Jump to new as of December 26, 2001
Elizabeth had just stormed out of Hunsford parsonage after Mr. Darcy's proposal. She went in search of her favorite path at Rosings to escape and get lost in thought.
"Ms. Bennet! Ms. Bennet, please wait!!" Darcy said while at the same time trying to catch up with her. What does she mean that I am proud and ungentlemanly...I need further clarification on this point. But as fate would have it he tripped over a rock and fell to the ground with a very large thud, and Elizabeth turned around at he noise (for Darcy had quickly closed the distance) and out of kindness went to see if she could help.
"Mr. Darcy, are you all right?" she said as she knelt down beside him.
"Yes Ms. Bennet I am quite well only my pride was injured."
Elizabeth looked at him quizzically with an arched brow then said "In that case you should recover quite quickly" while at the same time helped him to his feet, as her anger was returning.
"Ms. Bennet you are very wrong about my pride it can be hurt, and his been by your refusal which I was not expecting in the least."
"Well Mr. Darcy as I have said, I never desired your good opinion..."
"Please Ms. Bennet let me finish."
By this time Elizabeth was curious as to what this pompous man could have to say, and despite her better judgment she agreed. They walked to a stone bench farther down the way, which was secluded where they could talk without being interrupted.
"Ms Bennet I would like to address the accusations you made against me."
"Sir there is nothing you have to say that would make me change my opinion of you and I" She was cut short by Darcy.
"Ms Bennet please let me explain myself if nothing else show me some civility."
"Your are quite correct Mr. Darcy, unlike some others I will be civil."
"Very well, this is a long story and I would appreciate you letting me finish before you say anything." She nodded. I would like to start by telling you I am not prideful but extremely shy, which is hard for me to admit, especially around those who are not family or close friends. Secondly, about Mr. Wickham I don't know what he has told you in regards to me but I would like to have your absolute secrecy on this matter which I am about to relate. "
Elizabeth was angry and curious at the same to and so she agreed
"George and I grew up together and were very good friends, but he became a despicable young man and I served the family ties with him. However I can't say the same for him. My sister Georgiana is quite my junior and Wickham managed to make her think she was in love with him and was going to supposedly elope with her, when in truth all he wanted was her money. Luckily I found out in time and was about to foil his plan."
"Mr. Darcy I am all astonishment (had to use that line) I don't know what to say."
"Please let me finish." Upon seeing her nod he continued. The last point is about your sister I do confess I had a hand in separating Charles and her, but on further reflection I do believe I may have been wrong. In my defense I can only offer you this, that was unaware of your sister's temperament, and I was looking out for my friend.
"Safeguarding him for our low family connections, or maybe your pride was hurt that Mr. Bingley found someone to love before you did."
"Ms. Bennet I see we both need some time to thing about these new revelations we have both had. If you will please excuse me I will return to Rosings and shortly thereafter leave for London. Good day." Darcy walked away but mortified and very ashamed and hurt.
Elizabeth for her part was left alone on the bench to think. Was I wrong about him, surely he would not make up lies about his sister to clear up his own misbehavior, and what of his pride? Could have I misjudged him so, in my own pride of observation did I misinterpret his shyness for arrogance, and even if I did that still doesn't excuse him for what he did to Jane. She slowly walked back to the parsonage to contemplate what to do next.
As she walked back on one of the paths she liked best because of the many trees and flowers, she suddenly heard a noise but thought it was her imagination and continued walking. At a bend in the path she was abruptly stopped by the site of Mr. Collins who was rapidly coming towards her, and on instinct she backed away, but it was to late he knocked her down.
"Mr. Collins what on earth are you doing?" Now that she was laying very disheveled on the ground looking up at Mr. Collins, who by the way looked equally mortified and looked very much like a fish with his mouth open.
"Cousin Elizabeth please excuse me. I was on my way to my patroness the honorable Lady Catherine, whom has so graciously allowed me the kindness, no the honor of being her most humble servant."
"Mr. Collins, while I hate to bother you, would you please help me up?"
"Oh yes of course please forgive me," He said while trying to help her to her feet. He then again begged her forgiveness and went on his way.
Elizabeth now not only had a lot to think about, but also had a headache to go along with it. She decided after returning to the parsonage to go to her room for a while and have some tea. While there her thoughts kept turning to Darcy and although she still wasn't sure she liked him, she did believe she had misjudged him. To clear her mind Elizabeth decided to go to her aunt Gardiner's for awhile and to ask her advice.
Early the next morning after saying her good-byes to Charlotte and Mr. Collins who was thoroughly put out that Elizabeth wouldn't be attending dinner at Rosings which would upset his honorable patroness.
But, unknown to them all was that Darcy also set out for London that very same morning to clear his mind as well. Elizabeth's words had haunted his troubled sleep and he thought a change of scenery would do him good, added to the fact, he thought, that he and Elizabeth would have miles put between them.
Upon her arrival there she was told there was only one room left, and that it was an adjoining room, Elizabeth took the room as she believed that no other person was likely to be out in this weather, and if someone should come along and need the adjoining room that it would be all right because the was a lock on each side of the door. She went upstairs and got herself settled and came back down for dinner.
While there she did not notice Darcy arrive dripping from the rain and in desperate search of a room, and so he was placed in the adjoining room to Elizabeth's. Since it was quite late in the evening Darcy got cleaned up and ordered dinner be brought to his room, and after eating went to sleep. Elizabeth also went back to her room shortly after she was done eating and went to sleep. Neither of them locked the door because they believed they were alone. They both spent a restless night each thinking about the other and how they were miles away from each other, which brought a feeling a relief and sadness that confused both of them.
The next morning Elizabeth was sitting in the sitting room that separated the two rooms think about Darcy and what he had said and realized that she had been wrong. "How could I have misjudged him so? I let my pride get in the way and my prejudice against him get in the way of how I thought and acted. I was so stupid could he ever forgive me?"
Darcy on hearing this, couldn't believe what he heard. The very woman he wanted to escape from was here not five feet from him. How could that be? Did she follow me? No, never not my Elizabeth, but she isn't your Elizabeth not after how terribly you have treated her. "What have I done, and what can I do to fix my past mistakes?" He said to himself but mistakenly out loud.
Elizabeth looked up from where she sat. Could that have been Mr. Darcy? No I am imagining things, he is at Rosings hating me as he should be. "How can I ever fix my past mistakes?"
"Miss Bennet is that you?" "Mr. Darcy?" Darcy came through the door which connected his room to the sitting room. Each couldn't believe their eyes or ears for that matter.
"Please Ms. Bennet sit down." She sat in a chair and he sat opposite her. "Mr. Darcy I would like to tell you that I misjudged and I am truly sorry." "No Ms. Bennet it is my fault and I should apologize to you."
"Mr. Darcy it is truly funny that we first have nothing to do with each other except argue now all we can do is apologize to each other." Darcy smiled at this remark, something Elizabeth thought he should do more often because it really made him look more handsome. They set and talked for a while and resolved that they should be friends and that while in London Darcy would introduce Elizabeth to his sister, and fix the mess he made between Bingley and Jane.
"Well Miss Bennet, it is getting late in the morning and it is time for breakfast would you like to join me for breakfast?" "I would be delighted, and then afterwards I must leave for my aunt's house. Mr. Darcy we do have a problem though." "What would that be?" Elizabeth looked around, and Darcy understood her meaning." Ms. Bennet please do not distress yourself, I forgotten our situation, so I offer another suggestion, instead of having breakfast together I invited you and your relatives to my townhouse tonight for dinner." "I thank you Mr. Darcy, although I need to discuss it with them I am sure there will be no problems and I look forward to meeting your sister tonight."