Only a Heartbeat Away: Pride and Prejudice Novella

by Dixon, P. O.

  Darcy crumpled his brow and gazed at Elizabeth intently. “Please, let us speak no more of George Wickham. I would much rather we talk about more satisfying topics. You were about to confess a closely guarded account of when you first admired me.”

  “Do I have your promise to think no more of it than what it truly was?”

  “This sounds more and more intriguing.”

  “Do I have your promise, sir?”

  “Of course, you have my promise. Now, end my suspense at once.”

  “I have to say it was when I first visited your magnificent home. After studying your likeness for what seemed an hour, I supposed you were the handsomest man alive, but it was not until I walked about your magnificent grounds of Pemberley that I was convinced you must truly be something.”

  Darcy said nothing, giving Elizabeth pause. Does he suppose I am mercenary—that I indeed had manipulated circumstances to my favour in setting about a confluence of events leading to this moment?

  Elizabeth forged ahead in spite of his silence. “Convinced as I was of your goodness, I truly looked forward to the possibility of meeting you.”

  Still, he remained silent, thus increasing Elizabeth’s own suspense. “Mr. Darcy, it is your turn to say something.”

  “I was just considering that you already had an idea of who I was and even what I looked like before we ever met, and still you were able to resist my charms for as long as you did.”

  “I have been accused of professing opinions which were not always my own, merely for purposes of diversion.” Elizabeth bit her lower lip as her bout of amusement gave way to sobriety. “You will recall that you and I did not have the greatest start, not after you learned of my acquaintance with Mr. Wickham. Every indication I had of your goodness fled in response to our contentious debate, and every account I ever heard against your character was subsequently magnified. It was not until I spoke with the colonel on my last day in Kent that I began to comprehend how little I knew myself.”

  “I pray you will forgive me for not confiding the information on Wickham’s character to you. My sister thinks so highly of you, and she supposed you would think less of her should you learn of the truth of her past with the gentleman.”

  “I understand fully. Georgiana is truly blessed to have such a loyal brother.”

  “I cannot help thinking I was derelict in my duties towards her by allowing her to travel to Ramsgate with someone as disreputable as her former companion proved to be. I vowed I would never allow any harm to come to her again.”

  “It now makes perfect sense to me why you regarded me with such circumspect after I touted my acquaintance with Mr. Wickham when you and I first met.”

  Darcy simply looked at her.

  “Mr. Darcy?”

  “Forgive me, Miss Elizabeth.”

  “Why are you apologising to me, when I am in your debt?”

  “No—I was thinking of your declaration regarding my loyalty to my sister. It brought to mind just how loyal you are to your own sisters—to your family.

  “You amaze me by your courage, your strength, your love of family. It is I who should be apologising to you for the ill-considered words I spoke to you in Hunsford. I apologise for assuming you would welcome my proposal, and for compounding the offense by affirming that marriage to me meant that you subsequently would sever your ties with those who you hold dearest in the world. I came to you with every expectation of a favourable reply.

  “You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased. No one has ever spoken to me the way you did, and I respect you even more because of it. It is one of the things I admire most about you.

  “Had I truly appreciated the depth of your character, I would never have committed such an outrageous offense against you. Can you ever forgive me?”

  “After what you did for Lydia and hence my family, thereby making it possible for Mr. Bingley and Jane to find their way back to each other, you need not ask me such a question, sir.”

  “I hope you know that I would do anything for you, Miss Elizabeth. Should you ever be in need of anything at all, I shall forever be only a heartbeat away, willing and able to do your bidding.”

  How she now realised what a material change her feelings towards him had undergone. Did she dare hope? Would a man, who had been refused once, risk a second refusal from the same woman?

  “Mr. Darcy, I need—” Elizabeth stopped short of voicing her most heartfelt desire aloud. I need you to ask me again to be your wife. Please ask me again.

  He moved directly in front of her, as if wanting her to have eyes only for him. “What is it?” Darcy took Elizabeth by the hand. Unable to stop himself, he turned her hand over and kissed her palm affectionately. “I am in your power.”

  Elizabeth gasped. Her fingers trembling within his grip, tears welled in her eyes. His tender pronouncements touched every chord in her heart. Still, her words did not come.

  “Miss Elizabeth, as I have said, I believe I have admired you since I first beheld you at the Thurston’s ball. I am bewitched, body and soul.” He cupped her hand inside both of his. “Is there a chance in this world you can be happy with me? Love me? For I have to tell you that I love you. I love you.”

  Releasing her hand, he traced his finger along her chin. “I cannot bear the thought of not having you.” He placed his hands on her arms and drew her a bit closer to bestow a light kiss upon her temple. “I never wish to be parted from you from this day forward. Please do me the honour of accepting my hand in marriage. Say you will be mine.”

  Chapter 17 ~ Take No Leave

  Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth, Mary and Kitty were sitting together in the drawing room when the sound of an approaching carriage suddenly drew their attention to the window. How surprised they were, for it was much too early in the morning for visitors. Besides, the equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. The horses were post, and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who preceded it, were familiar to them. All conjectures of the identity of their impending guest were satisfied when the door flew open, and their visitor entered.

  Lady Catherine de Bourgh!

  Alas, Mrs. Bennet’s astonishment was nothing in comparison to Elizabeth’s anguish. She knew circumstances of shared acquaintances must certainly put her in Lady Catherine’s way again, but she had not expected it to be so soon and at Longbourn of all places.

  Her ladyship had entered the room with an air more ungracious than usual, made no other reply to Elizabeth’s salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned the uninvited guest’s name to her mother on her ladyship’s entrance, though no request of introduction had been made.

  Flattered by having a guest of such high importance, Mrs. Bennet received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting for a moment in silence, Lady Catherine spoke rather stiffly to Elizabeth. “I hope you are well, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your mother.”

  “Yes, your ladyship.”

  She aimed her walking stick at poor Kitty. “And that I suppose is one of your sisters.”

  “Yes, your ladyship,” said Elizabeth. What on earth is she doing here?

  Delighted to speak to Lady Catherine, Mrs. Bennet readily joined the conversation. “She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all is lately married, and my eldest is soon to be married as well to a charming young gentleman whose family hails from the North. You may have heard of him. His name is Mr. Bingley—Mr. Charles Bingley.”

  Her ladyship was taken aback. “I know full well about your eldest daughter’s plan. It is precisely that news, which brings me here.”

  “Oh—how kind of you to have come all this way to offer your congratulations. I suppose you must have been passing through these parts and meant to extend this courtesy from having met my daughter, Lizzy. May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins well?”

&nb
sp; “Indeed, they were perfectly well when I saw them the night before last.”

  Elizabeth now expected she would produce a letter for her from Charlotte, for it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no letter appeared. How puzzling.

  Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some refreshment, but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, declined eating anything. “Mrs. Bennet, if you and your other daughters will pardon me, I should like very much to speak with Miss Elizabeth in private.”

  Mrs. Bennet readily acceded to her ladyship’s request and quickly ushered all her daughters save Elizabeth out the door.

  Her ladyship stood and walked about the room, looking here and there and everywhere. Her inspection completed, she turned to Elizabeth. “I suppose this is a decent room. However, the prospect from that window over there is nothing in comparison with the view from the parlour at Rosings.”

  “I do not suppose it is.” Elizabeth walked closer to her guest. “Excuse me, your ladyship, but might I ask why you are here? I had rather supposed your calling here was to convey a letter from the Collinses while passing through Meryton.”

  “Do I look like a letter carrier?”

  How rude and shocking was her response. Elizabeth took a step back. “No, your ladyship.” How could I ever have thought her nephew like her?

  Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes. “You can be at no loss, young woman, to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I have come.”

  Elizabeth looked at the guest with unaffected astonishment. “Indeed, you are mistaken. I am completely unable to account for the honour of seeing you here; especially as you have made it clear your business does not involve the Collinses.”

  “You ought to know that I am not to be trifled with. You may choose to be insincere, but you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in such a moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it.”

  She pursed her lips in disgust. “A report of a most alarming nature reached me mere days ago. I was told your sister will be most advantageously married. What is more, I was told that you likely would be soon afterwards united to my nephew, Mr. Darcy.

  “Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place to make my sentiments known to you.”

  Her voice filled with dismay, Elizabeth said, “If you believed it impossible to be true, I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far.”

  Lady Catherine huffed. “I came to insist upon having such a report contradicted.”

  “If such a report is indeed in existence, then your coming to Longbourn and confronting me will be rather a confirmation of it, will it not?”

  “If!” Her ladyship’s nostrils flared. “Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by you?”

  The door of the parlour swung open, and Mrs. Bennet raced into the room. “What is the meaning of this? Your ladyship, with all due respect, why on earth are you speaking to my daughter in this manner?” Bestowing her disapprobation equally, she turned to her daughter. “What is the meaning of this disturbance? Pray, Lizzy, what have you said to our esteemed guest?”

  “Rather than be forthcoming, this young woman dares to stand here and plead ignorance to the rumour that she is to be married to my nephew, Mr. Darcy, going so far as to deny being the chief architect of such a scandalous falsehood.”

  Mrs. Bennet raised her hand to her chest. “If you will allow me to speak for my daughter, I will say categorically that she has no knowledge of such a rumour. If such a rumour does exist, it is most certainly a falsehood. Why she can barely tolerate your nephew! Just yesterday, I forced her to walk with him to Oakham Mount so Mr. Bingley and my Jane could have some privacy.”

  Lady Catherine disregarded Mrs. Bennet and spoke to Elizabeth. “And can you likewise declare there is no foundation for it?”

  “Lizzy, you need not feel compelled to give credence to this nonsense!”

  “This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?”

  Mrs. Bennet placed her hands on her hips in defiance. “As I have declared, your ladyship, it is impossible! Were it not for your nephew’s stewardship of his friend, I dare say he would never come within a mile of Longbourn. Do you know that when he first arrived in Hertfordshire all those months ago and condescended to attend the assembly in Meryton, he refused to dance with anyone but the ladies in his party? Mr. Bingley danced with many of the young ladies. He danced with my Jane twice. I am certain he would have danced with Lizzy too, had she been in attendance. That is just the sort of gentleman he is. But not Mr. Darcy! He fancied himself quite above his company, I do not mind saying.”

  Lady Catherine stiffened her neck. “That is precisely as it ought to be. My nephew must not give consequence to those beneath his sphere—not while he retains the use of his reason. But your daughter’s arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. She may have drawn him in.”

  Elizabeth meant to say something in her own defence, but her mother’s ire would not be repressed.

  “I will have you know your nephew is the last man in the world who might garner my daughter’s attentions.”

  Seizing a lull in the debate, Elizabeth said, “Mamma—”

  Mrs. Bennet held up her hand. “I shall handle this, Lizzy.”

  “Mrs. Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this spoken against my nephew. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world. As such, I am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”

  “But you are not entitled to enter my home with your ridiculous accusations as regards my daughter.”

  “Let me be rightly understood, madam. This match, to which your daughter has the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?”

  “I say your daughter is welcome to the dour man. Why, no one in Hertfordshire can stand him and certainly not my Lizzy!”

  As Elizabeth fought to balance her embarrassment over her mother’s proclamation with her outrage against Lady Catherine, Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy stormed into the room.

  “What is this disturbance? I heard voices all the way down the hall?” Looking about, the perturbed patriarch said, “Ah, we have a guest.”

  Open-mouthed, her ladyship cried, “Nephew, I thought you were in London! What on earth are you doing here with these people?”

  Darcy crossed his arms and glared at his aunt. “The better question is what are you doing here? I pray you have not made a spectacle of yourself in front of my future bride.”

  Mrs. Bennet’s grew wide-eyed. Her jaw dropped. “Lizzy?”

  Elizabeth walked over to Darcy and accepted his outstretched hand. “That is what I have been trying to tell you, Mamma. Mr. Darcy and I are engaged to be married.”

  While Mrs. Bennet attempted to gather her thoughts, Lady Catherine objected. “This is not to be borne. Unhand my nephew, you insolent woman. Darcy, what is the meaning of this?”

  Darcy raised Elizabeth’s hand to his lips. “Miss Elizabeth has made me the happiest man in the world.”

  Her ladyship approached her dearest nephew and stopped short of tearing Elizabeth’s hand from his. Her voice brokered a measure of outrage tempered by desperation. “What of your engagement to Anne? From your infancy, you have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of your mother as well as mine. What has become of you, Nephew? Have you not heard me say you were destined for my daughter?”

  “I have heard it repeatedly. But what is that to me? The two of you exercised the full extent of your power in conjecturing the marriage. Its completion depended on others. I am neither by honour nor inclination confined to my cousin. I have made my choice
. I have asked Miss Elizabeth to be my bride, and she has agreed. You must learn to accept it.”

  “I shall never accept it! Honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbids it.” She glared at Elizabeth. “Do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace. Your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “These are heavy misfortunes, but the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.”

  “Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you in my home? Is nothing due to me on that score? Understand me, Miss Bennet; I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose. I will not be dissuaded from it. I am not in the habit of brooking disappointment.”

  “That will make your ladyship’s present situation more pitiable, but it will have no effect on me.”

  “Silence! I will not be interrupted. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are of the same sphere—descended, on the maternal side, from the same noble line. Their fathers are from respectable, honourable, and ancient—though untitled—families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid.

  “Are they to be divided by the upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune? Is this to be endured?” Her ladyship drew a sharp breath. “Do you not recall that I mentioned to you at Rosings, Miss Bennet, that you would be well advised not to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up? You know nothing of my nephew’s world.”

  Elizabeth jutted her chin. “In marrying your nephew, I am not quitting my sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter.”

  “True. You are a gentleman’s daughter. But what of your mother—who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine I am ignorant of their condition.”