by Kay Bea
“You will recall our conversation concerning your behaviour this past autumn?” She winced as she saw embarrassment flash across his face. He nodded.
“Well, sir, you hardly left a better impression on the neighbourhood than on myself. After your insult at the assembly, I found solace in laughing at the arrogance you had displayed and hesitated not in recounting the story to my dear friend. Of course, our mothers overheard, and from there the tale was soon spread throughout the town.”
Darcy’s face reddened. “I cannot begrudge that you would relate your embarrassment to a friend. But I do not see how my reputation could become so sullied by one careless remark.”
“It was not only the events of that evening that set the town against you. You came to the neighbourhood as the guest of a new resident. Expectations were high that you, Mr Hurst, and Mr Bingley might add to our limited society. Instead, whilst Mr Bingley was everything amiable and pleasing, you rarely spoke to anyone beyond your own party, insulted Sir William in his own home, and committed the capital offense of offending my mother, who is perhaps the biggest gossip in all of Meryton, if not Hertfordshire. I am now aware, of course, that you are naturally reticent. And I have seen something of the society to which you are accustomed and can therefore see past the appearance of your behaviour. My neighbours do not have that privilege. I am sorry to cause you pain.”
Darcy’s voice was full of chagrin. “No, no. As you said, it is of my own making. I had not considered how my actions would appear. In truth, I was not concerned. I was too much engaged with thoughts of Georgiana and distancing myself from a certain enchantress to give proper consideration to my friend’s new neighbours.” Elizabeth blushed at this reminder of the duration of his affections and was unable to make a response.
They were silent again for some time before Darcy asked, “My efforts come too late to save you from an unwanted journey. How might I win the good opinion of the people of Meryton?”
Elizabeth laughed. “I suppose you should at least attempt to do so if you are to visit your friend after his marriage. It will not do for Bingley’s guests to go about causing offense. It will be difficult to manage during your brief visits, but I have confidence in you, Mr Darcy. You might begin even today.”
“How so?”
“Oh, my mother is certain to invite Mr Bingley to stay for dinner. When she does, she will include you and Miss Darcy as well. You may then accept not with mere civility but with at least the appearance of pleasure. During the meal you will have opportunity to practice your conversation skills as my mother alternates among her raptures over Jane’s wedding, her worries regarding the wedding breakfast, the joy of Lydia’s visit to Brighton, and likely, her lamentations of how I shall certainly ruin everything.”
“With such inducement before me, I am no longer certain I wish to gain anyone’s good opinion. From your description I would do better to join Richard in France than to face the battlefield of your mother’s table.”
Elizabeth laughed at the picture this presented. “Why, Mr Darcy, I believe you have made a joke! I am all astonishment. In truth, by suffering through such a spectacle, you will win the notice of my father, and he might ease your way with the other gentlemen in the area when you next return.”
“At least now I will not enter the fray unarmed and will be sure to compliment your mother’s arrangements as well as the excellence of her cook.”
Elizabeth and Darcy were soon joined by their sisters and Bingley. Kitty asked, “Is it safe, do you think, to enter the house? Mary and Georgiana wish to practice a duet, and I have promised to show them my newest drawings.”
Jane said, “I believe we may return to the house, but I wish to warn our guests that our mother and sister are likely to revisit the topic of Brighton many times this evening.”
Bingley reassured his betrothed: “Do not worry, dearest. Tomorrow we are to be wed, and there is nothing which can overshadow my happiness in that knowledge!”
“Miss Bennet, we each of us have experienced family quarrels and will not seek to cast aspersions.” Darcy’s speech was awkward, but genuine, and had the desired effect.
The remainder of the day progressed much as Elizabeth had expected, including a painfully humiliating meal during which her mother alternated between praising Jane’s beauty in capturing Bingley, and scolding Elizabeth both for ruining Lydia’s happiness and for refusing Mr Collins. Elizabeth could not fault the look of genuine relief on Darcy’s face when the evening at last drew to a close, and he was able to leave with his sister. As Elizabeth walked with their guests to the carriage, Jane and Bingley dawdled behind for a private moment.
“I am prodigiously proud of you, Mr Darcy!” Elizabeth said after he handed his sister in.
“Have I earned a promotion then?”
“You have. I believe you have attained the rank of Captain of Conversation! You shall soon be renowned for your skills at navigating the treacherous waters of dinner time gossip.”
He made an exaggerated bow, and Miss Darcy laughed through the open door. “You should not encourage him. Such praise will go to his head!”
“We would not want that! Though perhaps we need not worry about creating excessive pride in your brother.” This was said with an arch smile and a lightness that dared him to take offense— which of course he did not.
Darcy only shook his head at her impertinence and said, “Miss Elizabeth, are you still in the habit of walking out in the morning?”
Elizabeth, hoping more than believing she understood his intent, answered quickly. “I am. Though tomorrow I shall have to limit myself to the grounds of Longbourn. If I should disappear before my sister’s wedding, there would be no forgiveness coming from my mother!”
“Nor from your sister,” Jane said as she and Bingley rejoined the party.
“Oh, but your grounds are so beautiful, I cannot think it a great sacrifice to stay near your home,” Miss Darcy interjected.
“Indeed, it is not. There is a stream which runs the length of the northern most edge of the grounds that I find peaceful at an early hour.”
“You must visit it tomorrow then,” Miss Darcy said.
“I shall have to go early for it would not do for me to be absent when the household awakes.”
Later that evening, after the rest of the household was silent, Jane and Elizabeth lay side by side. Elizabeth, acutely aware it was the last evening they would spend in such an attitude, pondered recent events. In the past weeks, she had declined a marriage proposal, seen her sister’s fondest wish granted, discovered she did not know herself as well has she had thought, and fallen in love. It hardly seemed possible that she should love the man whose proposal she had so recently rejected. It seemed even less likely that he should still love her. “I shall miss you, Jane. I shall miss this. We have shared these night-time conferences for as long as I can remember.”
“I shall miss you as well, dearest. For while I have no doubt Mr Bingley will be an excellent husband, he will make a dreadful sister!”
“But perhaps a better bed mate?” Elizabeth asked, and both girls giggled.
“I should hope so.”
“I am thankful you will not be far away. But do not fear, I will not make a nuisance of myself by arriving every day uninvited.”
“Only every other day then?”
“You have caught me out! Now I shall have to amend my scheme and come only once per week, and then when I am least expected.”
“I wish to speak seriously with you for a moment, Lizzy. I fear things at Longbourn will be difficult for you once you return from Brighton. Though we had all hoped that my marriage to Mr Bingley would soothe Mama’s nerves, it is clear that has not been the case. I do not understand why she is still angry with you, but I fear when she no longer has my wedding or Lydia’s flirtations with the militia to occupy her mind, she will return to the subject of your many perceived failings.”
“You must not worry yourself. I have ever been the subject of ou
r mother’s many complaints, and I did not anticipate a change with your marriage. I shall manage as I always have. Besides, if he was not frightened away by our family this evening, I believe that Mr Darcy will renew his attentions when I return from Brighton. So perhaps I will not be long at home.”
“Have you come to an understanding?”
“Not yet. But I have reason to hope we will have such a conversation tomorrow,” Elizabeth confided.
Jane turned to face her sister. “He is a good man, and no matter how you attempted to pretend otherwise, I could see how his absence affected you these past weeks.”
“I did miss him. I missed him more than I can say. You will think me most improper! When he arrived today with Miss Darcy and Charles, I had the strongest desire to throw myself in his arms and beg him to take me away from this place!”
Jane pretended to be affronted. “Not until after my wedding! For I would never forgive you!” The sisters laughed. “Of course, I do not think you improper. Have I not been telling you these many weeks that you are in love with him? And I cannot count the times I have considered asking Charles if we might elope and have done with it!”
“I would never have thought it of you, but I am glad to know I am not alone in my thoughts.”
“No, you are not. Charles and I have been speaking of our return to Netherfield. We have agreed that regardless of whether we remain there or purchase an estate elsewhere, we would like to invite you to live with us until such a time as you are married.”
Elizabeth was stunned at her sister’s generosity. “Surely, you do not wish to begin your marriage with a sister lingering about!”
“Is that what you think of marrying Mr Darcy? That you would not wish to have Miss Darcy lingering about?”
“She is only sixteen. It is hardly the same.”
“It is precisely the same. She is Mr Darcy’s dearest sister. And you are mine. If Mr Darcy does renew his addresses when you return from Brighton, do you not think it would be more peaceably done from Netherfield?”
“Jane, I…” Elizabeth started, but Jane could hear the reluctance in her sister’s voice and pounced.
“I shall tickle you until you agree!” And so she did.
Several minutes later, the pair lay gasping for breath. “I surrender, Jane. I surrender. When I return from Brighton, I shall take up residence with you and Bingley. Wherever that may be.”
From their conversation the night before, Darcy surmised his beloved Elizabeth would be at the place indicated close to dawn. Therefore, he rose early to allow himself ample time to dress without his man, ready his horse, and ride to Longbourn. In fact, he rose too early and found himself picking his way along the stream in the grey, predawn light. How could it be possible after the cruel words of his proposal that she might forgive him in so short a time? Could she yet love him? How would he face her at Bingley’s wedding if she once again rejected his suit?
When she at last stepped into a clearing near the bank, he had the unexpected opportunity to engage in the simple pleasure of observing her for several moments. She reached to remove her bonnet, then her fingers hesitated, and she settled instead for playing with the ribbons trailing from its bow. Darcy found himself oddly disappointed in her choice. He would have liked to watch as the earliest rays of sun reflected on her hair. She moved closer to the water’s edge and appeared to be contemplating something of great importance. He watched as she stepped close to the bank, glanced at the water, then gave the barest lift to her skirts as if eyeing her boots. The lady then gave a great sigh and stepped back to sit on a nearby log instead.
“I should not think you would wish to wade this early in the season. Would the water not be too cold even for a naiad?”
“Do you say then that I am a nymph, Mr Darcy?” Elizabeth smiled.
“Were they not the beauties who presided over streams?”
“You have made me a pretty compliment. But do not worry, my vanity is properly checked, and I shall not come to think too highly of myself as a result.”
“It is good then that I think highly enough of you for both of us,” he said as he stepped nearer. “Good morning.”
“I am pleased to see you here this morning, Mr Darcy.”
“Did you think I would not come?”
“I hoped you would. If you had not…well, it would not be the first time we misunderstood one another.”
“I confess I shared some of your concerns.” He had removed his hat and now stood fidgeting with it as he wished to have his hands free but did not care to place the thing back on his head.
Elizabeth spared him the decision. “Perhaps,” she said, taking the hat from his hands, “we might spare your hat further distress by placing it on this log.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.” Having freed his hands, Darcy no longer knew what to do with them.
“Did you have something particular to discuss this morning, Mr Darcy? Or do you wish to intimidate me?”
Darcy smiled at her reference to their time in Kent and replied in kind. “Well said, Miss Elizabeth, but you cannot fool me. For I well recall your courage rises with every attempt to intimidate you.”
The tension broken between them, Elizabeth laughed. “You have caught me out, sir. But truly, you do look severe this morning. Were I not of such a strong constitution, I might be frightened.”
“My apologies. I meant to do no such thing. In fact, I find my own courage threatening to fail me.”
“Surely what you have to say cannot be as terrible as all that?”
“No. Or at least, I hope it is not.” Darcy moved his hands to his sides and continued. “In truth, I did have something particular to discuss this morning. You see, I had hoped to use the weeks leading up to Bingley’s wedding to garner the approval of you and your family. However, it seems circumstance conspired against me and, rather than weeks, I had what amounted to a few hours to accomplish what proved to be a much more difficult task than I had initially imagined.”
“It is true we have been most unfortunate in that regard. What will you do now?”
“I shall travel to London after the wedding breakfast and remain until Bingley returns to Netherfield. I shall then return to Hertfordshire for some weeks before travelling to Pemberley to greet your aunt and uncle in July.”
“A sensible plan. I regret that I shall not be travelling with them. I was looking forward to seeing your fabled estate,” Elizabeth said with all appearance of calm.
“I should like to think of your visit as delayed.”
“You are optimistic.”
“I am hopeful.” He took one of her gloved hands in his own. “Miss Elizabeth, after your return from Brighton, if I am in the neighbourhood, I wonder, would my addresses be welcome?”
“And if you are not in the neighbourhood, sir? Should I then not welcome your addresses? Or shall I welcome them from afar?”
“You are impossible!” Darcy replied in an equally teasing tone. “When you return from Brighton, would my addresses to you be welcome?”
The dazzling smile gracing Elizabeth’s face was answer enough, but she did not leave him any doubt. “Aye. They would be welcome, sir. Very welcome.”
“Thank you.” He wiped a hand across his face. “Those words seem woefully inadequate, but I can think of no others.”
“Will you spend your weeks in Hertfordshire courting my family then?”
It was Darcy’s turn to laugh. “Now you have caught me out, Miss Elizabeth. I confess I wish to win your hand, and I mean to gain the assistance of your family in my attempt.”
“’Tis fortunate, then, that I am predisposed to favour your efforts, else I might take offense at such underhanded tactics.”
“I am glad to hear it. It will make the effort all the more rewarding.” Darcy could not look away from the sparkle in Elizabeth’s eyes. He knew he would never be content until he had the right to see those eyes on first waking every morning. “The sun is nearly fully risen. We should go.”
“We should. For you are no doubt expected at Netherfield, and I would not risk a moment of Jane’s happiness this day. It will not do to unnecessarily excite my mother’s nerves.”
“Then I bid you farewell. I will see you at the church, Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth gave his hand a gentle squeeze and turned away. She entered the house as quietly as she had departed and was relieved to discover her absence had gone entirely unnoticed. Jane woke only when Elizabeth roused her. They were beginning their morning toilette when Mrs Bennet entered. “Oh good, you are already awake. I shall send Sarah to you immediately. Lizzy, you must not think of walking out today for I will not have you ruining Jane’s wedding!”
“Yes, Mama,” Elizabeth said as she exchanged a look with Jane.
“And you are not to monopolise Sarah’s time. She will be far too busy with your sisters to devote any time to your wild hair. Surely a simple braid will do. No one will be looking at you today. And do not tarry, for I am certain Jane shall need your help. Oh, how I wish your aunt Gardiner had come! She would decide to be absent when she is sorely needed!” When the Gardiners had sent their note saying they would not be able to attend due to Mr Gardiner’s business, Mrs Bennet was certain it was a deliberate slight to her daughter.
Elizabeth did not comment on her mother’s concerns and said only, “Yes, Mama.”
“Do not take that tone with me, Miss Lizzy! I shall see you downstairs in two hours, not a moment later; and Jane dear, you will be radiant, I am sure.” With that, Mrs Bennet left the room in a mass of swirling skirts.
Elizabeth turned to face Jane and smiled. “When my turn comes to marry, I do not believe I will follow your example. I had much prefer to elope!”
“Absolutely not! You will endure all the madness of a wedding planned by Mama. If I was not allowed to elope, you shall certainly not be.”
Mary and Kitty entered then. “Who is eloping?” Kitty asked from the doorway.
“No one!” Jane and Elizabeth answered together, then laughed.
“Where is Lydia?” Jane asked.