Charlotte suspected that her mother was calculating how much longer Mr Bennet might yet live with more interest than ever before. Her father meanwhile had visions of himself and his good lady making their appearance at court, something he announced his intentions of doing as soon as Mr Collins took possession of the Longbourn estate. Maria was entranced at the thought of what opportunities might now fall to her, and her younger sisters anticipated being able to come out and take their share of the pleasures of social intercourse sooner than they had dared hope. Her brothers were relieved of their fears of their sister dying an old maid, which they celebrated with boisterous halloo-ing throughout the house. Charlotte did not think she had ever before united her family in this much happiness, and there was comfort to be taken in this.

Having achieved her object, she had time to reflect. She was tolerably composed, although there was a recurring tightness across her ribs. She felt as if she had flung herself across a river in spate, scrambling to the dubious safety of an unknown shore, with no way back across. She had no illusions concerning her future husband’s declarations of love and devotion: while she did not suspect him of outright hypocrisy, she had already established that he felt, in almost all matters of the human heart, what he thought he ought to feel – or had been told to feel. He was predisposed to be in love because the patron to whom he was in thrall had advised him to marry. Lizzy’s refusal had wounded his pride and spurred him on to achieve success elsewhere, and the glow of emotion he now felt stemmed no doubt from triumph rather than affection.

But she had calculated the risks as best she could. While thinking highly of neither men nor matrimony, she would be married, an avenue she had always considered her pleasantest preservative from want. There was no doubting that it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and that provision she had now gained, with neither the blush of first youth nor a fair face to act as inducements. She would have an establishment to call home, and to run according to her taste and her husband’s purse – which was certainly, in this case, ample for her needs.

A new problem now arose: Mr Collins, both relieved and jubilant at the success of his proposal, was expected back at Longbourn for his last dinner with the family before his return to his duties at Hunsford. He was eager to burst the news upon his relatives, while Charlotte quailed at the thought of the consternation that would reign as a result, and most especially at the thought of Lizzy’s response.