“She seems to be a very managing young woman,” said Mr. Bennet with an innocent air.

Elizabeth hid her laugh behind her cup of tea.

“Caroline has been a great help,” said Jane fairly.

Caroline smiled graciously and was soon reciting the guest list. It consisted of all the local worthies, together with some good neighbours with whom Jane and Bingley had become friends.

“A fair-sized ball,” said Darcy.

“Not as splendid as the balls at Pemberley, but I believe it will do,” said Caroline. “Charles means to buy a house in London soon, and the guests there will of course be more refined.”

“A house in London?” asked Mrs. Bennet.

Jane’s face fell at her mother’s eagerness.

“Why, that will be the very thing,” said Mrs. Bennet.

Fortunately for Jane’s nerves, the gong rang. It was a sign that it was time for them to retire to their rooms and dress for the ball.

The weather had remained snowy, but the local roads were still traversable. Jane had had only had three letters from more distant neighbours excusing themselves. The rest were looking forward to the evening’s entertainment.

Mr. Collins’s brother, who had been unable to join them earlier on account of business, was to arrive for the ball and then stay for a few days. It was an event which Kitty did not relish. She had told Mary and Maria that they must on no account leave him alone with her, and she sought her married sisters’ help as well.

“Never fear, you will not have to marry him,” said Elizabeth.

“You do not know how determined Mama can be,” said Kitty.

“I know exactly how determined she can be,” said Elizabeth, “but Papa will be on your side. He will not want you to marry a stupid man, and he will not see you forced into a marriage that is distasteful to you, you know.”

“I wish I had never heard of Mr. Collins’s brother,” sighed Kitty.

Elizabeth could not help but agree. Her mother had talked of him constantly for the last few days.

They parted on the landing. Elizabeth retired to her room, where she chose an amber muslin to wear. It suited her complexion, but she felt out of sorts as she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror, and when Darcy entered her room, looking immaculate in a ruffled white shirt with a black tailcoat and tight fitting breeches, Elizabeth gave a sigh.

“Are you unwell?” he asked in concern.

“No, not unwell, just…”

“Unhappy?” he asked searchingly.

“No, not exactly. I was just thinking that you look every bit as handsome as the day I met you, whereas I”—she looked down at her bloated figure, clothed in a tent-like dress—“I am not the same at all.”

“No,” he said, taking her hands. “You are far more beautiful.”

She laughed, but there was no laughter in his eyes. His words were sincere.

“What did I do to deserve you?” she said. “I must have done something very good.”

“I believe you played a sonata without striking one false note,” he teased her.

“Ah, so that was it! Yes, I remember it now. You are right, of course, that feat entitled me to such a husband. I believe I deserve you after all.”

“That is better,” he said hearing her laugh. “Are you ready to go down?”

“Yes, I am.”

He gave her his arm and together they went downstairs.

Some of the guests had already arrived and there was a buzz of conversation. Elizabeth and Darcy went through into the ballroom where the musicians were tuning their instruments before striking up the opening chords of the first dance. The guests took their partners and arranged themselves around the ballroom.

Elizabeth took Darcy’s hand, causing a few raised eyebrows, for it was not customary for husbands to partner their wives, but she did not care. She saw no reason why she should not enjoy herself. When the dance ended, however, she was too fatigued to dance any more, so Darcy fetched her an ice and sat down beside her.

“You must not ignore the other guests,” she said. “You will shock everyone if you spend the evening with your wife.”

“I am used to shocking people at balls. I might as well enjoy myself into the bargain,” he told her.

But when one of Jane’s neighbours, Mrs. Withington, drew near, accompanied by a plain young girl, Darcy’s enjoyment was at an end. Mrs. Withington made it clear that her niece did not have a partner. Without precisely asking Mr. Darcy to offer the girl his hand, it was obvious that, as a gentleman, he could do no less.

“I hope Miss Withington will do me the honour of partnering me,” he said, standing up.

The girl blushed prettily and Darcy led her onto the floor.

Elizabeth could not help thinking of another similar occasion some years ago, when he had refused to dance with another partnerless young lady, who had just happened to be herself, and she was pleased to see how far his manners had improved.

Mrs. Withington sat down beside Elizabeth.

“It was very kind of your husband to ask Susan to dance. I did so want her to enjoy herself this evening, but it is difficult for the girls; there are not enough young men to go round.”

As if to underline the point, Kitty and Maria approached and sat down close by.

“It is a pity,” went on Mrs. Withington, “for Susan loves to dance, and I do not know where she is to find another partner.”

She looked around the room, assessing each gentleman in turn. “She has already danced with young Lindford and Captain Collins…”

“Captain Collins?” asked Elizabeth. “I did not know he had arrived.”

“Yes. In fact, here he is now with my husband.”

Coming towards them were two men. The elder, Mr. Withington, was a plain but affable looking man of about fifty years of age and next to him was a very handsome young man indeed, with a good bearing and a good-humoured countenance. Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise. He was nothing like Mr. Collins!

Mr. Withington saw his wife and walked over to her, bringing Captain Collins with him. He made the introductions and Elizabeth greeted him warmly.

Kitty, hearing the name of Captain Collins, kept her back firmly turned towards him and talked to Maria with a determined animation, but when Mr. Withington addressed her by name she was forced to turn round, her face a picture of mulish resignation. But on seeing Captain Collins, her eyebrows rose and her expression brightened so much that the transformation was comical.

“You look surprised,” said he to Kitty. “Have I done something to startle you?”

“No, not exactly. It is just… well, you are not what I was expecting, that is all.”

“I did not know that you were expecting anything, but perhaps my reputation precedes me,” he said.

“In a way it does. You see, I know your brother.”

“Indeed?”

“Yes. You are not very like him. In fact, you are not like him at all. You do not seem like the sort of man who would have a brother in the church.”

“We are four brothers. Out of so many, one of us was almost certain to be a clergyman.”

“Four of you?” asked Kitty. “I had no idea. And are you all so very different?”

“Yes, I believe we are. Your friend is the cleverest of us—”

Kitty looked startled at this, and Elizabeth was no less surprised, for it did not seem possible that Mr. Collins should be the cleverest of any family. But she concluded that Captain Collins was being kind.

“And my brother Samuel, who is in the navy, is the handsomest,” went on Captain Collins. “He has broken a dozen hearts already and he is only nineteen. Henry is the pompous one. He is already making his mark in politics and is such a windbag that he cannot fail to do well. But enough of them. Would you consent to tell me more about yourself as we dance?”

And so saying, he offered her his hand.

She accepted with alacrity and the two of them, making a handsome couple, went onto the floor.

“Well!” said Mrs. Bennet. She had seen everything from the other side of the room and she had now joined Elizabeth in her desire to talk about it. “Did I not tell you how it would be? I knew it. Another daughter married. What luck!” She looked around the room for Mr. Collins and beckoned him over. “I must congratulate you on your brother,” she said. “My girls have just been introduced to him. Such a handsome man!”

Mr. Collins looked surprised but was quick to accept the compliment and said that his brother had been called an unusual looking gentleman by no less a personage than Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

“And so he is, for such looks are not often to be met with,” said Mrs. Bennet. “He has all the advantages of a fine face and a fine person. Height, address, manners: all good. You must be very proud of him.”

“Indeed we are. I may say that, after myself, he is the most notable member of the Collins family. He has not the good fortune to be patronised by such a great lady as Lady Catherine, but he has drawn down some very estimable patronage of his own.”

“Yes, I am sure he has. Such a worthy young man will not fail to attract attention amongst influential people. He will quickly rise in life, I am sure. You must invite him to visit us at Longbourn. We would be very glad to have him with us.”

“You are too kind,” said Mr. Collins.

“Not at all. He is welcome at any time.”

Mrs. Bennet watched Kitty and the Captain whilst Mr. Collins turned his attention to Mr. Bennet, complimenting him on his fine house, his elegant daughters, and his notable son-in-law.

To put an end to the fulsome compliments, Mr. Bennet began to ask him about his brother and laughed quietly to himself as Mr. Collins continued to talk.