The Collins Conundrum

The course of true love never did run smooth…

All seems well, as far as Elizabeth Bennet can tell. Jane is in love with Bingley, and he with her. Surely marriage is only a short time away. But for Mrs Bennet, securing the eligible bachelor under her roof is a better protection against future poverty than hoping for the prospect of another. And so it is that Elizabeth returns home one day to find her sister engaged, not to Mr Bingley, but to the rather more dreadful prospect of their cousin, Mr Collins.

Begging her father to intervene, the marriage is delayed unless and until Mr Collins can convince Jane to marry him for his own merits, rather than upon her mother's interference. This sets the redoubtable Mr Collins a task, and he recruits eager Mary Bennet to help him "win fair Jane." Elizabeth refuses to leave matters to chance, and instead is determined to thrust her sister and Mr Bingley back into one another's circles again, although this means being at close quarters with Mr Darcy, a man who she so dislikes. Her actions have another unintended consequence, however, when Mr Bingley's wavering attachment to Jane begins to consider fixing to another fair maiden - Elizabeth herself.

Can everyone find their way to their rightful partners, or is this muddle to end in each married to the wrong person?

A Pride and Prejudice variation, and book 1 in the Pathway to Pemberley series.