Elegant Female: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Cassandra B. Leigh

Author:Cassandra B. Leigh [Leigh, Cassandra B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Not in Amazon Library, To Transfer
Published: 2023-07-07T04:00:00+00:00

Despite knowing of his intentions, she could not have predicted that he would doubt her resolve to reject him or press her so relentlessly. However, Collins delivered the crushing blow when he suggested she had no other prospects.

“In spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made to you. While Mr Lucas and Mr Goulding are devoted suitors, neither has any expectation of a generous inheritance, as I most certainly do.”

Her humiliation was now complete. She perfectly recalled overhearing Collins thank Darcy for his excellent advice last night at the ball. Since Collins’s final salvo matched exactly what Darcy had claimed in one of their early-morning conversations, she knew he must have encouraged her cousin to make this point.

Seething at this underhanded strategy, she fought against losing her composure, answered the heir as politely as possible, and fled from the room, despite her fervent desire to give him a scathing set-down. However, she could not entirely blame him since he had been tutored by deplorable Darcy.

What could have been Darcy’s motive for this despicable tactic? Did he mean to suggest that she had no alternative but to accept his dishonourable offer? She would rather live in the hedgerows than surrender to him.

Unfortunately, after enduring these two distasteful scenes, she immediately walked into a third. Once her mother learned that Elizabeth had rejected Collins’s offer, she delivered a lengthy diatribe, bitterly rebuking her for being an undutiful daughter and threatening to have nothing more to do with her. She did her utmost to defend herself against these complaints, but Mama would hear no argument to the contrary.

Elizabeth sighed in relief as she finally stepped out of the house with Charlotte Lucas. Wishing to be anywhere but Longbourn, she had offered to accompany her friend home. “I am sorry you had to witness that mortifying scene, Charlotte,” she said as they walked past the dormant gardens. “My mama will surely never forgive me for rejecting an offer of marriage.”

“Neither would my mama if I had been so bold.”

“Can you understand why I refused? I could never be the biddable wife Mr Collins requires.”

Charlotte did not hesitate with her answer. “No, I daresay you are not suited.”

“I was afraid I would lose my temper when he claimed I may never get another offer because of my ‘unhappily’ small dowry,” she said, still bristling at that comment.

“He ought not to have mentioned it.”

“And he refused to believe I was sincere in my rejection, that I meant to keep him in suspense and force another proposal, like some scheming temptress. I was never more frustrated.”

“Not since Mr Darcy snubbed you at the assembly,” Charlotte said with a teasing smile.

She groaned as Darcy’s scandalous offer echoed in her memory. “Please do not remind me. Why do men feel free to insult me?”

Charlotte regarded her with a disapproving frown. “Mr Collins paid you a great compliment in addressing you, Eliza.”

“Yes, and I thanked him several times for the honour,” she said, recalling her discomfort during that embarrassing encounter.

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