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“I do not envy Mr. Darcy one bit,” Charlotte began, in a manner suggesting she merely was thinking aloud. “Elizabeth is quite a force to be reckoned with when she feels she has been crossed.” She directed her next words to her perplexed brother-in-law. “Did you see the looks she bestowed on poor Mr. Darcy? No, indeed, I do not envy him one bit by the time Elizabeth is done giving him one of her set-downs.”

Charlotte’s not so subtle words of caution seemed to do the trick as Geoffrey Collins halted his steps towards the door, returned to his station at the window, and resumed his futile vigil. By and by, he observed an approaching carriage and remarked on it to his brother.

The younger man nearly pushed the elder aside such was his eagerness to see who might be visiting his home. He was so thrilled to see it was one of Lady Catherine’s carriages. He hurried outside to greet its occupants. While he did not stay out-of-doors terribly long, the message he conveyed to his dear wife upon his return was heralded as though it was the revelation of a lifetime.

Geoffrey Collins rushed to Elizabeth’s side the moment she entered the drawing room and placed himself directly between Mr. Darcy and her. “Elizabeth, my dear, I trust you have told Mr. Darcy all he needs to know as regards any future association with young Ben and how he is not to encourage him in his fictional accounts.”

“Actually, I did no such thing. Mr. Darcy does not need to be told how to act together with my son.”

Collins was taken aback completely by Elizabeth’s words. He thought surely they were in perfect agreement on this subject. “Perhaps you and I can discuss this matter further,” he directed his glare towards Darcy and spoke the following words mostly for his benefit, “when the two of us are alone later this evening.”

Darcy was not especially impressed. He discerned enough of Elizabeth’s stark change in demeanour since entering the room to know not to be overly concerned as regarded the power that gentleman held over her.

Elizabeth replied, “Perhaps. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go upstairs to look in on Ben.”

“I must bid everyone a good day as well,” Darcy began. “Mr. and Mrs. Collins, thank you for having me in your home.” Towards the elder Mr. Collins, he simply nodded, though barely perceptibly, in acknowledgement of his presence. “Madam,” he spoke kindly to Elizabeth after bowing to her, “until we meet again.”

Try as she might in containing her cheerful smile in ardent anticipation of the intriguing possibilities for the day ahead, she was simply unable to do so with any convincing measure of success. Geoffrey Collins was not at all pleased by her display.

Mr. William Collins interrupted the goodbyes with glad tidings. “Indeed, we shall meet again very soon, Mr. Darcy. Her ladyship dispatched a messenger whilst you and my fair cousin were out. We have received an invitation to dine at Rosings Park this evening!”