Upon her return to the house, it was almost dusk, and her father, having been concerned for her hasty departure, summoned her into the library.
"Pray Elizabeth. Tell me what it is that caused you such distress. You are not sad at the announcement of a wedding, are you, my child?"
"Oh papa! I am not sad for that."
"Then, what is it, my dear?"
"'Tis only that I no longer think Mr. Darcy is as proud and conceited as I had thought he was. There are certain events that are not my right to reveal, that verify my new opinion of him. It pains me exceedingly to hear you speaking so ill of so good a person."
"My, my!" said Mr. Bennet shaking his head disapprovingly. "I thought Jane had left the house. Apparently she has left some of her spirit with you, my child, when she left! Now you are all goodness, suddenly ready to condole on such a character as Mr. Darcy's. I thought you loathed the fellow! It will not do, my child. The man is the proudest, most arrogant man of our acquaintance."
"Papa, he is not proud."
"We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man,"
"We were mistaken papa."
"You sound as if you like him, Lizzy"
"I do. I do like him."
"You do?"
"I love him. Indeed, he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable. If you only knew his generous nature."
"But Lizzy. How can you say such a thing? Mr. Darcy, you see, is the man we are talking of. Mr. Darcy of all men! Who never looks at a woman except to see a blemish! Mr. Darcy, who probably never looked at you in his life before! This is admirable! But, Lizzy. How can you say that you love him!
"I did not always love him, but I love him now so very dearly. He is truly the best man I have ever known."
"I do not understand Lizzy. Pray, make yourself clear. How is it that you came to feel in this manner for the gentleman?"
"I got to know him better while I was staying with my cousin Mr. Collins in Kent. And then we saw each other in Derbyshire again. We spent some time together while I happened to visit the grounds of Pemberley, his home."
"Indeed." There was some silence and then her father asked again "How long have you loved him?"
"It's been coming on so gradually, I hardly know."
"Lizzy, you must understand I would be loath to cause you pain. But I must ask you this. Did he… did Mr. Darcy… take any license with you?" After Lydia's wretched elopement he could never be too sure.
"No, papa. He has always been a perfect gentleman."
"Does he know of your feelings?"
"No papa. I have never told him I love him, although he has told me he loves me."
"Has he?"
"Upon his proposal in Kent"
"Mr. Darcy proposed! I can scarcely believe it! Not that anyone admiring you should be astonishing. But he always seemed so severe, so cold, apparently."
"And yet he was in love with me all the time!"
"But he is to marry his cousin now. I do not understand."
"I rejected him."
"You rejected him?"
"I was so blind papa. I thought he was… never mind. I rejected him. 'Tis a hopeless case."
"What are your plans now, my child?"
"My plans? I do not know papa. I am so unhappy! There is nothing I can do." She gave way to tears once more, and ran towards her father, clinging to his coat, burying her face in its lapels.
"Hush, my dear, do not cry. You shall conquer this, you will see." He patted her back soothingly, pondering what he could say to ease her mind. "Listen. Why do you not go to visit your Aunt Gardiner in London for a while? A little diversion will do you good, I am certain. Her wisdom will help soothe your feelings. What say you?"
"I would very much like to visit my aunt, papa."
"Well then. I shall write her immediately." He dismissed his daughter with a kiss upon her forehead, and after locking the door of the library, began to pen a letter to his relations in London.
Some time later Elizabeth discovered that Mr. Darcy's ghost had indeed followed her to town. She was as unhappy in London as she ever was at home. Not even the good company of her aunt or the laughter of the children helped to conquer her miserable mood.
Until the one day that changed her world.
She had been in London a little less than a month now. The London newspapers had announced Mr. Darcy's espousal to his cousin in November, making Elizabeth even more miserable. 'Twas close to Christmas and Elizabeth had slipped out unaccompanied to sightsee at the grand shops, whilst her family did some Christmas shopping uptown. She stopped at a beautiful store where several musical instruments were on display. Whilst caressing the key of a magnificent pianoforte, she sensed that someone was watching her from behind. She whirled on her toes to face the person, to find the dazzling smile of Colonel Fitzwilliam, beaming at her.
"Miss Bennet! How do you do?" the Colonel greeted her. His eyes danced vehemently over her happy face. "I see you are well."
"Very well, thank you, Colonel."
"Good, good, excellent! And your family?" he went on.
"Very well, sir."
"Pray, tell me. How does your eldest sister? I understand she has recently married."
Elizabeth nodded, knowing his source of information only too well. "She is very well also, sir. She has just settled into her new home with Mr. Bingley."
"Ah. It seems too long since I had the pleasure of speaking to you, Miss Bennet."
"It must be a year."
"It is above eight months at least. We have not met since last year 30th of March, when we were together at Rosings Park"
"I think you must be right."
"I don't think I can remember a happier time than those short weeks I spent in Kent."
"Indeed, sir."
"And you may wonder why I had been so happy there?" his eyes twinkled as he spoke the words.
"I have no idea, Colonel."
"'Tis because I made the acquaintance of the most beautiful lady I have ever seen."
"I cannot think who this can be." She could not help a tentative smile drawing upon her lips.
"Can you not?"
The Colonel's blunt flirting did not bother Elizabeth at all. She did not flush either, for she had gotten to know him well enough at Rosings to know that it was in his nature to speak like that. She found the Colonel's easy chatter so natural and pleasing that she did not realize that time had been passing. The Colonel had gently guided their way to a park and was taking her on a nice stroll whilst conversing amiably about little frivolities, which in fact served to drift Elizabeth's mind from her ill state. When they had arrived at the border of a small pond, Colonel Fitzwilliam asked her to take a seat on one of the benches purposely located there. As they sat quite close to each other, they watched the swans and ducks gathering close to them from the water.
"They think we are going to feed them,"
"Oh, do they?" she set to search her reticule as if it would contain some miraculous piece of bread. She had a mournful look when she looked up again. "I am sorry to disappoint them. I have nothing to give them."
"Well, Miss Bennet. I can tell you, you would have surprised me exceedingly if you had produced bird food from your reticule"
"Oh! I do not carry bird food, Colonel. But many a time I do take some biscuits with me for my nieces and nephew. Children need these little treats sometimes. Especially when other manners of persuasion have failed."
"I see. Then I gather you do not happen to carry any sweet treat by any chance?"
"Indeed sir, I have some chocolate," she said producing the candy wrapped in colourful paper. "But I doubt it would be proper food for the birds."
"No, not for the birds. We cannot feed the swans of this pond if you had your reticule filled with crumbs."
"Can we not?"
"It is forbidden."
"Forbidden? And why is that may I ask?"
"I have no idea Miss Bennet. But since you are in the mood of feeding a pleading cre
ature, let it be me. I long to taste that chocolate you are so zealously keeping for your nieces and nephew. Having you so close has suddenly unleashed in me a dire urge for something sweet."
He opened his mouth and closed his eyes. Elizabeth almost burst out laughing while she let a piece of her chocolate fall into his wide mouth. He closed it and proceeded to devour the sweet, all the time making faces of satisfaction, whilst Elizabeth watched him exceedingly diverted.
"Colonel, May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are they the result of previous study?" she giggled.
"Oh no, Miss Bennet. I must confess myself quite overwhelmed with the charms of only one lady. My inspiration flows the very instant I happen to be so close to her. And since I cannot satisfy my hunger with the sweetness of her lips, I shall be content if she agrees to feed me with chocolate."
"Indeed! Then, you should go and find the said lady, sir. Perchance she has some chocolate in her reticule, too."
"I need not go anywhere to find her Miss Bennet. She is just across from me, looking far more fetching than a hundred pounds of the sweetest candy."
He said that while staring intently at her lips, sending such fluttering through Elizabeth's body that she could not help a sudden shudder at the mere thought of the gentleman attempting to pose his lips on hers.
"Are you cold, Miss Bennet?" he teased her, happy to have caused such a reaction in her.
"A little."
"Shall we go back? Much as I dislike the idea of parting, I fear you might lose your family."
With that he offered her the crook of his arm, where she dipped her hand. Boldly, he covered it with his own and kept playing with her gloved fingers all the way back to the place where he had found her.
Six
—
A New Start
Elizabeth's stay in London became exceedingly interesting after her happy encounter with the Colonel. That very first meeting, after her relatives had been properly introduced, ended in an invitation from the Gardiners to dine at their house in Cheapside, where the gallant soldier had the opportunity to further his attentions. Very soon, Elizabeth's tortured heart commence a healing process during which she scarcely ever found her thoughts directed to Mr. Darcy. In lieu, more often than not, her mind was very agreeably engaged with the handsome figure of Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. They would spend countless hours immersed in deep conversation, during which it was not strange to overhear the peal of her laughter. He had achieved the impossible… to ease her mind and heal her heart, allowing her to hope for love and happiness once more.
Speculations about her tender emotions were overcome by a sweet expectancy due to a certain event that took place in the theatre box belonging to the Earl of Matlock.
They had arrived at the theatre together, Elizabeth's aunt and uncle trudging behind, whilst her hand rested in the place it had so soon found so comfortable: the crook of his arm. He proudly paraded in front of the ton, his chin up, smug grin upon his face, the bewitching beauty of the young woman attired in her best gown, tightly pressed to his side. There was plenty of room in the box, yet Richard sat right beside her, whilst her family sat across from them. Richard's heart was overjoyed. There she was, the woman who had conquered his heart, sitting by his side, in the sight of all the eyes of London. She was smiling at him, blushing at the light touch of the bare skin of his hand over hers.
When the lights faded away, Richard could lock his eyes on her without fear of causing alarm to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. He was thus engaged, when he noticed her fan slipped her grip and fell with a light thud upon the floor next to his right foot. He promptly reached for it at the same time she moved exactly the same, their heads almost colliding.
The moment seemed eternal.
They faced each other, their lips so close he could feel her tantalizing breath. She parted hers ever so slightly, and without a moment to lose, he brushed them with the lightest of kisses. The touch sent sensual shivers down his spine, and Lizzy's head began to spin. Hence commenced the sweet silent love making of hands in the gloomy surroundings of the box.
Richard Fitzwilliam could barely contain his joy and pride. The certainty of her tender feelings had sent him to Heaven and back. He spent hours awake back in his paternal home, this time listening to his own amorous sorrows, playing with Elizabeth's image which he had come to know so well in his mind, reassessing every word that had been uttered whilst in her company, replaying the sheer sensation of the feathered kiss they had shared in the dark. There was no need to persuade his heart that she would consent to be his wife and live happily ever after as Mrs. Fitzwilliam. There was no time to lose. He would offer his hand the next morning.
With that purpose in mind, he left the following day in the direction of Cheapside. He went in his regimentals, looking more dazzling than ever, and spent not a little time rehearsing his words in front of the Gardiners' house door, until, quite resolved, he made decidedly happy knocks upon it. The servant led him to the room where Elizabeth was waiting for him, looking exceedingly expectant and nervous.
"Miss Bennet, allow me to tell you, you look radiant in the morning. May I have the pleasure of a moment to talk to you privately?"
"Indeed sir, I shall tell my aunt."
Mrs. Gardiner appeared from the corridor, wearing the broadest smile her mouth could afford.
"I understand you wish to speak to my niece alone, Colonel. You must understand I can only afford you but a few minutes with the door ajar."
"A few minutes shall suffice, Madam. I thank you."
With that, Madeleine Gardiner left them on their own, leaving a tiny crack of light betwixt the door and the doorway.
"Will you not sit down?"
"No, this task wants my knees on the floor," and with that he kneeled in front of her and said "Miss Bennet. I have come to feel the most ardent love ever since I met you. I can no longer live without you by my side. Please, do me the honour of consenting to be my wife, and I shall cherish you until death do us apart."
Elizabeth afforded him a bright smile. Had she been able to do so, she would have kneeled thither and bestowed him an ardent response. In lieu, she contented herself with a more appropriate one:
"Colonel, the honour will be mine."
"Elizabeth, this will be the happiest hour of my life until the moment I hear 'I do' from your lips in front of God." He rose to his feet and held her hands to his chest, drawing her closer. He then slipped one of his hands round her waist and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Elizabeth closed her eyes and remained so, long after the kiss had finished. Richard looked at her, his eyes playing a tune with her lips. He could resist no longer and kissed her once more, this time less tenderly and more passionately, deepening the kiss until her lips parted, allowing him to taste the depth of her mouth with his tongue. Elizabeth's eyes opened wide and she let out a gasp, but Richard only held her tighter and deepened the kiss even more, unleashing the most unsettling feelings she had ever experienced.
This time she did not gasp. She lifted her arms, ever so slowly, lightly caressing the uncovered skin of his neck, letting her whole body crush against him, making Richard moan with satisfaction. Reluctantly he drew a little apart.
"My love, I have a gift for you," he said while cupping her chin. "Please do me the honour of wearing this as a token of my love and respect." He produced a ring from one of his pockets. 'Twas a simple ring, nothing too ostentatious in consideration of her simple character.
"Colonel. 'Tis beautiful. I thank you!"
"I am happy you like it. 'Tis nothing compared with what you deserve."
"Oh no, Colonel. You cannot imagine how happy you have made me."
"Elizabeth, I love you. I love you so dearly. I have loved you for so long! You must know you are the first woman to whom I have confessed to profess such feelings. You have come to me when I have given up all hopes of marrying for the right reasons. And now, to think you will be my wife! Oh my sweet, my dear
est Elizabeth." They clasped once more in a passionate embrace, this time their hands roaming their bodies as their lips entwined in a thirsty kiss.
Mrs. Gardiner rapped her fingers on the door, allowing them a few seconds to separate. Elizabeth took a quick peek around whilst Richard looked up from her shoulder.
"I shall talk to your uncle now. Then I will go to your father. May I see you tomorrow, my love?" he whispered near her ear without letting her go.
"You may," she answered in kind. And then she boldly kissed him on his cheek. He looked at her wild eyes and sighed noisily.
"Elizabeth. You have no idea how much it pains me to release you. I wish I could hold you like this for the rest of our lives."
"It will not do, Richard. You will have to let me go some day or another."
"How did you know my first name?"
"Sir, I have my sources."
"Say it again."
"What?"
"My name. Say it again"
"Richard. My sweet Richard"
"Yes, your Richard. I cannot wait to be completely yours and make you mine."
She blushed profusely, and he was delighted to see the colour in her cheeks. He kissed her for the last time, and ever so slowly, relinquished his grip on her waist and allowed her to open the door to let her aunt come in…
Seven
—
A Soldier's Fiancée
To say Mr Bennet was surprised to hear Colonel Fitzwilliam's request for his favourite daughter's hand would be a lie. He was shocked. Notwithstanding he had imagined that his visit had something to do with her as soon as he witnessed the gentleman's arrival on his horse, he was not yet prepared to consent any man to woo her. Truth be told, he had sent Elizabeth to London in the secret hope that she should find consolation there. Well, he could not deny he had been successful. Sure enough, the man had come to ask for his consent to be one of her suitors. Nevertheless, he had not counted on the request of her hand in matrimony so straightforwardly.
He liked the man, though. He was tall and handsome. In spite of his military demeanour, his visage presented a cheerful character, one that would definitely match that of his daughter. Certainly, he was much better than the soldier his youngest had conquered, for not only was he a colonel, but he was also the second son of an Earl. This would make his wife delighted, for such an alliance would make her daughter a member of the most polished societies in town.
Love Calls Again Page 4