The Cumberland Plateau

by Mary K. Baxley

  Darcy grinned. “I say the bread smells good and the food looks delicious. Let’s heat our plates in the microwave, and I’ll take one of those pies.”

  “Darcy, you’re avoiding the question, but the food is too good to miss.”

  As they ate, Darcy reflected on what his friend had told him and smiled. So my Lúthien is Dr. Elizabeth Bennett, umm—not a student after all. I’ll have to meet her and see if she’s as smart as she is beautiful.

  After putting the food away, Darcy sighed in contentment. Everything had been wonderful—including the fried green tomatoes. His favorites, however, were those little fried pies, especially the chocolate. He wondered if his Lúthien had cooked any of it. With that thought, he resolved to discover a way in which to meet this Dr. Elizabeth Bennett without being obvious.

  Chapter Five

  …I’d love to see her hair down, loose and blowing in the wind…

  Dr. Fitzwilliam Darcy stood at the second floor window of Morton Hall and looked out over the parking lot, watching a woman walk across campus. Dr. Bennett appeared to shiver against the cool, crisp air on this blustery October morning. The chilling wind ruffled her black and white checked skirt around the ankles of her walking boots as she rubbed her palms along the sleeves of a pretty black sweater that appeared to have embroidered beading sparkling along the neckline. The outfit, coupled with her hair swept up in an elegant twist, made her look sophisticated and lovely.

  While Fitzwilliam watched her walk, he briefly closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Standing rooted in place, he fixed his gaze upon her graceful figure. I’d love to see her hair down… loose and free, blowing in the wind.

  Lingering at the window as he propped against the wall, he watched her walk into the UC. A few minutes later, he observed her coming back out with a cup of coffee in her hands, gently blowing it and taking a sip as she strolled back across the way to Clemons Hall and disappeared inside the maths building.

  She continued in this pattern everyday at the same time, and everyday Dr. Darcy watched, admiring her beauty as she came and went while his curiosity and thoughts concerning her grew. He wondered what she did each day on her coffee break. …Does she drink her coffee in class, or does she sip it in her office? What kind of coffee does she drink, and how does she take it? Would she like to have coffee with me?

  By the fourth day, Darcy could stand it no longer. He decided that he, too, would like coffee. He timed it just right so that he arrived at the coffee shop just as she entered. Opening the door with a smile, they walked in together.

  Her lips curled pleasantly. “Thank you, sir.”

  “You’re welcome, madam.”

  She blushed slightly, heat filling her flushed cheeks. …British…What a lovely accent! I could get used to that. I wonder if he’s Charles’s friend…the one Jane keeps telling me about. The one she’s been dying to set me up with.

  They both ordered their coffee, but Elizabeth decided to linger instead of following her usual routine. She tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind.

  Elizabeth noticed the gentleman seemed to be in no hurry, and the way he looked at her, casting a glance every now and then, caused her to smile. Also, from the way he fidgeted, he appeared to be nervous. Perhaps he wanted an introduction as much as she did.

  Finally, Elizabeth found her tongue. “Pardon me, but I noticed by your accent that you must be from England. Would you happen to be Dr. Darcy?” she asked with a smile. “My sister, Jane, often speaks of him. I know you are not Dr. Bingley, as he visits our house quite a bit these days.”

  The man’s face lit up with a wide grin. “Yes, I am, and you must be Jane’s sister, Dr. Elizabeth Bennett, the maths professor. Charles speaks of you often. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

  “I’m sure the pleasure is all mine, Dr. Darcy, and yes, I am Jane’s sister,” she said, offering her hand.

  “Do you need to return to Clemons Hall now or do you have a moment?” he asked as he took her hand and gently shook it.

  “Well, I usually take this time of day for a personal study period. Today though, I think I will forgo the lesson.”

  “Oh? And what subject would a mathematician spend her personal time studying? Some equations in theoretical physics on some research grant?” He gestured with his hand as they took a seat.

  “No, nothing like that.” She laughed. “Teaching math is enough for me. I’ve studied it all I want to. Now, I’m pursuing things that I would’ve liked to have done, but could not for lack of time.”

  “And what would that be?” he asked with a teasing grin.

  “Well, if you must know, I’m trying to relearn Greek grammar. I’m afraid I didn’t pay attention when I was first learning it, and now I want to read some original works, so I need to start all over again.” By the look on his face, she knew she’d surprised him.

  “When did you first have a course in that subject?”

  “In high school. My father hired a tutor for us. But I’m afraid at the time I was not ready for the rigors of the subject. I was more interested in what was going on outside of my window.” She chuckled softly. “My mother and father had a great love for learning and desired to pass it on to us, and for the most part, they did.” She paused for a sip of coffee. “They believed that history and the works of great men should be read from primary sources. That’s why they wanted us to learn Greek and Latin. I loved Latin, and I’m decent with it, but I found Greek to be tedious. I’m afraid I still do.” She sighed. “I will admit I’m having a difficult time with it.”

  “Dr. Bennett, I’m teaching that very subject this semester. I would be more than happy to help you sometime. Your sister often invites me over, but I haven’t taken her up on it as I didn’t want to be in their way. Two’s company and three’s a crowd and all that.” He flashed a bright smile. “Perhaps sometime I could come over, and we could work on your Greek lesson together.”

  “Well, perhaps. Jane was supposed to help me, but your friend seems to be occupying most of her time.” Puzzled by his offer, but not entirely put off by it, she sipped her coffee as she stared across the table at the tall dark-haired man with the gorgeous chocolate eyes—eyes that with very little effort she knew she could become devoured by. Savoring another sip, she glanced down at her watch, realizing her next class was about to begin. Where had the time gone?

  “Umm…this coffee is so good. Peppermint Mocha is my favorite, but I’ll have to take it with me. My class begins in fifteen minutes. Thank you for your offer, Dr. Darcy. I’ll let you know should I need any help, but it’s time for me to head back to Clemons,” she said with a warm smile as she rose from her seat. “I’ve enjoyed our conversation. Perhaps we’ll meet again.”

  “Perhaps.” He returned her smile while getting up to see her to the door.

  ~*~

  They didn’t see each other at the coffee shop on Friday or Monday, therefore Elizabeth seemed pleasantly surprised to find Dr. Darcy there again on Tuesday. He grinned as he approached the counter where she stood waiting to order her coffee.

  “Dr. Bennett, it’s so pleasant to see you today. I enjoyed our conversation the last time we spoke, and I’ve looked forward to another, but I’ve been extremely busy with my classes this term. I’m afraid I’m a little rusty with my Latin. I have a wonderful group of students who keep me on my toes, but my other classes are progressing quite well. How are your Greek lessons coming along?”

  “Well enough, I suppose, but the next chapter is going to give me trouble, I can tell.” She indicated to the young man behind the counter that she would have her usual.

  “And why might that be?” Darcy asked as he paid the boy for his and Dr. Bennett’s coffee.

  “Infinitives and participles. I’m confused on their usage, and it seems Jane, as usual, is too busy with Dr. Bingley to help me.” She smiled. “I’m also confused by the accent marks. They appear to be random. They don’t follow any logical rule that I can see,” she said, tak
ing her coffee and walking in the direction of a small table for two.

  “No, that’s not quite right. It actually does follow a rule. You simply have to determine the pattern. The diphthongs appear to be random, but in actuality, they are not.” He paused for a moment. “Dr. Bennett, I’ve told you I would be more than happy to help you with Greek if you’ll only ask. I’ll help you with the ebb and flow. You’ll soon catch on.” Darcy set his coffee down and helped her into her seat, catching the scent of her perfume. Roses… My favorite!

  “Well then, consider yourself asked, because I really want to learn this,” she said, taking a sip of her coffee as he took his seat.

  “In that case, would you like to have dinner with me tonight? Then we could go over the basic structure of the lesson afterwards at your house or mine, whichever you prefer.”

  “Well, since you’re kind enough to offer a poor damsel in distress your services, I’d love to, and my house would be preferable. Is five o’clock too soon?”

  “No, five o’clock is perfect. That should give us plenty of time to eat and go over the lesson. The lesson you’re having problems with is really not that complicated, but it does need to be explained. I’m sure you’ll catch on rather quickly.” Darcy thought how incredibly beautiful she was with her dark ringlets framing her face.

  “I’m usually very good at figuring things out, but this chapter is not so clear. I really do appreciate your taking the trouble to help me.”

  “It’s no problem at all, I assure you. I don’t mind in the least.” …Not in the least.

  They sat and drank their coffee, talking about many things including the Cumberland Plateau and England. He told her about his home county of Derbyshire, and she revealed a little about her home, Longbourn. Before each had realized where the time had gone, their forty-five minutes were up.

  Darcy wanted to spend a little more time with her. Summoning his courage, he asked, “Dr. Bennett, I have a two hour block of time starting at noon. When are you free?”

  “Please, do call me Elizabeth. May I call you by your given name?” she asked. “And I have the same timeslot available. My afternoon class begins at 2:20.”

  “Elizabeth,” he whispered, “such a lovely name. My friends at the university call me William. Since you’re free, will you meet me at the UC for lunch?” He beamed, momentarily glancing from her eyes to her lips, wondering what it might be like to kiss her.

  “I believe I can arrange it.”

  He held the door for her as they walked out of the building, each returning to their respective halls.

  ~*~

  The fifty-minute long class felt like an eternity as time slowly ground down. When class was finally over and the last student cleared the room, Elizabeth hurriedly dropped her books off at her office and made her way to the UC. Darcy was already waiting when she entered. They ordered their lunch and left for a secluded area, settling in to eat and have a pleasant conversation.

  They easily conversed on many subjects, including history, literature, philosophy, and some current affairs. It gave them the opportunity to discover that they liked many of the same things, but her knowledge of the great philosophers was limited. Still, Elizabeth gained much from his insight into philosophy and also realized that they shared a common love for the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

  “Elizabeth, tell me which of Tolkien’s works are your favorite?”

  “Without a doubt it would be The Silmarillion, with a close second being The Children of Hurin followed by The Lord of the Rings. Which are your favorites?”

  “Mine are the very same. I just recently finished The Children of Hurin. I enjoyed it very much. However, they all mesh together, giving you a complete look into Tolkien’s world. That’s why I recommend reading them in order,” he said with a broad smile. “Did you realize that Tolkien was never able to publish The Silmarillion in his lifetime? His son completed the manuscript and published the book after his father’s death. It was a difficult go getting his work published.”

  “Indeed it was. It seemed no one wanted to take the chance. It’s all about money, you know,” she said matter-of-factly as she lifted her sandwich.

  “Yes, but Tolkien pioneered the way for other great authors to be published. I believe, had it not been for him, others might not have been published.”

  “I agree.” She nodded. “But his hard work facilitated the progress for fellow fantasy author C.S. Lewis, and together they paved the way for J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, which will probably go down in the chronicles of literary history as the best creative fiction of the 21st century. She did a fantastic job!” Elizabeth excitedly replied.

  “Yes, she did. It is an original concept based on many classical elements. In my opinion, she ranks among Lewis and Tolkien now.”

  “On that, we both agree. Now, what do you think of Gothic literature?”

  “I find the subject very interesting. Do you have a specific author in mind?”

  “Yes, I do—William Faulkner. He’s considered one of the leading Southern Gothic writers of our time. I have many first editions of his work. You know that his writing is considered difficult to understand because of his heavy use of literary techniques. But I think that is what made his work so exceptional. Consider his short story A Rose for Emily. I think that one story has much to say that is relevant to us as readers. What do you think?”

  “I think Faulkner was an extraordinary writer, especially in his use of symbolism, allegory, multiple narrators and points of view, as well as deep streams of consciousness.” Darcy tilted his head, gazing at her quizzically. “But I’m not sure I catch your meaning with regard to A Rose for Emily.”

  “Well,” her lips curled softly, “Faulkner is showing us, through multiple first person points of view, how a controlling father can affect the lives of his children, or in this case, child. Emily was slowly driven insane by a series of events, beginning with a father who controlled every aspect of her life. He drove away all of her suitors. Do you not agree that a controlling father can be detrimental to the health and happiness of his children?”

  Darcy pondered her challenge. “Yes, I suppose that could be true,” he cautiously responded. “Children do not flourish well under such circumstances, but there does come a time when the child becomes an adult, and then that child is responsible for his or her own choices. Just because one has a difficult childhood doesn’t mean that they cannot be a normal adult.” Discussing the ramifications of a controlling father on adult children was decidedly not something Darcy wanted to pursue.

  “Oh, I’m not saying they cannot be normal, but only that they have a difficult time overcoming their past. They often hide from the past instead of facing it, or as in Emily’s case, eventually become incapable of having normal feelings.”

  The conversation had taken an uncomfortable turn. “You may very well be right, but that particular story is one I have little interest in. Now, if you don’t mind, let’s talk of other things. I’d like to know your views on the works of some of the Latin scholars,” he said, clearly relieved to be back on more comfortable ground. But nevertheless, A Rose for Emily stung as he contemplated its meaning while thinking of himself, David, and Georgiana.

  Their two-hour lunch break slipped by quickly as they discussed many things. The only subject Elizabeth did not care for was business, especially international business. Darcy figured four out of five wasn’t bad, and perhaps it was best she knew so little, or had no interest in that topic. He was not intentionally hiding that part of himself, but he wasn’t yet ready to disclose it, either. He wanted to get to know her much better before revealing who he really was. If they were to develop a meaningful relationship, it would have to be based on more than a physical attraction, his legacy as the Darcy heir, or his money. He wanted her to like him, possibly love him, for the person he was, apart from his world of money and high society.

  For his part, there was no denying that he was attracted to her, and not only for her look
s, but her beautiful mind as well. He was attracted to the entire package as he was beginning to realize that she might possibly be everything he had searched for. She was beautiful, intelligent, and shared many of his interests. She also provided the most stimulating and intelligent conversation on the subjects he loved that he’d had in many years. Everything about her he found enticing and alluring—her smile, her sparkling eyes, her beautiful hair, and her well-proportioned figure—especially her figure. Try as he might, he couldn’t help from wondering what it might feel like to hold her, to kiss her, to feel her body pressed against his—to lie beneath him. For the first time in a long time, desire was beginning to stir.

  ~*~

  That night they had dinner at the local Italian restaurant where they continued with their lively conversations. After dinner he helped her over her hurdle with Greek. It was only a minor problem which, when explained, enabled her to finish her work. He didn’t stay long after the lesson.

  Elizabeth walked him to the door, her face slightly upturned. When he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek, she couldn’t effectively hide her surprise. He smiled when he realized that she had wanted more, but he would wait until he was sure the time was right. When he really kissed her, he wanted it to be memorable for the both of them, keeping in mind that anticipation made the reward so much sweeter. He intended to take this romance slowly, if there was to be one, for he had learned from past experience to be cautious. Having been burnt once, he didn’t intend for it to happen again.