by J Dawn King
his attentions until we can come up with an alternative plan.”
“But what of your aunt, sir? If she thinks you have an interest in a young woman not her daughter, will she not attempt to find her for the purpose of causing dissension?” He heard her concern.
“Yes, it is exactly how I expect events to take place, but do not be anxious.” Darcy tried to reassure her. “I am my own master.”
“Sir, she will come to Hertfordshire, will she not?”
“I imagine so.”
“And she will find you have formed no attachment to a lady.” As soon as she said it, she put her hand to her mouth. “Sir, I offer my apologies. In my concern for my own problems, I wrongly assumed you were speaking of me. I failed to give credence to the possibility of you courting Miss Bingley. If Miss Bingley becomes aware of our meeting this morning or the extent you are going to provide assistance to me, it could cause difficulty. I am truly sorry.”
He was shocked. She thought he was courting Caroline Bingley? He shuddered again, shaking his head as he did so. Never!
“No, Miss Elizabeth, I am not attached to Miss Bingley.” He was quick to reassure her and realized it reassured himself as well. Never! He exhaled quickly getting back on point. “It is my opinion that Lady Catherine will direct Mr. Collins to focus his attentions elsewhere rather than on the Bennet family if she sees that I am taken with you.”
“But you are not ‘taken’ with me, sir.” Elizabeth’s breathing quickened and a blush appeared on her cheeks.
“Am I not?” He could not keep from smiling.
***
Elizabeth’s heart thundered at the thought that he might actually be attracted to her. He was all that a young man should be. His kindness drew her to him and gave her hope of future felicity. He was compassionate towards his sister and honorable towards her. The last thought gave her pause. Yes, he was chivalrous enough to seek her best interest ahead of his own. Never had she met a man like him.
But, why? Why would he rouse the expectations of both his relatives and hers? She carefully pondered his motives. Suddenly it dawned on her.
She took a small step closer. “Oh, you!” She could see what he was up to. “You are a calculating man, Mr. Darcy. For if Lady Catherine, with Mr. Collins in tow, comes to Longbourn, she will take her anger out on me as well as you. However, if we stand together as one, she will be forced to accept your point, that you will not marry her daughter. I will be without an offer of marriage by Mr. Collins as he would not go against his patroness. Thus, we
will both, after the initial confrontation with your aunt, be free of unwanted entanglements.”
It was a good plan. It bothered her not that she would face the ire of such a great lady. She would do anything to not have to marry Mr. Collins.
“As well, since this was of your doing, my father and mother will be disappointed at the loss of such a prospect, but their anger will not be directed towards me. My mother, in particular, would never expect a man of your stature to show any interest to any daughter other than Jane so there would be no fear of her trying attach my name to yours.” Elizabeth paused as she considered the consequences of such a course. “Once this is done, you can depart from Hertfordshire as a free man, sir. You will have performed a service to me, which you feel you owe due to my kindness to Miss Darcy. We will be even. Justice will have been served.” She clasped her hands together and a smile lit her face. “What a master plan you have thought of, Mr. Darcy. Superior!”
Her mask settled firmly into place.
Elizabeth’s heart ached. Having him leave without any hope of seeing him again was suddenly excruciating. Unexpectedly, she wanted to cry rather than smile. In truth, she yearned for her name to be connected to his. Elizabeth remembered how he had held his sister at the churchyard. He had personal qualities that appealed to her as no other had. She longed to sigh, to clasp her arms over her chest to ward off the pain. She did not. Elizabeth had to accept that her future was even more uncertain than before.
***
He appreciated her quick mind. She had worked out the finer details and calculated the expected results of putting this into action.
“We can, then, let our families know there will be no courtship between us.” Elizabeth spoke, her voice sounding flat to his ears.
“There will not?” He was surprised at the emotions surging through his chest at the thought. Where had that come from?
Her head tilted to the side, a look of confusion on her face. Then she laughed. “You are teasing me, sir. You are a great man of elevated rank and I am merely a country gentleman’s daughter. For a certainty there would be no courtship.”
Elizabeth’s laughter stilled when she noted he had not joined in her merriment. She shook her head and her voice became quieter as she spoke, her face looking at the ground. “I misspoke, did I not?” She looked directly at him. “I do not understand.”
***
She was a young woman of courage and valor. In Derbyshire and both times in Hertfordshire when Darcy had occasion to be with her he learned qualities and characteristics that appealed to him. She had integrity, something he had been taught by his father to cherish in another man. He never thought to find it in a woman.
“Miss Elizabeth, it is my turn to offer my apologies.” He reached over and touched her arm, surprising even him. He had never touched a woman unrelated to him in such a way. “You were quite correct in your assumption of how I expect matters to take place. That you have been made to feel unworthy, in any way, was not my intention.” Darcy wondered at how to express the thought that was streaming through his brain and wished for Bingley’s easy ability with words. “I am a gentleman and you are a gentleman’s daughter. Thus, we are equal. I would be delighted, and so would my sister, if we could count you as a friend.”
He wondered how she would respond.
“A friend.” She whispered.
Darcy waited.
Elizabeth’s chin lifted and resolution shot from her eyes. She smiled up at him. “Then, Mr. Darcy, I shall deliberately slow my walk this morning so I return to Longbourn after you have had opportunity to speak with my father’s cousin.” She stepped towards him and curtseyed. “Safe travels, Mr. Darcy. I shall see you at my home.”
He took her hand and bowed over it, wondering if she felt the sparks that flew between them as soon as his gloved hand touched hers. What had happened here?
CHAPTER FOUR
“Mr. Darcy to see you, sir.”
William Collins had taken a large portion of the sliced ham and shoved it in his mouth immediately prior to Darcy being announced. The presence of the wad of food caused him such incertitude that, in the end, he did nothing. He did not chew, nor did he swallow. The rector sat with his mouth open. To an onlooker, it was an unpleasant sight.
Mr. Hill rolled his eyes and grabbed a chamber pot from the cupboard kept in the dining room for the men to use when the ladies were dismissed after a meal. The servant wiped the dust from the rim and presented it to the clergyman.
“Stand away!” Once he had been relieved of the mass of meat, Mr. Collins yelled his command at the man who had come to his aid. “What are you about? Do you not know that the nephew of my patroness is awaiting me?” He stood so rapidly the chair threatened to tip backwards, but was saved by the steady hands of the butler. “Do you not understand, man? For such a great man to seek me out so early in the day, there must be a matter of some urgency that begs for my humble expertise.” Mr. Collins smacked his lips together and stood taller at the thought of Mr. Darcy being reliant on his good counsel.
Mr. Hill did indeed step aside and watched the rector march purposefully into the drawing room. He shook his head and went about his duties.
***
“Mr. Darcy, you have come seeking advice? Spiritual wisdom?” Mr. Collins started bowing to the taller man as soon as he entered the room. It was an odd sort of movement, this stepping forward and bending at the waist, reminiscent of a hen bob
bing its head up and down as it scratched and pecked at the ground for food.
Darcy waited until Mr. Collins stood in front of him. The nerve of the man! Seeking advice or counsel from a fool? Never! “Be seated, Mr. Collins. I have a matter concerning my aunt which, I believe, requires your immediate attention.”
He sat.
“Mr. Darcy, you should know I would do anything within my power to aid my patroness. I feel the pain of my neglect of being in her presence most acutely. Anything you say is my first priority.” Mr. Collins attempted to bow again, his movements ungainly in his seated position.
“By this evening, Lady Catherine will receive a letter by express stating my intention to pursue a courtship with a lady other than my cousin, Anne de Bourgh.”
“But, sir!”
“It has solely been Lady Catherine who planned a marriage between Anne and myself. I am my own master and Anne has never wanted to remove herself from Rosings to my home in Derbyshire.”
“But, sir!” He raised his right hand and sat forward on the chair.
“Though I understand you are in Hertfordshire to pursue your own happiness by establishing an engagement with one of your cousin’s daughters, I am convinced that, under these circumstances, Lady Catherine would not condone you putting your own desires ahead of her needs, do you not agree?”
“Certainly, sir. But…” Mr. Collins put both hands on the arms of his chair as if to launch himself from it at the first opportunity.
“Furthermore, since you are the person who would be last in my company, I feel my aunt will interrogate you for details of my decision, thus I ask that you pay particular attention as I do not want to repeat myself.”
Darcy continued with the information he had prepared on the short ride after seeing Elizabeth. It had been his intention to convince Mr. Collins that Elizabeth would not be a good wife for a minister who was under the thumb of his aunt, thus motivating him to refuse to offer for her. However, he could not speak of her in such a way.
“Both my sister and I have been acquainted with the young woman for several months. We met in Derbyshire. She is my equal.” He paused thinking of the qualities he admired in Elizabeth. “In all my years, I have never met such an accomplished woman. She is kind, loyal, intelligent, approachable, and empathetic. Her beauty is unparalleled and, above all women in the Kingdom, she is gracious.”
Darcy paused to allow Mr. Collins the opportunity to remember all he said. He waited until the man finished mouthing the words Darcy had just spoken. Finally, the rector spoke.
“You will not marry Miss de Bourgh?”
“I will not.”
“You are set on disappointing my patroness?”
“I am.”
Mr. Collins shook his head in disbelief. “You will marry this woman then?”
It was an impertinent question that Darcy excused due to the stress of the situation. He could see the gathered perspiration across the man’s forehead start to run down the bridge of his nose like rivulets of rain on a window. Darcy well knew the challenge of trying to change Lady Catherine’s mind and envied the clergyman not one bit.
“If I can convince her I am worthy, Mr. Collins.” Darcy felt the truth of the statement in his heart. As the months had passed and he witnessed his sister’s metamorphosis from a damaged heart to a contented one, his thoughts had regularly drifted to the conversation at the churchyard. Little in his world was kind. He longed to have Elizabeth’s companionship and see her smile for the rest of his life.
He would speak no more of Elizabeth to the rector, but his thoughts justified all he said about her. In the two years left until Georgiana’s come out for the London season, he needed a woman by his side who would provide tender care and good principles. He wanted Elizabeth.
“Sir! Mr. Darcy, I cannot keep myself from offering the opinion that there is no woman who more qualifies as the ‘jewel’ of England than Miss Anne de Bourgh. She has all the accomplishments of a woman of elevated rank. Whomever you have chosen must have used her arts and allurements for you to set such a woman as your cousin aside. I beg you rethink your decision for I cannot see Lady Catherine de Bourgh finding agreement with your purpose.”
“I am decided.” Darcy was ready to end the conversation and get the parson on the road to his aunt’s home at Rosings Park. He turned away from Mr. Collins and walked to the window that looked out over the front of the house. “My carriage has arrived and will take you to the north road where you can catch the post coach for Kent. My driver will wait until you are on your way and will provide the fare so there is no inconvenience to you.”
Mr. Collins was confounded. Never had Lady Catherine been as conscious of his personal care. Nevertheless, the rector was unconcerned that Mr. Darcy might be hurt in the process of fulfilling his new mission. He knew in his heart that the superior wisdom of Lady Catherine would prevail. Thus, he vowed to keep any reservations to himself.
“Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Collins started the bowing movement he had used when he entered the room. “You are truly a man among men, sir. I will gather my belongings and remove myself from Hertfordshire immediately.”
Going to the doorway, Mr. Collins summoned Mr. Hill with demands for speed in packing his trunk. Unbeknownst to the rector, Mr. Darcy had made the same request, though much more calmly done, when he had first arrived at Longbourn. Thus it was only the time it took for Mr. Collins to walk out the door and enter the carriage before he was on his way.
Darcy waited in the opened doorway, wondering when Elizabeth would arrive from her walk. He heard footsteps approaching him from behind. He turned and found Mr. Bennet trying to look around him to see what the disturbance was.
“Pardon me, Mr. Darcy, but I do believe your carriage has departed without you.”
Darcy knew men such as Mr. Bennet. They found much delight in finding humor at the foibles of others. It provided them an elevated view of their own intelligence.
Before Darcy could satisfy Mr. Bennet’s curiosity, Elizabeth attempted to walk into the house. The men were still standing in the doorway.
“Mr. Darcy. Papa.” Elizabeth curtseyed to both gentlemen.
Darcy had observed her standing at the front corner of the house when Mr. Collins had walked out. He appreciated her wisdom in waiting until the rector was gone.
Both gentlemen stepped back to allow Elizabeth to enter.
“Elizabeth, you walked out this morning?” Mr. Bennet had been waiting in his book room for Mr. Collins to approach him with a request for his second daughter’s hand in marriage. Only then would Longbourn be secured for his wife and other daughters should his demise come earlier than he planned.
“Yes, Papa.”
“Did you not have an appointment with my cousin?” Yes, Mr. Bennet knew Elizabeth was displeased with the arrangement. However, she was not above her sisters and any other of them, with the possible exception of Lydia, would have accepted their fate with far less rancor than Elizabeth endeavored not to display.
“Yes, Papa.” Elizabeth spoke directly to her father. “I noted it was Mr. Collins’s habit to rise late of a morning. With the hour we returned home, I did not expect him to be up and about. Is he, sir?”
“Any why are you here so early young man?” Mr. Bennet had not been notified by Hill that they had visitors. It was an oversight he would not fail to correct.
“Mr. Bennet, I apologize for not seeking you out upon my arrival. It was imperative I come to Longbourn before visiting hours to share some information with Mr. Collins that required his immediate return to my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. If the matter had not been of a volatile nature which will cause her tremendous consternation, I would not have done so.”
“But, sir!” Mr. Bennet was at first furious that his plans had been thwarted, and then pragmatic. Mr. Collins had made his selection from the Bennet daughters and Mr. Bennet had agreed that keeping Elizabeth in his home was preferable to having any other of his daughters in his old age. It was his intent
ion to have Mrs. and Mrs. Collins live at Longbourn after their marriage so that little would change of his daily routine. He expected Elizabeth to keep her husband out of the bookroom. Since he had shared his hopes with his cousin, he was confident Mr. Collins would be back, so confident that he could tolerate a short delay of the betrothal. “Very well, Mr. Darcy.”
Mr. Bennet turned away from the couple and left them in the entrance hall.
***
Elizabeth was curious to how events had taken place. She stood her ground when Darcy stepped closer. Keeping his voice soft, he related in detail his conversation with the rector.
“But, Mr. Darcy, sir,” Elizabeth was confused. “You did not identify me as the woman you chose to pursue. I understood this was your intention.”
“You are correct, Miss Elizabeth.” Darcy looked into her sparkling eyes as his own softened. “Nonetheless, I could not direct my aunt’s ire towards you and your household. It would hardly be fair repayment to have done so. Therefore, I reconsidered my words on my ride to Longbourn after I left you.”