"Oh, Jane, does that mean that you and Mr. Bingley have an agreement?" Elizabeth's heart leaped for joy at the idea of Jane finally having her well deserved happiness.
Jane smiled and nodded her head laughing, "To put it in his own words, 'it is my intention to ask for our hand in marriage as soon as I have received approval from your father, you must tell me now if I am to inquire after your father's approval'" Jane giggled gently at her memory of the conversation.
"Oh, Jane, I'm so delighted for you, of course father will approve, how could he not."
"So we are both to be married it seems," Jane said, rubbing Elizabeth's back, trying to help Elizabeth get some much needed perspective. Elizabeth fell fast asleep having spent all of her tears and energy and tried to imagine a calm morning while her father approved two of his daughter's betrothals.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The following morning found Elizabeth the last to rise. The household was buzzing with activity as Mrs. Bennet anticipated two suitors arriving for an audience with Mr. Bennet. She couldn't betray her nature though and while she was elated with the circumstances, she still required something to worry about, and thus was born the great debate of what should be done with the second suitor, while the first one had his audience with Mr. Bennet.
Elizabeth dressed quickly and tried to find her excitement, but she couldn't help but fear Mr. Darcy only acted out of honor. Try as she might she couldn't stop herself from formulating a letter in her head to release him from his pledge.
On several occasions, she attempted to begin a letter, but with the household in such a flurry, she could find no peace with which to compose her thoughts.
She finally decided that she would explain herself in person, thanking him for his honor, but insisting that he not tether himself to someone out of obligation.
Sensing Elizabeth's distress, Jane managed to convince her mother that she and Elizabeth could best assist by gathering flowers from the garden. No sooner did they enter the garden then Kitty was heard exclaiming the arrival of guests.
Jane took Elizabeth's hand and kissed it, "Dear sister, he loves you, that much is obvious, it does not matter the way in which your union came to be, no one needs know the particulars. Just be happy."
"I will try," Elizabeth said, feigning compliance.
The two sisters headed back to the house only to be greeted by sour faces all around.
Kitty spoke first with less decorum than a kitchen maid, "Mr. Bingley's in father's study, but Mr. Darcy didn't come."
Elizabeth felt her knees give way and she grabbed onto the wall for support, attempting composure.
Mrs. Bennet put an arm around Elizabeth and patted her on the back, "Mr. Darcy was called away on business and will be back in less than a fortnight."
Elizabeth barely heard a word and stumbled her way up to her room, trying to find some air to fill her lungs.
She stood in her doorway, willing herself to breathe deeply. This was a day of celebration for her sister, and she would not be the pitied younger sister.
"Perhaps there is a reasonable explanation," Jane suggested, standing in the doorway of their room.
Elizabeth wiped an errant tear from her eye, and took a deep breath, smoothing her skirt.
"Of course," she said, gathering herself and turning to her sister, arms outstretched. "I'm so very happy for you Jane," she said, and she was.
The rest of the day proved a whirlwind as Mr. Bennet, having approved Mr. Bingley's request, set about to writing letters and contacting the lawyers.
Mrs. Bingley for her part set about a tour of the town informing all who would listen of the betrothal, stopping first to gloat at Lucas Lodge.
Mr. Bingley was invited to stay for dinner and the staff scrambled to prepare a last minute feast. All in all, they spent a happy day together celebrating the union of Jane and Mr. Bingley. For the majority of the day, Elizabeth managed to keep her wits about her and not let her imagination run away. Mr. Darcy would not agree to an engagement under the circumstances of last evening, and then dissolve the agreement in so callous a manner. There had to be a reasonable explanation for his absence and she soothed her frayed nerves with this logic.
This approach proved successful until the day ended and Elizabeth found herself lying in bed with her pernicious thoughts. No manner of logic helped her frayed nerves find repose. Mr. Bingley had informed Jane that he'd awakened that morning to a note from Mr. Darcy that said nothing further than "urgent business, will return."
No mention of Elizabeth. That he would return at least allowed her some hope, but not enough to find rest. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess of longing and anger. How could he have put her in such a situation? Was that his plan, to force her hand into his? Certainly not, he seemed to want so desperately to help her. Had she kissed him? She wasn't even sure at this point. Perhaps she had been the one to initiate the kiss and he was off to his lawyers.
Sleep eluded her as her emotions ran away with her until finally in a sleep deprived haze, she remembered what it felt like to kiss Mr. Darcy. To be completely enraptured by his being. How the entire world disappeared in his arms and smiling, she succumbed to sleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Elizabeth awoke the next day to the sound of her mother's screaming. "Oh, what is to become of us? We are ruined, what of Jane?"
Elizabeth turned to see Jane scrambling into her dressing gown, "What is the matter?" Elizabeth cried, certain that it involved her in some way.
"I don't know," Jane said, rushing out of the room.
In no time Elizabeth made it down the stairs to discover her mother prostrate on the sofa with a cold cloth over her head moaning in agony.
"It seems Lydia has eloped with Mr. Wickham," Jane said, a silent tear falling from her cheek.
Elizabeth took her sister's hand in hers and they sat together on the settee. "Father has gone off to Brighton to try and intercept them, as has our uncle," Jane said.
"Oh, Jane," Elizabeth said, cupping her sister's cheek, "I'm so sorry."
"Sorry for what dear, you haven't done anything." Jane took Elizabeth's hand and kissed it, placing it in her own on her lap and patted it. "This will all resolve itself you will see."
Elizabeth could feel the shame of her own behavior. Had she not put her family in the same predicament two evenings prior? Did they not feel the same trepidation as to the whereabouts of her own betrothed?
For three long days they moved about the house in a sort of quiet stasis awaiting word, Elizabeth feeling the weight of her poor decisions each day with a little more weight.
Why did she have to be so stubborn and proud and where on earth had Mr. Darcy gone? There had been no word of his whereabouts or his intentions. Elizabeth could only rely on his note to Mr. Bingley. "I will return."
Mr. Bingley remained steadfast at Jane's side, assuring her each day of his resolve to marry her, regardless of the outcome of her sister's shame.
Mrs. Bennet relocated to her bedroom where she was all day attended by whomever had the misfortune of proximity, mainly Kitty, as Mrs. Bennet had transferred all of her adoration for Lydia onto Kitty, who seemed to be in heaven at the attention and was more than happy to attend to Mrs. Bennet's every whim. On the fourth day, Elizabeth managed to slip out of the house unseen to walk off her fears and anxiety. She'd cried all the tears her body could manufacture and now moved about the house in a sort of half state. The question of Mr. Darcy's return and whereabouts seemed to concern no one but Elizabeth amidst the chaos of Lydia's elopement.
Elizabeth tried desperately to remain steadfast in her faith in Mr. Darcy's love for her, but she wavered over and over again throughout each day to the point of torture.
Jane reassured her of his return yet no one was ready to comment on what he might do when he discovered the state of her family upon that return. A man like Mr. Darcy wouldn't attach himself to a family so shamed as hers was certain to become. Mr. Bingley could afford to take such chances with his fortu
nes, but could Mr. Darcy? Would Mr. Darcy?
Elizabeth took a deep breath, sighing as she crested the hill near Longbourn. Taking a rest on a log Elizabeth let out a torrent of tears. How lucky she was to have avoided her own entanglement with Mr. Wickham, and how foolish she had been. Whatever had passed between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth now knew for certain that the blame must be on Mr. Wickham. His elopement with Lydia proved his poor character. Elizabeth put her head in her hands and tried to calm her spent nerves. There was nothing for it but to wait this interminable wait. No amount of consideration would change the fact of Mr. Darcy's decisions upon discovering her sister's compromise. Elizabeth looked out about the countryside and called out gently, "Oh Mr. Darcy where could you be?"
"I'm right behind you my darling."
Elizabeth nearly screamed and rushed toward Mr. Darcy forgetting her days of torment entirely and without even the slightest hesitation threw her arms around him. After the initial relief of seeing him, she remembered her fears and awkwardly attempted to extract herself from him.
"I'm not letting you go Miss Bennet and I mean that quite literally," Mr. Darcy said, maintaining his hold on her.
She rested her head on his chest and allowed the days of fear and worry to float away with any sadness she might have tucked away.
Until she remembered that he didn't know what had happened, and held him just a little tighter for as long as she could until she had to leave him.
"I couldn't bear to be away from you my darling, and I must admit I was rather a disagreeable man for it," Mr. Darcy said.
The sentiment only made her newfound pain all the mightier. As she felt the sadness threaten to consume her Mr. Darcy pulled away just enough to take her chin in his hand and press his lips to hers. A long slow kiss that nearly made Elizabeth forget herself, had she not realized how great her pain at losing him would be.
The tears began to flow and Mr. Darcy pulled away, taking her face in his hands, smiling, "My kisses bring you tears? That's not a good way to start our life together."
Elizabeth's heart sank at the mention of their life together. "Mr. Darcy I fear I must release you from... " Elizabeth stumbled on the words, her throat closing in on the sentence. Her body racked with a sob as she tried to finish her words.
He frowned in confusion, shaking his head, "My darling there is nothing in this world that will keep us apart. I won't let it. Do you mean to tell me you don't love me? Certainly you cannot behave this way in my greeting and turn to tell me you don't lo... " Now it was Mr. Darcy's turn to lose his composure. The words refusing to leave his mouth.
There was nothing for it but to just come out with it and suffer the pain that would come with the revelation. A small sliver of hope remained in her chest, burning brightly in the hopes that his love for her would win out over the circumstances of her family.
She looked up into his eyes, there was such sadness and loss, and yet his hold on her remained. She wanted to rip herself from his grasp as quickly as she could to make the pain end that much quicker.
"Elizabeth, speak to me."
Desperation shown in his voice and Elizabeth burned at the idea that he should feel any pain. She hung her head unable to look into his eyes and braced herself for his inevitable detachment from her.
Again in the hopes of lessening the sting, she blurted out the words "Lydia has eloped with Mr. Wickham."
Mr. Darcy didn't move and Elizabeth shook slightly awaiting his reaction. He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms tightly around her kissing the top of her head laughing gently.
"My dear sweet Elizabeth, I have been in Brighton these last few days, did your father not send word? Your sister and Mr. Wickham are married."
Elizabeth pulled away to look into Mr. Darcy's eyes, smiling through her tears, "You were in Brighton this whole time?"
"Yes, oh my darling I'm so sorry to have given you worry, when my man sent notice of Mr. Wickham's intentions there was no time to waste. I feared I would be too late. Darling, I love you, and I'll not let the devil himself take you from me," he frowned, "unless," he straightened, "unless that is you want to release me for some other reason than your sister's actions."
Now it was Elizabeth's turn to smile and reassure, "No," she smiled, playfully, " I have no intention of releasing your from your obligations Mr. Darcy."
His eyes gleaming with satisfaction, he pulled her to him and kissed her once again. This time a kiss that meant forever, a kiss that meant they would never doubt each other again.
The end...
Unexpectedly Mrs Darcy Page 5
