A Different Impression Rewrite

This is another chapter I revised fairly heavily as I moved events around in the story. I hope the changes make the sequence of events flow more naturally—and make Mr Collins’s interference even more entertaining.

At present, I am tentatively planning to release the rewritten edition of A Different Impression towards the end of September. I also need to share the updated cover with you soon!

In today’s chapter, Elizabeth returns to Longbourn with her wedding dress, her future sister and little more than a fortnight remaining before the ceremony. Unfortunately, she also returns to find an unexpected—and exceedingly unwelcome—guest waiting for her.

I hope you enjoy today’s chapter, Mr Collins Comes—and Goes.

Darcy escorted Elizabeth and Kitty back to Longbourn on Tuesday, with Georgiana and Mrs Annesley accompanying them. It was still two weeks before the ball at Netherfield. Bingley had announced the event in a letter several days earlier, his account full of enthusiasm for the plans. He had already taken his maiden aunt, Miss Henrietta Bingley, to Longbourn to introduce her to Miss Bennet, Mary, and Mr Bennet and had delivered the invitation himself. He had also, Darcy noted with some amusement, secured Miss Bennet’s hand for the first set before anyone else could claim it.

Bingley’s letters had kept Darcy well informed of his visits to Longbourn throughout their stay in Town. His friend had called nearly every day, usually proposing a walk through the gardens with Mary acting as chaperone while Mrs Bennet remained confined to her room. His descriptions had naturally centred upon Miss Bennet—what she had said, how she had smiled, and whether she appeared pleased to see him. Still, he had mentioned that Miss Bennet and Miss Mary were often in the stillroom, and Elizabeth had expressed pleasure upon learning this.

Despite the frequency of those visits—and the considerable enthusiasm with which Bingley described each encounter—he had yet to declare his intentions. Darcy did not doubt his friend’s attachment, particularly after learning how quickly he had claimed the first set at the ball. Still, he wondered whether Bingley’s continued silence might give Miss Bennet reason to question his sincerity. Darcy had made his own intentions towards Elizabeth clear almost immediately; surely Bingley could not require much longer to decide what he meant to do.

Since their engagement, Darcy and Elizabeth had already discussed the dances they would share. They had agreed upon the first, supper, and last sets, though Darcy had argued—unsuccessfully—for more. The second and third he had reserved for Georgiana and Kitty, respectively, and he had only reluctantly consented to partner with anyone else.

Upon entering Longbourn, Darcy was surprised to find an unfamiliar clergyman among the company. A glance at Elizabeth suggested that she had not expected the visitor either. Mr Bennet, Miss Bennet, and Miss Mary were gathered in the drawing room, while Mrs Bennet apparently remained confined upstairs. Introductions began, but before Darcy’s name could be fully spoken, the man bowed low—almost to the ground—and launched into speech.

“Mr Darcy! Mr Darcy!” he cried in his eagerness. “I am William Collins, and I hold the living at Hunsford, near Rosings. Your aunt, the noble Lady Catherine de Bourgh, is my patroness, and I am pleased to report that I left her in very good health when I saw her Saturday. I am honoured by her patronage and her condescension in offering advice. Indeed, it is at her recommendation that I am here. She suggested I come to Longbourn to apologise for the entail that will leave the estate to me upon the sad day my cousin passes from this world. I hope to make amends to my dear cousins by marrying one of them, so they will not be forced from their home on that unfortunate day.”

Elizabeth’s eyes flew to his, and the way she pressed her lips together suggested that she was struggling not to laugh. Darcy felt as though he had been presented with an especially troublesome legal document.

Mr Collins, apparently perceiving none of this, bowed again. “I am amazed and honoured that someone of your consequence would deign to visit my future home. Lady Catherine speaks so well of you and of the plans to connect Rosings and Pemberley through your marriage to her daughter.”

Darcy was taken aback by the man’s insensitive declaration, and the expressions around the room suggested that he was not alone. He looked towards Elizabeth and found her watching him, her flashing eyes revealing the same offence and irritation he felt.

“Mr Collins,” Darcy said sternly, interrupting the flow of words. “I cannot imagine that my aunt would approve of her rector gossiping so rudely and offensively as you have just done. You interrupted Mr Bennet while he was attempting to make introductions that would have explained my presence. Moreover, you are spreading falsehoods concerning a supposed engagement that neither party has ever desired.” Darcy paused briefly to glance at his host. “Mr Bennet, perhaps you would like to finish your introductions so I might make mine? Mr Collins, can you be silent long enough to permit him to do so?”

As Mr Bennet continued the introductions, Mr Collins stood gaping at Darcy, apparently unable to determine how he ought to respond. His gaze moved uncertainly between Darcy and the others, his brow furrowed with such painful concentration that he appeared to miss the remainder of the introductions—including the announcement of Darcy and Elizabeth’s engagement.

Darcy introduced his sister to those who had not travelled with them, and the group all took seats around the room. Mr Collins moved towards where Darcy and Elizabeth sat and attempted to squeeze in between the couple.

“I say, Mr Collins, there is not enough room on this settee for three. Perhaps you had best sit over there,” Elizabeth said, indicating a chair several feet away that was empty.

“Mr Darcy, perhaps you might move to another seat so that I might sit next to my cousin?” Mr Collins requested.

“No,” was all the reply Darcy gave, fixing the rector with a hard look.

With evident reluctance, Mr Collins moved to the indicated chair, although he pulled it closer to Elizabeth before seating himself. He then attempted to engage her in conversation, which appeared to consist solely of speaking about his patroness and the Hunsford parsonage.

Elizabeth listened patiently for a time before she interrupted and asked her father a question. “Papa,” she began as Mr Collins was speaking of Lady Catherine’s suggestion to install shelves in the closets, “Mr Darcy has with him some papers for you to sign. Might we go to your study to review them?”

At Mr Bennet’s nod, the three stood and exited the room. Mr Collins attempted to follow, but Mr Bennet turned and insisted the man stay where he was.

“Papa, what is that man doing here?” Elizabeth asked as soon as they were in the hallway.

“Exactly as he said,” Mr Bennet replied. “He has come to ‘heal the breach’ between our families and to look for a wife. All at the orders of your aunt, Mr Darcy. Since arriving yesterday, he has regaled us all with stories of his patroness.” He nodded towards Darcy as in question.

Darcy did not hesitate to answer the unspoken question. “My aunt loves to share her ‘expert’ advice on all subjects. I am not, nor have I ever been, engaged to my cousin Anne. My aunt never mentioned that idea until after my father passed away, and I told her then, and have repeated it many times since, that I will not marry my cousin. “My mother made no such arrangement, and my aunt has likely taken an idle comment and attempted to force her wishes upon my cousin and me. Anne herself has no desire to marry me.”

“I was not worried, William, as we have discussed this before,” Elizabeth said, squeezing his hand.

He smiled at her before turning to her father to begin speaking. “I have the marriage articles ready for your review and, at your recommendation, applied for a common licence before we left for Town,” he told Mr Bennet. “We can make any changes you feel are necessary, but it is rather comprehensive. I modelled it upon my mother’s settlement.”

Mr Bennet read the document carefully, pausing several times to question Darcy about particular provisions. Nearly an hour passed before he signed all three copies and returned them. “You have made arrangements for every contingency, sir; I am impressed at how complete this is. You will do well by my daughter. Now, let us join the others. We must begin to plan a wedding, and I suppose my wife will have to be told.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “How long will Mr Collins be our guest, Papa?”

“A fortnight, my dear,” he replied. ““He was disappointed to discover that Bingley had already claimed Jane’s first set when he delivered the invitation. I dare say he was not paying attention when I informed him that the two of you were engaged. He is after a wife, and I am afraid Mary will not satisfy his vanity since you are engaged, and Jane has a suitor.”

Elizabeth grimaced. “Can he or your aunt do anything to delay or prevent our wedding?” she asked Darcy.

“No, Elizabeth, my aunt can bluster but cannot actually do anything to prevent it,” Darcy reassured her. “My uncle knows about our engagement and has expressed his support for it. He and Lady Matlock will be here on the Monday before the wedding, and he will ensure that Lady Catherine cannot interfere. Both are well aware of her mistaken expectations.”

“That is good to know, William,” Elizabeth replied. “Let us go rescue the others from Mr Collins now. Is there any way we can send him back to Kent by saying we have too much to do to entertain him right now? Why did you not mention his visit before, Papa?”

“His letter arrived only yesterday morning. He had evidently begun his journey before allowing me the opportunity to refuse him.” Mr Bennet was clearly displeased by this, but did not say any more.

“That was inconsiderate of him, but based on what I have seen, I doubt he is able to comprehend that,” Darcy replied drily.

Mr Bennet and Elizabeth laughed wryly at this as they all left the study and returned to the drawing room. Mr Collins immediately approached Elizabeth when they returned, his attention settling upon the arm she had linked with Darcy’s.

“Cousin Elizabeth,” said he, “it is improper for you to cling to Mr Darcy in that manner. He is an engaged man. Come and sit beside me.”

With that, he seized Elizabeth’s arm and attempted to pull her towards him. Darcy immediately caught the man’s wrist and forced him to release her before placing himself between them.

“You will not lay hands upon Miss Elizabeth again,” he said, his voice dangerously low.

“I am well aware that Mr Darcy is engaged,” Elizabeth added from beside him, “but since he is engaged to me, I believe it is entirely appropriate for me to hold his arm.”

“You cannot be engaged to Mr Darcy, Cousin,” the man cried out. “Lady Catherine has told me her nephew is engaged to her daughter. She and her sister, Mr Darcy’s mother, planned for the union while the two were in their cradles. He cannot possibly be engaged to you.”

“I have already told you that I am not engaged to my cousin,” Darcy said. “Miss Elizabeth is my choice, our marriage articles have been signed, and the licence has been obtained. My uncle is aware of the engagement and supports it entirely. You will not repeat my aunt’s false claims again.”

“But, Mr Bennet,” Mr Collins spluttered. “I came here to find a wife! I understood you had five daughters, but when I arrived, only two were present. One was away at school, and two others were in London. Now I find one is being courted, one is engaged to my patroness’ nephew—which she will not let stand—and the other two are too plain or too young to marry. What is the meaning of this?”

Darcy felt Elizabeth stiffen beside him. Miss Mary had gone pale, while Miss Kitty’s face flushed with indignation. Even Georgiana stared at the rector in open disbelief.

“Mr Collins,” Mr Bennet began, his expression darkening. “Remember that you invited yourself here. You were not invited to Longbourn, and you have not been invited to take your pick of my daughters. I do not know who told you about my daughters, but the mere fact that I have five does not entitle you to one. You are not obligated to marry one of my daughters, and I would frankly be surprised if any of them would have you after that speech.”

He paused, visibly mastering his temper, before continuing in a tightly controlled voice.

“I believe it is in everyone’s best interest if you depart from Longbourn today instead of staying the fortnight you had intended. Had you allowed me the privilege of responding to your request to visit, I would have informed you that now was a poor time for your visit. I will have your belongings packed and a carriage prepared to take you to the posting inn in Meryton. If you hurry, you may still catch the afternoon coach to London.”

Mr Bennet rang for the housekeeper, who sent one servant to pack Mr Collins’s belongings and another to summon a carriage. Within half of an hour, the rector was on his way, loudly complaining of the “mistreatment” he had received and threatening to remove every Bennet from Longbourn as soon as the estate became his.

Once Mr Collins had gone, Darcy’s relief was tempered by concern over what the man might report upon reaching Kent. With Elizabeth beside him in Mr Bennet’s study, he wrote two letters: one informing his uncle of the day’s events and another formally notifying Lady Catherine of his engagement.

Both letters were sent by express, and Darcy was confident they would reach their destinations well before Mr Collins arrived at Rosings. With that threat addressed, only one difficult task remained: informing Mrs Bennet that her least favourite daughter was to marry Mr Darcy in little more than a fortnight.

I particularly enjoyed writing Darcy’s reaction to Mr Collins. He begins by trying to correct the man with some degree of civility, but that restraint disappears the moment Collins seizes Elizabeth’s arm. Mr Bennet also rises to the occasion, making it very clear that the entail does not entitle his cousin to select whichever of his daughters he prefers.

Of course, sending Mr Collins away does not mean the trouble is over. He is returning to Rosings with news of Darcy and Elizabeth’s engagement—and Darcy knows precisely how Lady Catherine is likely to receive it. His letters may reach Kent first, but whether his aunt will listen to anything he says is another matter entirely.

What did you think of Mr Collins’s arrival? Did Mr Bennet dismiss him quickly enough, or would you have liked to see him endure a little more humiliation first? And how do you think Lady Catherine will react when both Darcy’s letter and an outraged Mr Collins arrive at Rosings?

— Melissa Anne 💙

Leave a comment