by Anne Louise
“I know that you are unhappy, Miss Bennet. You must allow me to comfort you. Look into my eyes.”
She next saw those dark eyes that were always so kind, and felt his strong arms envelop her. Now his large hand grasped the back of her head as he gently pulled her near him in a warm embrace as he began to kiss the nape of her neck and soon claimed her mouth. When she tried to protest he continued until she surrendered and let him explore it completely, but next she was startled by the sound of knocking on a door.
“Miss Elizabeth, dinner is being served.”
It suddenly occurred to her that she had been dreaming. Waking up so suddenly had her confused. Still, she managed to reply that she would leave momentarily. She quickly tried to freshen and splashed some water on her face and brushed her hair and straightened her dress but she could not hide the blush on her face. As she left the room she saw her face and giggled to think that Darcy had compromised her in her dream. After that she hurried downstairs to join the others for dinner but she was not happy to be there.
She hoped the others had not noticed her state but Lydia did comment on her blush.
“Lydia, I am sorry if you are offended because I have a blush, but I have had a long day so far and must have slept on my hands. Also, it is warm inside.”
“It is warm, Lizzy,” replied her father. “Here, let me cool your face with a wet towel.” Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper at Longbourn, immediately brought Elizabeth the towel and Elizabeth wiped her face.
“Thank you, Mrs. Hill. This is much better.”
After the dinner Elizabeth tried to talk with her mother but Mrs. Bennet appeared bothered and so Elizabeth knocked on her father’s door to his library.
“Come in Lizzy. I have been expecting you.”
Her father sat in the same leather chair behind his desk and this position afforded him knowledge of who was arriving and departing. She would often talk with him and she never tired of seeing him peering through the spectacles resting low on his nose as he scanned whatever was happening outside. He usually had a book on his lap but today he was involved with managing his accounts.
“None of your sisters, excluding Mary and Jane, have asked about your visit and certainly not your mother. But I am interested in hearing all you wish to tell me. Now please sit and tell me about your injury.”
Elizabeth then told her father the circumstances of walking to the park and tripping as well as meeting Mr. Darcy, but she did not mention his name.
“I appreciate your honesty, Lizzy, but you never should have gone for an early walk in town. So you allowed the man to put you on his horse and return you to the Gardiners?”
“Yes, Papa and he summoned his doctor.”
“This is extraordinary. I must caution you to keep this to yourself.”
“Jane knows as well as the Gardiners.”
“That is fine but do not tell anyone else. Do you believe that your ankle is fully healed?”
“It is much stronger, Papa. The man visited me often at the Gardiners and also introduced me to his sister. He also helped me walk and was very kind to me.”
Mr. Bennet cleared his throat and seemed teary eyed but did not speak and let Elizabeth continue to speak. After several minutes he asked the man’s name and she told him.
“Lizzy, I do not believe that you know who the man is.”
“I asked our aunt if she knew of the man, but did not learn a lot.”
“So are you saying your aunt has not been forthwith about him? Maybe she was being fifthwith, was she not?”
“Pardon me, I do not understand.”
“No bother, Lizzy, it was just my attempt at a little humor.”
“But Papa, what should I know of the man?”
“Lizzy, your aunt Madilyn lived in the little village of Lambton as a child and her father owned a shop there. Old Mr. Darcy supported much of the little village and he financed her father’s shop. Your aunt told me that the family has a son and a much younger sister. The mother died after her daughter was born and the father died within the last few years. This Mr. Darcy is written about in the papers in town and is considered to be one of the most sought after bachelors in all of England. Are you certain that you did not know this?”
“ Yes, Papa, I did not know this.”
“And did you know that the Darcy estate includes Pemberley, which is located just a few miles from Lambton and is one of the grandest estates in England?”
“Mr. Darcy said he had a home in Derbyshire but did not describe it and I never questioned him about any of these things. We spoke of books and politics and the very things that you and I talk about.”
“Do you like the man, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth did not look at her father but rather clasped her hands on her lap and stared at the rug on the floor.
“Did you drop something on the floor, Lizzy?”
“No, Papa, it is hard for me because I have never cared for a man before and I do like him very much and I like his sister as well.”
“I do not know how to advise you because your mother is all excited about this new man who will move into Netherfield. I wish I knew his name but it has not been discussed or your Aunt Philips would surely have announced it to everyone.”
Elizabeth laughed until her father scolded her.
“What is so funny, Lizzy? You know your aunt loves to gossip.”
“Papa, I am glad we are having this talk. It so happens that the man who will occupy Netherfield is Charles Bingley. He is Mr. Darcy’s best friend from university and has invited Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy to visit him after he moves in. Mr. Darcy will attend the dance at the assembly hall.”
Mr. Bennet set back and sighed but Elizabeth started to giggle when her father spoke.
“ I know you, Lizzy. You have more secrets to tell.”
“Yes, Papa, Mr. Bingley returned to town the very night that Jane and I were invited to Darcy House for dinner and he joined us along with Mr. Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. I believe Jane and Mr. Bingley care for each other very much and he and Mr. Darcy visited us each day for the last two weeks.”
“No doubt you have told me things that I shall keep secret. If word comes out and your mother learns about this she will embarrass everyone and it could jeopardize your relationships with the two gentlemen.”
“I hope you approve, Papa?”
“It is too early to answer but I will attend the dance and meet the two men who have caught the interest of my two eldest girls.”
“I want you to meet both men and Miss Darcy too.”
“Now go Lizzy and pine for the man if that is where you are in your relationship. You have every reason to like the man if all you say about him is true.”
“Thank you, Papa”
Next, Elizabeth left her father’s library and was pleased that she had a chance to unburden herself. She remembered her promise to Jane that she would not tell anyone but she had not seen her father for weeks and thought that she owed him the courtesy to tell him what had taken place. In a perfect world Elizabeth would rather have told her mother these things but that was not an option. Still, she knew her father would lend a sympathetic ear and would keep her secret and she was not disappointed.
At first she had been hesitant to tell her father about the man but after she painted Mr. Darcy’s character in a positive light, he did not seem displeased to learn about their relationship. When she told him that Mr. Darcy and her had many common interests she saw her father smile.
She then visited with her sisters and her mother but what she really wanted to do was to speak with Jane. Later she returned to her room and next bathed before dressing for bed. Elizabeth then visited with her sister and they again talked about their return home and about the friends they left behind.
“Lizzy, I did see you attempt to speak to mama today and she seemed indifferent to you. I never could understand why she treats you so different from our other sisters.”
“Yes, Jane, she has been this way fo
r years and I do not believe she will ever change.”
“I see you did speak with father. Did he assuage any hurt feelings that mother induced?”
“Yes, I needed to speak with father and felt better after doing so. I do not believe I have ever been away so long and I know that our sisters do not reach out to him the way I do. Anyway, I spoke to him to learn the latest news, and of course there is no latest news that I can pass on. You know Jane, I do wonder if Mr. Bingley will enjoy country living. This is all such a change from the city and I still believe moving here might be a shock to him.”
“No Lizzy, I do not necessarily agree with what you say. Certainly Mr. Bingley would have thought all this out and discussed these things with his friend.”
“Mr. Darcy did tell me that his friend had been contemplating purchasing an estate in the country and he had advised him to consider leasing the property before making a purchase. He also said that he had hoped that his friend would have invited him to inspect any such property before he made a decision on it. Mr. Darcy did say that his friend expected to get an earful from his sisters as they thought themselves above the country misses from little country hamlets.”
“Yes, Mr. Bingley told me that he had already discussed the matter with his friend and knew his thoughts on any such move and was confident in the decision that he made. We should be happy that he came alone because he was in Hertfordshire the very day you sprained your ankle.”
“When we learnt of this I was all so astonished, Jane. You know it is almost as if life is a big jigsaw puzzle with so many interlocking pieces and all have to fit just so. It is much akin to being at the right place at the right time or the wrong place at the wrong time, depending on how you look at things. Anyway, I suppose it is just life and in this instance, I am very pleased that Mr. Bingley did not bring Mr. Darcy with him when he came to inspect Netherfield.”
“Yes, Lizzy, I can see your point but there is another way to look at this. Had Mr. Darcy accompanied his friend you would never have met him and we would not be speaking of our new friends and you would not have sprained your ankle.”
“But then again, I could have tripped or otherwise sprained my ankle in any number of ways. Also, had Mr. Bingley decided to take Netherfield, we still would have met both men at the assembly as Mr. Bingley would surely have invited him and others.”
“So all we can conclude from this nonsense is that one cannot play the 'what if' game because the possibilities are infinite.”
“Yes, Jane, I suppose I could look at my accident and my meeting Mr. Darcy as a fortunate stumble.”
“That is a positive take on the matter. Now all we need is the happy ending and we may one day celebrate this fortunate stumble of yours. At least you have made a good friend of Mr. Darcy and his sister and he treated you very kindly all this time.”
“There is no reason to wait, Jane. My heart already is happy that I have made such friends. Whatever happens between Mr. Darcy and myself will not change the fact that he is the first man who has ever touched my heart.”
“But Lizzy, that is the same way I feel about Mr. Bingley, so my heart is also happy. I was surprised that you fell asleep so quickly after returning from town.”
“Jane, I suppose I had many things on my mind and I had no more than three hours of sleep last night. Tis true that I had a cat nap in the coach, but as soon as my head hit my pillow, I was in a deep sleep.”
Later Elizabeth returned to her room and picked up a book and began to read. She wondered if she would be able to sleep this evening after taking such a long nap earlier but as she noticed her eyes staring at the pages she closed her book and blew out the candle and climbed into bed. It was past midnight when she settled into sleep.
The next morning she rose with the sun and immediately caught the smell of coffee brewing and scones being baked. After completing her ablutions she hurriedly dressed and prepared for her walk, but first she stopped by the library to speak with her father.
“Come inside Lizzy. I am happy to see you up again and please tell me that you are well rested?”
“I am, but it is the smell of coffee and scones that beckons me, plus the good company awaiting me in the library.”
“Those words brighten up my morning. I have missed our little morning chats before you leave on your walks. How many weeks has it been anyway?”
“It has been too many weeks and I do not recall ever having been away this long.”
“Yes, Lizzy, I believe you are due your walk. Do you intend to walk a great distance?”
“No, Papa, a short walk will work quite well. It was very refreshing to sleep in my own bed again.”
“Then call me pleased to hear that you are well rested. You looked so tired when I met you and Jane in Meryton. I was thinking that you might go for one of your long walks again today.”
“No, Papa, today will be a short walk, just as far as the grove before Netherfield comes into view. I do not want to jeopardize my ankle and want it to be strong so I can have many dances with my friends at the assembly.”
“Then I am pleased that you are taking this precaution and doing the correct thing.”
At this time the housekeeper appeared at the door.
“Mr. Bennet, the scones and coffee are ready. Shall I bring you and Miss Elizabeth some right away? Cook has made strawberry and raspberry scones.”
“Thank you, I would like one of each and so would Lizzy.”
“Yes, sir, oh, Miss Elizabeth, it is good to see you again. I believe you also take your coffee black?”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hill, I do take my coffee black. It is also good to see you again as it has been several weeks and I am happy to be back home.”
****
Both Jane and Elizabeth counted the days until Mr. Bingley would move into Netherfield. They next devised a plan whereby Jane would walk with her sister each morning and later, after Mr. Bingley took possession, they would visit with him early in the morning as well as at other times.
Mr. Bennet was not oblivious to what his two eldest daughters were doing and so, having given them a few days, he invited them into his library.
“Lizzy, I see that you have been training your sister for these marathon walks of yours. Neither of you need to be distressed at this time, but I have noticed that you have been following the trail that leads to Netherfield. Therefore, I must surmise that it is your intention to meet our new neighbor during these early morning walks.”
“That is not the real reason, Papa. I need to build up my stamina and Jane has agreed to walk with me. We do hope to meet the man, but there is nothing untoward about our motives.”
“It appears that you, Lizzy, are behind this scheme, are you not? What is going on between you both? Are you trying to gain the advantage over all the other young women who seek an alliance with our new neighbor? And Jane, I cannot believe that you are following Lizzy around much as Kitty does with Lydia.”
“Papa, you cannot compare us to our two youngest and silly sisters and I believe you owe both of us an apology.”
Mr. Bennet was surprised by Lizzy’s reply but had not the time to respond as Jane became emotional. Jane Bennet despised any confrontation and could not hide her hurt as she sat demurely, her head bowed and her hands in her lap. Elizabeth caught her sister’s agitation immediately but Mr. Bennet was not aware of the effect of his words on his eldest daughter who now began to cry. She next confessed that she knew the man and told her father everything that he already had heard from Elizabeth the previous day, but Jane slipped and mentioned that she met Mr. Bingley at Mr. Darcy’s house.
“So there is more. Lizzy, who is this Mr. Darcy?”
Elizabeth knew her father was playing a game but she would never divulge that she had told him these things the day before, and so she repeated what she had told him earlier. Jane, next told more about Mr. Bingley and of their feelings for each other and when questioned by their father, both sisters appeared nervous. Elizabeth and her father l
ooked at each other and Jane was still uncertain what her announcement meant for her and Elizabeth.
“Father, do you believe me to be in any danger?”
“What do you mean, Jane? Do you actually expect me to strike you?”
“No, sir, but what will happen to me and to Lizzy now that you are disappointed with both of us?”
“Relax, Jane. All will be well. The only danger I see is that you and this man are in danger of falling in love and the same may apply to Lizzy and this other man. At least he is in town.”