Dearest, Loveliest Elizabeth

by Marley Fulton

  Lifting her hand, Elizabeth was momentarily distracted as a gale wind slipped through the trees. Rain began to pelt slightly against her face when the skies opened, and water began descending upon the lake. During her strolling, Elizabeth had failed to recognize how closely she had drawn to the lake’s edge, and with the seeping earth below softening beneath her feet, she did not have time to catch herself as her boot got caught on mud, and her legs gave out from beneath her. Elizabeth turned slightly, trying to catch herself, but slipping further down the embankment toward the cool waters below.

  “Oh! Help, someone, please!” she called out as she finally slid into the water. The coolness of the water was instantly frigid upon Elizabeth’s skin, and she struggled to grasp at the land on the water’s edge. Her fingers dug into the mud slightly when she attempted to anchor herself in place.

  “Is anyone there? Help, please!” Elizabeth hollered once more. Feeling disheartened by everything that had happened, Elizabeth rested her head against the mud, her upper torso only inches from sliding into the murky waters. It is no use! There is nobody out there. I came out here all alone, and here I shall drown; all alone! She thought miserably. I never should have spoken to Jane like I did at Lady Catherine’s. I never should have agreed to Mr Wickham’s engagement, and worse yet, I never should have even gone to the Netherfield Ball. If I had not, I never would have encountered that wretched, prejudiced and arrogantly proud Mr Darcy! She thought. Then, I might not be facing perishing on the bank of the place I love most.

  No longer able to contain herself, the very thing Elizabeth had sworn would not occur happened. Tears instantly began slipping down her cheeks as she parted her lips to cry out one more time, “Please, if anyone can hear. Please, please help me!” she cried.

  ***

  Darcy had chosen to take his horse for an afternoon stroll, perplexed by the way Mr Bingley had spoken to him when he had addressed his thoughts about his engagement to Jane Bennet. He felt it best to go out to get some fresh air, and time to think. Of course, he had not imagined that by doing so he would find himself in the midst of an unexpected rainstorm that seemed to have descended from nowhere. When he rounded the corner of the trail, he swore he could almost hear the sound of a woman crying out for help. He lifted his head slightly and glanced over toward the lake; the direction the scream had come from.

  “Is someone there? Good day, I say, is someone out there?” he hollered as he brought the horse to a quick gallop. Pausing slightly, Fitzwilliam tilted his head and lifted a brow, leaning in to whisper to his horse, “Do you hear someone?” he asked. “Good day? I do not see you!” he announced.

  “I am over here!” a young woman’s voice echoed when Fitzwilliam brought the horse closer to the water’s edge.

  His eyes widened slightly as he peered down at the woman. “Miss Bennet?” he asked. The shock of seeing her; half in the water, and half on the embankment, was evident from the wild expression that now took residence upon his face.

  “Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth murmured in relief as she lifted her gaze to meet with his own.

  Darcy quickly slid off the saddle and reached forward, offering Elizabeth his hand as he looked down on her. “How did you end up in the water, Miss Bennet?” Darcy asked her with concern.

  “The rain and the wind came on suddenly. I seem to have lost my footing and slipped in the mud, but what are you doing here?” she asked as if they were settled in a dignified parlor.

  “I am visiting,” he began. “Mr. Bingley and I are both to visit. He had a more pressing purpose than I, but I have heard this is a nice place for a stroll or ride,” he admitted, with a reluctant grin on his for Elizabeth’s continued use of good manners despite her predicament.

  Elizabeth finally took Mr Darcy’s hand, and Darcy stepped back, pulling slightly as he assisted her back to stand. She released his hand quickly once safely standing before him and his horse. Then, immediately started to smooth out her muddy, soaked skirt.

  “Indeed, well, I thank you kindly for your assistance, but I believe I can manage on my own now,” Elizabeth muttered, striding past him back toward the trail. She was determined not to show any vulnerability, nor attraction to Mr Darcy, whom she wanted to think of as the stubborn, opinionated man she had once decided him to be. She certainly did not wish to show that she was quickly coming to a far different conclusion; namely, that he was quite handsome and enticing.

  Darcy tilted his head, and shook it slightly. “Miss Bennet, please!” he began, as he called out to her. “You are in no position to walk back home in such a state. Please, allow me to offer you my horse, if nothing else?” he asked, worried beyond reason that she would become ill due to her accident.

  “No, no, that is quite alright, Mr Darcy. I would not expect such a thing, and I would hate to cause you any issues with your fiancé. It would be completely inappropriate for me to ride your horse,” Elizabeth remarked, her face a vision of stubborn pride.

  Darcy perked a brow and sighed slightly. “Miss Bennet, my supposed engagement to Anne de Bourgh is never going to lead to a marriage. I would never marry her. As much as my aunt may wish it differently, I have told her that she should begin pursuing another gentleman. Anne and I will never be husband and wife. I would not have chosen her, for my heart is determined to belong to another,” he announced.

  “Be that as it may, you are still betrothed to Caroline Bingley, my sister’s future sister-in-law. I would hate to cause your reputation any harm because of me,” Elizabeth determinedly stated.

  “Miss Bennet, the only harm that will come to my reputation will be the un-removable tarnish of no longer being a gentleman. I refuse to leave you here, covered in mud, and wet in a rainstorm. You could catch your death,” Darcy retorted. “Also, you should be aware that Caroline Bingley and I are also not engaged. If you would only allow me to explain to you…I am not betrothed to anyone, Miss Bennet,” Mr Darcy stated matter-of-factly.

  Elizabeth’s eyes widened in confusion as she tilted her head slightly. “What do you mean, sir? What are you saying? You are not engaged? Why was I allowed to believe otherwise for so many months?”

  “I have not … It was not …” He seemed to struggle finding the right words to clarify a situation impossible to be explained.

  “And what are you actually doing here, Mr Darcy?”

  “I have come to visit your family,” he replied hesitantly.

  “Visit my family?” Tears of fury were blurring her eyes, and her lips became blue from cold, making hard for her to even speak. “I already know you hold my family in ill regard, and that you feel Jane is no match for your dear friend. Is there anything more?”

  “Yes, it is… much more. I have spoken unwisely and hastily, and I needed such a long while until I was able to remedy my error. And then I heard you were engaged, and I thought everything was lost. Engaged to Wickham, of all men.” His voice sounded equally unsure, and he seemed willing to meet her eyes, but incapable of holding her gaze.

  “Lost? What was lost? Yes, I have been engaged to Mr Wickham- of all people!”

  “Miss Bennet, you must reconsider your decision. I have long wanted to interfere against your union, but I did not dare, as I was repeatedly told that you are genuinely in love with him. That it was your desire to marry him. But you must know, George Wickham is not an honorable man, Miss Bennet. Or he had not been for as long as I knew him, although he was my father’s godson. I pray that he had changed and improved, for your sake. But I must warn you… you must know the truth before you enter into a lifetime commitment.”

  “There is no commitment, Mr Darcy! Your warning comes too late! I thought Mr Wickham to be an officer and a gentleman, and I trusted him to be a good husband, but I had been wrong! After barely seeing him during our engagement, today I found that he chose to break it and to elope with Victoria Brewton! And he announced to me through a letter sent to my parents! Can anyone be more foolish and more ridiculous than me? Does everyone seems justified in hu
miliating me?” she asked, abandoning the fight against tears.

  He took her hands in his. “I am so sorry… very sorry that you have been hurt. And that you suffer for him. He is not worthy of your tears…he does not deserve your affection. He would not have been a good husband for you…”

  She was surprised, but did not withdraw her hands.

  “I do not suffer… In truth, I suffer less than an engaged woman should have. And I feel … relieved…I began to suspect a long while that I made a mistake accepting George’s marriage proposal…I am just … disappointed in myself…my pride had been wounded more than my heart. And now, when I saw you …What are you doing here?”

  His face suddenly brightened, as he had escape from a dark cloud, and his shoulders straightened as freed from a heavy burned.

  “I have come to visit your family. To visit you,” he admitted.

  The astonishment left Elizabeth dumfounded.

  “Is that so, Mr Darcy?” she whispered.

  “Yes. But let us not speak further now. You look very cold, and you are in the danger of falling ill. Please, allow me to bring you home, to be safe. Anything else could be talked on later,” he begged her.

  Elizabeth took a much needed breath and glanced away. The wind caressed her cheek slightly as it drew another tendril of her hair against her skin. She had desperately wanted to hear what he considered to be the truth.

  “Very well, Mr Darcy, but I would much prefer to ride the horse sidesaddle, and have you lead it back, rather than ride alongside you. I have already had far too many instances of societal reprimanding for one day,” Elizabeth admitted, in a poor attempt to mock herself. Besides, having him near would only serve to confuse her more, which, at this moment, was entirely unacceptable.

  Mr Darcy frowned, but gave a nod. “Very well, Miss Bennet, allow me to help you up?” he asked, offering his hand to her once more.

  Elizabeth nodded briefly, slipping her hand into his, and Darcy, unable to stop himself, squeezed her hand gently as his forefinger slid across her palm. The motion was subtle, and yet Elizabeth felt her heart seem to shift suddenly from the feeling it brought. Shaking it off, she moved herself near the horse in a position to get into the saddle, and Mr Darcy stepped forward, his hands reaching to wrap around Elizabeth’s waist as he lifted her from the ground. Elizabeth sucked in a deep breath, and as odd as it was, felt wholly relieved by the sensation of Darcy’s hands on her waist, even through the damp fabric of her petticoats. It seemed so right, somehow.

  “There are you are, Miss Bennet,” Darcy remarked once Elizabeth sat sidesaddle on the horse. He tucked the reigns within his hands, and began to walk back toward Longbourn, his mind shifting to what he needed to tell Elizabeth most. But, it would simply have to wait until they were safely back at her home, and hopefully, alone.

  ***

  Darcy and Elizabeth made their way up the drive, and Mr Darcy immediately lowered Elizabeth to the ground the moment they were at the front of her home.

  The door to Longbourn House opened swiftly, and Mrs Bennet came rushing out with a surprised look plastered across her countenance. “Mr. Darcy? Lizzy?” as her eyes passed over her daughter they widened brightly. “Oh, Lizzy! What has happened? Hurry, come inside. You simply must get out of those wet clothes!” she exclaimed.

  Elizabeth glanced at Darcy briefly, and strode toward her mother. “Come along, Mr Darcy. We shall warm up with tea in the parlor.”

  “Very well, Mrs Bennet. Thank you,” Mr Darcy remarked.

  ***

  Elizabeth ascended the staircase and moved toward the parlor quickly. Already she could overhear her mother and Mr Darcy’s voices overlapping as they conversed. “I am not entirely certain of what Miss Bennet knows, or thinks, but I feel it important that I share with you all that I have never been, nor shall I ever be, engaged to Caroline Bingley,” Darcy explained.

  “Oh, such things are truly none of my affairs, Mr Darcy. We have other matters to worry about, some of them truly horrible. I am only grateful that you were able to rescue Elizabeth this afternoon,” Mrs Bennet stated.

  “Mrs. Bennet,” Darcy began as Elizabeth walked into the room.

  “Good evening,” Elizabeth interjected. Darcy’s eyes flickered across her as he began to smile slightly, causing Elizabeth’s heart to flutter dangerously.

  “Lizzy, Mr Darcy was just explaining to us how he found you at the pond,” Mrs Bennet explained.

  “Indeed, but I am most interested in hearing what he has to say about Anne de Bourgh and Caroline Bingley,” Elizabeth stated matter-of-factly.

  “Lizzy,” Mrs Bennet began as Mr Darcy interjected,

  “Mrs. Bennet, she does deserve to know the truth, and I shall be the one to give it to her.” Darcy arose and strode over toward Elizabeth. “I would like to have a moment of privacy to further explain.”

  “Perhaps, it would be acceptable to step out on the terrace, where we would remain in full view of my family, yet share some privacy,” Elizabeth offered.

  “Is that acceptable?” Mr Darcy asked of Mrs Bennet.

  Reluctantly; since she wished to listen to Mr Darcy’s explanation firsthand; Mrs Bennet agreed.

  Taking Elizabeth’s warm hand in his own, Darcy led her to the terrace, closing the doors, but still leaving them in full view of everyone. He lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. He tenderly trailed his lips against her palm as he kissed her hand, and began to speak again. “Miss Bennet, I am not engaged to any young woman, and I do not wish to be, unless that young woman is yourself,” he added.

  Elizabeth’s eyes widened as her mouth fell agape. “But I heard what Caroline Bingley told Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth argued.

  “Perhaps, that is true, but you did not hear what I told Lady Catherine or Anne myself, did you?” he asked.

  “No, but I also heard what Caroline said about her brother in relation to Jane, and…” Elizabeth began to protest, but Darcy would not oblige her, taking to a knee as he looked up at her.

  “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, since the moment that I first met you, my dearest friend thought you were the perfect young woman to become my wife, and I admit, I could not initially see it. However, now I know there is no doubt that my heart cannot stand another day without you knowing the way I feel for you. I adore your stubborn countenance and your argumentative nature. No one else can keep me mesmerized as you seem to do. Please,” his eyes never wavering from Elizabeth’s held a fondness that instantly softened her heart, “make me the happiest man in the world by agreeing to become my wife, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth,” he pleaded.

  Elizabeth lifted her gaze from his, peering into the room as she finally took notice of the members of her family present within the parlor. There was her sister, Jane, Mary, Lydia, Kitty and their parents; and to the right of Jane, sat Mr Bingley with the widest smile she had yet to see grace his visage. The sight of their happiness spurred her own, and she was ready to make the commitment.

  Elizabeth lowered her eyes as her lips twitched slightly, and she whispered; thankful that her family could not hear her confession which was meant for her beloved Darcy’s ears alone; “Since the moment I met you, Fitzwilliam Darcy, you have been the one gentleman I could not forget, though I often tried desperately to wipe you out of my mind, or to vilify you in my head. I would be delighted and grateful to become your wife, if you can forgive my trespasses.”

  Darcy arose, and pulling Elizabeth closer to him he placed a tender kiss to the side of her cheek, whispering in her ear as he did so, “Elizabeth Bennet, my vow is to make you the happiest of women that. There has never been, nor will there ever be, anything for which you must seek forgiveness from me.”

  Returning to the parlor, they announced their new engagement, setting off a loud round of exclamations.

  “Oh, yes! Yes!” Mrs Bennet squealed, “Oh, dear Lord, you have been so good to us! Thank you, Mr Darcy! Lizzy is finally going to be wed! And to Mr Darcy! Who would have thought of this? Only a d
ay after the horrible Mr Wickham’s betrayal! What a glorious moment, indeed!”

  “My dear, let us not excite ourselves too much this time,” Mr Bennet unsuccessfully attempted to calm his wife.

  “This is almost too much to believe,” Jane said. “But a happy moment, nevertheless.”

  “It shall be so very lovely!” Kitty exclaimed. “First, Jane and Mr Bingley, and then Lizzy and Mr Darcy! How very exciting!”

  “Indeed, Lizzy will make a fine bride,” Jane muttered, as she leaned in closer to Mr Bingley. “Mr. Bingley and I have decided to have a winter wedding,” she added.

  “Well, I still feel Lizzy should have a spring wedding,” Mrs Bennet stated matter-of-factly.

  Darcy smiled as he peered back at Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, what would you like?”

  Elizabeth looked around at her family members and, finding herself smiling, she shook her head slightly. “I think I want to have a spring wedding. Here, at Longbourn, with all of you,” she announced.

  Darcy smiled, lowering his hand to grasp at Elizabeth’s. “Then that is what you shall have,” he stated. Elizabeth smiled widely, inhaling a quick breath as she reveled in her newfound state of engagement to the only man she thought she could not stand being near, and yet, somehow, could not imagine being without.

  “Oh, Lizzy! Perhaps, Mr Wickham’s running away with Victoria Brewton was to your advantage! Look, how your fate, has changed,” Kitty announced.

  Elizabeth chuckled, shaking her head slightly as she considered her youngest sister’s excitement. “Indeed, Kitty, but some day you, too, shall be betrothed and eager to wed,” Elizabeth muttered. After all, her sister had been as eager for her elder sisters as Elizabeth was certain she and Jane had been for themselves.