Pirates and Prejudice

by Louise, Kara

  “So Mr. Bingley has forgiven you? I understood he was quite angry.”

  Darcy nodded. “I believe your sister had a good deal of influence over his decision to accept my apology.”

  “I am glad.”

  “I am, as well. I deeply regretted the possibility that I might lose his friendship over my actions. I know that it…” He took in a breath and looked away, then returned his gaze to Elizabeth. “I know that it cost me the loss of something of even greater value earlier this year.”

  Elizabeth felt her face flush, and tears began to sting her eyes. “I…”

  At that moment the music came to an end, and the next dance was announced. “Come, Miss Bennet, let us take our place.”

  As they walked over to join the other dancers, Elizabeth had time to think how to respond. Before they took their place in the line of dancers, Elizabeth said, “I have long ago forgiven you, Mr. Darcy. Your letter helped me understand where I had been seriously mistaken.”

  “But I was in error, as well.” They separated to stand opposite each other in the line.

  The couple stared at each other in silence as they waited for the music to begin. After a short introduction, the couples on the dance floor stepped towards each other, grasping hands. As they began to promenade around another couple, Mr. Darcy looked about the room. “I do not see Mr. Adams here. His disguise must be quite good.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “Well, unless he is dressed as an invisible man, he is not here. You see, he returned to St. Mary’s.”

  Mr. Darcy’s started. “He… returned?”

  The dance required them to separate and join hands with their neighbouring partners.

  As they passed each other, Elizabeth nodded and said, “There was an unfortunate death…”

  Darcy turned sharply, but he was too far from her to say anything.

  When she returned to his side, his face was grave. “Your father’s sister, of course. Pray, accept my condolences.”

  “No, no!” Elizabeth shook her head. The flowers in her long locks were tossed about. “It was a young man our other cousin, Melanie, had a strong attachment to. He was in the navy, and she had hoped to become engaged when he returned. Unfortunately, he was killed while at sea.”

  “I am sorry. Was Mr. Adams acquainted with him?”

  “No, but he and Melanie were very close.”

  Darcy looked at her with questions in his eyes but was prevented from asking those questions when they turned in opposite directions.

  When they came back together, he took her hand in a tender, but firm grip. “What do you mean they were very close?”

  She looked down at their joined hands and then stole a peek up at him. “They have known each other all their lives, and he has always been very much in love with her.”

  Darcy almost stopped in the middle of the dance, and his jaw dropped. “He is… I thought…”

  Elizabeth prodded him along with a gentle tug. “To the right now, Mr. Darcy.”

  They had to separate again, and Elizabeth felt the release of Mr. Darcy’s grasp at the very last moment. Her hand felt cold at the loss of his touch, but she felt a great deal of warmth inside. When they came back around, Mr. Darcy looked at her earnestly.

  “But I was under the impression that he had a… a strong affection for you.” His voice cracked and hinted at a sense of urgency.

  She smiled warmly as they parted again. Her heart pounded with the hope that Mr. Darcy still cared deeply for her.

  They came back together for one final promenade down the line of dancers. Their hands reached out for each other, and they began walking. “I believe,” Elizabeth said softly, “that David and I both esteemed one another, but it was not love.”

  When Darcy took her hand this time, he did not simply hold it. He cradled it in his hand in a warm grasp. His fingers softly caressed it, and his thumb stroked the inside of her palm. Although no one would be able to notice it but her, she felt as though everyone in the room must have been able to see the clamour of emotions that were pulsing through her at his touch.

  Any thought as to what she might say evaporated. She glanced up at him and smiled, hoping that would be enough to convey everything she was feeling.

  When the dance ended, they walked over to a refreshment table, Darcy still holding her hand.

  “Have you, Miss Elizabeth, ever successfully completed your sketch of my character?”

  Elizabeth laughed while at the same time shaking her head. “I fear that is an impossible task, sir. There are too many layers of contrasts and hidden hues, and ever-changing properties that appear and disappear depending on the light. I fear it has proven quite impossible to sketch a true likeness.”

  “Mmm,” Darcy grimaced. “It makes me sound perfectly monstrous!”

  Elizabeth smiled and glanced down at their hands. “On the contrary, it makes you an excellent study.”

  Darcy raised a brow and leaned in, tilting his head as he said, “Perhaps one that might take a lifetime to complete?”

  Elizabeth felt her heart jump into her throat at his words. Her mouth was suddenly dry, and she moistened her lips with her tongue. She cast her eyes down, as if that would prevent him from seeing her flushed cheeks. When she looked up at him again, she saw him take in a deep breath.

  “Pray, forgive me, Miss Bennet. Would you care for something to drink?”

  “Thank you, no. But I fear that word is currently being circulated that Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy, is the pirate who danced one dance with me and has continued to hold my hand since that dance.” She looked down at their hands.

  Darcy winced. “I am sorry. Again. I clearly need to work on my manners. Pray, forgive me for my unpardonable conduct.” He released her hand.

  “Have no fear, Mr. Darcy. I did not back then on the island nor do I now find it unpardonable.”

  She glanced out and noticed more and more people watching them. “Now, Mr. Darcy, I would make a gentle request that perhaps you dance a few more dances with some of the other ladies who are here.”

  “But who?” he asked, a crease appearing in his brow.

  “Well, you certainly can ask Jane to dance, and any of my sisters. Perhaps even Mary would consent. And then, of course, there is my mother.”

  “Your mother?”

  “Oh, yes. You will find her quite the dancer.”

  “Truly?”

  Elizabeth curtseyed. “Thank you very much for the dance, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps I shall see you later?”

  Darcy leaned in and whispered, “Will you promise to have one more dance with me?”

  Elizabeth curtseyed slightly as she nodded. “If you insist!”

  *~*~*

  Darcy walked away from Elizabeth determined to make an effort to dance. He first asked Jane to dance with him, and when he did, Bingley took the opportunity to dance with Elizabeth.

  “You must tell me, Miss Elizabeth,” Bingley asked as they took their place in line, “how my good friend behaved as a pirate. I am completely flummoxed by his behaviour of late, and I cannot reconcile the man I know and this…” he pointed over to Darcy, “this man!”

  “Well, I only believed him to be a pirate for a very short while, but even when I believed him to be Captain Smith, he was very polite and honourable.” Elizabeth laughed gaily and met Darcy’s eye, as he stole glances at her occasionally from where he and Jane stood. “He did speak quite oddly, however. I think that is why I did not readily recognize him.”

  The music began, and Bingley stepped forward and bowed. Elizabeth returned it with a curtsey, and then he took her hands.

  Bingley let out a huff. “He is so different. He has said nothing to me, but my angel… my Jane… has informed me that he once asked for your hand in marriage.”

  Elizabeth let out a long breath. “Yes, but I would not mention it to him. Let him be the one to tell you what happened. I assume she told you I refused him?”

  Bingley’s eyes grew wide. “Yes! Confound it all! These
things completely baffle me, but I shall not pry into your private affairs.” He smiled and looked down at her. “I am now very glad my friend and I have sorted out our differences. He is a good man, you know. Very good. No one like him.”

  Elizabeth pursed her lips together to suppress a smile. “Yes, Mr. Bingley, I am quite certain he is.”

  Elizabeth changed the subject and directed Mr. Bingley to talk about the wedding, or Jane, which he did, with great enthusiasm. Every once in a while, however, praise for Mr. Darcy poured forth from him, and Elizabeth believed he felt it incumbent on him to convince her of his great worth.

  After a dance with Kitty, Mrs. Bennet, and Maria Lucas, Mr. Darcy finally returned to Elizabeth’s side. She grimaced at the look of exhaustion on his face.

  “Mr. Darcy, I fear you have quite overdone it tonight.”

  He waved his hand through the air and shook his head. “I am not so much physically tired as I am emotionally spent. There is a difference. Trying to keep up with the conversations during my last three dances has completely fatigued me! I spent a great deal of effort trying to comprehend what one lady was saying, what to say to another who would not utter one word and seemed terrified of me the whole dance, and I finally gave up saying anything to the third because she talked non-stop!”

  Elizabeth looked at him with pity. “I think I can guess who each guilty party was.”

  She glanced over at Jane and Bingley, who were sitting out. “Look, there are Mr. Bingley and Jane sitting out. Let us go join them so you can rest.”

  “I confess I would enjoy the brief respite, but I think I would prefer to remain here. Besides, you promised me another dance.”

  “Yes, I did. And so that you will not become more fatigued, I also promise that I will not speak during the whole of the dance and will not oblige you to talk at all… as I was determined to do during our very first dance at the Netherfield Ball last year.”

  Darcy’s brows shot up. “Truly? That was your object, then? I can assume you thought it would be torture for me, but I assure you it was not.” He leaned in towards her. “You must realize something, Miss Elizabeth. There are some people with whom I find it difficult to converse, who wear me down to the point of exhaustion and try my patience, while others – a few others – invigorate me and make me feel very much alive. I can speak with them with the greatest ease... and pleasure, and enjoy the silence between us, as well.” He paused and breathed in deeply. “I think you know how I have long felt about our conversations.”

  Elizabeth listened in rapt amazement at Mr. Darcy’s insight as he offered revelations about himself and a hint at how he felt about her. The look of admiration on his face almost said more than his words did, and it took all her power to not reach up and stroke the face that looked down at her.

  Before she could find the words to reply, he asked, “Miss Elizabeth, is there some place where we can go to talk?”

  “Oh,” Elizabeth said softly. She could not think of one place they could go where they would not have a crowd of people staring and eavesdropping. She finally gave her head a shake. “Not around here. I cannot think of any…”

  As the throng of people increased around them, discouraging any further conversation, Darcy let out a low humph.

  Elizabeth took in a deep breath and swallowed, wanting somehow to further this discussion. Suddenly, with a carefree voice, she said, “I certainly hope the weather remains warm and sunny. I do so enjoy a long, solitary walk in the mornings up to Oakham Mount. It is always such a pleasant way to begin my day. I believe I shall take a walk first thing tomorrow.”

  “Oh, I see,” Darcy said in almost a whisper. “So now we are on the safe topic of the weather.” He folded his arms across him and looked out across the room.

  Elizabeth gave her head a slight shake, and then looked at him with a pointed gaze. “You see, Mr. Darcy, I enjoy taking a morning walk, and rarely – if ever – do I encounter anyone! It is really something that you ought to try. I think you would enjoy it, as well.”

  The light of dawning appeared in Darcy’s eyes – or rather, his one eye – as he looked down at her. “Yes! Yes! You are most correct! I know I should like it very much! Very much indeed!” He nodded at a couple as they walked past.

  “I thought you would.”

  “When would you suggest is the best time to go? I mean, since I am not from around here, I am certain you would know these things better than I.”

  “Oh, I think the best time would be at about seven o’clock. I would conjecture that since the ball will most likely continue on into the early hours of the morning, seven would be a very good time.”

  “Yes, I do appreciate your assistance in this matter, Miss Elizabeth.”

  Elizabeth nodded her head slowly, despite the rapid pounding of her heart. “It was my pleasure, Mr. Darcy.”

  Chapter 27

  The next morning Elizabeth opened the large wooden door at Longbourn as quietly as she could and slipped outside. She breathed in the fresh morning air, glorying in the songs of the birds, and squinted her eyes as the rising sun greeted her. She walked down the dirt path, kicking a small rock and sending it into the shrubbery that bordered it. Once she was out of the gate, she turned and looked to the east, towards Oakham Mount. Her heart thundered as she considered who she was going to meet.

  Elizabeth’s incessant thoughts and the strength of her feelings after last evening had not waned. She had hardly slept at all as she recounted every word Mr. Darcy had spoken to her at the ball, weighing them against the words her heart longed for him to say.

  A smile brightened her face and her eyes danced with joy as she recollected him complimenting their conversations. She winced as she realized she had had no idea that when she purposely provoked and challenged him, he was greatly enjoying their lively banter. She let out a chuckle as she considered that the times they had walked in silence, it was because she had no desire to speak to him. He, on the other hand, had cherished those times because he felt she had understood that he needed quiet as well as conversation. She shook her head. He was a complex man!

  As she drew closer to the base of Oakham Mount, her pace increased in time with the pounding of her heart. She looked about her, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mr. Darcy, but did not see him.

  As she began to take the dirt path up the small hill, she thought she heard footsteps behind her. She stopped and turned her head, narrowing her eyes against the sun’s glare, but she did not see anyone. Suddenly a deer sprang forth from the shadows of the dense woods, startling her, but prompting her to laugh. She turned and continued to walk.

  She would soon come to the turn which would give her the view towards Netherfield. From this vantage point, she would be able to look out and see the direction from which Mr. Darcy would come. Her steps hurriedly carried her along, and at length, she reached the lookout and could see the path that came up from that direction.

  A rough-hewn wooden fence had long ago been erected along the path here, as there was a steep cliff on the one side. She walked over to the fence and gripped the top beam, looking out. When she did not see him, she suddenly felt apprehensive that he might not come. Perhaps he realized he had said too much to her and decided he could not go through with it and finish telling her all he had planned to say. Her fingers tightened around the beam, and she felt herself begin to sway as she leaned over to look farther out towards the path Mr. Darcy would have taken.

  There was the sound of footsteps again, and before Elizabeth could turn, she felt a hand grasp hers.

  “Ye aren’t thinkin’ of jumpin’, are ye, m’lady?”

  Darcy pulled her gently towards him, and elation flooded her. She stopped within a few of inches of him and looked up into his smiling face.

  “You know I was not.” She could not conceal the nervous laugh that accompanied her words. “I was… I wondered… I did not know whether I should wait here, go back, or continue on.”

  Darcy rubbed his jaw. “Do you often find
yourself faced with such dilemmas and decisions to make when you walk up to Oakham Mount?” His eyes held a tender glint. “I understand you walk up here quite often.”

  “I do, and no, I am not often faced with such dilemmas.” She peeked up at him. “Only when I am anticipating a clandestine encounter.”

  “Is that what this is?”

  She bit her lip. “Some may consider this rather shocking, coming out here to meet… without a chaperone.”

  “I most certainly would!”

  Elizabeth winced. “Do you think me imprudent to have agreed to it, then?”

  Darcy laughed and shook his head, giving her a pointed look. “You did not agree to it, Miss Bennet. You suggested it!”

  Her eyes widened. She looked up and saw that his piercing dark eyes were smiling. “You are incorrigible, Mr. Darcy. But, yes, I did! You must believe me to be quite a disreputable lady!”

  “I think no such thing. Come.” Darcy nodded his head in the direction of the path, and he tucked her hand within his arm, while still holding onto it with his other hand. They fell into step, walking slowly up the hill.

  They walked in a contented silence, and then Darcy asked, “Did you fear I might not come?”

  Elizabeth looked straight ahead and then turned her head away. She finally looked back and admitted, “It crossed my mind.”

  “Hmm…” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I have been out here walking for some time. I set out at first light, actually.”

  Elizabeth looked down at the path in front of them but knew his gaze was upon her. “I see.”

  “I cannot say that I got much sleep last night. I was rather…”

  Elizabeth waited for him to finish. He looked away and let out a sigh. She could only conjecture what he had been about to say. If his night had been anything like hers, it had been one of joyously recounting every moment of the previous evening and eagerly anticipating the coming morning.

  “Neither did I sleep well,” Elizabeth volunteered.

  They walked on a short distance with neither saying a word. Elizabeth decided she would wait until Mr. Darcy broke the silence, despite wanting – no, needing – answers to so many questions. They came to a fork in the path, and Darcy gently guided her to the left, which she knew would take them to a small clearing.