The Quest of Time: Now or Never
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Chapter 10
Darcy was working in the library, finishing his correspondence, when suddenly he heard a knock on the door and he asked the person to come in. Like a fool he was hoping Lizzie would be out there, wanting to see him, talk to him. After the breakfast four days ago, he had not seen her, she was working constantly on some project and instead of him she asked for Philip's help. Well he cannot get angry at her because she did promise to stay out of his way but it would not kill her to keep him informed about her progress.
He hid his disappointment really well when instead of Lizzie, Mrs. Reynolds entered the room. He smiled and nodded politely so she could say whatever was in her mind because she looked thoughtful and distressed at the same time. Was there any trouble in the household or the servants because she was the one who took care of most of such issues?
"Master Darcy, if you are not busy at the moment then I need to discuss an important matter with you?" Mrs. Reynolds asked softly.
"Of course Mrs. Reynolds, is there any trouble with the household?" He asked kindly unable to understand what the sudden crisis was.
"Yes, everything is very well with the household." She explained hastily.
Darcy gave a long look to ask what the real problem was. Mrs. Reynolds hesitated for a moment and then said "It is about Miss Bennet."
"Oh!" was the only thing he could say at that moment.
He clearly knew Mrs. Reynolds knew there was something more going on with her, something other than the story they had made up. She had asked about her many times before but he gave a small reply and didn't discuss more. Today was going to be the same day and he had to lie to her again. He hated lying to anyone especially to her.
"What is the trouble with her this time?" Darcy asked exasperatingly.
Mrs. Reynolds did not look too pleased with his tone. She said sharply, the pitch she didn't use with him too often, more like a tone a mother would use with a child "I believe Miss Bennet is from a different society where the things she does, the manner she talks and clothes she wears is acceptable."
Darcy leaned back in his chair and gave a small smile, didn't they have the same conversation few days ago but he didn't say anything, waited patiently for her to finish.
"But now she is teaching her wired behaviours, manners, believes and principles of her society to innocent people working in Pemberly" she finished sharply.
"What horrifying things is she teaching to all the innocent people of Pemberly?" Darcy could not help chuckle when he uttered those words.
For a second he could swear that Mrs. Reynolds wanted to roll her eyes like Lizzie did so many times. Did she teach that to Mrs. Reynolds, rolling her eyes and sarcasm? Was that the reason she was so furious, all the servants of Pemberly were rolling their eyes at her?
Mrs. Reynolds took a deep breath and instead of the sharp tone she used earlier, she used her patient voice and said "She was asking all the servants about their living condition and what help and benefits they were receiving from their employer, from you."
She looked at Darcy who was silent so she continued "She was having an assembly in the kitchen yesterday and was explaining the 'Labours Rights' to everyone. She was telling how in her society every employee is entitled for a month vacation, fixed hours of working, medical benefits, extra pay for overtime and Lord knows what else. And if people are unhappy with their working condition they should talk to their employer and protest if they don't listen to the issues."
"She was saying that?" Darcy asked sitting up stiffly and leaning forward from his resting position.
Mrs. Reynolds happy by his reaction said little agitatedly "Yes and I have no notion what she said to Philip and Anne, they follow her every word blindly. Anne was telling me few moments ago that Philip is helping her to organize meetings with other servants and workers from nearby property and Lambton to create a 'Labour Union' so that there is someone to fight the injustice and stand for their rights."
Mrs. Reynolds watched Darcy deep in his thoughts, his eyes closed, his lips tightly shut and fingers of his hands lightly touching. She said strongly "When I heard that I thought I should inform you about her actions that she is encouraging everyone to rebel against you and anyone who she think is oppressing innocent people."
"I need to talk to her right at this moment." Darcy said powerfully.
Mrs. Reynolds was satisfied hearing the anger and force in his voice. It wasn't like she hated Lizzie but she was asking everyone to give up everything and revolt against Darcy, just because she thought the principles of her society were much better than the one she was living in currently. Mrs. Reynolds could not see Darcy in trouble and she would do anything to stop whoever was going to cause difficulty for him because she was loyal and faithful to him.
"Do you know where she is right now?" He asked standing up with a jerk.
"I believe she is working in the barn where she works all the time." She answered.
"Thank you Mrs. Reynolds for bringing my notice to this issue." He said curtly and made his way to the barn all furious.
Darcy could not believe what Lizzie was up to, fowl mouthing him in front of his own people in his own house. He felt betrayed and deceived by her after everything he had done for her. The will of that girl, who did she think she was? He should have just thrown her out of his house when he had the chance.
He felt so much pain by her betrayal, he had made sure his every tenant, his every employee are content, taken care of, as his father had told him, taught him. But this woman with her twenty first century ideals didn't see any good in anyone. What was wrong with her world, was everyone so sceptic and cynic of good intentions. They had to create a Union for wellbeing of people, was trust all but lost concept in her world. He remembered their first encounter, how she thought he was going to hurt her, she didn't trust him even though he was helping her. There seriously was something wrong with her.
He stood outside the barn gate. Lizzie and Philip were talking humorously, not working but joking with each other. And she was wearing her trouser, tunic and jacket in front of Philip. Didn't she agree earlier that she would wear a proper dress in front of people?
"..... I can't believe you said that to her, you are awful" Lizzie said indignantly, throwing a small piece of chalk at Philip humorously.
Philip ducked down just in time and avoided the blow coming in his direction and said with a chuckle "What else was I supposed to do? She would not talk to me more than a word unless I make her angry. She avoids me all the time." He added the last past gravely.
Lizzie rolled her eyes and said with a sigh "Boys!"
She gave a long look at him and said with a smile "You idiot, teasing a girl and making her angry to get her attention is not the best way to make her like you. It'll only make her hate you even more."
"What else should I do then?" Philip asked irritatingly.
"Hello! Ever heard of flowers?" She said sarcastically.
Philip gave her a confused look, Lizzie walked towards him and ruffled his hair playfully and said "You have any idea how much work we have to do to change her mind about you. Thank God I'm here because you are completely stupid when it comes to girls. Use your brain the same way you use it in science once in a while Phil" She mocked him.
Philip smiled and asked "You tell me then, what should I do now?"
Darcy could not believe what he was hearing, she was advising Philip to court a woman. What was with that woman, she was helping a young boy to get his love one time and then other time she was asking his servants to revolt against him. He cleared his throat strongly to make his presence notice. They both looked at him at the same time.
Philip jumped away from Lizzie and said politely "Good afternoon Master Darcy."
Lizzie gave him a polite smile and said the same thing. Darcy nodded curtly and said impatiently "Miss Bennet I need to talk to you right now."
Philip sensed the tone of Darcy's voice, looked apprehensively at Lizzie and then said quietly "I should finish my work in stable" and left.
Lizzie said goodbye to Philip and asked him to see her later. She turned to Darcy and said with a small smile "What's up Mr. Darcy? Is something wrong?"
"You enlighten me with that Miss Bennet? Is something wrong?" Darcy asked edgily, now she was acting innocent in front of him.
"What?" Lizzie asked all confused.
"Please Miss Bennet, do not insult either of our intelligence by acting like you do not know what I mean?" Darcy said arrogantly.
Lizzie not liking Darcy's tone at all but still trying to control her temper said annoyingly "What in the world are you talking about?"
"You do not know what I am talking about?" He asked furiously.
"I'm not a bloody mind reader or a psychic, am I? I didn't get a premonition or a dream saying this is what Mr. Darcy will come and talk to you in a barn either. And I definitely didn't get a memo from you saying your problem with me. So obviously I don't know what the hell you are talking about." Lizzie said sarcastically taking a deep breath after her long cynical speech.
Darcy was beyond furious listening to her remark. Why that woman behaved so rudely with him, after he had been nothing but helpful and supportive to her, was past his understanding.
Lizzie saw Darcy staring at her like he would rip her apart by his own hands, he was further past the angry self she had seen him earlier, he was more like in murderous warpath mode. She strained her mind thinking what she did to make him so furious at her, make him act like a raging hulk who would soon burst out of his clothes and turn into a giant green monster.
"Aren't you the one who is manipulating and ruining the mind of my servants against me? Aren't you the one who is convincing them that I'm treating them badly and they should rebel against me? Aren't you the one who is forming this secret Labour Union against me?" Darcy said frustratingly, clenching his fist on his side with every word. His knuckles went all white with the amount of force he was using to control himself, to not just attack someone right then and there.
Lizzie finally understood what he meant and said "Oh that thing?" with a sigh of relief.
"Yes, that thing Miss Bennet. You are turning my people against me by forming a Union." Darcy said angrily, why she was acting like that it did not matter, like it was not a big issue.
Lizzie rolled her eyes at his whole outlook of the situation and said with a small laugh "Seriously Mr. Darcy, the universe doesn't revolve around you. Everything in this world is not about you. There is a limit of someone being arrogant and self centred, people can overlook, but not this. Just get over yourself."
"What?" Darcy shouted on top his lungs. That infuriating woman standing and smiling in front of him thought that he was arrogant and self-centred.
"You heard me, get over yourself. The way you are acting right now is beyond irritating, it's plain tyranny." She said matching his death glare.
He cannot believe what was coming out of her mouth, if only he ever could hurt a women, she would be the first.
"That is what I am referring to, you are telling my people that I am a cruel tyrant" he said angrily staring at her, trying to break her will, her stubbornness and most of all to intimidate her.
"Who told you that?" Lizzie asked frustratingly.
"It does not matter who told me. Are you saying this is all a lie? You are not planning to create a Labour Union?" He asked.
"My answer is yes and no" Lizzie said exasperatingly.
Darcy gave her a confused look not understanding her reply.
Lizzie threw her arms in the air, took a deep breath and said as calmly as she could mange herself to be at that moment. "Yes, I'm planning to create a Labour Union. And no, I never called you a cruel tyrant in front of your people or anyone else for that matter."
Darcy said angrily "But I heard that ...."
Lizzie cut him in the middle and said "Then you heard wrong."
"What are you implying then?" he asked irritatingly.
"I'm implying that instead of getting your information second hand from some random person who knows nothing you should have come to me to clear things out, before you started shouting at me like I have committed a murder." Lizzie said frustratingly trying desperately to calm herself down.
"But you never talk to me or tell me anything" he finally said what he wanted to say from the moment he had met her. He was trying so hard but she never trusted him or told him about her plans and idea. How much he wished he could earn her trust.
Lizzie sighed and said "I'm sorry. I should have come to you first with my ideas. It was my mistake that I didn't tell you anything."
Darcy was taken aback by her sudden admittance of her mistake, how was he supposed to get angry at her now. She was furious at him a moment ago but now she was apologising. His temper calmed down a little bit too and said stiffly "You can tell me everything now."
"Alright, only if you keep an open mind about it and not jump on me to rip my throat apart all furious like a second ago" Lizzie said strongly.
Darcy felt embarrassed by her remark, he was acting like a wolf ready to jump at her, rip her throat out. He said uncomfortably "I apologise the way I shouted earlier."
Lizzie nodded accepting his apology and waited for him to agree to her terms.
After few moments Darcy said lightly using her own words against her "I will try my best but cannot make any promises."
Lizzie smiled and rolled her eyes at his retort, using her lines against her to shut her up. The man could be amusing when he wanted to be.
Lizzie began calmly "Ok, do you have any idea how many things are wrong in this time."
Darcy said impatiently "Miss Bennet, you always think that everything is wrong with this time and your time is perfect."
Lizzie rolled her eyes and said frustratingly "Seriously Mr. Darcy? Is this an open mind?"
Darcy raised his hands frustratingly and finally sighed and gave up "Please continue, I am listening."
Lizzie gave him a long and hard look, nodded and said "I never said that everything is wrong with this time and no one knows better than me that my time is not perfect. It is chaotic, crazy, frustrating, you name it and that's what my world is, just like me" she said the last part with a laugh. Darcy smiled at her joke too.
She grinned and continued "But that doesn't mean that some things in my time are not better than here. I'm only trying to bring the good things from twenty first century into this world. That includes human rights, labour rights, women rights, animal rights and all that politically correct issues."
Darcy nodded at her comment understanding what she meant.
"The reason why I wanted to create a Labour Union is ..." she was saying.
But Darcy said impatiently unable to stop himself "Because you think I'm arrogant self centred controlling oppressor."
Lizzie laughed at his answer and shook her head "Again, not everything in this world is about you. But half of what you said about yourself is true though."
Darcy furiously opened his mouth again to argue but Lizzie raised her hand to stop him and said "Please let me finish Mr. Darcy."
Darcy shut his mouth, crossed his arms around his chest and nodded angrily. Lizzie chuckled and continued "I talked to everyone working in the Pemberly about their working condition and their life in general. And I have to admire either your organization skills or your terrorizing skills because not a single person made a compliant."
Lizzie rolled her eyes when Darcy didn't laugh at her joke. She continued "Well, every single person is happy working for you and think you are kind to them and help them in trouble. So all in all the verdict is, you are a good boss." Lizzie said with a small salute at the last part.
Darcy gave her a questioning look and asked "Then why are you creating the Union?"
Lizzie sighed and said "I'm not creating it to use it against you. I'm creating it because the people of Pemberly are happy 'cause you are a good boss but other people might not be that lucky. So I want the people working here to join the Union as an example, they could show to everyone else what a good boss should be like, how he should help them, just like you. I'm using your image as an ideal employer as a marketing strategy. It will be a big motivating factor for other people. Don't you think so?" Lizzie asked him, giving him an evaluating look, not at all sure by seeing his expression if he was pleased or angry.
Darcy was dumbfounded by her explanation, she thought he was an ideal employer and wanted to show him as an example. That is the best compliment he had heard from her mouth ever. All the other time she was making fun of him, humiliating him, telling him how he was arrogant, controlling, self absorbed. Should he be happy because she thought he was good?
Finally he nodded and agreed "I believe you are correct for thinking about other people's welfare." He could not believe she was so sleek and smart and yet so selfless and good.
"Great" Lizzie said clapping her hands excitedly. Darcy only smiled at her enthusiasm.
"So, let's talk about policies." She proposed.
"What kind of policies?" Darcy asked.
"Well, people in this time don't have pension plans, medical insurance and on top of that schools and hospitals are not free. Things are very difficult for a normal people in this time without government support." She explained with concern.
"What can we do to improve those conditions?" Darcy asked gently.
"Well, I'm already writing to the King and the Governing bodies complaining about the school and hospital situation and ..." Lizzie stated.
"You are writing letters to the King?" Darcy interrupted her in the middle all horrified by her abrupt actions.
Lizzie looked at him puzzled and answered "Yes I am. He is the most powerful person in England. Isn't he?"
"Yes, he is. But why you have to write to him." Darcy asked annoyingly.
Lizzie rolled her eyes "Because he is the most powerful person in England so he is the one who makes policies. I'm thinking of collecting signatures for the petitions as well. Too bad I can't go to news channels to complain about these terrible situations, but I did write to the newspaper editors. And I'll write to them every day if I had to, just to get their attention" Lizzie added thoughtfully.
"Why are you taking such erratic steps?" Darcy asked all confused.
"That's what we do in my time. If you want something to change you have to do it yourself, you cannot wait for someone else to do it for you. You have to hit hard at the top, get media's attention and pressurize the Government by involving common people." Lizzie explained her actions not at all liking the way Darcy was looking at her.
Darcy was completely stunned by her reasoning. Lord, was there anything that woman could not do. He asked quietly "Why are you doing all these things Miss Bennet? You are not responsible for anyone here."
He wanted to know the reasons behind her actions. Was not she all anxious to go back to her world? Then why she was doing all these things here, taking unnecessary responsibilities and provoking Kings and Lord knows who else by her actions.
Lizzie said distastefully "How selfish do you think I am? As long as I'm here I'd better make the best use of my time and change whatever is wrong with this damn world. Maybe that's why I'm thrown here, to make it a better place. Universe works in mysterious ways Mr. Darcy." She added the last part raising her brows in mischief and a small chuckle.
Darcy could not believe her answer. She was determined to change the whole world, everything that is wrong with it. She was a mere human, a woman on top of that. How was she going to do that? But it looked like she was strong minded and believed she could do it. He could not help himself admire her willingness, however crazy it sounded. She had the same fire in her eyes as he had seen that morning on top of the hill on her first day in his world. She was determined to find her way back to her world, maybe she would succeed to do it too.
Darcy nodded his head and said with determination "Then I will help you with your work anyway possible."
Lizzie smiled and assured him "Trust me the policy I'm suggesting is very simple. You only need to deduct small percentage of the wages and keep it safely as pension and insurance. I'll teach you the tricks for sound investment to increase the money so that at the end of the day every one is a winner. It'll benefit you too, you'll not regret doing this. I promise you."
Darcy smiled, for no valid reason he believed her every word, he did trust her. He knew she was capable, she was smart and unselfish. She wanted to benefit other people and him too. She was right to say that she could teach him of so many new things which will make his life better. She did have many useful skills. He wished so badly that she would stay in his time forever.
Lizzie for all part of that day didn't do any work of her own but explained her ideas and theory to Darcy. She was extremely surprised that few hours ago he was furious at her, almost ready to kill her. But later he was open to her every idea, he was willingly accepting everything and made few good suggestions himself. He skilfully showed her, her mistakes and limitation of the plans.
Lizzie was also stunned to find he had a deep legal knowledge of everything. He definitely wanted to help her with her political and social agenda. His knowledge and awareness of his world was incredibly helpful. If only he wasn't so arrogant and pompous they could have been friends.
Darcy was incredibly pleased with himself when after the barn incident, Lizzie and he did not have a single argument. She was engaging and thought provoking as always and was finally listening to what he had to say. He had never conversed with one person in one day so much and enjoyed it above that.
Even on the dinner table she joined him and they had a small and friendly argument about the child labour. She was strongly against any child younger than sixteen working and he was trying to explain that parents at that time had to take the help of their young children in the farming and other works to teach them the necessary skills as they were not learning it from the schools.
What he loved the most was watching her expression when he invited her to join him in the Pemberly library. She was actually gagging herself by putting her fist in her mouth to stop herself from shouting with excitement by seeing the sheer size of the library and number of books. She confessed books were her biggest love and library her one of the most favourite place in the world. She was actually regretting to not found that library earlier. He smiled when she frowned saying that she missed so much time she could have spent in the library with those books.
Darcy was more pleased to realize that if she enjoyed books so much, she would spend more of her time in the library, he could accompany her there and spend more time with her. She was being pleasant to him and he was not losing his patience with her too. He wanted things between them would stay like that, so he could enjoy his time with her and she would finally trust him.
He could not help himself from thinking what she said to Philip earlier that day. He was doing the same thing as Philip, he was unnecessarily making her angry, picking fights with her to get her attention, because she only talked to him more than few sentences when they were fighting and arguing with each other. He also remembered the thing she said that for a boy to make a girl like her, he should not tease or fight with her, it would only make her hate him. He had to be more amiable and understanding with her, keep his anger in check and stop being arrogant and self absorbed as she put so bluntly earlier, if he wanted her to like him. And from now on he would do exactly the same thing.
Since that day Lizzie joined Darcy everyday for breakfast but not for lunch or supper, those times she spent with Philip. Darcy could not believe he could ever be envious of a young lad who was working for him as a stable hand. What had happened to him and what that woman was doing to him? But he was pleased that she joined him in the library once in a while and discussed her ideas and heartily accepted any input Darcy provided her, he found that she was very organized and placed extreme attentions to every single details. She was a perfectionist and demanded the best from everything and everyone like him.
The next Sunday Darcy was hoping she would join him for the morning sermon but she did not. Darcy figured religion was not important to her and in her time, he smiled remembering the way she was cursing the Lord's name. When he reached Pemberly late morning he first went into the barn, Philip was not working that day so he hoped she would let him help her with the experiments she was doing all those time there. But the barn was empty and there was no sign of her in the house as well.
Darcy asked Mrs. Reynolds but she had no notion where she was, he also asked Anne and she informed him that she saw her walking in the direction of woods few hours ago. He made his way towards the woods too. Did she find a portal so soon? Was she going to leave him?
After walking for fifteen minutes, he was standing near the lake where her car crashed that fateful day, he was looking for the marks she had made on trees to find the trail, but instead he saw something red on one side of the lake.
Darcy made his way to that part of the lake and finally saw her. Lizzie was casually sitting under a large tree wearing her bright red jacket, she was leaning her back on the tree trunk and her legs were stretched on the grass, she was wearing a blue beret cap, crookedly placed on her head making her look adorable like a child and an olive green scarf on her neck. He really liked watching her so relaxed with a small smile in her lips working amusingly on a small case like white object. He silently walked towards her, not making any noise, watching her intently. When he was closer to her, few feet away from her he heard her humming some song, she had a sweet voice but he could not understand what she was singing, a small white wire like object was securely placed in her ears. He knew he could just stand there and observe her like that for hours.
Lizzie was in good mood today for no apparent reason, well the reason was that it was a bright and good day, spring was around the corner and the cold was receding. And instead of working in the dark and cold barn she decided to do her work in the open bright ground instead, she started to walk with no destination in mind and somehow ended up at that place. It had the most amazing view, a large and beautiful lake in front, hill on one side and larger green field on the other side. She plopped happily under a tree, enjoying the scene and listening to her favourite band and working on her laptop feeling the sunshine on her face.
Suddenly she felt a shadow fall on the laptop screen from behind her back, she screeched in surprise, shut the screen of laptop, took her iPod out of her ears and pushed it in a bag next to her. She was scared some strange man strolling in those woods saw her laptop and other gadgets, how in the world she would explain the existence of such things to a person from nineteenth century?
Darcy saw Lizzie lying under the tree for a second and out of a blue heard her scream and hide the object she was working on a bag. She didn't even turn around to look at him, what could have scared her all of a sudden maybe it was him who frightened her like that.
"Miss Bennet, It is only me" Darcy said trying to calm her down.
Lizzie turned around, looked at him, sighed and placed her hand on her chest and said "Mr. Darcy, please don't sneak up like a ghost on me."
Darcy awkwardly shifted his weight on his other leg and said gently "I am sorry. My intention was never to fright you."
"It's alright. God, you always sneak up on me like a cat. You need a bell on your neck." Lizzie said with an amusing smile.
Darcy was not at all amused by her joke and looked stiffly at her and said "I do not sneak up on you. I was walking here and saw you, so I came to talk to you."
"People don't understand a joke in this century or what? Where is your sense of humour?" Lizzie said rolling her eyes.
Darcy ignored her remark and asked "What are you doing here?"
Lizzie finally relaxed and took the laptop out of her bag and said with a small smile "It's a good day so I thought I should work outside and enjoy some sunshine."
Darcy smiled and said "What is that thing Miss Bennet?" nodding at the white object.
Lizzie chuckled and slapped the grass next to her and said "Sit down, I'll show it to you."
Darcy took the place next to her enthusiastically, Lizzie slid closer to him. He could smell her hair and her perfume when a gentle breeze came from her direction when she came near him. He took a deep breath to savour her scent, it was intoxicating.
Lizzie placed the object half on her lap and half on his and explained "This is a laptop, a computer. Go, on touch it" She encouraged him.
Darcy gently touched the metal like object but it didn't felt hard and cold as metal. It had a white, shine and had a glass like structure vertically erected and many small keys with alphabets and numbers written on it. He looked hesitantly at Lizzie but she smiled and nodded in encouragement and he lifted it in his hands, it was so light and small. He pressed few keys and it felt so strange and bizarre that he could not describe what he felt, because he had never seen and touched anything like that in his life.
"What does this laptop do? How does it work?" he asked with awe.
Lizzie grinned looking at his face, he was staring at the laptop like a small child "The question is what it cannot do, because you can do everything in it. As far as how does it work, it had small electrical chips and circuits inside which make it do any mathematical calculation."
"Come on, let me show you." Lizzie turned the laptop on and let him stare at the screen which turned into life, she heard him gasp at the wallpaper of space and galaxy.
"I have never seen such extraordinary object in my life" Darcy said with wonder. He was actually grinning looking at the beautiful image on the glass screen, it was perfect.
Darcy bombarded Lizzie with thousands of questions and she explained everything patiently to him. She even showed him how to type any documents, listen to music and view any picture or video. He had no idea that you can listen to music without playing any instrument and view a picture without drawing it or keeping it in a frame. The whole concept of videos and camera, a small dot like structure on the glass screen was mindboggling for him.
He thought he would scream his heart out when she turned the camera on and showed him his own face on the glass screen in front of him. How was anyone supposed to believe the thing she was showing to him, it felt like a dream, a dream where everything was possible? You can capture the picture, soul of a person into a small object and show it other people later.
What was the most bizarre of all the things one could do with that instrument was when Lizzie showed to play games on that small thing. What was that about? Do the people in her time not play as one is supposed to play on a field, on grounds with their friends, with dolls and toys? How was one going to interact with other children, enjoy with friends with that small device.
Lizzie finally said with a sigh "Mr. Darcy if you'll ask any more questions, your brain will overflow and explode with information overload."
Darcy did not want to stop right then but he was interrogating her for the past two hours, but his curiosity was not over just yet. How was one supposed to stop after seeing such things?
Lizzie gave him an amusing look and said "We'll continue with your lessons of twenty first century tomorrow. What do you reckon?"
"Certainly" Darcy could not stop himself from grinning.
Lizzie laughed at his enthusiasm and said with a wicked grin taking something out of the bag "Mr. Darcy, you have helped me so much with everything. As a thank you, I want you to have this, it's a gift. Do you remember this?"
Darcy eye's were wide open, did she really was giving him that to keep. He said awestricken "Of course Miss Bennet, it is a phone you showed me the first day."
"You remembered" Lizzie beamed.
Darcy smiled and asked awkwardly "I cannot keep this device Miss Bennet. It is yours and it must be very expensive and I do not know how to use it."
Lizzie rolled her eyes and said "It's a gift Mr. Darcy and you have to accept it. I'm not taking no for an answer. And don't worry about the price, I have insurance, I'll go back home and buy a new one. And it's not too difficult to use, even a three year old kid can use it. Come on, I'll teach you how to use it."
Darcy saw Lizzie placing that phone in front of his face and heard a small click noise and then showed him the picture of his own face "See, you just have to click this button and you can take a picture."
Darcy was completely dumbfounded, how was that even possible. She forwarded him the phone, and looked expectantly at him. He finally sighed and accepted it, how could he say no to her gift. Now he will have something of her, something which will connect her to him all the time, a memento. He lifted it up the same way as her and gave her a confused look. Lizzie sat up on her knees and came next to him, stood little behind him.
He shivered a little when she touched his hand by which he was holding the phone. She gently placed his fingers on the button and pushed his fingers which in turn pushed the button. Darcy saw the small screen of the phone and there was a beautiful image of the lake on it. He grinned and looked at Lizzie, she was smiling at him too, still holding her hands, she did not look uncomfortable by the touch.
She said raising her brow "See, piece of cake."
Darcy let go of a deep breath as soon as she removed her hands from his, he did not remember holding his breath in the first place when she touched him. Why was he feeling light in his stomach, was he getting sick or was that butterflies which poets describe.
"Well, you can do everything with it other than what it is built for, to make phone calls. What an irony?" Lizzie said with a chuckle.
Darcy smiled too and asked awkwardly "May I take a picture of you?"
Lizzie looked at him and said making a gun with her fingers with a small "Of course, just point and shoot" and made the gesture of shooting the gun and blew at her fingers as if blowing the imaginary smoke with a laugh.
Darcy took a picture of her at that very moment, her face with amused expression, laughter in her lips and twinkle in her eyes. He will treasure that particular image forever.
She also taught him what other things he could use that phone for in the next hour. She was right, it was easy to use. He was surprised to know that a small device lighter than a rock, so small that one can hide it in a palm and yet one could do so many things with it, most of the things which one could do with the laptop she showed earlier. Write documents, put reminders, use it as organizer, take videos and pictures, record voices, and listen to music. It was like a magic box. And she gave it to him as a gift, he was so grateful.
Finally Lizzie said with a smile "Alright Mr. Darcy I showed you everything about the phone. Now you go on and play with your toy" she added the last part with a mischievous wink.
Darcy frowned, did she want him to leave now? She did not want his company anymore? He said lightly "I will stay here for a while, what if I have more questions about this."
Lizzie took her previous seat under the tree and said "Ok, if the phone shows low battery or turns off all of a sudden, don't panic. Just bring it back to me, I'll recharge it for you."
Darcy nodded taking his own place little far away, opposite to her. She went back to her work again, typing something rapidly on her laptop, all engrossed in her work. Even though he was holding the most extraordinary piece of device in his palms, and she showed him so many different things to do with it, he could not focus on the phone. He was unable to play with it as she had joked earlier, his attention was fixed on Lizzie sitting in front of him. He was unable to remove his eyes away from her, her small smile, her pretty face and her amused expression.
After fifteen minutes of comfortable silence Darcy heard Lizzie's voice taking him out of his deep oblivion. He shook his head lightly not realizing he was staring at her like that again.
"Is there something on my face?" Lizzie asked wiping her face with her hands.
Darcy gave her a confused look, what was she asking, there was nothing on her face.
"Or is there something stuck on my teeth?" Lizzie asked again running her tongue over her teeth.
"What?" Darcy asked all puzzled, not understanding what she wanted to know.
"Oh my God, there is a bug in my hair, isn't it?" Lizzie said horrified, taking off her cap and running her fingers in her hair tilting her head on a side and shaking it vigorously.
Darcy stood and came near her to calm her down. He said gently "No, Miss Bennet, there is no bug in your hair and there is nothing on your face or teeth either."
Lizzie relaxed and said embarrassingly "Oh, good to know."
Darcy asked amusingly "Why would you presume something like that?"
Lizzie rolled her eyes and said "You were staring intently at my face for the past fifteen minutes with a small smile. I thought there has to be something comically wrong with it if you found my face so funny and amusing."
Lord, she noticed that. Darcy was thoroughly embarrassed listening to her reply. What was he supposed to say to that? He cleared his throat awkwardly and said "I was not staring at you face, I was only watching you work."
Lizzie said with a chuckle "Nobody told you, staring like that at someone is rude. If you wanted to work on my laptop you should have just said so, no need to creep me out by watching me like that."
Darcy was mortified hearing her retort. He definitely made her uncomfortable by gawking at her like a lunatic. What was wrong with him?
Lizzie watched Darcy who was suddenly very uncomfortable around her. She smirked and said lightly "Well, the battery of my laptop is almost over. I'll recharge it and give it to you after few hours. You can play with it as long as you like."
Darcy shook his head and said hastily "That is not necessary, you should finish your work first."
"Alright, whatever you say" Lizzie said packing her things. The battery was low and also she was hungry, she didn't realize she missed the lunch answering all of Darcy's questions and in few hours it would be time for the supper.
Darcy saw her packing her things, she was ready to go to Pemberly. He wanted to go back too, suddenly he was very conscious around he. She so bluntly put her thoughts in front of him. And never hesitated to point out his mistakes and whatever undignified things he was doing. What she must be thinking about him, he was mortified by that thought.
The day suddenly became windy, the weather of England. Darcy was waiting for Lizzie, she put her cap over her head and was just putting her bag over her shoulder and all of a sudden he heard her curse "Damn, not you."
He turned around abruptly, what had he done now to make her curse like that. Instead he saw her running towards the lake, she was chasing the green scarf she was wearing. It must have blown out in the strong winds. She jumped high on the boundary of the lake but missed the edge of the scarf by just centimetres and it blew higher.
Lizzie angrily stomped her feet as she watched her scarf finally landing in the middle of the lake, resting on the water, waving with the currents caused by wind going farther and farther.
Darcy was completely astonished when he saw her putting her bag down, taking off her jacket, cap and shoes and jumping into the ice cold water of the lake without any hesitation, without a second thought.
Was that woman gone completely insane? The water of the lake melted only a month ago, it still was very cold. What was she thinking jumping into the water like that? It was only a scarf, nothing to get sick and die over. He would have bought her dozens of scarf if she had said once, why was she jumping into the water. Does she want to get a fever?
"Miss Bennet, what are you doing?" Darcy shouted as he saw her taking long strokes, swimming farther and farther into the lake. Finally she was able to catch the scarf and quickly turned around and came out of the lake all soaking wet and shivering.
"Damn, that water is ice cold" Lizzie said shuddering and chattering her teeth with cold.
"What else were you hoping for before you jumped into the water like that. You could catch cold and get sick." Darcy said angrily. He noticed her face was all red, goose bumps on her hands and her shirt was sticking into her body like a second skin.
"A hot geyser, what else?" Lizzie said sarcastically wearing her jacket but the way she was shivering totally ruined the effect of the comment.
This was the time Darcy rolled his eyes, he said frustratingly "Why were you so persistent to endanger your life for a mere piece of scarf?"
"You won't understand" Lizzie said indignantly wearing her shoes.
"If you wanted a scarf, I could have bought it for you." Darcy said annoyingly. Why will he not understand? Maybe women have a different sentiments and possessiveness with their clothes.
Lizzie said wearing her cap "I didn't want a scarf, I wanted the scarf. It's my sister's and she would kill me if I lose it."
Darcy opened his mouth totally surprised. He asked astonishingly "Your sister will kill you if you lose her scarf?"
Lizzie finally sighed and said walking fast to get some warmth in her body "Alright, I'm exaggerating. I didn't jump into an ice cold lake because I am scared of my sister. The thing is, that scarf is the only thing I have right now of Jane and I just cannot lose it. I need her... I mean I need that scarf with me. It's a sister thing, you won't understand."
Darcy could not believe what she just said, she was missing her sister, her family. It was not about a scarf, it was about her attachment, her bond with her sister. Not once in those weeks he thought about her family, how much she must be missing them. She was holding on to a piece of clothing for any connection with her sister. She was ripped apart from her world, from her family and she wanted that scarf to feel them near her. Would he not do the same thing if he lose Georgiana's scarf.
He smiled and took his coat off and gave it to Lizzie and said gently "I understand Miss Bennet, I have a sister too."
Lizzie looked at him, smiled politely and took the jacket "Thank you Mr. Darcy."
She added after few seconds "I have never seen you sister, only saw her painting, she doesn't live here?"
Darcy smiled and answered "She lives here with me but currently she is residing in London. She will be returning to Pemberly in few weeks."
Lizzie smiled "If I'm still here in few weeks, I will love to meet her. Anne talks about her a lot, she seems a sweet girl."
Darcy said with clear pride "Yes, she is an exceptional young woman. I will like her to meet you too."
Lizzie agreed with a small smile and Darcy asked her kindly "You never talk about your family, Miss Bennet. You must be missing them very much."
Lizzie sighed "Yes, I miss them a lot."
"Who do you have in your family?" Darcy asked, he wanted to know about her personal life too, not just about the work she was doing and the things she was planning to do.
Lizzie laughed as she said "My family is completely crazy. A very amusing father, controlling mother, world's best and kindest elder sister and world's most annoying and irritating younger sister. I'm a middle child, that's why I act out sometimes for attention, middle child syndrome" she joked.
Darcy smiled at her remark, she was intriguing and it was evident the scarf belonged to her elder sister Jane, she loved her dearly. He could not help paying attention to the fact that she did not say a single word about having a husband or a child. He had a notion that she was not married but now he was happier that his doubts had been clear.
Lizzie suddenly asked "It's only you and your sister in your family Mr. Darcy?"
Darcy replied quietly "Yes, but I do have Aunts and cousins."
Lizzie said casually "That's nice. But don't you feel wired living in that big house all by yourself."
Darcy sighed "Yes, sometimes I do. But my sister lives with me and my friends visit too. And there are so many people working here in Pemberly so my house never remains empty." He wanted to add that he had her living with him too but stopped himself just in time.
Suddenly Darcy remembered and said excitedly "I forgot to mention it to you earlier Miss Bennet, I will be having a guest staying in Pemberly in couple of days."
Lizzie nodded in understanding and said "I got you point Mr. Darcy, I'll be completely out of your guest's and your way. If there is any problem I can camp into the woods for few days. You don't have to worry about explaining my presence to anyone."
Darcy frowned, he did not mean it that way, why would he want her out of his house. He enjoyed her company so much and wanted to spend more time with her.
He said hastily "That is not what I meant earlier. I do not want you to leave Pemberly. I only mentioned it to you so you can meet my guest."
Lizzie raised her brows and asked "Seriously? You want me to meet them?"
"Most certainly" Darcy agreed.
"Then I'll love to meet your guest Mr. Darcy" Lizzie said with a smile and he grinned with pleasure.
Darcy saw her shiver and jump little closer to him for shield as a waft of cold breeze blew past them. He smiled, he wanted to protect her by placing his arms around her, make her warmer by keeping her closer but that would be so improper.
He said kindly "Let us get some dry clothes and hot drinks for you before you catch cold."
"That would be heaven." Lizzie agreed and said with a chuckle "Never going to jump into that lake again, it's like slow and cold suicide."
Darcy laughed at her joke. He could not help but notice that ever since he met Elizabeth Bennet he had been smiling a lot, the woman was definitely amusing.
Thank you for reading the chapter. You thoughts on the story are welcome. Drop a line if you wish.
Happy Reading :)