Turns out I was right. Another marriage proposal followed hot on the heels of the first.
Elizabeth's best friend, Charlotte, heard about the first proposal (from her friend), and whilst doing the friendly thing and keeping Collins out of the way ending up snagging him for herself. Elizabeth was mightily confused as to why Charlotte would accept a proposal from a berk like Collins, but Charlotte had made a pragmatic decision about her future. She would be, with Collins, under the patronage of Lady Catherine for the time being, plus he stood to inherit the Bennet estate in due course. Collins and Charlotte were duly married and off to live at the parsonage (in Kent).
Mrs Bennet was not pleased at this turn of events.
Meanwhile the Bingley household had suddenly decamped to London, leaving Netherfield empty. Also leaving Jane in a quandary as to Bingley's feelings for her - was it just a passing interest, soon forgotten, or were the feelings deeper. Elizabeth tries to keep her spirits up, but it's a struggle - as always not helped by Mrs Bennet. Mrs Bennet's sister comes to stay (who seems a much more sensible person than Mrs Bennet herself), and Jane goes to stay with her in London for the good of her health. Jane has been keeping up a correspondence with Caroline (Bingley's sister). Having initially become good friends, Caroline is at pains to emphasise Darcy's sister's suitability for Bingley, and then becomes distant, not wanting to see Jane when she is in London. Methinks subterfuge of some sort.
Elizabeth goes on an extended visit to see her friend, the new Mrs Collins, installed in the parsonage in Kent. Relations were a little strained by correspondence, but seem to improve between them once they are back together and Elizabeth appears to have come to terms with Charlotte's choice. Lady Catherine (surprise, surprise) turns out to be a bully and a bore, and essentially keeps Collins as her willing plaything, to amuse when she's nothing better to do.
To spice things up, Lady Catherine's nephew, Darcy, arrives for a visit whilst Elizabeth is there, along with his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. Fitzwilliam seems like a nice chap, and he and Elizabeth get on well (oh dear - another distraction). However, it what may turn out to be a critical moment, Darcy comes over to the parsonage, and finds only Elizabeth there. They have another awkward conversation, full of pauses. Elizabeth recounts this to Charlotte later, and Charlotte even makes the following suggestion: 'My dear Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never have called us in this familiar way.' However, once they talk further they concluded that it must just be because Darcy was bored at Rosings (Lady Catherine's place), and needed something to do. Oh the frustration!
'There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think really well. The more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.'
Indeed!