Fault or Virtue: An Imaginative Retelling of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' Read Online Free PDF Page A

first time anyone had been listening to him since his
arrival. Mr. Collins bowed so low that Elizabeth was surprised he remained upright.
    “My Aunt has praised you most highly, Mr. Collins. I am honored to make your
acquaintance.”
Elizabeth reveled in the fact that the most courteous thing she Darcy had uttered
in her company was directed at Mr. Collins.
    Mr. Collins’ compliments to Mr. Darcy continued long into dinner and wore
heartily on the patience of all of those around him. Elizabeth could only credit the man’s
portly figure with his living alone, for only then could he concentrate on food instead of
flattery.
    Having witnessed Darcy’s temper before, Elizabeth thought he handled it fairly
well and was grateful to him for it. Bingley hardly noticed the annoyance, locked in
conversation with Jane. Elizabeth was unbelievably grateful that Miss Bingley had
remained at Netherfield with complaints of a headache. The Meryton assembly had given
Elizabeth the impression that Miss Bingley maintained harsher opinions of Hertfordshire
than even Darcy had, and she wished to keep Mr. Collins away from her for as long as
possible.
    Whilst Collins drew breath between long bouts of praise, Elizabeth sought to
distract him from Darcy. With everything between them now in the open, Elizabeth felt
obligated to relieve Darcy of further bother, and perhaps establish herself as being very
different than what he had assumed, not that it mattered what the gentleman’s opinion of
her was.
    “Mr. Collins, as you find yourself so useful to Lady Catherine, I wonder at her
ability to spare you for such a great length of time.” Elizabeth stole a glance at Mr. Darcy
and was happy at his visible relief, even imagining a small smile beginning to light his
face.
    “Ah, my dear cousin, you flatter me. I am very fortunate to have the kindness of
such a remarkable Lady bestowed upon me, and it was only after her advice that I came
to look upon my relatives and the property that will some day, excuse me, Mr. Bennet, be
my own, and hopefully offer…propose a compromise that would please everyone.”
    He turned his attentions to Jane, but was noticeably disappointed when he found
her caught in a quiet conversation with Mr. Bingley, and with a sigh, he turned to
Elizabeth, who’s attention was caught by her father’s glaring at Collins. The party so
distracted, Collins again had the advantage of renewing his subject, and did so with
possibly a more acute attempt at flattering than ever before.
    “Mr. Darcy, I feel it is my duty to inform you that your cousin, Miss Anne de
Bourgh is doing very well. I have often remarked to Lady Catherine that your fair cousin
was born to be a duchess, for she has all the accomplishments and manners as those of
that rank.”
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    Darcy repositioned himself in his chair before replying. “I thank you, Mr. Collins,
for taking it upon yourself to report the status of members of my family as well as your
praise of them.” Elizabeth wondered if this was meant to be a joke, but her thoughts were
interrupted momentarily when Collins continued.
    “I feel particularly bound to pay such compliments, and I have always found that
they are pleasing to the ladies.”
Elizabeth jumped in again. “Enlighten me, Mr. Collins, do these pleasing
attentions proceed from the moment or are they result of previous study?”
All eyes were on Elizabeth, whose eyes had brightened with anticipation and
humor.
“Though I often amuse myself with arranging such delicate compliments, I
always endeavor to give them an unstudied an air as possible, Miss Elizabeth.” He fixed
Elizabeth with an uncomfortably direct stare. Darcy’s deep voice frightened Collins from
his study.
“You do so admirably, Mr. Collins. I see why my Aunt has appointed you as
rector of her estate and encourages you to visit your relatives for such a lengthy amount
of time,” he stopped, noticing that he had drawn the attention of all the