by Lauren King
Darcy listens silently; he agrees with Elizabeth completely. He does not want Sergeant Denny and Miss Lydia to attend their wedding. He may tolerate Miss Lydia if Elizabeth is adamant about it because she is Elizabeth’s family, but he will not allow that sergeant to attend.
Mrs. Gardiner enters the drawing room and greets Darcy. Afterwards, she informs Jane that Mr. Morgan is at the front door asking for an audience with Jane. “He told Johnny that he knows that you are not expecting him. He says that he can call again at any time you are available. Are you available to see Mr. Morgan today, Jane? If you cannot see him today, then I can have Johnny tell him a time and date that you are available.”
Jane looks over at Elizabeth and both sisters silently stare at each other before Jane says, “Would it be alright if I allowed his visit right now, Aunt?” Jane asks considerately.
“Well, I am agreeable to it; he has always been a gentleman, and he is courting you, after all.” Mrs. Gardiner states fairly. “I will tell Johnny to allow Mr. Morgan entrance, and then I will be with the children in their play room, girls.”
“Alright, Aunt; thank you.” Jane replies pleasantly.
Jane turns to Elizabeth and tells her that she and William do not have to leave the drawing room at any time. A couple of minutes later, Johnny is announcing Mr. Morgan.
Morgan walks in warily. Darcy, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Bennet all stand in greeting and the usual polite greetings are conveyed. However, this time, the greetings are filled with apathy. The ladies do not even want to look at him. Darcy gazes at him impassively, like they are simple acquaintances. Miss Elizabeth looks defiantly at Morgan with her sharp, perceptive eyes; she does not waver. Finally, Miss Bennet looks up at him with a serene, silent look on her face; there is no indication that she will speak beyond the greetings.
Morgan immediately says, “Miss Bennet, I apologize for this interruption. I know I do not have an appointment to call upon you today, but I must explain some things to you.”
Jane politely responds. “Is there anything left to be said, Mr. Morgan?”
Morgan knows exactly what that means. “Please, Miss Bennet; I beg for your indulgence.” Morgan states sincerely and urgently.
“I do not plan to make this any harder or to drag this out any further, Mr. Morgan, so you should do the same. You are released from our courtship. Do not fear, sir; I will not try to claim an acquaintance with you. Good day to you, sir.” Jane curtsies and then walks out of the drawing room composedly with Elizabeth quickly following her without taking leave of Mr. Morgan.
Elizabeth looks back at William, and they both silently understand what they have to do. Elizabeth will console and advise Jane as needed. William will remove Mr. Morgan from their home.
Morgan looks after the saddened Miss Bennet walking out of the room and he panics inside. Oh damn it! He will lose Miss Bennet if she does not give him a chance to explain. Morgan swiftly turns back to Darcy and says, “Darcy, you have to listen to me. Please, you have to ask Miss Bennet to listen to me. There is a logical explanation to what you all have seen.” Morgan appeals and asserts keenly. He must tell Miss Bennet what and why she has seen Mrs. Crawford with him in that manner and why he was acting that way.
Darcy’s memories are stirred back to when Bingley had pleaded with him for the same thing – very reminiscent of Bingley’s pleadings. Everyone wants Darcy to ask Jane to talk to them so they can explain their mistake – poor Jane. Darcy is so popular.
“Do you mean there are logical explanations to all four times that Jane has known about or has seen you in public with another young lady in a less than a platonic manner?” Darcy asks sarcastically.
“What? We all have seen each other two times; yesterday and today.” Morgan is bewildered at what Darcy is saying. Well…two or four times – it really makes no difference especially if Jane thinks that he has been personable with Mrs. Crawford and has disregarded her. What a mess! This is what he gets for trying to help out.
“Two times is when you saw us; we have seen you four times. Good Lord, Morgan! How could you do this to Miss Bennet? What can you possibly explain to justify how close you and Mrs. Crawford look with each other and that you publically kissed her hand? Is she a relative or a very platonic old friend of the family? Which is it, Morgan? Even I am curious now.” Darcy asks very discontentedly.
“Darcy, Mrs. Crawford is a very old childhood friend – nothing more. She is a widow. She and her family came to town for the holidays, and she visited my family and me several times. She asked me to do her a favor concerning a gentleman friend. She wanted me to be around to assess her new gentleman friend and maybe make him a little jealous so that he knows what a good catch she is. I agreed to help her assess him, but I did not want to go through the whole jealousy bit. However, she kept pleading, so as a very old friend I hesitatingly agreed. However, we did not do anything unbecoming; I give you my word as a gentleman, Darcy.” Morgan states unambiguously.
Darcy’s brow goes up as he looks in disbelief at Morgan while Morgan made his last two statements; Darcy remains annoyed but silent so Morgan can finish his explanation.
“We have been seen together around town a few times and the jealously thing must be working because the other gentleman is responding as she would like.” Morgan explains readily.
“Well, your plan of deception worked on us, too. Why did you not let Miss Bennet know of what you were doing, especially if you were going to be seen around town with another lady and it could be misinterpreted by all who saw you? Was it because you thought that it might be wrong? Anyone that knew us could have gossiped or relayed the information of seeing you, back to us. Luckily, we all have witnessed your exchanges with Mrs. Crawford ourselves; no one has brought us that information yet. Well, it is actually a good thing that only family knows of Miss Bennet’s courtship with you.” Darcy expresses his thoughts clearly and with displeasure towards Morgan.
“In retrospect, I can see that it was ill-planned. I thought it would be just a couple of outings, so I did not think anything of it. I was going to explain to Miss Bennet once Mrs. Crawford’s situation was resolved. I did not know that you all have seen us four times – not that it matters between two and four times. Miss Bennet must absolutely hate me if she thinks I was courting two ladies at once.” Morgan reveals his displeasure at himself.
“Yes, she thought that. I am certain that she still thinks that because all your actions pointed towards it. You did not even acknowledge her as anyone more than a mere acquaintance yesterday. What did you think Miss Bennet would think? Miss Elizabeth and I both thought the same thing. You carried this out very badly, Morgan. You may lose Miss Bennet’s complete trust, and that will lead to the end of your relationship. Actually, she has released you, already.” Darcy sighs with irritation. “She is very kind and trusting, but you have treated this situation badly and with great offense.” Darcy expresses honestly and straightforwardly; he is not going to beat around the bush with Morgan’s feelings. Morgan needs to know what he did was wrong.
With great regret and a deflated voice, Morgan admits, “I know, Darcy. I cannot believe I did not think through this more carefully in regards to Miss Bennet. I just thought it would be a quick thing to help an old friend; that was all. I never thought of it as anything else.” He hates himself for causing this dissolution of their relationship. His family will have a dinner party before his parents go back to their country estate, and he wants to introduce Miss Bennet to his family next week, but now it does not look like she will even look at him again.
“Does Mrs. Crawford know that it is nothing else? She seemed determined to look quite familiar with you earlier while her Mother was present, even.”
“Oh God, Darcy! Damn it! I was also surprised by her taking my arm while we all were talking, but I just thought that she wanted to finish up with her Mother’s errands, so I did not mention it. However, I am sure she knew that I stepped aside to talk personally with Miss Bennet; Mrs. Crawford
is not a naïve lady.”
“Of course she is not a naïve lady, especially if she has been married already, but does she know that you are courting Miss Bennet?” Darcy confronts.
“I did not explain to her until after we saw you all. Oh hell! I did not think that it was her business to know of my relationships; that is why I did not say anything. Blasted! I am going to lose Miss Bennet if she does not let me explain. I know it sounds like there are many mistakes I have made here; please, Darcy, will you ask Miss Bennet to speak to me? I know she trusts you, and she will listen to your advice. I am not lying, Darcy. All that I have told you is true; it was just ill-thinking on my part. Stupid is more like it.”
“What about you kissing Mrs. Crawford’s hand in public? Was that purely platonic between you and her? It looked very tender when we saw it, Morgan.”
“If I kissed her hand in public or anywhere, then it was purely platonic on my part. She is a childhood friend; my entire family knows her and her family. It did not mean anything to me other than that she is a good old friend. Please, tell me when and where you saw me and Mrs. Crawford? I will tell you what went on during those outings. I do not have anything to hide. I will gladly explain all of this to Miss Bennet if she would talk to me.”
Darcy recalls clearly. “The first time we saw you was at Hyde Park a couple of weeks ago; that was where we saw you kiss her hand. A day after that sighting, only Miss Elizabeth and I saw the two of you at the pastry shop. You two did look rather…romantic or…close. Anyone seeing you would have thought the same thing.”
“Why did you not approach us? I would have made the introductions and explained to you.” Morgan is filled with regret at his decision not to tell Miss Bennet right from the beginning.
“Miss Elizabeth did not want an awkward confrontation; she was very disappointed with you, as was I. However, Miss Bennet still was willing to give you a chance to explain about Mrs. Crawford when you called upon her that week, but you did not say a word about it. Therefore, she figured that you had made your choice against her, so she did not push it further. She wanted to give you some time to think things over while she was away, but she had already accepted that you two were going to end your courtship when she came back from Hertfordshire. She still cared about you enough to think that it was not right that you mistakenly thought that she was still in Hertfordshire when she returned to town early. She asked me to inform you that we all were back in town early. She still cared about you even after she saw you with Mrs. Crawford. You will regret losing Miss Bennet if you do not fix this with her.” Darcy expresses forthrightly with some exasperation.
Morgan sighs with disappointment in himself. “I know, Darcy.” Morgan is disheartened, but is interrupted by Darcy.
“And then we saw you again yesterday. You did not even acknowledge Miss Bennet as anyone more than a mere acquaintance. That was a big mistake – also very ungentlemanly, Morgan.”
“I could not acknowledge Miss Bennet yesterday because the couple that was walking with us was friends with the gentleman that Mrs. Crawford was trying to secure. They would have relayed back to him that I was not a threat to him – remember the whole jealousy bit?” Morgan reminds Darcy while his fingers squeeze his forehead in annoyance at himself.
“Well, your lack of acknowledgement was very hurtful to Miss Bennet. Then today with Mrs. Crawford hanging onto your arm freely like that…well, that was the last nail into your coffin, so-to-speak.” Darcy pronounces with very slight pity for his old friend.
“I know; I will regret it forever. Please help me, Darcy. I will do anything to explain this and make it up to Miss Bennet. I will even bring Mrs. Crawford to Miss Bennet as my witness that I was only helping her. I had no other intentions towards Mrs. Crawford.” Morgan presses anxiously.
“Good Lord, Morgan; this was a simple issue of which you made a big mess.” Darcy criticizes. “You truly hurt Miss Bennet.”
“I know; I could not be sorrier.” Morgan rubs his hands over his face and sighs heavily. “Please, tell me you did not think I was capable of courting two ladies at once.” Morgan looks at Darcy expectedly.
“I did not want to believe it at first because I thought I knew you well enough. I had told Miss Elizabeth that usually you were the one that would back away from a young lady who seemed to entertain more than one gentleman, so you knew how that felt. Therefore, you would not do that to Miss Bennet. However, after seeing you multiple times with Mrs. Crawford and with you acting the way you did without any explanation…well, what can anyone think? How else could I have interpreted your actions?”
“Damn it! But in my defense I did go to your home yesterday; I was told that you were not available. What am I going to do if Miss Bennet does not talk to me?” Morgan groans then states, “I want to invite Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth and you to my family’s dinner party that my parents will be giving before they return to Northampton. I want to introduce Miss Bennet to my family; I have already told them that I am courting her. Good God, my Mother is going to lecture me like a school boy if she finds out what I did. Darcy, you believe me, do you not – now that you have heard my explanation? Help me get a chance to speak with Miss Bennet.” Morgan entreats.
“Well…your story is believable, but I am not an innocent young lady. I have the advantage of knowing you longer, but I still misinterpreted you. Therefore, you can see how awful it must look through Miss Bennet’s eyes.” Darcy is really displeased that Morgan put everyone in this position.
“I know, and I am very sorry for it. Will you help me?” Morgan persists beseechingly.
“I will try but if Miss Bennet still does not listen to me, then I will leave it up to her.” Darcy explains clearly.
“Fine; as long as you let her know that you believe me; I know she respects your opinion – as do I, Darcy. She will consider giving me a chance if you support me.” Morgan is thankful for his friend’s assistance.
“My God, Morgan; do not put me in this position again.” Darcy says exasperatingly.
“I can promise you that I will not be this ill-thinking again. I do not know how I let this get out of hand.” Morgan angrily admits, freely.
“Are you sure I can trust you again, Morgan?” Darcy ascertains.
“You can trust me completely, Darcy; you have my word as an old friend and as a gentleman. I have not turned into a rake; I will do all within my power to rectify this. I refuse to let Miss Bennet think that. If it is the last thing I do, I will not be known as a vile rake!” Morgan declares adamantly.
Darcy finally relents then says, “Let me send word to see if Miss Elizabeth will even come down. Perhaps, if she does then, Miss Bennet will too.” Darcy says honestly as he fetches one of the house maids that is passing by.
“By the way, Morgan, were you not suppose to farewell Miss Bennet on the day that we left for Hertfordshire at seven o’clock in the morning?”
“Yes. Oh my God! I was about to leave my home to come and farewell Miss Bennet as I had said I would, but my Mother took a tumble at that moment. I thought she might have twisted or broken her ankle, so I could not leave her, especially without my Father or brother present. By the time the physician attended my Mother, it was already half past eight o’clock. By the time I arrived at the Gardiner’s residence, it was nine o’clock. Needless to say, you all had departed already.” Morgan shakes his head and breathes frustratingly.
A quarter of an hour later, Elizabeth comes back into the drawing room looking composed and dispassionate; she does not look at Mr. Morgan. She comes to stand by William and instantly William asks after Jane.
“Understandably, she is troubled by this entire ordeal. She is tired, so she decided to rest in her chambers.” Elizabeth says quietly to William, and then she turns to Mr. Morgan and announces, “Mr. Morgan, my sister has asked me to relay to you that you do not need to worry about her professing to anyone about your courtship. You have her word as an honorable lady that she will not try to claim an acquaintance with
you. You may leave with that assurance. I can tell you that my sister has always kept her word.” Elizabeth is upset that she has to assure Mr. Morgan of Jane’s goodness when his honorability is questionable.
“Miss Elizabeth, I beg your pardon. Please, believe me when I say that Mrs. Crawford is only a very old childhood friend; she is nothing more to me than that. I am courting only Miss Bennet – no one else. I, inadvertently, made some mistakes while I was helping her with her personal problem, so it looked like we were more than we truly were. Please, will you listen to my explanation?” Morgan entreats despondently. If she believes him, then he knows that Miss Bennet will also.
Elizabeth looks at William for his opinion. Darcy knows Elizabeth will believe him if he supports Morgan. “Lizzy, I have listened to Morgan’s explanation, and I do believe him. He had no intentions towards Mrs. Crawford; he made the mistake of thinking that he was just helping her with her problem. He was going to tell Jane afterwards. However, we had already seen him and Mrs. Crawford before any explanations; hence, it looked bad. It truly was ill-thinking on his part. I think you will understand more if you allow Morgan to tell you all the circumstances of this situation.” Darcy explains logically.
“You believe Mr. Morgan, William?” Elizabeth asks frankly.
“I do. It was a big mess that could have been easily avoided had he thought about it more, but he sees it now, retrospectively.” Darcy replies fairly while he shoots Morgan a stern glare before looking back to Elizabeth.
“Miss Elizabeth, I do not have anything to hide. I am more than willing to tell you everything. Will you please allow me to explain?” Morgan asks with anticipation.
“Yes, you may explain, Mr. Morgan.” Elizabeth answers suspiciously.
Morgan gladly explains everything again because he can tell Miss Elizabeth is a fair, reasonable, and sensible person. Morgan is more relieved as he sees that Miss Elizabeth believes him more. Maybe he still has a chance with Miss Bennet once she hears his explanations from both her sister and Darcy.