The two men stared at each other for a moment before the colonel said:
"Darcy, you are among the best men I have ever met. You are honorable, honest, generous, hardworking. But there are times when your pride becomes arrogance and you presume you know better than anyone else. And sadly, precisely at those moments, you are wrong!" And with that, he walked away, leaving Mr. Darcy alone in the falling dusk and chilly air.
Chapter 3
The next morning, Darcy was walking in the garden, thinking about the argument he had with the colonel. He was still feeling justified in his actions, and convinced that Jane Bennet was not a suitable companion for his friend. He noticed a small white flower growing in the ground, and wondered how the tiny flower had withstood the winter's cold. Elizabeth entered his mind just then, as though she were likened to the tough and resilient flower that refused to be defeated by the winter's cold.
Why were his thoughts turning to her so consistently as of late? Stubborn and steadfast, with the propensity to speak before she thought, she was hardly the sort of woman that he had envisioned for himself. .. He bent down to remove the small flower from the ground, but then thought better of it. Best to let it grow, he decided. Best to let it continue its bloom, unlike his feelings for Elizabeth, which, Darcy decided, he must mitigate at all costs.
Just then, he spotted a carriage approaching in the distance. He immediately recognized that it belonged to Bingley. For a moment, he was pleased at the prospect that his friend had come to call upon him, but as he greeted the carriage, he saw instead Bingley's sisters, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst.
They exited the carriage in haste, and Darcy wondered what possibly could have brought these two women to call on him so unexpectedly.
"I have come to ask for your assistance in the direst of circumstances," Miss Bingley said with flushed cheeks, and Mrs. Hurst nodded as well.
"And what dire circumstances are these?" Darcy asked, confused but intrigued, as the manner of the sisters suggested an important reason for their visit.
"But our brother, of course, Mr. Bingley!" Miss Bingley exclaimed. "And this continued nonsense with Miss Bennet."
Mr. Darcy looked at Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst for a moment. They looked very concerned, indeed, as though the weight of the world were pressing on their shoulders.
"And what will you have me do?" Mr. Darcy asked, cautiously.
"I have received word that both Jane and Elizabeth Bennet have come to London and are staying with their relatives, those Gardiners. Such audacity! She is relentless, that Jane. Can she not see how inappropriate her actions are? Has she no shame? It's not enough that she pursued my brother for his money back at Netherfield, but now she has come all the way to London! We must keep my poor brother away from her. We must do whatever it takes. She has bewitched him so." Miss Bingley said all of this in such a fast and hushed manner that Darcy could barely keep up with her words.
Darcy suddenly felt very poorly about his actions. If Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst had come all the way here to ask for his assistance in keeping Bingley away from Jane Bennet, then it must only be because he very much wanted to see her. Perhaps the Colonel had been right. Who was he, Mr. Darcy, to separate his friend from happiness?
"We have already interfered and separated them once," Darcy said. "Perhaps, if they are to be united despite our efforts, we should let it be so."
Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were aghast! How could Mr. Darcy say such a thing! Only a short while ago, he had agreed with them that Jane was unfit for her brother. What could possibly have brought about such a change of heart now?
"Mr. Darcy, I would like to kindly remind you that we have discussed this matter previously and reached a unanimous conclusion. We have all three agreed that my brother is far too good for the likes of- -"
Darcy abruptly put up his hand to silence Miss Bingley. No, this would not do, he thought to himself. The entire conversation now sounded unreasonable, even ridiculous. His interference had clearly been a mistake and entering into a secret scheme with Bingley’s sisters was even worse. "Miss Bingley, I would kindly ask you to say nothing further of the matter. Bingley is a grown man, and as such, he is free to make his own decisions. Likewise, perhaps I made my own decisions about the entire situation in some haste. I assumed that there were no honest affections on Miss Bennet’s part towards Bingley, but I may have been mistaken. In any case, I cannot continue spending my life keeping Bingley away from Miss Bennet or any other young lady. I will interfere no further in this matter, and I suggest you do the same."
Miss Bingley's jaw dropped open, and Mrs. Hurst took a step backwards. They were both silent for a moment, as though they needed time to absorb Mr. Darcy's words. They attempted to argue but he decidedly ended the discussion. Eventually, after several more attempts, they abandoned the fight; just then, Darcy politely but coldly asked if he could help them in any other way. They knew it was of no use arguing further with Darcy. When he set his mind to something, there was nothing anyone could do to persuade him of anything otherwise – they had learned as much in their long acquaintance. They glanced briefly at each other, and then nodded their heads with apparent displeasure.
"Yes, well. Good-day then, sir," Miss Bingley said, as she turned to her sister and motioned for them both to retreat back into their carriage.
"Good-day, Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst," Darcy replied. He watched the carriage take leave, and then went directly into his house. He had decided that he would write to Bingley himself. He would deceive his friend no longer; he would personally let Bingley know that Jane Bennet was in London. The course of action from that point forward would be entirely in Bingley's hands. Should he sincerely feel affection for Miss Bennet, then he would surely call on her. And, if not, if his affections had not been as sincere as he had originally claimed; well, then Darcy was having no further dealings in the matter.
&&&
Two more days had passed, and Darcy had not received word back from Bingley. Therefore, he assumed that Bingley had no interest in the subject of Jane Bennet any longer. He was surprised by this, of course, as he had truly believed that his friend had been smitten more than ever before. However, sometimes distance and perspective could change the heart, and he assumed that was the case now with Bingley.
However, Darcy's interest in the subject of Elizabeth had continued to grow. It seemed as though he could go nowhere, and do nothing, without the thought of Elizabeth entering his mind. He would think of her while he was taking his tea, or attending to his business. And he considered the situation very ironic, as he had left Netherfield to remove himself of his affection for her, and now, here in London, his affection seemed as close as ever.
He knew that once Elizabeth left London, it was highly unlikely that he would ever see her again. The thought of never seeing Elizabeth came as a shock to him, which made him realize how much he did, in fact, want to see her again.
So, on an impulse, Darcy called for his carriage and decided to go to Gracechurch Street. He did not know what he would do once he arrived there, but in the moment, the decision seemed most prudent.
On Gracechurch Street, he searched the street for the address of the Gardiners, found it, and settled in to a small park across the street. He did not dare enter, nor was he willing to leave. From his discreet vantage point, he could see the comings and goings of the people occupying the house.
Sitting on the bench in the park calmed Darcy slightly, as though the simple act of being in closer proximity to Elizabeth was enough to quell his constant thoughts of her.
&&&
In the Gardiners' home, the conversation had centered on Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley for several days now. Jane was as serene as ever, but her sadness was not missed by her sister and aunt. She was disappointed and hurt, as she had decided that Mr. Bingley did not, in fact, have any sincere feeling for her, otherwise he surely would have come to call by now. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was convinced that Mr. Bingley was not aware of Jane's presence in town,
and that if he were, he surely would come to call. Mrs. Gardiner, growing more frustrated by the hour with the girls and their incessant discussions about the same matter, suggested that they all take a walk in the park, declaring that some fresh air and a change of scenery would do them all some good!
When Jane refused reluctantly, she insisted, claiming that everyone in the house was in dire need of some cheering up, and that a walk in the park would surely achieve this.
Finally, the three women and the children set out to walk in the drab and dreary weather. The fresh air was nice, albeit a little chilly, and it was not long before Jane began to complain and suggested that they all return home. Elizabeth would have gone further, but she noticed the walk was doing little to lift her sister’s spirit so she agreed to return, much to Mrs. Gardiner’s disapproval.
On their way home, they were shocked to come across Mr. Darcy, the last man in the world they would expect to find sitting on a bench, his elbows resting on his knees.
Darcy was also shocked, wondering how he not noticed them earlier. Embarrassed that his presence had been discovered, he quickly attempted to devise a pretext for his being there.
"Good day," he said to the women, who eyed him suspiciously.
"Mr. Darcy! What an extraordinary surprise,” Mrs. Gardiner uttered. “May I ask, what brings you to this part of the town, on this dreary day?"
“Mrs. Gardiner! Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth… A lovely surprise indeed that we meet,” he replied.
"We live across the street," Mrs. Gardiner pointed out and he suddenly realized he was watching the wrong house.
"Oh, why, yes … What a coincidence, indeed,” he said, ashamed with himself for being insincere and thinking how to leave sooner before making a complete fool of himself.
"So what brings you to this park, sir?" Elizabeth inquired, fixing her eyes on him.
“I came to see you,” he responded only in his mind. Out loud, he had no prepared response. He had come to be close to Elizabeth, and he had not thought his actions through. He had not the foresight to imagine that he might actually encounter her. He returned Elizabeth's glance, and he was immediately taken aback by her beauty. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and some of her curls had gone astray, brushing against her cheek ever so lightly. She looked out of sorts against this drab afternoon, as though she did not belong anywhere this gray and dreary. He found himself wanting to tuck her curls back behind her ear. But then he shook his head. Such a preposterous notion!
"Well, what luck, then, Mr. Darcy, that you have so accidentally stumbled upon our park. And what luck that the weather is turning colder. Both have provided us the perfect opportunity to invite you to our home for a drink."
Darcy's countenance frowned. He had no intention of entering their house. Surely Mr. Gardiner would be home, and he could only imagine what sort of man Mrs. Bennet’s brother would be! Likely comparable to his ill-mannered and inappropriate sister, that was doubtless. However, the invitation had been extended, and the only polite thing to do was to accept it, even if he would stay only a moment.
This would give him the opportunity to speak more with Elizabeth, and he realized with a sinking heart, that he many never have this opportunity again.
He joined the ladies, while his coachman followed them with the carriage, waiting in front of the house.
Inside, the house was warm and inviting and Mr. Gardiner greeted him warmly. Despite his preconceived notions, Darcy was actually pleasantly surprised by both the home and by Mr. Gardiner. He was a friendly man, with an elegant appearance and admirable manners, amiable and polite at the same time. The conversation started easily and moved from one subject to another. Darcy discovered he had many things in common with Mr. Gardiner, from a preference for books, to the enjoyment of hunting and fishing. The Gardiners went to every effort to ensure Mr. Darcy's comfort, ordering drinks and refreshments which were a warm and delicious contrast to the cold air outside.
During the conversation, Mr. Darcy could not help but steal glances at Elizabeth. She sat very still and upright, and offered little to the conversation. She occasionally turned her head to her sister's ear and whispered something, and Darcy had the uneasy feeling that she was whispering about him.
Elizabeth was not comfortable with Mr. Darcy being in her aunt's home. She was no fool, and she knew that Mr. Darcy had not been in that park by happenstance. What, then, had he been doing in the park? They had decided to go for a walk to cheer themselves up, and now Elizabeth found herself in the most uncomfortable, and un-cheerful of situations.
Time passed and Mr. Darcy found himself having stayed far longer than he had originally intended. He finally made his leave and upon standing, Elizabeth confronted him directly.
"Mr. Darcy, have you seen Mr. Bingley since we last spoke?"
Jane gasped, both from Elizabeth's forward demeanor, and because, she, too, had been wondering the same thing, but was a little afraid of the answer. In fact, Elizabeth had whispered several times to Jane that she should ask after whether or not Mr. Darcy had called upon Mr. Bingley, but Jane had refused Elizabeth's suggestions. It was far too bold a question to be addressed. If Mr. Darcy had information regarding Mr. Bingley, then it was his prerogative as to whether or not he would convey it to them. But now Elizabeth had asked him, plain as day. And upon Mr. Darcy's reply hinged the answer as to whether or not Mr. Bingley still had affection for her. It was almost more than Jane could take! Her heart fluttered, and her breath became short as she waited for Mr. Darcy's response.
Darcy met Elizabeth's eyes. His face showed both concern and sympathy, and Elizabeth could guess what his reply was going to be. He answered then, very softly.
"No, I have not. But I have written him and told him of your presence in London."
The room was silent as everyone waited for Mr. Darcy to tell them more.
"And?" Elizabeth forcefully asked. "What was his reply?"
Darcy let out a sigh, and looked to Jane; he rubbed his hands together, uncomfortable with the news he had to now relay.
"I have not had a reply."
His words crushed Jane, and she gulped deeply. Elizabeth's hand went to her sister's arm. Mr. Darcy was sincere, that much was clear. He honestly looked very sorry for the unfortunate news that he was forced to convey. And both Elizabeth and Jane knew that it was not Mr. Darcy's fault; that he was merely the messenger in this disturbing situation.
“Forgive me, I will leave now,” Darcy bowed to them.
"It has been an absolute pleasure having you here, today, Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Gardiner declared.
“I hope I will have the honor of seeing you again, sir,” Mr. Gardiner added.
“Likewise,” Darcy said with honesty. He truly enjoyed his time more than he had expected and he did not oppose the notion of meeting the Gardiners again. He turned to farewell Elizabeth and her sister but they seemed oblivious to him.
Elizabeth was whispering in Jane's ear, and lovingly stroking her arm. Darcy watched them in silence, until Elizabeth noticed his staring.
“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth… I wish you a good day,” he said, leaving the house with his heart strangely heavy. He felt the need to speak more with Elizabeth, to stay longer with her, but his need and his wishes had to be repressed.
The door closed behind him, so he did not hear nor see Elizabeth trying to soothe a most devastated Jane.
Chapter 4
Jane was deeply distressed after Mr. Darcy's departure. She had received confirmation, then, that Mr. Bingley did not return her affections. He knew that she was in London and had not come to call. Elizabeth attempted to comfort her sister, but Jane was keeping her emotions to herself. She was hurt and pained, but she had not, as yet, allowed herself to shed t a single tear over the matter.
"I must say," Mr. Gardiner said. "I quite liked that man, Mr. Darcy."
Mrs. Gardiner nodded in agreement. "Yes, I found him to be quite agreeable."
"He is perhaps not the friendliest
of folks," Mr. Gardiner mused. "He seemed a bit on the proud side, but not in a disturbing way."
"He is reserved, is all," Mrs. Gardiner commented. "He was extremely kind and polite to us, and he is clearly very well-educated."
Elizabeth was not surprised that her aunt and uncle thought highly of Mr. Darcy. They were often inclined to overlook someone's faults in favor of their attributes. However, perhaps there was some truth in their words. Mr. Darcy had, after all, written to Mr. Bingley, and he had been very polite during the visit. He had also been very gentle when he delivered the news about Mr. Bingley’s silence. Was it possible that she had mis-judged him?
While she held Jane’s hand in comfort, Elizabeth’s previous anger towards Mr. Darcy and his meddling ways began to shift instead to Mr. Bingley. It was clear now that Mr. Bingley had no further intentions towards Jane. He had deceived Jane, leading her to believe that his affection and admiration had been sincere.
Jane retired to her chamber and Elizabeth followed her. For a while, they stood in silence, both suffering for different reasons, until Elizabeth embraced her sister and spoke decidedly.
"Come now, Jane. We cannot simply sit here and stew. Let me find a book and I will read to you to take your mind from Mr. Bingley. He shall warrant no more of your thoughts or attentions from here on, as he is not worthy of either."
Jane nodded, understanding that Elizabeth was most upset with Mr. Bingley. And she wanted to be, too. However, she could not bring herself to be cross with him, so strong as her affections were.
"A book will do then," Jane answered. "But please, nothing of a romantic nature."
Elizabeth laughed and nodded. "Lucky for us not all books are romantic in nature! We shall choose something far more practical and substantive."
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Later that same say, Mr. Darcy and Georgiana received Colonel Fitzwilliam for dinner. Darcy had been looking forward to his cousin’s visit, as he had had quite a taxing day. The ride back home from Gracechurch Street was filled with distressing musing and the image of Elizabeth troubling his mind. A nice leisurely dinner was exactly what he wished for.
In a More Amiable Light Page 3