The Portrait of Elizabeth

by Jane Angwin

  His early fear of going against his family's strict adherence to society's rules had crumbled, and he had finally accepted his undeniable attraction to her. He had now pictured this woman as his wife far too often, and he knew that there could never be another woman for him. It could only be Elizabeth. She brought light to every room she entered, and her laugh was music to his ears. She was intelligent and witty, and she would challenge him as no one had ever dared. She was always in his dreams, but he wanted her in his arms to love her forever, and if he couldn't have her, he would succumb to a life of loneliness.

  Neither of them were aware that they were not alone in the woods that morning. Wickham had silently watched the Longbourn house early that morning, waiting for Elizabeth to take her usual walk. Lydia had inadvertently mentioned that Elizabeth walked in the woods in the mornings, and he wanted to find her alone. To his surprise, it was still dark when she appeared, and he allowed her to get quite far ahead of him so as not to make himself known to her as yet. He wasn't sure what he would do, but he thought that he might possibly cause a noise of some kind to startle her and then reveal himself to her, offering comfort. If he could find a way to ingratiate himself to her by telling her more about Darcy's evil treatment and selfish disdain for others, he would be well on his way to hurting the man he most hated in the whole world.

  He saw her sit down on a large log and was just about to throw a large rock far out in front of her to frighten her when he realized that there was someone approaching on a horse from the opposite direction. He quickly moved behind a large tree and listened to their voices. What he heard was most enlightening. Fitzwilliam was in love with Elizabeth Bennett. Now he knew what he must do.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  The Misunderstanding

  The following morning, while Darcy was breaking his fast, Mr. Blair entered the dining room and informed him that he had a visitor. "Who is here for me at this early hour, pray tell?" Darcy inquired in an irritated voice.

  "The gentleman claims to be your 'favorite cousin', Sir." As Mr. Blair was repeating those words, Colonel Fitzwilliam walked in, ignoring the protocol of waiting in the front hall until he was announced.

  "Richard!" Darcy exclaimed. He nodded at Mr. Blair to excuse him. "Thank you, Blair. He is definitely my cousin, but I don't know that I would characterize him as my favorite." Mr. Blair gave him a knowing smile and turned and left the room, satisfied that this was indeed a welcome visitor. "Good Lord man, what brings you here at this ungodly hour? You must have left London in the middle of the night! You must be famished. Come in and share some nourishment with me." Darcy stood and pulled out a chair for him. As an afterthought, he asked "Is there something amiss?"

  "Why must it always be bad news when I arrive, cousin? Mightn't I just wish to see what you are about?" He walked to the buffet and filled his plate to overflowing and took the seat that Darcy offered. "Perhaps I just wanted to see this place that has captured your interest for so long. Or maybe WHO has captured your interest. Georgiana wrote to me and told me that you wrote to her about a family of ladies that you have been socializing with here in the country. Could one of them have caught your eye?" He waggled his eyebrows, which he always did to make Georgiana laugh, but Darcy didn't laugh.

  "Don't be ridiculous, Richard," he lied. He was sorry that he had mentioned the Bennetts to Georgiana in his letters, as he realized that she would have naturally told Richard. She adored her cousin, and they kept up a regular correspondence with few, if any, secrets between the three of them. He immediately changed the subject, trying to avoid further interrogation about the Bennetts. "What is the real reason for your presence here?"

  "Well, you have found me out" Richard laughed. "I do actually have a reason for being here, and you probably won't find it at all pleasant news. Aunt Catherine arrived in London yesterday and has informed my father that she is tired of waiting for you to make an offer to Anne, and she is going to take matters into her own hands. I don't know what she has in mind, but I wouldn't put it past her to put an article in the gossip section of the newspaper about the 'very eligible FD of Derbyshire now engaged to the lovely Miss AD of Kent'. She will do just about anything to forward your marriage to Anne." He stuffed a forkful of eggs into his mouth and appeared to be finished with his news.

  "What?" Darcy shouted. "She wouldn't dare! It is high time I stop this madness." Darcy threw his napkin down on the table and pushed his chair back with force. " I must ride to London immediately and make sure that she understands once and for all that I will not marry her daughter. I have been much too lenient with her making this ridiculous demand all these years, and it is time to end her fantasy. Are you coming with me, Richard?"

  Richard looked up at him as he took a bite of his muffin. "Can it not wait until I have finished eating, Darcy? I have ridden like the wind to deliver this information to you, and I would hope that you wouldn't drag me away on horseback again so soon!" With that he continued calmly eating as if nothing was the slightest bit urgent.

  "I am going to pack a few things, Richard, and I will be ready to leave within the hour. If you do not wish to join me, so be it." With that, Darcy left the room to inform Bingley that he would be leaving for a few days but he would return as soon as his business with his Aunt and cousin was concluded. He left it up to Richard to explain his presence if he decided to stay at Netherfield instead of riding out with him.

  He found Bingley just coming down the staircase and asked him to give him a moment. Darcy informed him that he was leaving for London to conclude some unfinished business with his cousin, Anne. "I have been putting this off some quite some time, but the time has come to do what I should have done a long time ago."

  "Well, congratulations, Darcy. I am proud of you! I would assume that you will not be returning to Netherfield after such an important move!"

  "Why, no, Bingley, I do have several things to take care of in London, but I will actually be coming back to Netherfield hopefully in a week or perhaps less!" He thought it strange that Bingley would think he would need to remain in London.

  Bingley looked at him with a puzzled look, but he never questioned Darcy's actions, and he didn't question Darcy's intention to return to Netherfield immediately after formally proposing to his cousin, Anne and setting a date at last. He knew that it was a marriage of convenience and definitely not a love match, but it was still odd that he would choose to return to Netherfield after spending just a few days with his betrothed. "Well, of course, Darcy. You know you are always welcome here. Will Miss De Bourg be joining us too?" he inquired.

  "Good heavens, No, Charles! Why in the world would I bring her here? I'll be lucky if she even speaks to me from now on." Darcy turned and took the stairs two at a time, appearing to Bingley to be quite anxious to get to London. Darcy's firm statement that he wouldn't bring his betrothed with him was quite strange. He simply could not fathom his good friend entering into a marriage to a woman that he did not love and that lacked felicity. And why would Anne not speak to him? He shook his head as if to erase the questions, and felt enormous gratitude that he had found such a wonderful woman, and if she accepted him, theirs would most definitely be a marriage of love.

  Unfortunately, what neither of the gentlemen realized was that Caroline was standing off to the side of the staircase, hidden from view, but overhearing the entire conversation. Even though Darcy had adamantly told her that he would never consider her for his wife, she was still devastated to hear that she had finally lost all hope to become the mistress of Pemberley. When her brother turned and walked down the hall toward the dining room, she slowly climbed back up the stairs to her room, mourning her great loss. She sat in her chambers trying to think how she could undo this travesty, but she realized that what was done was done. The only bright light in her wicked mind was that if she couldn't have him, neither would that horrid chit of a girl, Elizabeth Bennett.

  ******

  The day of Mr. Collins's disastrous proposal to Elizabe
th, she had posted an express letter to her Aunt Madeline and her Uncle Edward Gardiner in Cheapside, asking if she could take them up on their previous offer to join them on their trip to The Lakes and The Peaks in Derbyshire. Her mother was furious at her for turning Collins down, and even though Mary was now alleviating her mother's fears of losing Longbourn, there would be no peace for Elizabeth any time soon. She was hopeful that it was not too late to accept the Gardiner's offer, and much to her great pleasure, she received a response almost immediately saying that they would be delighted to have her accompany them, but she would have to pack and leave Longbourn right away as they were leaving in just two days time.

  She knew that her father didn't feel it was necessary for her to leave home now that Mary had agreed to marry Mr. Collins, and except for her usual barbed remarks and criticism, her mother would probably leave her alone, but Elizabeth had another reason to leave home. During the last few days, Elizabeth had begun to feel a strong attraction to the mysterious Mr. Darcy, and she had also felt that he was showing her a great deal more attention than was normal for a man who was supposed to be engaged to another woman. The way he touched her hand, and the way he had looked into her eyes truly led her to believe that he was interested in much more than a friendship. It seemed that the story that he wanted so desperately wanted to tell her was about finding love and not succumbing to the rules of society and his family, but, there could be no possible way he would be interested in her, a simple girl from the country with ties to trade, no dowry, and a family that obviously offended him.

  She rationalized that he was a handsome man of London society with great wealth, and he probably treated all women the way he treated her. It probably meant nothing to him. Yes, that was all there was to it. "But what was the rest of the story about the painting of a woman? Who could it be? He had never set eyes on me before his recent visit to Netherfield, so it certainly couldn't be me" she thought to herself. "It must be his cousin, Anne, but then why did he tell me that his mother did not want him to marry who his family wanted him to. Perhaps he is actually in love with her." She closed her eyes as she thought about their meeting at the river the day before. "But the way he looks at me," she said to herself. "And that feeling when he touches me." The memory sent a shiver down her spine. "I must leave Hertfordshire immediately before I convince myself of something that is nothing more than a fairy tale".

  Elizabeth bounded up the stairs to pick out her traveling clothes and pack her trunk. There was a daily post coach that left for London at noon every day, and in order to leave the next day, she had to hurry in order to go to Meryton to purchase her fare this afternoon. Once she had finished choosing her favorite dresses and bonnets and a selection of books to read as she traveled with her Aunt and Uncle in their carriage, she went to look for Jane to walk with her into town.

  "I understand your wishes to go, Lizzy, but I will miss you terribly," Jane said as they slowly walked along the road to town.

  "I will miss you too, Jane, but be honest. You and Mr. Bingley do not know that anyone else is even around when you are together, and my absence comes at the perfect time. You won't even realize I am gone!" Elizabeth was happy for her sister, but she knew that Mr. Darcy would be a regular visitor at Longbourn with Mr. Bingley, and it was best that she go away. These feelings she was experiencing were disconcerting, and she wanted to get as far away from Longbourn and Netherfield as possible. It was a strange sensation to feel somehow that they had been destined to meet for some reason, but how could it be that she had developed deep feelings for a man she hardly knew, and one that she had been informed was engaged to be married to another. None of it made any sense, and she simply had to put it all behind her. "I must leave at once before I allow these feelings to grow so deep that I cannot escape their hold on me."

  As they walked, a carriage approached and slowed to a stop next to the ladies. Much to their dismay, Caroline Bingley was inside, and she invited them to join her in her coach for the remainder of their outing to town. They knew that she did not care for their family, and she was undoubtedly chagrined at the news about her brother's engagement, so her motives were suspect, but perhaps she had a change of heart. Elizabeth and Jane reluctantly accepted her offer, both secretly hoping that they would not have to spend any time with her in town.

  "Have you heard the wonderful news about Mr. Darcy?" she immediately asked as they found their seats. Elizabeth thought it was extremely rude that Caroline didn't even acknowledge Jane's engagement to her brother, but Jane said that she had not heard anything about Mr. Darcy and inquired about Caroline's news with alacrity. Elizabeth wondered how Jane had been born with no malice of heart and could see the good in everyone, even Miss Bingley. "He has gone to London to finalize his wedding plans with his cousin, Anne, and once they have set the date and the announcement has been made, there will be a celebratory ball in honor of the happy couple! Everyone in the ton will be invited, and I am quite sure Mr. Darcy will include me on the guest list. it will be the wedding of the year!" She leered at Elizabeth like a cat that had just devoured a mouse.

  Even though she had known all along that it was his plan to marry his cousin, Elizabeth felt her stomach lurch with the news that Mr. Darcy had gone to London to be with her and to make the final plans. To keep Miss Bingley and her sister from noticing how this news unsettled her, she instead chose to berate Caroline for her insensitivity toward her sister. "And what of your own brother's engagement news, Miss Bingley? Have you forgotten to wish your future sister well?" She took Jane's hand in her hand and defiantly glared at the horrid woman.

  Never taking her eyes off Elizabeth, she said "Well, yes, of course, I meant to congratulate you, Miss Bennett. I apologize for being so thoughtless. I was just quite sure that Miss Elizabeth would wish to hear the news about Mr. Darcy since she has become such a particular friend of his." She looked at Elizabeth with the look of a woman who had just skillfully scored against an opponent. She had felt from the first day they had met at Netherfield that there was something between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, and it made her blood boil. It filled her with malicious glee to impart this new information to this country nobody. She finally turned to Jane, and said "Please know that my sister and I are delighted that you have agreed to marry our dear brother." Jane smiled and nodded her head, but said no more. She felt the tension in the carriage between Elizabeth and her future sister, and she simply wished to acknowledge Miss Bingley, but quickly end the conversation.

  The carriage entered Meryton and as Jane and Elizabeth were climbing out, Miss Bingley declared that she really must return to Netherfield since she had forgotten a promise to walk in the garden with Louisa. They both knew that the entire meeting and ride to town had been a ruse to chafe Elizabeth with the news about Mr. Darcy. They were quite aware too that the one who was most disturbed about his wedding to Anne De Bourg was Miss Bingley herself. They watched the carriage leave the village, and they looked at each other and shook their heads in pity. "What a miserable woman," Elizabeth said. "I am sorry that she will be your sister, Jane. It will not be easy."

  Chapter Thirty

  Anne

  "Hold up, there cousin," Richard said as he overtook Darcy and yelled back at him. "You are going to kill that horse of yours, and probably me as well!" Richard had finally agreed to accompany Darcy to support him when he confronted their Aunt, as he knew that it was like attacking a wild boar when she became incensed. "I doubt that Catherine has had much time to do anything foolish yet, Darcy. You know she sleeps quite late, and Father said he wanted to go over some paperwork with her this afternoon. Whatever larceny Catherine has in mind, you can handle it when we arrive, hopefully in one piece."

  Darcy pulled back on the reins and Omega slowed to a gently trot. "Fine, Richard. It's not you that has had this problem hanging over your head since you were born. I don't see why you don't marry Anne, anyway. She has all the wealth you require to quit the Army and live quite nicely at Rosings. Banish Aunt Cather
ine to the Dower house and run the estate as you see fit. You know Anne is ill and much too frail to bear children, and she probably wouldn't mind if you found physical comfort elsewhere." The minute he said it, he knew that it was wrong of him to say that. "I'm sorry, Richard. I wouldn't wish that life on my worst enemy. Please forgive me."

  Richard laughed and said "Don't think I haven't thought about it, old man. It is difficult being the second son, watching my elder brother squander his large inheritance while I march off to war risking my life for my country, but as much as I would like to have the money and a large estate to run, I could never live with Aunt Catherine, and besides, she wouldn't have me marry her daughter. She has her heart set on you to combine the Darcy and Fitzwilliam names and Pemberley and Rosings. It's Pemberley that she wants."

  They rode into London, and without even stopping at Darcy House to clean up and be presentable, they went straightaway to Matlock House for the confrontation. The closer they got, the angrier Darcy became. When they entered the house, they could hear the loud voices of Lord Matlock and his sister, Catherine, yelling at each other, and although they couldn't make out the words yet, they knew what the subject matter undoubtedly was. Following the voices, they entered the large sitting room where Lady Matlock sat quietly on a settee, sipping tea, watching her husband and his sister arguing in front of her. She had seen this scene many times, and it was quite entertaining to her. She had no patience for her sister-in-law, and she reveled in the fierce battles that always ensued whenever she was in London. Their cousin, Anne, also sat watching the drama unfolding. She hardly ever spoke unless she was spoken to, and her expression never changed, making it difficult to ascertain what her thoughts were.