Rebellion at Longbourn

by Victoria Kincaid

  Elizabeth cast a glance back at the manor, knowing she lingered too long. But Jane still spoke to Mr. Bingley, and Elizabeth was loath to lose William’s company. Then she noticed he was scowling.

  “Is something distressing you?” she asked.

  There was a long pause. William stared up at the sky. “Ah, Elizabeth, I have always believed I am a patient man, but in this matter I seem to be incapable of waiting.” He took her other hand, so they were now facing each other. “We discussed revisiting the question of marriage when circumstances improved for your family….”

  Excitement jolted through Elizabeth, equal parts nerves and giddiness. “Yes, circumstances have improved with Jane’s engagement, but Collins is still—”

  He interrupted. “If we are able to remove Collins as I hope…would you accept my offer to love and cherish you all the days of your life?”

  Elizabeth knew the answer; her only concern was making a promise she could not keep.

  “Longbourn must always come first,” she said slowly and saw William’s face fall. Then she took a deep breath. “However, if we might resolve Longbourn’s problems, then I would be honored to accept your offer, Mr. Darcy. More than honored—overjoyed. Ecstatic even”

  “Thank you, Elizabeth, you have given me the greatest gift possible!” Grasping her around her waist, William lifted her completely off the ground as he crushed his lips to hers.

  She could not say how long the kiss lasted, for it seemed to be a moment suspended in time. Eternal and perfect. A world of joy and peace that only they inhabited.

  After a minute, William set her down, but their lips did not part. He could not seem to get enough of her kisses; every time Elizabeth thought she might pull away, the intoxication of his lips drew her back.

  Until the thud of footsteps sounded on the road.

  They jumped apart hastily, pivoting toward the source of the noise.

  Collins.

  Elizabeth’s cousin stood only a few feet away. There could be no doubt about what he had witnessed.

  His eyes were huge in his face while his hands fluttered about with great agitation. “I knew it! I am proven right. Your youngest sister is not the only degenerate one. But you must stop immediately before you bring more shame upon the family.”

  William interrupted, interposing his body between Collins and Elizabeth, as if the man presented a physical threat to her. “Collins, you misunderstand the situation. Miss Elizabeth has just done me the great honor of agreeing to be my wife.”

  That was not quite what Elizabeth had agreed to, but it was the right thing to tell Collins.

  Her cousin gasped as if William had confessed to murdering children. “That is impossible. You cannot marry her. You are engaged to Lady Anne!”

  “I am no more engaged to Anne than you are,” William scoffed.

  Collins gestured as if warding away the evil eye. “I-I—Do not say such things!” He glanced nervously about as if expecting an irate Lady Catherine to emerge from behind a tree.

  William placed a warm, reassuring hand on Elizabeth’s back. “We are betrothed, so there is nothing inappropriate in our conduct.”

  That is perhaps too bold a claim, Elizabeth mused. Engaged couples were granted more leeway, which might extend to a decorous kiss on the lips in a populated, well-lit room—but it certainly did not include passionate kisses by a dark country road.

  Her cousin drew himself up to his full, not-terribly-imposing height. “You are most definitely not engaged! I have not given permission for Elizabeth to be wed.”

  Elizabeth bristled. How often would this man stand in the way of her happiness? “While your approval would be nice, Cousin, it is not necessary. I am of age.”

  Collins spluttered for a moment. “No. I absolutely forbid this!”

  “It does not require your approval,” William growled.

  The other man stared at them for a long minute, his chest heaving with indignation. “You are on my property, sir,” Collins finally spat. “Kindly remove yourself from the Longbourn estate, and do not return!”

  Elizabeth’s stomach knotted itself. She passed most of her days at Longbourn; if William could not venture onto the estate, she would rarely see him. “You cannot banish him,” she exclaimed.

  “It is my prerogative,” Collins thundered. “These illicit activities will cease now.” He grabbed Elizabeth’s wrist, pulling her toward the house, and then pointed William toward the road. “You must quit this place at once!” She could smell the brandy on his breath.

  Drawn by the shouting, Jane and Mr. Bingley watched from a few yards away, although Collins had not noticed them.

  William stalked toward Collins and removed his hand from Elizabeth’s wrist. Eyes wide with fear, her cousin did not object.

  “I will leave,” William hissed. “But not until you assure me you will not mistreat my betrothed.” He towered over Collins.

  The other man stumbled backward. “O-Of c-course, I will not hurt her! She is my cousin.”

  William glared at Collins for another moment before shifting his attention to Elizabeth. “If he uses you ill in any way, send word at once. I will handle him.” Even in the darkness, Elizabeth could see Collins shiver.

  Ignoring the other man, William took Elizabeth’s hand and kissed it. “I will contact you tomorrow.” The passion in his gaze made her flush.

  He released her hand with obvious reluctance and joined Mr. Bingley on the road. Without a word, the two men disappeared into the darkness.

  Refusing to have Collins drag her back to the manor, Elizabeth turned on her heel and hurried toward Jane. The sisters marched for Longbourn so rapidly that their cousin had trouble keeping pace.

  ***

  Upon waking the next morning, Elizabeth did not immediately rise from bed. Staring at the wall, she took a moment to recall both the elation of her betrothal to William and the mortification of being discovered by Collins. She had no doubt that her cousin would make life difficult for her, but she did not know how. William had told her to communicate with him if she had trouble; however, it would be difficult if he was considered persona non grata at Longbourn.

  With these anxieties troubling her heart, Elizabeth arose from bed and dressed to face the day.

  Collins’s supercilious smile at the breakfast table was a sure sign that all was not right. The low level of animosity between them had apparently blossomed into open warfare overnight; he was no longer pretending to have her best interests at heart. He poured a little brandy into his coffee before announcing triumphantly, “Mr. Darcy departed Netherfield for London early this morning.” Since Collins addressed the remark to Elizabeth, everyone at the table turned their heads to stare at her.

  She maintained a carefully neutral expression as she collected food from the sideboard. “How do you know that, sir?”

  Collins sputtered for a moment. “The cook’s boy happened to mention it after I sent him with an”—he faltered—“an errand to Netherfield.”

  Elizabeth sat and commenced buttering her toast. If it was to be open warfare, then she needed no pretense at civility. “Are you saying you have a spy at Netherfield, and the cook’s boy has been your go-between?”

  Collins jolted upright in his chair. “A spy? There is no spy! The scullery maid merely passes along information occasionally.”

  Jane gasped, and Charlotte looked slightly nauseated.

  “In other words, a spy,” Elizabeth said.

  Flushing a bright red, Collins gathered up the newspaper and held it in front of himself. “Mr. Darcy has abandoned you.”

  Elizabeth tried to quell the doubting voice in the back of her mind. William would not have pursued me for months only to abandon me when Collins presented an obstacle. She shrugged. “No doubt he had some business in town. I am certain he will return shortly.”

  Her mother had observed the exchange with great interest and considerable restraint—at least by her standards. She could contain her curiosity no longer.
“Why are his whereabouts of particular interest to you, Lizzy?”

  Elizabeth allowed herself a small, triumphant smile. “William has asked for my hand in marriage, and I have accepted him.”

  If Collins hoped to persuade her against the engagement, the excitement produced by this announcement did nothing to further his cause. Her mother threw her hands in the air and shrieked. Kitty cried tears of joy, and Mary actually smiled. Charlotte was torn between joy for Elizabeth and the need to soothe her agitated husband. Only Jane remained placid—since she had learned the news the previous night.

  “Silence! I will have silence!” Collins thumped on the table several times before the conversation died down. “Cousin Elizabeth, your celebration is premature,” he sneered. “Lady Catherine will not regard the match with favor.”

  “I do not believe William will be seeking her permission.” Her cousin flinched when Elizabeth used her fiancé’s given name.

  “This match is quite impossible!” Collins cried. “He is engaged to his cousin, Anne de Bourgh.”

  Elizabeth lifted an eyebrow. “William does not regard himself as engaged to his cousin, and I would expect he is a greater authority than you are.”

  Collins thrust himself to his feet and dropped his napkin disdainfully on the table. “You may believe you have triumphed, Cousin. But Mr. Darcy will not marry you. I have already written to Lady Catherine about her nephew’s despicable behavior. I expect that she will take appropriate measures at once.”

  Elizabeth maintained a fierce smile while her insides clenched. Lady Catherine! She could cause William no end of trouble.

  Collins’s faint smirk suggested he noticed her discomposure. Such an odious man.

  Suddenly Elizabeth was not the least bit hungry. Abandoning her breakfast, Elizabeth rose and hurried toward the front door. She was not equal to remaining in the house one minute more.

  ***

  Darcy was a man who was accustomed to getting things accomplished. Patience was not one of his strengths; however, during his visits to Hertfordshire, he was frequently required to wait and put his fate into the hands of others. It went against the grain. The day after he was banished from Longbourn, he found himself snapping at his valet and snarling at the coachman—requiring him to apologize later.

  Now he drew upon yet more stores of patience as he stood not far from the road just outside Longbourn’s boundaries. The fence here was a simple affair, constructed of only a few pieces of wood. It would present no obstacle to gazing upon Elizabeth’s beloved face.

  Bingley had visited Jane at Longbourn, and Darcy had commissioned his friend to convey a message to Elizabeth. How long could delivering a message possibly take? Patience, he reminded himself, exhaling a long breath. She must escape the house without arousing any suspicion.

  Finally, he heard the rustling of skirts and the snapping of small branches. Raising his head, he spied Elizabeth picking her way to the far corner of Longbourn’s southernmost field. Her face lit up into a golden smile at the sight of Darcy, easing the previous day’s frustration and worry. Darcy took a moment to revel in her smile; he had not known if such an expression would ever be directed toward him. The distance between them was only a few feet, but it was still too far.

  “William, I am not supposed to leave the Longbourn property!” she said in a hushed voice when she drew close enough. “And you are not to venture upon it.”

  “Have you suddenly decided to follow your cousin’s rules?” he asked with a teasing smile. When did her lawless tendencies become a trait I find endearing? Truly I am a fool in love.

  She laughed. “You know me too well to believe that.”

  “As it happens, I am not on the Longbourn property,” he said with a grin. “You are on one side of the fence, and I stand outside the gates.” He gestured to the wrought iron gates that stood open a few yards away. “Do they ever close them?” he asked.

  “I cannot remember an occasion,” Elizabeth said. “I suppose if Napoleon invaded.”

  “Yes, that would be just the thing to foil all his plans.”

  “Now you know the whole of Longbourn’s defensive strategy; I pray you, do not reveal the information to the enemy.” The mischievous tone of her voice alone was enough to send a wave of longing through Darcy. Life would be joyous indeed if he could hear that tone every day.

  After a moment he cleared his throat. “I have calculated this very precisely. We both remain within the bounds of our restrictions.”

  “We are most certainly breaking the spirit, if not the letter, of the law. Are you not the one who abhors deceit?” Her words were arch and teasing.

  Darcy never minded being teased by Elizabeth. “You have transformed me into an outlaw.” He enjoyed the musical sound of her laughter. “Collins is a fool and a petty tyrant,” he added. “I have no regard for the ‘spirit’ of his arbitrary rules.”

  So much love shone in her eyes that Darcy could not survive one more moment without touching her. He longed for a full-body embrace but instead settled for crossing the remaining distance between them and taking her hand over the fence’s top railing. Her fingers squeezed his, warm and welcoming.

  After a brief pause, Elizabeth said, “My cousin told me you went to London yesterday.”

  Darcy raised an eyebrow. “I did. I had some business there—and I obtained this.”

  Releasing her hand, he pulled a folded paper from his pocket and passed it to her. She quickly opened it and scanned the contents. “It is a special license!”

  “It is. We may now be married upon any day you wish—providing the rector is available.” She stared at the paper silently. “Have I been overly hasty? We need not execute the license immediately—”

  “It is all a bit overwhelming, but I have no desire for a delay.” She refolded the license and returned it to him. “The situation has changed. Collins’s restrictions render it impossible to remain at Longbourn much longer. I must depart—and hope that the estate will survive without me.” Lines of worry furrowed her brow.

  Darcy’s heart clenched. This was his doing. His impatience had led to discovery by her cousin, and now she would not protect the estate as she had planned. When will I cease causing her pain?

  “If you wish to be released from the engagement…” Darcy forced the words through his lips, although each one tore gashes into his heart.

  Only when she shook her head did his breathing return to normal. “No. Warfare has broken out with my cousin. We cannot return to mere covert animosity.”

  That she could find humor even in such a situation… My God, how I love this woman. He kissed the back of her hand fervently. “I will dedicate the rest of my life to ensuring you do not regret this moment.”

  A smile spread slowly across her lips. “I do not regret it for myself, for I know I will be most happy. However, I must have faith that everything will be to Longbourn’s advantage as well. Your plan may yet work.”

  Darcy did not mention what they both knew: the plan had an equal chance of failing.

  “If you see no reason for delay, then I would wed as soon as possible,” he said.

  “Yes. My cousin has written to Lady Catherine.”

  “Of course he has,” Darcy sighed. “I thought I might encounter her here. She must believe that there is time to convince me to reconsider, so she remained in London to enjoy the latest ball. But she will arrive eventually. She cannot stop us, of course, but it would be very unpleasant if she appears. If we wed quickly, it will be a fait accompli. I would prefer to be berated than importuned.

  “Then, by all means, let us marry quickly,” Elizabeth said.

  The eagerness in her eyes was mirrored in his heart. “I will speak with the rector today.”

  Her gaze did not waver from his face. “William…” His name was a gentle sigh on her lips. “This is really happening…”

  He took her other hand over the top of the fence. “It is. I will not allow you to slip through my grasp now. I have waited
too long.”

  Elizabeth did not step into forbidden territory, but she leaned forward so he could embrace her over the fence. The top railing dug into his chest, and Elizabeth stood at a very awkward angle. This would not do.

  Darcy released her hands and quickly climbed over the fence. He would not permit Collins’s silly restrictions to interfere with his opportunity to kiss Elizabeth.

  Their lips met with searing urgency. With the way his body reacted, it might have been a year since he last kissed her—rather than a day. When his tongue pushed between her lips to stroke her mouth, Elizabeth made a low moan of pleasure. Soon her tongue intertwined with his.

  The rest of his body reacted as well. He pulled her more firmly against him as his hand explored the smooth expanse of her back. It was not nearly enough. He wanted to touch every inch of her body.

  But now was not the time. Reluctantly, he released her and stepped away, taking deep breaths to calm himself. “I must stop now while I may still call myself a gentleman.”

  Elizabeth’s eyes were dazed, and she was panting. She gave a weak laugh. “I believe we are now violating the letter of the law as well.”

  Her lips were still tantalizingly pink. Tendrils of hair had fallen around her face, and he longed to caress them. With an effort, he focused his mind on the conversation. “Were you not the one who told me ‘an unjust law is no law at all’?”

  “How very wise of me.” The look in her eyes suggested she would be amenable to breaking more rules with him. How gratifying that I am not the only one overwhelmed by this passion.

  “Will you name a wedding day?” he asked.

  With evident reluctance, Elizabeth took a step away from him, lowering her head. “I would be wed as soon as possible! Although I do wish I could have a proper gown.”

  “I took the liberty of ordering one in London. It will arrive tomorrow.”

  Elizabeth gasped.

  He shrugged. “I do have your measurements. I hope the style is to your liking; I endeavored to select a style that emulated your other gowns.”

  “I am sure it will be perfect,” she said faintly. “Truly I am the most fortunate woman in England to be marrying a man who appreciates women’s fashions. I cannot wait to see it.” She bounced on her feet, betraying her eagerness. “Then let us be wed the day after tomorrow. Once it is accomplished, Collins can no longer keep us separated.”