When Mr. Darcy Met Lizzy

by Mary-Anne Seaton

  “I am afraid you have been long desiring my absence, nor have I anything to plead in excuse of my stay, but real, though unavailing concern. Would to Heaven that anything could be either said or done on my part that might offer consolation to such distress! But I will not torment you with vain wishes, which may seem purposely to ask for your thanks. This unfortunate affair will, I fear, prevent my sister's having the pleasure of seeing you at Pemberley to-day.”

  She jumped at this words that spoke of his inclination to leave her to her thoughts and hurried to reply.

  “Oh, yes. Be so kind as to apologise for us to Miss Darcy. Say that urgent business calls us home immediately. Conceal the unhappy truth as long as it is possible, I know it cannot be long.”

  “I will,” he assured her. “I can only wish and pray for a happy conclusion to this,” and with that, left the room and herself.

  The distress he saw on Elizabeth’s face was his undoing and he knew what he must do even though it was disagreeable to him. As he entered into his carriage, however, he already began his scheme on what to do.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Much could happen in the space of a month. In a month, several happenstances had been realized to make Darcy believe that a change was not one that was always premeditated. It could take over a person without much previous knowledge of its coming.

  Such was the journey which he had taken in the last fortnight. In that time, he had thought a whole lot that his head was as full as the ocean. Elizabeth’s distressed face had continued to haunt him and he could tell no lies; that it was her face which never left his imagination that prompted him to do all he did. Much to the consternation of Caroline Bingley, the understanding of his sister and silent support of Bingley; despite their not knowing this sudden business of his in London, he had left thither the next day, after the Gardiners and Elizabeth did.

  His prior knowledge of Wickham’s dealings and the intelligence he gathered about him from the hired gumshoe served him well and he knew where straight he was to go. Mrs. Younge, Georgina’s former governess who had colluded with Wickham to plan the elopement, had taken up a large house in the city and lodged travellers therein. Though his distaste for the woman was as much as he had for Wickham himself, he persevered to go to her and with some bribery, extracted Wickham’s whereabouts. His first point of business was to see the Bennet’s youngest daughter in an endeavour to persuade her to return home, but the girl would not be moved. Her love for Wickham would not be dissuaded and she hoped to be married to him without a care for when this might take place. A conference with Wickham, however, revealed that he was not in the plans of marrying her since she could afford no settlement to him. The elopement had more been her scheme than his. Darcy was disgusted with Wickham, as usual, but managed to hide his disgust with the entire affair to seek redemption for the heedless girl.

  Darcy had seen no choice but to settle the matter as discretely as could be allowed given the delicacy of the situation and then call upon the Gardiners in Grace Church Street to explain his methods to Mr. Gardiner, who explained that his wife was now leaving Longbourn, having stayed there to console her nieces.

  The man, as always, had a good head on his shoulders and immediately agreed that Wickham and his niece be married without delay upon a settlement which Darcy was quick to make to Wickham directly. They soon found out that the Wickham was in huge debts and this too, Darcy promised to discharge without fuss. The date of the wedding was fixed with himself in attendance to ensure that the rogue, Wickham, did not abscond. However, the wedding occurred without mishap and the newlyweds set for Longbourn. Only then was Darcy able to return to Pemberley. Once there, Mr. Gardiner dutifully apprised him about the newlyweds; they were one time at Longbourn for a short while before they journeyed to the North in an army as agreed by the three men: Darcy, Mr Gardiner and Wickham himself. Darcy was only too glad that the influence of the unrepentant two was now away from the family.

  His return to his home however granted him no respite from wanting to see how Elizabeth and her family fared after the mess created by the youngest daughter was effectively cleared. It was his utmost desire to see her- not to gloat over his help in that regard, for he wished not that she knew till he was in the ground and as such had extracted an oath of secrecy from the Gardiners about it; but perhaps to see how much she might have changed towards him, if at all. It was not long before he observed that he was not alone in his repine. His friend, Charles, soon began to speak of visiting Netherfield again, and not one person in the house doubted his aim. Before Darcy left for London in search of Lydia Bennet and Wickham, he had confessed his errors to his friend who, though hurt, had forgiven him his misjudgements. Darcy could only allude that it was to this confession that his friend suddenly was thinking of retiring to Netherfield once more.

  His two sisters immediately began to prevail on him not to return and thus, threatened him with their absence should he venture to disagree with them, but this so aligned with Bingley’s scheme that he banished them to Scarborough himself for the Christmas, lest they polluted Georgina’s mind in the absence of himself and her brother.

  Thus, was their travel back to Netherfield come to fruition.

  Each day, each gentleman would encourage each other to profess their love to the sisters who had so captivated their hearts. Twice, they had both dined at Longbourn with Bingley received exceedingly well by Mrs. Bennet and the later, barely extending any civility at all to Darcy. As a consequence, Bingley’s confidence of an acceptance grew especially, as Miss Bennet was wont to favour him with her increasing, though timid attentions like before. Darcy, on his part, was none too encouraged. In all the visits, he had scarcely the opportunity to talk to Elizabeth and her mother’s lack of warmth to him was a great discouragement. He reckoned that he was none too amiable in the past to win any favours within the family, but no chance was allowed for his redemption.

  Still, he wondered in the recess of his mind Elizabeth’s business in the tavern so long ago, but that was of little consequence to him now. He would have her on any terms at all.

  Bingley could not stop speaking of the prospect of his marriage to Jane, whilst Darcy despaired of his ever gaining equal happiness with the sister. However, he bestowed upon his friend all the encouragement he could afford before false claims of unexpected business affairs called him to London. The delicate truth was that he suffered in silence about his losing Elizabeth and he was afraid that his damp mood might tell on his friend, hence the need to repair to London till the proposal was made and accepted.

  There, he had all the time in the world to wish fervently for a miracle to help him along the way. It was but one month since Elizabeth left Pemberley and in that one month, a lot had changed but not his feelings for her. If only he could glean a sign that Elizabeth was partial to him, he would not hesitate to renew his proposal, but as it was, the sky was dark with no promise of a ray of sun.

  That was, until his aunt, Lady Catherine waited upon him.

  The old lady, in her usual presupposition and candour, was quick to point out the purpose of her visit. She had heard through none other than Mr. Collins that he might propose to Elizabeth and sought to dissuade him from this course. The information, no doubt was as a result of Bingley’s accepted proposal (of which his friend had written him two sides of paper long letter, two days before) and the speculation that he, the friend of the affianced might do likewise to the second sister to whom they were known to be well acquainted. Darcy smiled at the rumour, though it pained him that there would have been some truth in it, if he had enough courage to face a decline a second time. This intelligence however, was of the greatest point of passion for Lady Catherine for she spoke of it with ardour.

  “The obstinate, selfish, unfeeling girl, Elizabeth!” said his aunt peevishly. “I condescended to visit her home to instruct her not to accept your hand if you ever had the ill sense to propose to her, but she laughed in my face.”

  Darcy, wh
o only observed his aunt’s rants with the detachment of an uninterested but dutiful listener, started to attention. His aunt had visited Elizabeth? And to tell her to reject him? And Elizabeth had laughed to her face? What could this mean? Did it mean he would be accepted should he venture a second time? His heart thumped to hear what exact reply Elizabeth had given.

  “Dear aunt, pray, tell in Elizabeth’s exact words what she did say to you when you apprised her, the purpose of your visit to her,” he quickly said.

  His aunt, thinking his question was a certainty of his disdain for the scheme proceeded to inform him of her conference with Elizabeth in as an accurate term as her memory would afford her.

  “I daresay the insolence of the girl is beyond her connections and background- when I asked her to give her word in refusing you, she told me- me! That- (and here, she proceeded to imitate Elizabeth’s voice such that it was difficult for Darcy to keep his composure) “And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished- for promise make their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these.”

  Darcy needed to hear no more. In a month, a lot had changed and it seemed that of those numerous things that had changed, Elizabeth’s feelings of him were a substantial part, thereof. In the duration of their acquaintance, he fancied that he knew Elizabeth Bennet enough to know that were she averse to a proposal from him, she would have wasted no time in informing his aunt of such. Her words as told by Lady Catherine gave him hope and as soon as the Lady left his home, he called on his valet.

  His trunks were soon packed and his carriage on the way back to Netherfield. He had a fair lady to see.

  ****

  It was such time for Elizabeth as to think that if Mr. Darcy did not return to Netherfield, she might be pressed to thither to London in search of him by herself. Patiently, she had awaited his arrival, but it seemed long in coming, if at all and so direly, did she need to see him. If nothing else at all, she owed him her gratitude and apology. Her gratitude for his great help in saving her sister from a dire fate- for Mrs. Gardiner had at last told her; upon her insistence, how Darcy had willingly handled the matter in a way that satisfied all persons concerned without any of the sordid detail leaking out to the world. Her apologies were entitled to him for the abominable way which her mother had persevered to expose him to during his visits with Bingley, before he repaired to London on business. Her past behaviour to him also was in want of extreme apologies too.

  But for her happiness at Jane’s gaiety and deserving satisfaction with Bingley’s proposal, she might have considered the days in which Mr. Darcy was absent, the dullest and saddest of her life.

  Fortunately, she had no reason to travel to London in search of the man for on a bright morning, Mr. Darcy appeared at Longbourn with his friend who now visited Longbourn oftentimes, since his engagement to Jane. Elizabeth was absolute in her resolve to speak with him alone and was only thinking of such scheme to achieve this when Mr. Bingley suggested that they all went for a walk. Mrs. Bennet declined and so did Mary which left Bingley, Jane, Darcy, Elizabeth and Kitty to take up the exercise.

  Jane and Bingley soon lagged behind, while Kitty who was still in awe of Darcy bade them all walk towards Lucas Lodge for she wanted to see Maria Lucas. When she left them, Elizabeth saw her opportunity and turned to Darcy in earnest feeling.

  “Mr. Darcy, I am a very selfish creature,” thus she began most passionately, “and, for the sake of giving relief to my own feelings, care not how much I may be wounding yours. I can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness to my poor sister. Ever since I have known it, I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how gratefully I feel it. Were it known to the rest of my family, I should not have merely my own gratitude to express.”

  She saw his cheek colour and the flame of embarrassment in his eyes as he answered, “I am sorry, exceedingly sorry, that you have ever been informed of what may, in a mistaken light, have given you uneasiness. I did not think Mrs. Gardiner was so little to be trusted.”

  His statement made her hasten to vindicate her aunt.

  “You must not blame my aunt. Lydia's thoughtlessness first betrayed to me that you had been concerned in the matter; and, of course, I could not rest till I knew the particulars. Let me thank you again and again, in the name of all my family, for that generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble, and bear so many mortifications, for the sake of discovering them.”

  Darcy was now gazing upon her with an emotion in his eyes that instantly put colour in her own cheeks. She however, maintained his gaze though she had to call upon all her courage and boldness not to defy her.

  “If you will thank me,” he replied, “let it be for yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your family owes me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of you.”

  His words so swelled her heart that she was not capable of speech for a long minute. At last, her bold gaze failed her and her eyes dropped to the ground at his feet. His words echoed in her ears and so did the manner in which he said it. Gone was all the pride that she attributed to him and in its place was a gentlemanly nature that placed him high in her esteem. She wondered if the pride had ever been there at all or was only a figment of her imagination. There, she had offered her thanks and apologies and both, he was kind to accept gracefully and she could not think of a man in her acquaintance- not even the mild mannered Mr. Bingley whom she respected so much- who would have done so given their history. In her reflection, she remembered his proposal and her decline. She wondered if he would ever deem her worthy of such attentions anymore. As if he was privy to her thoughts, he suddenly spoke up:

  “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.”

  Not many words were capable of shaking Elizabeth Bennet but these uttered so feelingly by Fitzwilliam Darcy whom she had offended, abused, disrespected and doubted his dignity, humbled her immensely. Her feelings for him swelled in her heart and these emotions opened the floodgates of her heart to confess through the words of her mouth.

  “I will have you know, sir, that my sentiments of you has undergone so material a change, since we last met in Rosings as to make me regret my ever refusing you,” said she. A peek at his face showed such blooming smile on his face that her courage was revived tenfold. She then proceeded to say:

  “And if you will still have me, I will like to profess my love and admiration of your person to ask for your hand in marriage.”

  Her boldness elicited a gasp of surprise from him, but another quick peek at his face revealed that it was a pleasant one. His gaze upon her face was one which she counted herself highly fortunate to see- for it was filled with such joy that made her heart flutter.

  “Madam,” he said at last, “I do believe that you very well mean your words, for I am not a man to forgive a slight such as this if made in jest.”

  His words were said with utmost carefulness and steadiness as to make her aware of the delicacy of his heart and she grieved that she had done this to him- make him doubt her professions of love. She however, was not thwarted and proceeded to tell him in no uncertain terms that she would have him on all grounds even if he would not have her.

  He laughed heartily at this.

  “Elizabeth Bennet, I want you more than you would ever know and I a
m glad that you do not consider me abhorrent to your sight any longer,” said he.

  They walked on, without knowing in what direction. There was too much to be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects.

  Suddenly, he asked, “Only for the sake of curiosity do I ask but if you deign not to tell me, I shall never mention it again.” On her curious look, he continued, “The night I met you at the tavern...”

  She laughed at the look of mortification on his face before she could say a word in reply.

  “I had gone there to help Charlotte prove the vanity of her infatuation with a married man who vowed an annulment in progress with his wife and promised her marriage,” she explained simply.

  A smile broke across his features again, as to make him undeniably the handsomest man she had seen in her entire twenty and two years. Thinking only of his delight, she proceeded to tell him how she lured Mr. Lawrence to her attentions, invited him for a tryst in Meryton and invited Charlotte too.

  His laughter filled the side of the creek where they were. Elizabeth declared that never had she been happy as she was in that moment.

  ~***THE END***~

  THANK YOU!

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  Regards,

  Mary-Anne