Falling for Mr. Darcy

by KaraLynne Mackrory

  “Mr. Collins, would you be more comfortable in my seat? I would be happy to release it and sit elsewhere.” Mr. Darcy gestured to the armchair across from the sofa. He really did not want to sit across the room from Elizabeth, but her cousin sitting next to her was desired even less.

  “Mr. Darcy, I thank you for your concern, but I assure you, I am quite comfortable,” Mr. Collins replied, with a sideways smile at Elizabeth and a tilt of his head in her direction. “Although my dear cousins and I have known each other for only a short time, we are already quite as close as any family.”

  Mr. Darcy watched as Elizabeth forced a smile in return and attempted discreetly to move even closer towards the edge of the couch. He was not pleased with the proximity of the man to Elizabeth and was even more displeased with the way he smiled at her.

  “My cousin has recently come to visit us from his parsonage in Kent,” Elizabeth hesitantly spoke to Mr. Darcy. He could see she wished to be elsewhere, and he hoped it was not because of his presence but the other man’s. Before Mr. Darcy could comment, Mr. Collins’s enthusiastic voice stalled him.

  “Indeed, sir. I have just come from Hunsford parsonage, where I am most fortunate in my placement by one of the most illustrious ladies of the land. Perhaps you have heard of her; she is none other than the esteemed and favored Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” This last part was spoken with such a reverence as to insinuate the lady was perhaps a deity. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Mr. Darcy’s expression to his friend warned him against voicing the connection to the lady.

  With an air of indifference, Mr. Darcy replied, “Yes, sir, I have heard of the lady.” Mr. Darcy glanced briefly at Elizabeth and noticed the small smirk on her face, and he realized she had seen his strange interaction with Bingley.

  Mr. Darcy sat back, stunned, when Mr. Collins erupted in excitement. “I am so glad to hear it, sir. My cousins had not heard of the lady before I arrived, and I am glad to meet with someone acquainted with her. I had not thought I would. Is she not the most gracious of ladies?” Mr. Collins did not pause for a reply and continued, “Indeed, she is! For just last week when I was preparing for my journey here, she condescended to stop her barouche at my gate and remind me as to the proper reading material for a clergyman to bring on such a journey and to advise me in all the particular delicacies that I must attend to in my visit with my relations. Is that not most gracious? I attest that it is, and I said to her, ‘Lady Catherine, you are most gracious! I thank you for your solicitous concern over my comfort and your most suitable advice for the cultivation of my mind with your suggestions for my reading. You are everything proper.’ I often deem it necessary to pay such compliments to her ladyship as she is always most attentive to me.”

  Elizabeth coughed into her handkerchief in an attempt to hide her mortification at her cousin’s absurdity. She colored in embarrassment until she saw Darcy glance at her and hide a humorous smirk behind his own hand. Seeing Mr. Darcy’s attempt to curb his humor, Elizabeth decided to tease him and shot him a reproachful look but did not hide the laughter in her eyes.

  Jane addressed her cousin at that point, causing him to turn towards her and Mr. Bingley and join their conversation, much to the relief and thanks of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth.

  With humor still in her eyes, Elizabeth took the opportunity to speak to Mr. Darcy. “Sir, would you be so kind as to tell me: how is your great black beast?”

  It took Mr. Darcy a moment to realize she was referring to his horse and was pleased about the allusion to their morning together. “You are most kind, Miss Elizabeth,” replied Mr. Darcy with a hint of a smile at the edge of his lips. “My horse is quite well, though he seems to miss his new favorite rider.”

  Elizabeth laughed softly and shook her head as she responded, “Oh no, sir, I will not be fooled by that. I am sure we, neither of us, miss each other too much.”

  Mr. Darcy smiled kindly at her and, after pausing for a moment, leaned in to say softly, “Miss Elizabeth, you look well this morning. I am glad to see you so recovered.”

  Elizabeth colored beautifully at his comment and murmured a soft, “Thank you.”

  Mr. Darcy enjoyed seeing her thus affected and, ignoring the stammering of his heartbeat, boldly continued, “Though I must admit you are correct. My horse is not the one who misses riding with you.” At this, he sat back in his chair watching her discomposure and savoring the brightness her blushing cheeks gave her complexion.

  Elizabeth was momentarily stunned by Mr. Darcy’s boldness and could do nothing but try to calm her rapidly beating heart. After a short time, she recovered enough to retaliate in her own attempt at discomposing him. Raising her shoulders and chin, she looked at him with one eyebrow raised saucily and, pausing to make sure she had his full attention, opened her mouth to speak. Her look of flirtatious challenge was delicious to Mr. Darcy, and his eyes lit with excited anticipation of her response. She was so beautiful, and it was that same impertinent look that first put him in her power. What do you have to say to me, you minx!

  “Mr. Darcy —” she began.

  “Cousin Elizabeth, I forgot to mention that I have found a passage in Fordyce’s Sermons that I really must insist you read. I assure you, you will find it most interesting.”

  The look of fury that Mr. Darcy leveled at Mr. Collins at this interruption could have set ice on fire. His disappointment and subsequent frustration were not lost on Elizabeth, and she smiled to herself at their similar feelings. Mr. Darcy went from disliking the attentions Mr. Collins bestowed upon Elizabeth to wanting to remove the gentleman bodily from her presence. He was imagining with wicked delight the many ways he could physically remove the odious man, including a scenario involving his boot and the gentleman’s backside, when Elizabeth’s gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.

  “Thank you, Mr. Collins. You are most attentive to my education.” Although she said this to her cousin, Mr. Darcy saw the flick of her eyes towards him, and he was quieted by the look of disappointment in them.

  At that point, Mr. Bingley remembered the other reason for his visit and announced to the room his invitation to them all to attend a ball at Netherfield Park in one week. The raptures that erupted from the ladies were numerous, and Darcy and Bingley both delighted in seeing the warm smiles their particular ladies bestowed at the news. Mrs. Bennet, of course, was beyond herself, and in her delight, accosted Mr. Bingley for some time with compliments to his person and appreciation for the invitation.

  Elizabeth turned to Mr. Darcy, her eyes lit with excitement, and asked, “Mr. Darcy, sir, if I remember correctly from my time at Netherfield, some of the party there believed you would not welcome a ball. I hope that is not the case.”

  “Indeed, no, Miss Elizabeth. While I cannot profess to be overly fond of dancing as my friend is, I do delight in the activity if I am acquainted with my partner. If I may be so bold . . . as to request . . . ” Mr. Darcy cleared his throat to continue when Mr. Collins yet again interrupted the important moment. It was Elizabeth’s turn to glare at her cousin.

  “A dance is a splendid idea for the entertainment of young people. And even though I am a man of the cloth and of a nature inclined towards holier activities, I find nothing improper about a dance given by a man of respectability to people of upstanding virtues. I am so far inclined to think the activity not at all unworthy of a man of my profession, as to ask the hand of all my fair cousins for a dance throughout the course of the evening. I would like to take the opportunity, now, to ask my dear Cousin Elizabeth for her hand for the first dance of the evening.” Mr. Collins paused for her answer with a smile of great assurance.

  Mr. Darcy could not believe his ears! He was about to ask for that very dance from Miss Elizabeth when interrupted by Mr. Collins’s ridiculous speech and then thwarted by the precipitous request Collins made to his cousin. Mr. Darcy was now contemplating the very great pleasure that murdering a clergyman could bring.

  Elizabeth schoo
led her face into one of apathy and responded with a low voice that did not disguise her frustration to everyone except the man to which it was leveled. “Thank you, Mr. Collins. It would be my pleasure.” The last was said through clenched teeth and she looked away immediately.

  The atmosphere in the room was stilted for a moment as people either were still stunned by the abrupt speech by Mr. Collins or by the cold tone of Elizabeth’s reply. Mr. Bingley collected himself first and turned towards Jane in a request for her hand for the first set as well. At this, previous conversations resumed, and a delighted Mr. Collins again turned to speak with Jane and Bingley.

  Elizabeth’s delight in the upcoming ball was significantly reduced after the request from her cousin. Determining to find some enjoyment in the evening, she turned towards Mr. Darcy, hoping to encourage him to continue where he left off before her cousin once again interrupted them. “Mr. Darcy, I apologize for my cousin’s intrusion. I believe that you were saying something?”

  Mr. Darcy was startled out of his irritated thoughts by the pleading eyes of Miss Elizabeth. He sighed as he was calmed by her look. He felt a wave of compassion for her as he could see the delight she once had discussing the ball had dimmed. “Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you are correct. I was hoping, that is, I was preparing to ask if you would permit me to dance a set with you. As you are engaged for the first set, perhaps the supper set?”

  Elizabeth was pleased that he chose the supper set as it indicated to her that he would want to continue in her presence into the meal. Feeling contented again, she smiled at him in response and accepted his hand for the supper set.

  “And Miss Elizabeth, if you are not already engaged for the last set, may I apply for that one as well?

  Elizabeth was stunned that he would request two dances right away and felt the compliment, as she realized he had never before asked any other lady of the neighborhood to dance. She blushed as she responded with a soft chuckle, “You are most fortunate, sir, for I am not engaged for that set either. I would be most delighted, sir.”

  They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, thinking with pleasure about their upcoming dances until, with relief, Mr. Darcy noticed Mr. Collins stand and thought, finally, he is leaving! But it was not to be, and to Mr. Darcy’s horror, the clergyman approached him and began to perform a very low bow so near to him that he had to lean back in his chair to avoid a collision. Elizabeth noticed the shock and surprise on Mr. Darcy’s face and once again felt embarrassed by the behavior of her relations. Mr. Collins rose from his bow and began to address Mr. Darcy.

  His excitement was evident as the skin at his neck began to flap side-to-side. The low bow had dislodged a few strands of his greasy, combed-over hair, causing them to fold outwards from his head and protrude stiffly above his ear into the airspace beside his head. He rubbed his sausage fingers together as he spoke with a severe reverence and the small movement caused the hair flap to bob in the air. “Mr. Darcy, sir, forgive me for not paying my addresses and respects before now as it has just occurred to me that you are the nephew of my most esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Had I realized earlier, you may be sure I would have been most attentive in my discussions with you, and it is my pleasure to assure you that your aunt was in the best of health four days ago, sir.” With this, he bowed again, dislodging a few more strands of sweat-soaked hair from their place.

  Elizabeth was shocked to hear Mr. Darcy thus accosted and even more amazed that he had not mentioned his connection to Lady Catherine when her cousin first introduced himself and mentioned her. She wondered if the sort of treatment he was now receiving was the reason. She smiled in amusement and was the recipient of a look of feigned reproach from Mr. Darcy before he turned to her cousin.

  “Mr. Collins, I thank you for your assurances as to the health of my aunt.”

  “It is my pleasure, Mr. Darcy. As you may know, I am often in the presence of your aunt and your elegant cousin Miss de Bourgh. It is indeed a treat, a pleasure, to be acquainted now with another of that illustrious and most noble family. In fact, if I may be so bold, I congratulate you and wish you well on your future nuptials to your cousin Anne. You are, sir — and in this I share the opinion with your aunt, her ladyship — taking away one of England’s finest ladies.”

  Mr. Darcy drew in a long breath and held it. I cannot believe he has presumed to bring up the ridiculous engagement with Anne! Darcy was furious with the parson and even more so with his aunt, who was obviously making public statements that he would marry his cousin. He had tried to dispel her of this notion as neither he nor his cousin was inclined towards marriage to the other. He also knew with absolute certainty that it was not the favorite wish of his mother as his Aunt Catherine always claimed. She just will not give up! The audacity of the woman! Mr. Darcy was beginning to feel his anger cause him to lose composure when he looked over to Elizabeth and his heart stopped. She had grown pale and was looking down at her hands. Oh no! What must she think now? He was humiliated that she would think he was trifling with her.

  Elizabeth, upon hearing the news that Mr. Darcy was engaged to his cousin, was struck dumb. Feelings of foolishness flooded her awareness as her disappointment became acute. I should not have allowed my feelings to run away like this. Three days before, she would have cared little for the news that Mr. Darcy was engaged to another woman. She did not want to think about why it bothered her so much now and, instead, berated herself for trusting his recent, easy affections and for allowing them to creep into her heart and color her feelings towards the man. She knew he was above her in society’s station, and she felt embarrassed for having forgotten that and allowing something akin to hope to take root in her heart. She looked down at her hands on her lap and tried to still them as they began to tremble. Suddenly, the air in the room became too stifling for her, and she stood abruptly to excuse herself.

  Mr. Darcy could see strong emotions playing in her eyes, but he could not get his mind to work quickly enough to forestall her, so he watched her leave in a state of disbelief. A few minutes later, he heard her go out the front door. He looked towards Bingley, who responded with a look that indicated he did not understand what just happened. Jane looked concerned; having not heard Mr. Collins’s speech, she did not know why her sister left so quickly. It was at this point that Mr. Bingley reluctantly made his move towards taking his leave. He addressed Mrs. Bennet, the rest of the ladies in attendance and Mr. Collins on behalf of himself and Mr. Darcy, and the two gentlemen left the house.

  Upon their exit, Mr. Bingley turned to his friend. “Darcy, what the devil happened in there? I saw that silly Collins come up to you and say something, and then you looked like you were going to commit murder; Miss Elizabeth looked as if she was going to be sick, and then she left.”

  “I cannot talk about it now, Bingley.” Mr. Darcy was about to mount his horse when he heard a noise from around the side of the house. “Bingley, give me a minute. Go on without me, and I will catch up with you shortly.”

  Bingley looked questioningly at his friend but shrugged and kicked his horse into movement, turning it towards the gate. Mr. Darcy waited until he could see his friend pass through the gate and then walked slowly around the side of the house. In the distance, he spied Elizabeth sitting on a swing attached to a colossal oak tree. She had her back to him, and she was kicking the ground with her slippers as she rocked back and forth. She looked so young and fragile with her shoulders slumped against one of the ropes. He realized he had never seen Elizabeth look vulnerable. She always had a strength about her that made her seem impenetrable. He took a few silent steps towards her, closing the distance between them.

  Elizabeth sat on her childhood swing trying to curb her swaying emotions. She went from extreme disappointment, to anger at Mr. Darcy’s attentions, to frustration with herself for setting herself up for an obvious fall. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard a familiar voice call her name softly.

  “Elizabeth.” Mr. Darcy’s voice cau
ght as she stopped her movements on the swing and stiffened at the sound. When she did not turn to acknowledge him, he closed the distance and began again. “Elizabeth, I do not want to assume the reason for your hasty departure. It does pain me, though, to see you upset. I can explain about what your cousin alluded to —”

  At this, Elizabeth stood and turned quickly towards Mr. Darcy with her anger rising. Interrupting him, she said, “Pray, Mr. Darcy, stop. You owe me no explanation, and I ask that you do not address me in that familiar way. You have not the right nor my permission to do so.”

  Her eyes were ablaze with her anger towards him, and her mouth set in a grim line. She stood erect with her shoulders back in defiance, and her hands grasped tightly to the ropes of the swing. Her knuckles were turning white with the strength of her hold. There was a slight breeze that caused the delicate coils of hair near her temples to tremble slightly. The entire image caught Darcy as irresistible. She is so beautiful! Her appearance caused feelings of scalding delight in him, even as he felt acutely the pain of her anger. He could not help himself from drinking in her beauty enhanced by the display of passion. He tried to pull his mind back to attend to her words, and he was properly taken aback by her biting remarks. He knew he should not address her as he did but it was beyond him not to. A pain shot through him as he saw the turn of her features; the sweetness that was becoming familiar to him was absent.

  “Forgive me, Miss Bennet. I am sorry to have upset you. I will leave you now if it is what you wish, but I must beg you to be allowed to say one thing before I go.”