Charlotte reassured him that as the creator of the pie, she appreciated his compliment. Something about his demeanour suggested that while only his pride was injured by Lizzy’s frank and final rejection of his proposal – he might be mortified, but he was by no means heartbroken – there was a strain of real sadness or moral bewilderment in his makeup. His understanding was not sharp, but malice did not seem to constitute any part of it. Nor did he appear to have an ungovernable temper – his current relations with the Bennets would have been untenable otherwise.

She made a decision. If this man was likely to respond to anything, it would be simple kindness. She set to asking questions about his education and parish with as much warmth as she could muster. Soon she found that for all his incessant speaking, he was unused to the balm of attentive listening. Little was required of her beyond the occasional gentle prompt, encouraging smiles, and nods.

The effect was marked: he blossomed, sitting more upright, returning her smiles, paying her the occasional clumsy compliment, his embarrassment at sitting at table with a woman who had spurned his advances only a few days earlier all but forgotten.

Charlotte was surprised at the success of her strategy, which had arisen out of a vague impulse rather than any sense of calculation. And although she was not a vindictive woman, and was by no means sure of her prize, she could not help thinking, with angry pleasure, of Mrs Bennet’s reaction should Mr Collins turn his matrimonial ambitions in her direction.

It had not yet occurred to her – although it soon would – that such a turn of events would lead to her one day replacing Mrs Bennet as mistress of Longbourn. She, Charlotte, who was so very plain.

CHAPTER XV

AFTER DINNER, ONCE THE GENTLEMEN had rejoined the ladies, Charlotte realised that with Mr Collins’s visit to Hertfordshire rapidly coming to an end, she had scant opportunities to fix herself in his remembrance – she could not hope for more at this stage. Thus, when the goodnights were said, she hinted that her father might enjoy Mr Collins’s company at breakfast the next morning, should he be able to spare the time; and while he made no firm promises – he was still at the disposal of the Bennets – his face lit up at the prospect.