Beginning, Section II
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Part 5
"Interesting evening, Darcy. I have not had the pleasure of the Austens' company for a long time. Tell me, what do you know about Miss Bennet?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked his cousin after all of the guests had left.
"I do not have any information to share. I met her three days ago."
Mr. Darcy walked over to the table to pour himself a drink. He hoped the topic would be dropped. He was not prepared to discuss Miss Bennet at this time.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was not satisfied with the answer he received. He had observed his cousin's attentiveness to Miss Bennet throughout the night. He was aware, as only a long-time acquaintance could be; that Darcy had possibly met a woman he could care for. If the truth were stated, he had never seen Darcy give much consequence to any woman before tonight. He charged ahead with a barrage of questions, determined to discover his cousin's thoughts on this interesting young woman.
"I say, she and Georgiana seem to be on friendly terms." The Colonel stated.
"I believe so."
"And she does play nicely, would you not agree?"
"Yes, she is very talented."
"Her father is a Gentleman, am I correct?"
"Yes, from Hertfordshire."
"She seems intelligent and clever, I would have to say she obviously reads a great deal."
Darcy did not answer, but gave his cousin a cross look. The Colonel ignored him and continued on with his questioning.
"Very pretty, too"
Mr. Darcy's patience gave way. He was well aware Colonel Fitzwilliam was attempting to extract information from him. He was not in the mood to follow through with his game, so he would have to end it now.
"Enough, enough! If you have a point to make, please do."
"Really, Darcy, I can not believe you." Colonel Fitzwilliam could hardly contain his laughter. Even as an adult, he still enjoyed teasing his cousin from time to time. "Of course I have a point."
"What would it be?" Mr. Darcy asked in a harsh tone.
"Only that Miss Bennet is a pretty, talented, intelligent gentleman's daughter," he waited for Darcy's facial muscles to relax before adding, "and you had better determine your feelings for her before Mr. Bingley snatches her up."
Mr. Darcy, who had the misfortune of taking a sip of port right before Colonel Fitzwilliam finished his statement, choked.
"That is presumptuous." He bellowed as soon as he caught his breath.
"Maybe so. I am sure Lady Catherine would be most put-out if she were to hear what I am going to say next, but if you let Miss Bennet slip through your fingers, you are a damn fool!"
Elizabeth was elated, the morning was beautiful, the birds' were singing, and her bench in the park was empty. She had left the house forty minutes early to insure she would be able to sit there.
She brought with her a copy of "Othello", and the intention of rereading a few passages. As she stared at the cover of the book, her mind wandered, and she found herself thinking of last night's party instead of the book.
She heard Georgiana (they both agreed to call each other by their Christian names) laugh for the first time last night. They were playing a duet together, their hands crossed and the song was ruined. At first, they both sat there blushing, but Elizabeth could hold in her laughter no longer and started to giggle. Soon, she and Georgiana were in stitches and vowed never to perform together again without practicing beforehand.
Miss Bingley had accosted Elizabeth after the song, but Elizabeth quickly changed the subject to Miss Bingley's engagement ring, and for the rest of the night Miss Bingley behaved herself nicely.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was a pleasing man to talk and listen to, and Elizabeth found him to be very agreeable in attitude. He entertained the group with a funny story about a young Lieutenant in his division, and later sang a song while Miss Darcy played. If Elizabeth's mind had not been otherwise engaged, she might have been able to say she found him attractive, but another man in the room had her attention--Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth was cautious in allowing herself to daydream about Mr. Darcy too much. She could not pinpoint exactly what it was about him that interested her so, but something pulled at her feelings when he was around.
Mr. Darcy was certainly handsome, with his dark wavy hair and deep brown eyes. He was a tall man, who appeared to be fit and healthy, and he carried himself well, but these were only physical attributes. What she found most appealing was his quiet, shy nature. He thought before he spoke, and on a few occasions she watched him as he struggled to find suitable words. Yet, his words carried weight, as they were from an intelligent, well-adjusted mind.
Elizabeth studied Mr. Darcy when Miss Bingley was around him. She watched his personality change and become cold--almost as if it was taking all of his strength to be civil without the appearance of rudeness. She, too, had her way of dealing with people like Miss Bingley, and although it was different from Mr. Darcy's, she recognized the need for protective reactions.
Elizabeth recalled the kind looks he had given her last night. When she caught him staring at her, he would not avert his eyes, but held his gaze. She found his attention both bold and charming, and maybe a little unnerving.
Elizabeth did believe in love at first sight. Jane and Andrew's romance began that way, and it was an experience shared by both. She wondered if it could have happened to her. Elizabeth decided that for the time, she would only admit she liked him—very much.
She thought her chances of gaining his affection were slim. His family must surely have high expectations for him, and from any union he might someday form. She doubted Mr. Darcy would squander his time and attention on a woman who had no wealth and little connections, and she would not allow herself to become a passing fancy for any man. Elizabeth concluded that she would not show her heart to anyone, but treat him like any other man, whose company she did enjoy.
Elizabeth sat up straight when she heard a noise behind her. Believing the sound to be footsteps, she pretended to be reading. A sly smile crossed her lips as she plotted her next move.
Mr. Darcy made his way through the park, with a newspaper tucked under his arm. Being preoccupied with thoughts of his conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam last night, he did not notice Elizabeth sitting in his spot until he was upon her.
"Miss Bennet!"
"Mr. Darcy!" Elizabeth was shocked. She had not expected the bench intruder to be Mr. Darcy. "Sir, I had not expected you."
"Were you waiting for someone, Miss Bennet?"
"No, I only," she stuttered, not wanting to expose her juvenile plan to him, "do you come here often in the morning?"
Mr. Darcy eyed his bench possessively. "Yes, I do. Do you?"
"Yes, every day when the weather permits. It is so peaceful here, surrounded by the trees."
"Oh, I see." Mr. Darcy was gentleman enough to know it was his place to relinquish any claim he had on the bench, and allow her the pleasure of ownership.
"Well, good day, Miss Bennet." He bowed and turned to leave.
Victory was not as sweet as Elizabeth imagined it to be. Had it been any other man, she would have savored her success, but the look on Mr. Darcy's face tainted her win. She thought quickly, searching for a possible concession she could make to smooth over his loss.
"Mr. Darcy, I may have an idea." Elizabeth called to him in a friendly voice. As she hoped, Mr. Darcy turned around and walked back to her.
"I propose a compromise, Sir." She was very proud of her idea; it was sound and fair in her mind.
"Please share, Miss Bennet." Mr. Darcy was not a man accustomed to compromises, but his interest was genuine. He had no clue as to what she would suggest.
"I believe I would be stating a fact if I said that we both enjoy our morning outing in the park, am I correct?"
"Yes, I will admit to my part," he replied hesitantly. It was not his intention to have Elizabeth feel guilty for her morning pleasure. After all, he was the person who had been absent from London lately. He knew he could not expect everything to remain the same, as it was the last time he was in town.
"Since we cannot both occupy this area at once, what if we were to split the week between us?"
"How do you propose to do this?"
"Each has our own days when we can have the park to ourselves. I could take Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You could have Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Would you consider this a suitable arrangement?"
"I would indeed." He was beginning to enjoy her little scheme. Her eyes were wide and bright as she spoke, and he found himself utterly charmed. "What about Sunday?"
Elizabeth pondered Sunday. "I do not come here often on Sunday, since church is so early. Why not make Sunday an open day when whoever arrives first, gets the bench?" She was feeling quite satisfied about her answer.
A small smile crossed his face as he realized she had not completely given him Sunday, but left the day free on the chance she may be able to make the time to sit in the park. She is a clever woman. Mr. Darcy ran over the details of her suggestion in his mind.
"Fair! But, you have not yet covered afternoons. Do the same rules apply to them?"
Elizabeth let out a laugh. "I should say not. Our agreement will only be for the mornings. I enjoy bringing Evan here in the afternoons. Do you visit the park in the afternoon?"
"No, I am often occupied during that time."
"Can you think of anything I have forgotten?" She asked.
"Yes, I will assume that if rain falls on the morning of our day, we forfeit to Mother Nature."
"Excellent point, Mr. Darcy. You have saved us any future dispute due to the weather."
"Then I will consider the matter settled." They both nodded in agreement.
For a moment they just looked at each other, both happy with the way the situation worked out.
"Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth asked with a mischievous look about her.
"Yes?" He asked, wondering what idea she might have that would cause her to smile so delightfully.
"It is Wednesday."
"That it is, Miss Bennet, " he chuckled while shaking his head. "May I again bid you a good day."
Mr. Darcy left the park, without reading his newspaper, or enjoying his morning quietude, and without possession of his bench. Yet, he was a happy man.
The next two weeks passed quickly. An announcement from Jane and Andrew brought the best of news to the Austen home. Another child was on the way. Elizabeth could not be happier for her beloved sister, and expressed her joy at every opportunity.
Callers were frequent during this time. The Austens' were to throw Andrew a 30th-birthday party, and the invite list was quite long.
Mr. Darcy was indeed helping Andrew with his charity. He had devised a plan to call upon many of his acquaintances and present them with a well-documented fact sheet, detailing how and why the contributions would be spent. Mr. Darcy realized that the poor people of London were the current and future workforces. If they were not properly tended, then the economy could suffer, due to sickly, dissatisfied workers.
Every visitation between Georgiana and Elizabeth brought them closer together. Georgiana had longed to have someone near her own age to confide in. Her companion, Mrs. Annsby, was more of an authority figure then a friend, which was logical since she was twenty years her senior. Mrs. Ansby was also going to be gone for the next month; spending time with her sister in Bath.
With every passing day, Elizabeth's blue mood she had brought back from Longbourn was fading, and she was behaving more like her old self. She was very happy with her blooming friendship with Georgiana, and spent many pleasurable hours in her company. They were often found roaming the park in the afternoon, or shopping together.
Georgiana invited Elizabeth over when her painting instructor came to the house. The end result was quite comical, since Elizabeth had never picked up a paintbrush before. When Mr. Darcy came into the room to inspect the ladies creations, Elizabeth sent him a good-natured warning look. She knew her painting lacked…well, even she could not identify what she had painted.
"Miss Bennet, what an interesting use of color." He cautiously chose his words while hiding his confusion.
"Mr. Darcy, what would you say it most looks like?" Elizabeth was determined to see if she could 'catch' him, and have him confess he did not know.
He looked about the room, searching for a clue as to what had been the model. As he leaned over to catch a glance at his sister's painting, Elizabeth stopped him.
"Without peeking!"
Mr. Darcy looked again at her art. He truly had no idea what was on the canvas, but Mr. Darcy was not an excellent business negotiator for nothing.
"Why, Miss Bennet, I shall refrain from limiting your painting by placing a restriction on it, such as a definition. It would not be right."
Elizabeth burst out laughing at this. "You are a gentleman and a diplomat, Sir! An excellent choice of words."
The exchanges between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth had become comfortable and frequent. Not only did they both enjoy each other's society, but sought it out. With few exceptions, everyone in their close circle noticed their budding attachment. Dinner invitations between the Darcy and Austen homes were common. Elizabeth had not confessed her desire to Jane or Mr. Austen, but they understood and supported her in every way they could.
Elizabeth had found in Mr. Darcy a brilliant, intense, caring man who she could hold in the highest esteem. On the rare days when she did not see him, she felt empty and lonely. She knew she loved him with all of her heart, and believed he returned the sentiment.
He did.
For the first time in his life, Mr. Darcy was in love.
Part 6
Three days before Andrew's birthday, Georgiana and Elizabeth made plans to take Evan to the park. Georgiana had the habit of always being on time. When she had not arrived at the appointed hour, Elizabeth decided to take Evan and meet her at her house.
The butler led her to the study, as he was told to do by Mr. Darcy. Once there, she found him looking out the window at the street below. He dismissed the man with a wave of his hand, but did not turn around to greet her.
Sensing something amiss, Elizabeth walked over to stand next to him.
"Mr. Darcy?" She asked quietly.
He turned to face her, looking pale and obviously deeply disturbed. The expression of shock on Elizabeth's face prompted him to address her.
"Miss Bennet, I am afraid Georgiana will be unable to join you this afternoon. She is unwell." Mr. Darcy said in a low voice.
If Mr. Darcy had not appeared to be in distress, she would have returned home without questioning him, but this was not to be.
"Is there anything I can do?"
He studied her for a moment. He was hoping she would make such an offer, but he would have to reveal many unpleasant circumstances for her to be able to understand the source of the quandary. The need for Georgiana to have someone to be with her, coupled with his trust in Elizabeth, prompted him to confide in her.
"Please, sit down. I have a story to relate to you." He walked over to his desk and picked up a newspaper. "I received some surprising news today. I can not believe it, but it is true."
He handed Elizabeth today's paper and pointed to the headline "Man found murdered." She sat Evan down next to her, and gave all of her attention to the article before her.
An early morning murder has the residents of -----street on alert. Mr. George Wickham--address unknown--was found slain in an alley behind the Big Bull Tavern. A reputed gaming establishment, authorities have closed the tavern until further notice. A serving girl found Mr. Wickham's body as she was leaving work for the night. He had been stabbed repeatedly in the back and left for dead, lying face down in the mud. No witnesses came forward and the murder weapon has not been recovered. After a complete search of the area and several interviews with patrons, it was determined the attack may have been gambling-related.
Elizabeth looked up to Mr. Darcy. "Am I to assume you knew Mr. Wickham?"
"Yes, he was my father's steward's son."
"And this is the cause of Georgiana's distress?"
He nodded. "Miss Bennet, there is more."
"Just one moment," she told him.
Elizabeth picked up Evan and headed to the door. She stopped a passing servant as asked her to deliver the child home. Once they were out of sight, she softly closed the door and returned to her seat.
"Mr. Darcy, tell me what I can do to help."
Mr. Darcy sat next to her and related the long, horrid history of his family's dealings with Mr. Wickham.
(Dear Readers, Mr. Darcy tells Elizabeth his story about Wickham's fall from grace, and his scheme to get Georgiana to marry him. I believe most of us here know the story by heart, so I will not repeat it.)
"…she was but 15 years old then."
"Poor Georgiana, thank goodness you were able to stop the elopement in time." Elizabeth was amazed at the depth of Mr. Wickham's deceit and cunning.
"No, Miss Bennet. I failed my sister. I should have never let the situation happen in the first place. She is suffering because of my negligence. If only I had kept her with me, then none of it could have happened. I know I am to blame, and there is no excuse for my actions. Please, do not think I am looking for pity or relief from my liability, I only want you to know that Georgiana was not at fault."
Elizabeth placed her hand lightly on Mr. Darcy's arm. She had never seen him in such a state of anguish before. Determined to assist both him and his sister, she addressed him in a calm voice.
"Mr. Darcy, if it is your wish to shoulder the responsibility of the entire incident, then so be it. Although I disagree with the condemnation you have placed on yourself, I will remain silent on the subject. What I will say is that I have never known a sister more loved, or better taken care of, than Georgiana. In my opinion, you have done a wonderful job raising her; it is evident in her sweet nature and kind disposition. She is a remarkable, talented young woman who I am proud to call a friend."
"Thank you," he said solemnly, "I will take you to her. Please use your discretion when speaking with her."
Elizabeth removed her hand and stood up. Silently, he led her to his sister's room.
They stopped at the door and Mr. Darcy took a deep breath.
"I believe I will leave you two alone for a while. I was unable to comfort her this morning, so perhaps if I am not around…" he looked up at Elizabeth.
She gave him a reassuring smile. "I will do everything in my power to help." Elizabeth opened the door and went into the room.
Mr. Darcy closed the door behind her and stood still for a moment. He heard his sister acknowledge Elizabeth and then more sobs. He said a soundless prayer for both women and returned to his study.
Part 7
Several hours later Elizabeth left Georgiana's room and went to look for Mr. Darcy. A servant informed her of his whereabouts, and she set off for the study. Mr. Darcy had left the door ajar for her and she peered inside the room.
"Mr. Darcy?"
"Please, come in Miss Bennet." He called as he rose from a chair in the corner. The look on her face gave him some relief.
Realizing the servants may be wondering what was going on upstairs, she once again closed the door behind her. Elizabeth did not want anyone to overhear their conversation.
"Would you care to sit?" He asked as he motioned toward a chair.
"No, but thank you. If I may, I would like to stand."
"Is Georgiana calm? Does she need a doctor?"
Elizabeth passed on to him bits and pieces of her discussions with his sister. Some of what Georgiana shared with her was for her only, but there were still many matters Elizabeth could tell him about.
During the hours they had spent together, Georgiana had confessed to Elizabeth everything about her relationship with Mr. Wickham. She blamed herself for his death. If she had married him, perhaps he would have changed his ways and been alive today. She did admit she no longer held any feelings for the man, and whatever she may have felt in the past was not exactly love. Still, Georgiana's tender heart could not help but be sorrowful at his demise. She, like her brother, accepted more responsibility than was her own.
Elizabeth was the only friend Georgiana had shared information about Mr. Wickham with. She had held in her pain and embarrassment for over a year. At first she was afraid that if Elizabeth knew the truth about her, she would no longer desire her friendship. But, faith in her friend, combined with Elizabeth's natural compassion, compelled her to speak.
The death of her parents had left Georgiana with a fear of loosing the people dear to her, be it by natural causes or her own actions. This was the reasoning behind her desire never to anger or upset her brother. She was afraid of loosing him too.
The ladies spent over an hour discussing this topic and the end result was a good one. Elizabeth did not relay this part of the conversation to Mr. Darcy. She knew it was not her place to do so.
"Georgiana is getting cleaned up and has requested that we join her for tea after dinner. She is not hungry, so I asked her maid to send up some broth for her. Perhaps it will help."
Mr. Darcy's gratitude was evident in his eyes, but she did not want to give him any false hope that Georgiana was 'cured'.
"I believe it will take her a while before she more like her old self. She needs to heal, but with a little time, I have confidence she will be better."
Mr. Darcy was having a difficult time speaking. So many emotions were upon him at once. He took a few steps to close the distance between them. Gently he took her hand in his and raised it to his lips, bestowing a soft, warm kiss on it. He continued to hold her hand, marveling at the size and smoothness of it. As he raised his head, he could feel her breath against his skin. If he thought she would have agreed, he would have kissed her, but he was not willing to risk offending her. Little did Mr. Darcy know that at that very moment, she was wishing he would.
"Thank you, Miss Bennet. I am indebted to you."
"You owe me nothing," she said quietly.
Mr. Darcy was unable to stop himself from looking at her, and she met his silent gaze. Today they discovered another side to each other. His respect for her grew beyond measure, and she now knew that he could be as vulnerable as any other man could. The sound of the clock chiming six brought Elizabeth out of her thoughts.
"Oh dear, I should be going home. I will be back after dinner time for tea with Georgiana."
Elizabeth headed for the door.
"Miss Bennet, I took the liberty to inform Mr. Austen about your tending my sister. I do not think they will be expecting you. Would you be willing to join me for dinner?"
"Thank you, it would be a pleasure."
Dinner was lovely. As expected, Georgiana did not join them but stayed in her room. Mr. Darcy took it upon himself to keep a conversation going. Elizabeth had asked about a painting hanging in the room, and he informed her it was of Pemberley. For most of the dinner hour, he related stories to her of his home in Derbyshire.
Elizabeth listened contentedly as he passionately described the area. He made it sound like a magical place, fertile and enchanting. She occasionally interrupted him to ask a question or have him elaborate on a subject.
"We have had the same problem with our grapes at Longbourn. My father made a concoction that stopped the beetles, but I do not recall what the ingredients were right now." Elizabeth explained.
"My gardeners are at a loss, could you perhaps write to your father and inquire?"
"Yes, I will do so tomorrow. I have been dreadful in my correspondence lately. Should we not check on Georgiana now? I hope she has not been waiting for us."
"You are correct." They both stood and he offered her his arm. "May I escort you to the drawing room?"
Deliberately, they walked at a slow pace, enjoying each other's intimacy, and thinking about the words they wished they could say.
If circumstances had been different that night, Mr. Darcy would have proposed--right then. With the condition Georgiana was in, he thought it best to wait, but only for a short time.
Part 8
As the time for the party arrived, everything was in place for an agreeable evening. Elizabeth checked herself once again in the mirror before going down to join the others.
Mr. Austen had insisted she and Jane have new gowns for the party. He would listen to no opposition, and they dutifully went and carried out his orders. Elizabeth settled on a beautiful pale yellow gown. Not only did the color compliment her, but also the cut of the dress flattered her figure.
In anticipation of 'the first two dances', she had decided on having her hair done differently. Tonight she wore it elegantly piled on her head, with long sprigs of curls cascading down her back. A few ringlets framed her face, and as she admired the effect, she was pleased with the outcome.
Mr. Bingley was one of the first guests to arrive, along with his sister. Elizabeth was not delighted at having Miss Bingley present, but Jane whispered to her that it was Andrew's idea.
"Her fiancé has gone out of town on business again, leaving her quite alone. Andrew told me she had to postpone her wedding date until he returns." Jane told her when they had a moment together.
What Jane could not have known is that Miss Bingley had reservations about her wedding ever taking place. During the past few weeks, she had become disillusioned with her prospective groom. He was less attentive to her then he once was, and his constant excuses for not being in her company were wearing on her patience. If it were not for his prominent standing in London society, she may have been tempted to end the engagement. The thought of being Mrs. Willoughby, and the stasis attached to such a name, kept Miss Bingley's tongue silent.
Mr. Darcy arrived alone some time later, but Elizabeth was unaware. Being a tall man, he was able to see her over the crowd. She was conversing with an elderly gentleman, and he could not help but smile. The man, Mr. Janes, was the neighborhood grumbler. He was known to be quite vocal in his dislike for everything and everyone, but Elizabeth was managing him well. He observed her guide Mr. Janes to a chair and get him a glass of wine. She patted the old man's hand before moving away, and as her reward for being so kind, Mr. Janes cracked a grin.
Mr. Darcy made his way toward the direction she was heading, and met her halfway. He did not handle his surprise of viewing her up close as well as he would have liked. He stood there, slightly slack-jawed, and said nothing.
"Mr. Darcy," she said, a little unsure if he approved of her or not, "welcome."
"Thank you, Miss Bennet. You look very lovely tonight."
"You are handsome yourself, Sir," Elizabeth looked around the room, trying to hide her satisfaction in his response. "It seems as if we will have a very full house tonight."
"Indeed. I hope you have not forgotten about the first dance?"
"No, I shall hold you to it." She teased him with laugh.
Miss Bingley was nearby when she noticed Mr. Darcy speaking with Elizabeth. She was not pleased with the look she had seen him give her, and was resolved to get his attention away from that "farm girl". She walked rather briskly to where they were standing.
"Mr. Darcy, how very nice to see you. I see you have found Miss Bennet." Miss Bingley was stationed almost in front of Elizabeth, blocking his view of her.
"Miss Bingley," he bowed to her and said no more.
Miss Bingley stopped the frown she felt forming on her face.
"I believe this will be a wonderful night for dancing. It is a shame my dear Mr. Willoughby can not be here, I feel quite alone without him."
Miss Bingley was satisfied with the hint she had given him. She was looking for a partner, preferably for the first two dances. It would be very embarrassing for her to have to dance with her brother while a man like Mr. Darcy was available.
"Yes," Mr. Darcy answered her, "if you will excuse me, Miss Bingley." He turned his attention to Elizabeth. "Miss Bennet, I will return in a moment."
Mr. Darcy went in search of some punch before the music started.
Miss Bingley was furious, but managed not to show it. Mr. Darcy had not so much as offered to dance with her, and she was deeply insulted. She, too, turned her attention to Elizabeth. In her mind, you could not fathom how a man like Mr. Darcy could even consider giving his attention to someone like her. Being of a jealous nature, she aimed her wrath at Elizabeth.
"It is so nice to see Mr. Darcy happy." She hissed. "It must be his approaching nuptials that have made him so cheerful."
Elizabeth turned her head and looked at Miss Bingley with a questioning expression. She was unclear as to what the woman was referring to.
"Well, of course you know Eliza, everyone does." Caroline continued. "Mr. Darcy is engaged to his cousin Anne, heiress of Rosings Park. It has been planned for some time now. I expect the wedding will take place at Pemberley this summer. Surely you have heard him mention Rosings Park before? This is where his Anne lives."
Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat as it fell into the pit of her stomach. He had mentioned the place before, and she remembered him saying he was going to visit it soon. His Anne?
Miss Bingley gave her a sly, heartless smile as she continued. Her objective had been reached, she could tell by the shocked appearance on Elizabeth's face.
"There have been quite a few broken hearts because of their union, but really, how could any of those silly ninnies expect him to give up the alliance?" She let out a haughty laugh. "No man with any sensibility could not want a woman like Anne for his wife. She has a great inheritance…"
Elizabeth could listen to her no more as she tried to collect her thoughts. Mr. Darcy was to be married? Did he only desire friendship from her? Had she only imagined his attention?
She excused herself and made her way out of the room. Unshed tears were pooling in her eyes, threatening to fall at any time, and she could not seem to catch her breath. She silently cursed all of the people blocking her escape as she pushed her way through them.
At last, when she was at the foot of the staircase, she took hold of the railing to pull her up. Elizabeth gathered all of the dignity she could, and began to climb the stairs. When she reached the third step, a familiar voiced called to her.
"Miss Bennet, are you ill?" He asked with concern in his voice.
Elizabeth stopped, but did not look at him. She could hear Miss Bingley's words he is engaged inside her head, and she could not make them go away. All that she had hoped for, all that she desired, was gone. She knew the man she loved did not love her back; his affections were reserved for another.
Elizabeth never felt so empty in her life.
"I have something in my eye," she lied, "I need to go to my room."
"May I get you some assistance?" He reached out and gently took her elbow.
"Please, let me go."
Elizabeth ran up the stairs, leaving Mr. Darcy standing alone.
Part 9-Conclusion
Once inside the safety of her bedroom, Elizabeth closed the door, and leaned against it. Her first priority was to calm herself. There was a party going on downstairs, and she would not draw attention to herself by being absent for the entire night.
If only Miss Bingley would have not come tonight. She would have continued to make a fool of herself by showing her preference for Mr. Darcy, but she would not of had to feel this pain.
He was engaged to his Anne and there was nothing Elizabeth could do to change the fact. She wanted to condemn others for not telling her about the arrangement, but she had not told anyone of her love for Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth was certain of one thing--she would never allow herself to love again. Finished with the experience, she would not open her heart to another man ever! She would live her life quietly, possibly taking care of the Austen children, but only in the background. Elizabeth thought of her sister Mary, and how she lived in her own shell of a world. With Mary arriving in two weeks, Elizabeth saw her opportunity to observe her sister, and learn from her.
She was not afraid to change; in fact, it gave her some comfort to boldly make plans for her future. It eased her torment a little.
Of course, Elizabeth was going completely against her nature in her determination. She was not the wallflower type. When she loved a person, she did so with so much feeling that it could not be denied. For now, though, she had convinced herself enough to be able to stop the wild beating of her heart.
It was a good half-hour before Elizabeth came back down to the party. She would not allow herself to do anything that would disrupt Andrew's party, or embarrass the Austen family. With a smile plastered on her face, she descended down the stairs. To her relief, Mr. Darcy was nowhere to been seen. She found it was taking all of her willpower to maintain her control. To encounter him now would be too difficult for her to handle.
The music had already begun, and the ballroom was filled with couples dancing. Elizabeth was thankful she missed the start of the dance. If she could, she would avoid Mr. Darcy for the remainder of the evening.
Mr. Bingley spotted her and asked her to dance. Although dancing was not something she wanted to do, she still accepted his offer.
Elizabeth liked Mr. Bingley; he was a kind man with an excellent attitude. During their dance, he was able to get a few words out of her, but without her usual liveliness. There were times when she would forget to smile, and would have to catch herself. She did not want Mr. Bingley to think she was not happy with her dance partner. Elizabeth kept her eyes focused on him during their dance, and did not look anywhere else.
When the music was finished, he offered to get her some punch. Glad to get away from the ballroom floor, she agreed.
"Miss Bennet, if you would like, we could step out on the patio. There is a cool breeze out tonight."
"Thank you, Mr. Bingley. That would be nice." Grateful for the distraction, she took the glass he handed her and walked out to the patio. She relaxed a little in the presence of the outdoors.
"Lovely night, would you not agree?" He asked her.
"I do." Elizabeth looked up at the clear night sky, but saw no real beauty in it.
For the next five minutes, both were silent. Occasionally he would look over at her, but she did not notice.
Mr. Darcy stepped quietly out onto the patio. He was relieved to have finally found Elizabeth. He had been looking for he since he watched her exit the dance floor.
Mr. Darcy was disappointed he had not danced with her first, but seeing her expressions while she was with Bingley, made him certain she was not happy with her situation either.
"Miss Bennet, may I claim my dance now?" he asked warmly as he moved to her side.
"Mr. Darcy," she replied breathlessly, looking down at floor. "I am sorry, but…" Elizabeth searched for an excuse. "I am rather tired."
He looked at Mr. Bingley and frowned.
"Bingley, can I have a moment alone with Miss Bennet." The tone of his voice was firm, indicating he was not asking for permission, but insisting
"Yes, if is all right with Miss Bennet." Both men stared at her, but she did not answer.
"Darcy?" Mr. Bingley did not know what has wrong between the two of them, but he did not want to cause discomfort to Elizabeth.
"We will be right here, Bingley." Mr. Darcy's demeanor softened.
Mr. Bingley went into the house, leaving Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy alone on the patio. He leaned in to whisper to her.
"Miss Bennet, have I offended you? If I have, I apologize for my actions. I would not do so, intentionally."
She shook her no, not trusting her voice enough to speak. Why, of all the men she knew, did this one have to be taken? He was so thoughtful, and caring. Elizabeth knew she would never meet his equal in any other man.
"Elizabeth, please look at me," he pleaded. "Tell me what I have done."
She could not let this conversation go on any longer. He had called her Elizabeth, and it hurt to hear him say her name so familiarly.
"Mr. Darcy, I think it is time for us to return inside. It is not proper for me to be seen speaking in private with an engaged man."
"But you have not told…" He stopped and looked at her intently. "I am not engaged."
"You will be soon, to your cousin Anne." Frustration was evident in her voice. Engaged today or tomorrow was not the issue, but the fact that it was consider a done deal was.
Suddenly, everything became to clear to him.
"I am not going to marry Anne. I never had any designs of marrying Anne." He looked around to see if anyone was nearby. "Please, come with me."
Elizabeth gave him the strangest look. She was not sure if she should cry, laugh, be embarrassed, or go with him. She chose the latter.
Miss Bingley stood surrounded by a group of young women. She had a self-satisfied smirk on her face as she talked about her 'Dear Mr. Willoughby.' Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her most hated Rival--Miss Grey approaching. Miss Bingley raised her voice to insure she would hear her next statement.
"Oh, it is so refreshing to have a man in love with you. Ladies, I do declare, I have never had more attention lavished on me as I do now."
Miss Bingley sent Miss Grey a fake smile.
"Please, join us, Miss Grey"
Miss Grey joined the circle of women. Although she was not as malicious as Miss Bingley was, she was her equal when it came to the art of conniving.
"Miss Bingley, I have not yet seen Mr. Willoughby tonight. Is he here with you?" she asked in an all-too-sweet voice.
"No, Miss Grey, he has been away on business at Combe Magna. Mr. Willoughby will be returning in another week. He can not seem to away from me long."
Miss Bingley always enjoyed a chance to talk about Mr. Willoughby in front of Miss Grey. She knew it made her jealous, since Willoughby was one of her favorites.
Miss Grey frowned. "I do believe you are mistaken, Miss Bingley. He called on me just this morning. We had a lovely chat together. If I recall correctly," Miss Grey rolled her eyes to indicate she was in deep thought, "he said something about leaving tomorrow."
"WHAT?" Miss Bingley was furious. "I do believe it is you, Miss Grey, who is mistaken."
If Miss Bingley could have gotten away with it, she would have scratched Miss Grey's eyes out. How dare that woman challenge her about the whereabouts of her fiancé!
"No, I am certain. I have the card he left. If you would like, I can get it for you." Miss Grey reached out to pat her small purse. She knew the card might come in handy, so she brought it with her tonight.
Miss Bingley realized she needed to salvage her reputation. If word of this exchange got out, it would be devastating for her. With fire in her eyes, she shot back once again.
"Well, it may be possible he was briefly in town today, I do not know. I was out all day long."
Miss Grey shrugged her shoulders and spoke with insincere concern.
"Of course, Miss Bingley. It is possible."
Miss Bingley turned and marched away. She could hear the women giggling at her in the background as she fled the room.
Mr. Darcy led Elizabeth by the hand to the side of the house, out of the sight and hearing range of other people. He was not entirely sure what he was going to say to her, but he was certainly going to make his sentiments known.
"Miss Bennet…Elizabeth, I am presently not engaged to anyone. There is a woman whose hand I would like to ask for. I have just been waiting for the right time and place. Perhaps, there is no such thing as a perfect moment--I do not know, but…"
Mr. Darcy reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box.
"I had my steward bring this from Pemberley, where it has been stored for many years. It was my Mother's ring." He opened up the box. "I have been carrying it around for over a week now, looking for that non-existent perfect time." He took the ring out of the box. "Maybe I should stop waiting and just ask?"
Mr. Darcy fell to one knee.
"Elizabeth Bennet, will you wear this ring and become my wife?"
If it is possible to breathe in words, Elizabeth did.
Elizabeth joined him by going down on both of her knees. Almost face to face, she answered him.
"Fitzwilliam Darcy, you may not think this is the perfect time, but your proposal was. I would be honored to be your wife."
The look of complete contentment and joy on both of their faces spoke volumes. All was well in the world that night as he slipped the ring on her finger.
From the Author: Later that night, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet returned to the party. They were both suffering from a case of redden cheeks and bruised lips. (Sorry JA purist, but that is the way it was! * big grin*) For the rest of the evening, they only danced with each other.
One month to the day, they were wed in a lovely chapel in London.
Done!