind.

While she had to admit she was rather intrigued to see those chimney-pieces she had heard so much about, she did not wish to make conversation. Her grief was still raw, and she was not sure her conversation could stand up to the scrutiny she rather imagined it would be under from someone like Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

She supposed that Mr Darcy would be at the dinner.

She had not mentioned their meeting. She would not want her cousin getting the wrong idea or mentioning it to him when he saw him. His appearance at the dinner table would therefore be a surprise to them all, and she would hear of it second-hand and pretend to be thoroughly shocked.

With a sigh, she turned away from the window, called for tea in the parlour, and sat to enjoy the correspondence from the sister she missed terribly.

◆◆◆

Mr Collins was a loquacious fool.

There was no other way Darcy could think to describe him. Not to his face, of course – he would not wish to be rude – but the man truly never stopped talking.

Darcy appreciated someone who knew when it was time to speak and when it was time to be silent. Alas, Mr Collins was not aware of such distinctions.

He also agreed with every single word that came out of Lady Catherine's mouth. Darcy supposed he could understand it. Lady Catherine was his patroness and held much power. But still, he could not think it did anyone any good for Lady Catherine to believe her every word was unquestionably correct.

Mrs Collins, whom Darcy had met at the Meryton assembly, did not speak much either, and her younger sister looked simply in awe of her surroundings.

"So you enjoy living at Hunsford, then, Mrs Collins?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked.

He possessed the ability to converse easily with people, and Darcy had to admit it was something of which he was occasionally jealous. He did not find conversation, particularly with strangers, easy.

She smiled and nodded. "Yes, thank you, Colonel. The house is beautiful, and the walks equally so. I consider myself very fortunate."

"As you should," Lady Catherine said, nodding heartily. "Why, I oversaw the renovations to Hunsford myself, as I am sure you are aware. Not a finer parsonage in the county – I dare say, in the whole country. But as I always say, if you truly wish for a happy life, you must first make a happy home. Although, of course, you shall be leaving that home soon, I believe."

Mrs Collins looked awkward, and Mr Collins paused in his usual agreement.

"As you know, my lady, we are extremely grateful to you, and we should never leave if it were not for the home that has become mine recently. I do not believe I could leave my new home unattended, as much as I love dear Hunsford. I shall, of course, help you find an appropriate replacement so that you will not be inconvenienced."

Lady Catherine nodded approvingly.

"And what do you intend to do about your cousins living in the house that is now yours?" Darcy asked.

Everyone looked at him in surprise, for he had scarcely spoken since being introduced.

Mr Collins’s face coloured.

"Well, of course, I—"

Before he could continue, Lady Catherine interrupted. "The foolish girl declined him, so I do not see that he has any responsibility in that department."

Mr Collins steepled his fingers and nodded in agreement but said nothing.

"I should think," Darcy replied evenly, "that whether or not one of the young ladies was willing to marry you, you still have some responsibility towards the five women and their mother who have been displaced by your good fortune."

But once again, it was Lady Catherine who answered. "Good fortune? Why, Mr Darcy, it is simply the law. I do not see why on earth you blame Mr Collins for this turn of events. And you have one of the girls staying with you, do you not, taking her in in her hour of need?"

Mr Collins nodded eagerly. "Yes, my lady. My cousin Elizabeth – indeed the very headstrong girl you mentioned, as it happens – is currently staying with us, as she is a great friend of my wife's, and we wished to give her the opportunity to have some respite from her grief."

Darcy could not help but snort inwardly.

Respite from her grief.

What nonsense. What respite did anyone ever receive from grief?