by Ola Wegner
Elizabeth sighed softly and nodded her head into his chest. Darcy rubbed her back and hugged her tighter to himself.
* * *
To Mrs. Bennet’s great distress, Lydia refused to apologize Darcy. She still stubbornly insisted on going to Brighton, and no argument could convince her of the impropriety of such trip merely two months after her father’s funeral. Mrs. Bennet, who first tried pleading, and later threatening Lydia, soon went into hysterics, pronouncing her to be the most ungrateful of all her children, ready to ruin the future of all of them because of her whims and caprices.
It was Jane who interceded, sending Mary and Kitty with Mrs. Bennet to her room to calm their mother. Lydia was locked in her room without dinner. Jane announced firmly to her that she was not to leave it until she agreed to apologize to Mr. Darcy. Furthermore, Jane ensured her youngest sister that she would write to Mrs. Forster herself informing her that her dear friend would not be able accept her kind invitation.
The very next day, Lydia was still locked upstairs as she stubbornly refused to cooperate. She was given just bread and milk instead of proper breakfast. It was early afternoon, and the rest of the ladies were sitting in the parlor, expecting Mr. Darcy or Mr. Bingley, or preferably both of them to call on such a pleasant, sunny day.
To their great surprise, a grand carriage pulled in front of the main entrance. Soon Mr. Darcy emerged, handing down two elegant ladies.
“It must be Miss Darcy, but who is the older lady? Perhaps someone from Mr. Darcy’s family?” Kitty cried excitedly, peeking from behind the curtains to see better.
“Oh, Kitty, child, come back here! They will enter any second, and they cannot see you peeping on them through the window!” Mrs. Bennet hissed nervously.
The moment Kitty returned to her place, sitting next to Mary and taking back her needlework into her hands, Mr. Darcy and his companions entered.
The Bennet ladies stood up while Darcy turned to Mrs. Bennet and spoke formally. “Madam, may I introduce my aunt, Lady Matlock, and my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy.”
Mrs. Bennet curtseyed with elegant dignity and spoke in a well measured, pleasant voice. “Lady Matlock, Miss Darcy, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Welcome to our home.”
Darcy stared with wide eyes at his future mother-in-law as if he had seen her for the first time in his life, but he soon recollected himself and finished the introductions. “Aunt, Georgiana, may I present Miss Bennet, Miss Mary Bennet, Miss Catherine Bennet, and my intended, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Elizabeth was the last to curtsey, and the eyes of both Miss Darcy and Lady Matlock rested on her with rather ill hidden curiosity. She returned their gazes with a shy smile, her eyes sparkling warmly.
Mrs. Bennet’s calm voice was heard. “Lady Matlock, Miss Darcy, would you please be seated?” She gestured to a comfortable sofa. “May I offer some tea and refreshments?”
Lady Matlock took her seat, speaking kindly. “Yes, I thank you, Mrs. Bennet. We came to Netherfield merely an hour ago. My niece has been so eager to meet her new sister, or rather sisters, I should have said, that we have not had an opportunity to partake of any refreshments after our journey.”
“You must be exhausted from your travelling.” Mrs. Bennet cried with concern in her more usual, slightly agitated tone.
Lady Matlock shook her head and spoke good-humouredly. “No, no, we are fine, not tired at all. It is such a short distance from London, and the weather today is perfect for travelling, not too hot.”
“Even more, we are honoured you have decided to visit us within such a short time after your arrival.” Mrs. Bennet assured, before turning to Kitty, speaking in a lowered voice. “Kitty, child, please see to the refreshments.”
“It is we who should apologize for calling on you without proper notice.” Lady Matlock said, before adding seriously. “May I, as well, offer you our sincere condolences on the passing of Mr. Bennet?”
“I thank you, madam. It is a great loss to all of us.” Mrs. Bennet said with a quiet dignity.
Lady Matlock nodded her head slightly with understanding. Her eyes rested on Elizabeth as she spoke. “Miss Elizabeth, I must say it is a pleasure to meet you at last. I have heard much about you from Darcy, of course. He is very secretive about you, but from my younger son, Colonel Fitzwilliam. My Richard praised you so highly. At some point I began to wonder seriously whether such a young lady could really exist.”
Elizabeth smiled prettily, her eyes sparkling. “Colonel Fitzwilliam is too kind to me, Lady Matlock, I assure you. There is nothing unusual about me. Perhaps sometimes I express my opinions too freely.”
Lady Matlock shook her head at Elizabeth with a smile. “Do not be so modest, my dear. A woman should have a mind of her own. I am also convinced there must be something unique about you, when even my own, I can assure you, very demanding nephew fell for your charms. Over the last few years, I have introduced him to at least a dozen young ladies, and he scorned all of them. Can you imagine that he insulted two of them to such an extent that their mothers refuse to keep my company? We were worried he would never marry, leaving Pemberley without an heir. We are glad he has found such a sensible and handsome young lady as you, Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth blushed and nodded her head slightly. “I thank your ladyship for your kindness,” she said earnestly, before turning to Georgiana and addressing young girl in her most amiable and engaging tone. “Miss Darcy, I am so happy to meet you. Your brother has told me so much about you.”
“I… I am happy to meet you as well, Miss Elizabeth,” Georgiana answered quietly, gazing at Elizabeth shyly.
Lady Matlock seemed to wait for her niece to speak more, but when Miss Darcy focused her eyes on her lap again, only glancing curiously from time to time at the Bennet sisters, she enquired of Mrs. Bennet. “I believe that I was told that Miss Elizabeth had four sisters, and I can see only three young ladies here.”
“Yes, your ladyship is correct. I am afraid that my youngest daughter is not feeling well today. She has stayed upstairs.” Mrs. Bennet answered nervously.
“I hope it is nothing serious.”
“Oh, no, just a temporary indisposition.” Mrs. Bennet smiled meekly.
The maid entered with tea and refreshments, which, to the great relief of Mrs. Bennet and her daughters, put the subject of Lydia and her indisposition to a natural end. Elizabeth and Jane occupied themselves with serving the tea. Lady Matlock observed keenly when Elizabeth brought Darcy his cup. Noticing the love struck look Darcy gave his fiancée when she was performing such a simple task as serving him tea, she had to agree secretly with her younger son that this was a Darcy she had never seen in her life.
For some time the company was occupied with taking their tea, speaking very little.
At last Lady Matlock addressed the mistress of the house. “Mrs. Bennet, I have a small favour to ask. I have to leave for Derbyshire tomorrow, early in the morning. My husband has urged me to join him in Matlock for the past few weeks, but I did not want to leave Georgiana alone in town until I delivered her safely into her brother’s care. However, I would wish to know my nephew’s intended better, spend some time with her. Would you be willing to allow Miss Elizabeth to join us tonight at Mr. Bingley’s home for dinner?”
“Ah, yes, naturally, Lizzy should go. Lizzy?” Mrs. Bennet agreed eagerly, looking pointedly at her second daughter.
“Yes, of course, your ladyship. I thank you for the invitation.” Elizabeth answered politely.
Lady Matlock’s face broke into a smile, which instantly reminded Elizabeth of Colonel Fitzwilliam.“Excellent. I think that seven should be fine. Mr. Bingley will not mind, will he, nephew?”
His aunt’s question interrupted Darcy’s usual staring session with Elizabeth as his sole point of attention, and he replied somewhat distractedly. “I am sure he will not.”
Lady Matlock simply smiled to herself, shaking her head slightly, and asked Miss Bennet for another cup of tea.
***
A few minutes past six the carriage came to take Elizabeth to Netherfield. Darcy waited for her in front of the main entrance to the manor. He helped her out of the carriage, and she thanked him with a sweet smile.
To her surprise, he did not lead her directly to the drawing room, but to the small side room next to the staircase. Elizabeth gave him a questioning look as he approached her closely, smiling shyly.
She rolled her eyes at him and lifting on her toes, placed her hands on his chest for balance, kissing him on the cheek. He caught her mouth instantly with his own, deepening the kiss.
“We should join the rest of the company,” she whispered pulling away from him. “They must wonder where we are.”
“If we must,” he nodded, offering her his arm.
***
After dinner the whole company gathered in the drawing room. Elizabeth focused most of her attention on Georgiana, trying to engage her in conversation. Despite the obvious shyness, Miss Darcy did make a visible effort to talk with her brother’s intended as much as possible. Elizabeth, on her part, used her easy manners to put the young girl at ease. Lady Matlock seemed mostly to occupy herself with observing the two young ladies, speaking little herself.
When Georgiana was asked by Elizabeth to provide some music, Lady Matlock was most astonished that her niece agreed, though she usually refused to perform when in company different from the closest family. While Georgiana was playing, Lady Matlock, in a quiet voice, apologized to Elizabeth on behalf of the whole family for Lady Catherine’s misbehaviour towards her in Kent.
After playing two pieces Georgiana returned to Elizabeth and her aunt. On hearing that they had talked about Kent and Colonel Fitzwilliam, the conversation settled on him.
Lady Matlock repeated how highly Colonel Fitzwilliam had spoken about Elizabeth. She, in return, praised his kindness and understanding, which he had offered to her when the tragic news about her father’s passing reached her in Kent.
Georgiana confessed that Colonel Fitzwilliam was like a second brother to her, always finding time for her, taking her to places that she would not normally have had the opportunity to see, such as the harbour, for example. Elizabeth enquired of Lady Matlock about her son’s whereabouts, as she had not heard about him since their mutual journey from Kent to London. Lady Matlock expressed her surprise that Elizabeth had not heard on this matter from Darcy. She explained promptly that her younger son was at the moment with his regiment, but he should be given a few weeks of leave early in autumn.
Elizabeth was so engrossed in the conversation with Miss Darcy and her ladyship that some time had passed before she noticed that Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley had not gone to the library but had stayed the whole time in the drawing room.
Darcy sat close enough to hear their entire conversation, and though he seemed to observe them keenly, he spoke nothing. It reminded Elizabeth of the earlier times in their acquaintance, when he had usually stood somewhere near her, always silent, but listening attentively to her talking with other people. She was aware of the reason for his odd behaviour back then, but what was the cause for it now?
Elizabeth thought to know him well enough to be certain that he was seriously displeased with something. However, she was in the dark about what could have put him into such a foul mood.
She shrugged those concerns for the time being, however, asking Georgiana what new pieces she had been learning lately on the pianoforte.
The hour grew quite late, and as Lady Matlock planned to continue her journey quite early in the morning, she bade goodnight to everyone, retiring to her rooms.
The carriage for Elizabeth was ordered. Elizabeth said a warm farewell to Georgiana as well as to Mr. Bingley, after which Darcy escorted her from the room. They walked directly to the entrance door, where the servant was already waiting with her bonnet and spencer, when Darcy suddenly caught her elbow, leading her without one word of explanation to the library.
“Is something the matter?” Elizabeth asked, clearly baffled with his behaviour as he closed the door behind them.
Darcy walked to the mantelpiece, leaning against it for a moment. Then he started pacing back and forth in front of a more and more confused Elizabeth.
At last he spoke harshly. “Please enlighten me on this, madam. Do you really have to ridicule me in front of my closest family and my best friend?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened in bewilderment. “Ridicule you? I not know what is your meaning.”
Darcy walked to her, staring down at her with narrowed eyes. “You do not know, you say? Pray remember you are engaged to me and not to my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“But, sir,…” she began but was soon interrupted by his raised voice. “All I have heard for the whole evening is how wonderful my cousin is! He was the sole subject of your attention. You have spoken only about him!”
Elizabeth’s face went pale, and she looked at him unbelievably. “I do not intend to speak with you in such a manner, sir,” she said with all the calmness she could muster at the moment. “We may talk tomorrow when you cool down some. I bid you goodnight,” she added coldly, turning from him and walking to the door decidedly.
When she reached for the doorknob to open the door, Darcy appeared behind her and placed his arm above her head on the door frame, cutting off her way of escape.
“You shall not go anywhere,” he muttered.
Turning her to him, he hoisted her up into his arms, so her feet dangled in the air. Then he started kissing her with rough urgency. Elizabeth struggled against him, but being physically weaker, she could do little to free herself.
When at last he released her from his grip and put her on the floor again, she straightened herself, lifted her chin high and slapped him soundly on the face. This time Darcy did not try to stop her as she left the room.
Chapter Eight
Next morning Elizabeth was walking slowly towards Netherfield. She had promised Georgiana that she would call on her today. Elizabeth had genuinely liked Darcy’s sister. There was no reason to disappoint the young girl, just because of what had occurred between her and Darcy.
The events of the last evening had occupied her thoughts for the most of the sleepless night. She could barely believe that she had actually slapped him on the face. However, the slight ache in her right wrist was the tangible proof that, indeed, she had done something so violent, something she had never perceived herself to be able to do.
Even more perplexing for her was Darcy’s behaviour. Only yesterday she had been deeply convinced that he was a man who would never raise his voice to her, not to mention force himself on her. He always was so tender and gentle, and when he addressed her, it was in such a warm voice, so different from the one he used with other people. Despite what had happened the evening before, Elizabeth was certain that the man who had treated her so forcefully was not the real Fitzwilliam Darcy, whom she had learned to like and respect.
If the reason for such uncharacteristic conduct was his jealously over his own cousin, the man whom Darcy, in usual circumstances, cared for and trusted implicitly with his sister’s well being, it meant that she, Elizabeth Bennet, had grossly underestimated the depth of his feelings for her.
She had been aware that he loved her; he had told her this many times. She guessed that he desired her physically as well. Once she had thought he simply wanted to own her, reasonably thinking that due to his fortune and station in life, it was in his power to have her.
But now she could recognise that he needed her as well and that her careless words could hurt him deeply and very easily hurt him to such a degree that he had acted against his own nature, the usual restraint of his character and inborn gentleness. There was a warm feeling in Elizabeth’s heart when she realized that he actually needed her for his happiness, needed her caring, her kindness, and not just her body or the simple distinction of owning her as his property.
“Elizabeth.”
The well known deep voice
drew her from her thoughts. She raised her head to see Darcy just in front of her, with Netherfield in the background.
“Mr. Darcy.” She curtseyed formally and took in his features. He looked horrible, as if ten years older with his drawn face and the hollow look in his dark eyes. “Yesterday I promised Miss Darcy to call on her today,” she explained her presence.
He nodded. “Yes, I know; she has told me. She is in the music room, I believe, practising.”
“Oh. I think I will go directly to her,” she said uneasily.
She waited for him to say something else, but when he spoke no more, just stood staring down with his brows creased, she started walking slowly past him. After a few steps, she felt the fleeting touch of his hand on her arm. She looked up at him.
“Elizabeth, I am so sorry. Forgive me, … forgive me,” he whispered fervently kissing her hand. Before she could stop him, he was before her on his knees, his arms around her, murmuring against her waist. “Do not leave me.”
Placing her hands on his back, she looked around to see if there was anybody to observe them. “Please, sir, stand up. Please, there is truly no need for this,” she spoke softly, trying to lift him up, but he shook his head, burying himself more deeply into her small body.
Elizabeth sighed audibly and leaned forward, hugging him to her. “It was my fault as well. Please, stand up. I do not wish anybody to see you like this,” she pleaded till he raised himself slowly and looked at her. His eyes were wet, and Elizabeth lifted her hand to dry the wetness from the corner of his eye with her thumb, smiling at him. “I really should go to see Georgiana now, but perhaps we could talk later?”
Darcy nodded eagerly, speaking in his usual controlled voice. “I will be in the library.”
“I shall come,” she smiled at him one last time and walked briskly in the direction of the manor.