Her friend seemed genuinely puzzled by her observation, but Mr Collins was ushering in his august visitors, and all was bustle. After paying his compliments to Mrs Collins and congratulating her on her marriage, Mr Darcy spoke too little, and Mr Collins too much. Happily, the Colonel’s manners were perfectly pleasing, and he entered into conversation with an ease and grace much appreciated by the rest of the party.

These additions to their small circle, particularly of the charming Colonel, meant that engagements at Rosings promised to be a great deal more enjoyable. However, as the occupants of the Parsonage were now less necessary, it was almost a week before Lady Catherine invited them to spend the evening of Easter Day in her company.

Colonel Fitzwilliam was especially glad to see fresh faces and hear new voices, and he clearly found Elizabeth appealing. He took his seat alongside her as tea and coffee were served, and their chat flowed so entertainingly that the rest of the party remained quiet so that they could listen. Lady Catherine, accustomed to directing conversation, had to insist on her share of the discussion, but the Colonel was not a military man for nothing; he reminded Lizzy that she had promised to play for them all, and encouraged her to sit down at the piano, drawing up a chair and offering to turn her sheets.

Charlotte could not help noticing that both he and Mr Darcy were struck by Elizabeth’s vivacity, especially when she spoke to their aunt. Both were clearly surprised by her lack of servility, but they did not seem in any way disapproving of Lizzy’s merry tone. She also noticed that while the Colonel openly showered Lizzy with attention and praise for her performance, Mr Darcy was no less absorbed, even stationing himself at the instrument where he could best study her face.

As Lizzy remained at the piano for the rest of the evening, with the gentlemen insisting on her continuing to play each time she rose from her seat, Lady Catherine was left with nothing to do other than point out all the faults of her execution and insist that she practise with greater regularity, concluding that Miss de Bourgh would have been the superior performer – had she ever learned to play. There was no answer to be made to this, and Anne herself appeared deaf to this maternal compliment, a stratagem Lizzy also adopted. Charlotte, who found the evening both far livelier than was usual at Rosings, but also productive of anxiety, was relieved when it was announced that her ladyship’s carriage was ready to take them home.

The next day, Charlotte and Maria walked to Hunsford village on an errand. On their return, Katie met them at the front door, her eyes even rounder than usual: ‘Mr Darcy is here, ma’am, alone. He is in the front parlour with Miss Elizabeth. I thought you should like to know right away, ma’am.’