AUTHOR NOTES: This is my first attempt at writing fanfiction. Please be comprehensive if I committed some mistakes. Believe me when I say that I check this chapter many times, but I'm not perfect and English is not my native language.
This is a short what-if story that takes place at the Netherfield Ball, some changes will take to a different outcome at the end of the ball. I know that many stories have been developed in this original part of the book, but I could not avoid trying my hand with this idea and I really hope you can give it a chance.
I wrote it as a way to recreation, and I decided to publish it here with the hope that many P&P readers enjoy Reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Disclaimer: I do not own "Pride and Prejudice" or its characters. They belong to Jane Austen, that amazing English writer who created beautiful masterpieces of literature many centuries ago, I only wish I could have met her.
"To Elizabeth, it appeared, that had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or finer success..."
(PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, Chapter 18)
All the families from Meryton and the surroundings who had been invited by Mr. Bingley to his ball were gathered this night of November at Netherfield Park. The lights from the chandeliers accompanied with the music that filled the saloons created an amazing festive atmosphere in the house, the same festive atmosphere that only increased with the conversations and people's laughter that were heard in every corner.
The party had begun several hours before and the guests could not complain of the hospitality with which Mr. Bingley had received and attended them. Even his sister, Miss Bingley proved to be an excellent hostess that did not let anyone -except her family- realize what she really thought about country people and their manners.
This event had much significance for the guests, each one for their own reason. For the young girls and single ladies, it was an opportunity to dance, to flirt and to expose all their charms to the single gentlemen who attended the ball. Of course, the recent addition of the militia regiment at Meryton created much more appeal to the occasion. For the matrons, the entertainment was centered in the gossip and the idea to display their daughters' desirability to most available gentlemen in attendance.
In fact, it can be said that the ball has proved to be a great success that resembled the general expectation that many guests had hoped since learning about this event.
Well, at least almost all the guests had that feeling…
Elizabeth Bennet glanced about the room one more time, taking in all the details in front of her.
'No!' She thought sadly while shaking her head, 'Nothing is as I had hoped.'
She wanted to groan and disappear from the scene before her, but she just closed her eyes and let out a huge long-suffering sigh.
After the supper was over and singing was talked of, her sister Mary was the first volunteer to entertain the guests. Having to endure Mary's display at the pianoforte was a difficult test, and Elizabeth was in agonies until the moment her father stop her. There, she could calm down a little, but that peace did not last. To her chagrin, not even five minutes had passed when Mr. Collins started a pretentious speech not so subtly addressed at Mr. Darcy. That was the last straw!
Elizabeth was absolutely mortified at her sister and cousin's actions. Nonetheless, as if that was not enough, at this moment her mother and her younger sisters, Kitty and Lydia started making one of their famous spectacles.
If only Elizabeth could say that it was the first of the night, but alas, her family had already made an entire repertoire of these spectacles since the ball's beginning. Their loud cries and their clumsiness, caused by the excess of wine, were making them the center of attention once again. It was totally embarrassing and Lizzy was sure this would only bring more unwanted gossip about her family's lack of propriety.
And finally, to end the 'charming' picture, her father did not appear to be anywhere; he apparently vanished from the room without a trace.
Just at the moment when his family needed him most, Mr. Bennet was nowhere to be found and he was the one who was called to control this situation, he should be there.
'Well, I know how it would be if Papa were here,' She reminded herself while biting her bottom lip. 'He did not make a very good job just moments before with poor Mary.'
Elizabeth knew how her father was. He always found humor in his wife and younger daughters' silliness, and unluckily, tonight there were several opportunities to prove that silliness, so there were many sources of fun for him. Lizzy knew, even if her father was here, he would not do anything.
'How could I stop them?' She sighed again to control her disappointment. 'They are making themselves the center of other people's talk.'
Undoubtedly, everything was getting wrong each second. This night until now had proved to be very trying, and to have to bear at the supper Mr. Darcy's constant glance of disapproval from the other side of the table, had left her completely vexed.
If Elizabeth thought about how excited she had felt about this ball just some hours before, she would be very depressed at seeing what was happening at the time. It is incredible how expectations can be destroyed in a matter of minutes. She had counted on many things, which at the end, did not happen.
First, she had expected to encounter the charming Mr. Wickham and getting to know him much better. If that include some dances with him, it would not injure her, would it? In fact, those dances would have been gladly accepted by her.
However, Mr. Wickham did not come to the ball, and she knew perfectly well the reason behind it.
"Mr. Darcy," Lizzy whispered to herself, "The proud Mr. Darcy."
She could not believe that all the ball's guests had to give up the delightful company of Mr. Wickham, for the boring and prideful manners of Mr. Darcy. Obviously, all the others prefer the former one. Here, the neighborhood did not like the arrogant Mr. Darcy, and she, more than anyone else.
The first night they met, Mr. Darcy declared that she was not handsome enough to tempt him, not even to dance. Well, since that night, Elizabeth declared to herself and to all the others who can hear her that he was the last man in the world whom she could ever be prevailed on to dance. For her, he was the one who was not agreeable enough to tempt her.
To own the truth, when she had thought about it before, she was happy that he had not asked her because she would have to endure his company for almost half an hour.
"A lucky escape, Lizzy," She had said at that time. "A dance with him would have been like a punishment."
Elizabeth had considered herself very fortunate for her quick escape and had been happy to renew her solemn promise to never dance with that proud man. Unfortunately, she could not fulfill that promise.
Tonight, that man had the audacity to ask her for a dance. It was inconceivable!
She, who vowed never to dance with him, had to accept his offer for good manners. And what was worst, their dance did not go as she expected, in fact, it went much worse. They argued, as always, but this time the main reason was Mr. Wickham.
After their dance, they parted angrily at each other. However, a part of Elizabeth had been angrier at herself for her reaction as she was looking at him during their dance. His deep blue eyes had the power to make her a little lightheaded for a while.
'Insufferable man!' She had pondered at their dance. 'Why does he have to come so close?'
His nearness, obviously, had more weird responses from her. It seemed that seeing him very close was bad for her senses, too.
Well, Elizabeth had to admit, albeit reluctantly and only to herself, that the man was very handsome, too handsome in fact. But that handsomeness could be easily forgotten when you had the 'enchanting' opportunity to treat him. You only have to spend a few minutes in his company to get very disappointed at realizing that so a good-looking man can have those arrogant manners.
Anyway, that was beside the point. At the moment, she had motives to be more upset at him than at herself. He was the principal, if not the only reason why she cannot be enjoying the company of Mr. Wickham this night.
Yes, Elizabeth knew pretty well Mr. Darcy's cruel doings against poor Mr. Wickham. The arrogant man deserved to be publicly disgraced for the injustice with which he had treated his childhood friend.
How she wanted to face him about it! She almost did it at their dance; after all, she desired to defend Mr. Wickham.
However, for some reason, she regretted having tried it. The last gaze Mr. Darcy sent her way, just before their dance ended, made her question her own actions. His gaze held a strange spark that she could not understand; it looked as if he was sad. For the life of her, that Elizabeth could not tell what she saw exactly in his eyes.
'Was it the shame?' She had first believed. 'Was he ashamed of his actions against Mr. Wickham?'
For a moment that theory did not feel right and another idea came to her mind.
'Could it have been sorrow?' That thought rounded her head. 'But, why would he feel pain?'
Obviously, the most logical answer was that he was ashamed. After all, she considered Mr. Darcy did not have feelings, didn't she? He was a heartless man, only a man like that could have treated a former friend the way he treated Mr. Wickham.
Nevertheless, why did she continue doubting it? When she thought about it, sometimes, she could swear that it was pure grief what she saw in his eyes.
Tonight, it was the first time that his eyes showed something to her. At first, when Elizabeth entered the ballroom and saw him, she believed that there was something akin to admiration in his gaze. But then, she shook her head in absolute denial. It would have been an absurdity.
'Mr. Darcy admiring me! Ha!' A mocking smile appeared on her face. 'Nothing further from the truth, I am sure'
In general, his gaze was constantly enigmatic, as the man himself, so deep and mysterious. In retrospect, she had always known exactly what Mr. Darcy thought every time he looked at her, he only wanted to find fault in her appearance. His incessant disapproval of her manners and looks was well-known around the neighborhood, so he did not have to be so obvious.
The man completely exasperated her; he always left her confused, and certainly, tonight was not the exception.
It is possible that she just mistook his look meaning, the same could have happened the other case during their dance. It did not matter anymore what she had seen in his stare. Not even if that last look shook her to her very core and left her intrigued.
'I will not think on this anymore!' She exclaimed in her mind.
After all, the man was a complete mystery and he would probably ever continue being one, at least for her.
Blinking a couple of times to control her ideas, she decided not to ponder on such a thing. Now, she had more important matters to contemplate, for example, her sisters.
Of course, her gaze ended being landed on her eldest sister, her dearest Jane. Before the ball, Elizabeth had been so sure that it was going to be a wonderful night to her sister, one night that Jane was to be in the clouds with the amiable Mr. Bingley.
Despite Jane always tried to hide it, as shy and reserved as she was, Lizzy could not be fooled about the level of affection and estimation in which she regarded Mr. Bingley. Her sweet sister was in love, and Elizabeth could not have been happier. Besides, the gentleman returned Jane's regard, which was something noticeable for anyone in the county. Her sister's feelings were not as discernable as his, but they were of the same depth. That was a certainty to Elizabeth, one that cannot be concealed from her.
For the time being, she only hoped that her family behavior would not distract the lovebirds. When Lizzy saw them, she could not avoid a sincere smile from appearing on her face. Happily, Jane and Mr. Bingley seemed so lost in their own world to pay attention to anything around them. They did not even realize when Lydia passed reeling on the arm of an officer just beside them. At least for Jane, the night did not go as bad.
What Elizabeth had to do now was to control her family conduct before they ruined all their reputations by the end of the night. It seemed that nobody else was going to do it, and she was tired of seeing their show.
"I swear if I see Lydia fluttering her eyelashes and winking to a red coat one more time, I am going to shout my frustration." She muttered with closed eyes.
Elizabeth had to intervene before they went too far, that was the reason why she went to them resolutely.
Before she arrived, Lizzy could clearly hear Lydia's giggles while leaning on Mr. Denny and whispering something in his ear. The only answer that Lydia received was a burst of laughter. Then, Kitty and Lt. Chamberlayne appeared with glasses of wine to all of them. Lydia took her glass and continued her flirting.
When Elizabeth reached her sister, she cleared her throat to capture her attention.
"Lydia, I think it is enough wine for the night," Elizabeth warned her as trying to take her glass from her, but Lydia turned aside her hand, frowning at her.
"What are you talking about, Lizzy?"
Lydia was clearly confused, she had no idea what her sister wanted to do. When she finally understood what Lizzy was trying to tell her, she laughed almost hysterically at the absurdity.
Twirling around her place, she cried loudly with an impish smile. "Oh, please! No! Do not tell me that!"
She continued laughing as if she had never laughed in her life.
"Did you hear her?" She asked her companions as controlling her giggles with difficulty. "Did you hear what she said? It seems that my dull sister is trying to ruin my fun! As if that could happen!" And another fit of laughter assaulted Lydia.
Well, this was already annoying Elizabeth, who did not see any joke in what she said. Only the moment Lydia controlled her laughter, she could face her older sister with a challenging smile.
"I will not let you!"
Looking around her, Elizabeth lowered her tone with caution.
"Come on, Lydia! You are making a spectacle. Give me the glass!" Lizzy moved her hand to the glass slowly in order to take it.
"I will not give you anything!" Lydia shouted stubbornly and shook her head. "Who do you think you are?"
Elizabeth took her sister's glass firmly, but Lydia squeezed it with much force. From one side to another, the glass was moving incessantly as they struggled against the other for a moment. Then, all of a sudden, Lydia loosened her grip intentionally and all the wine finished being thrown away on Elizabeth's face.
Lizzy closed her eyes at the last second before all the contents of glass fell on her. By the time, she opened her eyes again, the music signaling the renewal of the dance had started.
"Ups!" Lydia laughed almost unbecomingly and shrugged her shoulders indifferently. "Well, you deserved it for trying to ruin my fun."
Tumbling on Mr. Denny, she said with a spoiled tone.
"Come, Denny. I want to dance." Without any resistance from the officer, she pulled him with her and took him to the ballroom. Kitty and Lt. Chamberlayne sent Lizzy a tense smile of apology and followed them seconds later.
Elizabeth was literally speechless, just seeing how her sisters disappeared from her sight.
Around of her, she could feel the looks of pity that were sending her way, while also listening to the whispers about her state.
Offhand, her eyes ended perching just at the other side of the room where Mr. Darcy was looking at her with his usual inscrutable expression, and next to him was Miss Bingley with a look of triumph and a satisfied smirk.
Taking all the dignity she could muster, Elizabeth lifted her chin and started to walk in the opposite direction. She wanted to get out of there and the destination in her mind had to be a solace place.
Unconsciously, she ended up walking to the small terrace at the end of the hall, a place that was sufficiently secluded for her purposes.
'Do not look around you.' She kept saying to herself as she was walking. The whispers and the looks of pity continued following her. 'Do not worry; it is going to end very soon.'
She could feel her face burning and her eyes moist, but she did not give herself the right to shed a single tear.
Barely arriving her destination, she went directly to the balcony and leaned on there.
Despite she took a full breath of the cold night breeze to calm her down, a low sob escaped her lips. Only at that moment, when there was nobody around her, she let her eyes lose a pair of tears.
Her breast was a tangle of emotions; Elizabeth no longer knew exactly what she felt. At times she was angry, then frustrated, after that ashamed, but also disappointed and tired.
Clasping her hands on her face, she closed her eyes anew.
"Is it fair that this is what you earned for trying to help?" She questioned to no one in particular.
Staring at the sky, she hoped to see the stars to ease her weary mind. Sadly, it looked as if the sky would not cooperate with her tonight either, it was cloudy and no start could be seen.
"It is going to rain." She concluded with no little disappointment. It seemed that she could not stay for too long outside, Elizabeth would have to go back.
With weary movements, she began searching for her handkerchief in her dress. Unluckily, for as much as she looked, she could not find anything. Maybe, she had forgotten it at home.
"Excellent." She murmured with irony. "I should have taken a napkin."
Suddenly, Elizabeth felt a gentle touch on her right shoulder. At twirling her head, her eyes met a white handkerchief directly in front of her that was being held by a hand, Mr. Darcy's hand.
When she looked right into his eyes, she could not discern what he thought. Mr. Darcy was just there, looking at her without pity or derision, but with the frankest gaze, she had ever seen on him.
With a little of doubt, Elizabeth accepted his offered garment and brought it to her face unconsciously. A deep scent of sandalwood invaded her senses, leaving her a numbness she had never felt.
Stunned by her reaction, she blushed slightly and it took her a while to talk again.
"Thank you." She whispered shakily. As an answer, Mr. Darcy nodded his head and smiled wanly.
He placed himself next to her, and simultaneously they looked at the sky in a complete silence, each one with their own thoughts admiring the horizon.
Elizabeth was cleaning slyly her face as trying to center her thoughts. It was very gallant of him to have given her his handkerchief, but what was Mr. Darcy doing there?
All of sudden, a suspicious idea filled her mind and made her recover entirely her words. Why did she not think about it before?
"What are you doing here, sir?" She said abruptly, eying him with mistrust.
"I wanted to see you." He answered truthfully, despite the curtness of her voice. "I wanted to see if you are well."
His deep baritone made her tremble slightly. For a moment, her reaction to his voice left her bewildered, but when other emotions override her senses, she could not be master of herself anymore.
She was completely angry. What really annoyed her was his tone; his supposed sincere tone was the worst offense for her.
"Do not insult my intelligence, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said with a sparkle of irritation in her eyes. "I know why you are here. You wanted to see me in a vulnerable state, didn't you?"
Mr. Darcy was dumbfounded, just seeing her without comprehending what she was saying. When he finally understood, his face looked as if she had slapped him and his eyes acquired a certain sparkle she could not identify.
Staring at her sharply, he voiced. "I do not have the pleasure of understanding you, Miss Elizabeth."
Lizzy was breathing with difficulty as she felt her cheeks flushed with anger. Her temper had endured enough that night, she could not bear it any longer.
"You do not have to pretend with me." She almost shouted, accusingly. "I know why you are here, sir."
She took a breath to return her tone to a normal level before continuing.
"Well done, Mr. Darcy. You have proved it." She told him with a sarcastic smile. "You saw a sample of my family's lack of propriety. You can now congratulate yourself on 'your superiority' and laugh all you want at my circumstances."
With that response, she expected that he would get angry at her bluntness and go away, but surprisingly, his reaction was different. It appeared as if he was working very hard to control his emotions after hearing her words, the proof was on the way he blinked without rest, how his temples were moving without control, and the hundreds of emotions that seemed to prowl in his eyes in a matter of seconds.
She saw him taking a deep breath before focusing his eyes on hers and voicing tensely.
"Do you really consider me so a heartless man to find pleasure in other people's misfortunes?" His look had become suddenly hard. "Do I appear to be such an unfeeling person?"
Elizabeth opened her lips to answer him, but when she found his gaze, something inside her made her stop. In the end, she remained silent and turned her eyes to the ground.
What could she tell him? Elizabeth had always believed in first impressions, and since she had met him, she was trying very hard to understand his character. However, what kind of impression could she have? The first night they met, he insulted her and his manners left much to be desired. For all the people in the county, not only for her, Mr. Darcy was always so clear in his continuous dislike for their society that he obviously thought himself above all of them.
Also, it was what Mr. Wickham told her. How could she not believe that Mr. Darcy was an unfeeling man when he treated a former friend that way? His actions clearly revealed that he had a lack of real principles and morals.
Although, why did she continue resisting to believe that of him? It seemed that at least a part of her refused to believe such cruelty existed in someone. Before hearing Mr. Wickham's story, it is true that she had considered Mr. Darcy as an arrogant and disagreeable man, but in reality, she had never seen any kind of wickedness in him. Why did a part of her not accept that Mr. Darcy was that bad?
When she found the courage to look at him again, he was staring at her with a distinctive fleck of something. Just like the time their dance ended, Lizzy saw it anew; however, she was sure of what she was looking in his eyes at the moment. It was pain and... vulnerability?
He was glancing at her, hurt by her words, her doubts, and her silence.
Elizabeth's heart stopped that very moment. For some reason, she felt the same pain invaded her breast. Despite all, she did not want to hurt him; she did not desire to see his eyes fogged with grief. It was too late now; his gaze was tormenting her with guilt.
Not standing that feeling anymore, she spoke abruptly.
"I do not think it is not a good idea that we are here together, sir." She turned her gaze to the sky to avoid seeing him.
"Do not worry, madam. I will not importune you with my presence anymore." He responded hoarsely. "I am going to go."
True to his words, he began to retire. Elizabeth continued looking at the sky as he was going. She closed her eyes as her heart was telling her to turn around and avoid his departure.
'Do not let him go without telling him you are sorry.' She could hear on her mind, but her ears were buzzing without control. 'Come on, go and tell him!'
Why did her body not respond to her directions? She was paralyzed in her place without turning her head not even a millimeter until the sound of his steps disappeared from her hearing.
If only Elizabeth could have turned her head a while, she would have seen when Mr. Darcy twirled around his place a second to see her one more time before getting into the house.
The moment she did not hear him anymore, she let a relieved sigh. Her heart was still beating desperately in her chest.
If Elizabeth had hoped that after having freed her emotions, she would have been calmer, now, she can tell without a doubt that she was sorely mistaken. If it was possible, Lizzy felt much worse than before.
"Badly done, Elizabeth!" She reproached herself. "You had just released your anger and frustration in a man who did not deserve it. How are you going to feel better with that?"
Her own reproaches were so true; she should not have acted that way. His pained eyes were going to haunt her thoughts forever.
Now, to the tangle of emotions seizing in her breast, it was added guilt. She felt her whole chest heavier. If his expression was to be believed, he had been really worried about her, which was the reason why he offered his handkerchief.
"His handkerchief!" Elizabeth had forgotten to give it back to him. She looked at it as she was holding it in her hand at the moment.
"Why can I do now?" She considered after a while. If someone learned that she had in her possession a gentleman's handkerchief, her reputation would be ruined. At that thought, she put it in her dress pocket quickly. Elizabeth will have to return it to its owner covertly before the end of the ball, but to do it she will have to see Mr. Darcy again.
"Great!" She pondered ironically. "Everything kept getting worse. Can this situation worsen even more?"
As an answer to her question, she heard the distinctive sound of a clap of thunder, a clear sign that it was beginning to rain.
"Well, at least, now I can say that this cannot be much worse." She proclaimed a little optimistic.
In the end, that declaration was another of her mistakes. Lizzy had just said it when she heard a familiar voice that made her shrink in annoyance.
"Cousin Elizabeth, I have been searching for you!"
It was Mr. Collins; she could have recognized him before he even talked. It was his smell what always betrayed him.
Elizabeth sighed in tiredness and looked at the sky.
'Why?' She reclaimed at the clouds without receiving an answer. 'Has he to be the cherry that crowns the cup of a 'successful evening'?'
Sufficient had been endured of his company during their dance, the worst dance she could have ever suffered. He had stepped on her many times, that at end of their dance, she retired limping a little.
"I came to ask you for another dance, dear cousin." He started anew when she did not answer him and tried to close the distance between them. As a reflex motion, she stepped back.
'Never again!' Elizabeth responded in her mind. 'I will not expose my poor feet to your commands, sir!'
"I am tired, Mr. Collins." She only said in a weary tone. "I do not want to dance."
"Well, it is not a problem. We can stay here." He added without discouragement. "I see you have found a solitary place, Cousin Elizabeth."
"Yes, it is the perfect place when one wants to be alone." She put more emphasis in her last word, hoping that he took her hint and left her once and for all.
If Mr. Collins understood her meaning, he showed no signs of it and continued in his place with a silly smile.
"Of course, my dear cousin, I know you wanted us to be alone." Mr. Collins continued after a moment, the only response he received was a badly concealed grimace from her.
Elizabeth almost allowed to a groan of desperation to escape from her lips. What she least wanted was to spend time with Mr. Collins!
'Stupid man,' She was fuming and unconsciously closed her hands on fits. 'Can you not take the hint when you are not wanted?'
From the little she knew of Mr. Collins, she had concluded that he was one of the silliest men she had ever had the misfortune to meet. But, to her bad luck, he was family; he was her father's heir. So, Mr. Collins was going to inherit her family estate, Longbourn, and she could not avoid his company when he was a guest in her house.
After their dance, she avoided him like some contagious disease. Luckily for her, her good friend Charlotte Lucas could divert his attention in the supper and Elizabeth had counted that her friend would have done it all the rest of the ball. However, it seemed that such luck was not to be.
She did not want to go back inside, but since Mr. Collins refused to leave her alone and the rain was going to start, she decided to return.
"I am going to get into the house." She announced immediately and turned around.
"It is not necessary, my dear cousin." Mr. Collins stopped her actions with his words. "I knew your intentions since the moment I found here; you do not need to be so embarrassed."
Despite his pompous voice always gave her a headache, his words left her absolutely confused at the moment.
'What is he talking about?' She pondered with suspicion and lifted her left eyebrow in silent inquiry.
"Do not appear surprised. I knew you wanted me to find you here." He was approaching her more. "You have been following my steps all the ball, haven't you?"
Elizabeth lifted both of her eyebrows and opened her mouth in astonishment.
'Following you? I was trying to avert every opportunity to even cross looks with you.' She answered in her mind because her mouth refused to talk.
"You wanted to find a place where I can declare myself to you." He continued with a smug smile.
'The man is completely mad.' It was the only logical reason Elizabeth found to explain his behavior. Still speechless and without she could avoid it, he took her hand unexpectedly and kneeled in front of her.
"Since almost the first moment I saw you, my dearest Elizabeth. I decided to make you my partner for life. The depths of my affections for you run..." He kept on talking on the same line for a time.
It would have a pretty discourse if his words would not have seemed so rehearsed, he seemed repeating a sermon, losing all the romantic character of his words.
"... My feelings are so strong that in all the time I have known you; they have grown to a point without return. For me, the days I spent with you had been the best days of my life, but it seemed so small compared to rest of life we had ahead of us. So small, my dearest."
"Yes, it is obviously a small time. We have known for a little over a week." She wanted to respond.
How could he talk so ardently about love? She was sure he did not love her. Maybe he believed it, but she did not.
Finally, the humor of situation filled Elizabeth, and she nearly laughed at the absurdity. She had to bite her lips to avoid a fit of laughter.
"I know, of course, you are going to accept me. However, I want to say my other reasons why I also chose as my future wife."
With those words, the smile on her face faded. Did he really think she was going to accept him? She would have to be dead before she joined her life with so a stupid man.
"It is not necessary, Mr. Collins. I am..." She interrupted him abruptly, freeing her hand from his grip.
"Your words are not necessary." He declared with a supposedly passionate tone. "Your eyes express all I want to hear, my dearest Elizabeth."
"Stop speaking nonsenses!" She finally exploded. Her voice was firm and had reached a strong tone. Her patience had a limit after all. "Stand up, Mr. Collins."
The man obeyed her orders without saying anything.
"I am honored for your offer, sir." She spoke calmly. "But, I must decline it. I am not going to marry you."
Despite he looked perplexed by her answer, he did not relent.
"It is common in our society, I know, for young ladies to refuse the first time the man of their dreams proposed. I am not going to give up, Elizabeth."
"I have not given you the right to call me by my Christian name." She replied vexed at his boldness, but then her countenance became completely tired. "I do not want you to continue your pursuit. What you are saying has no sense, sir!"
"When someone truly loves and talks from his heart, nothing has sense." He started again with his usual pomposity. "There are no limits and one is never to give up."
Elizabeth crossed her arms and rolled her eyes as an answer.
"I am sorry, sir. This night had been completely trying even before you appeared. I just want to go!"
Just the moment Lizzy said that she felt the first drops of rain falling on her face.
"If you excuse me." She spoke before curtseying and turning in direction of the house.
"Wait, Cousin Elizabeth." Mr. Collins stopped her with a strong hold on her arm.
"Let me go, Mr. Collins!" Elizabeth warned him with a flash of fury in her eyes, but the man did not let her free.
She could feel the rain falling harder on her and soaking her clothes. Besides, the sound of the thunders became much stronger than before.
"It is sufficient, Mr. Collins!" Lizzy yelled at him.
Sadly, the man continued with his intention of not letting her go.
Without anything else to do, Elizabeth stepped with strongness on his feet, leaving him paralyzed with pain, at the same time that she made him pay for the suffering he caused her during their dance. In that way, he loosened his grip on her and Lizzy could escape.
She was about to reach the house when Mr. Collins, who had recovered from her footstep and had started walking in her way, stepped on her dress and made her stumble on her foot.
Lizzy felt herself losing her balance and sharp pain in her ankle made her grasp. She closed her eyes expecting to feel the ground and resigned herself to her eventual fall.
However, she never reached the ground. All she could feel, besides the continuous drops of rain on her face, was the firm grip of a pair of strong hands on her waist and smelled a deep scent of sandalwood. Before she opened her eyes, she already knew who was the one holding her in his arms.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and raised her head to look at him. Mr. Darcy's deep blue eyes stared at her intently while the drops of rain fell on his face and hair, each drop looked like a call to touch and caress his face. They did not separate their eyes from the other not even for a moment; their breathing quickened and the flush on their cheeks became more intense.
Elizabeth could feel how her own heart started an erratic pace and perceived how her chest rose and fell between breaths. A slight tingle invaded her while she lost herself in those deep indecipherable oceans that were Mr. Darcy's eyes. In the meantime, he seemed as lost in her eyes as she was on his.
Out of blue, the sound of a clap of thunder broke the spell. Simultaneously, they watched as a lightning struck directly on a branch of the large tree that was next to the terrace.
Elizabeth lost her breath and she had not even regained the control of her thoughts when she was covered and thrown to the ground by Mr. Darcy as a last resource, just a moment before the branch of the tree fell directly on them.
As if everything had happened in slow motion, Elizabeth saw all with vivid detail, but she could not hear anything outside her own heart beating desperately on her chest. She determined the exact instant the branch fell was when Mr. Darcy closed his eyes and his breath became heavier that she could feel it on her cheeks.
The moment he opened his eyes again and saw her with an expression of worry was the moment Elizabeth understood the entire situation. Mr. Darcy had saved her, he covered her and prevented that the weight of the branch fell directly on her.
Without words, she stared at him for a while, until finally; she heard the sound of the heavy raindrops again. Directing her gaze to their side, she found some remnants of the burnt branch.
Elizabeth did not know what to say, she did not know what to do. She only looked at the enigmatic eyes of her savior as she tried to regulate her emotions.
"Are you well?" Mr. Darcy's deep voice made her swallow hard, he was looking at her with restlessness. Those were the only words that could reach her confused state before they listened to the distinctive sound of footsteps and voices from the house.
"Lizzy! Mr. Darcy!" Mrs. Bennet's shrill was the first Elizabeth heard before the real tumult started.
She had just confirmed one theory. When you least expected, only a little turn of circumstances can change the entire course of your life.
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Sunny =P
16/04/2017