“All isn’t as it seems,” Elizabeth murmured, frustration making her feel hot inside. She worried that she might be blushing. “What Darcy does in the presence of society is calculated to please others and to keep them from speaking ill of him. His behavior isn’t the same when we’re alone.”
“He’s cold to you?”
“He’s not cold. He’s distant. He’s always a gentleman, but he doesn’t hold conversations with me and I don’t know any of his thoughts. It’s impossible to understand someone if they refuse to speak more than a few words to you.”
Jane was quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, it was to tell Elizabeth about her garden and how the new flowers were blooming despite the cloudy days they had been experiencing. Elizabeth listened in silence, wishing she knew how to get Darcy to speak more openly with her.
Chapter 3
“I am dismayed, Charlotte, and I need advice.”
Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s dearest friend, leaned over the table, pouring hot water into the tea cup, stirring, and moving it so it was in front of Elizabeth. The young Miss Bennet had come to Meryton to spend time with her good friends, the Lucas family, along with her mother, who was good friends with Mrs. Lucas. The older women were walking in the garden, arm in arm, most likely chatting about the fates of their daughters.
“I will be happy to speak to you, Lizzy, but there is little chance I will have any good advice. I have not been married and have no prospects of that changing soon. My mother had hopes that the arrival of Mr. Bingley would change my situation. But, unfortunately, it is not me he is interested in dancing with.”
“You have danced with him.”
“Yes, but his choice was not in my favor.” Charlotte smiled at her. “You know this is true, my dear Lizzy, since you have spoken with your sister recently.” She giggled.
“You mean Jane. Yes, well, he may likely admire her but if she’s to be betrothed to him, it’s to her own detriment. Have you met his sisters, especially the elder of them? I remain suspicious that they are of low character and intelligence.”
“Oh, they’re quite clever, Lizzy, you must admit.”
“Clever.” Elizabeth nodded. “That’s a word I would use for them, most certainly. And not in a pleasant way. I suspect they will not be good for my sister.”
Charlotte raised her eyebrows. “You don’t think they’ll hurt her?”
“Not physically. But I am suspicious of them. They’re not trustworthy. I’ve seen the way Miss Bingley looks at me and it’s not a pleasant look.”
Charlotte snickered softly. “You’re to be married to Mr. Darcy. I’m certain she had her eye on him for a time. She’s jealous.”
“Her jealousy makes her unattractive. It’s no wonder that Darcy didn’t dance with her when asked.”
“Don’t forget, Mr. Darcy came to visit Derbyshire with the Bingleys. He traveled with them. I’m certain he knows of their nature and that’s why he showed her so very little attention.”
Elizabeth snorted in an unladylike fashion, making Charlotte grin wide. “He showed attention only to Mr. Bingley. I didn’t see him giving his name for any dance cards the first few parties he attended where I was present. He certainly didn’t dance with me. In fact, he insulted me quite openly.”
“You were at them all.”
Elizabeth nodded. “My point is made.”
“Yet he does have a right to be prideful. He’s wealthy and comes from a good family.”
“That may be true. But his behavior didn’t give me a good first impression of him.”
Charlotte leaned over and picked up another small biscuit. She used a small knife to spread red jam on the surface. “He hurt you on your initial meeting, didn’t he? He hurt your pride.”
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, Elizabeth had to nod. “It’s true, he did mortify my pride. But it’s not only that he’s prideful, it’s that he treats those he deems less fortunate disdainfully. It continues to mortify me as I see him treating others with disregard. Now he’s to be my husband and his behavior reflects on me. He’s vain and it brings me embarrassment.”
“I do find it strange that your father would create this pain in your life. How could he insist that you marry a man you barely know and don’t like? It seems odd, bearing in mind how dear your father considers you to be. He’s always favored you over your sisters.”
“No, Charlotte.” Elizabeth shook her head. “You should not say such things.”
Charlotte shrugged her shoulders. “I speak the truth and I speak my mind. We share that trait, dear Lizzie. It’s not uncommon for us to disagree with each other, but you and I both know we will always be completely honest.”
Elizabeth sighed, nodding her head, sipping her tea slowly. “You do speak the truth, Charlotte. I thank you for that.”
“I’m your friend always. You will remember that?”
Elizabeth couldn’t help grinning. “Yes, dear. I will always remember that.”
Proving her good timing, Mrs. Bennet walked in with Mrs. Lucas at that moment. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “I was so hoping there would be hot tea and biscuits. You’re the perfect hostess, dear Miss Lucas.”
Charlotte smiled wide, standing up and offering her seat next to Elizabeth. “Please do sit, Mrs. Bennet. I trust you had a good walk in the garden with Mother?”
Mrs. Bennet moved her smile from Charlotte to Mrs. Lucas. “Ah, but it’s beginning to rain. I was so enjoying my time, examining your beautiful flowers. We saw many lovely flower beds as we walked from Longbourn, didn’t we, Lizzy?”
“Yes, Mother, we did.”
Mrs. Bennet declined to sit where Charlotte had been, gesturing that the girl should sit back down. She took a seat in a high-backed chair near the fireplace, so that she was facing her daughter and Charlotte. Mrs. Lucas sat in a chair a few feet away from Mrs. Bennet, after filling their tea cups with hot water and stirring in several sugar cubes. She offered milk to Mrs. Bennet, but the woman declined.
Mrs. Lucas handed the cup to Mrs. Bennet and took her seat, sipping the warm liquid. “Mrs. Lucas and I were just discussing Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley,” Mrs. Bennet said, her eyes on her daughter. “She’s curious to know how you’re doing with the former.”
“I am…” Elizabeth hesitated, not knowing what to say without sounding offensive or defensive. It was all the ladies spoke to her about. Since Mr. Darcy began courting her it was as though she herself had disappeared into the woodwork, no longer to be seen or heard from again. They weren’t interested in her opinions on anything other than the state of her courtship and how Mr. Darcy was faring since moving back to the area. She supposed she should be grateful that he had decided to move there temporarily until they were to be married. She would be living in Pemberley House when the time came. She knew that he had only chosen to stay because it was close enough to Longbourn to walk to. “I’m managing with my father’s decision the only way I know how. Mr. Darcy is a formidable man, who’s often more amiable to the face than his nature affords. He is intelligent and witty, and many women are now quite jealous of me, though I would beg them not to be for I have gained no prize.”
“Lizzy!” Mrs. Bennet said in a harsh voice, shaking her head. “You shouldn’t speak so of your future husband.”
“Husband or not, he’s at times troublesome to deal with.”
“You’re not happy with the arrangement?” Mrs. Lucas peeked out at her over the brim of her tea cup. Elizabeth couldn’t tell whether she meant to sound amused or not.
“Happy or not,” Elizabeth tried not to sound impertinent, as it might offend her mother further. “It’s my life and I’ll do my best to be happy. Father was only doing what he thought was best for me.”
“That’s correct, Lizzy.” Mrs. Bennet nodded. “You’re blessed to be given the opportunity to be wed to a handsome, wealthy young man. Why, I was just telling Mrs. Lucas as we walked that I can only hope for the best for my other daughters. It appears Mr. Bingley may be inter
ested in courting Jane.”
Elizabeth and Charlotte shared a look.
“Yes, we were discussing that, as well,” Charlotte said.
“Charlotte had been hoping for a dance with Mr. Bingley, but he chose Jane instead. She isn’t jealous over it, though.”
Charlotte shook her head. “Oh no. I can’t be jealous when we’re talking about Jane. She’s delightful and I couldn’t be happier for her. When a man comes for me, there will be no doubt of his affection. And I hope to return that affection in full. I don’t wish to be married to someone I can’t bear to have as a companion.” She turned immediately to Elizabeth and patted her hand. “Oh, I’m sorry, Lizzy, do forgive me. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t apologize, Charlotte. I’m sure that, in time, I’ll discover Mr. Darcy’s redeeming factors. In the meantime, I continue on as though I’m none the wiser.”
“Is it truly that bad, Lizzy?” Mrs. Bennet almost sounded regretful, and looked at her daughter with sympathetic eyes. “You do know that I don’t wish you unhappiness.”
“I know, Mother. You needn’t worry about me. I’m a strong woman, and all will be well in no time.”
Mrs. Bennet didn’t look convinced and, truth be told, Elizabeth had failed to convince even herself with the last part of her sentence.
Chapter 4
For days, all Elizabeth thought about was going to see her aunt. She hadn’t spoken to her aunt since her last visit on holiday, and didn’t want to wait until the next one to see her. She was exceedingly pleased that Mrs. Gardiner had come to visit and stay for her wedding, which would be taking place the next day. They sat together for a spot of tea in the drawing room of Longbourn, comfortable and content in front of the fire.
“Christmas is approaching, my dear aunt,” Elizabeth said, offering a small cookie to Mrs. Gardiner, who was the most amiable relative Elizabeth had. “I’m delighted to see you sooner, as I’ve been thinking about you and needing your advice more than you know.”
Mrs. Gardiner leaned forward, a look of understanding on her face. “You’re nervous about your wedding. It’s natural, my dear. Don’t be afraid, all will be well. Where’s your family?”
Elizabeth blushed, her pretty cheeks flushing a dark pink. “They’ve gone to Meryton to shop. I must say I never expected to be in a marriage that wasn’t of my choosing. Mr. Darcy is an intelligent and handsome man, but he does have flaws that annoy me to no end. I don’t know how to deal with them.”
Mrs. Gardiner suppressed a smile. “My dear niece, all men have flaws. In fact, we all have flaws, whether we’re male or female. They must deal with ours and we must deal with theirs. It’s the law of nature. It’s the way things are and have to be.”
Elizabeth sighed in a frustrated way, and her aunt could no longer suppress her smile. She lifted her tea cup and took a sip. When she set the cup back down, she clasped her hands in her lap and spoke softly. “Lizzy, you’re a bright and sensible young woman. I know your father was only doing what he thought was best for you and for the family when he arranged this for you. There must have been something he saw in Mr. Darcy that would make him believe you would be a good match for the young man. Have you looked past Mr. Darcy’s idiosyncrasies in an attempt to discover what that might have been? Your father knows you well. It may be that he felt Mr. Darcy might have been taken by another lady before any of his daughters had a chance with him. Kitty and Lydia are too young and much too immature for a young man such as Mr. Darcy. Jane has already expressed her admiration for Mr. Bingley, and Mary is too quiet, always with her nose in a book. Mr. Darcy wouldn’t have been attracted to that. Do you agree?”
Elizabeth nodded. “I do agree. But…”
Mrs. Gardiner leaned forward and put her hand on Elizabeth’s, shaking her head. “There can be no buts, my dear. What’s done is done. You will marry Mr. Darcy and you must find a way to get along with him.”
“Oh my!” Elizabeth exclaimed, pressing her hands together in her lap. “He’s just so arrogant! It’s difficult for me to deal with!”
“Is he cruel to you?” There was a note of warning in Mrs. Gardiner’s voice. Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and she shook her head.
“No, not at all. He’s always a gentleman. I must say, on first meeting him I found him quite charming. But my feelings were changed quickly. It’s the way he speaks of others, the way he looks down on those who aren’t wealthy. I believe he often forgets that I don’t come from a wealthy family and that we’ll be quite dependent on him.”
“He doesn’t speak ill of your father, does he? Or your mother?”
“No.” Again, Elizabeth shook her head. “No, he’s quite amiable when speaking to both Mother and Father.”
“Then, my dear, you must give him a chance to prove that he can be the man he needs to be for you.”
“How do I do that? I can’t get past his vanity. It’s often more than I can bear.”
“You’re strong, as I have mentioned. You’re a stubborn girl. This we all know. You know it, as well. Because you will be married to him, you’re obligated to reconsider. Is this something you believe you can do? I have faith in you, Lizzy. I know you’ll have a change of heart if you allow yourself to do so.”
Elizabeth stood up abruptly and crossed the room to stand in front of the window. She stared out over the landscape, deep in thought. Mrs. Gardiner watched her, unsure of what to say next. She stood up and went to her niece, placing one arm around the girl’s waist.
“Perhaps we should speak of something else, Lizzy. You look distraught and I don’t like to see you in such a way.”
Elizabeth looked at her gratefully. “Yes, dear aunt, let’s. What shall we talk about?”
“Why don’t you tell me more about Jane’s infatuation with this young Mr. Bingley? I have correspondence from both her and you, but she doesn’t go into a great deal of detail, and you don’t speak of the business of your sister other than your own thoughts on the matter.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I worry about her. She’s very much in love with him, but I don’t see that same feeling from him to her. His sisters cause a great deal of chaos in the relationship.”
“Oh? How so?”
The two women moved away from the window and returned to the couch, where they sat comfortably, warmed by the fire to their side. “It’s complicated, as I seem to be the only one who understands what they’re like. Darcy often goes to visit them and reports back to me that they speak incessantly about Jane and not in the most flattering of ways.”
“Oh dear,” was all Mrs. Gardiner could say.
“Yes. It disturbs me that they speak of her that way, and Darcy doesn’t report that Mr. Bingley has anything to say in rebuttal.”
“That’s not a good situation. Should Jane marry this young man, she’ll have to contend with those girls on a frequent basis. They sound very unpleasant.”
“Oh, if you see them, they won’t give you that impression. They know to behave and calm their mouths when they’re in the presence of their elders or those who wouldn’t care for such talk. But they’re callous and stupid, making them unaware that their words carry and are repeated by others who don’t care for them.”
“So, Mr. Darcy also doesn’t care for them?”
“He finds them quite shallow, from what he’s told me. I knew from the moment I met them that they weren’t of good character. Jane insists that they are, and I’ve only seen them treat her kindly to her face. But when she’s not there, Darcy says they’re quite the opposite. I can’t speak to Jane openly about it because she won’t listen. She becomes quite offended when I try to counsel her about it.”
Mrs. Gardiner nodded. “I understand that. She’s quite in love with Mr. Bingley. She won’t see what she doesn’t want to see.”
Elizabeth returned the nod. “Yes, and she doesn’t notice much when they’re together. Her eyes are on him and no one else. She hears only his voice and longs only for his touch.
”
“I suppose we can’t truly hope for a union between them.” Her aunt looked sad, and shook her head. “What a pity. Your father and mother are longing for a match for Jane. She’s their oldest daughter and such a beautiful young lady. She deserves a young man who adores her beyond reproach.”
“Yes, she does,” Elizabeth agreed. “No one should speak ill of her.”
“Do you know what they’re saying of her?”
“Darcy reports that they mention her lack of money on a frequent basis. They say that, since she wasn’t raised with wealth, she won’t know how to behave in society. I believe they’ve also been introducing their friends to their brother, in order to distract his attention.”
“And how does he behave?”
“I haven’t been present when his sisters have discussed the matter. I have noticed, however, that Mr. Bingley has been quite inattentive to others when she’s around. He chooses to dance with her or not dance at all. He seemed quite engrossed with her, giving her the attention she so craves. I know it brings her hopes up and I worry that it will all come down on her in the end and that he’ll hurt her. I don’t want him to hurt her.”
Mrs. Gardiner nodded. “All we can do is watch after her. If something should happen to dash her hopes, we must be there to console her. You’ll be needed. I know that you’ll open yourself to her if this should happen.”
“I will, my dear aunt. I’ll always be by Jane’s side in any circumstance she might suffer through, as she has been here for me during my time of distress.”
Mrs. Gardiner giggled. Elizabeth’s “time of distress” was being forced to marry to a wealthy, handsome yet arrogant, young man. She could think of many worse scenarios for her niece to go through.
Chapter 5
After the departure of her aunt Elizabeth stayed in the drawing room, wishing she wasn’t alone. She had been left alone to deal with her thoughts. Her family hadn’t left her behind on purpose. She had declined going to town and was glad she had, since her aunt had paid her a special visit before going to town to settle in for the next week. Why she had chosen to stay in town and not at Longbourn was a mystery to Elizabeth.
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