by APRIL FLOYD
Again she allowed her eyes to rest upon his handwriting before opening the missive. She dearly loved her family, even her sisters with their constant arguments over ribbons and redcoats. But the pang of loneliness for her father’s company grew sharp in her breast.
Brushing away a silly tear, she opened the paper and smoothed it across her lap. Mr. Bennet wished for her to return to Longbourn as soon as she might and perhaps persuade Jane and Bingley to accompany her.
Her cousin, Mr. Collins, had visited once more and her father was relieved to know the man would return to his home soon. But he had come for an answer and would not be delayed.
Elizabeth sat dejected in the agreeable rays of the sun as it slipped lower in the sky. The time had come for her to face the trouble her refusal would surely bring.
It was just as well, she supposed, for Mr. Darcy and his mother would be gone to London for a time. Still, she wished she were going to London with the Darcy family and reminded herself that mother and son had need of one another at the moment, to settle their grief and begin to build a life without Georgiana Darcy.
She returned to her letter and her heart lifted at the idea of sitting in her father’s study once more. Certainly her mother would be quite angry with her refusal to marry, but she could endure that. She could not endure a life as the parson’s wife.
Her mind settled despite the dread in her heart at what she must do, Elizabeth looked ahead to her future in Derbyshire. She would stay in Hertfordshire but a few weeks and perhaps she and the Bingleys might meet the Darcys in London for the trip home to Brambling.
* * *
Inside Pemberley, Mr. Darcy sat with his mother admiring the twinkle in her eyes. He’d feared he might lose her after Georgie’s death, but now he believed she might live to see her grandchildren roam the halls of this great house.
And he knew he wished for those children to be had with a woman he loved with all his heart. At this thought, the return of joy to Pemberley’s halls, he leaned across to his mother and kissed her on the cheek.
“Oh William, you do so know how to make your mother feel special, but I know there is a conversation that must be had.”
He was not surprised at his mother’s frank and direct approach. She had been thus since he was a young boy. While his father was benevolent and doted upon his only son, Lady Anne required truth and virtue from him no matter the situation. As a young boy, he had not understood but now was grateful for her firm hand.
“Mother, this conversation could only be about Miss Bennet.”
Lady Anne patted her son’s hand. “There is no doubt of it William, for I have seen the stolen glances when she studies your profile and your eyes. The young lady feels as you do, I am certain. Would that we could take her to London with us.”
Mr. Darcy stared at his mother as happiness conquered his doubts. “I would hope Miss Bennet might someday find me appealing, but I fear our first impressions were not the best. I foolishly insulted her at an assembly in Meryton. After all, I must say, it seems we have found common ground where I would least expect it.”
Lady Anne glanced to the window as Elizabeth’s shadow fell across the panes and clasped her hands. “How I wish that letter from London had been delayed. I think in a few more weeks, Miss Elizabeth might be prevailed upon to marry you in spite of your insult given in a moment’s haste.”
Mr. Darcy laughed at his mother’s optimism but in his heart he hoped she was correct. He meant to do all in his power to show Elizabeth the best of himself and win her heart.
Elizabeth entered the parlor and smiled at the two of them, so alike in their features. “I have news, Lady Anne. Father has requested my return to Longbourn. I shall visit him whilst you are in Town. Perhaps we might meet in London before we return to Derbyshire?”
Lady Anne rose to take Elizabeth’s arm. “I was just advising my son we ought go to Hertfordshire after his business is finished in Town. I know he wishes to see the countryside again and I would love to visit Netherfield Park while the Bingleys still hold the lease.”
* * *
Jane returned to Pemberley after breakfast several days later to see Elizabeth home to Brambling Hall before they left for Longbourn.
Servants bustled about loading the carriage the Darcys would take to London and Jane hurried her pace to see Lady Anne for more than the brief moment at the carriage as the Darcys departed Pemberley.
Elizabeth stood in the entry with Mr. Darcy when Jane stepped inside. She was not surprised to find them alone, but Elizabeth moved away from Mr. Darcy’s side at the sound of her sister’s voice.
“Lizzy, where is Lady Anne? I would love to see her again before she leaves.”
Mr. Darcy smiled at Jane and went to stand beside her. “Mother will be down any moment. She returned to her rooms for a wrap in case the weather turns.”
Jane glanced at Elizabeth knowing the woman had likely left them alone for the purpose of a private farewell. Her maid would have gone quickly to her rooms had she a need.
Mr. Darcy’s mother must approve of a match between her son and Elizabeth to afford them their moment. Jane was pleased at the thought but she knew there was the permission of their father to be sought and Elizabeth’s refusal of their cousin’s offer of marriage.
Pemberley’s windows were shuttered and the maids busy in the downstairs rooms covering the furniture for the months the family would be away. Brambling Hall would soon be under the same transformation and Jane beckoned Lizzy to come stand with her.
Lady Anne descended the stairs then with her maid at her side. She smiled warmly at the sight of the sisters awaiting her departure. “My dear Mrs. Bingley, how lovely you have come to see us off to London. As much as I enjoy the idea of Town, I am excited for the time William and I shall arrive in Hertfordshire.”
Jane nodded and accepted the woman’s embrace. “You must stay with us at Netherfield, Lady Anne. I shall have your rooms made ready if you will write to me from London of your plans.”
Mr. Darcy waited until his mother had embraced Elizabeth before he took her arm and the party stepped outside. He addressed Jane to keep himself from kissing Elizabeth Bennet, so did his mind wish he might.
“Mother and I would be happy to accept your hospitality, and I daresay Bingley will demand it. Netherfield is a lovely estate, but I am pleased to have you as close neighbors at Brambling Hall.”
He turned his gaze to Elizabeth, the connection between them obvious to all watching. Jane wondered about their conversation when she had interrupted them in the entry earlier and knew Elizabeth would tell her of it soon enough.
She held her sister’s hand as Mr. Darcy helped his mother into the carriage. Elizabeth waved to Lady Anne as the conveyance moved slowly away from Pemberley. She turned to Jane, willing her unshed tears away.
Jane embraced her before leading her slowly up the hill by the lake. “I do wonder why Papa has sent for you Lizzy. Surely nothing terrible has happened or he would have said.”
Elizabeth stopped to pick the wildflowers on the edge of the lake, careful with her balance, and stood offering her sister a small bouquet. “He is likely lonesome Jane. You recall he and I are quite close and the other girls vex him at every turn. It will be lovely to stay at Netherfield Park and perhaps throw a ball while we are there. That would certainly suit Lydia and Kitty and their redcoats.”
Jane laughed. “I imagine that would be a bit of fun, to watch them with the young officers. Certainly it improves mother’s nerves to see them so entertained.”
“Shall we leave on the morrow? Has Charles agreed?”
Jane switched the bouquet to her other hand and nodded at Lizzy. “He has. I admit he would rather stay here but with Darcy away it is easier for him to be persuaded. We shall only stay but a few weeks at the most. I dare say we shall all be eager to return to the peace of Brambling Hall.”
Lizzy sighed as they lost sight of the Darcy equipage. Her heart longed to be sitting beside him on the way to
London but she could not deny she wished to leave for Longbourn as soon as they might. She would settle the business with Mr. Collins and return to find whether Mr. Darcy continued his efforts to win her heart.
“Jane, you know of the trouble that will come once we are home. Papa wrote that Mr. Collins had returned for my answer and earlier, in the entryway, Mr. Darcy apologized again for his insult at our first meeting. I dare not hope, but I think he wishes to know me better.”
Elizabeth did not wait for her sister to make an answer to her confession but increased her pace, calling for Jane to hurry. The sooner the maids packed their trunks the sooner they would be in Hertfordshire and the sooner she would be free to accept Mr. Darcy’s attentions.
Elizabeth smiled to think of her life now. Moving to Derbyshire with Jane and Charles had proven to be the beginning of a new adventure, perhaps one that would include Mr. Darcy.
* * *
William Collins left Longbourn that same morning with hopes of returning in a few weeks’ time to secure his cousin’s hand. Only Mrs. Bennet walked with him to the chaise awaiting his departure near the front door of Longbourn.
Mr. Bennet and his younger daughters were happy the man was leaving and did not wish to suffer his company a moment longer than necessary. Mary watched from the door, for she alone would miss his readings and lectures.
7
By the time the Bingley carriage arrived at Netherfield, Elizabeth was weary from their journey. Traveling months ago to Brambling Hall to live with the Bingleys had not seemed as arduous as the return trip to Hertfordshire and she thought it must be the excitement she felt at that time.
“Shall we send word to Longbourn of our arrival?” Jane asked Bingley as he helped her from the carriage.
Charles Bingley nodded and instructed the footman to send word once they were unpacked and settled.
Elizabeth stepped down from the carriage, happy to be free of the conveyance at last. Netherfield was as lovely she remembered and she left her family to walk about the garden. Jane laughed and entered Netherfield with Charles. “She is happy to be home, I believe, or perhaps only to be free of the carriage at last.”
Elizabeth wandered away from Netherfield after only half an hour in the gardens and retraced her favorite paths before finding herself in the lane outside Longbourn.
She would share the news of her life at Brambling Hall, save perhaps her tumble into the lake at Pemberley and her friendship with Lady Anne, and sit with her father in the study. Her sisters would demand to know of each and every room of Jane’s new home.
She opened the front door of Longbourn quietly and listened. Lydia and Kitty were arguing upstairs and the effort of Mary’s hands upon the pianoforte drifted from the parlor. Mrs. Bennet and Hill stood at the parlor door surprised at the sight of Elizabeth standing in the doorway.
“Why Lizzy, you’ve come home. Where is Jane?”
Elizabeth stepped inside and closed the door. “She is at Netherfield as we only arrived an hour ago, mother. A footman should be here soon with the news. I suppose I could have saved him the trouble though I only intended to stretch my legs in the gardens of Netherfield.”
Mrs. Bennet took Elizabeth’s hand and led her to her father’s study. “Mr. Bennet was hopeful you would arrive today. Mr. Collins has written to say he will arrive in a few days.”
Elizabeth’s brow creased at her mother’s words and she entered her father’s study without knocking.
Mr. Bennet rose from his chair and hurried to embrace his favorite daughter. Mrs. Bennet sighed and left them to their conversation. She would have liked to stay but Mr. Bennet had given strict instruction to allow Lizzy to accept her fate in privacy.
Elizabeth wandered the room to be certain all was the same as before. There were books scattered about her father’s desk and his favorite port sat in its decanter at hand. The window onto the garden still allowed the sun to stream through filtered by the branches of the old tree outside.
How many times had she sat in the old tree lost in a book? She could not recall for there had been many through the years. Her father motioned for her to sit and poured himself a small portion of port.
“Lizzy, how I have missed your conversation and company. The ladies of Longbourn have tried my patience and my study was breached by your dreadful cousin, Mr. Collins, for days.”
Elizabeth had missed her father’s company and their conversation fell into a familiar pattern. “I cannot think he was heartily welcomed nor missed when he left.”
Mr. Bennet shook his head. “I would be surprised were he missed by anyone, Lizzy, save Mary that is. She seemed to be taken with his readings and endless speeches. Would be a wonderful thing had he asked for her hand.”
Elizabeth’s heart jumped at her father’s words. There would be no delaying her answer, not even the reprieve of a few hours. She fought the angry tears that threatened and swallowed the impertinent words that would bring her mother’s wrath once they were spoken.
Mr. Bennet sipped his port and glanced away. Elizabeth read his actions as easily as she always had. She decided to hide her discomfort and give her answer calmly. “Your letter was clear regarding your wish for me to return home. I imagine there is no point in delaying further.”
Mr. Bennet stood and crossed the room to close the door of his study. The rustle of skirts and sound of feet moving away irritated him. “Mr. Collins will not wait longer for your answer, Lizzy. He shall be here in a few days.”
Her father’s words echoed in her ears and she shook her head. “I am sorry, father, but I cannot marry the man.”
Mr. Bennet leaned heavily upon the closed door of his study and removed his spectacles. “I feared this would be your answer but your mother insists upon it. While it is true that Jane has married well, and that Mr. Bingley would provide for all of you should I pass before my daughters are all married, your mother does not wish to leave Longbourn and begin her life anew as a guest in a home that is not hers.”
Elizabeth sat with her hands limp in her lap. How could this be? “Are you in agreement father? Mother has said I am to save Longbourn and there is no other way.”
Mr. Bennet sighed deeply and stared lovingly at his Lizzy. “Mr. Collins is under the thumb of his patroness and she would be scandalized were he to marry one of the younger girls while you remain unmarried. He did not have to offer Lizzy. But he did, and your mother wishes it so.”
Elizabeth rose from her seat and paced about the study. “I shall not marry him, father.”
Mr. Bennet came to stand beside her and took her hand. “It is not my wish that you marry the man. But with the entailment, I have little say in the matter. Your mother has decided your fate, as is her right with her future and that of your sisters in the balance. I cannot stand against her as much as it pains me to think of you married to the man.”
Elizabeth dropped her father’s hand and hurried to the door of his study. Her mother and sisters were standing in the hallway and she pushed through them, her aim the front door of Longbourn.
Mrs. Bennet ran after her and caught hold of her arm at the end of the hallway. “What is this? You will marry Mr. Collins and save Longbourn Elizabeth Bennet!”
Lizzy twisted her arm in an effort to free herself from her mother’s grasp and fell to the floor. Tears stained her face as Mrs. Bennet stood over her. “I will not marry him! I would rather live in the hedgerows for the rest of my life than marry a man I do not love!”
Kitty and Lydia stood beside Mrs. Bennet, their eyes as round as saucers at the sight of Elizabeth upon the floor. Mary hurried from the scene, her own tears flowing freely.
Mr. Bennet helped Elizabeth from the floor and sent Lydia and Kitty to their rooms. “Let us go into the parlor and discuss this with patience, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth refused and turned on her heel. She opened the front door and glanced over her shoulder to her parents. “I shall never marry him, never.”
Mrs. Bennet advanced upon her and Eliz
abeth stepped outside. “You may not return home as long as you continue your foolish behavior, Lizzy. You alone have the means to save Longbourn for your family and you throw it away as a child in a fit of temper.”
Mrs. Bennet slammed the door and Elizabeth trembled as the weight of her mother’s words fell upon her heart.
She could not defend herself nor tell them of her feelings for Mr. Darcy. She hurried across the fields to seek her sister’s comfort. Jane would not want her to marry their cousin, she was certain.
Elizabeth wished they had remained at Brambling Hall. Had her father’s letter made mention of her mother’s power to see her married to the parson, she would have never returned.
How was she expected to be the salvation of her family home by means of a forced marriage to a man she could never love? Her mother’s acceptance of the man’s scheme did not surprise her, but her father’s actions pierced her heart.
He knew her better than anyone, save Jane, and admitted he did not wish for her to marry the man. Yet, he would do nothing to save her from it, that much was clear.
She swiped at her tears and became angrier with each step toward Netherfield. It was not fair nor would she consider such a life for herself.
Mr. Darcy cared for her, she suspected, and would perhaps seek her hand when he and Lady Anne came to Netherfield. Bingley would give his blessing and her father and mother would have nothing to say about it since she was no longer welcome at Longbourn.
Elizabeth hurried inside and sought the company of her sister. She would pour out her heart to Jane and await the Darcy’s arrival to Netherfield.
Jane sat in the parlor, her complexion gone pale. Elizabeth hurried to her side, her worries for her own situation disappearing at the sight of her sister in distress. “Jane, are you well? Shall I send for Charles?”
Jane dabbed at her brow with her handkerchief and breathed deeply. “I am fine Lizzy, it must be all the traveling. Sit and I’ll send for tea.”