The next afternoon her father called her into his library.
“You never told me about your visit, Lizzy. I know your mother has asked you about it but perhaps you can tell me some things that you might which to get off your chest?”
“Yes, Papa, I will tell you of our visit.”
“Then your sister’s Mr. Bingley has also returned, but will he be a changed man or the same man who left your sister with a broken heart?”
“He is different.”
“But how do you know, Lizzy?”
“Mr.Darcy told me and so has Jane. He will not have his sisters with him. They hid Jane’s visit to town from him and even said that Mr. Bingley would wed Mr. Darcy’s sister.”
“Yes, what you say is true. He showed me the letters that his sister kept from Jane and him and also a letter meant for methat Mr. Darcy had written. It appears that Miss Bingley has decided what was best for her brother and his friend. The man appears to be very disappointed with his sisters. I suspect he has long been in love with Jane and her with him for all these months.”
“I believe so, Papa.”
“So Mr. Darcy’s role in all of this is to help reunite his friend with Jane. He does not have the same wishes for you, does he?”
Elizabeth knew this question would come and set with her hands in her lap looking at her feet demurely as she felt the heat of her blush as her heart beat out of control.
“Lizzy, I do not wish to make you uncomfortable, but I can read the tea leaves. You and this proud man have gone and fallen in love. Do not fear, I shall tell no person, but what is to happen?”
“Neither of us has declared our feelings but I believe you are correct. My feelings about the man have undergone a complete change and now that I know him better, he is my best friend. I respect him and trust him with my heart, if that is what he wishes.”
“So you believe he is in love with you?”
“Yes, Papa, but please be silent about this as he has not proposed, and I do not need Mamma and any others speculating about this.”
“Then you can be assured of my silence, Lizzy. Your uncle speaks well of both men, and both the Gardiners see a marriage in the near future for you and Jane. You of course know that I have given Mr. Bingley my consent for him to court Jane. Let us see how it all goes, Lizzy. This house needs some merriment after this tough year. I look forward to Mr. Bingley and the others joining all of us for the Christmas feast and other visits this season. Now go and prepare to walk behind your sister and Mr. Bingley, but do leave them some distance.” He laughed softly as she left the room.
****
Darcy’s coach arrived before one on Monday 21 December and Elizabeth spotted it in the distance as it turned onto the road to Netherfield. Darcy stretched his neck to look for Elizabeth but was certain she would not walk on such a cold day. Indeed, she had only walked a mile from her home before spotting the coach and turning around to return to Longbourn.
Seeing the Darcy coach brought her comfort because the roads were not always friendly and sometimes coaches or carriages suddenly lost an axle or some other misfortune. Just a few days earlier three people were badly hurt when a carriage overturned just eight miles from Meryton. Elizabeth was not one prone to worry but she did over Darcy and his sister. It was not just for Jane and Mr. Bingley that she anticipated this Christmas, but for all her family and now that she knew her own heart, her feelings for Mr. Darcy had changed so rapidly that all she wished was to be near him. She desired nothing less than his approbation and his love.
Oh, what have I become? I have gone from despising and censoring him to worrying myself silly. I never knew I could be so affected by any man and now he is all I think about. I just pray mamma will be civil to him. She still does not know of my feelings for him.
Elizabeth now began to think about how difficult the past year had been for all her family. There had been little joy at Longbourn. Jane had mostly pined after Mr. Bingley and never attended a dance after the Netherfield Ball, and except for their odious and obsequious cousin, Mr. Collins, and some of the militia officers, there were no gentlemen callers. For a household of five eligible sisters, the only solution was to escape to town and visit with the Gardiners. Elizabeth was more fortunate than her sisters in this regard, for she had accompanied the Gardiners when they travelled to Lambton, and that is when she visited Pemberley. Now she remembered staring at Mr. Darcy’s portrait and that her aunt had to drag her away as she continued to think on the man after hearing such flattering reports from his housekeeper.
That very next day in Lambton she read Jane’s letters telling of Lydia and George Wickham’s elopement and knew that Mr. Darcy had warned her of the man. Her tears that day were for her sister, for sure, but she cried for herself as well, and for her family and their disgrace. This was the lowest point in her life and she had to confront her feelings. Suddenly she understood that the man she thought she hated and whom she considered to be the last man in the world that she would marry, was the only man she wished to marry. Now, neither Mr. Darcy nor any other respectable man would choose a wife from her family. Mr. Darcy and his friend left the previous November and she was convinced that she would never see him again and neither would Mr. Bingley return for Jane. Lydia’s scandal meant her family would suffer the censure of all their neighbors and she wondered what all this would mean for her family.
As she neared her home she nearly tripped but caught herself. Now she suddenly felt warm the closer she came to her home and soon she saw the smoke from the chimneys and knew that shortly she could warm herself and assuage her beating heart. Now she let tears of happiness well up in the corner of her eyes as she remembered Mr. Darcy riding on the road to Oakham Mount to see her. With the exception of his beard, this was the way her dreams of him began each night. As she came inside, her mother spoke with her.
“Lizzy, you just missed Mr. Bingley, but I have invited him and his guests for tea this afternoon.”
"Good, Mamma, for I spotted Mr. Darcy’s coach in the distance on the road to Netherfield. You did know that Mr. Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, will also join the others at Netherfield?”
“That is good to know, Lizzy. Should we expect him for tea?”
“He will likely arrive on Christmas Eve.”
“Then he will join with us to celebrate and I look forward to meeting him and Miss Darcy. Lizzy, I am happy that you have made friends with Mr. Darcy’s family. Just do not be so impertinent around him. Lizzy, your knowing him and his family will likely put you and your sisters in the company of other great men, so do your best to be friendly, even though you despise him. You must remember that your sisters rely on you and Jane to help them find husbands.”
Elizabeth knew that in the past she had done too good of a job in criticizing Mr. Darcy, but recently she had put out enough hints that her mother should have concluded her feelings toward the man had changed.
****
Kitty was the first to see Mr. Bingley’s carriage and the family came outside to greet the visitors as Mr. Bennet stayed in his library. After greetings and some conversation, Mr. Bennet joined the others for tea as Darcy introduced his sister. Darcy did not know what to make of Mr. Bennet’s greeting and the way the man looked him over. He wondered if one day he might show the same look at a man wishing to court his daughter. Now he wondered if Mr. Bennet had put the pieces together. His sudden appearance at Longbourn followed by his daughters meeting the men in town and now Mr. Bingley and his return to Netherfield made it clear that Mr. Darcy wished to court his Lizzy.
After tea Mary and Kitty went off with Georgiana whilst Mrs. Bennet encouraged her eldest daughters to walk in the gardens. It was sunny and the lack of wind made it seem warmer. Jane and Elizabeth each donned a shawl and bonnet and gloves and began their walk. Mr. Bennet watched as they left the house but soon they were out of sight, with Jane and Mr. Bingley leading and Elizabeth and Darcy following behind. When out of sight of the house, Mr. Darcy proffered
his arm to Elizabeth and she immediately accepted it.
“I am happy that you and your sister have arrived safely. Were there any problems during your ride?”
“No, except I was eager to see you again. I must say your father gave me quite a stare when he greeted us at the tea. It was as if he was sizing me up to learn of my intentions.”
“He has questioned me in that regard, but I told him that your primary reason for coming to Longbourn was to help reunite your friend and my sister.”
“That is not the reason I came to Longbourn,” he said, his eyes pinched together as he looked disconcerted. “As I said when I was last here, I missed you and was depressed to read that you had died at sea. Later, I saw you in town and knew there was some mistake. You told me your sister was in love with my friend, so when I told him of my visit, he made plans to return to Netherfield. You should know, I would have returned by myself if he was not interested, but he is in love with your sister.”And I am in love with you, my sweetest, loveliest Elizabeth.
She watched as his countenance changed and Darcy stepped away, his dark eyes showing hurt and uncertainty. Now a blush overspread her face and she looked demurely at her feet, all the while fearing to look into his eyes.
“Is there a reason why you would say that to your father?”
Elizabeth now approached him and reached for his arm again. “I will explain, but I do not like it when you express contempt for me. Mr. Darcy, my father spoke of Mr. Bingley visiting with him and asked me of the man’s intentions. Later, he asked of your own.”
“Then your father is clever. Miss Elizabeth, I would never hold you in contempt. No, you have my good opinion and there is nothing I would not do to make you happy.”
Elizabeth wondered where such feelings came from and returned to Darcy’s comment about her father being clever. This was a safer subject than Darcy’s opinion of her.
“Yes, he is very clever and I believe he knows me better than I know myself. I did not want him to speculate on us when Jane and your friend are in love. My father did not believe what I told him and he suspects that we care for one another. I have continued to tell my mother that you have returned to help reunite Jane and Mr. Bingley, because I do not wish her to shower you with effusions whilst you are visiting and make both you and your sister uncomfortable.”
“Then you believe what I told you was my reason for returning to Longbourn?”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy, I know you are a man who speaks the truth. I was very happy to see you when we were visiting the Gardiners. Jane and I have been eager since then to spend this Christmas season with you and the others.”
Now Darcy looked into her eyes. His expression took her breath away and for a moment she thought he could see into her soul. “I do hope we have some private time to sit near the fire and enjoy a snowy evening. There is no other woman I would wish to be with.”
Elizabeth’s eyes showed the threat of tears as Darcy looked upon her and gently traced his ungloved hand over her cheek. Next he smiled at her with loving eyes and she could still feel the heat from his touch and felt a tingle along her spine as the hair raised on her arms and neck.
“It seems that I am very sensitive, sir.”
“On my end, I must apologize to you Miss Bennet, for reacting to your words. It is just that I want everything to be right between us. You are certainly not at any loss to know of my feelings for you. My heart broke to learn of your sister’s death and to know that I might have been able to find them if only I had returned to Pemberley a day earlier.”
“Things happen that we have no control over, Mr. Darcy. I once felt so differently about you but now we are the best of friends and Jane’s and my joining you and your family at the theatre in town was the best time in my life. If we never saw one another again, I would always remember the way you made me feel that evening.”
“But that is why I have come, and that is to make sure you and I learn more about each other. Miss Bennet, would it be asking too much of you to approve of us beginning a courtship?”
Darcy’s voice sounded ragged and unsure and he was nervous until he saw Elizabeth’s smile and heard her giggle and he soon caught the sight of her eyes watering.
“That is also my wish Mr. Darcy, but when do you think you should ask my father? Mr. Bingley has already asked my father’s approval to court Jane. You may ask him whenever you wish, but only take a day or two at the most.”
She laughed and Darcy joined her as he pulled her into a warm embrace.
“I wish to walk with you early the morrow, Mr. Darcy. Would you care to join me at sunrise at our usual spot?”
“I shall be at the little bridge nearest the road to Netherfield unless it is raining.”
“And what if it is snowing, Mr. Darcy?”
“Then I should wish to comfort you near the fire, but we must hope we are at Netherfield.”
After that they continued their walk and later caught up with Jane and Mr. Bingley and the four returned to the house. As the friends entered they found Georgiana and Mary at the pianoforte with Kitty, who appeared to be taking her first lesson and seemed to enjoy it. Of the five Bennet daughters, only Elizabeth and Mary played, though over the years Mrs. Bennet tried to get Lydia and Kitty interested. This was a lost cause because Lydia was not suited in temperament and since Kitty followed after her sister, she too was not interested. Mr. Bennet could hear Miss Darcy play and listened as Mary tried to play softly like Georgiana. He could tell the improvement and heard Georgiana encouraging her. Both Mary and Kitty were excited to have gained a friend and Georgiana did not wish to leave. Seeing the friendship developing between the young women, Bingley spoke with Darcy and next with Jane and Elizabeth and proposed that Mary and Kitty join them at Netherfield for lunch and later dinner the morrow and they could play the pianoforte at Netherfield as much as they desired. Elizabeth and Jane agreed immediately and knew this would be the first time that their parents had so much time off to themselves.
The younger Bennet girls were hoping to visit with Georgiana at Netherfield and the three became excited and giggled happily when Mr. Bingley suggested this to Jane who asked them if they wished to visit. Mrs. Bennet was pleased for her girls as was their father who watched as the friends left. Their return to Hertfordshire had brought hope to his family and he looked forward to a happy Christmas amongst family and friends.
The friends then returned to Netherfield. During their carriage ride, Darcy asked Georgiana about her visit. She happily told of making new friends and that she liked the Bennets. Darcy could see she was sincere and felt his heart move to think that Elizabeth and her sisters had been responsible for his and his sister’s happiness.
That evening Jane and Elizabeth spoke of their walk and about how well Georgiana and their sisters got along and they all thought what this meant for their family. Jane tried to discover Darcy’s intentions but Elizabeth was not going to tell her that she had agreed to let Darcy court her until he had secured her father’s approval. Both sisters spoke of their parents having Longbourn free to themselves and wondered how they would cope. Jane now looked at Elizabeth with a look suggesting they might use the opportunity to become intimate. The thought had them questioning if older couples actually continued to have sex and they went into an extended discussion.
Mary and Kitty used their time and planned what they might do the morrow when Kitty broke out her scrap book to show all the articles mentioning Mr. Darcy in town. They both wished to discuss these stories with Miss Darcy. Kitty also had stories of other ladies and gentlemen as well and the sisters made a list of questions they wanted to ask Georgiana.
CHAPTER 4
Early the next morning Elizabeth rose with the sun and knew she should have left earlier. She hurriedly threw the counterpane aside, finished her ablutions and dressed for the cold so as not to keep Mr. Darcy waiting. After eating a piece of toast and drinking some coffee she hurriedly put on her outer clothes and bonnet and gloves and left her house to meet
her friend. It was quite cold but the coffee and toast fortified her and the sight of sunlight streaming through the trees invigorated her, in spite of the cold. The previous night she had thought of this walk with the man and there were many things she wished to discuss and questions she wished to ask him. Elizabeth also anticipated a fine day for all at Netherfield and thought of how her parents would enjoy a day mostly free of their daughters. These thoughts and others were on her mind as she began her walk. It did not take her long to see Mr. Darcy waiting for her near the small foot bridge where they usually met.
“Good morning, Miss Bennet,” he said, bowing as she offered a curtsey. “I have hoped to see you today. You look very handsome with the early sun shining in your face.”
“Thank you, the sun portends a warmer day, though it is still cold. At least it teases us that things will warm up. I expected to see you ride.”
“Because of the cold I decided to walk and warm myself. I also wished to give Sampson some rest.” Yes, and then I can walk closer to you without dealing with my horse. That thought alone warmed him and she saw him smile.
“Look, Mr. Darcy,” she said, startled to see a rider intent on delivering an express post to Netherfield. Darcy stepped in front of her as the rider approached and pulled up.
“I am looking for Netherfield and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy,” the man said, looking weary from his ride.
Darcy replied that he was the man and took the letter and asked the man to stay until he had read it. Elizabeth looked worried as she watched Darcy’s reaction to the letter. “Miss Bennet, we must go to Longbourn now and I must speak with your father without delay. There is pressing business that calls me to London and I cannot delay.” She watched as Darcy spoke to the rider and reached in his pocket to pay the man. The rider next heard Darcy say that he would leave for London within the hour and the man left them seconds later. Both watched him ride off, but Elizabeth was the first to speak.
Darcy on the Edge Page 6
