By Anna Liu
Part III: An Unexpected Visitor
Read Part II here.
Jane was a vampire. Elizabeth grieved for her, but never when Jane could see it. Elizabeth had feared how their return to Longbourn would be received, but everyone seemed to accept that Jane had chosen to turn. Mrs. Bennet had been elated, certain that Jane’s transformation meant an engagement was imminent. Mr. Bennet had only asked Jane if she was all right, and when she answered in the affirmative, he went into his study. Their sisters had asked Jane question after question, but Elizabeth had chased them away. “She’s tired,” she’d chided. “Let her rest.”
It took some getting used to, the bloodthirst that was only satiated after a pig was gutted. Jane never let anyone near when she drank. They didn’t speak of it. Jane was still as beautiful as she had ever been, and she still spoke of Mr. Bingley with great fondness. What was there to suspect?
Mr. Bingley did call on Jane on occasion, but Elizabeth couldn’t bear to be in the same room as him. He hadn’t even shown his face when Elizabeth had been at Netherfield Park. Mr. Darcy had been the one that made them swear to keep Miss Bingley’s actions a secret. Mr. Darcy had been the one to see them off in his carriage that he’d insisted they use. Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth decided, was a coward. Not that she would ever tell Jane. Jane had only praise for the fair-haired gentleman.
It was a rare, sunny morning when Mr. Collins came to visit. He was her father’s distant cousin, the one who stood to inherit the Bennet estate after Mr. Bennet’s passing. Elizabeth had never met him before. After only a few moments of listening to him speak, Elizabeth felt immense gratitude that she hadn’t had the pleasure until now.
Mr. Collins was extremely impressed that Jane was a vampire. “My patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, is one of the most powerful vampires. She is quite generous with her favor. Why, she doles out pearls of wisdom to me regularly. She has just advised me to marry as soon as I am able. Just this past month, she visited my humble parsonage herself and approved all the alterations I’ve been making. She even made a few suggestions herself.”
“Lady Catherine sounds wonderful. Does she live near you?” Mrs. Bennet asked.
“Her ladyship is just down the lane from me. I am very fortunate.” He looked around the table at the Bennet sisters and lowered his voice. “I am waiting for the honor of Lady Catherine transforming me into a vampire. She has said before that she will not, but I confess, I think her conviction may be wavering. I have impressed her with my devotion, I am sure.”
“Mr. Collins,” Lydia said, “pray, why do you not find a different vampire to turn you?”
Mr. Collins looked positively scandalized by the thought. “She is my patroness, Miss Lydia. I would only become a vampire according to her approval.”
“What does her ladyship approve of?” Elizabeth asked innocently.
“Marriage. Lady Catherine has charged me with finding a wife, and that is the reason for my visit here today. It is my understanding that Jane is close to being engaged to Mr. Bingley, so instead I look to the next eldest daughter.”
Elizabeth nearly choked on her tea. “Pardon?”
“Might I have the room, Mr. Bennet?” Mr. Collins stood and adjusted his shirt.
Within seconds, the Bennets scattered. Elizabeth widened her eyes at Jane, pleading with her not to go, but Jane just smiled and followed their mother. Elizabeth would have to remember to scold her for that particular abandonment later.
It was too silent. Elizabeth stared fixedly at her plate.
“Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Collins began.
“Under good conscience, I cannot allow you to continue,” Elizabeth cried. “I have no interest in marrying you, Mr. Collins. We would not make each other happy.” She pushed her chair back and fled, ignoring her mother’s sounds of disapproval that followed her.
Marriage to Mr. Collins! That future would have certainly been a living nightmare. The way he scuttled after Lady Catherine, treading on her skirts in hope of attention, was revolting.
The rest of the day passed uncomfortably. Mrs. Bennet begged Elizabeth to change her mind, but it was to no avail. Elizabeth received respite only when her friend Charlotte Lucas came calling.
The two girls sat on the couch together. After Elizabeth complained at length about Mr. Collins’s forwardness, Charlotte inquired about Jane’s health. Elizabeth apologized that her sister wasn’t with them.
“She has no use for human habits anymore, I see,” Charlotte teased.
“It is true that Miss Bennett now has a different set of priorities,” Mr. Collins said from the doorway.
Elizabeth groaned internally. Of course he had to intrude on the precious time she had with her friend. Charlotte gave her a sympathetic look and answered Mr. Collins politely, saying, “Would you call yourself an expert on vampires, Mr. Collins?”
“I would never presume such a title as ‘expert,’ but I am rather familiar with vampires, yes,” Mr. Collins said. “My patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, is a vampire, and I take great care in observing her so as not to offend her with a careless remark.”
“I cannot imagine ever mistaking a remark of yours as careless,” Elizabeth said.
“Indeed, I think through every one of my comments before opening my mouth to speak,” Mr. Collins responded.
“I quite admire that quality in a man,” Charlotte interjected.
Elizabeth settled into a sullen silence while Charlotte and Mr. Collins engaged in a polite conversation. She was grateful that Charlotte undertook the burden of being the object of Mr. Collins’s attention, but she would have much preferred that Mr. Collins just left.
The sun slipped down under the horizon, and though Charlotte protested that she could walk home, Mr. Collins insisted on escorting her in his carriage. Elizabeth said farewell to her friend and went upstairs to find Jane.
Jane was sitting on the edge of her bed, staring out the window at the hazy sunset. “Mr. Bingley wrote to me today. There will be a ball at Netherfield Park next week. He invited me and our family personally.”
“That’s wonderful news!” Elizabeth sat beside her sister and hugged her.
“It will be nice to see him again,” Jane said. “He took me aside after Miss Bingley . . . After that dreadful incident. He assured me that I’d never be unsafe at Netherfield Park again. He swore an oath.”
“That’s the least he could do,” Elizabeth said. “Frankly, he should have proposed right then.”
“He will propose soon, I am sure of it,” Jane said. “Speaking of proposals, Lizzie, I think you were too harsh to Mr. Collins.”
Elizabeth fell backwards on the bed and covered her eyes with one arm. “Marriage to that man is one of the worst fates that I could imagine.”
“I’m engaged to be married to Mr. Collins,” Charlotte said.
Elizabeth nearly dropped her teacup. “Charlotte, you cannot be serious.” The two friends were taking tea in the Bennets’ parlor, just a few days after Charlotte had even met Mr. Collins.
“He’s kind, Lizzie. He will be a good husband.”
“He has no thoughts of his own, yet he talks of them unceasingly. You will be miserable, Charlotte.” Elizabeth seized her friend’s hand.
Charlotte smiled reassuringly. “I cannot afford to be as particular about marriage as you are, my dear friend. Do not be worried for me. This is a choice I’m happy to make.”
“If you’re certain, Charlotte, I wish you only the greatest happiness.” Elizabeth hugged Charlotte tightly, her head spinning. What was the world coming to?
Blood and Prejudice: Part III was originally published in The Herald on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
