Chapter One
Engaged an entire week to a man of consequence, Elizabeth Bennet found herself given more of her mother's particular attentions than she had received in the course of her twenty years of life.
Her every whim, whether truly whimsical or not, was attended to at once, and with an alacrity even she was disposed to think unnecessary.
"Mama, I assure you that my wedding clothes need not be ordered this very moment," Elizabeth said with a sigh as she walked into the morning room and saw her mother hard at work in deciding what would do best for her daughter's wedding to such a great man.
Elizabeth had made this very statement at least thrice every day since the engagement was announced at Longbourn, yet her mother seemed convinced that the sooner the bridal clothing were arrived, the sooner she could be totally at ease; for otherwise, the engagement could be called off at any moment. Lizzy, after all, was quite an unpleasant girl, and so often took great liberties with her fiancé that Mrs. Bennet, not sporadically, warned her of her acting as though their marriage had already taken place and Mr. Darcy were secure.
Though Elizabeth found her mother's constant attentions amusing, she could not help but fear that they were doing great injury to the very object of her aspirations.
Mr. Darcy had borne everything, even her mother's impertinence, so very well, but Elizabeth was not deceived. His cool pleasantries and dire mien very often occupied her thoughts and she was constantly bringing up this subject with her closest confidante.
In Jane however, Elizabeth found little if any solace, for her sister knew of and only cared for Mr. Bingley. More often than not, Jane would look at her sister, a blissful twinkle in her azure, good-tempered eyes and say, "Dearest Elizabeth, everything, if not yet, will soon be is as it should be."
Every day excepting two, the very two young men of consequence that were the talk of Hertfordshire, called upon the Bennets and were persuaded to dine among them.
Elizabeth thought every opportunity to be in Mr. Darcy's company was a blessing and found herself very preoccupied with singling out his habits and all of his most pleasing aspects.
During one quiet afternoon of such inspection, Elizabeth admitted to herself that she had quite underrated the handsomeness of his figure before, and now found herself in awe of his very tall, very proud, and genteel personage.
After five minutes, she realized he had become aware of her intent study when he said:
"Pray tell, sweet Elizabeth, what has caught your interest so fully?" His voice was solemn, but by the expression on his face, Elizabeth could see that he was glad for her notice.
"I was just thinking to myself on a subject very interesting to us both," was her evasive reply. His eyes narrowed playfully as he contemplated an equally clever reply.
"There are many such subjects," he said archly. Then, lowering his voice so that only she could hear, he added, " but, by the look on your face and the curve of your most cleverly hidden smile, I presume to say it is of a nature that is not to be publicly announced."
"And I thought my gift was reading characters," Elizabeth said, turning her attention back to her book.
Mr. Darcy continued to stare however, and Elizabeth was soon made very uncomfortable.
"Not five minutes ago you observed me with the utmost scrutiny and now, you will not even turn your gaze at me?" he asked, feigning injury.
"Were I to look at you as you so desire, I would be giving you victory whilst disappointing myself," said she, her eyes not leaving the page. "On the other hand, I'll warrant that your figure does deserve observation, so I suppose this victory shall be yours."
"Not at risk of your being disappointed," Mr. Darcy said gallantly and Elizabeth resolutely put her book aside and turned to face him.
"Your society is far beyond its time of being able to disappoint me, Mr. Darcy," she said and they shared a look of such interest as to be beyond the notice of the six others present in the room.
"Would you care to take a turn about the walk?" Mr. Darcy asked after a moment of comfortable silence had passed.
Elizabeth, eager to be away from her mother's doting attention, her father's looks of approbation, Mary and Kitty's meager reverence, and Mr. Bingley and Jane's thoughtless absorption in one another's company, thought exercise of that sort a very pleasant way to pass such a dull afternoon.
"I would," she agreed and both stood.
Reaching the door, Mr. Darcy inquired as to whether she would like a shawl, and when she declined, he took her arm firmly in his and began the walk.
"Tell me, Mr. Darcy, do you find my family nearly as dull as I?" Elizabeth asked, broaching the first subject that came to mind as she leaned most comfortably into his arm. Mr. Darcy laughed, a rare smile spreading over his face, making him most handsome. "Can you imagine my distress when you are not available to offer any diversion?"
"I imagine you must sit around most stupidly," Mr. Darcy agreed, "but I don't imagine you are often in distress. After all, you have borne this particular dullness, as you call it, all your life."
"Yes," Elizabeth agreed, smiling as she tightened her grip on his arm, "But before, I had not known, but from the quarter of my father, that anybody's society could be so pleasing to me."
"I am flattered," Mr. Darcy said. "But--"
"But flattery will not do for Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth interrupted playfully. "You shall insist upon your being most unpleasant and hardly worth my notice," Elizabeth stated and Mr. Darcy could not miss the tone of caustic playfulness in her voice as she said it. "You make it very difficult for me to play the part of the enthralled lover," Elizabeth then said, her words, expression, and tone of voice suddenly serious.
"Then, my dearest," Mr. Darcy began with a sigh, "if I must endure a lavishing speech to secure your happiness, I shall do so with forbearance, for I in no case wish to displease you."
Elizabeth smiled up at him, leaning into him a further, and he looked down at her, such a look of care in his eyes that made her heart fill with rapid flutterings.
"Well…" Mr. Darcy said expectantly and Elizabeth was startled to realize she could not recall what they had just been speaking of.
"Well what?" she asked.
"Lavish me," Mr. Darcy said and they both laughed. It was a quiet laugh, subdued in both its intensity and sincerity.
"I cannot say that I wish to confine our walk to the gardens any more," Elizabeth said suddenly as she saw how near the end of the walk was. She was not quite ready to share Mr. Darcy with her family again. "It is so much less exercise than I am used to."
"I dare say we will not be missed," Mr. Darcy said and ventured to observe: "your mother seemed quite focused on your father and you sisters were happily entertained by Mr. Bingley's stories of London balls."
"Yes, and Jane included," she said, a tinge of bitterness finding its way into her tone and Mr. Darcy looked down at her, a curious expression on his face.
"Is Jane not paying you enough attention, Elizabeth?" Mr. Darcy asked quietly and Elizabeth immediately shook her head. "Then tell me," he pleaded while looking ahead, "what has made you unhappy?"
"There is much I think about and even more I worry about," Elizabeth said guiltily. "I used to find comfort in Jane, but she is very much preoccupied with Mr. Bingley and---"
"Then find in me the same distraction, dearest," Mr. Darcy said tenderly and Elizabeth looked down at their linked arms.
"I am afraid that my worries may not be diverted," she murmured. They were now at the end of the gardens and paused, facing one another. "Not even by your society."
"Then, if they are not to be diverted, confide in me, dearest Elizabeth," he said, locking his eyes on hers. "Tell me your fears so that I may quiet them," Mr. Darcy said, tracing his fingers along her cheek soothingly. Elizabeth's eyes fluttered as she felt an unsteadiness overtake her.
"This place has such a calming effect," Elizabeth murmured, taking his hand in hers. "I come here often to think and to be angry. It is just out of view of the house, yet near enough so that I may run back upon being called."
"At Pemberly, I have no such place to boast of," Mr. Darcy said with a smirk never seen outside of these private, unreserved moments. "I do however, take pride in my personal quarters. It is there, and only there that I am sure of not being disturbed for any matter of less than immediate importance." A dark flush came to his cheeks as he realized what his words must imply and Elizabeth shyly met his eyes.
"Having seen the extensive grounds of Pemberly myself, I must say I am surprised at your statement," Elizabeth said. "Mr. And Mrs. Gardiner and I were almost lost in your wood during our visit."
"You would not have stayed lost long," Mr. Darcy said sullenly, "depend upon it."
"Do you wish to take to the trail with me?" Elizabeth asked, rather more shy than usual in his presence, and Mr. Darcy nodded. He linked her arm back into his, this time lacing their gloved fingers and holding her hand close to his heart.
"Are you tired at all?" He asked and she shook her head fervently. There. They could now walk in comfortable silence, all the particulars of comfort looked after.
After returning from their long walk, dinner was already being prepared and Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy soon discovered Mrs. Bennet was tenfold more intolerable than usual. Both dealt with different feelings on the matter; one was apprehensive, the other, weary.
Mr. Darcy, with tight lips and short answers was able to avoid any incident of dispute up to dinner. That was when Mrs. Bennet decided to discuss and deny his and Elizabeth's marriage plans, a subject both very personal and very important to him, and one that he and Elizabeth had not had much time to discuss.
"You are, of course, to be married here in Hertfordshire," Mrs. Bennet said, filling her plate with dinner.
Elizabeth looked away, wishing to avert the subject for as long as she could. Mr. Darcy however, had no such scruples.
"Actually, we were speaking of being married in town—in London of course," he said and Mrs. Bennet looked very surprised. In fact, so surprised was she that she could not help but exclaim:
"No indeed! You shall be married here. In Hertfordshire…" Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth could see, was very displeased at her mother's immediate discount in the way his face reddened, and a small, but very severe frown touched his lips.
"Mama," Elizabeth immediately intervened wishing to keep both from an outburst which could prove injurious to more present than just themselves. "It would be to everyone's advantage were we to marry in London. It is closer to Pemberly than Hertfordshire, and the Gardiners live there. It will be the most convenient meeting place for all parties involved."
"What of our acquaintance here, Lizzy?" her mother asked and Elizabeth considered it a fair question.
"Of course they will all be invited," Mr. Darcy said immediately, lifting his fork to his mouth. "There is to be no change of company, madam, just of location."
"Location, Mr. Darcy, is everything when convenience is involved…" Mrs. Bennet said and Elizabeth blushed for her mother, for herself, but more so for Mr. Darcy who looked quite shocked at her tone of voice. "In this circle, it is not within everyone's ability to drop everything and go to London on a silly whim just to see one's friends married. No one from Hertfordshire is likely to come should you be married in London…"
"Madam, may I, in the hopes of being useful, bring to your attention the fact that the church in Hertfordshire is hardly adequate for the numbers you propose to have present," said Mr. Darcy, putting his fork down without taking a bite. "Whereas, the church in London is large enough for your acquaintance and a small group of my own."
"Why do we not just have two weddings?" suggested Jane in her eager to please manner. "Mr. Bingley and I have decided that a small ceremony with a few friends present would do quite well for us, which would be just as finely done in Hertfordshire as anywhere else. That satisfies your complaint, mama." She said, turning her smile on Mrs. Bennet. "Then Lizzy and Mr. Darcy may be married wherever they chuse, which satisfies theirs." There were looks of approbation around the table and only one of disapprobation.
"Why both my daughters cannot be bothered to be married at home, among family and friends, is a most alarming thing to such a nervous creature as I," Mrs. Bennet said. "But as Lizzy always has her way, I suppose there will be no arguing the point."
Elizabeth's face burned in embarrassment at being thus singled out in insult. It was one thing for her mother to show her dislike in private, but it was quite another to have it seen by company, especially in such company as was present. Mr. Darcy saw Elizabeth's pain and wished to mend it, but for her sake, he would not rebuke the one person present whom he thought deserved it most.
But when Mrs. Bennet went on, expressing her pain at Lydia's being married in London, so very far away from all her acquaintance, Mr. Darcy could not contain himself.
"You are being quite unreasonable, Madam," Mr. Darcy said after a moment's silent struggle.
Everyone's eyes were suddenly on him and on Mrs. Bennet, who had thus far gotten over her awe of him and was nearly right back to where she had been concerning him just a week before.
"Our marrying in London could not be more advantageous to more people unless we were decided to go through the trouble of having sixty weddings, one for each town either of us is acquainted with. That would further the convenience so that no one need stir out of doors." At the completion of this speech, Mr. Darcy found himself hardly satisfied and decided to add a constructive piece of criticism to his point. " I rather think one must consider the good of a situation before one may rationally hold the evils against it."
"To be sure," was Mrs. Bennet's terse reply and all was silent. She had never been thus rebuked by her future son-in-law and was quite compelled to note aloud how this very much proved his still being eaten up with pride.
However, the unpleasantness did pass, and when Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley took leave of Longbourn, Elizabeth, to escape any comments her mother may have ready for her, immediately retired to bed, soon followed by Jane.
"Though his words and manner were harsh, I do not think mama was undeserving of such reprimand," Jane said quietly. Both young women were seated comfortably at the end of the bed; Jane brushing her hair, Elizabeth deep in thought.
"I wonder that he should bear all this," Elizabeth said quite suddenly and Jane looked surprised that such a thought should pass in her sister's mind, let alone out of her mouth. Elizabeth was usually so confident and fearless and that such feelings were felt enough to breach her own secrecy meant to Jane that it was a matter of great tenderness to her sister.
"I do not," Jane replied. "And neither should you." Elizabeth nodded, quite unconvinced, and was unable to meet Jane's eyes. "Mr. Darcy is very much in love with you, Lizzy. Anyone can see it as clear as day when he looks at you," Jane laid a kind hand on her sister's shoulder, while forcing Elizabeth to look into her eyes. " Mama's difficulties will be considered small obstacles once you are married."
"I hope you are right," Elizabeth said, crawling into the sheets. "The sooner we are married, the sooner I shall breathe," she added silently to herself as she closed her eyes and waited nervously for sleep.
A/N: Here is chapter one revised. a Few spelling errors were corrected, but little else needed to be modified. My favorite book of all time is without a doubt pride and prejudice. I tried to stay as true to the book and the language as humanly possible with my sloppy grammar and the English language's current vocabulary... But alas, I am only in high school. I hope you like it and even if you don't drop me a line and tell me why.