The next morning was Sunday and everyone was up and dressing for church to hear Mr. Collins give his sermon. He was excessively nervous about it and ran about the house, telling everyone to hurry and rushing through his own preparations so that his appearance was not what it could have been. Thankfully, Charlotte pulled him aside and quickly set him to rights as the entire family assembled at the door and prepared to walk to church.

Their small processional was quite a sight. Mr. Collins walked with Charlotte and Maria on either arm, Mr. Bennet with Mrs. Bennet and Jane, Elizabeth next to Mary, and Kitty and Lydia followed. Kitty was in more grown-up clothes, but wore her hair down as a sign that she was not yet out, while Lydia was dressed as the girl she was, with long strawberry blonde curls cascading down her back and a braid wrapped round her crown. She was on her best behavior, speaking only when spoken to and doing nothing to usurp her older sisters. Her father had threatened her seriously that any rudeness or soldier chasing or sister teasing would be rewarded with a lonely trip back to Longbourn and the watchful eye of Mrs. Hill while her family enjoyed the seaside without her.

Lady Catherine did not particularly like what she saw, but she did feel a certain perverse fascination to see the Bennets up close. Miss Elizabeth Bennet was a pretty little thing, and certainly very lively, especially when near Anne, who was so very dull in comparison. Unfortunately.

The eldest Bennet daughter was quite easily the prettiest woman she had ever seen, except for herself when she was younger, of course. The next sister was fairly unremarkable but not unpleasant to look at, and the two children in the back seemed like nice enough girls. The service was predictably dull and drawn out and afterward, Lady Catherine issued an invitation for dinner to the Hunsford party. They had previously been invited to tea, but Lady Catherine found she wanted to learn more about these Bennets before they departed on the morrow.

Mr. Collins thanked her profusely for such an undeserved honor and the attention bestowed on his humble family. Mr. Bennet merely smiled and thanked her, as did Mrs. Bennet, who was too much in awe to say anything else.

~