The following day, Sir William, confident that his daughter was in good hands and happily married, returned to his own abode. Lizzy now spent her time swimming from the private bay, snorkelling and fishing off the rocks at Little Rosings on the Rocks. Mr Collins spent his time dashing up to Rosings on the Rocks whenever he was summoned, and Lottie spent her time between the two. Another great excitement was in store for Mr Collins. He had been told by Lady Catherine that Mr Darcy was expected at the main house, and sure enough, that afternoon the good ship Pemberley could be seen gliding into the harbour, and minutes later, its tender, a fine wooden rowing boat with twelve horsepower engine, came into view, bringing with it two gentlemen. The first to disembark on the private jetty was Colin Fitzwilliam, a cousin of Darcy’s—not a handsome man but so well fitted out in a fabulously British Jack Wills blazer and so amiable, that he was clearly a gentleman. Darcy, equally well dressed, was as reserved as ever. As the group gathered on the jetty, he said nothing until, for the sake of civility, he enquired after Lizzy’s family.
“Are your family as barmy as ever, madam?” he enquired, all politeness.
“Yes. Quite as barmy,” Lizzy replied, “apart from Jane, of course. She has been in London. Did you not happen to see her?”
Darcy blanched and nearly lost his footing on the lichen-covered jetty. Moments later, the gentlemen departed for the main house.