Elizabeth squinted, not recognising the carriage. She felt sure that the occupants were unknown to her, given that no one in the area was wont to visit at such an early time. Her heart leapt.
Was it Mr. Darcy? She had seen his carriage and it looked nothing like this one, but then she chided herself for her foolishness. Of course a man with Mr. Darcy’s means would have more than one carriage at his personal disposal.
Elizabeth’s pulse raced as she stood rooted to the spot, waiting for the carriage door to open. She had formulated so many questions for Mr. Darcy in her mind, but now she found that she couldn’t think of any of them. She clenched her hands into fists, surprised to find them hot and damp. It was not Elizabeth’s wont to be affected in such a way by another person.
Presently, the carriage stopped, and no sooner had it done so than the door was thrown open. At this point, so sure was Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy was the occupant, that she had begun to walk across the lawn to meet him.
The visitor bore a passing resemblance to him, but that was where the similarity ended. For it was Lady Catherine, and not Mr. Darcy, who had arrived at Longbourn.
‘Lady Catherine, what a pleasant surprise,’ Elizabeth said, recovering from her initial surprise and walking the rest of the way to the carriage. ‘I do hope all is well at Rosings and Hunsford.’
Her ladyship paid scant regard to her words. ‘Miss Bennet. Am I to assume that this is your residence?’
‘Indeed, Lady Catherine,’ Elizabeth replied. ‘You appear surprised. Had you intended a different destination?’
‘No, indeed,’ her ladyship said, squinting up at the house. Dawn was just beginning to break, but the moon was full and cast pale light over the stone. ‘What a tiny house. This is Longbourn House and not the gatehouse?’
‘Oh yes, madam,’ Elizabeth said, amused. ‘It is no Rosings, certainly, but it is comfortable none the less. I can order some tea or refreshments, if your ladyship would care for it?’
‘I’m not here to socialise,’ Lady Catherine barked, before seeming to recover herself. ‘Come. Let us walk.’
They continued up the lawn at a rapid pace. After a time, Lady Catherine turned to Elizabeth. ‘You can have no doubt as to the reason for my call.’
‘You are mistaken, Madam.’
‘Well then let me be frank, Miss Bennet. I have heard the most alarming report from my solicitors in London. At first I thought little of it—my nephew is well-regarded in Derbyshire for his kindness to his tenants and others under his patronage. It was my initial belief that he had simply taken pity on a widow and her numerous daughters whom he had come to know while in Hertfordshire.’
Elizabeth—though it was a task to do so—managed to stay silent.
‘And then,’ her ladyship continued. ‘Mr. Collins came to me to inform me of his decision to break off his engagement. It was then that I began to see a clearer picture. My nephew, such a reasonable man to date, had become embroiled somehow with another despite his engagement to my daughter.’
‘I cannot see, madam,’ Elizabeth replied, colouring. ‘How you could form such an opinion based on the fact of Mr. Collins ending our engagement.’
‘Are you engaged to him?’ Lady Catherine demanded.
‘No,’ Elizabeth said quickly. ‘As you know. He ended our engagement.’
Lady Catherine’s eyes narrowed. ‘Do not be obtuse, girl. You know whom I refer to. My nephew—are you engaged to him?’
‘No, I am not,’ Elizabeth admitted after a fashion.
Lady Catherine smiled for the first time that morning. ‘Ah, so all is not lost. And will you promise me never to enter into such an engagement?’
Elizabeth turned and looked at the woman, who had intruded in the home where she had spent all of her life. ‘I will make no promise of the kind.’
‘Miss Bennet!’ cried her ladyship. ‘I am shocked and disappointed. Surely you misunderstood me. I shall not go away until you give me the reassurance I require.’
Elizabeth, cold and tired of heart by now, simply shrugged. ‘Then, madam, I should speak to our housekeeper Mrs. Hill and see about having a room made up for you. For it appears you are to remain at Longbourn for quite a long time.’
Lady Catherine turned the colour of raspberries. ‘I have never been so insulted in all my days. You recall, Miss Bennet, to whom you are speaking?’
‘Indeed, Madam. And for that reason it perplexes me even more that a lady of your standing should come here and speak to me in such a way.’
‘Selfish girl! You must know that if you persist in chasing him that it will be the ruin of him!’
Elizabeth shook her head. ‘You have insulted me, in every possible—’
‘You insult me by refusing to give me your word. I must insist. You are thoroughly unsuitable for him. Your family, your education. Besides that, he is engaged to my daughter. They have been destined for each other since birth. Do you think you can interfere with that?’
‘I have made no attempt to do so,’ Elizabeth said, looking around. Why hadn’t her mother been awoken by the sound of the carriage? Perhaps she had taken a sleeping draught after the excitement of the past weeks. Elizabeth couldn’t bear to participate in this conversation any longer, but Lady Catherine showed no sign of curtailing her rant.
Ah, Elizabeth thought with a bolt of relief on seeing a figure on horseback approaching from the direction of Netherfield. Bingley was early that morning, surely, but a most welcome sight. Lady Catherine would surely not continue her tirade in front of a gentleman of her nephew’s acquaintance.
But her ladyship did not have the benefit of Elizabeth’s view. She continued in a high-pitched voice that Elizabeth felt sure was audible to the servants of Longbourn who would be awake and preparing the house. ‘Do you understand me, girl? I am here not of my own accord, but on behalf of my family’s legacy. You would seek to go against the wishes of his own mother, who wanted nothing more than for him to marry my daughter and—’
‘Aunt,’ came a stern voice on the wind. Elizabeth glanced over the woman’s shoulder and saw that the rider had indeed gained on them. But she had been wrong about his identity—it was not Mr. Bingley but Mr. Darcy, and he looked far from pleased.
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‘I will leave you two to speak,’ Elizabeth Bennet said, glancing from Mr. Darcy to Lady Catherine. She had never seen the man look so incensed, and Lady Catherine, for her part, looked furious.
‘No!’ her ladyship insisted. ‘I have not finished with you, Miss Bennet.’
Elizabeth made no answer. She turned and walked in the direction of Longbourn without another glance at Mr. Darcy. She walked quickly, having no mind to overhear the cruel words that might pass between those two. She had been humiliated enough by Lady Catherine.
Her mother was exiting the house by the time she arrived at it, weary to the bone now.
‘Who is that?’ Mrs. Bennet hissed, staring at the fine carriage still parked on the lawn.
‘Lady Catherine,’ Elizabeth said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her tone.
‘Oh,’ Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, rushing back into the house and patting at her hair. ‘And pray tell me, what is she doing out there? Did not you invite her to partake of some refreshments? It should be no trouble. I wonder what she is doing in Hertfordshire.’
Elizabeth, having ascertained exactly the reason for Lady Catherine’s visit, was forced to entertain a falsehood. ‘She came to speak with her nephew, Mr. Darcy. I expect she went first to Netherfield and, finding him absent, came this way in search of him.’
‘She found him here?’ Mrs. Bennet asked.
‘Yes, I suppose she did,’ Elizabeth said.
‘How strange. I wonder why he chose to walk in this direction when there is ample parkland closer to Netherfield, and a more favourable vantage too. He is a strange man, I suppose.’
Elizabeth had no response to this. She longed to rush to the window and see if the two relatives were still there but she restrai
ned herself. She would not give Lady Catherine the satisfaction of thinking Elizabeth cared one jot of her desires or prejudices.
‘Oh Lizzy, be sure to invite her in before she leaves, will you?’
‘I don’t think she…’ Lizzy started, but her mother had already dashed up the stairs, presumably to prepare herself for her ladyship’s visit.
After a time, Elizabeth was relieved to hear the sound of the carriage departing. That there was to be no more disturbance from Lady Catherine, she was extremely glad. She waited several minutes, restlessly pacing the drawing room. She had never had so great a need of a walk to clear her thoughts. She made another two circuits of the drawing room before deciding it was safe to leave again.
This time, Elizabeth experienced no cruel interruption as she made her way out of the house. She walked quickly across the lawn, eager to get out of sight of the house and anyone in it. Had anyone overheard Lady Catherine’s admonishment of her? Lizzy couldn’t believe it. Her ladyship had taken two unrelated matters and spun them together to make a damning case against her.
She slowed down as she began to see how that assumption might have been made. Could it be that Mr. Darcy had a hand in ending of her engagement?
No, she told herself. And even if he had, surely his aunt had now detailed the errors in such a course of action. Elizabeth walked on, barely noticing the fine drizzle that had begun to fall.
‘There you are,’ said a low voice behind her.
Elizabeth turned and was surprised to find Mr. Darcy behind her, removing his coat. He took it and placed it gently over her shoulders. It was only then that Elizabeth realised her dress was soaked through. ‘My goodness. I must get home at once.’
‘Yes,’ he said, surveying her. ‘But I would be much obliged if you would remain with me a while.’
Elizabeth had trouble meeting his eyes. ‘Your aunt. I said—’
‘Miss Elizabeth,’ said he. ‘From my understanding, my aunt did you a great disservice by visiting today.’
She smiled. ‘I own that I was glad when you arrived and interrupted our discussion.’
‘I was coming to see you,’ he said softly. ‘It was with great surprise that I saw my aunt’s carriage. Once I did so, I suspected her motives immediately.’
‘Where is your horse?’ Elizabeth asked, not wanting to dwell on the subject of his aunt for any longer than was necessary.
‘I tied it up back there,’ he said, gesturing behind him to a copse of trees. ‘After my aunt departed, I felt sure that you’d wish to seek solace out here, even despite the weather.’
‘Yet you sought to disturb it,’ she teased, still unable to look him in the eyes.
To her surprise, he laughed. ‘Well yes. I hope that is not entirely disagreeable.’
‘Not at all,’ she found herself saying. And suddenly, she couldn’t hold back the knowledge she had gained of his great kindness. ‘Mr. Darcy, I must thank you for what you have done for my mother; for all of us.’
‘I am sorry,’ he said, ‘that you have been informed of a matter that may have given you some uneasiness. I fear my aunt is to blame. I believed my solicitor to be beyond reproach, but it appears he is a confidant of my aunt’s and shared with her knowledge of the scheme which I had hoped to keep secret.’
Elizabeth faltered, but in the end she could not bear to allow him to go on thinking he was to blame for the indiscretion. ‘Do not blame yourself, sir,’ she said quietly. ‘My sister Lydia was the one who informed me. It was she who learned of it from one of the solicitors who came to speak to my mother.’
‘A second indiscretion,’ he said gravely.
‘Whatever of it,’ Elizabeth cried, ‘I must thank you on my own behalf and on behalf of my family. My sister has told only me, though I wish that the others knew of the great kindness which you have bestowed on them.’
‘Your family owes me nothing,’ he said, as they began to walk. ‘I thought only of you.’
Elizabeth was too embarrassed to reply, especially since her theory as to the cause of Mr. Collins’s change of heart now appeared to be confirmed. ‘Mr. Collins wrote to me. He has decided to end our engagement.’
‘I hope this did not cause you a great deal of pain.’
‘No,’ Elizabeth said immediately. ‘No it did not. Mr. Darcy?’ She paused, collecting her thoughts. She needed to know if he had had a hand in it.
‘Yes, Miss Elizabeth?’
‘Did you prevail on Mr. Collins to end our engagement?’ As soon as the words had left her lips, she regretted them. It was so churlish an assumption; so impertinent. ‘Oh, I am sorry, Mr. Darcy. I should never—’
‘Yes,’ he said simply. He stopped walking. ‘I hope you do not think ill of me. I merely sought to ensure your happiness by removing the only motivation you had to marry that man.’
‘Thank you,’ was all she could say, consumed as she was by embarrassment.
They walked on for a while, until Mr. Darcy came to a stop again. He peered down at her awkwardly. ‘You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were at Kent, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me at once.’
Elizabeth was cast into a pit of awkwardness such as she had never known. Not wanting to cause him further discomfort, she began to speak at once, in a faltering tone, and reassured him that not only had her sentiments changed, but they were so vastly changed as to be unrecognisable.
Her assurances were received with such pleasure that there was a marked change in the man. She had never seen him look so warm and happy, and as he declared the violent depths of his love and affection, she found it impossible to look upon his face any longer. As she listened, she heard the warmth in his voice. Here was a man transformed from the one she had once known.
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At length, they walked on, both having voiced their hearts’ contents. Elizabeth was content to walk in silence, in no particular direction, and revel in the feeling that she had once believed would evade her for life. How much had changed! She was engaged to a man she loved and respected, who had put himself to great trouble to secure her future.
Mr. Darcy appeared to be reflecting on the same matter. ‘My dearest Elizabeth, you must not feel obliged to me. Longbourn House, as the solicitor will have explained to your mother, belongs to her. He, at my instruction, helped her to draft a will such that her property will be left to her eldest child, and so on and so forth. Therefore your answer will have no bearing on your family’s security.’
‘Mr. Darcy,’ she exclaimed, watching his in disbelief. ‘I am most grateful and I must assure you that my love for you is founded on respect and admiration far more than it is your most generous act, though I will never forget that kindness you showed me.’
He smiled with such a lack of restraint that Elizabeth found her heart expanding and her love for him reaching new bounds. ‘It is I who must thank you.’
They walked on in silence, with neither wanting to break the spell that had fallen over them.
‘Lizzy!’ cried Jane, who had quite clearly been lingering in the hall awaiting her return. ‘Where have you been? Mama claims Lady Catherine has called, but I see no sign of her carriage. Sarah, when asked, owned to hearing raised voices on the lawn, one of which she felt sure belonged to you. Whatever is happening?’
Lizzy smiled conspiratorially. Her spirits had rallied since Lady Catherine’s inquisition, but she was so very exhausted from the emotion that she did not know whether to laugh or cry.
‘Lizzy?’
Jane’s beautiful face was the very picture of concern. Elizabeth could no longer bear to keep her in ignorance. ‘Come,’ she whispered, gesturing up the stairs. ‘Let us speak frankly.’
‘You tease me so,’ Jane sighed, when Elizabeth had relayed the events of that morning.
‘No, dear sister,’ Elizabeth replied. ‘Don’t you believe me? Isn’t my very happiness evident?’
Jane surveyed
her sister’s features. ‘Indeed,’ she said haltingly, as if she could still not quite believe it. ‘You do have a certain air of vitality and high spirits.’
‘It is true, I swear it!’ Elizabeth declared, before letting herself fall on the bed and descending into giggles.
‘But,’ Jane said, her face lined by a rare frown. ‘You despise the man. You have told me so many times.’
Elizabeth took a breath. She wished not to break the confidence of the man who would be her husband, but she feared she had no other choice. It was preferable to share the truth with Jane, whom she respected above all others in her family, rather than know her dear sister held a low opinion of the very honourable Mr. Darcy. At last, she decided on telling the truth.
Jane’s eyes widened as she learned the identity of their anonymous benefactor; of Elizabeth’s sacrifice in agreeing to marry Mr. Collins; of Mr. Darcy’s intervention with that most awful man.
‘I can scarcely believe it!’ she cried. ‘And it was Lady Catherine’s intent to end the engagement?’
‘No,’ Elizabeth owned. ‘The engagement was settled afterwards. It seems her ladyship learned of her nephew’s intervention in our father’s estate and deduced the truth.’
‘Quite before you yourself did,’ Jane giggled.
Elizabeth looked away. ‘I must own that that is untrue. This morning was not the first time Mr. Darcy asked for my hand.’
Jane’s face was at that moment was the very picture of surprise. ‘Lizzy! And you never breathed a word of this to me.’
‘It is true. In the first instance I thought him a most stubborn, prideful man.’
‘And now?’
Elizabeth smiled and felt herself colour. ‘My view of Mr. Darcy is entirely changed.’
At this, Jane pushed herself up off the bed and danced gaily around the room. ‘Not one happy marriage, but two. Oh Elizabeth, my happiness is now complete knowing you too have found a kind and worthy gentleman! We must begin our preparations at once!’
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