Mr. Darcy's Promise

by Jeanna Ellsworth

  The thought was stricken by his next realization. He had only seen her like this one other time— Ramsgate! “Please tell me, dear Georgie; it pains me to see you like this again.” Suddenly she was in worse hysterics and mumbling something incoherently. She stumbled out of the carriage in such a hurry that her pelisse caught on the handle and was pulled from her shoulders. She stripped her arms free of the confining garment and ran inside blindly.

  Mr. Darcy exited the carriage and turned infuriated, to Miss Bingley. “What happened?” His voice was low and full of suppressed fury. “I have not seen her like this since . . . well, for several months. And that . . .” pointing after Georgiana, “is not how she left here this morning!”

  Feeling the full baritone wrath of Mr. Darcy upon her, Miss Bingley was quick to come to her own defense. “Mr. Darcy, I can have no idea. We were having tea when the younger Bennets came in with some officers who had escorted them home. No sooner had Georgiana been introduced that she exited the room! I confess she was very nearly rude! I am sure I do not know what to think!”

  “Do you mean to tell me that she is like that because of Miss Bennet’s sisters? How dare they! Bring me back my horse! I will get to the bottom of this.”

  Mr. Bingley had never seen his friend quite so irate. He reached for Darcy’s arm and tried to calm him. He reminded Darcy that Georgiana needed him now and it was not right to head to Longbourn so angry. “You do not even know what happened. You could say things that could leave lasting damage . . .”

  Mr. Darcy looked angrily at Bingley and said, “I do not care about you and Miss Bennet right now, Bingley. Can you not see their family is beneath you? Look what they have done to Georgiana in the space of half an hour!” Bingley continued to calm him and remind him of the necessity of caring for Georgiana. Slowly, ever so slowly, Darcy conceded. He then ran the few steps into the house to check on Georgiana.

  Darcy didn’t linger to see the smile on Miss Bingley’s face or hear her say, “Thank goodness we will never have to call on them again!”

  Mr. Bingley shot a quick look at his sister. “Caroline!” he said sharply, who returned his gaze with a puzzled look.

  She had never seen her brother look so stern, and certainly not with the flash of anger that she now saw. Was his attachment to Miss Bennet more than she had realized? “What? What did I say?”

  *****

  Mr. Wickham bowed over Elizabeth’s hand but his eyes never left hers. “It is a pleasure, Miss Elizabeth.”

  Elizabeth could feel his gaze burrow deep into her and suddenly she felt embarrassed and flattered at the same time. She peered into his gorgeous blue eyes until Jane’s cough reminded her to look elsewhere. Fresh tea was ordered and the guests were seated. Lydia was all giggles and laughter, but Wickham seemed to handle the attentions well. Elizabeth caught him looking at her numerous times with the most charming smile, his eyes bright and cheerful. Much different from when Mr. Darcy regarded her with disdain!

  “Mr. Wickham, how long will the militia be in Meryton?” Jane asked.

  “I am not certain, madam. We came just a few weeks ago and we usually stay encamped in one area for three to four months. Or so I am told. I have just joined myself.”

  “And how to do you find the people and town?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I find the town grand, but not so grand that one would miss the beauties it holds,” he said, looking directly at Elizabeth.

  Lydia took his arm then and giggled, “Oh Mr. Wickham, you are too charming! Lizzy, did you know Mr. Denny is a favorite with Colonel Forster?”

  Elizabeth turned her attention to the other officer, “Is that so, Mr. Denny?”

  Mr. Wickham spoke up and said, “Yes, his charms have even affected Forster’s wife! I for one, see no need to flirt with married ladies when there are so many pleasant unmarried ladies to be acquainted with.” He gave Elizabeth a dazzling smile.

  Elizabeth blushed to find herself under his piercing gaze, again feeling oddly flattered. How could she find a man she barely knew to be so devilishly handsome and charming? He continued to humor and stare with admiration at Elizabeth, all the while with his hands on Lydia’s arm which was still neatly tucked into his. Could Wickham find her attractive?

  The officers took their leave and bowed again over the hands of the ladies. Wickham again kept his eyes on Elizabeth as he bowed over her hand and whispered, “Miss Elizabeth, I look forward to seeing you soon. The time apart is sure to be pleasurable only to the extent that now I have memories of you to keep me from being lonely.”

  Trying to find her voice again she said, “Thank you, but I advise you hurry back to camp, Mr. Wickham. You seem to be in danger of needing to be warned that the weather looks like rain.” Weather was always a safe topic and wit was a far easier defense than any other. She had learned a few things from her father.

  “Why, I think you are right, Miss Elizabeth. Perhaps we shall meet again on a clearer day.” He and Denny turned and left, leaving Elizabeth with a pounding heart and a very strange look coming from Jane.

  She did not need Jane’s interrogation on the charming Wickham, for she did not know what to think of it herself! “Not now,” she mouthed to Jane.

  *****

  Darcy knocked again at Georgiana’s door for the third time. She was calmer, he could tell, but still sniffling. “Please do not turn me away again, Georgie, I want to know what happened to make you so distraught!” He calmed his voice and took the deep timbre out once again and spoke as calmly as possible. “Was it something Miss Elizabeth said or did?” He dearly hoped not, but he knew the spirited nature of Elizabeth and feared for his timid sister. He leaned against the door and wondered if it was right in introducing Georgiana and Miss Elizabeth. Miss Elizabeth was so full of life and vigor it could almost be considered contagious! But was she too much for his shy sister? He had felt her influence in his own heart. He hadn’t had this much joy in his heart for years. Not since his mother’s passing, in fact. But he also had never known this much confusion, torn between what his heart wanted and what he knew of duty! He was contemplating Elizabeth and the joy she brought into his heart every time she smiled, or laughed, or gave him one of her impertinent looks, when the door flung open and he found himself confronted with a red-faced Georgiana.

  “How could you say such a thing?” she bellowed.

  What had he said? “Georgie!” He entered the room and embraced her and barely got a chance to kiss her forehead when she pushed him away. Hurt and confused, he again wondered what he had said to convince her to finally open the door.

  “Elizabeth is the most wonderful person I have ever met! And you think so too! Do not you try to deny it; I see the way you look at her!”

  Darcy was keenly aware that Miss Bingley could be very near and listening. He closed her door behind them before turning sternly to Georgiana. He lowered his voice and said, “You must not say such things, you forget yourself.” Her tears started again and he reached for her, “I am sorry, dearest, I am just trying to understand what happened. Will you not tell me?” He wanted to divert the accusation that he had feelings for Elizabeth, because that was not a conversation he wished to have with himself— let alone one with his young sister!

  “You like her, do you not?”

  Sighing, Darcy appeased her, “Yes, I like her . . .”

  “Very much?”

  “Georgie, what is this about? I think Eliz . . . Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a fine lady.”With beautiful eyes, he thought, one who has bewitched me beyond words!

  Her eyes lit up and a small smile came to the corners of her mouth, “And does a fine lady deserve a fine gentleman?”

  Getting a little suspicious, he warily said, “Yes, I am sure someday she will meet a fine man.” The thought of her married to someone else troubled him deeply. “But as for my feelings for her . . . wait . . . you . . . tell me again why you came to surprise me at Netherfield?”

  It all came out in a rush. How after she got his le
tter talking of Elizabeth she knew she had to come. She told of how he had never written to her about a lady before and how she so badly wanted to meet this intelligent lady who teased her brother and was lively and full of wit. She hurried said all this, then said how she was sure that he was in love, and how she wanted to meet her future sister.

  His countenance dropped as she spoke but he couldn’t let her go on like this. “Georgiana, I must stop you there. There is no possible way that I could ask for Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s hand in marriage. I have a duty to you and our family to marry well. Miss Elizabeth just is not right for me, for us! She may be a very charming young lady who has most definitely impressed me but I cannot marry her. You saw her mother at church! By gads! Could you imagine introducing my mother-in-law to the ton?”

  “But if you love her . . .”

  “No. Just no. And we are not having this discussion.” He turned on his heel and left the room but Georgiana’s words kept ringing in his ears, “But if you love her . . .” He needed to think and grabbed his riding gear and hat. He heard Bingley calling out for him as he opened the door.

  “Do not worry, Bingley, I am not going to Longbourn!” His heart was beating far faster than it should for not have even gotten on the horse yet. Could he offer marriage? She had no fortune but that was hardly a concern. He reached the stable and saddled his own horse. There was no use waiting on a groom to do it when he had been raised in this knowledge. Yes, those problems— of horses and finances and managing Pemberley— he could manage very well on his own.

  He tightened the last loop and with one fluid movement was up on Calypso, stroking her mane and giving her a gentle kick. Yes, his horse knew him too well, a gentle kick and off she went! He groaned as he felt the horse respond to each well placed foot and pull. If only the heart was like this horse! Tell it to go one way, and off it goes. Tell it to stop, and just for emphasis, he reigned in Calypso and came to a complete stop . . . it stops. “See? It is not so hard is it?” “But if you love her . . .”He groaned loudly.

  “Go Calypso! Run!” He gave her a hard kick. She took off fast and hard. He took her up the hills and down even into the small stream getting his pants wet above his boots. Yes, if only the heart could be turned like this horse. The wind feeling cool on the wet legs seemed to calm him some. He had felt completely in control of his heart and body just one month before! He knew what he wanted in life and how to get it. It was simple: hard work and fortitude. Except now he didn’t know what he wanted. No, that wasn’t true, he wanted her. Just her.If he was truthful with himself, he didn’t care for theton or society when she was at stake.

  But it wouldn’t work! This was not as simple as riding Calypso or appointing a new parson. Offering marriage was much more complicated than that. But he could think of nothing else. He could smell her fragrant toilette water as she danced with him, smiling and laughing. She had enjoyed it, hadn’t she? He could almost taste the scent now. He wondered if his imagination had gone wild. No, this would not do. He could not let his heart nor imagination run free without reins. Seeing he was in a field of lavender he now understood why his imagination was so keen. Lavender. That was what she smelled like. Fresh linen and lavender.

  Out of pure need to control something, anything, he pulled hard to the right, firmly prodded Calypso on the left and pulled hard to the left. First one way, then the other. He sped up, and then halted. He kicked Calypso again and took off hard and fast. He then leapt over a fence, and then landed hard, leaning far too forward to control the horse. “Whoa, Calypso. That fence almost did us in, almost.” He righted himself and slowed the horse. Fences were not hard to jump; he had done it many times. Most fences were there to keep sheep and goats in check, but not him. He could jump just about any fence. “But if you love her . . .” Now there was a fence he feared he could not jump.

  Sighing, he leaned forward and thanked Calypso. She liked these hard rides just as much as he did. He got off the horse and led her to a stream, the same stream that had cooled his legs. He was sweaty and hot now. Yes, he could marry Elizabeth, but would his love be enough? Could he look past her relations: the relatives in Cheapside, the silliness of Mrs. Bennet, the ridiculous younger sisters? He realized that all his previous objections to her family and lack of connections seemed somewhat ridiculous now that he had considered his true feelings for her. She was a gracious and lively woman, and he could not ask for anything more than that. Her relations would be over one hundred miles from Pemberley. It would be difficult, but that was merely another obstacle on his course. He might be willing to jump that fence, if only because, and he said it out loud this time, “I love her.”

  Chapter 2

  E

  lizabeth had effectively dodged Jane since yesterday afternoon. Every time Lydia would mention how handsome the officers were, Jane looked at Lizzy with arched eyebrows. Elizabeth even grabbed her book on two occasions when Jane came over to talk to her. Avoiding any discussion would and should help her nerves. She was certainly flattered, but Mr. Wickham was so bold! Sighing, she took her book in hand. No more looks from smiling sisters or fathers. No more shrill comments from her mother about how she would have liked to marry an officer in a red coat. No more gigging silly sisters who gave little to no thought of their actions. Yes, a walk was just what she needed.

  She wandered down the road towards Meryton and just before she approached Lucas Lodge, she stopped and sat down on a fallen log. She didn’t actually want to talk to her friend Charlotte, but it was a fairly quiet road and she would be able to read alone. It was so quiet and peaceful, and with no one around she delved into her book. She felt the late afternoon sun warming her and she closed her eyes to feel it on her face. This is more like it. No one around to give strange looks that only confused her. No more smiles in varying degrees of charm. No more uncontrolled embarrassment and flattery. She took off her bonnet to allow more sun to shine on her face.

  “Ahh, now there is a sight for sore eyes.”

  Elizabeth startled and stood upright and her book fell to the ground. “Mr. Wickham! Why, what are you doing here?” Elizabeth cried.

  “Enjoying the sights.” He looked at her with the same smile that had made the color rise to her cheeks before.

  So much for wishing piercing looks, smiles, and embarrassment away. She was suddenly self-conscious that her bonnet was off. She quickly put it back on, her fingers shaking all the while. Feeling the awkwardness of being alone with a man, she said, “I should be getting home.”

  He said, “I was going that way anyway and there was something I wish to discuss with you.” He offered his arm to her and smiled another one of his smiles.

  Curiosity and, yes, succumbing to a little of the flattery, allowed her to take his offered arm as they walked to Longbourn.

  “I was surprised to see Miss Darcy yesterday. Has she been in town long?” he probed.

  “No, she came and surprised her brother who is visiting his friend at Netherfield, an estate on the north side of Meryton.”

  So Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley was in Meryton, right here in Meryton? Wickham thought. So why has he let Georgiana be intimate friends with these lowly country daughters of a gentleman? Darcy would not let her “mingle” with him last spring! There was something curious about this relationship with the Bennets.

  “So tell me, how is she? Is her brother in good health?”

  “Well, she left yesterday so hurriedly that we did not get a chance to get to ask after her health, but when I was at Netherfield the day before, both were well.” Elizabeth heard a horse ahead and tried to pull her arm out of his, but he reached for it and held it close. They walked in silence for a few minutes.

  “So Mr. Darcy is in good health, that is good. Are you fond of Mr. Darcy?” He was definitely curious, as she colored deeper than he’d ever seen her and he had made it his mission to see those pinks run scarlet. Yes, there was something curious about the Bennets.

  She then let out a laugh and raised
her eyebrow at him quizzically. Why should he pry into my feelings like that? I scarcely know him! But no sooner had she thought it, she was answering his question! “Ha! Now there is one area I am quite decided upon! He must be the proudest man I have ever met!” She didn’t know why she was being so open with him, but she continued. “You know, the first time I heard him speak, he said I was not handsome enough to tempt him.”

  “No!” and then he leaned in and whispered, “Now I know he must not only be proud but blind too, as you are the handsomest lady I have ever seen!”

  She heard what was probably a rabbit in the brush to the left. She had not been fishing for a compliment and changed the subject quickly. “He is devoted to his sister, though.” She spoke softly this time.

  He lifted his chin and decided he would have to investigate the question of Darcy a little more. Wickham tried his luck again. His curiosity was piqued, especially since Elizabeth had blushed a moment ago when asked about Mr. Darcy. “So does Mr. Darcy have a lady’s affections yet?” he inquired.

  Her heart fluttered and thought about how he danced with no one but Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst at the Meryton Assembly and how he didn’t seem to enjoy himself then. She thought about how his eyes smiled when he danced with her at Netherfield. But that was when no one was watching! He can have no feelings for you! The longer she took to contemplate Mr. Darcy’s different manner during the Meryton Assembly, versus the dance she had with him, the worse she got confused.

  It was only at the sound of Wickham’s step that she realized she had not answered him. “I am afraid there is one particular lady who has her eyes set on him, but he does not seem to care to notice her in that way. In fact he seems to avoid her even though she is his best friend’s sister.” Feeling the shame of talking so rudely about Mr. Darcy to someone she barely knew, she said, “I am terribly sorry Mr. Wickham, I should not be talking so of someone when they are not here to defend themselves. I must be off.” She dropped his arm and nearly ran to the direction of Longbourn. She got around the bend and realized that she had left her book by Charlotte’s house on the road. She didn’t want to run into Wickham again so she waited half an hour to head back for it. All the while she thought about the nice Mr. Wickham and the proud Mr. Darcy. Why had she been so forward with her opinions? She usually held those sort of unkind opinions close until she understood them better and even then she knew better than to gossip to someone else about it! Perhaps she felt even worse for saying such unkind things because she was not as convinced of Mr. Darcy’s prideful nature as she sounded.