Beginning, Section III, Section IV, Next Section
Chapter 16
"What is the matter, Victor? Are you afraid someone will see me?" smiled Margaret, tauntingly. "Are you afraid they'll find out?"
Victor regarded her with unconcealed hatred and exasperation. "Listen, I will meet you tonight at The Inn. But you must leave now. I am expecting company. Please, Margaret, go now. Quickly."
The phaeton was almost upon them as Victor retreated into the stable with Margaret in tow. She smiled at him and whispered in his ear, "Well, alright. But do not forget, Victor, or I might have to come and find you."
With that ominous threat, she bowed her head with a vixen smile and headed for the rear exit. Victor watched her retreat and sighed in relief. For a moment, he had envisioned his entire world crumble around him. He could not even begin to imagine what might have happened had Elizabeth seen Margaret? How could he have ever explained it satisfactorily? Would she have ever understood? The sheer implications of the near-disaster made Victor shudder and thank his lucky stars as he composed himself and prepared to welcome his guests.
"Miss Bennet, Miss de Bourgh, I have been waiting for you," Victor greeted them as the young ladies alighted from the phaeton.
"Hello Victor, I could almost have sworn that I saw you hide in the stable when you saw us coming!" declared Anne, half-seriously.
Victor's face paled as he hastened to explain himself. "I was not hiding. I have nothing to hide."
His reply seemed rather too hasty and his insistent denial as to his having nothing to hide instantly convinced Anne that he was, indeed, hiding something; although she knew not what. She looked at him piercingly, the expression in her eyes a testament to her disbelief, but she did not utter a word as she was unwilling to engage in any verbal battle with him. On his part, Victor held her gaze, the fire of open challenge blazing in his eyes. His blue eyes were defiant, challenging her to prove her suspicions, if indeed, she suspected anything. Elizabeth, on the other hand, oblivious to this exchange, said,
"I am sorry that we are late, Lord Sheffield, but we were detained by Lady Catherine. Have you been waiting long?"
"Oh no, do not trouble yourself on my account. It is of no consequence." This pronouncement was accompanied by the sweetest of smiles that made Elizabeth feel warm. She held his glance for a moment before saying,
"So, when do we start?"
The spell was broken as Victor recovered his composure. "I...ah...yes, we can begin immediately." He called for the groom to bring out the horses and excused himself momentarily from his guests. Anne watched him leave and said,
"I wonder what he is up to."
"What do you mean?" asked Elizabeth, not tearing her eyes away from his departing figure.
"Do not pretend as if you did not notice that?!" exclaimed Anne with incredulity.
"Notice what? Anne, pray enlighten me. What are you talking of?"
"I don't believe it. You are blind!" said Anne. "Victor is obviously hiding something. Did you not notice his strange manner when he came to receive us? He seemed positively anxious and uncomfortable. I am convinced he is up to no good."
"What do you suspect him of?" smiled Elizabeth ever so slightly.
"I do not know...I cannot guess, but there is definitely something on his mind. I know him, I can tell." Noting the disbelieving look and slight smirk on Elizabeth's face, she continued, "Make fun of me, if you will, but I am certain that my suspicions are correct."
"Anne, dear, I know that you are not particularly fond of Victor, but that does not mean he is 'up to no good' as you put it. I just think that you make him nervous."
"Nervous?! Me? Whatever for?"
"Oh, you know," replied Elizabeth, grinning. "You have this way of appearing in command...sometimes, it just scares people."
"Victor...scared of me? What a notion!" giggled Anne.
The conversation was interrupted by the appearance of the man himself. The stable hands followed him with two fine-looking horses. Victor approached them with a disarming smile and said, "I hope I am not interrupting you ladies."
"Oh, not at all," replied Anne. "In fact, we were just talking about you." She exchanged glances with Elizabeth, who could barely suppress a smile.
"Oh really? Nothing bad, I hope?" said Victor, a trifle uncomfortably.
"Oh no," said Anne sweetly. "Nothing bad."
Victor did not pursue it any further, though he knew instinctively by the look in Anne's eyes that it had been something bad. He wondered if Anne suspected something. She had never been particularly attached to him, and now she was causing him all his troubles. He would have to be careful with her. If Anne ever found out, or even suspected, he would never hear the end of it; for he knew that she would have no scruples in sharing her suspicions with everyone and goodness knew what calamities would result from that, not the least of which was Elizabeth's disapproval. Strangely enough, out of every possible misfortune that might befall him, Victor considered Elizabeth's disenchantment with him the most dreadful. He could not allow that to happen, never.
"Well, I have selected the most gentle and unassuming of our horses for you, Miss Bennet to suit your purpose. I assure you that all of them are perfectly safe and will give you no trouble."
Elizabeth eyed the horses, "Thank you...but I must warn you, I am not a horsewoman."
"It is time to learn," said Victor. "Personally, I would recommend this one." He patted a white horse. "Her name is Beauty. She is very gentle. You will adore her."
Elizabeth patted Beauty gently and turned to Anne. "What do you think?"
"Give her a try, Elizabeth."
"Alright, I will."
Anne selected her own horse and mounted it just as Elizabeth carefully mounted Beauty with the aid of Victor. Victor preferred to walk next to Elizabeth and so the trio commenced their ride as the horses walked in a slow, steady pace. Elizabeth held on tight, but slowly as she became more and more accustomed to the horse, she relaxed visibly. The sun shone and the gentle breeze fanned her face. Elizabeth smiled.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" asked Victor, closely observing her.
"Yes, very much so, thank you."
Anne said, "On my part, I have always loved horses. I am glad, Elizabeth, that you will not be deprived of the pleasure of riding any longer."
"I am not quite certain about what I was afraid of," replied Elizabeth. "This is not so bad."
"I promised you, did I not?" said Victor, walking beside her. He saw the breeze blow her hair gently and spotted beads of sweat form at the edges of her forehead. He treasured every word, every glance, every gesture, every line about her face and every twinkle in her eyes. He was rewarded with a smile as she said,
"Yes indeed, and I was a fool to have doubted you." Elizabeth eyes him for a moment, then looked ahead. She was thoroughly enjoying herself and was completely unaware of his scrutiny. So much the better for she could not have afforded to be presented with the depth and seriousness of Victor's emotions...not yet. She was not at all ready for any declaration of love, for it was friendship that she needed most.
Anne, however, observed Victor's adoring gaze and became more alarmed with every passing moment. When Victor and Elizabeth had been first introduced, she had hoped that the acquaintance would end in a union and was extremely pleased with her matchmaking. She had hoped that Elizabeth would be a wonderful influence on his wayward ways and would cure him of all his ills. But she had had her hopes dashed when Victor had left for Scotland without informing anyone. That had convinced Anne that Victor would never change, that he would never cease to be the selfish, vain person that he was, that he would never cease from playing with young hearts for his own amusement. With that discovery, Anne had become violently opposed to a possible match between them, but perhaps she was too late. It seemed as though Victor had gotten the better of her...again.
She would have to give him credit though, he played his part exceedingly well. He was highly convincing as the charming, suave, gentle and sensitive host. He even managed to appear caring and adoring, flattering Elizabeth with his attentions and remarks. His eyes were trained on her in such a steadfast manner that she could almost fancy him in love...almost. But Anne would not make that error. She would not fall in his trap as well. Victor did not know love. Elizabeth was just another girl. He would make her fall for him and would break her heart. And Anne was destined to witness it without being able to help her friend. She had warned Elizabeth several times, but Elizabeth had assured her that she had no intentions of falling in love with Victor. It didn't matter. Linda Martin hadn't intended to fall for him either. But she had and had had her heart permanently damaged. Anne could not allow Elizabeth to face the same fate. She would have to do something, anything to prevent Victor from hurting her friend as he had hurt countless others, including herself.
The afternoon passed pleasantly enough for all parties involved. Victor was the epitome of the thoughtful host, making the right remarks and the right moves. He was attentive to both Elizabeth and Anne, though Anne he had to attend to out of necessity. When the ladies declared that they had to return home, he was disappointed. Or rather, he couldn't care less if Anne left, but the thought of Elizabeth departing, tugged at his heart. For appearances sake, though, he did not object too much, only bidding them to come back to the stables soon. As the phaeton departed, Victor watched it till it was out of sight. Then, he slowly walked back towards the stable, a thousand disturbing images of her in his mind.
In the phaeton, Elizabeth said not a word, satisfying herself with watching the scenery passing them. The gradual approach of spring had rendered the air bright and excited, as if brimming with restless, suppressed energy, and bounding with unborn life. Spring was just around the corner and the signs were all there; the pollen in the air, the sweet smell that permeated the atmosphere, the rhythmic breeze and the trees swaying gently in its path, the rustling of the leaves, the singing of the birds, the murmur of the brook and most of all the promise that the future held new life, new opportunities, new adventures and new possibilities. It was a rebirth of creation and nature in a way that rejuvenated the spirit and healed the scars of the past. Elizabeth inhaled that fresh air and her own heart was gladdened with a promise of its own; a promise that she would indeed, heal the scars of her past and learn to let love into her heart again. She waited for the image of Victor to come before her eyes, but it didn't. Instead, a vision of a pair of dark, brooding eyes haunted her memory. Elizabeth closed her eyes to shake that vision.
"Are you alright, Elizabeth?" asked Anne suddenly.
"Yes, fine," Elizabeth's eyes flew open. "I was just...I...nothing." The spell was broken, the vision was gone.
"It was quite an afternoon, wouldn't you say?" There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice and Elizabeth eyed her friend strangely,
"Anne, why is it that you hate Victor so much? What has he done to deserve your wrath?"
"It is a long story, Elizabeth. I would not want to bore you with it," replied Anne, not looking at Elizabeth, afraid that she might peep into her heart. Elizabeth realized that Anne did not wish to share it with her, so she did not press any further. Anne was thankful for her understanding and the friends relapsed into companionable silence. Each was engrossed in her own thoughts and reflections. The phaeton came to a stop at Rosings and the friends alighted.
As Anne climbed the steps, she groaned.
"What's the matter?" asked Elizabeth.
"Mr. Collins...he's joining us for dinner today. You know what that means."
Elizabeth did and she rolled her eyes. "If he would only stay far, far away from me, I shall be content."
"There is hardly any chance of that," laughed Anne. "In my opinion, he was quite charmed by your many accomplishments. I dare say he will not hesitate from bestowing all his attentions upon you."
"Aren't I lucky!" retorted Elizabeth as they erupted into laughter.
When the friends arrived in the drawing room, Mr. Collins was already present. On seeing the new arrivals, he hastily stood up and bowed elaborately, "Miss de Bourgh, Miss Bennet. It is a pleasure to see you both again; indeed, I consider it as somewhat of a blessing for my most humble..."
Lady Catherine did not wait for him to complete his sentence as she said, "Anne, I wish you would not leave without informing me. I am seriously displeased."
"I was just riding, mother," replied Anne quietly. "With Lord Sheffield."
"With Victor?" repeated Lady Catherine. The idea seemed to agree with her. "I see...well, then." She was silent for a moment before saying. "Mr. Collins, I believe Miss Bennet arrived here after your departure to Bath."
"Yes, your Ladyship," answered Mr. Collins. "I believe so, but I am rather bewildered by the strange coincidence for I have distant cousins by the name Bennet in Hertfordshire, but I do not suppose Miss Bennet is related to them."
"On the contrary," said Elizabeth. "I hail from Hertfordshire myself. My father is Mr. Bennet of Longbourn."
"Oh, what a fortuitous discovery! I am your cousin, Miss Bennet!" exclaimed Mr. Collins ecstatically. "I do declare, this is fate! I have often attempted to heal the breach with your esteemed father, but never had the opportunity to do so, but I suspect now, that I have a motive for my offered olive branch, I shall write to him immediately."
"That is...um...nice," said Elizabeth, mentally rolling her eyes at the man's stupidity.
Mr. Collins visible delight extended itself into dinner. His ecstatic utterings were directed at Elizabeth primarily, which she bore with remarkable fortitude, making great efforts to reply with the equanimity that Mr. Collins' inquiries required. She took great enjoyment from the ridiculous in his speech and shared it with no one except for a few surreptitious glances at Anne. The substance of the conversation was carried out by Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins who were both plagued by the same affliction of being in love with the sound of their own voices. Elizabeth participated only when it was absolutely necessary, and Anne was almost entirely silent. The conclusion of the evening saw Lady Catherine offering her opinions on a wide variety of things, not the least of which was the possibility of rain. With the departure of Mr. Collins, Anne and Elizabeth prepared to retire and were about to bid Lady Catherine goodbye when she said,
"Oh, I almost forgot, Anne, I received word from Colonel Fitzwilliam. They are arriving tomorrow."
Anne nodded and practically fled the room. Elizabeth followed her to her chambers and found Anne standing at the window staring at the darkening sky. Elizabeth walked softly behind her and said,
"This is it, the wait is finally over."
"I suppose," replied Anne in a small voice.
"You do not sound happy, Anne."
"I am...but I am also very scared, Elizabeth. I want to see him, but then, I don't. It is difficult to explain."
"I understand," replied Elizabeth. "But have a little faith in yourself and your love. It will all turn out for the best, you'll see."
"I wish I could have as much faith as you," said Anne, not turning around. "But I just have this awful feeling that I will loose him forever without ever having really had him."
"You cannot allow yourself to dwell on such somber thoughts, Anne. It will reflect in your eyes and your face when he sees you. After all this time, do you want him to see you unhappy?"
Anne turned to face Elizabeth. "No," she shook her head. "But..."
"No buts, just think of it this way, you shall see him again. Is that not enough to make you happy?"
"Very much so," Anne finally smiled. "You have no idea...I stay awake for hours at a time thinking of him; his smile, his voice, his bright eyes...I dream of him every single day, but the reality of it is just a trifle overwhelming. But you are correct. I must stay positive. Why should I accept defeat before even having tried?"
"Exactly, and do not forget, I am on your side."
Anne saw the naughty twinkle in Elizabeth's eyes and said, "Why does that not reassure me?"
The moon was already high in the sky when Victor mounted his horse. There was still a slight chill in the air, a remnant from the cold days of the winter past. Victor rode in the darkness for his destination, his blue eyes of steel lost in thought. His expression was far cry from the amiable, genteel Victor that everyone knew and loved. This Victor was reckless and ruthless, flippant jocularity marking his every move. Self confident might be the word, or rather over confident, of his own ability, force and charm. This Victor was on a mission to preserve what he cherished most, by any means possible and to avoid any possible...inconvenience. His blue eyes usually marked with amusement seemed determined, frighteningly so. They were cold, emotionless eyes devoid of any feeling or warmth.
Victor arrived at The Inn and hurriedly entered, his eyes in quest of the familiar figure. Having spotted her, he approached where she was seated and without invitation sat down beside her.
"Margaret, I shall be blunt. Why are you here? What do you want?"
"No friendly hellos, Victor?" said Margaret, looking at him. "One would think you were not glad to see me?"
"One would be correct," replied Victor. "Listen, if you have something to say, just say it, but please, do not waste my time and your own, by such pointless, inane talk."
"My, my, Victor, you really are not glad to see me. At another time, I might have taken offense, but I shall forgive you this time," Margaret paused and smiled. "But it has been such a trying time for the both of us, has it not?"
Victor did not reply. For a second, his eyes misted as he seemed to be transported someplace far away, but he snapped back to reality and said, "Margaret, did I not make it clear to you when I saw you in town? I will have nothing to do with you. Absolutely nothing."
"Oh, but that is not for you to decide, Victor, is it?" said Margaret. "If you really despise me so much, you should have thought of it before you got involved. I'm afraid you are quite trapped."
Victor felt himself get sick as he replied, "I believe you are mistaken. I am not trapped. I do not have to sit here and listen to you. I am leaving now. Good bye."
With that Victor would have left had not Margaret said, "Fine, if you would rather have me talk to your father..."
Victor froze as he turned towards her. "What did you say?"
Margaret looked at him and laughed, "Can you imagine his surprise when he finds out about Angela. He would be rather shocked, I dare say. What do you think he would do, Victor? Disown you, perhaps? You have a younger brother, do you not, Victor? I am certain he would love to be the next earl."
"You cannot do that," said Victor shakily.
"Oh, I can do whatever I please," replied Margaret.
"But that is blackmail."
"Call it whatever you want, Victor, but the truth is, you are trapped."
Victor sank into the chair and sighed, "What do you want?"
"I want you to pay off my gambling debts. They amount to ten thousand pounds, I believe, and you understand I cannot possibly pay that myself..."
"Ten thousand pounds!" exclaimed Victor, horrified. "I do not have ten thousand pounds."
"I am certain you shall find a way to get it, Victor, you are such a resourceful man," said Margaret. "Of course, I can always go to your father. After explaining your relationship with me and Angela, I am sure he will aid me."
"No!" said Victor, holding his head. "When do you need the money?"
"As soon as you can get it," said Margaret. "I shall stay here till you get it, Victor, if that does not bother you."
"That does bother me," replied he.
"You shall have to endure it, then because I am not leaving without my money," she yawned. "I am quite tired really. I think I shall retire. Goodnight, Victor, sweet dreams." She bowed slightly and smiled as she left. Victor watched her leave and sighed. He cursed the day he had ever gotten involved with her and wondered what had ever possessed him to do so. I must do something about her, I must.
The bright morning found Anne restless and impatient in the parlor. She could barely contain her excitement and nervousness. Elizabeth watched her with amusement, but did not say anything as she knew that nothing she could say would serve as a source of comfort. When Lady Catherine left the parlor, Anne began pacing the parlor, mumbling to herself. Elizabeth could contain her curiosity no more.
"What are you doing, Anne?" she demanded.
"I...I am rehearsing what I shall say when I see him," replied Anne in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I see," Elizabeth repressed a smile.
"Laugh at me. I do not care," said Anne reproachfully. "I shall not forget it, and when you are in love, I shall laugh at your expense!"
"Oh, poor Anne, I am sorry, but it's just so amusing to watch you. Do try to calm down."
"I am calm," cried Anne. Then, she sat down and sighed, "No, I am not. I shall drive myself insane this way. I must breathe. Remember, Anne, he will not think better of you if you faint in front of him. Remember to breathe. There."
Elizabeth smiled at her and said, "That's better. Does that allay some of your fears?"
"No!" retorted Anne. "But thank you for trying."
The sound of a carriage signaled the arrival of the guests and Anne exclaimed, "It's him! He's here! Oh, Elizabeth, he's finally here! What do I do?!!!"
"Compose yourself, Anne. I hear footsteps. He's coming this way."
Just as Elizabeth uttered those words, the door opened and the maid announced, "Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy, ma'am." This was followed by the appearance of the men themselves and it was Elizabeth's turn to be shocked.
Chapter 17
The parlor was filled with a pregnant silence, a silence that was electrified by the undercurrent of passion and want. Indeed, there were no words necessary to convey the emotions experienced by the parties involved. Surreptitious glances conformed what the heart already knew and what the mind refuted. For several, tense moments, the eerie silence continued and was finally broken by Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"It's so good to see you again, Anne," he said with such intense feeling that even Anne was momentarily taken aback. He looked at her meaningfully, for a moment forgetting that there were others besides Anne and himself present in the room. Then, recovering his manners, he said, "I'm pleased to see you, too, Miss Bennet. This is my cousin, Mr. Darcy. Darcy, Miss Bennet."
Elizabeth barely smiled in acknowledgement of the Colonel's introduction. She stood, stricken as if she had glimpsed a ghost from her past. Perhaps, he was just a ghost, an apparition, returned to plague her once again. Was it not enough that her dreams were filled with those dark, mysterious eyes? Was it not enough that she had spent months attempting to forget that same face, attempting to make some sense of her own heart? Had she not spent hours endeavoring to convince herself of her own indifference? Had she not reconciled herself to never seeing him again? But it was all in vain. All those months of self-remonstrance came to naught as she laid eyes on him again, and felt the familiar, maddening thud in her heart.
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance...Miss Bennet," Darcy said softly, stressing on her name. Elizabeth regarded him oddly, partly relieved and partly perplexed. He had not given her real identity away, but hearing him refer to her as a mere, insignificant stranger stirred something akin anger within her. Was she once again letting her fancy sway her reality? Was she placing too much importance on something that might be utterly insignificant to him? At that moment, Elizabeth felt like a fool.
Elizabeth glanced at Anne to see if she had noticed anything, but Anne was too engrossed in hiding her own feelings to observe anything. They would have continued in the same uncomfortable silence had not the arrival of Lady Catherine necessitated the appearance of some normality. She entered the parlor with a booming voice and a huge smile.
"Darcy, Fitzwilliam! Always happy to see you! We have been expecting you for some time now, haven't we Anne?" Not waiting for Anne to nod in the affirmative, she continued, "So, I see you have met Miss Bennet, Darcy. She is a companion to Anne, you know."
"I see," said Darcy, not tearing his eyes away from Elizabeth who purposefully avoided his gaze.
"Yes," said Lady Catherine. "Been here nearly three months, I'd say. How is Georgiana doing?"
"Very well, thank you, ma'am," said Darcy.
"Good, good," Lady Catherine surveyed the rather gloomy scene in front of her. "Anne, do ring for Mrs. Stevens and ask her to bring in some tea. Fitzwilliam, I hear you shall be going to Spain soon..."
"Yes, yes, I am," replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Soon after Easter, I believe."
"Oh," muttered Anne, then instantly colored at having the Colonel's gaze fall upon her again. He looked at her with some little surprise and said,
"Duty calls me thither, and so I shall go, though I do not pretend to like it. But there is nothing for me here...," This last part was said with a wistful glance towards Anne, who did not witness it due to her downward gaze.
The arrival of Mrs. Stevens with the tea prevented any reply to the Colonel's statement and the party indulged in food, for it was far much easier to eat than to talk. No such scruples prevented Lady Catherine, however, from leading a discourse on every imaginable topic of conversation. She barely seemed to notice that her "subjects" were too occupied by their own feelings to pay heed to her, and she talked on, nonetheless. As it became time for the new arrivals to retire temporarily to their chambers, she revealed that they were to attend a ball at the Sheffield Manor. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded in acknowledgement and were gone.
"They seem out of spirits," remarked Lady Catherine as they departed. "They must be tired after the long journey." Anne and Elizabeth exchanged glances, but it was not for them to comment.
Elizabeth stretched her arms as the breeze gently fanned her upturned face. A honey bee buzzed in her ears as she walked in deeper in the woods. She had escaped Rosings at the earliest opportunity. She had to escape, from him, from Anne, from herself, from everything. She reached her favorite spot and sat down on the bench. The sound of the running stream served as an emollient as she closed her eyes and attempted to relax and forget about everything. Perhaps that way, all her troubles would simply disappear, fly away like the honey bee. But they didn't fly away, or indeed, leave her for one single moment. Even as she closed her eyes, the same questions faced her. What did she feel? Or rather, what was she afraid of feeling?
Elizabeth could not deny, had never been able to deny, that there was something about Darcy that stirred her. It had been so since the first day they had met in the dark of the night, he as her valiant savior, her knight in shining armor. But that had been the end of the fairy tale. Even she could not honestly understand what had followed. There had been times, such as that night in Netherfield, when they had been so very close, but then that had vanished as he disappeared from her life without even a simple goodbye. She was not indifferent to him, that much she knew, but what was it that she felt? Elizabeth did not know or indeed, wish to find out. But what of Victor, her mind asked? What, indeed, thought she, as a vision of that pair of blue eyes came before her. She was very fond of Victor, but that was all. She was fond of him. That was where it ended. She felt nothing but the deepest affection and friendship for him, but did not love him and was convinced that he did not love her. It was much easier, however, to be with Victor, to laugh with him and tease him. She was much more at ease for it was not her heart at stake.
Elizabeth sighed. She had never expected to see Darcy again, and at Rosings, no less. She had heard Anne refer to the other "cousin" countless times, but it had never occurred to her that that cousin might be Darcy. And why should it for when Darcy had left Hertfordshire, she had not expected to see him again. But he was here, he was really here. Elizabeth didn't know whether that frightened her more than it thrilled her. All her dormant emotions would come to life again to torment her; all those doubts, those open wounds, those tender spots that Darcy had exposed in her. Could she really face him again and escape unscathed? It hardly seemed possible. She wondered what he thought of her, or rather, did he even think of her? Perhaps, this encounter that was so monumental for her was nothing but an insignificant meeting for him? That thought disgusted her for it exposed the extent to which she had become involved in a situation that might prove to be entirely devoid of any hope whatsoever. But what did she really hope? That she would secure his affections? Would that honestly make her happy when she had sworn not to let herself trust another with her heart again? Elizabeth did not know the answer to that or the million other questions that plagued her for she did not genuinely know what she wanted or what would make her happy.
The sound of cracking twigs behind her made Elizabeth open her and eyes and stand up in surprise. She was even more surprised when she found herself face to face with the very object of her reverie. The sun shone on his dark curls and his piercing eyes trained on her as he said,
"I did not mean to interrupt you...I was not aware that anyone but myself frequented this part of the woods."
Elizabeth found her voice, which was remarkably even. "I am quite fond of this place myself."
"Oh," uttered Darcy, then said no more.
Elizabeth felt a need to say something, anything, to ease the almost tangible tension in the air. She said what first came to her mind, "I...I must take this opportunity to thank you for not exposing me. I have attempted to disassociate myself from every memory of my husband, including his name. That, I am certain, you noticed as well, and I just wished for you to know that I appreciate your...discretion."
"I did what I deemed fit in the situation," replied Darcy gravely, looking at her keenly. "But I do confess, I was rather taken aback when I saw you. I had not expected to see you here...that is to say...um...it was a surprise."
"Yes, a great surprise, indeed," said Elizabeth in reply. For all parties concerned.
Elizabeth said no more. She had nothing more to say and decided to lay the weight of finding a topic of conversation on him. Perhaps he would leave? That would, at least, provide her with some relief from the immediate concern of appearing composed and serene when a thousand contradictory thoughts ran rampant in her head. But he did not leave or even appear to have any thoughts of doing so. Instead, he stood there at a distance as if making a resolve of his own. Elizabeth looked at him, and their eyes met briefly. His gaze was steadfast, earnest, perplexed even. His eyes were magnetic and exerted upon her an immense power that she had been witness to countless times before. Elizabeth felt a great urge to escape; from what exactly, she did not know.
"I...I should return to Rosings. I have been away for too long," murmured Elizabeth, lowering her eyes so as to escape from his piercing gaze.
Darcy recovered and said, "I...uh...let me escort you back."
"No, no!" said Elizabeth a trifle too hastily. "That is to say...I would not wish to impose upon your kindness. And rest assured, I am perfectly capable of finding my way back." She smiled slightly as she said those words, recovering some of her former wit.
"I did not doubt that for a second," muttered Darcy, but offered no further opposition.
Elizabeth regarded him curiously for a moment, curtsied, and with one last, solemn look, disappeared into the woods. Darcy watched her hasty retreat; the expression on his face, inscrutable, his mind completely misinterpreting her words and actions. He did not move till long after she was gone, and then, slowly walked in the other direction.
"Oh, Elizabeth, what am I to do!" moaned Anne, as she beheld her image in the looking glass. "I barely spoke two words to him when I saw him. There was so much I wished to say, so much I wanted to convey, but I could not. It is rather frustrating." Anne waited for one of Elizabeth's witty remarks, but on hearing none, turned to observe her friend, who was lost in a world of her own. "Elizabeth?"
"Huh?" Elizabeth snapped back to reality.
"You seem out of spirits today, what is the matter?" asked Anne.
"Nothing, nothing at all," replied Elizabeth.
"It cannot be 'nothing', Elizabeth. I know you better. Will you not trust me with your troubles?"
"I...," Elizabeth paused. It was a tempting offer that, but Elizabeth could not but decline it. "It is really nothing, Anne. My mind was just wandering, that is all."
"Am I really that boring?" joked Anne, hoping to evoke a smile.
"No, indeed," Elizabeth shook her head. "What is your plan for tonight?"
"My plan? I have no plan," said Anne.
"Oh, but you must have a plan, Anne. Every young lady will attest to the importance of having a sound plan," remarked Elizabeth. "It is a secret to success."
"Well, then, what should my plan be?"
"If you ask me," began Elizabeth. "I would suggest that you attempt to discern his feelings tonight. Perhaps, he will ask you dance. If so, then, engage him in conversation, draw him out. Maybe you can contrive to be seated next to him at the dinner table. Or maybe you shall ride in his carriage. Do whatever you can to talk to him."
"That is problem, is it not? I cannot talk to him." Anne frowned and sat on her bed.
"Dear Anne," said Elizabeth. "You must overcome that if you are to secure him. You simply must. Colonel Fitzwilliam needs your encouragement, I am convinced. You must not let your own fears come between you and him. It is of the utmost importance that he feel comfortable. You must be open with him."
"Are you quite certain that it will work?" said Anne doubtingly.
"Oh, I am convinced that it will," Elizabeth's eyes twinkled. "And rest assured, I shall do everything in my power to help you."
Anne laughed, "God help me!" Elizabeth smiled widely, her eyes dancing with mischief. Anne added, "Well, now that my evening has been planned to the utmost, what about you? What shall you be doing, pray?"
"Oh, nothing, sitting in the corner, I suppose."
"That will not do," said Anne playfully. "Shall you not meet some eligible bachelors of your own? What do you say to my cousin Darcy?"
"No!" Elizabeth said emphatically, the color draining from her face.
Anne was taken aback. "I...I did not think you disliked him that much."
"No, I don't...it's just..." Elizabeth equivocated.
"I know that Darcy seems rather formal now," said Anne. "But if you become acquainted with him, I am certain that you shall begin to like him." Elizabeth did not reply, and Anne added, "And there fails my first attempt at matchmaking. Are you not glad that I do not make a habit of it for I really do it very ill indeed."
Elizabeth smiled slightly and said, "I dare say you can make matches all you like, as long as it is not for me. Now hurry and get dressed. The time for our departure is almost upon us."
Anne nodded as Elizabeth left the room. A small smile played on her lips as she returned to her looking glass. I have not failed, not yet. It is not such a bad idea. He is just the man to save her from Victor. She will thank me later.
Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy awaited the descent of the ladies as they drank some brandy. The colonel was lost in his own thoughts and would have gladly passed the time in complete silence had not Darcy said,
"Was Miss Bennet here when you visited Rosings, Fitzwilliam?"
Colonel Fitzwilliam looked at Darcy and said, "Yes. Why do you ask?"
"No reason, just curious," replied Darcy. "She seems to have a good influence on Anne."
"Yes, I suppose," replied Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"Speaking of Anne, have you spoken with her yet?"
"No," Colonel Fitzwilliam sipped his brandy. "Not yet."
Darcy watched his cousin, then said, "Do you think she is engaged to Lord Sheffield?"
Colonel Fitzwilliam exchanged glances with him and said gravely, "I hope not. It does not seem thus. She did not say anything, to me, at least."
"What are you going to do?" inquired Darcy.
"What can I do?" said the colonel. "There is nothing for me to do."
"So, you will give up," said Darcy, challengingly.
Colonel Fitzwilliam looked up. "No, I cannot give her up...in my heart, she will always be mine, but..."
"But?" repeated Darcy.
"I do not know," Colonel Fitzwilliam shook his head. "It is not easy to explain."
"I do not mean to interfere in your life, Fitzwilliam, but you do understand that this may be your last opportunity. After this, you shall leave for Spain and heaven knows what might happen before you get home. She may not be engaged now, but who is to say she won't be engaged when you come home."
"If I come home," said Fitzwilliam with sudden emotion in his voice. "Do you think that I have not been plagued by those same thoughts, those same doubts a million times? But how can I act so brazenly on my impulses when I do not even know if I shall be alive to see her again. I cannot play with her heart and emotions like that. You know as well as I that it is no guarantee that I shall survive. No, do not try to protest, Darcy, it is true and I am quite reconciled to it. But why drag poor Anne into it? It would not be fair to her."
"Maybe so," replied Darcy. "But is the reward of her regard not worth the chance? It is by no means certain that you shall run into trouble in Spain, Fitzwilliam. Is she not worth at least one try?"
"Oh, you know she is," answered Fitzwilliam with warmth. "She is worth all that and more, but I am not certain if I am." He sighed. "I have not made my resolve yet...this time we spend here shall determine my fate, I suppose. But you cannot understand, Darcy. You cannot understand the sheer power, the selflessness, the hopelessness of love. Till you love someone as I have loved Anne, you will not understand."
"But I do understand...oh, how well I understand," muttered Darcy, but Colonel Fitzwilliam did not hear him for the arrival of the ladies diverted his attention. His eyes flew to the stairs and followed closely the descending figures of the two ladies. When they were at the foot of the staircase, Anne smiled slightly with considerable effort and said,
"I am afraid we have kept you waiting, but you shall forgive us, I hope."
"There is nothing to forgive for the wait was well worth the result," Colonel Fitzwilliam found himself saying gallantly.
Anne blushed sweetly in response and lowered her eyes. Elizabeth grinned inwardly in glee. This exchange renewed her faith in the colonel's regard for Anne and she finally benefited from the confident reassurance that she had imparted to Anne at several occasions. When Elizabeth finally found the courage to allow her eyes wander to the certain someone beside the Colonel, she found him staring at Anne and the Colonel with a satisfied smile. Suddenly, he caught her eyes and a wonderful smile spread over his features. Elizabeth could not help but smile discreetly in return and in that moment, she was convinced that Colonel Fitzwilliam had confessed his feelings to cousin. It was a lovely feeling, sharing that secret knowledge, that intimate moment. It almost gave Elizabeth the courage to say something. Almost.
"I have called for the carriage," Lady Catherine's sudden arrival intervened in any plans Elizabeth might have had of starting a conversation. "I am glad to see you here on time. Come Darcy, lead the way."
The Rosings party arrived at the ball at a fashionably late hour. They were welcomed by the hosts and proceeded inside. Elizabeth saw Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam disappear in the crowd and smiled with satisfaction. It seemed as thought Anne had taken the 'plan' to heart and Elizabeth was happy, for Anne's sake. She saw Darcy talking with Lady Catherine and Lady Annabelle Sheffield. She watched him for a moment, then decidedly turned away. It would do no good to allow herself to be carried away in a whirlwind of emotions. Elizabeth had always prided herself on her equanimity and now was not the time to let herself be ruffled. What she really needed was a distraction, something that would allow her to forget the perplexing questions raised by Darcy, something that would let her be herself without any worry.
"I have been waiting for you for an eternity," whispered a soft voice in her ears and Elizabeth instantly turned around.
"Lord Sheffield!" exclaimed she. Just the distraction I was waiting for.
"You sound surprised. I do live here, you know," smiled Victor with his characteristic joviality.
"I did not forget," replied Elizabeth with a smile.
"That is a relief," said Victor. "Although, I suppose, I should not take solace in that for surely you forgot something else of greater importance."
"And what might that be?" asked Elizabeth, a little curious.
"Your promise to dance with me!" replied Victor. "If you recall, you still owe me that dance."
"I suppose I do," said Elizabeth, smiling.
"You sound so reluctant, I should take offense for you should know, there are several other girls who would willingly dance with me."
"Is that so?" replied Elizabeth. "Then, you should ask them to dance rather than me."
"But I'd rather dance with you," Victor was quick to reply.
Elizabeth smiled in return. It was always so easy to be with Victor. He raised none of the grave questions that otherwise plagued her. He was witty and playful, engaging her in humorous exchanges that were not meant to be taken seriously. With Victor, Elizabeth felt safe from her own heart and all its secrets. She could be serious or vivacious in turn and think nothing of it, for in Victor, Elizabeth recognized an easy-going friend who laughed for laughing sake and never had a grim face.
Victor led Elizabeth to dance and instantly several eyes in the room were trained on them. Being the heir to the Sheffield estate and a very eligible bachelor, he attracted the attention of every matchmaking mama in vicinity and all their heartbroken daughters. As the music commenced and Elizabeth skillfully wove her way through the dance floor, there were numerous conjectures as to the lady upon whom the honor of dancing with Victor was bestowed. Some conjectured as to her title and the size of her fortune while others commented on her features, reluctantly acknowledging that she might be considered handsome. But there was no one as appalled by the sight of the dancing couple than Lord Sheffield and Lady Annabelle.
"I told you this was serious, did I not?" remarked Lady Annabelle. "That woman is trouble. She means to have Victor and I shall not stand for it."
"Do not worry," replied Lord Sheffield. "I have it under control."
"I only wish I could be as confident as you are, Arthur."
"Do not worry, my dear, before this evening is done, you shall have nothing to fear."
Meanwhile, the dancing couple were aware of the scrutiny, but did not allow that to dampen their spirits. Whenever Victor was close enough to Elizabeth, he whispered something amusing into Elizabeth's ears causing her to dissolve into faint laughter. Elizabeth was, at first, a trifle uncomfortable at being the object of so many a lady's envy, but once she reminded herself that it did not matter for she did not intend to "capture" Victor, she cared little about what anyone else thought of her. She saw Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam dancing together and on catching Anne's eyes, smiled. She could, however, discern a disapproving look in Anne's eyes, which she correctly interpreted as a disapproval for dancing with Victor. For whatever reason, Anne hated Victor and Elizabeth suspected it had some connection with Victor's rather flirtatious nature. But in her heart, Elizabeth knew that Victor meant no harm, and so she allowed herself to be guided by the force of his charms.
As the dance concluded, Victor offered Elizabeth his arm and whispered in her ear, "Now that was not so bad, was it?"
"No, indeed," laughed Elizabeth.
Victor heard his name being called. "Excuse me."
Elizabeth allowed her eyes to wander and moments later, she caught sight of Darcy, standing by himself, as he was prone to do, looking grave and displeased. He was staring at some inanimate object in a distance, but suddenly, his eyes moved and his gaze settled on her. Never before, in the entirety of Elizabeth's life, had she felt the overwhelming sense of guilt or anxiety as she did at that moment. Darcy's eyes were dark, brooding and accusing causing Elizabeth to feel guilty before she asked herself why. Why should she feel as if she had betrayed Darcy when he had not even asked her to dance himself? His eyes were questioning and filled with reproach as if berating Elizabeth for her display. For a moment, Elizabeth wanted to go to him and ask for his forgiveness, but she recovered herself in time. After all, what was there to forgive? She had committed no crime. It was a ball, was it not? One was allowed to dance with whom ever one chose. Right? Wrong. As with every thing in Elizabeth's life, nothing was as simple as it appeared. Elizabeth paradoxically guilty for having danced with Victor and outraged at the way Darcy was making her feel. Suddenly, his face darkened and he unceremoniously turned his back to her. Momentarily confused, Elizabeth found her answer when she saw Victor approaching her.
"Sorry, I would have escaped earlier, but..." he broke off. "Miss Bennet? Are you alright?"
"I...yes, I am fine. I just...never mind," Elizabeth could not effectively convey her emotions.
"No, you are not fine," insisted Victor. "Did someone say something to you? My mother, perhaps? Please, tell me what happened."
"No, no one said anything," replied Elizabeth. They didn't need to. One glance was enough.
"Miss Bennet, do you want some fresh air. We can slip out unnoticed, if that is what you desire. A glass of wine? Can I get you some?"
"No, really, I am quite alright," Elizabeth let out a nervous laugh.
"Well, if you insist, but I am not leaving your side."
No sooner had Victor uttered those words than Lord Sheffield appeared in the center of the room and cleared his throat. Everyone instinctively quieted down to listen to the host. Lord Sheffield smiled brightly and began,
"First of all, I wish to thank all of you for gracing our manor with your presence. It is most appreciated, I assure you. Today is a very happy day for me and nothing gives me greater pleasure than to share it with all my friends and family. It is with the happiest hopes for the future and utmost confidence in great things to come do I hereby announce the betrothal of my son, Victor and Miss Anne de Bourgh."
It was in midst the resonance of the ensuing applause that more than one heart cried out in horror.
Chapter 18
As the applause trailed off, Lord Sheffield seemed to beckon Victor to come thither. Victor exchanged looks of puzzlement and utter disbelief with an equally astounded Elizabeth before slowly venturing to where his father stood. A slightly dazed expression in Victor's eyes indicated, to Elizabeth at least, that the pronouncement of his engagement had taken him by surprise, much as it had the remainder of the present company. Moments thereafter, a nervously smiling Anne appeared next to Victor. She seemed to search the chamber for a certain someone and would have continued that quest had not her eyes locked with those of Elizabeth. Elizabeth held Anne's pained gaze and endeavored to express her deepest sympathy and solidarity. Anne failed miserably in her attempt at a feeble smile, and the unwillingness and discontent of her demeanor could be matched only by the expression worn by Victor. His entire visage exuded a complete distaste for the affair and it seemed that his continued silence and forced smile resulted from his unwillingness to appear disrespectful rather than his compliance with the proposed betrothal.
After Lord Sheffield had concluded his enumeration of the multifaceted advantages of the match, the "couple" was instantly approached by the guests to express their well wishes. Anne and Victor bore the ensuing attack tolerably well, that is to say, they remained in their current positions without attempting to escape the unwelcome situation in the most radical and sane manner by a hasty exit. Elizabeth did not attempt to approach Anne when she was thus surrounded by so many others; so she, instead, scanned the gathered crowd in an effort to gain sight of the Colonel, who had mysteriously disappeared moments before the announcement. Fearing that he had not received the announcement well, Elizabeth momentarily lost her calm, but was instantly proven hasty in her panic when the Colonel himself appeared next to Anne and Victor. Elizabeth was too far removed from the couple to hear anything that transpired, but she could discern, even from her distance, the tension and friction between the Colonel and Anne. The colonel presumably extended his greetings before excusing himself and consequently disappearing with amazing rapidity. Witnessing the alarmed look on Anne's face and the relative decrease in the number of well-wishers around the newly engaged pair, Elizabeth deemed it her opportunity to approach her friend.
"Anne, I must speak with you," said Elizabeth as she came upon her friend.
"Miss Bennet," interrupted Victor. "Forgive me, but I must speak with you as well."
Elizabeth looked at Victor and said, "Yes, Lord Sheffield. Would you allow me a few moments with Miss de Bourgh?"
"Yes, of course," nodded Victor, his blue eyes darting nervously.
Elizabeth excused herself and indicated a quiet corner where they could confer. Anne followed her to the secluded spot and when they reached it, said, "Oh, Elizabeth, what a horrible, horrible mess this is."
"Anne, you must remain calm," said Elizabeth.
"Calm! You expect me to remain calm after they got me engaged to Victor?!" cried Anne. "How could I possibly remain calm after such a calamitous occurrence?"
"For heaven's sake, lower your voice, Anne," remonstrated Elizabeth. "Someone might hear you."
"Let them hear me," pouted Anne, lowering her voice nonetheless. "I do not really care."
"Why?" frowned Elizabeth.
Anne did not seem to hear Elizabeth as she began, "I was enjoying myself to the utmost, dancing with Colonel Fitzwilliam. I had honestly begun to believe what you had always told me to be true about the Colonel's regard for me...and then Lord Sheffield made that announcement. I could scarcely believe my own ears!"
"I was rather surprised as well," nodded Elizabeth. "Did you have any inkling of this?"
"No!" exclaimed Anne emphatically, then said, "Well, mother rather stressed the importance of my appearing to my greatest advantage tonight, but I had disregarded that as her usual measure of concern...I could never have imagined...this."
"What did the Colonel have to say?"
"Nothing, really," sighed Anne. "He wished us the best of luck and left abruptly."
"Better and better," remarked Elizabeth and on perceiving Anne's puzzled look, explained, "This proves, without a doubt, that Colonel Fitzwilliam is, in fact, attached to you. That makes our job much easier."
"How so?"
"Well, tonight, you shall have to bear Lord Sheffield. You can accomplish that, I dare say, without much difficulty. But tomorrow, we shall deal with the Colonel."
"Deal with him?" repeated Anne.
"Yes," nodded Elizabeth. "You shall open your heart to him. Do not protest. It is the only way if you wish to secure his affections, Anne. The wounds have been inflicted and it is in your power to heal them."
Anne did not appear entirely convinced. "And what am I to say, pray? Will he not laugh at me if I confess my love for him? Surely you must see how entirely impossible it is."
"No, I don't see," replied Elizabeth, then sighed. "Anne, I understand how difficult it is for you, but you must trust my judgement. Please."
Anne looked at Elizabeth for a moment. "All right. But I shall not be the one to tell my mother."
Elizabeth groaned, "Will she protest the match?"
Anne nodded, "She has her heart set on Victor, speaking of whom, he has been looking at you this entire time. Perhaps you had better speak with him now."
Surprised, Elizabeth discreetly turned around and indeed, Victor was looking at her. Elizabeth turned around quickly and said, "I wonder what he has to say."
"You shall find out soon enough, I dare say," remarked Anne.
Elizabeth glanced at Anne again and smiled encouragingly. She slowly walked to Victor and said, "Well, here I am. What was it that you wished to speak to me about?"
"The engagement!" exclaimed Victor, visibly miffed. "You must believe me, Miss Bennet, I had no idea...indeed, when my father announced it, I was astonished, much like yourself..."
Elizabeth laughed softly, "Do not trouble yourself, Lord Sheffield. I forgive you."
Victor looked at her, "You find this diverting, do you?"
"Yes, indeed," smiled Elizabeth. "For I have never met with two people more ill suited than Anne and yourself, and the irony of your being matched together is rather amusing."
"Perhaps for you," said Victor. "For I am not laughing."
"I am sorry, I should not be laughing at this...ahem...unfortunate occurrence?"
"Very unfortunate," nodded Victor. "Is Miss de Bourgh very upset? Perhaps I should speak with her?"
"No," Elizabeth shook her head. "That would not accomplish anything."
"She really despises me, does she not?"
Elizabeth began to protest, then, on witnessing the appeal in Victor's blue eyes, nodded. "Maybe just a little, although I cannot tell why that is so?"
"Neither can I?" sighed Victor.
"So, what shall you do now?" asked Elizabeth.
"Break it off."
"After the announcement before so many people?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows.
Victor nodded. "But, will you tell my parents?"
Elizabeth laughed at the similar turns of Victor and Anne's minds. Perhaps they have more in common than they are aware of. As Elizabeth contemplated that, Victor was summoned by his father and Elizabeth was left alone once again. She looked around and found Anne conversing with her mother and a Lady Peabody, attempting to appear tolerably cheerful. Elizabeth sighed. Anne was the last person to deserve such difficulties as she would face with the present circumstances. It was simply not fair. Even as Elizabeth reflected on that, she became aware of Darcy standing not ten feet away from her. His grave and solemn demeanor provoked Elizabeth to attempt to unruffle his calm, so she approached him and said,
"Mr. Darcy, we meet again."
Darcy looked at her and replied coldly, "Indeed, we do."
Deciding to ignore his uninviting tone, Elizabeth continued, "I was rather surprised when the announcement of Lord Sheffield's engagement was made."
"As was I."
Elizabeth frowned inwardly and said, "I rather believe that the match might not last much longer."
"Oh, wouldn't you wish that," muttered Darcy under his breath.
Elizabeth looked at him in surprise, "I beg your pardon."
"Nothing," replied Darcy.
"That is rude, Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth.
"I dare say you wouldn't wish to hear it."
"Forgive me, but I can make my own decisions."
Darcy looked at her and said, "Forgive me, but you have not always made the correct decisions." It was aid with such a significant glance that he need not say 'Wickham' out loud.
"Well, perhaps I have made some mistakes," Elizabeth conceded, feeling her anger rise. "But would you have me believe that you are faultless?"
"No indeed," replied Darcy. "I never implied that."
"What are you implying?" Elizabeth demanded.
"Nothing at all. It was you who began the conversation, not I," Darcy reminded her.
Elizabeth's ire rose with every passing moment. "And now I can see the folly of that. Maybe you are right, Mr. Darcy, I don't make correct decisions after all."
"Maybe you don't."
Elizabeth looked at him for a moment. "I forget why we are even engaged in this conversation. Perhaps I had better leave you to your solitude."
"And return to Lord Sheffield," muttered Darcy.
Elizabeth turned sharply, "What are you talking of?"
"I am talking of your flagrant flirtation with Lord Sheffield," said Darcy, gravely.
"I danced with him, is all!" exclaimed Elizabeth, outraged.
"I shall not pretend to point out the inappropriateness of your behavior."
"Inappropriateness of my behavior?!" Elizabeth could scarcely believe her ears. "Excuse me, sir, but I never gave you the right to judge me or my actions. You might recall this is a ball; people do dance. Or perhaps you have forgotten that, since you scarcely indulge in such frivolities yourself."
"Then you must be aware of all the conventions of this event since you indulge in such 'frivolities' so often," Darcy shot back.
Elizabeth glared at him. "I believe we have nothing more to say, Mr. Darcy."
"I did not say we did."
"Good night, then," Elizabeth muttered and stomped off thinking I cannot believe I ever had any feelings whatsoever for him. I hate him.
Darcy watched her retreat and sighed, thinking G-d, how I love her.
Chapter 19
Elizabeth walked away from Darcy certain that she despised him. As she recalled his every utterance, her sense of outrage at his presumption was eclipsed only by the coldness of his manner when he had delivered those hurtful words. He had seemed so very remote, detached, and taciturn that Elizabeth was surprised he had even suffered himself to speak with her. Her sense of pride was wounded at being thus censured by one, whose opinion she undoubtedly respected and for whom she had had nothing but good will. He might have been correct on account of the flirtatiousness of Victor's behavior, but nonetheless, he had been very presumptuous indeed in declaring her behavior inappropriate. Elizabeth stopped and turned around, seeking Darcy amongst the crowd, unwittingly. She saw him standing at a distance, staring once again at the dancing couples. She sighed. Well, perhaps I do not hate him completely. But I am seriously displeased. Instantly aware of the similarity to Lady Catherine's manner of speech, Elizabeth laughed softly. She caught Darcy's eyes and instantly stopped. He disapproves of my laughing even. Insupportable. She sighed inwardly and looked away.
Darcy watched Elizabeth's hasty retreat with only one thought reverberating in his head: he had completely mishandled the situation. Elizabeth seemed very angry and rightly so. He had called her behavior inappropriate and had insulted her sense of propriety. He had even questioned her judgement. What had he been thinking? That is the problem. I was not thinking. Indeed, how could I think? My own judgement was clouded by jealousy. Jealousy. Darcy had never admitted, even to himself, the depth of his admiration for Elizabeth. But when he had witnessed her dancing with Lord Sheffield, he had known that his feelings for Elizabeth transcended mere admiration. They comprised of an unconditional, unadulterated love that only becomes stronger with the passage of time. He should have been able to predict the onset of this love for indeed, the signs had been everywhere. When he had been in Hertfordshire, he had resisted every impulse because he had been keenly aware of the impossibility of any union between two beings with such disparate upbringings. She was, after all, a mere country girl; a gentleman's daughter, granted, but still a country girl. When he had retreated to town, seeking solace in its various pleasures, he had found it singularly impossible to oust the memories of that same country girl from his mind. She was always present in his heart, plaguing his thoughts when awake and his dreams when asleep. He had needed a refuge to enable himself to forget what could not be forgotten. Hence, he decided to drag the lovesick Colonel to Rosings, hoping to help his cousin while curing his own heart of its frailties. What a surprise he had in store for him, indeed!
Darcy deemed it a cruel joke that the first person he laid eyes on in Rosings was the same whom he had endeavored to forget in so many months past. He had stood, stricken, unable to move, unable to reconcile the conflicting emotions rising in his breast. He was happy to see her, undoubtedly, but he was also aware of the improbability that his scheme of forgetting her would be in the least successful. Unto this point, he had been certain that he did, indeed, wish to forget her, but now, he was not so certain. For with every passing moment, the feelings he had for Elizabeth became more pronounced, more urgent, more compelling. Would it, then, be entirely wise for him to forgo all indications of his heart and act in the contrary. Darcy did not know. Even as those startling revelations dawned on him, he could not forget that Elizabeth had no connections and had been wife to Wickham, his sworn enemy. Was he, then, willing to sacrifice every conscious good sense and pursue Elizabeth despite all the objections? Darcy knew that the answer was in the affirmative, but he was not willing to admit it to himself just yet. He paused and looked about the room. His eyes rested once again on Elizabeth. She was laughing, her mirth derived from some indiscernible source. Her laughter was low, musical and he desperately wanted to know what she was laughing at. Then, he caught her eyes and held her gaze. She stopped laughing and moments later, turned away. Darcy was mystified. What did I do wrong this time? He sighed. Elizabeth was a conundrum he would never be able to understand.
"Mr. Darcy."
Slightly annoyed at having his attention torn from Elizabeth, Darcy looked, with some surprise, at the most unlikely speaker. "Lord Sheffield."
Victor smiled brightly, "I noticed you were standing alone."
"Did you?" muttered Darcy, feeling unreasonable hatred for the man.
"Yes, and if there is one rule at a ball, it is that one cannot be permitted to stand alone," said Victor.
Now I understand why Fitzwilliam abhors glib speakers such as he. "I was not aware of that rule," said Darcy, frowning slightly.
"No matter, you are aware of it now," smiled Victor. "Perhaps you shall dance?"
"No, indeed," said Darcy, a trifle sharply. "That is to say, I am not inclined to dance tonight."
"Really? Why so?" Victor was obviously amused.
"I do not know any of the young ladies here," said Darcy. I do not have to explain myself to you.
"I am sorry to hear that," said Victor. He was about to continue when he saw Elizabeth passing them. He called out to her, "Miss Bennet."
A little startled, Elizabeth slowly approached the two gentlemen. "Lord Sheffield. Mr. Darcy."
"Miss Bennet, we are presented with somewhat of a problem," smiled Victor, thoroughly enjoying himself. "Mr. Darcy does not dance unless he is acquainted with his partner, but he is not acquainted with any of the young ladies present...except yourself, of course."
"That is a problem, indeed," said Elizabeth, her eyes sparkling. "Especially since I believe many deem it inappropriate to dance at all."
Darcy sighed. He would gladly erase that word from the English language. "I hope no one has such a lack of insight to hold such a notion."
Elizabeth seemed slightly puzzled, but she said, "Sometimes, it stems rather from too much insight than a lack thereof. People tend to over-scrutinize otherwise irrelevant details."
"True," said Darcy, holding her gaze. "And such people are fools."
Elizabeth did not reply immediately. Is it possible? Can it be an apology? "Not fools, merely uninformed."
"Yes, perhaps uninformed," Darcy agreed. "But sometimes the scarcity of any real information causes one to form the wrong conclusions."
"One needs only ask," contended Elizabeth.
"Would it not be deemed presumptuous?" Darcy raised his eyebrow.
"Perhaps, but it is better than false accusations," Elizabeth answered.
Darcy said no more. Meanwhile, Victor, who had only observed the exchange in silence, spoke, "It is most fascinating, this battle of wits. You should do it more often."
Elizabeth looked at Victor, "I think Mr. Darcy has had about enough of me."
You could not be more wrong, thought Darcy, but remained silent. Victor said, "Well, Miss Bennet, I believe we began this exchange with the intent of engaging Mr. Darcy in something more than conversation. What say you to a little dance?"
"Me?!" exclaimed Elizabeth, slightly taken aback.
"Why not?" said Victor. "It makes sense for after all, you are the only woman in this room that Mr. Darcy is acquainted with."
"True, but I hardly think it is what he desires," Elizabeth smiled archly. Without allowing either of the men to answer, Elizabeth curtsied and was gone. Darcy stared after her, lamenting at another lost opportunity. Victor watched her departure and commented,
"She is elusive, is she not?"
Darcy looked at Victor and said, "Maybe so."
"I should know," said Victor. "She has eluded me several times before."
Darcy did not reply. He saw no reason to.
"How long have you been acquainted with her?" asked Victor.
"A few months," replied Darcy.
"I see," nodded Victor. "Well, do not let me interrupt your reverie. I shall leave you to your devices since you refuse to dance. Did you not change your mind?"
"No," said Darcy definitely. He watched Victor's retreat. He is entirely too amiable. I shall have to inspect him closer. Of course, Darcy did not admit the real reasons why he distrusted Victor, but the seeds of doubt were planted and he would not rest till he found out what exactly Victor was all about.
When the last of the guests had departed, Lord and Lady Sheffield sojourned to the library for a quiet drink before retiring. Lady Annabelle smiled at her husband, visibly pleased at the outcome of the evening.
"I must say, Arthur, you handled the situation deftly," said she, accepting her husband's offer of a drink. "Victor seemed almost happy. Do you think he will accept this engagement?"
"Why not?" said Lord Sheffield. "It should come as no surprise. He has always known that he was destined for Miss de Bourgh. He has no choice but to accept it."
"But you know the boy's temperament, Arthur. He can be very headstrong sometimes. And besides, that Bennet girl might have taken him in."
Lord Sheffield smiled slightly, "My dear, you give too much credit to Miss Bennet. I do not honestly think that Victor would choose her over his inheritance."
Lady Annabelle paused to think. "I suppose you are correct. And after all, he did seem to accept the engagement tolerably well tonight. Although I am not so sure about Anne. She seemed rather distraught. Do you think Lady Catherine did not inform her of the impending engagement?"
"Perhaps, but I do not think it is for us to worry about her. Lady Catherine ensured me her cooperation, so we need not worry about Anne. Or Victor for that matter. Trust me, Annabelle, it is all taken care of."
No sooner had he spoken those words that Victor himself came into the library.
"Victor, dear!" exclaimed his mother. "We were just speaking about you."
"Mother, Father, I must speak with you. Now," said Victor.
Lady Annabelle exchanged glances with her husband. "Why, yes, of course, dear. What is the matter?"
"As if you are not aware of it," said Victor. "Mother, we have to break the engagement. Sooner the better, but it must be done."
Before Lady Annabelle could react, Lord Sheffield said, "That is impossible, Victor, the announcement has been made before several witnesses. We cannot go back on our word now."
Victor looked at his father, "You chose to make that announcement without my consent or Anne's, for that matter. It is our life. We have a right to make our decisions and this engagement must be broken."
"Perhaps you do not understand, Victor," said his father sternly. "But in this house, I make the decisions."
Victor glared at his father for a moment, then looked at his mother. "Neither of us wishes to be bound by this engagement, mother. It would not be fair."
Lady Annabelle sighed and looked at her husband, "I told you, Arthur." She looked at Victor once again, "Does Miss Bennet have anything to do with your aversion to the engagement?"
"No," lied Victor. "Not at all. Why would you think that?"
Lady Annabelle sighed, "Victor, you must understand that any alliance between yourself and Miss Bennet is simply out of the question."
"Yes, I understand, mother." Perfectly well.
"So, you promise not to associate yourself with her any longer?" pressed Lady Annabelle.
"No, I can make no promise of the kind," said Victor, slightly incensed. "Who I choose to associate myself with does not concern anyone but myself."
Lord Sheffield said, "I see that you have not altered your selfish ways, Victor. You very well know that everything you do affects this family. Have you ever stopped to think of anyone but yourself?"
"Forgive me, sir," said Victor. "But I was under the impression that you only thought of yourself." He paused briefly, then continued. "Would you have me believe that this has anything to do with me? You are no concerned about me. You are only concerned about how I shall affect your reputation. And rest assured, I do not intend to sully your good name."
A little relieved, Lord Sheffield said, "You know that you err, Victor. Your mother and I are both concerned about you."
Victor did not seem to believe them, but he pursued the subject no further. "At any rate, I hope that you shall now speak with Lady Catherine and break off the engagement."
"I shall speak with her, yes," said Lord Sheffield. "But I can make no promises as to the outcome of that conference."
Victor looked at his father for a moment, then said, "Well, thank you, sir, and I am sorry for occupying your time." With that and a small smile at his mother, Victor left the library.
Lady Annabelle sighed, "Now what are we to do? Catherine will not be pleased."
Elizabeth awoke the following morning with her head full of the events from the previous evening. As she readied herself for the day, she pondered on the great puzzle that was Darcy. She had long desisted from denying to herself that that gentleman affected her in more ways than one, but the exact nature of his influence was still debatable. At one point, Elizabeth had deemed it entirely unfavorable, but now she was not that certain. To be sure, he always managed to ruffle her calm and she invariably rose to the challenge, but they had their pleasant moments. Last evening, was, indeed, a testament to the oscillating nature of their acquaintance. First the fateful encounter that ended in more than a little unpleasantness, and then the battle of words which ended in ambivalence on Elizabeth's part, at least. Before Darcy had arrived at Rosings, Elizabeth had retained only the favorable memories of the gentleman, but she had forgotten his not-so-charming attributes, such as, his taciturnity and his haughtiness as well as his propensity to hate everyone. She could not delude herself on that account, Darcy had his faults, but he was not, by his own admission, faultless. What, then, was she so puzzled about?
I do not know thought Elizabeth. It seems so silly, but last night reminded me of George. Elizabeth sighed. She supposed that this particular memory had been evoked when Darcy called her judgement into question, and she had been thinking of it ever since. Perhaps he was justified in assuming that she did not make the correct decisions. She knew that she had erred in her acquaintance with Wickham, but was it possible that she was making the same mistakes again? Elizabeth pondered it for a few moments. With Wickham, she had blinded herself to his obvious faults and allowed herself to be swayed away by emotion. Was that not what was happening with Darcy? Was she not operating entirely on her emotions, impulsively and recklessly? Maybe so, but Darcy is different. How so, another part of her contended. What exactly did she know about him, except that he had the power to be charming? And yet, she trusted him like she had trusted Wickham before. And where had that had left her? Elizabeth sighed again. She could not allow herself to fall in the same trap twice. She would have to guard her heart more vigorously if she wished to avoid those same mistakes. Besides, I must concentrate on Anne and the Colonel for now.
With those thoughts, Elizabeth inspected herself finally in the looking glass and descended to the breakfast room. She mentally reviewed her plan regarding the lovelorn individuals and on reaching the room, looked for either of the involved parties. Much to her surprise, she found only Darcy seated and with a little hesitation, she entered the room and seated herself.
"Good morning, Miss Bennet."
Elizabeth smiled at him. "Good morning, Mr. Darcy."
Darcy relapsed into uneasy silence. Come on, man. Talk to her. "You are up early, this morning."
"Yes, that is somewhat of a habit, I suppose," replied Elizabeth. "And yourself?"
"Same," said Darcy. "I..." he paused. "I wish to apologize for my behavior to you last night. It was unpardonable."
Elizabeth looked at him. "You are forgiven, sir, although, I do not imagine I was entirely without fault myself."
Darcy smiled faintly. "Well, I have learned my lesson and I would not dream of judging your actions."
Elizabeth laughed softly, "That is very well, I suppose, but I know of many who would be appalled at my behavior nonetheless."
"I am not one of them, I assure you," smiled Darcy.
"Why, Mr. Darcy, you are being so gallant that I would hardly recognize you!" teased Elizabeth.
"And Miss Bennet, you are being so civil that I would hardly recognize you," returned Darcy with a small smile.
Elizabeth laughed at that picture of herself, "I suppose I have been rather uncivil to you, but you must admit, we have been thrown together in the oddest of circumstances. Take our first meeting, for example. Do you recall it?"
"How could I forget it?" said Darcy. "It is not often that I am called to rescue a lady from highwaymen."
Elizabeth smiled, "Indeed, and I dare say, not too many acquaintances have so exciting of a beginning. With such an unusual beginning, no wonder our acquaintance has been so unusual."
"Very unusual," agreed Darcy.
Elizabeth stopped. Well done, Elizabeth. You have succeeded in effectively ignoring every resolution you had made not ten minutes ago. She sighed inwardly, and then, heard footsteps, presumably of the Colonel. An idea struck her and she said, "Mr. Darcy, what say you to a little bit of charity? For our friends' sakes?"
Darcy seemed a little surprised, but when he heard her plan, he said, "I would not miss it for the world."
Elizabeth smiled as she saw Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam enter the breakfast room. She exchanged surreptitious glances with Darcy before greeting them. "Anne, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Good morning."
Chapter 20
The tension in the parlor was almost tangible and Elizabeth glanced at Darcy with some discomfort. She silently brainstormed for some uncontroversial topic of discourse but failing at that end, settled on the weather; boring, yes, but undoubtedly safe. There was no way Victor's name could emerge from that conversation.
"It is so beautiful today, is it not, Colonel?" said Elizabeth in a cheerful tone.
"Yes, quite," answered the Colonel.
Elizabeth sighed inwardly. "Indeed, it is the perfect weather and it would be a shame if we were to let it go waste, would it not, Anne?"
Anne looked at Elizabeth, distressed. She dropped her gaze and said, "Indeed."
Frustrated, Elizabeth looked at Darcy for help. He nodded, coming to her rescue with, "Miss Bennet and I were just contemplating a walk after breakfast. Would you care to join us, Fitzwilliam? Anne?"
Anne exchanged a quick glance with Elizabeth and said, "I..." She paused, catching the determined look in Elizabeth's eyes. "Alright."
"Fitzwilliam?"
The Colonel glared at Darcy for a few moments, then said, "No, thank you, I have some business to attend to." Then, pausing as if contemplating what to say next, he said, "Why don't you invite Victor? I am certain he shall be delighted to accompany you."
Elizabeth groaned inwardly and shook her head slowly. Darcy looked at her with a small shrug and they continued the meal in silence. Anne consistently stared at her food, while the Colonel glared at Darcy from time to time, though not saying a word. Uncomfortable would almost be a misnomer; indeed, it did not adequately describe the sheer volatility of the situation. Elizabeth was discouraged, but she had not given up entirely and plotted her next move in silence. This silence continued, unbroken, until the arrival of Lady Catherine who greeted them all with such cheerfulness that it contrasted greatly with the gravity of their demeanors. Never one to notice such trivial details, Lady Catherine spoke with great unconcern and joviality.
"Oh, Anne, it is a beautiful morning, a beautiful morning, indeed."
"Yes, mother," said Anne without much conviction.
"Ah, I am so happy for you. Victor is such a wonderful boy. He shall make you very happy."
Anne froze and said nothing.
Lady Catherine continued, unabashedly, "Why, you make such a lovely couple. I am delighted for you both. What do you say, Miss Bennet?"
Elizabeth bit her lips as she said, "Quite so."
Satisfied, Lady Catherine beamed at her nephews. "I have invited the Sheffields for dinner. Now that we are practically family, it is only polite that I invite them to Rosings."
"Yes," said Darcy. Seeing that Fitzwilliam was wincing with every subsequent word, he tried to avert the conversation from Victor. He engaged her in conversation about the prospects of a bountiful summer at Rosings and when he later exchanged glances with Elizabeth, she smiled with a silent thank you.
After the conclusion of the meal, Colonel Fitzwilliam disappeared with alarming alacrity and Anne and Elizabeth excused themselves to the rose garden where Darcy soon joined them. Anne said not a word and after a brief silence, Elizabeth said,
"Well, Anne, I have a plan."
Anne looked at Elizabeth in surprise, staring at Darcy. Elizabeth smiled reassuringly and said, "Do not worry, he knows."
"Great," muttered Anne under her breath.
"Anne, do you want to get rid of Victor or not?" said Elizabeth.
"Of course I do, you know I do," sighed Anne. "But..."
"But?" prompted Elizabeth.
"Nothing," said Anne. "Alright, what is your plan?"
Briefly Elizabeth outlined her intended plans for the evening and both Darcy and Anne looked at her in amazement. When she had concluded, Elizabeth stared at their awe struck faces and said, "So?"
"That is utterly impossible!" exclaimed Anne. "First of all, Victor would not agree."
"Leave that to me," said Elizabeth and as she said it, could not help but notice the darkening of Darcy's features. "What do you think, Mr. Darcy? Will it work?"
"I am not certain," he said. "It might."
Anne said, "Exactly, it might. But that is not good enough. If it doesn't, I might lose him forever."
"Then, do you have a better idea?" challenged Elizabeth. When neither of them answered, she said triumphantly, "I thought so. I know we shall be taking a huge risk, but would you not agree, Anne, that it is well worth the effort?"
Anne nodded slowly, "You are right, of course. Alright, I'll do it. But be certain that Victor understands the plan. I do not want him intruding beyond what is required of him."
"Yes ma'am," smiled Elizabeth.
Anne laughed in response. Just then a maid arrived informing Anne that her mother needed her upstairs. Anne excused herself, leaving Elizabeth and Darcy to their own devices. They walked in silence for a few moments. Elizabeth was the first to break it.
"Well, I hope it works."
"You do not sound half as confident as you did earlier," said Darcy with a gentle smile.
"I know," nodded Elizabeth. "I had to appear confident in front of Anne or she would never have agreed to any of it. Now I must convince Lord Sheffield." Once again, at the mention of Victor's name, Darcy's face darkened. Elizabeth noticed the change again and commented, "Why do you hate him so?"
"I do not hate him," lied Darcy, glancing at her.
"You are lying," Elizabeth informed him.
Darcy looked at her and said, "I just do not trust him."
"Funny, that is what Anne said to me once," Elizabeth replied.
"Perhaps, you should not trust him either," Darcy gently suggested.
Elizabeth looked at him sharply, "Thanks for your concern, but that will be my decision."
"Yes, of course." Darcy bit his lips.
Even as he responded, Elizabeth regretted her sharp words. "I am sorry, Mr. Darcy. I just feel that all my life I have been told what to do and whom to trust..."
"Think no further of it," said Darcy. "I have long stopped taking offense at anything you say."
"Is that a compliment, sir, or a reproach?" teased Elizabeth with a small smile.
"I do not know, you decide."
Elizabeth laughed, "Well, since you insist on being so gallant, I shall take it as a compliment on my ready wit and sharp tongue."
Darcy joined her mirth and replied, "Indeed, you well deserve it."
"You are too kind, sir!"
"I speak only he truth," said Darcy with intensity causing Elizabeth to color. She instantly looked the other way and said, "I suppose I should go speak with Lord Sheffield now..."
Darcy paused for a moment, then said, "I will accompany you, if you do not mind."
Elizabeth looked at him quizzically and said, "It is a long walk."
"Yes, I know," said Darcy with a determined look in his eyes.
"Well, do not say I didn't warn you."
"You are a great walker," said Darcy. "But you shall be surprised to learn that so am I."
Elizabeth smiled, "Well, this is a day for surprises."
"Indeed," murmured Darcy.
They relapsed to silence once again. Darcy rejoiced in the happy turn of events which allowed him the pleasure of Elizabeth's company. In the idyllic spring sunshine, they walked along, comfortable in each other's presence. Darcy wondered whether she was aware of his feelings for her. Indeed, he marveled at her ignorance since he considered himself quite transparent. How much longer would he be able to bear her ignorance with patience? Not much longer, he thought with conviction. He glanced at her from time to time and noticed the small smile playing on her lips. What joy it was to behold her thus, carefree and happy! He would give up his fortune just to capture a glimpse of those rosy cheeks and that sparkle in her eyes when she teased him. He sighed inwardly.
"It brings back so many memories," Elizabeth suddenly said.
"What does?" asked Darcy.
"This beautiful day. I used to have long walks with...," she suddenly stopped and said no more.
Darcy noticed her distress and gently said, "With Wickham?"
"Yes," nodded Elizabeth, forcing herself to look at Darcy. "I promised myself never to speak his name again," she explained.
Darcy said softly, "He wounded you deeply, did he not?"
Elizabeth looked away as she said, "Yes. There is not a day when I do not ask myself why it happened. At first, I inevitably blamed myself for his desertion, convinced that it was my fault that he had abandoned me. You cannot imagine the torturous hours I spent contemplating that one thought. It was insufferable. And yet I continued to torture myself. It was not until...well, until quite recently, that I came to terms with it...but his name still evokes pain...that is why I have reverted to my maiden name."
Darcy sought the words to comfort her. "I understand..."
"Do you?" Elizabeth looked at him.
Darcy did not reply immediately. "You would be surprised at just how well I understand."
But Elizabeth was not listening to him. She said, "You accused me, Mr. Darcy, of granting my trust where it was undeserved. You were absolutely correct. I trusted George when I shouldn't have. I made an error of judgement, but that does not mean I shall make those same mistakes again."
"So, you insist on trusting Victor because you must prove something to yourself?"
Elizabeth looked at Darcy a little coldly. "You assume that I do trust him."
"Well, don't you?" asked Darcy, holding her gaze.
She looked away. "Perhaps I do. But you have no reason to distrust him either. You know nothing about him."
"My point exactly!" exclaimed Darcy. "Neither do you."
"I believe I have said this before, Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth. "But you are not to make my decisions for me."
"I am just trying to protect you, Miss Bennet," said Darcy.
"I can protect myself very well, thank you," said Elizabeth. She looked at him for a moment, then added, "I do appreciate your concern. I really do. But you cannot help me."
"You cannot stop me from worrying," said Darcy.
"True," agreed Elizabeth.
Darcy sighed, "All I ask of you is to be careful."
Elizabeth looked at him and after a long time, smiled, "I shall keep that in mind, sir."
"Thank you."
They were now nearing the Sheffield Manor. Elizabeth stopped in her tracks and said, "I believe he goes riding in the morning, so I shall try to find him in the stable."
"Alright," nodded Darcy, following her to the stables. They found Victor brushing one of his horses. On seeing the new arrivals, his face lit up and he immediately came to welcome them.
"Good morning Miss Bennet! Mr. Darcy! What a pleasant surprise. I would flatter myself that you came to see me, but I know that it is far from the truth, so why are you here?"
Elizabeth smiled at him. "We need to talk."
"Yes, of course, it sounds serious," replied Victor.
"It is about Anne and the dinner at Rosings..."
"Yes, the dinner," Victor's face clouded. "Tell Anne that she need not worry. I have already spoken with my parents. They shall speak with Lady Catherine and extricate us from this mess."
"No!" exclaimed Elizabeth.
"No?" repeated Victor confused.
Elizabeth repeated her plan once again and as she was done, Victor smiled, "You think it will work?"
"I hope so...well? Will you help us?"
"Could I ever deny you anything, Miss Bennet?!" laughed Victor.
Elizabeth smiled, "Thank you so much. I shall remain indebted to you forever! As shall Anne, I am certain."
With a significant glance at Darcy, Victor said, "I am afraid, not everyone will share your enthusiasm."
Elizabeth glanced at Darcy and said with emphasis, "They will, once they are aware of the circumstances."
Victor did not contradict her and they stood there in the stables for a few more moments before Elizabeth said, "We should head back to Rosings."
"Alright. I shall see you both soon. Good day, Miss Bennet, Mr. Darcy."
As they rapidly headed for the woods, Elizabeth looked at Darcy and said, "That was not so horrible after all, was it?"
"No, indeed," said Darcy with a hint of sarcasm. Elizabeth looked at him, but did not reply. They continued back in silence unbroken except for the loud chirping of the birds and the soft murmuring of the brook. On they were in Rosings, Elizabeth said,
"Well, Mr. Darcy."
"Well, Miss Bennet."
"It has been...nice."
"Nice?" Darcy raised his eyebrows.
"Nice," repeated Elizabeth with determination.
"I can live with 'nice'," smiled Darcy.
"Excellent. So shall you speak with the Colonel now?"
"Yes," nodded Darcy.
"Thank you. I shall see you soon, then."
"That you certainly shall," smiled Darcy as they took their leave and went separate ways.
~~
Anne nervously beheld Victor as he arrived in the rose garden as scheduled.
"Good afternoon, Anne. How does my betrothed find herself this fine day?"
Anne looked at Victor with disgust and turned away, "Stop it, Victor. You need not begin just yet. The colonel has not arrived."
Victor looked at Elizabeth and shrugged. Elizabeth silently nodded and said, "Anne, please try and comply. They shall be here at any moment and you need to appear to be in pleasant conversation with Victor."
Anne pouted slightly and looked at Victor. "If it is necessary..."
"Yes, it is," said Elizabeth firmly. "Remember what we talked about..."
"Forbearance," nodded Anne. "Yes, I know."
Victor smiled, "I am sorry that I cause such trouble in your life, Anne. It was unwittingly done, to be sure."
Anne smiled in return. "I do not blame you entirely, Victor."
"That is a relief," grinned Victor. "My future wife can tolerate me!"
Anne's face clouded at the word 'wife', but she had no time to respond as Elizabeth whispered, "I see them coming!"
Immediately, Victor held Anne's hands and said, "Oh, Anne, my love, I adore you."
Anne flinched slightly at his touch, but said, "Yes, Victor, so do I."
By this time, Darcy and Fitzwilliam had arrived. Elizabeth greeted them cheerfully, carefully studying the colonel's features. She glanced at Victor, urging him to continue as desired. Victor caught her look and commenced, "Well, I fear that I shall appear quite rude, gentlemen, but your company and that of Miss Bennet's is quite undesired. I wished to be alone with my fiancée."
Anne managed a smile of corroboration. Elizabeth looked at Darcy and the Colonel and said, "I know when I am unwelcome. I suppose we shall leave, Mr. Darcy?"
"Yes, I believe we should," agreed Darcy, looking at Colonel Fitzwilliam who stood transfixed.
"No, do not trouble yourself." Victor brought Anne's hands to his lips and kissed her fingers softly. My lady. Shall you accompany me to some other more private, isolated place where we shall continue what was disturbed."
Suddenly, before Anne could answer him, Colonel Fitzwilliam walked towards Victor and without any warning punched him with some passion. He looked at Anne for a moment, then, stomped away in a hurry. The entire party was stunned, but Elizabeth was the first to regain her voice.
"Don't just stand there, Anne, follow him."